Guide system for assistance in mounting a sonar transducer assembly or housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188766-B2
Application number	US-202217715290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2022
Priority date	Apr 7, 2022
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A guide system is provided for use in mounting of a sonar transducer assembly or housing. The guide system includes a gauge having horizontal lines marked thereon. The horizontal lines indicate appropriate tab positions corresponding to hull angles of a watercraft. The guide system also includes a reference tab configured to be positioned on the gauge at an appropriate tab position corresponding to an estimated hull angle to indicate a correct sonar transducer assembly or housing position. Sloped lines may be marked on the gauge, and the sloped lines may extend at different slopes and may be configured to provide the estimated hull angle of the watercraft when the user aligns one of the sloped lines with a bottom edge of the hull of the watercraft at a position corresponding to the position where the sonar transducer assembly or housing will be mounted to the hull.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A guide system for use in mounting of a sonar transducer assembly or housing, the guide system comprising:
a gauge having a plurality of horizontal lines marked on the gauge, wherein the plurality of horizontal lines indicate appropriate tab positions corresponding to hull angles of a watercraft; and
a reference tab, wherein the reference tab is configured to be positioned on the gauge at an appropriate tab position and extend therefrom to indicate a correct sonar transducer assembly or housing position during mounting of the sonar transducer assembly or housing, wherein the appropriate tab position corresponds to an estimated hull angle at an anticipated mounting position.

2. The guide system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of sloped lines are marked on the gauge, wherein the plurality of sloped lines extend at different slopes and are configured to provide the estimated hull angle of the watercraft when the user aligns one of the plurality of sloped lines with a bottom edge of the hull of the watercraft at the anticipated mounting position corresponding to where the sonar transducer assembly or housing will be mounted to the hull.

3. The guide system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of horizontal lines are marked on a first side of the gauge and the plurality of sloped lines are marked on a second side of the gauge.

4. The guide system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of horizontal lines are marked on the first side of the gauge and the plurality of sloped lines are marked on a first side of the gauge.

5. The guide system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a member that is configured to be assembled to the gauge, wherein the member is configured to be positioned adjacent to the bottom edge of the hull of the watercraft at the anticipated mounting position so as to provide a reference location for the sonar transducer assembly or housing.

6. The guide system of claim 5 , wherein the member is configured to be positioned adjacent to the transom of the watercraft at the anticipated mounting position.

7. The guide system of claim 6 , wherein the member is a cylindrical rod, wherein the member may be configured to self-level.

8. The guide system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a fastener that is configured to restrain the movement of the member relative to the watercraft.

9. The guide system of claim 2 , wherein the gauge has a top end and a bottom end, wherein the gauge defines a first recess proximate to the top end, wherein the first recess is configured to receive a member that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the bottom edge of the hull of the watercraft at the anticipated mounting position to provide a reference location for the sonar transducer assembly or housing.

10. The guide system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of sloped lines are marked on a second gauge, wherein the plurality of sloped lines extend at different slopes and are configured to provide the estimated hull angle of the watercraft when the user aligns one of the plurality of sloped lines with a bottom edge of the hull of the watercraft at the anticipated mounting position.

11. The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the gauge has a top end and a bottom end, wherein the gauge defines a second recess proximate to the bottom end, wherein the second recess is configured to receive a portion of the reference tab, wherein the second recess is configured to permit the reference tab to slide up and down to position the reference tab at the appropriate tab position.

12. The guide system of claim 11 , wherein the reference tab includes a main portion, an insert portion, and a connecting portion that connects the main portion and the insert portion, wherein the insert portion is configured to be received in the second recess of the gauge so that the insert portion is positioned at a second side of the gauge with its movement being restrained and the main portion is positioned at a first side of the gauge.

13. The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the gauge has a top end and a bottom end, wherein the gauge defines a first recess proximate to the top end, wherein the gauge defines a second recess proximate to the bottom end, wherein the plurality of sloped lines are provided between the first recess and the second recess.

14. The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the gauge has a top end and a bottom end, wherein the gauge defines a second recess proximate to the bottom end, wherein the plurality of horizontal lines are marked proximate to the second recess.

15. The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the correct sonar transducer assembly or housing position is the position where the bottom of the sonar transducer assembly or housing should be located.

16. The guide system of claim 1 , wherein the correct sonar transducer assembly or housing position provides a correct orientation, a correct horizontal position, and a correct vertical position for the sonar transducer assembly or housing.

17. A gauge for use in mounting of a sonar transducer assembly or housing, the gauge comprising:
a first side with a plurality of horizontal lines marked on the first side of the gauge, wherein the plurality of horizontal lines indicate appropriate mounting positions for a sonar transducer assembly or housing corresponding to hull angles of a watercraft; and
a plurality of sloped lines marked on the first side of the gauge or a second side of the gauge, wherein the plurality of sloped lines extend at different slopes and are configured to provide an estimated hull angle of the watercraft when the user aligns one of the plurality of sloped lines with a bottom edge of the hull of the watercraft at an anticipated mounting position, wherein the anticipated mounting position is a position corresponding to the position where the sonar transducer assembly or housing will be mounted to the hull.

18. The gauge of claim 17 , wherein the gauge is configured to receive a reference tab at an appropriate mounting position on the gauge corresponding to the estimated hull angle to indicate the correct sonar transducer assembly or housing position.

19. A method for using a guide system, the method comprising:
providing a gauge having:
a plurality of sloped lines marked on the gauge, wherein the plurality of sloped lines extend at different slopes, wherein the plurality of sloped lines are configured to indicate an estimated hull angle of a watercraft;
a plurality of horizontal lines marked on the gauge, wherein the plurality of horizontal lines indicate appropriate tab positions corresponding to hull angles of the watercraft; and

providing a reference tab, wherein the reference tab is configured to be positioned on the gauge at the appropriate tab position corresponding to the estimated hull angle to indicate a correct sonar transducer assembly or housing position;
using the plurality of sloped lines to determine the estimated hull angle of the watercraft by aligning one of the plurality of sloped lines with a bottom edge of the hull of the watercraft at a position corresponding to an anticipated mounting position, where the anticipated mounting position is a position where the sonar transducer assembly or housing will be mounted to the hull;
assembling the reference tab to the gauge so that the reference tab is positioned at an appropriate tab position corresponding to the estimated hull angle; and
positioning the reference tab and the gauge proximate to the hull of the watercraft.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
providing a member;

Assignees

• Navico Inc

Inventors

• Coats Eric L

Classifications

• G01S7/521

  Constructional features · CPC title

• G01S15/89

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• B63B79/10 Primary

  using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers · CPC title

• G01B3/56

  Gauges for measuring angles or tapers, e.g. conical calipers · CPC title

• B63B39/14

  for indicating inclination or duration of roll · CPC title