초록 ▼

A universal transducer mounting bracket (10) that may be used to mount a transducer (12) to either a transom (14) or a trolling motor (16). A mounting body (18) broadly comprises a transom attachment (36) for mating to the transom (14), at least one hole (20) through the transom attachment (36) for

A universal transducer mounting bracket (10) that may be used to mount a transducer (12) to either a transom (14) or a trolling motor (16). A mounting body (18) broadly comprises a transom attachment (36) for mating to the transom (14), at least one hole (20) through the transom attachment (36) for accepting one or more fasteners therethrough in order to secure the bracket (10) to the transom (14), and an arcuate top wall (22) for mating to the trolling motor (16). The mounting body (18) preferably further includes two side walls (26) and a bottom wall (30) forming the transom attachment (36) for rigidly securing the bracket (10) to the transom (14). The transom attachment (36) may be defined by the walls (22,26,30,34) forming a perimeter around an opening, thereby making the bracket (10) hollow.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A universal bracket for mounting an ultrasonic transducer to a boat transom or trolling motor, the bracket comprising:a mounting body includinga transom attachment for mating to the transom, anda trolling attachment for mating to the trolling motor; anda transducer attachment for mating to the tr

1. A universal bracket for mounting an ultrasonic transducer to a boat transom or trolling motor, the bracket comprising:a mounting body includinga transom attachment for mating to the transom, anda trolling attachment for mating to the trolling motor; anda transducer attachment for mating to the transducer.2. The bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting body further includes a divider defining an oblong hole through the transom attachment for accepting a fastener therethrough in order to secure the bracket to the transom such that the bracket may be moved relative to the fastener.3. The bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the trolling attachment comprises a top wall aligned substantially perpendicular to the transom attachment.4. The bracket as set forth in claim 3, wherein the top wall includes ribs operable to prevent the bracket from rotating about the trolling motor.5. The bracket as set forth in claim 3, wherein the mounting body further includes two slots each adjacent opposing edges of the top wall and operable to accept a band therethrough in order to secure the bracket to the trolling motor.6. The bracket as set forth in claim 5, wherein the mounting body further includes an arcuate interior partition substantially parallel to the top wall, slightly offset from the top wall, and operable to guide the band between the slots.7. The bracket as set forth in claim 3, further including a resilient pad operable to fit between the top wall and the trolling motor.8. The bracket as set forth in claim 3, wherein the mounting body further includesa first substantially vertical side wall adjacent a first edge of the top wall and extending downward therefrom,a second substantially vertical side wall adjacent a second edge of the top wall and extending downward therefrom,a substantially horizontal bottom wall offset from the top wall and disposed substantially midway between opposing bottom edges of the side walls,a first transition wall connecting the first side wall to the bottom wall, anda second transition wall connecting the second side wall to the bottom wall.9. The bracket as set forth in claim 8, wherein the transducer attachment includes two transducer mounting shelfs extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, having a plurality of teeth, and operable to secure the transducer at any one of a plurality of orientations with respect to the mounting body.10. A universal bracket for mounting an ultrasonic transducer to a boat transom or trolling motor, the bracket comprising:a mounting body includinga substantially arcuate top wall for mating to the trolling motor,two slots each slot adjacent opposing edges of the top wall and operable to accept a band therethrough in order to secure the bracket to the trolling motor,a transom attachment aligned substantially perpendicular to the top wall for mating to the transom, andtwo dividers each defining one of two holes through the transom attachment with each hole operable to accept a fastener therethrough in order to secure the bracket to the transom; anda transducer attachment for mating to the transducer.11. The bracket as set forth in claim 10, wherein the top wall has a radius of curvature of approximately fifty millimeters.12. The bracket as set forth in claim 10, wherein the top wall includes ribs operable to prevent the bracket from rotating about the trolling motor.13. The bracket as set forth in claim 10, further including an arcuate interior partition substantially parallel to the top wall and slightly offset therefrom and operable to guide the band between the slots.14. The bracket as set forth in claim 10, wherein each hole is oblong such that the bracket may be moved relative to the fastener without removing the fastener.15. The bracket as set forth in claim 10, wherein the top wall is concave and forms a portion of a cylinder such that the top wall conforms to the tolling motor with the tolling motor being closest to the transducer near a center of the top wall.16. The bracket as set forth in claim 10, further including a resilient pad operable to fit between the top wall and the trolling motor in order to accommodate trolling motors of differing sizes.17. The bracket as set forth in claim 16, wherein the pad is further operable to fit between the transom attachment and the transom in order to substantially seal the mounting body such that water is prevented from entering the mounting body.18. The bracket as set forth in claim 10, further includinga first substantially vertical side wall adjacent a first edge of the top wall and extending downward therefrom,a second substantially vertical side wall adjacent a second edge of the top wall and extending downward therefrom,a substantially horizontal bottom wall offset from the top wall and disposed substantially midway between opposing bottom edges of the side walls,a first transition wall connecting the first side wall to the bottom wall, anda second transition wall connecting the second side wall to the bottom wall.19. The bracket as set forth in claim 18, wherein the transducer attachment includes a transducer mounting shelf extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, having a plurality of teeth, and operable to secure the transducer at any one of a plurality of orientations with respect to the bracket.20. A universal bracket for mounting an ultrasonic transducer to a boat transom or a trolling motor, the bracket comprising:a substantially arcuate top wall having an approximately fifty millimeter radius of curvature for mating to the trolling motor;a first substantially vertical side wall adjacent a first edge of the top wall and extending downward therefrom;a first substantially rectangular slot in the first side wall near the first edge of and extending along the top wall;a second substantially vertical side wall adjacent a second edge of the top wall and extending downward therefrom;a second substantially rectangular slot in the second side wall near the second edge of and extending along the top wall, together with the first slot operable to accept a band therethrough in order to secure the bracket to the trolling motor;an arcuate interior partition substantially parallel to the top wall, slightly offset therefrom, and operable to guide the band between the slots;a plurality of ribs running along the top wall and operable to prevent the bracket from rotating about the trolling motor;a substantially horizontal bottom wall offset from the top wall and disposed substantially midway between opposing bottom edges of the side walls;a first transition wall connecting the first side wall to the bottom wall;a second transition wall connecting the second side wall to the bottom wall;wherein the walls are less than five millimeters thick and terminate in a planar transom attachment aligned substantially perpendicular to the walls for mating to the transom, such that the bracket is substantially hollow with an opening defined between the walls;a first substantially oblong hole through the transom attachment operable to accept a first fastener therethrough in order to secure the bracket to the transom such that the bracket may be moved relative to the fastener without removing the fastener;a second substantially oblong hole through the transom attachment operable to accept a second fastener therethrough in order to secure the bracket to the transom such that the bracket may be moved relative to the fastener without removing the fastener;a resilient pad operable to fit between the bracket and the trolling motor along the top wall in order to accommodate trolling motors of differing sizes;wherein the pad is further operable to fit between the transom attachment and the transom in order to substantially seal the opening, such that water is prevented from entering the bracket;a first transducer mounting shelf extending from where the bottom wall meets the first transition substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall and including a first plurality of teeth arranged around a first penetration aligned substantially parallel to the bottom wall and substantially perpendicular to the side walls;a second transducer mounting shelf extending from where the bottom wall meets the second transition substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall and including a second plurality of teeth arranged around a second penetration aligned substantially parallel to the bottom wall and substantially perpendicular to the side walls, together with the first shelf operable to secure the transducer at any one of a plurality of orientations with respect to the bracket; anda channel for guiding a cable of the transducer between the shelfs.21. A universal bracket for mounting an ultrasonic transducer to a boat transom or trolling motor, the bracket comprising:a mounting body includinga transom attachment for mating to the transom, anda trolling attachment for mating to the trolling motor, the trolling motor attachment comprising an arcuate top wall; anda transducer attachment for mating to the transducer.