초록 ▼

An adjustable outrigger moves a trolling pole on a fishing vessel to an elevated, outboard position for trolling and inboard to a lowered position when not in use. The outrigger of a preferred embodiment is operated using an operating handle. Rotating the operating handle in one direction rotates a

An adjustable outrigger moves a trolling pole on a fishing vessel to an elevated, outboard position for trolling and inboard to a lowered position when not in use. The outrigger of a preferred embodiment is operated using an operating handle. Rotating the operating handle in one direction rotates a pole held by the outrigger from an inboard position to the outboard, deployed position. Simultaneously with the rotation in the horizontal plane, the pole is elevated in the vertical plane from a near horizontal position to a suitable trolling angle. The operating handle turns a shaft that communicates the rotation of the handle to an internal drive mechanism, which is housed in a drive mechanism housing. The rotational motion is converted to a linear, vertical action using a ball gear mechanism. A track provided by a bayonet coupler converts the linear vertical motion into a combined vertical and rotational motion.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. An adjustable fishing outrigger of the type used on a marine vessel for positioning an outrigger pole, said outrigger comprising: a body adapted to be mounted in fixed relation to the marine vessel; a receiver adapted for holding the outrigger pole, said receiver being coupled to said b

I claim: 1. An adjustable fishing outrigger of the type used on a marine vessel for positioning an outrigger pole, said outrigger comprising: a body adapted to be mounted in fixed relation to the marine vessel; a receiver adapted for holding the outrigger pole, said receiver being coupled to said body in a manner allowing relative movement between said body and said receiver with respect to both (i) an angle of rotation of the outrigger pole about an axis, and (ii) an elevation angle of the outrigger pole; a rotatably drivable motion conversion mechanism for converting rotational motion to linear motion, said motion conversion mechanism including a rotatably driven member and a linearly movable member coupled to said rotatably driven member for moving said linearly movable member in response to rotation of said rotatably driven member; a track pitched in a direction along said axis; and a linearly and rotatably movable member coupled to both said linearly movable member of said motion conversion mechanism and to said track for effecting linear movement of said linearly and rotatably movable member along said axis for effecting rotation of said linearly and rotatably movable member about said axis, said linearly and rotatably movable member being coupled to said receiver for mechanically driving said receiver for adjusting both said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 2. The outrigger of claim 1 wherein said motion conversion mechanism comprises a ball gear mechanism. 3. The outrigger of claim 2 wherein said rotatable driven member of said motion conversion mechanism comprises a ball screw and said linearly movable member of said motion conversion mechanism comprises a ball nut. 4. The outrigger of claim 1 further comprising a driving device coupled to said motion conversion mechanism for driving said rotatably drivable motion conversion mechanism. 5. The outrigger of claim 4 wherein said driving device comprises a manually powered driving device. 6. The outrigger of claim 4 further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to said driving device, said drive mechanism including a plurality of gears mechanically interposed between said driving device and said motion conversion mechanism. 7. The outrigger of claim 4 wherein said driving device comprises a rotatably reversible driving device. 8. The outrigger of claim 1 wherein said linearly and rotatably movable member comprises a piston. 9. The outrigger of claim 1 wherein said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are adjusted simultaneously. 10. The outrigger of claim 1 wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 11. The outrigger of claim 1 wherein said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are adjusted simultaneously and wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 12. The outrigger of claim 1 further comprising a visual indicator of a position of the outrigger pole, said visual indicator including a scale which provides a quantitative indication of said position. 13. The outrigger of claim 12 wherein said visual indicator indicates said position with respect to both said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 14. The outrigger of claim 13 wherein said visual indicator comprises a mechanical indicator. 15. The outrigger of claim 14 wherein said mechanical indicator includes a tab mechanically coupled to said linearly movable member of said motion conversion mechanism and a scale having position indicating indicia, said position of the outrigger pole being indicated by a location of said tab with respect to said scale. 16. An adjustable fishing outrigger for use on a marine vessel for positioning an outrigger pole, said outrigger comprising: a receiver adapted for holding the outrigger pole, said receiver being mounted to allow relative movement between said vessel and said receiver with respect to both (i) an angle of rotation of the outrigger pole about an axis, and (ii) an elevation angle of the outrigger pole; a rotatable driving device; a ball gear mechanism including a rotatable screw, said screw being coupled to said driving device to effect rotation of said screw in response to rotation of said driving device, said ball gear mechanism further including a ball nut coupled to said screw to effect linear movement of said ball nut in response to said rotation of said screw; a track pitched in a direction along said axis; and a member coupled to said ball nut for effecting linear movement of said member along said axis in response to said linear movement of said ball nut, said member also being coupled to said track for effecting rotation of said member about said axis in response to linear movement of said ball nut, said member further being coupled to said receiver for driving said receiver to effect both (i) adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and (ii) adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 17. The outrigger of claim 16 wherein said driving device is a manually powered driving device. 18. The outrigger of claim 16 wherein said driving device comprises a rotatably reversible driving device operable to cause (i) reversible rotation of said rotatable screw, and (ii) reversible linear movement of said ball nut and (iii) reversible rotational movement of said member, whereby said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are both adjustable reversibly. 19. The outrigger of claim 16 further comprising a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to said driving device, said drive mechanism being a geared drive mechanism. 20. The outrigger of claim 16 wherein said driving device comprises a manually powered hand crank. 21. The outrigger of claim 16 further comprising a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to said driving device, said drive mechanism including a plurality of gears mechanically interposed between said driving device and said ball gear mechanism. 22. The outrigger of claim 16 wherein said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are adjusted simultaneously. 23. The outrigger of claim 16 wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 24. The outrigger of claim 16 wherein said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are adjusted simultaneously and wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 25. The outrigger of claim 16 further comprising a visual indicator of a position of the outrigger pole, said visual indicator including a scale which provides a quantitative indication of said position. 26. The outrigger of claim 25 wherein said visual indicator indicates said position with respect to both said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 27. An adjustable fishing outrigger for use on a marine vessel for positioning an outrigger pole, said outrigger comprising: a receiver adapted for holding the outrigger pole, said receiver being mounted to allow relative movement between said vessel and said receiver with respect to both (i) an angle of rotation of the outrigger pole about an axis, and (ii) an elevation angle of the outrigger pole; a rotatable driving device; a ball gear mechanism including a rotatable screw, said screw being mechanically coupled to said driving device to effect rotation of said screw in response to rotation of said driving device, said ball gear mechanism further including a ball nut mechanically coupled to said screw to effect linear movement of said ball nut in response to said rotation of said screw, a track pitched in a direction along said axis; and a member coupled to said ball nut for effecting linear movement of said member, said member also being coupled to said track, said member being linearly movable along said axis in response to said linear movement of said ball nut for effecting rotation of said member about said axis in response to said linear movement of said ball nut, said member further being coupled to said receiver for driving said receiver to effect both (i) adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and (ii) adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 28. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said driving device is a manually powered driving device. 29. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said driving device comprises a rotatably reversible driving device. 30. The outrigger of claim 28 further comprising a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to said driving device, said drive mechanism being a geared drive mechanism. 31. The outrigger of claim 30 wherein said rotatable screw of said ball gear mechanism is mechanically coupled to said driving device by way of said drive mechanism. 32. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole occur simultaneously. 33. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 34. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole occur simultaneously and wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 35. The outrigger of claim 34 further comprising a visual indicator of a position of the outrigger pole, said visual indicator including a scale which provides a quantitative indication of said position. 36. The outrigger of claim 35 wherein said visual indicator indicates said position with respect to both said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 37. The outrigger of claim 35 wherein said visual indicator provides indicia indicating said correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 38. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said axis is a vertical axis. 39. The outrigger of claim 38 wherein said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole is an angle of rotation in a horizontal plane. 40. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole is an angle of rotation in a horizontal plane. 41. The outrigger of claim 28 further comprising a body and a base plate coupled to said body, body being adapted to be mounted in said fixed relation to the vessel by way of said base plate. 42. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said track is a spiral track. 43. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said track comprises a helical track. 44. The outrigger of claim 43 wherein said track forms part of a coupling. 45. The outrigger of claim 44 wherein said coupling is a bayonet coupling provided with detents at opposed ends of said track. 46. The outrigger of claim 43 wherein said pitch of said track determines a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 47. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said member is coupled to said ball gear mechanism comprises a piston. 48. The outrigger of claim 47 wherein said track comprises a helical track. 49. The outrigger of claim 28 wherein said member coupled to said ball gear mechanism comprises a piston which is coupled to said track which comprises an inclined track. 50. The outrigger of claim 49 wherein said track comprises a spiral track having a pitch along said axis. 51. The outrigger of claim 49 wherein said track comprises a helical track having a pitch along said axis. 52. The outrigger of claim 28 further comprising a cap, said cap being mechanically coupled to said receiver in a manner permitting rotation between said cap and said receiver. 53. The outrigger of claim 52 wherein said receiver is mechanically coupled to said cap by way of a pivotable linkage. 54. The outrigger of claim 53 wherein said receiver is mechanically coupled to said cap by way of said linkage so that said receiver is at an elevation angle which is the same as said elevation angle of the outrigger pole. 55. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said rotatable driving device comprises a hand crank, said outrigger further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to said hand crank, said drive mechanism including a plurality of gears. 56. The outrigger of claim 55 wherein said rotatable screw of said ball gear mechanism is coupled to said hand crank way of said drive mechanism. 57. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole occur simultaneously. 58. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 59. The outrigger of claim 58 further comprising a visual indicator of position of the outrigger pole, said visual indicator including a scale which provides a quantitative indication of said position. 60. The outrigger of claim 59 wherein said visual indicator indicates said position with respect to both said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 61. The outrigger of claim 59 wherein said visual indicator provides an indication of said correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 62. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole occur simultaneously and wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 63. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said axis is a vertical axis. 64. The outrigger of claim 63 wherein said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole is an angle of rotation in a horizontal plane. 65. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole is an angle of rotation in a horizontal plane. 66. The outrigger of claim 27 further comprising a body and a base plate coupled to said body for mounting in said fixed relation to the marine vessel by way of said base plate. 67. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said track comprises a spiral track. 68. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said track comprises a helical track. 69. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said track forms part of a coupling. 70. The outrigger of claim 69 wherein said coupling is a bayonet coupling provided with detents at opposed ends of said track. 71. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said pitch of said track determines said correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 72. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said member mechanically coupled to said ball gear mechanism comprises a piston. 73. The outrigger of claim 72 wherein said track comprises a helical track. 74. The outrigger of claim 27 wherein said member coupled to said ball gear mechanism comprises a piston mechanically coupled to a track. 75. The outrigger of claim 74 wherein said track comprises a spiral track having a pitch along said axis. 76. The outrigger of claim 74 wherein said track comprises a helical track having a pitch along said axis. 77. The outrigger of claim 27 further comprising a cap, said receiver being mounted to allow rotation of said receiver relative to said cap. 78. The outrigger of claim 77 wherein said receiver is coupled to said cap by way of a pivotable linkage. 79. The outrigger of claim 78 wherein said receiver is mechanically coupled to said cap by way of said linkage so that said receiver is at an elevation angle which is the same as said elevation angle of the outrigger pole. 80. An adjustable fishing outrigger for use on a marine vessel for positioning an outrigger pole in either a rigged-in position or a deployed position, said outrigger comprising: a body adapted to be mounted in fixed relation to the marine vessel; a receiver adapted for holding the outrigger pole, said receiver being mechanically coupled to said body in a manner allowing relative movement between said body and said receiver with respect to both (i) an angle of rotation of the outrigger pole about an axis, and (ii) an elevation angle of the outrigger pole; a reversibly rotatable driving device; a ball gear mechanism including a rotatable screw, said screw being coupled to said driving device to effect reversible rotation of said screw in response to rotation of said driving device, said ball gear mechanism further including a ball nut coupled to said screw to effect reversible relative linear movement between said ball nut and said screw in response to said rotation of said screw; a track pitched in a direction along said axis; and a member coupled to said ball gear mechanism for effecting reversible linear movement of said member along said axis, said member also being coupled to said track for effecting reversible rotation of said member about said axis, said member further being coupled to said receiver for driving said receiver to effect both (i) reversible adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and (ii) reversible adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole, whereby the outrigger pole may be adjustably positioned in either a rigged-in position or a deployed position in response to rotation of said driving device. 81. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said driving device comprises a manually powered driving device. 82. The outrigger of claim 81 wherein said driving device comprises a hand crank. 83. The outrigger of claim 80 her comprising a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to said driving device, said drive mechanism being a geared drive mechanism. 84. The outrigger of claim 83 wherein said reversibly rotatable driving device comprises a hand crank and wherein said rotatable screw of said ball gear mechanism is mechanically coupled to said hand crank by way of said drive mechanism. 85. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said adjustment of said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said adjustment of said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are simultaneous. 86. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 87. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are adjusted simultaneously and wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 88. The outrigger of claim 80 further comprising a visual indicator of a position of the outrigger pole, said visual indicator including a scale which provides a quantitative indication of said position. 89. The outrigger of claim 88 wherein said visual indicator indicates said position with respect to both said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 90. The outrigger of claim 89 wherein said visual indicator provides indicia indicating said correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 91. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said axis is a vertical axis and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole is an angle of rotation in a horizontal plane. 92. The outrigger of claim 80 further comprising a base plate mechanically coupled to said body and wherein said body is adapted to be mounted in said fixed relation to the marine vessel by way of said base plate. 93. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said track is a spiral track. 94. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said track comprises a helical track. 95. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said track forms part of a coupling. 96. The outrigger of claim 95 wherein said coupling comprises a bayonet coupling provided with detents at opposed ends of said track. 97. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said pitch of said track determines a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 98. The outrigger of claim 97 wherein said track comprises a helical track. 99. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said member coupled to said ball gear mechanism comprises a piston. 100. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said member coupled to said ball gear mechanism comprises a piston which is coupled to said track. 101. The outrigger of claim 100 wherein said track comprises a spiral track having said pitch along said axis. 102. The outrigger of claim 100 wherein said track comprises a helical track having said pitch along said axis. 103. The outrigger of claim 80 wherein said receiver is coupled to said body by way of a cap, said cap being freely rotatably mounted to said body to allow said relative movement between said body and said receiver with respect to said angle of rotation, said receiver being coupled to said cap by way of a pivotable linkage, said pivotable linkage allowing said relative movement between said body and said receiver with respect to said elevation angle. 104. An adjustable fishing outrigger of the type used on a marine vessel for positioning an outrigger pole, said outrigger comprising: a body for mounting the outrigger to the marine vessel; a rotatable driving device; a reversibly rotatable drive mechanism coupled to said driving device; a ball gear mechanism coupled to said drive mechanism, said ball gear mechanism including a reversibly rotatable screw, said screw being rotationally coupled to said drive mechanism to rotate in response to rotation of said drive mechanism, said ball gear mechanism further including a ball nut coupled to said screw so that rotation of said screw produces reversible linear movement of said ball nut; a track pitched in a direction along an axis; a member coupled to said ball nut, said member being mounted for reversible linear movement of said member along said axis in response to said reversible linear movement of said ball nut, said member also being coupled to said track and mounted for reversible rotation of said member about said axis in response to said reversible linear movement of said ball nut, and a receiver adapted for holding the outrigger pole at an elevation angle and at a rotational position in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said receiver being coupled to said member so that said linear movement of said member along said axis adjusts said elevation angle of the outrigger pole, and said rotation of said member about said axis rotates said receiver to adjust said rotational position of the outrigger pole in accordance with the pitch of said track. 105. The outrigger of claim 104 wherein said driving device is a manually powered driving device. 106. The outrigger of claim 105 wherein said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are adjusted simultaneously and wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 107. The outrigger of claim 104 wherein said driving device comprises a manually powered hand crank. 108. The outrigger of claim 104 wherein said driving device comprises a rotatably reversible driving device operable to cause (i) reversible rotation of said rotatable screw, and (ii) reversible linear movement of said ball nut and (iii) reversible rotational movement of said member, whereby said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are both adjustable reversibly. 109. The outrigger of claim 104 further comprising a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to said driving device, said drive mechanism being a geared drive mechanism. 110. The outrigger of claim 104 further comprising a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to said driving device, said drive mechanism including a plurality of gears mechanically interposed between said driving device and said ball gear mechanism. 111. The outrigger of claim 104 wherein said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole are adjusted simultaneously. 112. The outrigger of claim 104 wherein there is a correlation between said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 113. The outrigger of claim 104 further comprising a visual indicator of a position of the outrigger pole, said visual indicator including a scale which provides a quantitative indication of said position. 114. The outrigger of claim 113 wherein said visual indicator indicates said position with respect to both said elevation angle of the outrigger pole and said angle of rotation of the outrigger pole. 115. The outrigger of claim 114 wherein said visual indicator is a mechanical device. 116. A manually adjustable outrigger for positioning a trolling pole, the outrigger comprising: a base plate adapted for mounting the outrigger to a supporting surface; a drive mechanism housing supported by the base plate; a drive shaft disposed within the drive mechanism housing; an operating handle; a drive mechanism translating rotation of the operating handle into rotation of the drive shaft; a ball gear mechanism including (i) a rotatable ball screw coupled to the drive shaft to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft and, (ii) a ball nut threadably coupled to the ball screw so that rotation of the ball screw produces bi-directional linear movement of the ball nut; a piston coupled to the ball nut for causing the piston to undergo a reciprocating motion along a vertical axis in response to the bi-directional linear movement of the ball nut; a track to which the piston is coupled for rotating the piston around the vertical axis as the piston moves linearly along the vertical axis as the piston undergoes the reciprocating motion; and a receiver adapted for holding an outrigger pole, the receiver being pivotally coupled to the piston so that linear movement of the piston along the vertical axis changes an elevation angle of the receiver, and rotation of the piston about the vertical axis rotates the receiver in a horizontal plane. 117. An outrigger apparatus, comprising a pair of outriggers, each of said outriggers comprising the outrigger as claimed in claim 116, said outriggers being internally geared such that rotation in a given rotational direction of each of the operating handles of each respective outrigger causes said receivers to rotate oppositely, outwardly of a boat upon which they are mounted. 118. The outrigger of claim 116, wherein said receiver is arranged to move in a vertical plane between about 4 degrees to about 32 degrees above the horizontal plane, and in a horizontal plane between about 10 degrees and 80 degrees measured with respect to a vertical plane parallel with a keel of a boat. 119. The outrigger of claim 116, further comprising an indicator tab and scales, for visually registering an angular height and horizontal displacement of a trolling pole held in said receiver. 120. The outrigger of claim 116, wherein said means for rotating the piston around the vertical axis comprises a bayonet coupler with a track being provided to convert linear vertical motion of said piston into combined, simultaneous vertical and horizontal receiver motion.