Brunswick Corporation

Gill Industries, Inc.

John Witte

Michael J Boks

Eric Sean Deuel

Robert S Tate

Brian C Scott

Robert J Sutter

Kevin T Downey

Perin E Truax

Nathan D Koetsier

Craig A Ulman

Christopher C Bostwick

Elzie McKinney

Brian C Leja

Katherine D Winer

Benjamin David Curtis

Michael D Gyorog

Macrae Parks

Bob Sutter

Haley A Raatz

A system for a marine vessel includes a peripheral device having an actuator configured to move part of the peripheral device between a retracted position and an extended position. A first serial bus is configured to connect the peripheral device to other peripheral devices. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator and is in signal communication with the first serial bus. A sensor is coupled to the controller via a second serial bus. The controller is configured to activate the actuator to move the part of the peripheral device from the extended position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position in response to information from the sensor.

System and peripheral devices for a marine vessel

A seat assembly for a marine vessel includes a base to be connected to a deck of the marine vessel, a seat supported by the base, and an actuator. The actuator adjusts a position of the seat with respect to the base in at least one of the following ways: to translate the seat in a front-back direction with respect to the base, to raise and lower the seat with respect to the base, to tilt the seat at various angles with respect to the base, and to rotate the seat with respect to the base. The seat assembly also includes a controller in signal communication with the actuator, and the controller activates the actuator to adjust the position of the seat with respect to the base to a predetermined position.

Seating system and seat assembly for marine vessel

A trolling motor has a steering motor transmitting torque to a steering shaft, which is coupled to a lower propulsion unit such that rotation of the steering shaft rotates the propulsion unit about a steering axis. A controller is in signal communication with the steering motor. A foot pedal in signal communication with the controller has a foot pad pivotable about a pivot axis and sends electrical steering signals to the controller (and thus steering motor) in response to pivoting of the foot pad. A variable resistance device is coupled to the foot pedal and controllable to vary resistance to pivoting of the foot pad about the pivot axis based on a position, velocity, acceleration, and/or jerk of the steering shaft. Additionally or alternatively, the variable resistance device provides haptic feedback to a user via the foot pad to inform the user about information related to the trolling motor system.

Trolling motor and foot pedal for trolling motor

A mount for a trolling motor pivots the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position. The mount includes a base coupled to a deck of a watercraft and upper and lower arms pivotably coupled to the base. A bracket also couples the upper arm to the lower arm. The mount includes a pivotable latch and an associated latch blocker on the upper or lower arm or the base and a corresponding striker pin configured to engage with the pivotable latch in the deployed and/or stowed position of the trolling motor to lock the upper or lower arm to the base.

Trolling motor and mount for trolling motor

A seating system for installation on a marine vessel includes a base to be connected to a deck of the marine vessel and a pedestal to be removably installed in an upright position on or in the base. The base includes a built-in first electrical connector to be electrically connected to a power source on the marine vessel. The pedestal includes a second electrical connector designed to mate with the first electrical connector in the base. A base for the seating system and a pedestal for the seating system are also disclosed.

Plug-in seating system for marine vessel

A mount for a trolling motor pivots the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position. The mount includes a base coupled to a deck of a watercraft and upper and lower arms pivotably coupled to the base. A bracket also couples the upper arm to the lower arm. The mount includes one of the following: (1) a deployed-position latch coupled to the upper arm or the base and a corresponding deployed-position striker pin configured to engage with the deployed-position latch in the deployed position of the trolling motor to lock the upper arm to the base; or (2) a pivotable latch and an associated latch blocker on the upper or lower arm or the base and a corresponding striker pin configured to engage with the pivotable latch in the deployed and/or stowed position of the trolling motor to lock the upper or lower arm to the base.

A trolling motor includes a head unit, a propulsion unit, and a shaft coupling the head unit to the propulsion unit. A shaft support couples the shaft to a mount base, which may be coupled to watercraft's deck. The shaft support is pivotable with respect to the mount base to move the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position with respect to the deck. The trolling motor further includes a spring and damper combination coupled between the mount base and the shaft support, wherein a spring portion of the spring and damper combination provides a spring force to assist in pivoting the shaft support away from the deck, and a damper portion of the spring and damper combination provides a damping force to slow pivoting of the shaft support towards the deck and/or a metal-reinforced, self-lubricating bearing pivotably coupling the shaft support to the mount base.

A trolling motor system for a watercraft includes a trolling motor assembly coupled to the watercraft. A foot pedal is mechanically coupled to the trolling motor assembly such that mechanical inputs to the foot pedal cause movement of a moveable component of the trolling motor assembly. A steering motor is configured to steer the trolling motor assembly. The movement of the moveable component of the trolling motor assembly generates electrical inputs to the steering motor, thereby activating the steering motor to steer the trolling motor assembly.

Trolling motor system with manual/electric steering

A trolling motor assembly includes a main housing holding an electric motor. A propeller is attached to a propeller shaft that is driven by the electric motor and projects from a rear end of the main housing. A steering shaft is configured to couple the main housing to a watercraft. A nosecone is coupled to the main housing at the front end of the main housing. The nosecone is removable from the front end of the main housing. The main housing is watertight when the nosecone is removed therefrom.

Trolling motor assembly with replaceable nosecone

A head restraint assembly for a seat, the assembly including: At least one support for mounting a bun assembly above the seat back; a bun assembly including a core portion, the core portion having integral first bearing surfaces; a stationary hub mounted on the at least one support, the stationary hub disposed at least substantially within the core portion and pivotally supporting the core portion via the integral first bearing surfaces; and a lock pivotally supported within the core portion. The lock is selectively pivotally moveable between positions of engagement with, and disengagement from, the stationary hub. The position of engagement is characterized in that the core portion is fixed relative to the stationary hub and at least one support, and the position of disengagement is characterized in that the core portion is pivotally moveable relative to the stationary hub and at least one support.

Head restraint assemblies

A foldable head restraint apparatus for connecting to a seat of a vehicle. The foldable head restraint apparatus includes a pair of brackets for being connected to a cover. A pivot tube rotatably supports the brackets along a first axis. At least one seat connector is connected to the pivot tube for non-rotatably supporting the pivot tube relative to the seat of the vehicle. A pair of latches are each non-rotatably disposed about the pivot tube adjacent to each of the brackets. A pair of cams are each rotatably connected to one of the brackets and are rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position. At least one release connector is connected to each of the cams and is moveable for providing the rotating movement of the cams in response to movement of the release connector to provide synchronized rotation of the cams.

Dual latch high pivot head restraint

A trolling motor assembly includes a base and an attached cradle. A transmission housing is coupled to the base by a pivot pin defining an axis about which the transmission housing pivots. A shaft is supported by the transmission housing and moves relative to the transmission housing in a direction which is parallel to a central axis of the shaft. The shaft is also rotatable with respect to the transmission housing about the central axis. A thrust motor is attached to and moves and rotates with the shaft. The assembly is movable from a deployed position, in which the shaft central axis is aligned vertically, the transmission housing is locked in an upright position, and the thrust motor is below water, to a stowed position, in which the shaft central axis is aligned horizontally, the transmission housing is pivoted onto its side, and the thrust motor rests in the cradle.

Trolling motor assemblies

A foldable head restraint assembly, including: a bracket assembly adapted for fixed disposition in a seat back; a head restraint support for mounting a bun assembly above the seat back, the head restraint support pivotally mounted to the bracket assembly so as to be pivotally movable relative to the bracket assembly in at least first and second directions between upright and folded positions; at least one biasing element biasing the head restraint support into one of the upright and folded positions; and at least one rotary damper which retards the motion of the head restraint support during at least a portion of the head restraint support's pivotal movement in at least one of the first and second directions.

Foldable head restraint assembly

A head restraint assembly, comprising: a support configured to mount the head restraint above a seat back; a bun assembly pivotally mounted on the head restraint support for movement in first and second directions relative to the head restraint support, the limit of the first and second directions of movement defining fully forward and fully upright positions, respectively, of the bun assembly; and an adjustment mechanism disposed at least substantially within the bun assembly, the adjustment mechanism configured to permit the pivotal movement of the bun assembly in either of the first and second directions.

Growing community of inventors

Ada, MI, United States of America

John Witte