TRANSOM TRANSDUCER MOUNTING BRACKET

• US 3,729,162 A
• Filed: 03/05/1971
• Issued: 04/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank J. Salvato
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Salvato
• Inventors: Salvato, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US05/121,364
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 248/1,292,291,293,287,285,286,284 16/130,189,191 340/8R,8S,3R
• US Class Current: 248/292.13
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/355 Arcuate movement

Abstract

For use on a boat having a vertical transom, a transducer assembly characterized by a flat-bottomed underwater block-like head having an upstanding sleeve providing a sheath for the lower end portion of an insulated wire which is operatively connected with said head, and novel means for mounting said transducer. The mounting means comprises a transom-supported adapter cleat and a bracket. The cleat is joined to the transom by fastening screws. The complemental bracket is L-shaped in edge elevation. The short vertical leg of the bracket is normally flush and united with the lower end of the cleat through the medium of a spring hinge. The long horizontal leg has an elongated slot in which the sleeve is insertably adjustably and retentively mounted. The sleevesupported transducer is capable of swinging up and out of the way clear of damaging obstructions.

Claims

1. For use on the exterior vertical surface of the transom of a boat, mounting means for a transducer assembly characterized by a block-like flat-bottomed head, an externally screw threaded nutequipped sleeve having a lower end operatively joined to and rising perpendicularly from a top surface of said head and sheathing a conducting cable operatively oriented with said head, said mounting means comprising:

a slotted cleat, attaching and adjusting fasteners for said cleat, and a complemental L-shaped bracket one leg of which is hingedly joined to and normally abuts a lower end of said cleat, the other leg of said bracket having an elongated slot in which a median portion of said sleeve is adapted to be fitted and clamped in a given serviceable position.

2. The structure defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said cleat is provided at a lower end with a first pair of ears, said bracket having a second pair of ears which are oriented and coordinated with said first pair of ears, and a hinge pin piercing and hingedly uniting the respective pairs of ears and hingedly and cooperatively joining said bracket to said cleat.

3. The structure defined in and according to claim 2, and a tensioned coil spring interposed between the ears of said first pair of ears, surrounding said pin and having one free end engaging a predetermined surface of said cleat and its other free end engaging a predetermined surface of said bracket.

4. In combination, a boat having a vertical transom, attaching and retaining means for an underwater transducer assembly comprising a vertically elongated rigid cleat having a flat surface adapted to be superimposed upon and secured to a predetermined surface of said transom, said cleat having a lower end provided with opposed spaced parallel ears, said ears having coplanar lower marginal edges flush with a cooperating lower marginal edge of said cleat, the body portion of said cleat being provided with a pair of spaced parallel elongated slots, said slots adapted to accommodatingly receive and position screw-threaded headed fasteners in a manner permitting the cleat to be vertically adjusted and secured in a given position, an adapter bracket, said adapter bracket being substantially L-shaped and embodying a short forward leg and a complemental long leg, said short leg having an edge normally abutting the coacting lower marginal edge of said cleat, said short leg having end portions provided with laterally directed ears which are oriented and coordinated with the ears of said first-named pair of ears, and a long leg, said long leg being provided with an elongated slot, an assembling hinge pin piercing and hingedly uniting the respectively cooperable ears and hingedly joining said adapter bracket to said cleat, and an underwater transducer assembly provided with an upstanding screw-threaded nut-equipped sleeve, the nut-equipped median portion of said sleeve being passed through said slot in a manner that the nuts on said sleeve are clampingly associated with coacting surface portions of said long leg.

5. The combination defined in and accoRding to claim 4 and a tensioned coil spring interposed between the ears of the first-named pair of ears, surrounding said hinge pin and having one free end engaging a predetermined surface of said cleat and its other free end engaging a predetermined surface of the short leg of said adapter bracket.