Motor Mount Assembly

Abstract

A motor mount assembly is provided for detachably attaching a motor to a watercraft. The motor mount assembly comprises a battery housing, a mounting flange, an adjustable support assembly, and a motor support shaft. The battery housing is disposed on and releasably secured to the watercraft. The battery housing accommodates a battery that powers the motor. The mounting flange is detachably attached to and extends outwardly from the battery housing. A first end of the adjustable support assembly detachably attaches to the mounting flange. The adjustable support assembly supports the motor support shaft. The motor support shaft is connected to a second end of the adjustable support assembly and is positioned substantially vertical to the adjustable support assembly. The motor is connected to the bottom end of the motor support shaft and is therefore detachably attached to the watercraft via the motor support shaft.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A motor mount assembly for detachably attaching a motor to a watercraft, comprising:
 a battery housing disposed on and releasably secured to said watercraft, wherein said battery housing is configured to accommodate a battery that powers said motor;   a mounting flange detachably attached to and extending outwardly from said battery housing within said watercraft;   an adjustable support assembly mounted on said mounting flange, wherein a first end of said adjustable support assembly detachably attaches to said mounting flange, and wherein a second end of said adjustable support assembly supports a motor support shaft; and   said motor support shaft connected to said second end of said adjustable support assembly and positioned substantially vertical to said adjustable support assembly, wherein a bottom end of said motor support shaft is connected to said motor;   whereby said motor is detachably attached to said watercraft via said motor support shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second end of said adjustable support assembly is configured to receive said motor support shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an end cap configured to receive and secure said motor support shaft within a space defined between said second end of said adjustable support assembly and said end cap. 
     
     
         4 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said motor support shaft is pivotally connected within said space defined by said second end of said adjustable support assembly and said end cap for steering said watercraft. 
     
     
         5 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said motor support shaft is rigidly connected within said space defined by said second end of said adjustable support assembly and said end cap for non-steering of said watercraft. 
     
     
         6 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a locking element for locking said motor support shaft within said space defined by said second end of said adjustable support assembly and said end cap for one of a pivotal connection and a rigid connection of said motor support shaft to said adjustable support assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a steering system rigidly attached to a middle section of said motor support shaft, wherein said steering system comprises:
 a steering mount bracket with an end cap rigidly attached to said middle section of said motor support shaft, wherein said steering mount bracket and said end cap together define a space for receiving said middle section of said motor support shaft;   a tie rod rigidly attached to said steering mount bracket, wherein said tie rod provides a lateral offset for applying a steering force by a user on said motor support shaft; and   a steering handle hingedly connected to said tie rod, wherein a first end of said steering handle is hingedly connected to said tie rod, and a second end of said steering handle is disposed proximal to said user to enable said user to apply said steering force on said motor support shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a casing for accommodating said motor, wherein said casing with said accommodated motor is connected to said bottom end of said motor support shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising clamping elements to releasably secure said battery housing to said watercraft. 
     
     
         10 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting flange is a T-shaped frame detachably attached to said battery housing by a plurality of fastening elements. 
     
     
         11 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said adjustable support assembly is detachably attached to said mounting flange by a locking pin. 
     
     
         12 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable support assembly comprises a plurality of interconnected sliding members adjustable for varying lengths of said watercraft. 
     
     
         13 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of said sliding members of said adjustable support assembly comprises a plurality of recesses for receiving one or more locking pins, wherein said one or more locking pins lock said sliding members to each other in a position based on length of said watercraft. 
     
     
         14 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a footpad connected to said adjustable support assembly and positioned between said adjustable support assembly and said watercraft for supportively cushioning said adjustable support assembly on said watercraft. 
     
     
         15 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said accommodated battery is in electric communication with said motor connected to said motor support shaft for electrically powering said motor. 
     
     
         16 . The motor mount assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a control system in electric communication with said accommodated battery and said motor for controlling discharge of electrical power from said accommodated battery to said motor during operation of said motor, wherein said control system is disposed proximal to a user within said watercraft and enables said user to change speed and direction of rotation of said motor. 
     
     
         17 . A method for detachably attaching a motor to a watercraft, comprising:
 providing a motor mount assembly comprising a battery housing, a mounting flange, an adjustable support assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected sliding members, and a motor support shaft;   releasably securing said battery housing to said watercraft, wherein said battery housing is configured to accommodate a battery that powers said motor;   detachably attaching said mounting flange to said battery housing, wherein said detachably attached mounting flange extends outwardly from said battery housing within said watercraft;   detachably attaching a first end of said adjustable support assembly to said mounting flange, wherein said adjustable support assembly supports said motor support shaft;   adjusting said sliding members of said adjustable support assembly and locking said sliding members in a position based on length of said watercraft;   connecting said motor support shaft to a second end of said adjustable support assembly and positioning said motor support shaft substantially vertical to said adjustable support assembly; and   connecting said motor to a bottom end of said motor support shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving and securing said motor support shaft within a space defined by said second end of said adjustable support assembly and said end cap. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising pivotally connecting said motor support shaft within said space defined by said second end of said adjustable support assembly and said end cap for steering said watercraft. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising rigidly connecting said motor support shaft within said space defined by said second end of said adjustable support assembly and said end cap for non-steering of said watercraft. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said motor mount assembly further comprises a steering system rigidly attached to a middle section of said motor support shaft, wherein said steering system enables a user to operatively change direction of said watercraft, wherein said steering system comprises:
 a steering mount bracket with an end cap rigidly attached to said middle section of said motor support shaft, wherein said steering mount bracket and said end cap together define a space for receiving said middle section of said motor support shaft;   a tie rod rigidly attached to said steering mount bracket, wherein said tie rod provides a lateral offset for applying a steering force by said user on said motor support shaft; and   a steering handle hingedly connected to said tie rod, wherein a first end of said steering handle is hingedly connected to said tie rod, and a second end of said steering handle is disposed proximal to said user to enable said user to apply said steering force on said motor support shaft.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising electrically powering said motor by said accommodated battery in electric communication with said motor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising controlling discharge of electrical power from said accommodated battery to said motor during operation of said motor by a control system in electric communication with said accommodated battery and said motor.