Shift mechanism for outboard propulsion units

Claim 1

IN AN OUTBOARD DRIVE FOR BOATS, A VERTICAL SHAFT, A HORIZONTAL SHAFT, A BEVELED GEAR SECURED TO THE END OF ONE OF SAID SHAFTS AND FACING THE OTHER SHAFT, A PAIR OF FORWARD AND REVERSE BEVELED GEARS FREELY ROTATABLE ON SAID OTHER SHAFT AND CONTINUOUSLY MESHING WITH SAID FIRST NAMED BEVELED GEAR, A DOG CLUTCH MEMBER ROTATIONALLY SECURED ON SAID OTHER SHAFT AND AXIALLY MOVABLE THEREON BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF BEVELED GEARS, MEANS TO INTERLOCK SAID DOG CLUTCH MEMBER WITH THE CORRESPONDING FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS WHEN SAID CLUTCH MEMBER IS SHIFTED TO ENGAGE THE SAME, SAID INTERLOCK MEANS BETWEEN SAID MEMBER AND SAID FORWARD GEAR COMPRISING RATCHET TYPE CLUTCH TEETH ADAPTED TO TRANSMIT DRIVING FORCES IN THE DIRECTION OF FORWARD DRIVE AND TO PROVIDE FOR CAM-OUT OF THE INTERLOCK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, MEANS TO SHIFT SAID MEMBER FROM A NEUTRAL INTERMEDIATE POSITION SELECTIVELY INTO INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH EITHER OF SAID FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS, A LOST MOTION CONNECTION IN SAID SHIFT MEANS ADAPTED TO AVOID POSITIVE SHIFTING OF SAID MEMBER INTO DRIVING INTERLOCK WITH SAID FORWARD GEAR WHEN SAID SHIFT MEANS IS ACTUATED TO FORWARD DRIVE POSITION, AND RESILIENT MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LOST MOTION CONNECTION AND URGING THE SAME IN A DIRECTION TO SHIFT SAID MEMBER INTO DRIVING INTERLOCK WITH SAID FORWARD GEAR WHEN SAID SHIFT MEANS IS ACTUATED TO FORWARD DRIVE POSITION, SAID RESILIENT MEANS BEING YIELDABLE TO RELEASE SAID RATCHET INTERLOCK UNDER CONDITIONS OF FREE WHEELING DRIVE.