Mechanical arrangement for trimming an outboard motor

Claim 2

A marine propulsion device comprising a first bracket adapted to be fixedly attached to a transom of a boat, a second bracket adapted to support a propulsion unit, means connecting said second bracket to said first bracket for vertical swinging movement of said second bracket relative to said first bracket about a horizontal axis and for displacement of said horizontal axis relative to one of said first and second brackets in the fore and aft direction, and means for adjustably displacing said horizontal axis in the fore and aft direction, whereby to control the trim of the propulsion unit relative to the supporting boat.

Claim 3

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means connecting said first bracket to said second bracket comprises a tilt pin rotatably mounted in one of said first and second brackets and including spaced bearing portions, and spaced slots elongated in the fore and aft direction in the other of said first and second brackets and receiving said bearing portions of said tilt pin to afford therein rotary movement of said tilt pin and horizontal displacement of said tilt pin.

Claim 4

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for adjustably displacing said horizontal tilt axis includes spaced pinion portions on said tilt pin, spaced rack portions extending in the fore and aft direction on said other of said first and second brackets and in mesh with said tilt pin pinion portions, and means for rotating said tilt pin to thereby selectively horizontally displace said horizontal tilt pin in said slots in the fore and aft direction.

Claim 5

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for adjustably displacing said horizontal axis in the fore and aft direction Includes engageable means on said second bracket and said first bracket for transmitting propulsive thrust from said second bracket to said first bracket.

Claim 6

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said device includes a propulsion unit connected to said second bracket for steering movement about an axis transverse to said horizontal axis and wherein said means for adjustably displacing said horizontal axis in the fore and aft direction includes a member adapted to be fixed to the boat transom and engageable means on said member and on said propulsion unit for transmitting propulsive thrust from said propulsion unit to the boat.

Claim 7

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said member includes means for adjusting the rearward extent of said engageable means on said member.

Claim 8

A marine propulsion device comprising a first bracket adapted to be fixedly attached to a transom of a boat, a swivel bracket, means connecting said swivel bracket to said first bracket for vertical swinging movement of said swivel bracket relative to said first bracket about a horizontal axis and for displacement of said horizontal axis relative to one of said swivel bracket and said first bracket in the fore and aft direction, a propulsion unit connected to said swivel bracket for steering movement about an axis transverse to said horizontal axis, engageable means on said swivel bracket and said first bracket for transmitting propulsive thrust from said propulsion unit to said first bracket, and means for adjustably displacing said horizontal axis in the fore and aft direction, whereby to control the trim of said propulsion unit relative to the supporting boat.

Claim 9

A marine propulsion device comprising a first bracket adapted to be fixedly attached to a transom of a boat, a swivel bracket, means connecting said swivel bracket to said first bracket for vertical swinging movement of said swivel bracket relative to said first bracket about a horizontal axis and for displacement of said horizontal axis relative to one of said swivel bracket and said first bracket in the fore and aft direction, a propulsion unit connected to said swivel bracket for steering movement about an axis transverse to said horizontal axis, engageable means on said swivel bracket and said first bracket for transmitting propulsive thrust from said propulsion unit to said first bracket, and means for adjustably displacing said horizontal axis in the fore and aft direction, whereby to control the trim of said propulsion unit relative to the supporting boat.

Claim 10

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means connecting said first bracket to said swivel bracket comprises a tilt pin rotatably mounted in one of said swivel bracket and said first bracket and including transversely horizontally spaced bearing portions, and transversely horizontally spaced slots elongated in the fore and aft direction in the other of said swivel bracket and said first bracket and receiving said bearing portions of said tilt pin to afford therein rotary movement of said tilt pin and horizontal displacement of said tilt pin, and wherein said means for adjustably displacing said horizontal tilt axis includes transversely horizontally spaced pinion portions on said tilt pin, transversely horizontally spaced rack portions extending in the fore and aft direction on said other of said swivel bracket and said first bracket and in mesh with said tilt pin pinion portions, and means for rotating said tilt pin to thereby selectively horizontally displace said horizontal tilt pin in said slots in the fore and aft direction.

Claim 11

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for rotating said tilt pin comprises a control lever rigidly fixed to said tilt pin.