Folding blade propeller

Claim 1

A foldable marine propeller assembly comprising: a pair of blade elements, each having a blade on one end and a fattened boss with a swivel opening on the opposite end; a swivel pin extending through said blade element openings; said blade elements being configurated and arranged to swivel on said swivel pin from a collapsed position adjacent each other to a functional position protruding away from each other; the improvement comprising: a pair of elongated housing members configurated to be interengaged to form an elongated housing having a streamlined outer surface area, and two axial ends; said housing members cooperatively defining a drive shaft receiving socket extending through one axial end of said housing, and defining an enlarged, drive shaft securement nut receiving recess at the inner end of said socket; a nut abuttment shoulder at the juncture of said socket and said enlarged recess; said housing members cooperatively defining a slot extending through said housing at the second end thereof, and receiving said flattened bosses; each of said housing members having a blind socket oriented transversely of said slot and transversely of said housing axis; said blind sockets being aligned with each other, opening into said slot, receiving the ends of said swivel pin, and being unexposed to said housing outer surface area; and fastener elements releasably securing said housing members in cooperative engagement to retain said swivel pin and blade elements.