US3774571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Outboard motor steering arrangement
Assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
•
Filing: 1971-03-18
•
Granted: 1973-11-27
•
Expires: 1991-03-18
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is an outboard motor having releasable means engageable between a king pin and a swivel bracket for preventing relative pivotal movement between the king pin and the swivel bracket. In one embodiment, the releasable means includes a wrap spring. In another embodiment, the releasable means includes a series of rollers movable relative to a locking position wherein said rollers engage both the swivel bracket and the king pin to prevent relative movement therebetween. Also disclosed herein are means for releasing the means preventing relative pivotal movement between the swivel bracket and the king pin including a shaft which is pivotally carried by the king pin co-axially therewith and has means for releasing the locked condition of the king pin and the swivel bracket. Also disclosed herein are means connecting the releasing means to the king pin to effect steering movement of the outboard motor after release of the releasable means in response to the application of a steering force to the releasing means.
Inventors
- 👤 W Shimanckas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:43
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H20/00; B63H20/08; B63H20/12; F; F02; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/04; F02B61/045; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/2066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a swivel bracket having a bore therein, a dirigible unit comprising a king pin pivotally received in said bore and a propulsion unit connected to said king pin above and below said bore, means connected to said dirigible unit for pivoting said dirigible unit relative to said swivel bracket, releasable locking means engaged between said king pin and said swivel bracket for locking said king pin and swivel bracket relative to each other to prevent relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket, and including a flat on one of said king pin and said swivel bracket bore, a cylindrical surface on the other of said king pin and said swivel bracket bore, and a roller extending with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of said king pin and movable relative to a position of releasable locking engagement between said king pin and said swivel bracket in the wedge-shaped space between said flat and said cylindrical surface, and means for releasing said releasable locking means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a swivel bracket having a bore therein, a dirigible unit comprising a king pin pivotally received in said bore and a propulsion unit connected to said king pin above and below said bore, means connected to said dirigible unit for pivoting said dirigible unit relative to said swivel bracket, releasable locking means engaged between said king pin and said swivel bracket for locking said king pin and swivel bracket relative to each other to prevent relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket, and including a flat on one of said king pin and said swivel bracket bore, a cylindrical surface on the other of said king pin and said swivel bracket bore, and a roller extending with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of said king pin and movable relative to a position of releasable locking engagement between said king pin and said swivel bracket in the wedge-shaped space between said flat and said cylindrical surface, and means for releasing said releasable locking means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said releasable locking means further includes means biasing said roller into said position of releasable locking engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a swivel bracket having a bore therein, a dirigible unit comprising a king pin pivotally received in said bore and a propulsion unit connected to said king pin, releasable locking means engaged between said king pin and said swivel bracket for locking said king pin and swivel bracket relative to each other to prevent relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket, and including a series of flats on said king pin, a cylindrical surface on said swivel bracket bore, a pair of rollers associated with each of said flats and respectively movable relative to positions of releasable locking engagement between said king pin and said swivel bracket in the respective wedge-shaped spaces located at the ends of said flats, and means for releasing said releasable locking means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a swivel bracket having a bore therein, a dirigible unit comprising a king pin pivotally received in said bore and a propulsion unit connected to said king pin, releasable locking means engaged between said king pin and said swivel bracket for locking said king pin and swivel bracket relative to each other to prevent relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket, and including a series of flats on said king pin, a cylindrical surface on said swivel bracket bore, a pair of rollers associated with each of said flats and respectively movable relative to positions of releasable locking engagement between said king pin and said swivel bracket in the respective wedge-shaped spaces located at the ends of said flats, and means for releasing said releasable locking means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 3 and wherein said biasing means includes springs biasing said rollers in said pairs away from each other and into said positions of locking engagement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises springs biasing adjacent ones of said rollers in adjacently locked pairs of rollers toward one another and into said positions of locking engagement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a swivel bracket having a bore therein, a dirigible unit comprising a king pin pivotally received in said bore and a propulsion unit connected to said king pin, releasable locking means engaged between said king pin and said swivel bracket for locking said king pin and swivel bracket relative to each other to prevent relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket, and means for releasing said releasable locking means including a releasing shaft mounted in said king pin for pivotal movement co-axial with said king pin and means on said releasing shaft cooperAting with said releasable locking means for releasing said locking means to afford relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a swivel bracket having a bore therein, a dirigible unit comprising a king pin pivotally received in said bore and a propulsion unit connected to said king pin, releasable locking means engaged between said king pin and said swivel bracket for locking said king pin and swivel bracket relative to each other to prevent relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket, and means for releasing said releasable locking means including a releasing shaft mounted in said king pin for pivotal movement co-axial with said king pin and means on said releasing shaft cooperAting with said releasable locking means for releasing said locking means to afford relative pivotal movement between said king pin and said swivel bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 including a releasing bracket, means mounting said releasing bracket for pivotal movement relative to said dirigible unit, and means connecting said releasing bracket and said releasing shaft to provide for pivoting said releasing shaft in response to pivoting of said releasing bracket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means connecting said releasing bracket and said releasing shaft includes means affording proportionally increased angular movement of said releasing shaft in response to angular movement of said releasing bracket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
188 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said dirigible unit includes a steering arm extending from said king pin, wherein said releasing bracket is pivotally mounted on said steering arm remote from the axis of said king pin, wherein said releasing shaft has fixed thereto a releasing lever extending in the opposite direction from said steering arm, wherein said means connecting said releasing bracket and said releasing shaft includes a slot extending radially of said king pin axis in one of said releasing bracket and said releasing lever and a projection extending from the other of said releasing bracket and said releasing lever and extending into said slot, and wherein said releasing shaft includes a projecting end portion and said releasing bracket includes a second, transversely elongated slot receiving said projecting end portion of said releasing shaft, whereby in response to initial pivotal movement of said releasing bracket, said releasing shaft is pivoted until said projecting end portion engages said second slot in said releasing bracket, whereafter said king pin is pivoted relative to said swivel bracket upon continued pivotal movement of said releasing bracket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means on said shaft includes a pin extending radially from said releasing shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said releasing means includes a shaft rotatably mounted in said king pin for pivotal movement co-axially with said king pin and wherein said means connecting said releasing means to said king pin includes interengaging means on said king pin and on said releasing shaft affording a range of angular lost motion between said releasing shaft and said king pin followed by common pivotal movement of said releasing shaft and said king pin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 11 wherein said interengaging means comprise a slot in said king pin, said slot having angularly spaced radially extending sides, and a stud extending from said releasing shaft into said slot so as to afford angular movement relative to said king pin of the stud between said slot sides.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 and further including means connecting said releasing means to said king pin to apply force from said releasing means to said king pin to effect dirigible unit movement about the axis of said king pin and after release of said releasable locking means and in response to the application of a steering force to said releasing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 13 including a steering arm extending from said dirigible unit and wherein said releasing means includes a releasing bracket mounted for pivotal movement co-axial with said king pin and cooperating interengaging means on said releasing means and said steering arm cooperating to provide, in response to pivotal movement of said releasing bracket, a range of angular lost motion between said releasing bracket and said steering arm followed by common pivotal movement of said releasing bracket and said steering arm whereby to effect pivoting of said dirigible unit relative to Said swivel bracket in response to a force applied to said releasing bracket.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 13 and including a steering arm extending from said dirigible unit and wherein said releasing means includes a releasing bracket mounted for pivotal movement on said steering arm and interengaging cooperating means on said releasing bracket and said dirigible unit cooperating to provide, in response to pivotal movement of said releasing bracket, a range of angular lost motion between said releasing bracket and said dirigible unit followed by common pivotal movement of said releasing bracket and said dirigible unit, whereby to effect pivoting of said dirigible unit relative to said swivel bracket in response to a force applied to said releasing bracket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said cooperating interengaging means includes a portion extending from said releasing shaft and an elongated slot in said releasing bracket receiving said releasing shaft portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |