Mounting arrangement for small outboard motors

Claim 2

An outboard motor mounting arrangement including a member adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, a bracket movable between a storage position and an operating position and adapted to support an outboard motor, a first rigid link having one end pivotally connected to said bracket about an axis fixed with respect to said bracket and having a second end pivotally connected to said member about an axis fixed with respect to said member so as to extend in one direction from said member when said bracket is in the operating position, and so as to extend in the opposite directon from said member when said bracket is in the storage position, link means including a second rigid link having one end pivotally connected to said bracket about an axis fixed with respect to said bracket and having a second end, and means including a movable pivotal connection connecting said second end of said second link to said member, and means for yieldably urging said movable pivotal connection in the direction toward said bracket when said bracket is in the operating position to thereby releasably maintain said bracket in the operating position.

Claim 3

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said means connecting said second end of said second link to said member includes a support connected to said member for arcuate movement relative to said member and to said second link by said movable pivotal connection, and means for limiting arcuate movement of said support towards said bracket to assist in locating said bracket in the operating position.

Claim 4

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said means for limiting arcuate movement of said support comprises an upstanding flange which is engaged by said support during movement of said bracket from the storage position towards the operating position.

Claim 5

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said link means includes means for engaging said second link to provide coordinated pivotal movement of said support and said second link relative to said member during movement of said bracket between the storage position and a position intermediate the operating position and the storage position.

Claim 6

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said engaging means comprises a shaft which is coaxial with said movable pivotal connection.

Claim 7

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 2 including first, second, third and fourth pivot axes respectively defined at the pivotal connections between said second link and said bracket, between said first link and said bracket, between said second link and said support, and between said first link and said member, the distance between said second and fourth pivot axes being greater than the distance between said first and third pivot axes when said bracket is in the operating position.

Claim 8

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said first pivot axis is located in one direction from said second pivot axis and said third pivot axis is located in the opposite direction from said fourth pivot axis with respect to said bracket when said bracket is in the operating positon.

Claim 9

An outboard motor mounting according to claim 6 including a fifth pivot axis defined at the pivotal connection between said support and said member, said pivot axis being located in the direction away from said fourth pivot axis with respect to said bracket when said bracket is in the operating posiiton.

Claim 10

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 8 wherein said fifth pivot axis is located below said fourth pivot axis.

Claim 11

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said urging means comprises a spring having a first end connected to said second link at a location remote from said bracket and having a second end connected to said first link at a location remote from but closer to said bracket than the first end of said spring.

Claim 12

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said means connecting said second end of said second link further includes a plate extending generally vertically from said member and including an arcuate slot, and wherein said movable pivotal connection extends in said slot for pivotal and arcuate movement relative to said member.

Claim 13

An outboard motor mounting arrangement including a member adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, a bracket adapted to support an outboard motor, first and second rigid links each having a first end pivotally connected to said bracket in spaced relation and each having a second end, means pivotally connecting said second ends of said links to said member to provide pivotal movement of said bracket relative to said member between a bracket operating position in which said links extend in one direction from said member and a bracket storage position in which said links extend in the direction generally opposite to said one direction, said pivotal connecting means including a support pivotally connected to the second end of said first link and mounted on said member for arcuate movement relative to said member, a spring connected between said links for urging said first link means toward said bracket when said bracket is in the operating position to thereby releasably maintain said bracket in the operating position, an upstanding flange on said member for engaging said support to limit arcuate movement of said support toward said bracket and thereby assist in locating said bracket in the operating position, and means associated with said first link for engaging said second link to provide coordinated pivotal movement of said support and said first link relative to said member during movement of said bracket between the storage position and a position intermediate the storage and operating positions.

Claim 14

An outboard motor mounting arrangement including a member adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, a bracket adapted to support an outboard motor, first and second rigid links each having a first end pivotally connected to said bracket in spaced relation and each having a second end, means pivotally connecting said second ends of said links to said member to provide pivotal movement of said bracket relative to said member between a bracket operating position in which said links extend in one direction from said member and a bracket storage position in which said links extend in the direction generally opposite to said one direction, said pivotal connecting means including a support pivotally connected to the second end of said first link and mounted on said member for arcuate movement relative to said member, a spring connected between said links for urging said first link means toward said bracket when said bracket is in the operating position to thereby releasably maintain said bracket in the operating position, an upstanding flange on said member for engaging said support to limit arcuate movement of said support toward said bracket and thereby assist in locating said bracket in the operating position, and means associated with said first link for engaging said second link to provide coordinated pivotal movement of said support and said first link relative to said member during movement of said bracket between the storage position and a position intermediate the storage and operating positions.

Claim 15

An outboard motor mounting arrangement according to claim 12 including first, second, third and fourth pivot axes respectively defined at the pivotal connections between said first link and said bracket, between said second link and said bracket, between said first link and said support, and between said second link and said member, the distance between said second and fourth pivot axes being greater than the distance between said first and third pivot axes when said bracket is in the operating position.