Releasable rudder lock

Claim 3

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting member includes a first leg portion adapted to project outwardly of the boat, said aperture being in said first leg portion, said arm of said resilient lock element projecting from said first leg portion along at least a portion of said pintle.

Claim 4

An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said attaching flange of said resilient lock element is attached to said first leg portion and said cooperating surface means are remote from said first leg portion and includes first and second cooperating surfaces on the arm and pintle, respectively, whereby at least the portion of said arm between the cooperating surface of the arm and the attaching flange can be resiliently deflected to allow withdrawal of the pintle from the aperture.

Claim 5

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating surface means includes cam means responsive to a force of at least a first magnitude acting on said pintle in a direction tending to withdraw the pintle from the aperture for releasing said resilient lock element to allow withdrawal of the pintle from the aperture.

Claim 6

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient arm extends along a region of the pintle when the pintle is in the aperture, said cooperating surface means includes a cooperating surface on said arm and a cooperating surface on said pintle, said cooperating surface on said arm forming a projection on said arm and said cooperating surface on said pintle forming a recess in said pintle, said projection being receivable in said recess to retain the pintle against withdrawal from the aperture.

Claim 7

An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the projection and the recess have sloping sides and said recess is annular.

Claim 8

An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said cooperating surfaces include cam means responsive to a force of at least a first magnitude acting on said pintle in a direction tending to withdraw the pintle from the aperture for releasing said resilient lock element to allow withdrawal of the pintle from the aperture.

Claim 9

In combination: a boat having a first mounting member with an aperture therein; a rudder; a pintle; means for attaching said pintle to the rudder, at least a portion of said pintle being receivable in the aperture of the first mounting member to at least assist in mounting the rudder for pivotal movement relative to the boat; releasable locking means on said pintle and said first mounting member responsive to the insertion of said portion of said pintle a predetermined distance into said aperture for restraining said portion of the pintle against removal from the aperture; said releasable locking means including an integral resilient lock element carried by said first mounting member and deformable radially from a first position in which it restrains the pintle against removal from the aperture and a second position in which it allows insertion of the pintle into, and removal of the pintle from, the aperture; and said mounting member having a collar at least partly defining said aperture and said releasable locking means having an attaching flange and a resilient arm, said attaching flange being attached to the mounting member and a portion of said arm being closely adjacent said collar, and said arm and said collar extending from said mounting member in the same general direction.

Claim 10

In combination: a boat having a first mounting member with an aperture therein; a rudder; a pintle; means for attaching said pintle to the rudder, at least a portion of said pintle being receivable in the aperture of the first mounting member to at least assist in mounting the rudder for pivotal movement relative to the boat; releasable locking means on said pintle and said first mounting member responsive to the insertion of said portion of said pintle a predetermined distance into said aperture for restraining said portion of the pintle against removal from the aperture; said releasable locking means including an integral resilient lock element carried by said first mounting member and deformable radially from a first position in which it restrains the pintle against removal from the aperture and a second position in which it allows insertion of the pintle into, and removal of the pintle from, the aperture; and said mounting member having a collar at least partly defining said aperture and said releasable locking means having an attaching flange and a resilient arm, said attaching flange being attached to the mounting member and a portion of said arm being closely adjacent said collar, and said arm and said collar extending from said mounting member in the same general direction.