Outboard hub

Claim 2

An auxiliary hub device for use in combination with the propeller of an outboard drive marine engine, said auxiliary hub device comprising: sleeve means configured and dimensioned for sliding engagement with the hub of said propeller; a plurality of blade notches formed in said sleeve means on at least one end defining the periphery thereof, each of said notches being configured and dimensioned to receive a corresponding one of the blades of said propeller therein; and lock means operatively disposed on the end of said sleeve means opposite from said blade notches, whereby said auxiliary hub device may be secured to the propeller drive shaft in locking, interconnecting relation between said drive shaft and said propeller.

Claim 3

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve means comprises a cylinder, the inside diameter of said cylinder being substantially equal to the outside diameter of said propeller hub.

Claim 4

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 1 wherein said lock means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed apertures formed in said opposite end, said apertures being axially aligned with a corresponding passageway extending diametrically through said propeller drive shaft, and fastening means dimensioned and configured for extending through said apertures and said passageway, whereby said sleeve means is attachable to said drive shaft in driven relation thereto.

Claim 5

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 3 wherein said fastening means comprises a nut and bolt.

Claim 6

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 1 further comprising auxiliary lock means comprising a plurality of threaded apertures formed in said notched end of said sleeve means and a corresponding plurality of threaded second bolt means insertable in said threaded apertures, whereby one end of said second bolt means will abuttingly engage a predetermined portion of said propeller hub adjacent said threaded apertures when said second bolt means are screwed into said threaded apertures.

Claim 7

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 1 wherein each of said blade notches is defined by intersecting first and second edges, said first edge being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve means, and said second edge being angularly oriented with respect thereto, whereby said first edge engages said corresponding one of said propeller blades in driving relation thereto.

Claim 8

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said blade notches formed on said sleeve means on each of said ends defining the periphery thereof; and said lock means being operatively disposed on each of said sleeve means ends.

Claim 9

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 7 wherein said blade notches formed on one of said ends are dimensioned and configured to receive right-handed propeller blades, and said blade notches formed on the other of said ends are dimensioned and configured to receive left-handed propeller blades.

Claim 10

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve means comprises a first cylinder and said lock means comprises an annular shoulder extending inwardly toward the axis of said first cylinder; a second cylinder formed on the interior periphery of said annular shoulder and extending in substantially concentric relation to said first cylinder toward said blade notches; an annular plate formed at the bottom of said second cylinder, said annular plate defining a plane substantially parallel to that of said annular shoulder, wherein the aperture defined by said annular plate is dimensioned and configured to receive said drive shaft therethrough; and fastening means mountable on said drive shaft in interconnecting relation between said drive shaft and said annular plate, whereby said sleeve means is attachable to said drive shaft in driven relation thereto.

Claim 11

An auxiliary hub device as in claim 9 wherein said fastening means comprises a drive shaft nut.