Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In an outboard drive unit having a first member adapted to be affixed to the hull of a boat, a drive unit supported for pivotal, tilting movement by said first member about a generally horizontally extending axis, tilt stop means movable between a released position and an operative position for retaining said drive unit in a tilted up position, tilt lock means movable between a released position and a locked position for releasably restraining said drive unit in a tilted down position, the improvement comprising means on said tilt stop means engageable with means on said tilt lock means for moving said tilt lock means from its released position to its locked position upon movement of said tilt stop means to its operative position when said drive unit is in its tilted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an outboard drive unit having a first member adapted to be affixed to the hull of a boat, a drive unit supported for pivotal, tilting movement by said first member about a generally horizontally extending axis, tilt stop means movable between a released position and an operative position for retaining said drive unit in a tilted up position, tilt lock means movable between a released position and a locked position for releasably restraining said drive unit in a tilted down position, the improvement comprising means on said tilt stop means engageable with means on said tilt lock means for moving said tilt lock means from its released position to its locked position upon movement of said tilt stop means to its operative position when said drive unit is in its tilted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tilt lever returning mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tilt lock means includes a tilt lock operating lever movable between a released position and a locked position for operating said tilt lock means, the means on said tilt stop means being engageable with means on said tilt lock lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tilt lever returning mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means on the tilt stop means comprises an element that is directly engageable with a portion of the tilt lock operating lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A tilt lever returning mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further including hydraulic shock absorbing means interposed between the drive unit and the first member and adapted to provide hydraulic damping for movement between said drive unit and said first member, said tilt lock means comprising a bypass passage for selectively disabling said shock absorbing means and valve means in said bypass means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tilt lever returning mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein the tilt lock means includes a tilt lock operating lever movable between a released position and a locked position for operating said tilt lock means, the means on said tilt stop means being engageable with means on said tilt lock lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tilt lever returning mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means on the tilt stop means comprises an element that is directly engageable with a portion of the tilt lock operating lever.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tilt lever returning mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein the valve means comprises a check valve normally operative to permit flow at a restricted rate in one direction and preclude flow in the opposite direction and means for manually opening the check valve to permit unrestricted flow in both directions.