AUTOMATICALLY RELEASING PIVOT CLAMP MODULE FOR AN OUTBOARD MOTOR

Abstract

The assembly includes a pivoting body member connectable to an outboard motor assembly, wherein the pivoting body member is movable along a transition path having a locked condition endpoint and an unlocked condition endpoint. A pivoting latch seat mechanically cooperates with a fixed latch pin in the assembly to maintain the pivoting latch seat and the outboard motor assembly in a locked condition when the outboard motor assembly is in a lowered position. The pivoting latch seat is mounted and arranged to disengage from the fixed latch pin to an unlocked condition when the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path to the unlocked condition endpoint, thereafter permitting movement of the outboard motor assembly to a raised position.

Claims

1. A mechanical control assembly for moving an outboard motor assembly, mountable on a boat by a clamping module, between a lowered position and a raised position, comprising: a pivoting body member connectable to an outboard motor assembly, wherein the pivoting body member is movable along a transition path having a locked condition endpoint and an unlocked condition endpoint; and a pivoting latch seat mechanically attached to the pivoting body member and mechanically cooperating with a fixed latch pin in the mechanical control assembly to maintain the pivoting latch seat and the outboard motor assembly in a locked condition when the outboard motor assembly is in a lowered position, wherein the pivoting latch seat is mounted and arranged to disengage from the fixed latch pin to an unlocked condition when the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path to the unlocked condition endpoint, thereafter permitting movement of the outboard motor assembly to a raised position

2. The mechanical control assembly of claim 1, including a spring member for returning the pivoting latch seat to the locked condition when the outboard motor assembly is returned to the lowered position from a raised position.

3. The mechanical control assembly of claim 2, wherein the spring member extends between a point on the pivoting body member and the pivoting latch seat and wherein the spring member compresses when the outboard motor assembly is moved to the raised position.

4. The mechanical control assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path by action on a tiller portion of the outboard motor assembly by an operator.

5. The mechanical control assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path to the unlocked condition endpoint by a grounding action of the outboard motor assembly.

6. The mechanical control assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivoting latch seat pivots about a latch seat pin mounted on the pivoting body member.

7. The mechanical control assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical control assembly includes a clamping module which includes two spaced clamp members, and wherein the pivoting body member is positioned between the clamp members, the mechanical control assembly including a pivot pin which extends between the two clamp members and through an opening in the pivoting body member defining the transition path.

8. The mechanical control assembly of claim 7, wherein the fixed latch pin extends from a clamp member.

9. The mechanical control assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivoting body member includes a pair of opposed plates joined at end portions thereof to define a connecting portion, the connecting portion having an opening through which a depending element of the outboard motor assembly extends, wherein the pivoting latch seat is positioned adjacent an inner surface of one of the opposed plates, wherein the one plate includes a curved opening through which the fixed latch pin extends, wherein the fixed latch pin is located at a proximal end of the curved opening when the outboard motor assembly is in the lowered position and is at approximately a distal end of the curved opening when the outboard motor assembly is in the raised position.

10. An mechanical control assembly for moving an outboard motor assembly, mountable on a boat by a clamping module, between a lowered position and a raised position, comprising: a pivoting body member connectable to an outboard motor assembly, wherein the pivoting body member is movable along a transition path having a locked condition endpoint and an unlocked condition endpoint; wherein the transition path is defined by a curved opening in the pivoting body member, the curved opening having a latch seat portion at a proximal end thereof through which a fixed latch pin in the mechanical control assembly extends, the latch seat portion mechanically cooperating with the fixed latch pin to maintain the pivoting body member and the outboard motor assembly in a locked condition when the outboard motor assembly is in a lowered position; and wherein the latch seat portion is configured so that the latch seat portion disengages from the latch pin when the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path to the unlocked condition endpoint, thereafter permitting movement of the outboard motor assembly to the raised position.

11. The mechanical control assembly of claim 10, wherein the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path to the unlocked condition endpoint by a grounding action of the outboard motor assembly.

12. The mechanical control assembly of claim 10, wherein the mechanical control assembly includes a clamping module which includes two spaced clamp members, and wherein the pivoting body member is positioned between the clamp members and includes a pivot pin which extends between the two clamp members and through an opening in the pivoting body member defining the transition path.

14. The mechanical control assembly of claim 13, wherein the fixed latch pin extends from a clamp member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a boat with an outboard motor sitting in the water and showing a ground surface as well.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the outboard motor of FIG. 1 in a lowered position.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the outboard motor of FIG. 1 in a raised position.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway elevational view showing a clamp and pivot module combination for an outboard motor.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a view showing radiused transition path examples for the pivot function of the pivot module portion of the clamp and pivot module combination.

[0016] FIG. 6 shows a complex transition path.

[0017] FIG. 7 shows a pivot and slot arrangement defining a transition path for the pivot module.

[0018] FIG. 8 shows a pivot linkage defining an arcuate path for the pivot module.

[0019] FIG. 9 is an elevational view showing one embodiment of the clamp and pivot module combination.

[0020] FIG. 10 is an elevational view showing another embodiment for the clamp and pivot module combination.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway view of the clamp and pivot module combination showing two possible arrangements for a locked pivot point.

[0022] FIG. 12 is an elevational view of an alternative pivot module embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 13 is an elevational view showing a pivot module latch in an unlocked position.

[0024] FIG. 14 is an elevational view showing the pivot module latch of FIG. 13 in a locked position.

[0025] FIG. 15 is an elevational view showing the pivot latch of FIGS. 13 and 14 in a transition position, permitting movement of the pivot module.

[0026] FIG. 16 is an elevational view showing a transition from a locked latch position to an unlocked position with the angle of the transition path.

[0027] FIG. 17 is a see-through perspective view showing the clamp and pivoting module combination mounted on an outboard motor.

[0028] FIG. 18 is a see-through view showing the clamp and pivoting module combination with a latch seat.

[0029] FIG. 19 is an elevational view showing the latch seat arrangement on the pivoting module.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 generally shows a boat 1 sitting in the water 2 with an outboard motor 102 a tiller arm 104 connected to a motor head 114, a lower unit with propeller 116, the bottom below the water, 118, a grounding incident or contact 106, a clamp and pivot module 100.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the motor module in a lowered position 108

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the motor module in a raised position 114.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a clamp and pivot module 208 attached to a boat transom 210, with a cut-away section 216 of a clamp module 212, clamp screw 214, pivot module 218, and mechanical elements relevant to the operation of the pivot function including transition path 206, endpoints 204 and 202, pivot point 200, pivot path tilt 300 with the pivot module resting by force of gravity so that the pivot point 200 is at the top of the slot 220 which is a locked position that prevents pivoting of the pivot module and motor module.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows radiused transition paths 400, one curving upward (solid line) and the other curving downward (dotted line)

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a complex transition path 402.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a pin 500 and slot 502 arrangement to provide a transition path and endpoints 504 and 506.

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a pivoting linkage pivoting about point 604 describing an arc path 600 with end stops 504 and 506.

[0038] FIG. 9 shows one option for placement of transition/endpoint features 706 on the pivot module 704, and a fixed pivot point 200,700 on the clamp module 702.

[0039] FIG. 10 is another option whereas the transition/endpoint feature 800 is on the clamp module 702 and the fixed pivot point 200 is on the pivot module 704.

[0040] FIG. 11 shows two possible means of establishing a locked pivot point position 202, one using a spring force 902, and one using gravity 900.

[0041] FIG. 12 shows a pivot latch option with no moving parts generally shown at 1102 whereas a clearance slot 1104 for the latch rest pin 1004 contains a latch seat 1100 that prevents pivoting unless the motor is raised to the dotted positions indicated.

[0042] FIG. 13 shows a moveable pivot latch 1206 with pivot prevention seat 1202 having moved some distance 1200 allowing the latch rest pin 100 is partially free to transverse 1204 in its slot.

[0043] FIG. 14 shows the same concept in a latched position with the pivot point in the locked position 202, the transition path 206, pivot latch 1002, latch rest pin 1004 in position in the pivot latch seat 1000 where the pivot latch is also resting on its stop 1300 to prevent a lower extension during a locked-to-unlocked transition and spring and spring seat 1400 that returns the latch to a locking condition after the motor has been lowered.

[0044] FIG. 15 shows the pivot latch at a transition point whereas the unlatched pivot position 204 has enabled the latch rest pin to unseat itself 1700 from the latch seat 1202 so that further forward motion of the rest stop pin can spring the pivot latch out of its path.

[0045] FIG. 16 shows how a tension in the tiller arm 112 and forward momentum of the motor module against a deceleration of the watercraft 2100 can work to create a transition from a locked position to an unlocked position 204 by virtue of the forward angle 300 of the transition path 400,402,206. It also shows that an upward component of force 2200 that would result from grounding a vessel on the motor module can also force an unlock transition.

[0046] FIG. 17 shows an outboard motor with a clamping module, a pivoting body member and a pivoting latch member, with some parts in see-through so that the assembly as a whole can be better visualized

[0047] FIG. 18 shows a close up view of a portion of FIG. 17.

[0048] FIG. 19 shows a portion of FIGS. 17 and 18, somewhat simplified.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a mechanical tilt pivot and clamp module 100 is shown or an outboard motor 102 that requires no manual input to tilt the motor to a raised position aside from pulling on the tiller-arm 104 or from grounding contact 106, and wherein the motor remains locked in a lowered position 108 against a level of reverse thrust 110 equal to or greater than the tension in the tiller arm 112 required to tilt the motor to a raised position 114.

[0050] In FIG. 4, tilt pivot point 200 can translate along path 206 between two end positions; a locked position 202 and an unlocked position 204.

[0051] The tilt pivot point transition path 206 is angled forward 300 between 10 and 80 degrees from a vertical line.

[0052] The pivot point transition path is curved 400 in FIG. 5 or complex 402 in FIG. 6.

[0053] The transition path is provided by a pin 500 in a slot 502 with fixed end points 504, 506, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0054] In FIG. 8, the transition path 600 is provided by a linkage 602 with end stops 604, 606.

[0055] A shown in FIG. 9, the pivot point 200 is fixed 700 in the clamp 702 and the pivot module 704 contains the endpoints and transition path 706.

[0056] In FIG. 10, the fixed pivot point 200 is fixed in the pivot module 704 and the clamp 702 contains the endpoints and transition path 800.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 11, one endpoint position is a locking position 202 resulting from the downward weight of the motor module 900, or from a spring force 902.

[0058] The locking position 202 in FIG. 14, also shown in FIG. 4, locates a seat 1000 in the pivot latch 1002 to a latch rest pin 1004 so that the latch rest pin is seated on the pivot

[0059] In FIG. 12, the pivot latch seat 1100 is immovable, being a feature 1102 in the pivot assembly.

[0060] The pivot latch 1206 in FIG. 13 is moveable 1200 so that after un-seating the latch rest pin from the seat 1202, the latch pin no longer hinders movement 1204 of the pivot module from moving through an arc unhindered by the pivot latch.

[0061] Referring again to FIG. 14, the pivot latch has a rest 1300 to prevent hyper-extension during reverse

[0062] The pivot latch has a spring 1400 to return it to its rest position

[0063] All pins referenced are a bolt, screw, dowel pin, protrusion in mating parts that forms a pivot or resting action as described.

[0064] The second endpoint position is an unlocked position 204 resulting from the raising of the motor module against gravity 900 or against a spring force 902, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0065] The unlocked position 204, in FIG. 15 dislocates the seat in the pivot latch 1202 from the latch rest pin 1004, FIG. 13, either completely 1700 or partially.

[0066] In the case of a complete dislocation, the latch rest pin is unencumbered by the seat allowing the pivot module and motor module to pivot.

[0067] In the case of a partial dislocation, the latch rest pin can move the pivot latch, as shown in FIG. 13, 1200 allowing the pivot module and motor module to pivot.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 16, tension at 112 applied to the tiller arm forces a transition to an unlocked endpoint 204 as a result of the forward slant 300 of the pivot point transition path 400,402,206.

[0069] The raising of the motor to the unlocked endpoint results from the forward inertia 2100 of the motor against a backward acceleration of the watercraft

[0070] The raising of the motor to the unlocked endpoint results from an upward component of force on the motor module imposed by grounding 106, as shown in FIG. 1, in shallow water.

[0071] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow.