Waterproof floatation case for outboard motor

Abstract

A waterproof floatation case is provided for an outboard motor which is suitable for use during deployment for covert operations with an inflatable motor craft. The encased propulsion unit can be mounted without the need for removing the case and the two panels of the case butterflied between the motor and watercraft to permit full operation of the motor. A 2-way valve permits suction to be drawn down on the case evacuating excess air and corrosive fluids from the encased motor.

Claims

1. A waterproof floatation case for an outboard motor, said case comprising: a) a left side panel constructed of waterproof material and having a first edge; b) a right side panel constructed of waterproof material and having a first edge, said first edge of said right side panel being common to said first edge of said left side panel; c) a waterproof zipper extending at least 180 about a peripheral extent a second edge of said left side panel and a second edge of said right side panel of said waterproof floatation case, said peripheral extent including said first and said second common edges; whereby an outboard motor fully encased in said waterproof floatation case may be discharged from a submarine, mounted on a transom of an inflatable watercraft, said waterproof zipper moved to a disengaged position and said left side butterflied with a bungee and said right side butterflied with a second bungee allowing the outboard motor to be operated without having said waterproof floatation case fully removed from said outboard motor.

2. The waterproof floatation case of claim 1 wherein said waterproof material from which said left panel and said right panel are constructed is nylon mesh fabric to which an elastomer is secured.

3. The waterproof floatation case of claim 2 wherein said elastomer comprises a neoprene secured to said nylon mesh fabric by vulcanization.

4. The waterproof floatation case of claim 1 further comprising at least a single one-way valve permitting said waterproof floatation case to off-gas excessive atmospheric pressure when exposed to subsurface conditions.

5. The waterproof floatation case of claim 4 wherein said at least a single one-way valve comprises a plurality of one-way valves.

6. The waterproof floatation case of claim 4 further comprising a two-way valve positioned atop said waterproof floatation case permitting influx and efflux of air to and from said waterproof floatation case.

7. The waterproof floatation case of claim 1 further comprising reinforcement means situated within said waterproof floatation case in areas of concern for potential puncture.

8. The waterproof floatation case of claim 7 wherein said areas of concern include where the outboard motor attaches to a transom of the watercraft, adjacent a gear box of the motor and in a vicinity of a prop.

9. A method of deploying a watercraft for covert military operations, and the like, comprising the steps of a) encasing a propulsion unit in a waterproof floatation case, the waterproof floatation case having a zipper which extends at least 180 about a vertical periphery of the case; b) deploying the watercraft from a subsurface vessel, said watercraft including an inflatable raft and the encased propulsion unit; c) mounting the encased propulsion unit on a transom of the inflated raft; d) disengaging the zipper to partially reveal the propulsion unit; e) butterflying a left panel of the waterproof case on a first side of the propulsion unit and securing the left panel of the butterflied case in a first position enabling operation of the propulsion unit; f) butterflying a right panel of the waterproof case on a second side of the propulsion unit and securing the right panel of the butterflied case in a second position enabling operation of the propulsion unit without the necessity of completely removing the waterproof case.

10. A method of encasing a propulsion unit of a watercraft following a covert military operation comprising the steps of a) releasing a first bungee securing a right panel of a waterproof floatation case from its position secured adjacent a right side of the propulsion unit; b) releasing a second bungee securing a left panel of the waterproof floatation case from its position secured adjacent a left side of the propulsion unit; c) reconfiguring the waterproof floatation case to surround the propulsion unit; d) re-engaging a waterproof zipper which extends at least 180 about a vertically oriented periphery of the propulsion unit, a first half of which zipper extends along a first edge of the right panel and a second half of which zipper extends along a first edge of the left panel to form a waterproof enclosure for the propulsion unit; e) pulling suction on the waterproof enclosure to evacuate corrosive fluids from an interior portion of the enclosure prior to storing the encased propulsion unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention is/are described in conjunction with the associated drawings in which like features are indicated with like reference numerals and in which

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of the left side of a first embodiment of the outboard motor case of the present invention showing the position of the motor in dotted line;

(3) FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the first embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the inside of the right panel of the first embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4A is a side view of the first embodiment deployed on a watercraft; and,

(6) FIG. 4B is a schematic rear view of the first embodiment deployed on a watercraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(7) A first embodiment of the waterproof case of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1-2 generally at 20. Case 20 includes a left panel 22 and right panel 24 interconnected by common first edges 26 (FIG. 3). Waterproof case 20 is preferably made of a woven nylon mesh fabric with neoprene vulcanized to its surface to form a 60 oz per square yard waterproof fabric. Case 20 is tailor-made to receive a 30 HP Evinrude multi-fuel engine 11. The shape of the case provides an arm 25 which accommodates the throttle lever 13. The sides of case 20 are extremely flexible and the interior of the case can be evacuated crinkling the case 20 to adhere closely to the outline of the engine/motor 11. This allows excess air pressure to be removed and reduces the amount of added weight needed (from 400 lbs to 120 lbs) to make the case 20 neutrally buoyant at from 33-50 feet of seawater (FSW). Obviously, the lighter weight encased motor will be easier to manipulate both before and after deployment onto/off of the motorcraft 15 (FIG. 4A, 4B). Pockets 40 with latches 42 are provided on either side of case 20 to accommodate lead weights (not shown) to achieve the neutral buoyancy desired for the depth from which the encased motor 11 will be deployed.

(8) A waterproof zipper 30 extends along at least 180 of the lateral peripheral extent of a second edge of case 20 and more preferably, over 240 of the lateral peripheral extent. Two one-way valves 32, one on either side, are provided which allow air trapped inside case 20 to vent to atmosphere. These valves 32 can be chosen to vent at whatever psi desired. A two-way valve 33 is positioned along the top surface of case 20 and permits air to be input or exhausted, as desired. Vacuum can be pulled on valve 33 to eliminate extra trapped air which would cause case 20 to pop to the surface like a cork. By eliminating approximately the extra air within the case 20 and inserting 120 lbs of lead weights in pockets 40, the case 20 with its 30 HP Evinrude engine cargo can be made neutrally buoyant to 50 FSW. In addition, following restoration of the encased motor 11 when deployment has been completed, the two-way valve 33 permits evacuation of corrosive fluids including fuel and fumes which would otherwise harm the plastic parts of motor 11.

(9) Two pair of two inch wide handles 34 and 36 are sewn to each side and a fifth handle 37 is provided along the edge (FIG. 1). These handles 34, 36, and 37 facilitate a three-man carry in which handles 34 are grasped on either side of case 20 and the third soldier grabs handle 37 to effectively steer the lower or tail end of motor 11. A 3-man carry is effected when loading and unloading the encased propulsion unit 11 from its deployment vessel (typically, a submarine). The 6 opposing pairs of eyelets on panels 22, 24 from which carabiner clips 25 (FIG. 2) can be attached permitting suspension of the encased motor 11 during storage.

(10) In operation, the watercraft 15 and encased propulsion unit 11 will be deployed from the submarine, typically through a torpedo bay. Some deployment vessels are equipped with special rooms permitting the propulsion unit 11 to be pre-mounted on the transom of the watercraft and deployed as a package. Generally, however, the military personnel being deployed on the covert ops will keep track of the watercraft 15 by means of a tether and accompany the propulsion unit 11 on its ascent to the surface. The motor 11 will be mounted on the transom of the watercraft 15 while it is still fully encased in waterproof case 20. Zipper 30 will be fully opened and the left panel 52 is butterflied (i.e., bunched or gathered into a mass resembling a butterfly wing), then retained in that shape using a bungee 53. Similarly, the right panel 54 is butterflied and retained using a second bungee 55. The motor 11 is now fully operational and the watercraft 15 mission-ready without having to remove the case 20 from the motor 11. This cuts deployment time in half greatly reducing the risk of life and limb to the deployed unit and eliminating the risk of dropping the non-encased motor 11 into the brink while attempting to mount it on the transom, as was formerly the case.

(11) When the mission is complete, bungees 53, 55 release the butterflied panels 52, 54 and the case 20 wrapped about propulsion unit 11 and zipper 30 closed to fully encase outboard motor 11. Vacuum can be pulled on two-way valve 33 to remove any excess air and pollutants such as unburned fuel and fumes which could potentially corrode particularly the plastic parts of the motor 11.

(12) Various changes, alternatives, and modifications will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after a reading of the foregoing specification. It is intended that all such changes, alternatives, and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims be considered part of the present invention.