TILT-UP ASSISTING STRUCTURE OF OUTBOARD MOTOR

Abstract

A tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor includes a steering handle supported to be pivotable in raising and lowering directions; and a ratchet portion that restricts pivoting of the steering handle relative to the outboard motor. The ratchet portion includes plural teeth formed on an end surface of the steering handle, and a stopper disposed to face the end surface of the steering handle and supported to be pivotable. When the steering handle pivots in the raising direction and a tooth surface of any of the teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper pivots to allow the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction, and when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction and a tooth surface of any of the teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper is stationary to restrict the steering handle from pivoting in the lowering direction.

Claims

1. A tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor for assisting tilt up of the outboard motor, the tilt-up assisting structure comprising: a steering handle that extends in a front-rear direction, wherein a rear end portion of the steering handle is supported to be pivotable about a handle pivoting axis extending in a left-right direction in the outboard motor, a rear end surface of the steering handle is formed in an arc shape about the handle pivoting axis, and the steering handle is pivotable with respect to the outboard motor in a raising direction in which a tip end portion moves upward and a lowering direction in which a tip end portion moves downward or forward; and a ratchet portion that is configured to restrict pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor, wherein: the ratchet portion includes: a plurality of teeth formed on the rear end surface of the steering handle; and a stopper disposed at a position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle and supported to be pivotable about a stopper pivoting axis extending parallel to the handle pivoting axis in the outboard motor, and when the steering handle pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor and a tooth surface of any tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper pivots to allow the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, and when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor and a tooth surface of any tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper is stationary to restrict the steering handle from pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor.

2. The tilt-up assisting structure according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is disposed in a region from a rear side to a lower side of the rear end portion of the steering handle in the outboard motor such that the stopper does not protrude to a left side from an outer surface on a left side of the rear end portion of the steering handle and does not protrude to a right side from an outer surface on a right side of the rear end portion of the steering handle.

3. The tilt-up assisting structure according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is disposed behind the rear end portion of the steering handle in the outboard motor.

4. The tilt-up assisting structure according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is disposed below the rear end portion of the steering handle in the outboard motor.

5. The tilt-up assisting structure according to claim 1, wherein the stopper includes: a base portion pivotably supported about the stopper pivoting axis in the outboard motor; and a claw portion extending from the base portion toward the rear end surface of the steering handle, wherein the claw portion has a tip end surface configured to come into surface contact with a tooth surface on a lowering direction side of each of the plurality of teeth, and wherein when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor, a tooth surface on the lowering direction side of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into surface contact with the tip end surface of the claw portion and pushes the tip end surface of the claw portion in a direction of the base portion, so that the stopper is made stationary and the pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor is restricted.

6. The tilt-up assisting structure according to claim 1, wherein the stopper includes: a base portion pivotably supported about the stopper pivoting axis in the outboard motor; and a claw portion extending from the base portion toward the rear end surface of the steering handle, wherein the claw portion has a tip end surface configured to come into surface contact with a tooth surface on a lowering direction side of each of the plurality of teeth, and wherein when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor, a tooth surface on the lowering direction side of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into surface contact with the tip end surface of the claw portion and pushes the tip end surface of the claw portion in a direction orthogonal to the stopper pivoting axis, so that the stopper is made stationary and the pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor is restricted.

7. The tilt-up assisting structure according to claim 3, further comprising: a holder that is configured to mount the steering handle and the stopper to the outboard motor, wherein a front portion of the holder is provided with a handle mounting portion for mounting the rear end portion of the steering handle such that the rear end portion of the steering handle is pivotable about the handle pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, and a rear portion of the holder is provided with a stopper mounting portion for mounting the stopper such that the stopper is pivotable about the stopper pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, and wherein the holder has a vertically symmetrical shape and is configured such that when the rear end portion of the steering handle is mounted on the handle mounting portion and the stopper is mounted on the stopper mounting portion, the handle pivoting axis and the stopper pivoting axis each pass through a center of the holder in an upper-lower direction.

8. The tilt-up assisting structure according to claim 4, further comprising: a holder that is configured to mount the steering handle and the stopper to the outboard motor, wherein an upper portion of the holder is provided with a handle mounting portion for mounting the rear end portion of the steering handle such that the rear end portion of the steering handle is pivotable about the handle pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, a lower portion of the holder is provided with a stopper mounting portion for mounting the stopper such that the stopper is pivotable about the stopper pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, and wherein the holder has a front-rear symmetrical shape and is configured such that when the rear end portion of the steering handle is mounted on the handle mounting portion and the stopper is mounted on the stopper mounting portion, the handle pivoting axis and the stopper pivoting axis each pass through a center of the holder in a front-rear direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outboard motor including a tilt-up assisting structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left.

[0019] FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the tilt-up assisting structure according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the tilt-up assisting structure as viewed from above.

[0020] FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a rear end portion of a steering handle in the tilt-up assisting structure according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left, FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating teeth formed at the rear end portion of the steering handle in an enlarged manner, FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating the rear end portion of the steering handle as viewed from above, FIG. 3D is a perspective view illustrating a stopper in the tilt-up assisting structure according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3E is a diagram illustrating the stopper as viewed from the left.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tilt-up assisting structure along a cutting line IV-IV in FIG. 2B as viewed from the left.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tilt-up assisting structure along a cutting line V-V in FIG. 4 as viewed from above.

[0023] FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams illustrating operation of a ratchet portion in the tilt-up assisting structure according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIGS. 7A to 7D are diagrams illustrating the tilt up of the outboard motor according to the tilt-up assisting structure of the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the tilt-up assisting structure according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is provided on a right side of the outboard motor.

[0026] FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a tilt-up assisting structure according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left, and FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the tilt-up assisting structure as viewed from above.

[0027] FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a rear end portion of a steering handle in the tilt-up assisting structure according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left, FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating the rear end portion of the steering handle as viewed from above, FIG. 10C is a perspective view illustrating a stopper in the tilt-up assisting structure according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10D is a diagram illustrating the stopper as viewed from the left.

[0028] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tilt-up assisting structure along a cutting line XI-XI in FIG. 9B as viewed from the left.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tilt-up assisting structure along a cutting line XII-XII in FIG. 11 as viewed from the front.

[0030] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a handle bracket in FIG. 9B is cut along a cutting line XIII-XIII and the tilt-up assisting structure is viewed from the right.

[0031] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the tilt-up assisting structure according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is provided on a right side of an outboard motor.

[0032] FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the stopper in the tilt-up assisting structure of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, in a state in which the steering handle does not pivot in the lowering direction beyond the handle lock angle with respect to the outboard motor due to the engagement of the claw and the tooth in the ratchet mechanism, when the user pushes the steering handle downward or pulls the steering handle toward himself or herself, the outboard motor is tilted up. At this time, a force corresponding to the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor is applied to the claw and the tooth which are engaged with each other in the ratchet mechanism. Therefore, in a case where the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor is increased, the force applied to the claw and the tooth of the ratchet mechanism is increased when the tilt up of the outboard motor is performed by the related-art tilt-up assisting structure. It is desirable to increase the strength of the claw and tooth of the ratchet mechanism to cope with an increase in the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor.

[0034] In the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8D of JP2014-213683A, a ratchet claw (reference numeral 61) corresponding to the claw of the ratchet mechanism and a ratchet cam (reference numeral 71) corresponding to the tooth of the ratchet mechanism are provided on a lateral side of the rear end portion of the steering handle. The ratchet claw and the ratchet cam have a small dimension in the left-right direction (width dimension). Therefore, in the case where the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor is increased, the strength of the ratchet claw or the ratchet cam is insufficient, and the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam are likely to be worn, deformed, or damaged by the force applied to the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam when the outboard motor is tilted up.

[0035] In this regard, in the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, it is conceivable to increase the strength of the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam by increasing the dimension of the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam in the left-right direction. However, since the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam are provided on the lateral side of the rear end portion of the steering handle, when the dimension of the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam in the left-right direction is increased, the dimension of the upper front side of the outboard motor in the left-right direction is increased, and the outboard motor in the left-right direction is increased in size.

[0036] The present disclosure has been made in view of, for example, the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor in which the strength of a ratchet mechanism that restricts pivoting of a steering handle in a lowering direction can be increased while suppressing an increase in the size of an outboard motor in a left-right direction.

[0037] A tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure assists in tilt up of the outboard motor by manual operation. The tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment includes a steering handle and a ratchet portion.

[0038] The steering handle extends in a front-rear direction. A rear end portion of the steering handle is supported to be pivotable about a handle pivoting axis extending in a left-right direction in the outboard motor. The steering handle is pivotable with respect to the outboard motor in a raising direction in which a tip end portion of the steering handle moves upward and a lowering direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handle moves downward or forward. Further, a rear end surface of the steering handle is formed in an arc shape centered on the handle pivoting axis.

[0039] The ratchet portion restricts the pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor. The ratchet portion includes a plurality of teeth and a stopper. The plurality of teeth are formed on the rear end surface of the steering handle. The stopper is disposed at a position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle. The stopper is supported to be pivotable about a stopper pivoting axis extending parallel to the handle pivoting axis in the outboard motor.

[0040] The ratchet portion functions as a ratchet mechanism that allows the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor and restricts pivoting of the steering handle in the lowering direction with respect to an outboard motor. Specifically, when a tooth surface of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper due to the pivoting of the steering handle in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, the ratchet portion allows the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor due to the pivoting of the stopper. On the other hand, when the tooth surface of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper due to the steering handle pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor, the stopper is stationary, so that the steering handle is restricted from pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor.

[0041] In the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the rear end surface of the steering handle is formed in the arc shape centered on the handle pivoting axis, and the plurality of teeth are formed on the rear end surface of the steering handle. The stopper is disposed at the position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle. According to this configuration, the dimension of each tooth in the left-right direction (the dimension of the tooth width) and the dimension of the stopper in the left-right direction can be increased within the range of the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle in the left-right direction. Therefore, the strength of each tooth and the stopper, that is, the strength of the ratchet portion can be increased. Therefore, the wear, deformation, or damage to the tooth or the stopper can be reduced or prevented even when the weight of a lower portion of the outboard motor is increased.

[0042] Further, in the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the stopper is disposed at the position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle in which the plurality of teeth are formed in order to engage the plurality of teeth with the stopper. When a handle angle of the steering handle is 0 degrees, the rear end surface of the steering handle faces backward, and when the handle angle of the steering handle is, for example, 90 degrees, the rear end surface of the steering handle faces downward. Therefore, in the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle is specifically any position of the region from the rear side to the lower side of the steering handle. That is, in the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the stopper is disposed at any position in the region from the rear side to the lower side of the steering handle. By disposing the stopper at any position in the region from the rear side to the lower side of the steering handle, even if the dimension of the stopper in the left-right direction is increased, the stopper can be restricted from protruding to a lateral side of the steering handle as long as the dimension of the stopper in the left-right direction is within the range of the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle in the left-right direction. By disposing the stopper such that the stopper does not protrude to the lateral side of the steering handle, an increase in the dimension of the upper front side of the outboard motor in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented, and an increase in the size of the outboard motor in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented.

Embodiment 1

[0043] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of a first embodiment and the following description of a second embodiment, when directions of the upper (Ud), the lower (Dd), the front (Fd), the rear (Bd), the left (Ld), and the right (Rd) are described, arrows drawn on a lower left side in the respective drawings are illustrated.

(Outboard Motor)

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates an outboard motor 1 including a tilt-up assisting structure 21 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left.

[0045] The outboard motor 1 is a device that generates a propulsive force of a boat and is mounted to the boat. The outboard motor 1 includes a power source (not illustrated) and a propeller 2 that converts power from the power source into a propulsive force.

[0046] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a clamp bracket 4 that attaches the outboard motor 1 to a transom 17 of the boat is provided on an upper front side of the outboard motor 1. A swivel bracket 6 is connected to the clamp bracket 4 via a tilt shaft 5. A pilot shaft 7 is rotatably inserted inside the swivel bracket 6. Further, a steering bracket 8 is provided above the swivel bracket 6 and a mount bracket 9 is provided below the swivel bracket 6, and an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the pilot shaft 7 are connected to the outboard motor 1 via the steering bracket 8 and the mount bracket 9, respectively. As described above, the outboard motor 1 is attached to the boat by the clamp bracket 4, the swivel bracket 6, the pilot shaft 7, the steering bracket 8, and the mount bracket 9 so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction with respect to the boat.

[0047] The swivel bracket 6 can pivot in an upper-lower direction about the tilt shaft 5 with respect to the clamp bracket 4. As the swivel bracket 6 pivots upward about the tilt shaft 5, the outboard motor 1 connected to the swivel bracket 6 pivots upward about the tilt shaft 5 together with the swivel bracket 6, that is, the outboard motor 1 is tilted up. The user can manually perform the tilt up of the outboard motor 1.

[0048] The outboard motor 1 is provided with a tilt lock mechanism that holds a state in which the outboard motor 1 is tilted up. The tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1 is known, and is similar to, for example, the tilt lock mechanism provided in the above related-art tilt-up assisting structure. Therefore, illustrations and detailed explanations of the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1 will be omitted.

[0049] Similarly to the tilt lock mechanism provided in the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1 can tilt up the outboard motor 1 stepwise in the process of tilting up the outboard motor 1. Here, a state in which the outboard motor 1 is tilted up but is not fully tilted up, for example, a position of the outboard motor 1 in a state in which a part of the propeller 2 is out of the water surface is referred to as a halfway tilt-up position. Further, a full tilt up state, specifically, the position of the outboard motor 1 in a state in which the whole of the propeller 2 is out of the water surface and the lower portion of the outboard motor outer unit 1 is largely separated upward from the water surface is referred to as a full tilt-up position. The tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1 can tilt-lock the outboard motor 1 at the halfway tilt-up position, and can tilt-lock the outboard motor 1 at the full tilt-up position. Similarly to the tilt lock mechanism provided in the above related-art tilt-up assisting structure, the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1 can automatically tilt-lock the outboard motor 1 by using a spring. That is, when the outboard motor 1 is tilted up to the halfway tilt-up position, the outboard motor 1 is automatically tilt-locked to the halfway tilt-up position, and when the outboard motor 1 is tilted up to the full tilt-up position, the outboard motor 1 is automatically tilted and locked to the full tilt-up position.

[0050] Further, a steering handle 22 is provided in the outboard motor 1. The steering handle 22 is a handle that pivots the outboard motor 1 in the horizontal direction with respect to the boat to steer the boat. The steering handle 22 is formed in a bar shape extending in one direction. The steering handle 22 normally (specifically, when the outboard motor 1 is not tilted up and the boat is propelled by the outboard motor 1) extends in the front-rear direction of the outboard motor 1, and is disposed to extend forward from the outboard motor 1 in the horizontal direction.

[0051] The steering handle 22 includes a bar portion 23 and a grip 24. The bar portion 23 is formed in an overall tubular shape extending in one direction (front-rear direction). The grip 24 is provided at a tip end side (front end side) of the bar portion 23. The grip 24 is a portion held by a hand when the user steers the boat. Further, when the user performs the tilt up of the outboard motor 1, the user grasps the grip 24 to tilt up the outboard motor 1.

[0052] The steering handle 22 is attached to the outboard motor 1 via a handle bracket 10. The handle bracket 10 is disposed in front of the steering bracket 8 and is attached and fixed to a front end portion of the steering bracket 8. The steering handle 22 is disposed to the left of the handle bracket 10, and a rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is attached to a left wall of the handle bracket 10.

[0053] Further, the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is supported to be pivotable about a handle pivoting axis A extending in the left-right direction in the outboard motor 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the steering handle 22 can pivot in the direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handle 22 moves upward (raising direction) and the direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handle 22 moves downward or upward (lowering direction). Here, an angle of the steering handle 22 with respect to the outboard motor 1 is referred to as the handle angle. In a case where the outboard motor 1 is not tilted up, the handle angle is 0 degrees when an extension direction of the steering handle 22 is the horizontal direction, and the handle angle increases as the steering handle 22 pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1.

[0054] Further, a display unit 15 is provided above the handle bracket 10, and the display unit 15 is attached to an upper wall of the handle bracket 10. The display unit 15 includes, for example, a display, and the display displays, for example, information related to the outboard motor 1 such as a rotation speed of the power source.

(Tilt-Up Assisting Structure)

[0055] The outboard motor 1 is provided with the tilt-up assisting structure 21 that assists in tilt up of the outboard motor 1 when the tilt up of the outboard motor 1 is manually performed. The tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment includes at least the steering handle 22, a ratchet portion 31, and a holder 41.

[0056] FIG. 2A illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 22, the ratchet portion 31, the holder 41, and the like as viewed from the left. FIG. 2B illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 22, the ratchet portion 31, the holder 41, and the like as viewed from the above. FIG. 3A illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 as viewed from the left. FIG. 3B illustrates teeth 33 formed at the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 3C illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 as viewed from above. FIG. 3D illustrates a stopper 35 which is one of components of the ratchet portion 31. FIG. 3E illustrates the stopper 35 as viewed from the left. FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22, the ratchet portion 31, the holder 41, and the like along a cutting line IV-IV in FIG. 2B as viewed from the left (lower side in FIG. 2B). FIG. 5 illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 22, the ratchet portion 31, the holder 41, and the like along a cutting line V-V in FIG. 4 as viewed from above.

[0057] The steering handle 22, which is one of components of the tilt-up assisting structure 21, has a function of manually tilting up the outboard motor 1 in addition to a function of steering the boat by pivoting the outboard motor 1 in the horizontal direction with respect to the boat.

[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, a rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22 (specifically, the bar portion 23) is formed in an arc shape about the handle pivoting axis A. When the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is viewed from the lateral side, the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22 is formed in a semicircular shape.

[0059] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3C, shaft portions 25 for pivotably supporting the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 by the holder 41 and the handle bracket 10 are formed at the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 (specifically, the bar portion 23). The shaft portions 25 are formed on a left side and a right side of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22, respectively. The shaft portion 25 on the left side protrudes leftward from a left surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22, and the shaft portion 25 on the right side protrudes rightward from a right surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22. Each of the shaft portions 25 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the handle pivoting axis A as an axis.

[0060] A convex portion 26 for setting a lower limit of the handle angle of the steering handle 22 to 0 degrees is formed at the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 (specifically, the bar portion 23). The convex portion 26 protrudes rearward from a central portion in the left-right direction of a lower portion of the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22.

[0061] The ratchet portion 31 is a mechanism that restricts the pivoting of the steering handle 22 with respect to the outboard motor 1. Macroscopically, the ratchet portion 31 is a ratchet mechanism. As illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 4, the ratchet portion 31 includes the plurality of teeth 33 formed on the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22, and the stopper 35 facing the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22.

[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the plurality of teeth 33 are arranged in a circumferential direction around the handle pivoting axis A on the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22. In the present embodiment, the plurality of teeth 33 are formed by providing a plurality of grooves in the rear end surface 32. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the plurality of teeth 33 are arranged in two rows in the left-right direction. The plurality of teeth 33 on the left side and the plurality of teeth 33 on the right side are laterally symmetrical to each other. Each tooth 33 on the left side extends from a left end of the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22 to a position extremely close to a center of the rear end surface 32 in the left-right direction. Each tooth 33 on the right side extends from a right end of the rear end surface 32 to the position extremely close to the center of the rear end surface 32 in the left-right direction. The dimension of each tooth 33 in the left-right direction is approximately half the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 in the left-right direction. The number of the teeth 33 arranged on a left portion of the rear end surface 32 is, for example, four, and the tooth 33 arranged on the left portion of the rear end surface 32 are arranged at intervals of, for example, 45 degrees. The same applies to the plurality of teeth 33 arranged on a right portion of the rear end surface 32. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, each tooth 33 has a tooth surface 33A positioned on a raising direction side of the steering handle 22 and a tooth surface 33B positioned on a lowering direction side of the steering handle 22.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 3D, the stopper 35 includes a base portion 36 and a claw portion 37. The base portion 36 is formed in a cylindrical shape. As illustrated in FIG. 3E, the claw portion 37 extends from an outer peripheral surface of the base portion 36 in a radial direction of the base portion 36. An axis C of the claw portion 37 is orthogonal to the axis (stopper pivoting axis B) of the base portion 36. A tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37 is a plane and is orthogonal to the axis C of the claw portion 37. The dimension of the base portion 36 and the claw portion 37 in the left-right direction is approximately half the dimension of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23 in the left-right direction, and is substantially equal to the dimension of the tooth 33 in the left-right direction.

[0064] A handle lock release lever 38 is integrally formed with the stopper 35. The handle lock release lever 38 extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 36.

[0065] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4, and 5, the holder 41 has a function of mounting the steering handle 22 and the stopper 35 to the handle bracket 10. A handle mounting portion 42 for mounting the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is formed at a front portion of the holder 41. A stopper mounting portion 46 for mounting the stopper 35 is formed at a rear portion of the holder 41.

[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the holder 41 has a structure in which the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is sandwiched and supported between the handle mounting portion 42 and the handle bracket 10. The shaft portion 25 formed on the left side of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is inserted into a handle support hole 43 formed in the handle mounting portion 42 of the holder 41 via a slide bearing. The shaft portion 25 formed on the right side of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is inserted into a handle support hole 44 formed in a left wall 11 of the handle bracket 10 via a slide bearing. The holder 41 is fixed to the left wall 11 of the handle bracket 10 by a plurality of (for example, two) fixing members 45. Each fixing member 45 is, for example, a bolt. According to the structure, the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is attached to the outboard motor 1 so as to be pivotable about the handle pivoting axis A.

[0067] The holder 41 is provided with holes (for example, bolt holes for fastening bolts) into which the plurality of fixing members 45 are inserted. These holes are disposed in the holder 41 at positions that are symmetrical to each other with respect to a straight line that passes through the center of the holder 41 in the upper-lower direction and extends in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the holes are disposed at the center of the holder 41 in the upper-lower direction.

[0068] The holder 41 has a structure that supports the base portion 36 of the stopper 35 inside the stopper mounting portion 46. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a stopper placement recess 47 is formed inside the stopper mounting portion 46. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a stopper shaft insertion hole 48 is formed in the stopper mounting portion 46. The stopper shaft insertion hole 48 extends in the left-right direction across the stopper placement recess 47. The stopper shaft insertion hole 48 communicates with the stopper placement recess 47. The stopper shaft insertion hole 48 opens at the rear portion of a left-side outer surface of the holder 41. The base portion 36 of the stopper 35 is disposed in the stopper placement recess 47, and a stopper shaft 49 is inserted into the stopper shaft insertion hole 48 from the left of the holder 41. The stopper shaft 49 passes through a left end side portion of the stopper shaft insertion hole 48, passes through the inside of the cylindrical base portion 36 of the stopper 35, and then passes through a right end side portion of the stopper shaft insertion hole 48. Screws are formed on left end side portions of the stopper shaft 49 and the stopper shaft insertion hole 48, respectively, and the stopper shaft 49 inserted into the stopper shaft insertion hole 48 is fastened and fixed to the stopper shaft insertion hole 48. The stopper 35 is attached to the stopper shaft 49 via, for example, a slide bearing, and can pivot with respect to the stopper shaft 49. According to the structure, the base portion 36 of the stopper 35 is attached to the outboard motor 1 so as to be pivotable about the stopper pivoting axis B extending in the left-right direction. The stopper pivoting axis B is positioned behind the handle pivoting axis A and extends parallel to the handle pivoting axis A.

[0069] In this way, by attaching the steering handle 22 and the stopper 35 to the handle bracket 10 by the holder 41, the stopper 35 is disposed at a position facing the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The stopper 35 is disposed behind the rear end portion of the steering handle 22. The stopper 35 is disposed such that the claw portion 37 extends toward the rear end surface 32. Further, the stopper 35 is disposed such that the claw portion 37 extends forward while being inclined downward from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 36, and the handle lock release lever 38 extends substantially upward from the base portion 36. An extension direction of a straight line L orthogonal to both the handle pivoting axis A and the stopper pivoting axis B is the horizontal direction. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the stopper 35 is disposed at a position facing the left portion of the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the stopper 35 is disposed such that the stopper 35 does not protrude to a left side from a left-side outer surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 and does not protrude to a right side from a right-side outer surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22.

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the holder 41 is provided with a biasing member 50 that biases a tip end portion of the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35 toward the tooth 33. In the present embodiment, the biasing member 50 is, for example, a plate spring. A rear end portion of the biasing member 50 is fixed to a rear surface of the holder 41 using a fixing member 51 such as a bolt. Further, a front end portion of the biasing member 50 pushes a tip end portion of the claw portion 37 upward.

[0071] FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is 0 degrees. When the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is 0 degrees, the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35 meshes with the tooth 33. Specifically, the tip end portion of the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35 enters a tooth groove between the lowest tooth 33 and the second lowest tooth 33 among the plurality of teeth 33 arranged on the left portion of the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22. The tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37 is in surface contact with the tooth surface 33B on a lowering direction side of the lowest tooth 33 among the plurality of teeth 33 arranged on the left portion of the rear end surface 32. Further, a tip end portion of the claw portion 37 is pushed against the tooth surface 33A on a raising direction side of the second tooth 33 from the bottom among the plurality of teeth 33 arranged on the left portion of the rear end surface 32 by the biasing member 50. When the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is 0 degrees, the convex portion 26 formed at the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is brought into contact with the holder 41. In this way, when the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is 0 degrees, the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35 and the tooth 33 mesh with each other, so that the steering handle 22 does not pivot in the lowering direction beyond 0 degrees. However, as will be described later, the engagement between the claw portion 37 and the tooth 33 is released by the user operating the handle lock release lever 38 of the stopper 35. However, when the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is 0 degrees, the convex portion 26 is brought into contact with the holder 41, and even if the engagement between the claw portion 37 and the tooth 33 is released, the steering handle 22 will not pivot in the lowering direction beyond 0 degrees.

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 5, a grease passage 52 for supplying grease to the steering handle 22 and the stopper 35 is formed in the holder 41. A sniff holder 53 is attached to an opening of the grease passage 52.

(Function of Ratchet Portion)

[0073] The ratchet portion 31 allows the steering handle 22 to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1, and restricts the pivoting of the steering handle 22 in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1. When the steering handle 22 pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1, the handle angle of the steering handle 22 exceeds a predetermined angle, and then the steering handle 22 pivots downward with respect to the outboard motor 1, the ratchet portion 31 restricts the steering handle 22 from pivoting in the lowering direction beyond the predetermined angle with respect to the outboard motor 1.

[0074] Here, the handle angle at which the ratchet portion 31 blocks the pivoting of the steering handle 22 in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 is referred to as a handle lock angle. The number of handle lock angles can be set based on the number of teeth 33 formed on the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22, and the value of each handle lock angle can be set based on the position of the tooth 33 on the rear end surface 32. In the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, for example, three handle lock angles are set, a first handle lock angle is set to, for example, 0 degrees, a second handle lock angle is set to, for example, 45 degrees, and a third handle lock angle is set to, for example, 90 degrees. When the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is greater than or equal to 0 degrees and less than 45 degrees, the ratchet portion 31 restricts the steering handle 22 from pivoting in the lowering direction from the first handle lock angle (0 degrees) with respect to the outboard motor 1. When the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is greater than or equal to 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the ratchet portion 31 restricts the steering handle 22 from pivoting in the lowering direction from the second handle lock angle (45 degrees) with respect to the outboard motor 1. Further, when the handle angle of the steering handle 22 is 90 degrees or more, the ratchet portion 31 restricts the steering handle 22 from pivoting in the lowering direction from the third handle lock angle (90 degrees) with respect to the outboard motor 1.

(Operation of Ratchet Portion)

[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, when the steering handle 22 pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1, the tooth surface 33A on the raising direction side of any one tooth 33 of the plurality of teeth 33 arranged on the left portion of the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22 comes into contact with the tip end portion of the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35, and pushes the tip end portion of the claw portion 37 downward. Accordingly, the stopper 35 pivots in a direction in which the tip end portion of the claw portion 37 moves downward against a biasing force of the biasing member 50. As a result, the steering handle 22 can continue pivoting in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1. In this way, the ratchet portion 31 allows the steering handle 22 to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1.

[0076] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, when the steering handle 22 pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 and the handle angle of the steering handle 22 becomes equal to the handle lock angle, the tooth surface 33B on the lowering direction side of any one tooth 33 of the plurality of teeth 33 arranged on the left portion of the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22 comes into surface contact with the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35, and pushes the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37. At this time, the direction in which the tooth surface 33B pushes the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37 is a direction in which the base portion 36 is positioned, a direction along the axis C of the claw portion 37, and a direction orthogonal to the stopper pivoting axis B. As a result, the stopper 35 is stationary and is unable to pivot, and therefore, the steering handle 22 is unable to pivot in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1. In this way, the ratchet portion 31 restricts the steering handle 22 from pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 beyond the handle lock angle.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 6C, when the user moves a tip end portion of the handle lock release lever 38 of the stopper 35 forward with a finger, the stopper 35 pivots in the direction in which the tip end portion of the claw portion 37 moves downward against the biasing force of the biasing member 50. As a result, the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35 is separated from the tooth 33, and the engagement between the claw portion 37 and the tooth 33 is released. The steering handle 22 can pivot in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 until the handle angle becomes 0 degrees.

(Tilt Up of Outboard Motor)

[0078] According to the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment and the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1, the user can tilt up the outboard motor 1 as follows. When tilting up the outboard motor 1, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the user first pivots the steering handle 22, which has the handle angle of 0 degrees, in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 until the handle angle becomes an angle slightly exceeding the first handle lock angle (45 degrees). Accordingly, the steering handle 22 does not pivot in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 beyond the first handle lock angle.

[0079] Subsequently, the user pushes the tip end portion of the steering handle 22 downward. Accordingly, a tip end of the steering handle 22 serves as a point of effort in the principle of leverage, the tilt shaft 5 serves as a fulcrum in the principle of leverage, causing the outboard motor 1 to tilt up. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the user tilts up the outboard motor 1 to the halfway tilt-up position. When the outboard motor 1 is tilted up to the halfway tilt-up position, the outboard motor 1 is automatically tilt-locked at that position.

[0080] After the outboard motor 1 is tilt-locked at the halfway tilt-up position, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the user pivots the steering handle 22 whose handle angle is the first handle lock angle in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 until the handle angle becomes an angle slightly exceeding the second handle lock angle (90 degrees). Accordingly, the steering handle 22 does not pivot in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1 beyond the second handle lock angle.

[0081] Subsequently, the user pushes the tip end portion of the steering handle 22 downward. Accordingly, the outboard motor 1 is further tilted up from the halfway tilt-up position. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7D, the user tilts up the outboard motor 1 to the full tilt-up position. When the outboard motor 1 is tilted up to the full tilt-up position, the outboard motor 1 is automatically tilt-locked at that position.

[0082] According to the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment and the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1, the user can tilt up the outboard motor 1 stepwise as follows. The tilt lock of the outboard motor 1 is automatically performed by the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1. According to the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, the user can tilt up the outboard motor 1 based on the principle of leverage using the steering handle 22. As described above, the tilt-up assisting structure 21 according to the present embodiment and the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motor 1 cooperate with each other to facilitate the tilt up of the outboard motor 1 by manual operation.

(Selection of Arrangement of Steering Handle)

[0083] In the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, by attaching the holder 41 on which the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 and the stopper 35 are mounted to the left wall 11 of the handle bracket 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the steering handle 22 and the ratchet portion 31 are disposed to the left of the handle bracket 10. However, by attaching the holder 41 on which the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 and the stopper 35 are mounted to a right wall of the handle bracket 10, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the steering handle 22 and the ratchet portion 31 can be disposed on the right of the handle bracket 10.

[0084] That is, in the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, each of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 and the teeth 33 has a laterally symmetrical shape as illustrated in FIG. 3A. The plurality of teeth 33 are laterally symmetrical on the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22. As illustrated in FIG. 3D, the stopper 35 has a laterally symmetrical shape. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the holder 41 has a vertically symmetrical shape. Further, in the holder 41, when the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is mounted on the handle mounting portion 42 and the stopper 35 is mounted on the stopper mounting portion 46, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the handle pivoting axis A and the stopper pivoting axis B are formed to pass through the center of the holder 41 in the upper-lower direction. Since the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment has this kind of configuration, the holder 41 can be inverted upside down, the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 can be mounted on the handle mounting portion 42 of the inverted holder 41, the stopper 35 can be mounted on the stopper mounting portion 46 of the inverted holder 41, and the inverted holder 41 can be attached to the right wall of the handle bracket 10, thereby positioning the steering handle 22 and the ratchet portion 31 on the right of the handle bracket 10.

[0085] Accordingly, it is possible to choose whether to position the steering handle 22 on the left side of the outboard motor 1 (to the left of the handle bracket 10) or position the steering handle 22 on the right side of the outboard motor 1 (to the right of the handle bracket 10), and the common steering handle 22, the common stopper 35, and he common holder 41 can be used when assembling the outboard motor 1 with the steering handle 22 positioned on the left side and when assembling the outboard motor 1 with the steering handle 22 positioned on the right side.

[0086] As described above, in the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of teeth 33 are formed on the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22. According to this configuration, the dimension of each tooth 33 in the left-right direction can be increased within the range of the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the strength of each tooth 33 can be increased. Further, the dimension of the stopper 35 in the left-right direction can be increased in accordance with the enlargement of the dimension of each tooth 33 in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the strength of the stopper 35 can be increased. As described above, according to the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, the strength of each tooth 33 and the stopper 35, that is, the strength of the ratchet portion 31 can be increased. Therefore, the wear, deformation, or damage to the tooth 33 or the stopper 35 can be reduced or prevented even when the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor 1 is increased.

[0087] In the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, the plurality of teeth 33 are formed on the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22, and the stopper 35 is disposed behind the steering handle 22. That is, the tilt-up assisting structure 21 has a structure in which the teeth of the ratchet mechanism are formed on the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22, and the claw of the ratchet mechanism is disposed behind the steering handle 22. By disposing the stopper 35 behind the steering handle 22, even if the dimension of the stopper 35 in the left-right direction is increased, the stopper 35 can be restricted from protruding to the lateral side of the steering handle 22 as long as the dimension is within the range of the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 in the left-right direction. By disposing the stopper 35 such that the stopper 35 does not protrude to the lateral side of the steering handle 22, an increase in the dimension of the upper front side of the outboard motor 1 in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented, and an increase in the size of the outboard motor 1 in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented.

[0088] Further, in the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, the stopper 35 includes the base portion 36 pivotably supported about the stopper pivoting axis B, and the claw portion 37 extending from the base portion 36 toward the rear end surface 32 of the steering handle 22. The claw portion 37 has the tip end surface 37A that can come into surface contact with the tooth surface 33B of each of the plurality of teeth 33 on the lowering direction side. When the steering handle 22 pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor 1, the tooth surface 33B on the lowering direction side of any one tooth 33 of the plurality of teeth 33 comes into surface contact with the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37, and pushes the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37 in the direction at which the base portion 36 is positioned, the direction along the axis C of the claw portion 37, or in the direction orthogonal to the stopper pivoting axis B. Accordingly, the stopper 35 is stationary, and the pivoting of the steering handle 22 with respect to the outboard motor 1 is restricted. According to this configuration, deformation of the claw portion 37 of the stopper 35 can be reduced or prevented as compared with the above related-art tilt-up assisting structure. More specifically, in the above related-art tilt-up assisting structure, as illustrated in FIG. 8D of JP2014-213683A, a steering handle pivots in the lowering direction (downward), an engagement surface of a ratchet cam (reference number 71c) comes into contact with a tip end portion of a ratchet claw (reference number 61) and pushes the tip end portion of the ratchet claw in a direction intersecting an extension direction of the ratchet claw (a direction in which the tip end of the ratchet claw is positioned when viewed from a base end of the ratchet claw). Accordingly, by bringing a release member (reference number 62) into contact with an abutment surface of a handle bracket (reference number 65), the ratchet claw is stationary and the pivoting of the steering handle in the lowering direction is restricted. In this configuration, when the engagement surface of the ratchet cam pushes the tip end portion of the ratchet claw, a bending moment or a shear force acts on the tip end portion of the ratchet claw. Therefore, the ratchet claw is easily deformed by the bending moment or the shear force. On the other hand, in the tilt-up assisting structure 21 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, when the steering handle 22 pivots in the lowering direction, the direction in which the tooth surface 33B on the lowering direction side of the tooth 33 comes into surface contact with the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37 and pushes the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37 is the direction in which the base portion 36 is positioned, the direction along the axis C of the claw portion 37, or the direction orthogonal to the stopper pivoting axis B. When the tooth surface 33B pushes the tip end surface 37A of the claw portion 37, the bending moment or the shear force acting on the tip end portion of the claw portion 37 can be reduced. Therefore, according to the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, the deformation of the claw portion 37 can be reduced or prevented as compared with the above related-art tilt-up assisting structure.

[0089] Further, in the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the present embodiment, the front portion of the holder 41 is provided with the handle mounting portion 42 for mounting the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 such that the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is pivotable about a handle pivoting axis A with respect to the outboard motor 1, and the rear portion of the holder 41 is provided with the stopper mounting portion 46 for mounting the stopper 35 such that the stopper 35 is pivotable about the stopper pivoting axis B with respect to the outboard motor 1. The holder 41 has a vertically symmetrical shape, and when the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is mounted on the handle mounting portion 42 and the stopper 35 is mounted on the stopper mounting portion 46, the handle pivoting axis A and the stopper pivoting axis B are formed to pass through the center of the holder 41 in the upper-lower direction. Accordingly, as described above, the common holder 41 can be used in the case of assembling the outboard motor 1 in which the steering handle 22 is disposed on the left side and the case of assembling the outboard motor 1 in which the steering handle 22 is disposed on the right side. In accordance with the common component, it is possible to reduce manufacturing cost of the outboard motor 1.

Embodiment 2

[0090] FIG. 9A illustrates a rear end portion of a steering handle 62, a ratchet portion 71, a holder 81, and the like provided in a tilt-up assisting structure 61 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left. FIG. 9B illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 62, the ratchet portion 71, the holder 81, and the like as viewed from the above. FIG. 10A illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 as viewed from the left. FIG. 10B illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 as viewed from below. FIG. 10C illustrates a stopper 75 which is one of components of the ratchet portion 71. FIG. 10D illustrates the stopper 75 as viewed from the left. FIG. 11 illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 62, the ratchet portion 71, the holder 81, and the like along a cutting line XI-XI in FIG. 9B as viewed from the left (lower side in FIG. 9B). FIG. 12 illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle 62, the ratchet portion 71, the holder 81, and the like along a cutting line XII-XII in FIG. 11 as viewed from the above. FIG. 13 illustrates a state in which the handle bracket 10 in FIG. 9B is cut along a cutting line XIII-XIII, and a stopper shaft 89, a biasing member 92, and the like in the ratchet portion 71 are viewed from the right (upper side in of FIG. 9B). In the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted.

[0091] As illustrated in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 11, and 12, the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the present embodiment includes at least the steering handle 62, the ratchet portion 71, and the holder 81. The steering handle 62 includes a bar portion 63 and a grip similarly to the steering handle 22 in the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a rear end surface 72 of the steering handle 62 is formed in an arc shape about a handle pivoting axis D, which is an axis of pivoting of the steering handle 62. A shaft portion 65 is formed at a rear end portion of the steering handle 62. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the ratchet portion 71 includes a plurality of teeth 73 formed on the rear end surface 72 of the steering handle 62, and the stopper 75 facing the rear end surface 72.

[0092] As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the plurality of teeth 73 are arranged in the circumferential direction around the handle pivoting axis D on the rear end surface 72 of the steering handle 62. The plurality of teeth 73 are arranged on a lower side of the rear end surface 72 as compared with the plurality of teeth 33 in the first embodiment, and one of the plurality of teeth 73 is disposed on a lower surface of a rear end portion of the bar portion 63. The plurality of teeth 73 are formed by providing a plurality of grooves on the rear end surface 72. As illustrated in FIG. 10B, each tooth 73 extends from a left end to a right end of the rear end surface 72, and the dimension of each tooth 73 in the left-right direction is equal to the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 in the left-right direction. The number of the teeth 73 is, for example, four, and the teeth 73 are arranged at intervals of, for example, 45 degrees.

[0093] As illustrated in FIGS. 10C and 10D, the stopper 75 has a cylindrical base portion 76 and a claw portion 77 extending from an outer peripheral surface of the base portion 76 in a radial direction of the base portion 76. An axis F of the claw portion 77 is orthogonal to an axis (stopper pivoting axis E) of the base portion 76. A tip end surface 77A of the claw portion 77 is a plane and is orthogonal to the axis F of the claw portion 77. Further, the dimension of the base portion 76 and the claw portion 77 in the left-right direction is larger than half the dimension of the rear end portion of the bar portion 63 in the left-right direction. The dimension of the base portion 76 and the claw portion 77 in the left-right direction may be substantially equal to the dimension of the tooth 73 in the left-right direction.

[0094] As illustrated in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 11, and 12, the holder 81 has a function of mounting the steering handle 62 and the stopper 75 to a handle bracket 12. A handle mounting portion 82 for mounting the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 is formed on an upper portion of the holder 81. A stopper mounting portion 86 for mounting the stopper 75 is formed at a lower portion of the holder 81.

[0095] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the holder 81 has a structure in which the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 is sandwiched and supported between the handle mounting portion 82 and the handle bracket 12. The shaft portion 65 on a left side of the steering handle 62 is inserted into a handle support hole 83 formed in the handle mounting portion 82 via a slide bearing, and the shaft portion 65 on a right side of the steering handle 62 is inserted into a handle support hole 84 formed in a left wall 13 of the handle bracket 12 via a slide bearing. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the holder 81 is fixed to the left wall 13 of the handle bracket 12 by a plurality of (for example, two) fixing members 85 (for example, bolts). According to such a structure, the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 is attached to the outboard motor so as to be pivotable about the handle pivoting axis D extending in the left-right direction in an outboard motor.

[0096] The holder 81 is provided with holes (for example, bolt holes for fastening bolts) into which the plurality of fixing members 85 are inserted. These holes are disposed in the holder 81 at positions that are symmetrical to each another with respect to a straight line that passes through the center of the holder 81 in the front-rear direction and extends in the upper-lower direction. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the holder 81 is provided with a handle pivoting lower limit setting surface 98 for setting a lower limit of a handle angle of the steering handle 62 to 0 degrees.

[0097] The holder 81 has a structure that supports the base portion 76 of the stopper 75 inside the stopper mounting portion 86. As illustrated in FIG. 11, a stopper placement recess 87 is formed inside the stopper mounting portion 86. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a stopper shaft insertion hole 88 is formed in the stopper mounting portion 86. The stopper shaft insertion hole 88 penetrates the holder 81 in the left-right direction. The stopper shaft insertion hole 88 extends across the stopper placement recess 87, and the stopper shaft insertion hole 88 communicates with the stopper placement recess 87. The base portion 76 of the stopper 75 is disposed in the stopper placement recess 87, and the stopper shaft 89 is inserted into the stopper shaft insertion hole 88 from the left of the holder 81. The stopper shaft 89 passes through a left end side portion of the stopper shaft insertion hole 88, passes through the inside of the cylindrical base portion 76 of the stopper 75, and then passes through a right end side portion of the stopper shaft insertion hole 88. A stopper shaft support hole 90 is provided in the left wall 13 of the handle bracket 12, and a right end portion of the stopper shaft 89 is inserted in the stopper shaft support hole 90. The stopper shaft 89 is pivotably inserted into the stopper shaft insertion hole 88 via, for example, a slide bearing. The stopper shaft 89 is fixed to the holder 81 by a nut and the like attached to the right end portion of the stopper shaft 89. The stopper 75 is fixed to the stopper shaft 89 by a pin 91 so as not to be rotatable with respect to the stopper shaft 89. Therefore, the stopper 75 pivots integrally with the stopper shaft 89. According to such a structure, the stopper 75 is attached to the outboard motor 1 so as to be pivotable about the stopper pivoting axis E extending in the left-right direction in the outboard motor. The stopper pivoting axis E is positioned below the handle pivoting axis D and extends parallel to the handle pivoting axis D.

[0098] As described above, by attaching the steering handle 62 and the stopper 75 to the handle bracket 12 by the holder 81, the stopper 75 is disposed at a position facing a lower side portion of the rear end surface 72 of the steering handle 62 as illustrated in FIG. 11. The stopper 75 is disposed below the rear end portion of the steering handle 62. The stopper 75 is disposed such that the claw portion 77 extends toward the rear end surface 72. The stopper 75 is disposed such that the claw portion 77 extends upward while being inclined forward from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 76. Further, an extension direction of a straight line M orthogonal to both the handle pivoting axis D and the stopper pivoting axis E is a vertical direction. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the stopper 75 is disposed such that the stopper 75 does not protrude to the left side from a left-side outer surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 and does not protrude to a right side from a right-side outer surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle 62.

[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the biasing member 92 that biases a tip end portion of the claw portion 77 of the stopper 75 toward the tooth 73 is provided on an inside of the handle bracket 12. In the present embodiment, the biasing member 92 is, for example, a coil spring. A biasing member attachment bracket 93 is attached to the right end portion of the stopper shaft 89 so as to rotate integrally with the stopper shaft 89. One end side of the biasing member 92 is attached to the biasing member attachment bracket 93. On the other hand, the other end side of the biasing member 92 is attached to the handle bracket 12 via a biasing member attachment bracket 94. The biasing member 92 biases the stopper shaft 89 such that the stopper shaft 89 pivots in a direction in which the tip end portion of the claw portion 77 of the stopper 75 moves rearward. An elastic member (for example, a rubber member) may be used as the biasing member 92, and a force for pivoting the stopper shaft 89 in the direction in which the tip end portion of the claw portion 77 of the stopper 75 moves rearward may be generated by elastic deformation of the elastic member.

[0100] As illustrated in FIG. 12, a handle lock release knob 95 is attached to a left end portion of the stopper shaft 89 so as to pivot integrally with the stopper shaft 89. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a grease passage 96 is formed in the holder 81, and a sniff 97 is provided in an opening portion of the grease passage 96.

[0101] Further, similarly to the ratchet portion 31 of the first embodiment, the ratchet portion 71 permits the steering handle 62 to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, and restricts the pivoting of the steering handle 62 in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor. Of the operation of the ratchet portion 71, the operation of allowing the steering handle 62 to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor and the operation of restricting the pivoting of the steering handle 62 in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor are similar to the operation of the ratchet portion 31 in the first embodiment. Further, the user can pivot the stopper shaft 89 in the direction in which the tip end portion of the claw portion 77 of the stopper 75 moves forward against the biasing force of the biasing member 92 by turning the handle lock release knob 95 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9A. Accordingly, the engagement between the claw portion 77 and the tooth 73 can be released.

[0102] According to the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the present embodiment, similarly to the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the first embodiment, it is possible to facilitate the tilt up of the outboard motor 1 by the manual operation.

[0103] In the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of this embodiment, by attaching the holder 81 on which the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 and the stopper 75 are mounted to the left wall 13 of the handle bracket 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the steering handle 62 and the ratchet portion 71 are disposed to the left of the handle bracket 12. However, by attaching the holder 81 on which the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 and the stopper 75 are mounted to a right wall of the handle bracket 12, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the steering handle 62 and the ratchet portion 71 can be disposed to the right of the handle bracket 12.

[0104] That is, in the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the present embodiment, each of the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 and the plurality of teeth 73 has a bilaterally symmetrical shape as illustrated in FIG. 10A. As illustrated in FIG. 10C, the stopper 75 has a laterally symmetrical shape. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the holder 81 has a front-rear symmetrical shape. Further, in the holder 81, when the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 is mounted on the handle mounting portion 82 and the stopper 75 is mounted on the stopper mounting portion 86, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the handle pivoting axis D and the stopper pivoting axis E are formed to pass through the center of the holder 81 in the front-rear direction. Since the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the present embodiment has this kind of configuration, the holder 81 can be inverted longitudinally, the rear end portion of the steering handle 62 can be mounted on the handle mounting portion 82 of the inverted holder 81, the stopper 75 can be mounted on the stopper mounting portion 86 of the inverted holder 81, and the inverted holder 81 can be attached to the right wall of the handle bracket 12, thereby positioning the steering handle 62 and the ratchet portion 71 on the right of the handle bracket 12.

[0105] Accordingly, it is possible to choose whether to position the steering handle 62 on the left side of the outboard motor 1 or position the steering handle 62 on the right side of the outboard motor 1, and the common steering handle 62, the common stopper 75, and the common holder 81 can be used when assembling the outboard motor 1 with the steering handle 62 positioned on the left side and when assembling the outboard motor 1 with the steering handle 62 positioned on the right side.

[0106] According to the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the second embodiment of the present disclosure having such a configuration, effects similar to those of the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure can be obtained. In the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the first embodiment, the stopper 35 is disposed behind the rear end portion of the steering handle 22. On the other hand, in the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the second embodiment, the stopper 75 is disposed below the rear end portion of the steering handle 62. Even when the stopper 75 is disposed below the rear end portion of the steering handle 62, the stopper 75 can be restricted from protruding to the lateral side of the steering handle 62 while the dimension of the stopper 75 in the left-right direction is increased. As a result, the increase in the dimension of the upper front side of the outboard motor in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented, and the increase in the size of the outboard motor in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented.

[0107] In the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the second embodiment, the stopper 75 is provided with the cylindrical base portion 76, and the stopper shaft 89 is passed through the inside of the base portion 76. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the stopper 75 is fixed to a stopper shaft 89 by a pin 91, so that the stopper 75 and the stopper shaft 89 pivot integrally. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 15, a stopper 101 may have only a rectangular parallelepiped claw portion, and a stopper 101 may be fixed to a stopper shaft 102 using a fixing member 103 (for example, a bolt) such that the stopper 101 extends from the stopper shaft 102 in a radial direction of the stopper shaft 102.

[0108] In the tilt-up assisting structure 21 of the first embodiment, the stopper 35 is disposed behind the rear end portion of the steering handle 22, and in the tilt-up assisting structure 61 of the second embodiment, the stopper 75 is disposed below the rear end portion of the steering handle 62, but the stopper may be disposed between the rear and the lower portion of the rear end portion of the steering handle, that is, below and behind the rear end portion of the steering handle.

[0109] In the ratchet portion 31 (71), the number of the teeth 33 (73), the interval between the teeth 33 (73), the number of the handle lock angles, and the value of each handle lock angle are not limited. Further, the angle of an intermediate tilt lock position, the number of intermediate tilt lock positions, and the angle of a full tilt lock position are not limited to the outboard motor.

[0110] The present disclosure can be appropriately changed without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention which can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and a tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor with the change is also included in the technical concept of the present invention.