Marine propulsion – Screw propeller – With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-15
2003-12-09
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Screw propeller
With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
C440S062000, C440S055000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06659817
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to an alignment system for an outboard motor and, more particularly, to a pair of pliant components that automatically cause an outboard motor to become aligned with a straight ahead steering position as the outboard motor is tilted about a generally horizontal axis.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Many different systems and devices have been developed for supporting and retaining an outboard motor in a tilted position, relative to a transom of a marine vessel, when the outboard motor is not in use. These devices and systems are generally helpful when the outboard motor is tilted upwardly during periods when the associated boat is being transported over land or when another means of propulsion is used to cause the watercraft to move on the water. In situations when an outboard motor is not in use to propel the boat, it is commonly tilted upwardly and stored in that inoperable position for extended periods of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,576, which issued to Driscoll on Dec. 26, 1972, describes an outboard motor stabilizer. An elongated outboard motor prop includes a first forked end for embracingly engaging the front side of the lower end of the upstanding propeller shaft housing of an outboard motor. It is provided with a strap means for releasably securing the propeller shaft housing in the first forked end of the prop. The second end of the prop has a mounting bracket oscillatably supported therefrom for swinging of the prop relative to the mounting bracket about an axis extending transversely of the second end of the prop. The mounting bracket is in turn oscillatably supported from a mounting plate for swinging about an axis relative to the latter disposed at right angles to the first mentioned axis and the mounting plate is provided with means for at least semi-permanent securement to the rear transverse cross member of a trailer frame. This mounting of the prop enables the latter to be used as a prop in securing an associated outboard motor in a tilted position or to be swung to an out of the way position extending along and disposed behind the rear transverse frame member of the associated boat trailer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,669, which issued to Huggins et al on Jul. 7, 1998, describes an outboard motor traveling bracket. The bracket supports an outboard motor or outdrive while being transported over the road on the stem of a boat. The bracket allows the foot or housing of the outboard motor or outdrive to be placed in such a up position so that it is not in danger of coming into contact with the surface of the roadway. The bracket also prevents excessive weight on and consequential damage to the hydraulic and manual tilt and support systems of the outboard motor or outdrive being transported. The bracket hangs from the factory drilled holes in the outboard motor clamp bracket or outdrive bracket by means of a drop bar pin secured in place by quickly and easily removable click pins. When assembled, the bracket forms a rigid support between the stem of a boat and the foot or shaft housing of the motor or outdrive being transported.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,861, which issued to Weaver on Nov. 9, 1999, describes a pivot bracket for stowing an outboard motor on a stowed dinghy. an outboard motor stow pivot bracket is disclosed for slowing a motor in a generally vertical orientation while mounted on the transom of a dinghy which itself is swung beamwise (on beam ends) from a horizontal, in-the-water position up into a generally vertical stowed position on the back of a carrier boat such as on the stem of a pleasure craft.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,109, which issued to Poll on Mar. 30, 1999, describes an outboard motor support device. The device is intended for use in securing an outboard motor to a transom of a boat which comprises a tie down bracket, a support, and a tie down strap. The tie down bracket is secured to the transom of the boat while the support is rotatably mounted to the motor such that when the motor is in an up position, the support can support can rotate about its mounting point to contact and support the motor. The tie down strap then passes behind the motor and is secured to the tie down bracket. This secures the motor between the support and the tie down strap and provides additional support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,733, which issued to Marshall on May 19, 1998, describes an adjustable strap assembly for raising, lowering and transporting outboard motors and similar heavy bulky objects. An adjustable strap assembly is provided for raising, lowering and transporting outboard motors and similar heavy bulky objects. The adjustable strap assembly, in its preferred embodiment, requires a handle having a central tubular portion, a single strap of nylon webbing or the like oriented in a figure-8 configuration with the material of the strap passing through the tubular central portion of the handle twice so as to form an assembly having a first strap loop on one side of the handle devoid of fasteners and a second strap loop on the opposite side of the handle formed by coupling together the first and second free ends of the strap using a suitable buckle assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,202, which issued to Williams on Aug. 18, 1998, describes an outboard motor support device. An outboard boat motor support device is attachable between the boat transom and the outboard motor to help the outboard motor from inflicting damaging torque to the transom mounting point during trailering or water operation. The device comprises a rigid plate fixedly attached to the transom of the boat and a support member capable of being retracted within the plate or extended from the boat to engage the lower casing of the outboard motor in a tilted position, thereby maintaining the outboard motor in the tilted position during trailering.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,781, which issued to Johnson, Sr. on Jul. 15, 1997, describes an outboard motor support. The support is intended for preventing damage from inadvertent pivoting of the motor during trailering. It includes a pair of spring-loaded locking pins for convenient placement and removal. The support is attached to the motor and boat without making modifications thereto and handles are affixed to the spring-loaded locking pins for easy manipulation. Two embodiments of the outboard motor support are provided to accommodate the different popular types of outboard motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,888, which issued to Brewer on Aug. 11, 1987, describes an outboard motor support. A shock arm is adapted to be mounted between a trailer and the shaft of an outboard motor attached to a boat carried by the trailer. The shock arm includes a lower member rigidly affixed to the trailer frame and an upper member having a V-shape and adapted to receive the motor shaft. Between the lower and upper ends is a shock absorbing which absorbs the shock of the motor whenever the trailer hits a bump in the road. A hydroelectric tilt mechanism may be provided as a part of the motor to return the compressed shock absorber to the normal position or a spring may be included with the shock absorber to cause it to return to the normal position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,986, which issued to Wells on Apr. 27, 1976, describes an outboard motor support. The support is intended for use with an outboard motor in combination with a boat trailer. The motor support is pivotably attached to the trailer and has a support swingably attached to the trailer at its lower end and Y-shaped member which receives the propeller shaft housing of the outboard motor adjacent the propeller. A strap is connected through stirrups in the distal ends of the Y, holding the motor cradled in the Y. A female telescoping member is pivoted to the boat trailer and a male telescoping member is slidably received in the female member attached to the trailer frame so that the outboard motor is held in rigid position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,164, which issued to Hakala on Mar. 2, 1971, describes an outboard motor support. The support is particularly ada
Anderson Glenn E.
Lokken Mark T.
Schmidt David M.
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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