Marine propulsion – Screw propeller – Propulsion unit casing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-14
2003-12-16
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Screw propeller
Propulsion unit casing
C123S1950HC
Reexamination Certificate
active
06663450
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a cowl latching mechanism and, more particularly, to a latching mechanism that incorporates a base portion that is integrally formed as part of the cowl itself.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of cowls are well known to those skilled in the art. Also, various latching mechanisms, for use in conjunction with cowls, are well known to those skilled in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,468, which issued to Boda et al on Nov. 7, 1989, discloses a cowl assembly for an outboard motor. The cowl assembly has an upper cowl section and a lower cowl section and includes various features for improving the structural integrity of the cowl assembly and for providing a water resistance seal at the joint between the cowl sections and at various points of entry of cables and other mechanical devices. A cut-out portion in the side of the lower cowl assembly is adapted to receive various cables and shift levers for different configurations of outboard marine motors (e.g. a manual tiller operated motor including shift controls, a manual tiller operated motor having a separate shift lever and a remote control motor having throttle and shift cables leading into the engine cavity). A sealing mechanism is provided at the cut-out portion of the lower assembly, to provide a water resistant seal at the points of entry of the cables or shift lever through the lower cowl section.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,883, which issued to Slattery on Oct. 24, 1989, discloses a latch assembly for releasably securing cowl sections of an outboard motor. The cowl assembly for an outboard motor includes an upper cowl section and a lower cowl section and is provided with an improved latch assembly. The latch assembly incorporates a pivotal hook connected to one of the cowl sections which is engageable with a hook engaging member provided on a catch mechanism connected to the other cowl section. Due to the presence of the compressible seal between the upper and lower cowl sections, relative vertical movement is possible therebetween and thereby between the hook and the hook engaging member. The improved latch mechanism incorporates a retainer mechanism for preventing disengagement of the hook from the catch mechanism during such relative vertical movement of the cowl sections for ensuring that the cowl sections remain secure together during compression of the compressible seal between the cowl sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,526, which issued to Kusche on May 11, 1976, discloses a cowl apparatus for outboard motors. An outboard motor cowl includes separate starboard and port cowl members which are each individually, removably hinged to the rear of the engine by a pair of space hinge units which allow separate attachment and removal of the cowl halves. The forward ends of the cowl members are releasably connected to separate and independent mounts. The uppermost aft hinge unit is visible from the front of the motor. Each hinge unit includes a receptacle secured to a mounting plate and a hinge pin secured to the inside of the cowl member in slightly spaced relation to the aft edge. The receptacle is spaced from a back edge sealing bracket and includes a guide member to receive and guide the cowl member. The top hinge pin is longer than the lowermost pin and serves to pilot the lower pin into the proper position. The hinge receptacle and pin support include interfering members which hold the cowl downward in the normal closed position and requires slight pivotal movement of the cowl to release the hold down members. The front of the cowl members is suspended by a cowl pin which engages an oval shaped ring as the cowl member is pivoted to the closed position. The lower ring is secured to a front bracket plate having resilient clamping pads on the ends which cooperate with similar resilience clamping pads in the adjacent cowl to support the throttle cable to one side and the gas line to the opposite side.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,751, which issued to Takahashi on Jan. 23, 2001, describes an engine cover unit of an outboard motor. The engine is covered by an engine cover unit and the engine cover unit comprises a lower cover section covering a surrounding of a lower portion of an engine in a usable state of an outboard motor arranged vertically, an upper cover section covering a surrounding of an upper portion of the engine, the upper cover section being mounted to be detachable to the lower cover section so as to provide an engine cover when mounted, and a height adjusting device provided for an inside surface of the lower cover section and adapted to adjust a height of the engine cover. The height adjusting device comprises a holder mounting section integrally mounted to the inside portion of the lower cover section and formed with a holder insertion groove, a cushion holder to be inserted into the holder insertion groove, an elastic member mounted to the cushion holder to be movable in an axial direction thereof, and a rib member provided to the upper cover section, the rib member having an end portion abutting against the elastic member in a state that the upper cover section is closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,616, which issued to Takayanagi on Feb. 15, 2000, describes an engine cover of an outboard motor. The outboard motor includes an engine which is covered by an engine cover which is formed with a cylindrical air suction port having an opening opened to an upper surface of the engine cover in a state of the outboard motor mounted to a hull and a portion of an opening area of the opening is covered by a lid member which is formed to a rear edge portion of the opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,827, which issued to Ichihashi on Jul. 13, 1999, describes an outboard motor. The outboard motor includes an engine bottom cover member which is disposed in a space between a front portion of an under cover and an upper portion of an outboard motor attachment mechanism and conceals a bottom end portion of an engine from view at least in a lateral direction of the outboard motor. The outboard motor has a concealed engine bottom portion which is sightly in appearance. The engine bottom cover member is formed integrally with an under cover and, hence, it can be assembled automatically when the under cover is attached to the under case.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,777, which issued to Hiraoka on Sep. 8, 1998, describes a latch for an outboard motor protective cowling. A latching assembly for engaging and disengaging an upper cover portion and lower tray portion of a cowling of an outboard motor is described. The lower tray portion includes a recess in which part of the latching assembly is located. The latching assembly includes a shaft mounted to the lower tray portion. A latch is rotatably secured to the shaft and movable between an engaged and disengaged position. The latch is disposed within the recess when engaged so that it is flush with the exterior of the cowling. A catch is mounted to the upper cover portion and is engageable by the latch hook. A mechanism for biasing the latch to the engaged or disengaged position is provided for preventing the latch from moving from the engaged or disengaged position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,208, which issued to Westberg on Mar. 17, 1992, describes a motor cover seal. The seal is intended for use in sealing opposed edges of upper and lower outboard motor covers and includes an elongate body constructed and arranged for disposition between the opposed edges of the upper and lower covers. An attachment portion on the body is configured to be secured to the lower motor cover and a compressible portion on the body is configured to be compressed by the closing of the upper motor cover against the lower motor cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,643, which issued to Westberg et al on Dec. 3, 1991, describes a molded lower motor cover. A molded lower motor cover for an outboard motor includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion. The second cover portion is generally a mirror image of the first cover portion. A laterally openi
Krupp Timothy D.
Walczak Thomas J.
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
Morano S. Joseph
Vasudeva Ajay
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