Ships – Boats – boat component – or attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-10-16
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Ships
Boats, boat component, or attachment
C114S361000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302050
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to marine accessories and, more particularly, to devices that shield persons from undesired contact with an outdrive or outboard motor on a watercraft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over the years, growing numbers of individuals have chosen to spend their leisure time pleasure boating on inland lakes and open waters. Primary leisure activities associated with pleasure boating are swimming and water skiing. An objective of watercraft designs is to permit easy and safe entrance and exit from the water onto the pleasure boat or watercraft.
Accessory designs specifically crafted for entering and exiting the water in the form of swim ladders and the like are known in the art. One popular device on both small and large watercraft is a swim platform. Swim platforms are typically permanent platforms that extend rearward from a lower portion of the rear or transom of the watercraft and allow one or more swimmers to easily push or pull themselves in and out of the water.
It is popular for watercraft operators intending to swim to maneuver and anchor their watercraft in relatively shallow water so swimmers can casually wade in the water and touch the bottom of the lake or sea while swimming. In order to maneuver in shallow water, the outboard motor or outdrive portion of stern drive systems that protrude and extend rearward of the transom of watercraft must be raised or angled upward so the propeller or water jet propulsion system is less likely to contact the bottom of the lake.
A common problem, and one of great concern for boat owners and users alike, is that when the outdrive is in a raised or angled position, often a large portion of the outdrive and, in particular, the propeller blades, extend rearward past the swim platform. Of farther concern is that raised the outdrive propeller is usually just slightly below the surface of the water and not readily visible to swimmers intending to enter the water from the swim platform This is a further concern on larger vessels having two or more outdrives. In all but the largest of watercraft, at least a portion of the raised outdrive remains exposed beyond the swim platform. In the smallest of pleasure craft, not having swim platforms, a portion of the outdrive is exposed even in the fully down or lowered position.
Prior boating accessories such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,136 enclose or cover a portion of the outdrive or lower unit of an outboard motor through use of boots or cushioned bags which are placed around the outdrive to protect the outdrive from damage and to protect swimmers from undesired contact with the unit. Such boots or covers are problematic in that the boot only covers a portion of the outdrive unit and leaves the upper portion uncovered and subject to contact by swimmers or watercraft users. Further, such boots are complex in configuration, are difficult to install and remove from the outdrive and are subject to damage if the watercraft propulsion system is engaged while the boot is installed.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an outdrive guard improving the problematic conditions that is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use and provides increased safety and peace of mind for boat owners, passengers and swimmers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventive guard of the present invention comprises a shield member that attaches to the rear of a marine watercraft, preferably to a swim platform, and extends rearward to prevent undesirable contact of persons with the outdrive.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the shield member is of sufficient length and width to fully extend over any portion of the outdrive that may extend beyond the swim platform or transom. The shield is attached to a mounting surface preferably on the rear of the watercraft or to a swim platform by at least one mounting bracket. The mounting bracket preferably includes a pin for attachment of the shield to a receptacle that is attached to the swim platform The mounting bracket allows free rotation of the shield about the pin which enables the shield to rotate down and come to rest in a vertical position, or more typically, in an angled position on the raised outdrive extending beyond the swim platform or transom.
In an additional preferred aspect of the invention, the shield member is a substantially rigid panel attached to the swim platform or transom as described immediately above.
In another preferred aspect of the invention, the mounting bracket includes a biasing member, which biases the pin into the receptacle for positive engagement of the shield to the swim platform while allowing rotation of the shield as described above. This facilitates quick and easy installation and removal of the shield from the swim platform
These and other features and advantages of the invention win be apparent upon reading the following specification which, along with the drawings, describes and discloses preferred and alternative aspects of the invention in detail.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3010124 (1961-11-01), Dawson
patent: 3805722 (1974-04-01), Melchert, Jr. et al.
patent: 4372243 (1983-02-01), Roope, Jr.
patent: 4669414 (1987-06-01), Molino
patent: 4993978 (1991-02-01), Johannes
patent: 4998496 (1991-03-01), Shaw, III
patent: 5224437 (1993-07-01), Stanescu
patent: 5409409 (1995-04-01), Blanchard et al.
patent: 5560312 (1996-10-01), McPherson
patent: 5660136 (1997-08-01), Pignatelli et al.
patent: 5829380 (1998-11-01), Smith
Basinger Sherman
Young & Basile PC
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