Outboard motor having copilot device
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorDonald T. M. Anderson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is for steering an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel. The apparatus includes a transom bracket configured to support the outboard motor with respect to the marine vessel; a tiller for manually steering the outboard motor with respect to a steering axis; a steering arm extending above the transom bracket and coupling the tiller to the outboard motor such that rotation of the tiller causes rotation of the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis, wherein the steering arm is located above the transom bracket; and a copilot device configured to lock the outboard motor in each of a plurality of steering positions relative to the steering axis. The copilot device extends above and is manually operable from above the steering arm.
Claims19
An apparatus for steering an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel, the apparatus comprising a transom bracket configured to support the outboard motor with respect to the marine vessel;
- a tiller for manually steering the outboard motor with respect to a steering axis;
- a steering arm extending above the transom bracket and coupling the tiller to the outboard motor such that rotation of the tiller causes rotation of the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis;
- and a copilot device configured to lock the outboard motor in each of a plurality of steering positions relative to the steering axis, wherein the copilot device extends above and is manually operable from above the steering arm, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a brake bracket mounted on the transom bracket and a flanged bushing that clamps and alternately unclamps onto the brake bracket so as to lock and unlock the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis.
An apparatus for steering an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a transom bracket configured to support the outboard motor with respect to the marine vessel;
- a tiller for manually steering the outboard motor with respect to a steering axis;
- a steering arm extending above the transom bracket and coupling the tiller to the outboard motor such that rotation of the tiller causes rotation of the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis;
- and
- a copilot device configured to lock the outboard motor in each of a plurality of steering positions relative to the steering axis, wherein the copilot device extends above and is manually operable from above the steering arm;
- wherein the copilot device comprises an input device located above the steering arm, the input device being movable into a locked position in which the outboard motor is locked in one of the plurality of steering positions and an unlocked position in which the outboard motor is steerable relative to the steering axis;
- wherein the input device further comprises an actuator member that extends through the steering arm;
- wherein the copilot device further comprises a brake mechanism located between the steering arm and the transom bracket;
- wherein movement of the input device into the locked position causes the brake mechanism to lock the outboard motor in the one of the plurality of steering positions and wherein movement of the input device into the unlocked position causes the brake mechanism to unlock the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis;
- and
- wherein the brake mechanism comprises a brake bracket mounted on the transom bracket and a flanged bushing that clamps and alternately unclamps onto the brake bracket so as to lock and unlock the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis.
An apparatus for steering an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a transom bracket configured to support the outboard motor with respect to the marine vessel;
- a tiller for manually steering the outboard motor with respect to a steering axis;
- a steering arm extending above the transom bracket and coupling the tiller to the outboard motor such that rotation of the tiller causes rotation of the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis;
- and
- a copilot device configured to lock the outboard motor in each of a plurality of steering positions relative to the steering axis, wherein the copilot device extends above and is manually operable from above the steering arm;
- wherein the copilot device further comprises a brake mechanism located between the steering arm and the transom bracket, wherein movement of the input device into the locked position causes the brake mechanism to lock the outboard motor in the one of the plurality of steering positions and wherein movement of the input device into the unlocked position causes the brake mechanism to unlock the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis;
- and
- wherein the brake mechanism comprises a brake bracket mounted on the transom bracket and a flanged bushing that clamps and alternately unclamps onto the brake bracket so as to lock and unlock the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.