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US 2004/0069198 A1Published application
Tiller operated power assist marine steering system
AssigneeMark X Steering Systems, LLC
InventorJames M. Hundertmark
Life of this patent
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AssigneeMark X Steering Systems, LLC
InventorJames M. Hundertmark
Estimating the term…
A tiller is preferably coupled to the outboard motor or other steered element of a watercraft such that movement of the tiller in a first manner imposes manually-generated steering forces on the steered element and that operation of the tiller in a second manner imposes power assist steering forces on the steered element. The first manner preferably involves movement of the tiller as a whole, in which case tiller movement drives the steered element mechanically. The second manner preferably involves movement of an actuator portion of the tiller relative to the remainder of the tiller, in which case movement of the tiller actuator portion causes a steering cylinder assembly, an electric stepper motor, or other drive mechanism to impose power assist steering forces on the steered element. The actuator portion of the tiller may, for example, comprise an articulating end of the tiller's arm or a throttle grip supported on the tiller.
A power steering assist system for a watercraft, comprising:
The steering system as recited in claim 2, wherein said tiller comprises an actuator portion which is movable relative to the remainder of said tiller, and wherein said tiller cooperates with said actuator and is configured to cooperate with the steered element such that said tiller operates in said first manner when said tiller moves as a unit and operates in said second manner when said actuator portion moves relative to the remainder of said tiller.
A hydraulic power assist steering assist system for a watercraft, comprising:
A method comprising:
A method comprising:
A power steering assist system for a watercraft, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.