# US 4,348,194 A · Cowl for an outboard motor

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- Number: US 4,348,194 A
- Document ID: US4348194A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/164,976
- Filed: 1980-07-01
- Granted: 1982-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 1980-07-01
- Assignees: Brunswick Corporation
- Inventors: James R. Walsh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4348194A

## CPC

- F02B 77/13: Acoustic insulation
- B63H 20/32: Housings {(air intakes for outboard engines F02M35/167)}
- F02B 61/045: {for marine engines}
- B63H 2020/323: {Gear cases}
- F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G)
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)

## Abstract

A cowl for the power head (11) of an outboard motor (10) includes two bottom cowl members (14, 15) attached together by screws which also mount a latch bracket (26) and a hinge member (25). The latch bracket (26) supports a latch mechanism which, with the hinge member (25) serves to hold a top cowl member (13) in place.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An outboard motor including:
(A) a drive shaft housing;
(B) an engine supported on said drive shaft housing; and
(C) a cowl assembly surrounding said engine, said cowl assembly comprising:
(1) a first bottom cowl member,
(2) a second bottom cowl member, said bottom cowl members fitting together around said drive shaft housing below said engine,
(3) a top cowl member joined with said bottom cowl members to enclose said engine, and
(4) a latch means to hold said cowl members together, said latch means comprising a bracket attached to both of said bottom cowl members.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The outboard motor defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means further comprises a latch member pivotally connected to said bracket and a hook on said top cowl member, said latch member releasably engaging said hook.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The outboard motor defined in claim 2 wherein said latch means further comprises a latch link member pivotally connected to said bracket and said latch member to form an over-center latching mechanism.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The outboard motor defined in claim 1 further comprising a releasable hinging means located on said cowl opposite said bracket to releasably hinge said top cowl member to said bottom cowl members.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The outboard motor defined in claim 4 wherein said hinging means comprises one hinge member clamped between said first and second bottom cowl members.

### Claim 6

An outboard motor including:
(A) a drive shaft housing having a flange around its upper periphery;
(B) an engine supported on said drive shaft housing; and
(C) a cowl assembly surrounding said engine, said cowl assembly comprising:
(1) a first bottom cowl member,
(2) a second bottom cowl member, said bottom cowl members fitting together around said drive shaft housing below said engine to be supported by said flange, and
(3) a top cowl member joined with said bottom cowl members to enclose said engine.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The outboard motor defined in claim 6 wherein said bottom cowl members comprise grooves for engaging said flange.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The outboard motor defined in claim 7 wherein said drive shaft housing further comprises sealing means mounted on said flange to provide a seal between said flange and said bottom cowl members.