Cam-type latching mechanism for securing cowl sections together

For an outboard marine propulsion device including a powerhead enclosed within the interior of a cowl assembly including a pair of cowl sections, a latching mechanism for securing the cowl sections together, comprising:

• a catch system interposed between the cowl sections adjacent one end of the cowl assembly and including a catch slot associated with one of the cowl sections and a retainer member associated with the other of the cowl sections and engageable with the catch slot, wherein the catch slot includes an end wall against which the retainer member is located when the cowl sections are secured together, and wherein relative vertical movement between the cowl sections is prevented when the retainer member is engaged with the end wall of the catch slot;
• and
• a latch system interposed between the cowl sections adjacent the other end of the cowl assembly, the latch system being movable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the latch system in its locking position maintains the retainer member against the end wall of the catch slot and prevents relative vertical and horizontal movement between the cowl sections;
• wherein the catch slot provides a vertically facing entrance for receiving the retainer member therein, and a horizontal portion adjacent the end wall for preventing vertical movement of the retainer member when the retainer member is maintained against the end wall.

A cowl assembly for enclosing the powerhead of an outboard motor, comprising:

• a lower stationary cowl section;
• an upper removable cowl section;
• a catch block mounted to a first one of the cowl sections and having a catch slot formed therein, the catch slot defining an entrance and a non-vertical portion extending along a non-vertical axis;
• a retainer member mounted to a second one of the cowl sections, the retainer member being received within the catch slot entrance during movement of the upper cowl section toward the lower cowl section, and being positioned with in the non-vertical portion of the catch slot when the upper cowl section is engaged with the lower cowl section, such that the material of the catch block n vertical alignment with the non-vertical portion of the catch slot is located vertically adjacent and above the retainer member;
• and
• manually operable latch means interposed between the upper and lower cowl sections and movable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the latch means in its locking position maintains the retainer member within the non-vertical portion of the catch slot, and wherein the material of the catch block located above the retainer member acts to prevent vertical upward movement of the upper cowl section.