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US 5,399,113 AGranted
Protector against submerged objects
AssigneeDouglas Builders, Inc.
InventorDouglas D. DeMasi
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDouglas Builders, Inc.
InventorDouglas D. DeMasi
Estimating the term…
The lower portion of the outdrive of a stern drive motor or of an outboard motor for boats, is further protected from damage on striking submerged objects. Protection at low speed is gained by providing sharp or knife-like edge formed of rubber on the leading of the lower portion to gain the resiliency to cushion from damage at low speeds. Lower portions are typically pivotally mounted with respect to the rest of the motor to enable trim adjustment by a cylinder and piston arrangement. The cylinder and piston arrangement provides some cushion enabling damage-reducing backwards and upwards limited rocking on impact at low moderate speeds. Impact sensing mechanisms conventionally also release the pressure in the cylinder and piston arrangement at low and low-moderate speeds but are generally ineffective at moderate and high speeds to limit damage. The effectiveness is improved by the rubber sharp edge on the lower unit which provides for some travel of the lower portion before it comes into rigid contact with the submerged object, providing time for the impact sensing mechanism to act. Impact damage at high speeds is minimized by the use of piston release mechanisms which allow the lower unit to rock freely of the cylinder and piston arrangement.
In a drive for a motorboat, a lower portion for extending beneath the surface of the water upon which a motorboat may be riding, a propeller mounted on said portion rearwardly of it, and a sharp edge of resilient material mounted on said portion forwardly of it, said sharp edge cushioning the lower portion from damage on impact at low speeds with submerged objects, wherein the sharp edge is a retrofit and held on to the lower portion by horizontal and vertical straps.
In a drive for a motorboat, a lower-portion for extending beneath the surface of the water upon which a motorboat may be riding, a propeller mounted on said portion rearwardly of it, and a sharp edge of resilient material mounted on said portion forwardly of it, said sharp edge cushioning the lower portion from damage on impact at low speeds with submerged objects, wherein the sharp edge is a retrofit and held on to the lower portion by horizontal straps.
In a drive for a motorboat, a lower portion for extending beneath the surface of the water upon which a motorboat may be riding, a propeller mounted on said portion rearwardly of it, and a sharp edge of resilient material mounted on said portion forwardly of it, said sharp edge cushioning the lower portion from damage on impact at low speeds with submerged objects, wherein the sharp edge is a retrofit and held on to the lower portion by solid sides suitably apertured for cooling-water flow.
In a drive for a motorboat, a lower portion for extending beneath the surface of the water upon which a motorboat may be riding, a propeller mounted on said portion rearwardly of it, and a sharp edge of resilient material mounted on said portion forwardly of it, said sharp edge cushioning the lower portion from damage on impact at low speeds with submerged objects, wherein the drive includes an upper portion for securing the drive to a boat transom, a pivot on the upper portion for swingably supporting the lower portion, a second pivot on the upper portion remote from the first pivot, a cylinder and piston arrangement swingably supported at one end on the upper portion second pivot, and a pivot on said lower portion remote from the upper portion first pivot for swingably supporting the other end of the cylinder and piston arrangement, the cylinder and piston arrangement being swingably supported at its other end on the lower portion remote pivot, said cylinder and piston arrangement further cushioning the lower portion from damage on impact at low moderate speeds by allowing some rocking of the lower unit about its pivot on the upper unit after compression of the sharp edge of resilient material.
In a drive for a motorboat, a lower portion for extending beneath the surface of the water upon which a motorboat may be riding, a propeller mounted on said portion rearwardly of it, the drive includes an upper portion for securing the drive to a boat transom, a pivot on the upper portion for swingably supporting the lower portion, a second pivot on the upper portion remote from the first pivot, a cylinder and piston arrangement swingably supported at one end on the upper portion second pivot, and a pivot on said lower portion remote from the upper portion first pivot for swingably supporting the other end of the cylinder and piston arrangement, the cylinder and piston arrangement being swingably supported at its other end on the lower portion remote pivot, said cylinder and piston arrangement cushioning the lower portion from severe damage on impact at low moderate speeds by allowing some rocking of the lower unit about its pivot on the upper unit, the free end of the piston of the cylinder and piston arrangement is swingably mounted on the lower portion remote pivot, and a quick release mechanism associated with the free end of the piston for operatively disconnecting the free end of the piston from the lower unit pivot on impact at high speeds of the lower unit with a submerged object in order to minimize damage.
In a drive for a motorboat, a lower portion for extending beneath the surface of the water upon which a motorboat may be riding, a propeller mounted on said portion rearwardly of it, the drive includes an upper portion for securing the drive to a boat transom, a pivot on the upper portion for swingably supporting the lower portion, a second pivot on the upper portion remote from the first pivot, a cylinder and piston arrangement swingably supported at one end on the Upper portion second pivot, and a pivot on said lower portion remote from the upper portion first pivot for swingably supporting the other end of the cylinder and piston arrangement;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.