US 7,404,747 B2Granted

Tiller handle for outboard motors

AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.

InventorsYasuo Shinde, Shoichi Rinzaki, Toru Kimura, Michiharu Ohkawa

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Abstract

Proposed is a height adjusting mechanism for a tiller handle (23) of an outboard motor (1). An adjustment piece (45) is detachably attached to the front end of a handle support bracket (22) which extends rearwards from the outboard motor main body (3). The adjustment piece is configured to be attached to the front end of the handle support member in two or more different positions and provided with a corresponding number of spacer portions (47-50) having different thicknesses so as to interpose a selected one of the spacer portions between corresponding stopper surfaces (41, 42) of the tiller handle and handle support bracket depending on the positions of the adjustment piece. Thereby, the height adjusting mechanism for the tiller handle is avoided from protruding laterally or vertically from the base end of the tiller handle so that the external appearance is not impaired and interferences with the surrounding parts can be effectively prevented. Also, the height of the tiller handle can be selected from two or more possible positions.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An outboard motor for watercraft, comprising:

a handle support bracket extending forward from a main body of an outboard motor, a front end of the handle support bracket being provided with a first stopper surface on an upper side thereof;
a tiller handle having a base end pivotally supported by the front end of the handle support bracket around a lateral pivot axis between an upwardly tilted retracted position and a forwardly extending operating position, the base end of the tiller handle being provided with a second stopper surface that cooperates with the first stopper surface to determine a height of the tiller handle on a lower side thereof;
and
an adjustment piece detachably attached to the front end of the handle support bracket;
wherein the adjustment piece is configured to be attached to the front end of the handle support member in two or more different positions and provided with a corresponding number of spacer portions having different thicknesses so as to interpose a selected one of the spacer portions between the first and second stopper surfaces depending on the positions of the adjustment piece.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.