Cowls and latching devices for outboard marine engines

A latching device for a cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl having first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position, the latching device comprising:

• a retainer adapted to be fixed to the first cowl portion;
• a latch adapted to be fixed to the second cowl portion;
• wherein the latch is rotatable into and between a latched position in which the latch is latched to the retainer and an unlatched position in which the latch is unlatched from the retainer;
• wherein the latch comprises an engagement member, a bell crank, and a spring that is coupled to the bell crank and the engagement member;
• wherein rotation of the latch towards the latched position causes the engagement member to engage the retainer, and wherein further rotation of the latch towards the latched position causes the bell crank to rotate with respect to the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to latch to the retainer;
• wherein rotation of the latch away from the latched position causes the bell crank to rotate the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to unlatch from the retainer, and wherein further rotation of the latch away from the latched position causes the engagement member to separate from the retainer;
• and
• wherein rotation of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member generates an overcenter force on the engagement member that facilitates latching and unlatching of the engagement member and the retainer.

A cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl comprising:

• first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position
• a retainer fixed to the first cowl portion;
• a latch fixed to the second cowl portion;
• wherein the latch is movable into and between a latched position in which the latch is latched to the retainer and an unlatched position in which the latch is unlatched from the retainer;
• wherein the latch comprises an engagement member, a bell crank, and a spring that is coupled to the bell crank and the engagement member;
• wherein movement of the latch towards the latched position causes the engagement member to engage the retainer, and wherein further movement of the latch towards the latched position causes the bell crank to move with respect to the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to latch to the retainer;
• wherein movement of the latch away from the latched position causes the bell crank to move the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to unlatch from the retainer, and wherein further movement of the latch away from the latched position causes the engagement member to separate from the retainer;
• and
• wherein movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member generates an overcenter force on the engagement member that facilitates latching and unlatching of the engagement member and the retainer.