Cowls and latching assemblies for cowls on outboard marine propulsion devices

A cowl for an outboard marine propulsion device, the cowl comprising:

• a first cowl portion;
• a second cowl portion that mates with the first cowl portion;
• and
• a carrying handle on the second cowl portion, wherein the carrying handle is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the carrying handle is located for manual grasping by a user;
• and
• wherein in the extended position, the carrying handle is located over the center of gravity of the second cowl portion to thereby facilitate manual lifting of the second cowl portion via the carrying handle.

A latching assembly for a cowl for an outboard marine propulsion device that has a first cowl portion and a second cowl portion that mates with the first cowl portion along a perimeter, the latching assembly comprising:

• a plurality of latching devices that are spaced apart around the perimeter and that latch the second cowl portion to the first cowl portion;
• and an actuator assembly that actuates each of the plurality of latching devices;
• further comprising a carrying handle that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the carrying handle is positioned for manual grasping by a user;
• wherein the actuator assembly is connected to the carrying handle such that moving of the carrying handle actuates the plurality of latches.

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 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;
• wherein the bell crank rotates about a bell crank axis of rotation, wherein the engagement member rotates about an engagement member axis of rotation, and wherein the engagement member axis of rotation and the bell crank axis of rotation are parallel to each other and are laterally spaced apart from each other;
• 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;
• and
• a rotary actuator assembly connected to the bell crank on the bell crank axis of rotation, wherein rotation of the rotary actuator assembly causes said rotation of the bell crank about the bell crank axis of rotation.