1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inboard/outboard with portable outdrive.
2. The Prior Art
In certain instances it is desirable to equip small watercraft with a propulsion system. For example, it would be convenient to deploy a powered drive on a sailboat if there is no wind, or in tight quarters. However, the presence of such propulsion systems is undesirable and unattractive when the boat is under sail.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,562 describes a transom bracket that allows a marine propulsion unit to be retracted when not in use. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,870 describes an electric drive system for launches and sailboats. It does not specify how the drive system is mounted or if it is removable. U.S. Pat. No. 8,425,268 describes an outboard motor that is modularly connected to a battery power source. However, the motor is part of the outboard module, making it heavy and difficult to remove.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a portable, lightweight outdrive that can be mounted and demounted by hand without the use of tools.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an outdrive propulsion unit that can be attached and removed from a boat-mounted coupling by hand without the use of tools.
It is a further object to make the outdrive propulsion unit lightweight so it can be portably carried by one person for stowage on or off the boat.
The key aspects of the invention relate to a portable drive system including a hand operated coupling system mounted on a boat transom.
It is a further object to provide steering options on the removable outdrive.
More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for propelling a water craft having an outboard propulsion assembly with removable configuration that can be mounted and demounted by hand without tools and a portable size so that it can be carried by an individual.
The removable configuration includes a quick-connect and quick-disconnect coupling. The coupling comprises a socket on the water craft and a mating plug on the outboard propulsion assembly. The plug and socket is the only connection between the water craft and the outboard propulsion unit. The mating plug is mounted to the water craft by plugging into the socket with a sliding motion in the axial direction. The coupling includes a simple hand-operated latching device.
The apparatus further includes a drive unit attached to the coupling. The drive unit includes a battery and motor combined with the coupling in a self-contained package. The drive unit is inboard of the coupling. The drive unit is selected from the group consisting of a gas powered drive unit, a diesel powered drive unit and a battery powered drive unit. A tiller pivots the outboard propulsion assembly to selectively vary the direction of thrust. A steering wheel rotates the outboard propulsion assembly to selectively vary the direction of thrust. A bracket is mounted on the water craft transom, and means for pivoting the socket with respect to the bracket so that the propulsion unit can be raised and lowered.
The advantages, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments now to be described in detail in connection with accompanying drawings. In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views:
The invention relates to a configuration where only a portable propulsion unit is located outboard of the transom. This outboard assembly is lightweight and can easily be unplugged and removed by hand when not in use. The heavy battery and motor are located inboard of the transom and can be permanently or temporarily mounted. A coupling provides an easy way to connect and remove the removable propulsion unit by hand from the internal power source.
As can be seen in
In
Coupling member 62a has a plug that fits into a mating socket provided on coupling unit 30. To secure the plug in the socket, a simple hand operated latching device is provided. This may take the form of a clip or spring-loaded latch on either the plug or socket that can be unclipped by manual manipulation, The latch allows housing 62 to remain stationary, while input shaft 64 drives propeller 74 internally.
Referring now to
A motor 22 is mounted directly on pivoting section 30p, which provides a counter weight. From the operational configuration of
The propulsion unit includes a plug that can be axially plugged and removed from a socket located within tiltable coupling unit 30t. In other words, the plug and socket concept is present in all embodiments, whether straight drive, steerable drive or rotating drive. The socket may be fixed or pivotable. The motor may be mounted on a boat deck, on the coupling unit, or other suitable location.
Having described preferred embodiments for (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It should be understood that propulsion assembly can take many varied forms, and is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and described. While a latter and electric motor are shown, it should be understood that other power sources can be employed within the scope of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/060,698 entitled INBOARD/OUTBOARD WITH REMOVABLE OUTDRIVE filed Oct. 7, 2014.
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1780075 | Griffith | Oct 1930 | A |
1802351 | Neumann | Apr 1931 | A |
2486574 | Roof | Nov 1949 | A |
2923270 | Travis, Sr. | Feb 1960 | A |
3998177 | Rhodes | Dec 1976 | A |
4501562 | Blanchard | Feb 1985 | A |
4527983 | Booth | Jul 1985 | A |
4781633 | Hunt | Nov 1988 | A |
5755604 | Borgersen | May 1998 | A |
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6616489 | Dompierre | Sep 2003 | B1 |
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8425268 | Daikoku et al. | Apr 2013 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160096607 A1 | Apr 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62060698 | Oct 2014 | US |