Multiple part cowl structure for an outboard motor

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a cowl structure for an outboard motor and, more particularly, to a cowl structure that incorporates multiple pieces that are shaped to be attached together to form a cowl of an outboard motor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of cowls are well known to those skilled in the art. Also, various latching mechanisms, for use in conjunction with cowls, are well known to those skilled in the art.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,468, which issued to Boda et al on Nov. 7, 1989, discloses a cowl assembly for an outboard motor. The cowl ass upper cowl section and a lower cowl section and includes various features for improving the structural integrity of the cowl assembly and for providing a water resistance seal at the joint between the cowl sections and at various points of entry of cables and other mechanical devices. A cut-out portion in the side of the lower cowl assembly is adapted to receive various cables and shift levers for different configurations of outboard marine motors (e.g. a manual tiller operated motor including shift controls, a manual tiller operated motor having a separate shift lever and a remote control motor having throttle and shift cables leading into the engine cavity). A sealing mechanism is provided at the cut-out portion of the lower assembly, to provide a water resistant seal at the points of entry of the cables or shift lever through the lower cowl section.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,883, which issued to Slattery on Oct. 24, 1989, discloses a latch assembly for releasably securing cowl sections of an outboard motor. The cowl assembly for an outboard motor includes an upper cowl section and a lower cowl section and is provided with an improved latch assembly. The latch assembly incorporates a pivotal hook connected to one of the cowl sections which is engageable with a hook engaging member provided on a catch mechanism connected to the other cowl section. Due to the presence of the compressible seal between the upper and lower cowl sections, relative vertical movement is possible therebetween and thereby between the hook and the hook engaging member. The improved latch mechanism incorporates a retainer mechanism for preventing disengagement of the hook from the catch mechanism during such relative vertical movement of the cowl sections for ensuring that the cowl sections remain secure together during compression of the compressible seal between the cowl sections.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,526, which issued to Kusche on May 11, 1976, discloses a cowl apparatus for outboard motors. An outboard motor cowl includes separate starboard and port cowl members which are each individually, removably hinged to the rear of the engine by a pair of space hinge units which allow separate attachment and removal of the cowl halves. The forward ends of the cowl members are releasably connected to separate and independent mounts. The uppermost aft hinge unit is visible from the front of the motor. Each hinge unit includes a receptacle secured to a mounting plate and a hinge pin secured to the inside of the cowl member in slightly spaced relation to the aft edge. The receptacle is spaced from a back edge sealing bracket and includes a guide member to receive and guide the cowl member. The top hinge pin is longer than the lowermost pin and serves to pilot the lower pin into the proper position. The hinge receptacle and pin support include interfering members which hold the cowl downward in the normal closed position and requires slight pivotal movement of the cowl to release the hold down members. The front of the cowl members is suspended by a cowl pin which engages an oval shaped ring as the cowl member is pivoted to the closed position. The lower ring is secured to a front bracket plate having resilient clamping pads on the ends which cooperate with similar resilience clamping pads in the adjacent cowl to support the throttle cable to one side and the gas line to the opposite side.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,751, which issued to Takahashi on Jan. 23, 2001, describes an engine cover unit of an outboard motor. The engine is cover by an engine cover unit and the engine cover unit comprises a lower cover section covering a surrounding of a lower portion of an engine in a usable state of an outboard motor arranged vertically, an upper cover section covering a surrounding of an upper portion of the engine, the upper cover section being mounted to be detachable to the lower cover section so as to provide an engine cover when mounted, and a height adjusting device provided for an inside surface of the lower cover section and adapted to adjust a height of the engine cover. The height adjusting device comprises a holder mounting section integrally mounted to the inside portion of the lower cover section and formed with a holder insertion groove, a cushion holder to be inserted into the holder insertion groove, an elastic member mounted to the cushion holder to be movable in an axial direction thereof, and a rib member provided to the upper cover section, the rib member having an end portion abutting against the elastic member in a state that the upper cover section is closed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,616, which issued to Takayanagi on Feb. 15, 2000, describes an engine cover of an outboard motor. The outboard motor includes an engine which is covered by an engine cover which is formed with a cylindrical air suction port having an opening opened to an upper surface of the engine cover in a state of the outboard motor mounted to a hull and a portion of an opening area of the opening is covered by a lid member which is formed to a rear edge portion of the opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,827, which issued to Ichihashi on Jul. 13, 1999, describes an outboard motor. The outboard motor includes an engine bottom cover member which is disposed in a space between a front portion of an under cover and an upper portion of an outboard motor attachment mechanism and conceals a bottom end portion of an engine from view at least in a lateral direction of the outboard motor. The outboard motor has a concealed engine bottom portion which is sightly in appearance. The engine bottom cover member is formed integrally with an under cover and, hence, it can be assembled automatically when the under cover is attached to the under case.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,777, which issued to Hiraoka on Sep. 8, 1998, describes a latch for an outboard motor protective cowling. A latching assembly for engaging and disengaging an upper cover portion and lower tray portion of a cowling of an outboard motor is described. The lower tray portion includes a recess in which part of the latching assembly is located. The latching assembly includes a shaft mounted to the lower tray portion. A latch is rotatably secured to the shaft and movable between an engaged and disengaged position. The latch is disposed within the recess when engaged so that it is flush with the exterior of the cowling. A catch is mounted to the upper cover portion and is engageable by the latch hook. A mechanism for biasing the latch to the engaged or disengaged position is provided for preventing the latch from moving from the engaged or disengaged position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,208, which issued to Westberg on Mar. 17, 1992, describes a motor cover seal. The seal is intended for use in sealing opposed edges of upper and lower outboard motor covers and includes an elongate body constructed and arranged for disposition between the opposed edges of the upper and lower covers. An attachment portion on the body is configured to be secured to the lower motor cover and a compressible portion on the body is configured to be compressed by the closing of the upper motor cover against the lower motor cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,643, which issued to Westberg et al on Dec. 3, 1991, describes a molded lower motor cover. A molded lower motor cover for an outboard motor includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion. The second cover portion is generally a mirror image of the first cover portion. A laterally opening groove formation is disposed generally horizontally relative to an interface of an outer wall of each of the cover portions and each groove formation is integrally joined to the wall by a web configured so that its attachment to the interface will not be visible on the external surface of the outer wall. When the first and second cover portions are fastened to each other, the groove formations sealingly accommodate an upper portion of the motor exhaust housing.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/880,380 (M09531) which was filed on Jun. 13, 2001, discloses a structural support system for an outboard motor. The support system is provided for an outboard motor which uses four connectors attached to a support structure and to an engine system for isolating vibration from being transmitted to the marine vessel to which the outboard is attached. Each connector comprises an elastomeric portion for the purpose of isolating the vibration. Furthermore, the four connectors are disposed in a common plane which is generally perpendicular to a central axis of a driveshaft of an outboard motor. Although precise perpendicularity with the driveshaft axis is not required, it has been determined that if the plane extending through the connectors is within forty-five degrees of perpendicularity with the driveshaft axis, improved vibration isolation can be achieved. A support structure, or support saddle, completely surrounds the engine system in the plane of the connectors. All of the support of the outboard motor is provided by the connectors within the plane, with no additional support provided at a lower position on the outboard motor driveshaft housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,236, which issued to Dunham et al on Aug. 16, 1994, describes a latch mechanism for an outboard motor cowl assembly. The outboard motor comprises a propulsion unit including a propeller shaft and a power head drivingly connected to the propeller shaft, and a cowling surrounding the power head, the cowling comprising a first cover member including an outer surface having therein a recess, a second cover member mating with the first member, and a selectively engageable latch mechanism for securing the second member to the first member, the latch mechanism including a latch handle which is supported by the first member, which is movable in a first direction between a flush position wherein the latch handle is in the recess and is flush with the remainder of the outer surface and a non-flush position wherein the latch handle extends from the recess and which is movable in a second direction to engage and disengage the latch mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,248, which issued to Daleiden et al on Jun. 9, 1992, discloses a cam-type latching mechanism for securing cowl sections together. The latch mechanism for securing upper and lower cowl sections of an outboard motor is described. The latch system comprises a catch assembly located at one end of the cowl assembly and a latch mechanism located at the other end of the assembly. The catch assembly includes a catch block mounted to one of the cowl sections with a catch slot formed in the catch block. A roller member is mounted to the other of the cowl sections for engaging the catch slot. The catch slot is formed so as to provide an end wall against which the roller is maintained when the cowl sections are secured together with the material of the catch block engaging the roller member to prevent relative vertical movement between the cowl sections. A cam block is located at the same end of the cowl assembly as the latch mechanism and is mounted to one of the cowl sections. A cam follower is mounted to the other of the cowl sections and engages a cam surface formed on the cam block for facilitating movement of the roller member into the catch slot. A stationary latch member is engageable by a movable latch member in response to movement of a latch handle to maintain the cam follower within the cam slot and thereby to maintain the catch rollers within the catch slots. Relative vertical and horizontal movement between the cowl sections is thus prevented.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,194, which issued to Wagner on May 22, 1990, describes a interlock latch assembly for releasably securing cowl sections of an outboard motor. An interlock mechanism is provided for a latch assembly which releasably secures upper and lower cowl sections of an outboard motor. The interlock mechanism is movable between a locking position and released position and is normally disposed in its locking position, such as by a coil spring. The interlock mechanism is mounted to the latch handle which is pivotably mounted to one of the cowl sections. A hook is interconnected with the latch handle and is engageable with a catch assembly provided on the other of the cowl sections. The interlock assembly normally engages a stationary engagement pin provided on one of the cowl sections, which prevents accidental pivoting movement of the latch handle. The interlock mechanism is manually movable to its released position so that the latch handle can be pivoted so as to disengage the hook from the catch mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,396, which issued to Crane et al on Jul. 15, 1986, discloses a cowl latch for outboard motors. A latch for a cowl of an outboard motor engine includes a catch mounted on one of the cowl members. A lever is pivotally attached to the other cowl member and resilient spring member is pivotally attached to the lever. The lever and spring member act to provide an overcenter action on the lever when the latch is closed. The lever includes a shield to conceal the latch assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,194, which issued to Walsh on Sep. 7, 1982, describes a cowl for an outboard motor. A cowl for the power head of an outboard motor includes two bottom cowl members attached together by screws which also mount a latch bracket and a hinge member. The latch bracket supports a latch mechanism which, with the hinge member serves to hold a top cowl member in place.

The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.

As described above, many different types of engine covers, or cowls, are well known to those skilled in the art. Some of the cowls are formed in two pieces that are assembled together to provide a covering for the engine of the outboard motor. Some of the patents described above relate to the upper cowl assembly for an outboard motor and others relate to the lower cowl. Several of the patents described above describe latching mechanisms that can be used to attach one section of a cowl to another section.

It would be beneficial if a cowl structure could be provided which allows one section of an upper cowl assembly to be removed while the other section remains in place and attached to the outboard motor support assembly. This allows maintenance and inspection to be provided with regard to the engine and associated components without necessarily requiring the entire cowl to be removed. It would also be beneficial if a latching mechanism could be provided, to attach cowl sections together, which is both easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. It would also be beneficial if the latching mechanism for an outboard motor could reduce the number of components necessary to form the mechanism, thus reducing the overall assembly time and the number of metallic components which add to the weight of the outboard motor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An outboard motor, made in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises a first cowl member which is attachable to a support structure of an outboard motor. The first cowl member is extendible across a rear portion of the outboard motor and at least partially extendible along both port and starboard sides of the outboard motor. It also comprises a second cowl member which is attachable to the support structure and to the first cowl member. The second cowl member is extendible across a front portion of the outboard motor and at least partially extendible along the port and starboard sides of the outboard motor.

When used in conjunction with an outboard motor, the present invention further comprises the support structure and a first latch mechanism for attaching the first cowl member to the support structure. It also comprises a second latch mechanism for attaching the first cowl member to the second cowl member. The first cowl member comprises a groove which is shaped to receive a protruding edge formed on the support structure. The present invention further comprises a hinge about which the second cowl member is rotatable relative to the support structure. The first and second cowl members are supported by the support structure.

When used in conjunction with an outboard motor, the present invention further comprises an internal combustion engine disposed under the first and second cowl members and supported by the support structure through isolated resilient mounts. The second cowl extends at least partially over a top portion of the outboard motor in a preferred embodiment and also extends at least partially over a rear portion of the outboard motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully and completely understood from a reading of the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

is a side view of an outboard motor made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2

is an exploded view of the cowl portion of the outboard motor shown in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a section of a sliding track used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 4

is a hinge mechanism used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 5

is an exploded view showing the first and second cowl members and an air damcap that is associated with the second cowl member;

FIG. 6

is a partial view of the second cowl member, showing the latch mechanism used to attach the second cowl member to the first cowl member;

FIG. 7

is an isometric view of the first cowl member being assembled to a support structure of an outboard motor;

FIG. 8

shows a latch base portion formed as an integral part of a second cowl member;

FIG. 9

shows the base portion of

FIG. 8

with additional components to form the latch mechanism;

FIG. 10

is a sectioned isometric view of the components of the latch mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 11

shows the latch member of the present invention; and

FIG. 12

shows the pivot member used to rotatably support the latch of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, like components will be identified by like reference numerals.

FIG. 1

is a side view of an outboard motor

10

made in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It comprises a first cowl member

12

which is attachable to a support structure

14

of the outboard motor

10

. It should be understood that the present invention is directly related to the cowl portions above the support structure

14

. The cover members disposed around the support structure

14

are sometimes referred to as the “lower pan” or “lower cowl”, but this structure does not relate directly to the present invention other than the support it provides.

The first cowl member

12

is extendible across a rear portion

16

of the outboard motor

10

and at least partially extendible along both port and starboard sides of the outboard motor

10

. With respect to the transom

20

, which is shown in dashed lines, the view in

FIG. 1

is the starboard side of the outboard motor

10

with the rear portion

16

toward the left in FIG.

1

and the front portion

22

toward the right. A second cowl member

24

is attachable to both the support structure

14

and to the first cowl member

12

and is in contact with the component identified by reference numeral

36

which will be discussed below. The second cowl member

24

is extendible across a front portion

22

of the outboard motor

10

and at least partially extendible along the port and starboard sides of the outboard motor

10

.

As discussed above, the outboard motor

10

also comprises the support structure

14

, an engine, adapter plate, and driveshaft housing resiliently supported by the support structure, and a gear case

28

. As will be described in greater detail below, a first latch mechanism is provided for attaching the first cowl member

12

to the support structure

14

and a second latch mechanism is provided for attaching the second cowl

24

to the first cowl

12

.

With continued reference to

FIG. 1

, the outboard motor

10

is provided with a transom plate

30

which allows the outboard motor

10

to be rigidly attached to a transom

20

of a marine vessel. Alternative configurations are also available in which a jack plate can be provided in association with the transom plate

30

to allow positional adjustment of the outboard motor relative to the marine vessel.

FIG. 2

shows the outboard motor

10

described above in conjunction with

FIG. 1

, but with the first and second cowl members,

12

and

24

, illustrated in their open positions. The purpose of the cowl members is to provide a cover for the internal combustion engine

34

used as a power head for the outboard motor

10

. The first cowl member

12

comprises a groove which is shaped to receive a protruding edge formed on the support structure

14

.

FIG. 3

is a simplified representation of the groove which is a part of the first cowl member

12

which comprises two raised portions,

41

and

42

, that define a groove therebetween. The protruding edge

43

of the support structure

14

is received in the groove to guide the first cowl member

12

as it slides relative to the support structure with the protruding edge

43

disposed within the groove defined by the raised portions,

41

and

42

, of the first cowl member

12

. Arrow A in

FIG. 2

describes the motion of the first cowl member

12

relative to the support structure

14

as it is guided by the groove and protruding edge

43

. This relative motion will be described in greater detail below in conjunction with a discussion of the latching mechanism that holds the first cowl member

12

to the support structure

14

.

FIG. 2

shows the second cowl member

24

rotated clockwise along the path described by Arrow B. The portion of the cover identified by reference numeral

36

in

FIG. 2

is not directly related to the present invention, but provides a cover element over the region where it is located in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. In certain embodiments, this cover

36

can comprise two sections to facilitate assembly, by a plurality of screws, to the support structure

14

.

With reference to

FIGS. 2 and 4

, the second cowl member

24

is intended to pivot about the region identified by reference numeral

46

. A bracket

48

, shown in

FIG. 4

, is rigidly attached to the support member

14

and is provided with an opening

50

formed through it. The opening

50

is shaped to receive a tang

52

that is attached to the second cowl member

24

. In order to assemble the second cowl member

24

to the support structure

14

and the first cowl member

12

, the tang

52

is inserted into the opening

50

in the bracket

48

with the second cowl member

24

tilted upwardly as represented in FIG.

2

. Then, with the tang

52

remaining in the opening

50

, the second cowl member

24

is rotated in a counterclockwise direction downward into contact with the first cowl member

12

which has previously been moved toward the right in FIG.

2

and latched to the support structure

14

. In other words, the order of assembly of the cowl members comprises the initial movement of the first cowl member

12

toward the right in

FIG. 2

until it latches firmly with the support structure

14

. Then, the second cowl member

24

is placed in the position shown in

FIG. 2

, with the tang

52

inserted into opening

50

. The second cowl member

24

is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction into contact with the first cowl member

12

and the support structure

14

. This places the tang

52

in its relative position within the opening

50

that is illustrated in FIG.

4

. In other words,

FIG. 4

shows the tang in its position that it occupies when the second cowl member

24

is fully rotated in a counterclockwise direction and attached to the first cowl member

12

.

FIG. 5

is an exploded view of the first and second cowl members,

12

and

24

, and an air dam cap

60

which is attachable to the second cowl member

24

in order to cover certain air ducts and latch mechanisms of the second cowl member

24

. In

FIG. 5

, the air dam cap

60

is shown separated from its intended position on the second cowl member

24

in order to allow certain latch components to be illustrated.

With continued reference to

FIG. 5

, it can be seen that two latch pins,

71

and

72

, are attached to the first cowl member

12

, or first cover member, and positioned to be inserted into openings formed in the second cowl member

24

,or second cover member. As will be described in greater detail below, the second cowl member

24

is provided with a handle

80

that is associated with a push-pull cable

82

in order to operate two latches,

91

and

92

. Latch

91

is shown within a dashed circle in FIG.

5

and will be described in greater detail below in conjunction with

FIGS. 6

,

8

, and

9

. As can be seen in

FIG. 5

, the second cowl member

24

extends at least partially over a top portion of the outboard motor in addition to extending around the front, rear, and sides of the outboard motor. The first cowl member

12

extends around the rear portion

16

of the outboard motor and at least partially over its port and starboard sides.

FIG. 6

is an enlarged view of a portion of the second cowl member

24

. A handle

80

is pivotally attached to the second cowl member

24

for rotation about an axis

81

in response to manual movement of the handle

80

. A spring

85

is provided to return the handle

80

to its deactivating position when the operation is not manually activating the handle

80

. A push-pull cable

82

transfers the manually applied force on the handle

80

to the latches,

91

and

92

. A connecting bar

97

transfers force between the first and second latches,

91

and

92

, so that manual manipulation of the handle

80

will cause both of the latches to release the latch pins, as will be described in greater detail below.

FIG. 6

illustrates the second cowl member

24

with the air dam cap

60

removed to expose the latch mechanism, handle

80

and two air intake conduits,

101

and

102

.

FIG. 7

is an isometric view of the inside portion of the support structure

14

with the first cowl member

12

moved slightly away from its latched position relative to the support structure

14

. Arrow A is provided to show the relationship between

FIGS. 2 and 7

and the relative positions of the first cowl member

12

and the support structure

14

in those two figures. In

FIG. 7

, the first cowl member

12

is moved away from its latching position relative to the support structure

14

and to the cover identified by reference numeral

36

. It should also be noted that half of the cover

36

is not illustrated in

FIG. 7

for purposes of clarity and the first cowl member

12

has been sectioned in order to expose certain internal components that will be described below.

As the first cowl member

12

is moved toward the left in

FIG. 7

, a latch opening

110

moves into position to allow a latch insert

112

to move into it. Until the latch mechanism

114

is manually deactivated, this relationship holds the first cowl member

12

firmly into position with respect to the support structure

14

. As the first cowl member

12

is moved toward the left in

FIG. 7

, the groove between extensions

41

and

42

captures the protruding edge

43

of the support structure

14

, as described above. The combination of the groove, between extensions

41

and

42

, and the protruding edge

43

, as discussed above in conjunction with

FIG. 3

, holds the first cowl member

12

in position relative to the support structure

14

in combination with the operation of two of the latches

114

described above.

With continued reference to

FIG. 7

, three resilient mounts,

121

-

123

, are visible. A fourth mount is not visible in FIG.

7

. This type of mounting arrangement is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/880,380 which was filed on Jun. 13, 2001 (M09531) and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The resilient mounts,

121

-

123

, support the internal combustion engine

34

and isolate vibrations emanating from the engine. In other words, the support structure

14

is not subjected to all of the vibrations of the engine

34

. As a result, the first and second cowl members,

12

and

24

, are isolated from those vibrations because they are attached directly to the support structure

14

and not attached directly to the engine in a way that would allow those vibrations to be transmitted to the cowl structure. The cowl members are isolated from the drive shaft housing by the resilient mounts,

121

-

123

. As a result, they are isolated from the exhaust noise and vibration from the propeller and propeller shaft. They are also inherently isolated from the lower pan or lower cowl and from the chaps that are attached to the drive shaft housing. Because of the large surface area of the cowl, direct contact between the cowl structure and engine would allow the transmission of the vibrations to the cowl and would likely result in excessive movement and noise during operation of the outboard motor. With reference to

FIGS. 4 and 7

, the bracket

48

shown in

FIG. 4

is intended to be attached to the region identified by reference numeral

130

in FIG.

7

.

FIG. 8

is a partial view of the mechanism shown in

FIG. 6

, particularly the portion within the dashed circle illustrated in FIG.

5

. It shows a base portion

200

of the latch

91

shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

. The base portion

200

of the latching device is formed as an integral part of the second cover member

24

. All of the components shown in

FIG. 8

are formed as integral parts of the second cover member

24

, with no individual parts illustrated in the Figure.

FIG. 9

illustrates the base portion

200

of the latching device

91

with certain additional components added to the second cowl member

24

. With reference to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, a pivot member

202

extends through an opening

204

that is formed through the base portion

200

. A latch

208

is attached for rotation about a central axis

210

of the pivot member

202

. The latch

208

is movable between a locking position (as illustrated in

FIG. 9

) and an unlocking position in which the latch

208

would be rotated clockwise about axis

210

from the position shown in

FIG. 9. A

latch pin

71

, as also illustrated in

FIG. 5

, is attached to the first cover member

12

and shaped to be retained by the latch

208

when the first and second cover members,

12

and

24

, are in contact with each other and the latch

208

is in the locking position. A spring

85

, as illustrated in

FIG. 6

, as well as a torsional spring which is located beneath the latch

208

and surrounding the pivot member

202

in

FIG. 9

, is provided for urging the latch

208

toward its locking position as shown in FIG.

9

. The torsional spring located under the latch and around the pivot member

202

urges the latch

208

in a counterclockwise direction toward its latching position. A push-pull cable

82

is associated with the latch

208

to allow the handle

80

to be used to manually cause the latch

208

to rotate in a clockwise direction (with respect to

FIG. 9

) about axis

210

so that the latch

208

can be moved into its unlatching position to release the second cowl member

24

. The pivot hole

204

, illustrated in

FIG. 8

, is formed through the base portion

200

and shaped to receive the pivot member

202

through the pivot hole. A pin

230

is attached to the pivot member

202

to prevent the pivot member from being removed from the pivot hole

204

. The push-pull cable

82

has a first end

131

attached to the handle

80

, as shown in

FIG. 6

, and a second end

132

attached to the latch

208

. As a result, movement of the handle

80

relative to the second cover member

24

will cause the latch

208

to rotate about the central axis

210

of the pivot member

202

. This unlatches the second cowl member

24

from the first cowl member

12

. A sheath of the push-pull cable

82

is attached to the second cover member at several locations between the handle

80

and the latch

208

. Reference numerals

241

and

242

illustrate two of these attachment positions in FIG.

9

.

FIG. 10

is a section view taken through the latch pin

71

and portions of the base portion

200

. As shown in

FIG. 10

, a latch pin hole

250

is formed through the first cover member

12

and the latch pin

71

is disposed in the latch pin hole

250

. The latch pin

71

is rigidly attached to the first cover member

12

by a threaded member

252

and a step formed within the latch pin

71

, as illustrated in FIG.

10

. The base portion

200

is a boss extending from a surface of the second cover member

24

and the pivot member, described above in conjunction with

FIG. 9

, extends through the pivot opening

204

. The pivot member

202

is rotatable relative to the second cover member

24

. With reference to

FIG. 8

, an insertion hole

270

is formed through the base portion

200

of the second cover member

24

. The insertion hole

270

is shaped to receive the latch pin

71

and to allow the latch

208

to move into latching contact with the latch pin

71

when the first and second cover members,

12

and

24

, are attached to each other.

FIGS. 11 and 12

illustrate the latch

208

and the pivot member

202

. The latch

208

is provided with a hole

280

that is shaped to receive the pivot member

202

therethrough. That pivot member

202

is then held in position by the pin

230

described above in conjunction with

FIG. 9. A

portion of the latch

208

is shaped to receive the second end

132

of the push-pull cable assembly

82

. That opening is identified by reference numeral

288

in FIG.

11

. Another opening

290

in the latch

208

is shaped to receive the connector rod

97

that transfer force from the first latch structure

91

to the second latch structure

92

, as described above in conjunction with

FIGS. 6 and 9

. The pivot member

202

is provided with a shoulder

293

that works in cooperative association with the pin

230

which is inserted into hole

297

which is formed through the pivot member

202

.

In

FIG. 10

, the latch pin

71

is provided with a collar

300

that is disposed around the latch pin

71

and used to align the position of the latch pin with respect to the insertion hole

270

. The spring

304

urges the collar

300

upwardly against the lower surface of the second cover member

24

.

With reference to

FIGS. 1-12

, it can be seen that the present invention provides numerous advantages with respect to the cowl structure of an outboard motor

10

. The first and second cowl members,

12

and

24

, provide for easier removal and installation of the cowl structure, particularly when the internal combustion engine

34

is large and would normally require a large and heavy cowl structure to provide protection for the engine. The present invention makes it possible to use narrower cowl segments than would otherwise be possible with large four cycle engines. This is particularly important when the outboard motor is used in combination with other outboard motors in tandem applications where twenty-six inch mounting centers are highly desirable. The first cowl member

12

is extendible across a rear portion

16

of the outboard motor

10

and at least partially extendible along both the port and starboard sides of the outboard motor. The second cowl member

24

is attachable to the support structure

14

of the outboard motor

10

and to the first cowl member

12

. The second cowl member is extendible across a front portion

22

of the outboard motor and at least partially extendible along the port and starboard sides of the outboard motor. In a preferred embodiment, the second cowl member

24

also extends across the top and rear portions of the outboard motor. A support structure

14

, which resiliently supports the internal combustion engine

34

, supports the cowl structure and provides a first latch mechanism for attaching the first cowl member

12

to the support structure

14

and a second latch mechanism for attaching the first cowl member

12

to the second cowl member

24

. The first cowl member, or first cover member

24

, comprises a groove which is shaped to receive a protruding edge

43

that is formed on the support structure

14

. A hinge, as shown in

FIG. 4

, is provided so that the second cowl member

24

is rotatable relative to the support structure

14

during attachment of the second cowl member

24

. Both the first and second cowl members are supported by the support structure

14

.

The second cover member

24

is attached to the first cover member

12

by a latching mechanism which comprises a base portion

200

of the latching device

91

which is formed as an integral part of the second cover member

24

. A pivot member

202

extends through a hole

204

formed in the base portion

200

. A latch

208

is attached for rotation about a central axis

210

of the pivot member

202

and the latch

208

is movable between a locking position (as shown in

FIG. 9

) and an unlocking position. A latch pin

71

is attached to the first cover member

12

and shaped to be retained by the latch

208

when the first and second cover members,

12

and

24

, are in contact with each other and the latch is in the locking position. A spring

85

, along with the torsional spring described above, are provided for urging the latch

208

toward its locking position. The spring causes the internal cable of the push-pull cable assembly

82

to rotate the latch

208

in a counterclockwise direction about axis

210

. A pivot hole

204

is formed through the base portion

200

and the pivot member

202

extends through the pivot hole. A pin

230

is attached to the pivot member

202

to prevent the pivot member from being removed from the pivot hole

204

. The push-pull cable

82

has a first end

131

and a second end

132

, with the second end

132

being attached to the latch

208

and the first end

131

being attached to the handle

80

. The handle

80

is manually movable relative to the second cover member

24

to cause the latch

208

to rotate in a clockwise direction about the central axis

210

of the pivot member

202

. This allows the latching mechanism to be placed in the unlatching position. A sheath of the push-pull cable is attached to the second cover member

24

at several locations between the handle

80

and the latch

208

. A latch pin hole

250

is formed in the first cover portion

12

and the latch pin

71

is inserted into the latch pin hole

250

for rigid attachment to the first cover member

12

. The base portion

200

, in a preferred embodiment is a boss that extends from a surface of the second cover member

24

. The pivot member

202

extends through the base portion

200

and, in certain embodiments, is rotatable relative to the second cover member

24

. In alternative embodiments, the pivot member

202

is fixed with respect to the boss portion

200

and the latch

208

is rotatable relative to the pivot member

202

. An insertion hole

270

is formed through the second cover member

24

and is shaped to receive the latch pin

71

and to allow the latch

208

to move into contact with the latch pin

71

when the first and second cover members,

12

and

24

, are attached to each other.

The latching mechanism described above provides significant benefits over those known in the prior art. Latch structures are typically provided as independent metal components that are attached to the cowl structure by screws or bolts. These individual latch mechanism require additional assembly time to connect them to their associated latch members. In addition, the metallic components add weight to the cowl structure. By providing a base portion

200

that is an integral part of the cowl, those additional parts are not required. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the latch mechanism only requires the additional components identified above as the latch

208

, the pivot member

202

, and the pin

230

. The push-pull cable

82

and the connector bar

97

would typically be required in previously known latching mechanisms.

Although the present invention has been described with considerable detail and illustrated to show several embodiments, it should be understood that alternative embodiments are also within its scope.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
3955526	Kusche	May 1976	A
4348194	Walsh	Sep 1982	A
4600396	Crane et al.	Jul 1986	A
4875883	Slattery	Oct 1989	A
4878468	Boda et al.	Nov 1989	A
4927194	Wagner	May 1990	A
5069643	Westberg et al.	Dec 1991	A
5083949	Breckenfeld et al.	Jan 1992	A
5096208	Westberg	Mar 1992	A
5120248	Daleiden et al.	Jun 1992	A
5302147	Oishi	Apr 1994	A
5338236	Dunham et al.	Aug 1994	A
5803777	Hiraoka	Sep 1998	A
5921827	Ichihashi	Jul 1999	A
6024616	Takayanagi	Feb 2000	A
6176751	Takahashi	Jan 2001	B1

Multiple part cowl structure for an outboard motor

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

US Referenced Citations (16)