Patent Application
20160340009
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to marine propulsion components and, more particularly, to a propeller guarding assembly for use on an outboard watercraft propulsion apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of outboard propulsion devices, such as a marine propellers, to supply thrust to a watercraft is well known. A problem which still exists, however, is that when such propellers are used on smaller sized vessels, such as a conventional pleasure craft, particularly in smaller bodies of water (for example rivers, lakes, or canals), they often collide with aquatic animals, including manatees. Such collisions have commonly led to maiming, disfigurement, and even death of such animals. Thus, there remains a need for a propeller guard assembly which would prevent marine animals from purposely or inadvertently contacting propeller blades. It would be helpful if such a propeller guard assembly included a housing cage that restricted access to the propeller blades while freely allowing fluid to pass through the blades. It would be additionally desirable for such a propeller guard assembly to include a hinged attachment mechanism that allowed it to be snapped on to existing propeller assemblies.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a propeller guard assembly adapted to enclose the blades of a marine propeller while not restricting their functionality. The primary components in Applicant's propeller guard assembly are a front cage portion, a back cage portion, and a fastening clip. When in operation, the propeller guard assembly prevents propeller blades from striking nearby animals in a body of water. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.
A propeller guard assembly for enclosing the propeller blades of a marine propeller to prevent them from striking marine animals. The propeller guard assembly comprises a front cage portion hingedly attached to a back cage portion. The front cage portion and back cage portion are each defined by a plurality of bars extending radially from a center area to a circumferential bar. The front cage portion and back cage portion are hingedly coupled by a hinge, thereby enabling them to swing between an open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the front cage portion and back cage portion can be selectively fastened together by a fastening clip.
It is an object of this invention to provide a propeller guard assembly which would prevent marine animals from purposely or inadvertently contacting propeller blades.
It is another object of this invention to provide a propeller guard assembly that includes a housing cage that restricted access to the propeller blades while freely allowing fluid to pass through the blades.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a propeller guard assembly that includes a hinged attachment mechanism that allowed it to be snapped on to existing propeller assemblies.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular
The front cage portion 11 and back cage portion 12 are hingedly coupled by a hinge 17, thereby enabling them to swing between an open position, as illustrated in
It is appreciated that the propeller guard assembly 10 may be constructed in various sizes for attachment to various size propellers.
It is contemplated that the exclusive use of radial bars, as opposed to bars in an intersecting or other conventional cage pattern, maximally reduces the obstruction of fluid around the propeller blades 20 which would cause a reduction of efficiency on the propeller. Furthermore, the exclusive use of radial bars improves the ability of the propeller guard assembly 10 to be attached to the propellers on various motors by fitting around an connecting structure that connects the propeller to the motor or boat.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
