Patent ID: 7662005
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. An outboard drive unit adapted to be mounted on a transom of a boat, comprising: an upper unit housing a motor with a drive shaft, said upper unit being pivotally movable in a generally horizontal plane in relation to the boat transom; a lower unit comprising an input shaft operationally connected to the drive shaft, said lower unit comprising a propeller assembly with a propeller rotatable through connection to the input shaft, an attachment plate secured below the motor and an engagement plate mounted above the propeller assembly, said engagement plate being adapted for a limited rotational movement with the attachment plate when the operator changes the shift position between the forward shift position to the reverse shift position, and a means for changing the shift position of the lower unit between a forward shift position and a reverse shift position when manipulated by an operator, said means for changing the shift position comprising a ratchet plate rotatably mounted between the attachment plate and the engagement plate and a stop pin releasably engaging the ratchet plate when the lower unit is in a forward shift position, wherein said ratchet plate is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart slots or in a reverse shift position.