Abstract:
A latch for a motor boat steering stick. Also, a motor boat including a stick steering system and latch. The latch includes a base portion directly attached to or continuous with the boat hall and a movable portion winch is selectively positionable so as to engage with the steering stick when needed and to disengage when not needed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This disclosure pertains to a latch for securing me steering mechanism of a motorized boat. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Previously known devices for securing the steering mechanism of a motorized boat include steps or bawds to tie down the steering mechanism, e.g. a steering lever, and hold it in place. Such straps or bands can be messy and inconvenient. When not in use, they are left loose in the boat where they may become lost or entangled. To implement the known system requires two hands to wrap the straps or bands around the steering mechanism and securely tie the ends together. This can be particularly difficult on rough water. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present disclosure provides a latch that can be quickly and easily moved into engagement with the steering mechanism. The disclosed latch can be operated with one hand, allowing the operator to keep the other hand on the steering mechanism and hold it in place until the latch engages the steering mechanism and secures it in position. When not in use, the disclosed latch can be moved to a disengagement position and the steering mechanism can be freely operated. The disclosed latch is attached to the boat which prevents the latch from being lost or damaged when not in use while also maintaining the latch in a convenient position for quick and easy access when needed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top-down view providing an overview of one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed view of aspects of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a more detailed view of aspects of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the latch element of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    The disclosed latch may be used with a variety of small motorized watercraft which are generally known k the art. For example, the disclosed latch is useful for a Ion boat with a stick steering system Examples of such boats include the FISHERMAN 160 CS by ALUMNACRAFT and the L1236 Jon boat by LOWE BOATS. The aforementioned boats, like all boats, have a length measured from front to back and a beam measured from side to side at the widest point of the boat. While the length of a boat may refer to the length overall, the length between perpendiculars, or other dimensions, snob dimensions are always measured in the same direction. Accordingly, references in the following description to the length of the boat are intended to refer to the direction in which the length(s) is/are measured. A typical stick steering system with which the disclosed latch may be used is the EZY STIK II or EZY STIK III by Ezy Glide, Inc. 
         [0011]    The disclosed latch  1  includes a base portion  2 , and a movable portion  3 . The base portion  2  is mounted on boat  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , boat  100  includes a hull  101  and a motor  102  mounted on the stem  103  of the hull  101 . Boat  100  is equipped with a stick sleeting system  200 , which includes a steering lever, which is commonly known as a steering stick  201 . Steering stick  201  is connected to motor  102  by a cable  202  so that when the steering stick is moved in either direction from front-to-back or back-to-front (i.e., parallel to the length of the boat), the motor  102  correspondingly moves in a left-to-right or right-to-left direction (i.e., parallel to the beam of the boat). Thus, moving the steering stick, allows the pilot to steer the boat from a position closer to the front of the boat which provides improved visibility and convenience. While the disclosed, latch can be attached to the boat in various positions, it is preferred that the latch be attached so as to hold the lever in a vertical, position, corresponding to a straight course for the boat. 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the pilot does not need to steer the boat, such as when only a straight course is needed, or more frequently, when the boat is stationary, e.g., for fishing, the latch  1  can be moved to its engagement position, wherein the steering stick  201  is locked in place between the prongs  7  and  9  of fork  5  on the movable portion  3 . This prevents the motor from drifting side-to-side and potentially knocking Into the boat while the boat is stationary. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , The base portion  2  Is shaped like a shallow “U” in cross-section and forms a channel with a flat central portion  4 , bounded on either side by short side walls  6  and  8 . The flat center portion  4  is mounted directly to the hull  101 . In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion  2  is mounted to the hull lift with threaded fasteners  300  through mounting holes  12 . 
         [0014]    In the illustrated embodiment, the movable portion  3  of the disclosed latch  1  is attached to the base portion  2  via a hinge  11 . This enables the movable portion to move in a rotating fashion, i.e., to swing or flip as indicated by arrow A in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , between the engagement position and the disengagement position. In the Illustrated embodiment, the movable portion rotates through an arc length of approximately 180 degrees. Other means of attaching the movable portion to the base portion, providing alternative directions of movement, for example, lateral sliding, are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0015]    While preferred embodiments and example configurations have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various further modifications and additional configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such modifications and configurations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. The specific embodiments and configurations disclosed are Illustrative of the preferred and best modes for practicing the invention as defined by the appended claims, and should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention includes ail modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.