Handle structure for a detachable outboard motor and detachable outboard motor

Abstract: A handle structure for a detachable outboard motor comprises a front side handle adapted to be mounted at a front side of a top portion of an outboard motor for carrying the outboard motor when removed from a boat. The front side handle comprises two side portions and a grip portion therebetween. Actuating means for operating a choke and for stopping the outboard motor are mounted on said side portions. This provides for an improved handling of an outboard motor. Moreover, in order to provide sure protection of the top portion of the outboard motor during storage, the handle structure extends around said top portion and, moreover, includes another grip portion at the rear side of the outboard motor.

Description: The present invention relates to a handle structure for a detachable outboard motor according to the preamble part of claim 1 and, moreover, to a detachable outboard motor comprising the afore-mentioned handle structure. Conventionally, an outboard motor is detachably mounted as a propulsion unit at the stem of a small boat. Outboard motors of this type comprise a top portion accommodating a power unit and a lower portion carrying a propeller. When the outboard motor is fitted to a boat, the propeller is submerged into the water when the boat is running. Moreover, the outboard motor can be tilted up to raise the propeller above the water surface when the boat is moored. Furthermore, conventional outboard motors are provided with a handle for the purpose of tilting it up and carrying it in order to remove it from the boat and store it in a dry place when it is not in use. As an engine and auxiliary mechanical components are installed in the top portion of the outboard motor, the motor and in particular its top portion is very bulky and heavy. Therefore, it is necessary to protect it so as to prevent it from being damaged by external forces during storage or when it is handled. Moreover, it is desirable to provide the outboard motor with a handle which is convenient for carrying the motor. Preferably, such a handle has to be positioned at the front side of the top portion of the motor, i.e. the side facing in the driving direction when the motor is mounted on a boat. Moreover, such motors also require actuating means for operating a choke and for switching off the motor. Preferably, such actuation means are arranged at the front side of the outboard motor as such outboard motors are normally operated by a steering handle aside the motor. US-A-4 412 826 discloses an outboard motor comprising a carrying handle at the inboard side of a boat. The carrying handle is U-shaped, wherein each free end of the carrying handle is arranged to respective side of the outboard motor. Thus, it is an objective of the present application to provide an ideal arrangement of a carrying handle that is adapted to be arranged at the front side of said outboard motor and of said actuation means. This objective is solved by the handle structure of the present invention as indicated above in that a front-side handle further comprises actuating means for operating a choke and for stopping said outboard motor, wherein one of said actuation means is mounted on one of said side portions and the other is mounted on the other of said side portions. As the actuation means are provided on the handle and, moreover, aside a grip portion, the one will not interfere with the other when the motor is carried after removal from a boat. For example, it would be still possible to actuate the actuation means for stopping the motor with the one hand when carrying the motor with the other. Moreover, when the motor is mounted on the boat, the claimed arrangement provides for easy access to said actuation means. According to a preferred embodiment, the handle structure further comprises a steering handle adapted to be mounted aside the top portion of the outboard motor. The stop actuating means is arranged on the side portion close to the steering handle and thus close to a driver, whereas the choke actuating means which has to be actuated on starting the motor is arranged on the side portion spaced apart from the steering handle and thus on the opposite side of a driver's position. Preferably, the grip portion is integrally continued by the side portions so as to form, in plane view, a generally U-shaped front side handle. Thus, the handle can be manufactured easily as a unit. Moreover, as the actuating means are provided on the handle, the assembly of the motor can be facilitated. Preferably the side portions of said front side handle are provided with mounting surfaces on which said actuating means are mounted. These mounting surfaces face in the front direction of the outboard motor that is in driving direction of a boat when the motor is mounted on it. According to a further embodiment, a rear side handle is provided which is adapted to be mounted at a rear side of the top portion of said outboard motor. The rear side handle includes a rear grip portion at a rear of the top portion. Moreover, the rear side handle is connected to the front side handle so that they both together form an annular handle extending around the outer periphery of said top portion. Accordingly, the top portion of the outboard motor is protected by the annular handle. In particular, it is prevented from coming into direct contact with the ground when it is stored separate from the boat. The front side handle and the rear side handle can be a single integral element. Preferably, the rear side handle further comprises two side portions continuing its grip portion so as to form, in plane view, a generally U-shaped handle. The rear side handle and the front side handle each may make up for approximately one half of the annular handle and are formed separately so that they can easily be formed to various shapes in accordance with their respective functions. According to another embodiment, each handle is adapted to be fixed to the top portion of the outboard motor via its side portions. Thus, it is easy to mount the front side and also the rear side handle securely on the top portion of the outboard motor. Moreover, the above-mentioned object is also solved by a detachable outboard motor of the present invention according to claim 7. Preferably, the grip portion of the front side handle is positioned on generally the same horizontal plane as the location of the center of gravity when said outboard motor is held in a vertical attitude. Accordingly, the outboard motor will take a substantially horizontal state when it is held at its front side handle after removal from the boat, so that it can be held and carried without difficulty. According to another preferred embodiment, a fuel tank inside said top portion is arranged between the actuation means when viewed from the front side. According to another preferred embodiment, the side portions of the top portion of the outboard motor, i.e. of its cover or casing, are indented for receiving at least partly the portions of said front side handle and rear side handle. Accordingly, the width of the handles can be reduced while still providing sufficient protection all around said top portion of the outboard motor. In the following, the present invention will be described in greater detail by means of an example thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a plane layout view of the upper structure of an outboard motor illustrating a form of practice of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a side view in the direction of the arrow P in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in the direction of the arrow S in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of the upper structure of the outboard motor which shows the section along the line A-A of Fig. 1 on the left and the section along the line B-B of Fig. 2 on the right. Fig. 5 is a section along the line C-C of Fig. 1 and shows a carrying handle mounting portion. Fig. 6 is an explanatory drawing of a tilt handle, (a) is a front view, (b) is a plane view thereof, (c) is a view of the left side surface and (d) is a view of the right side surface. Fig. 7 is an explanatory drawing of a carrying handle, (a) is a front view, (b) is a plane view thereof, (c) is a view of the left side surface and (d) is a view of the right side surface. Fig. 8 is an explanatory drawing of a handle mounting member, (a) is a front view of the mounting member, (b) is a view of the left side surface thereof, (c) is a central vertical section of (a), (d) is a plane view of (a), and (e) is a rear view of (a). Fig. 9 is a side surface view of the state in which the outboard motor is fitted on a boat, and shows the tilted-up state by dashed lines. Fig. 10 shows an explanatory side view showing a state in which the outboard motor is carried. Fig. 9 is a side view of the state in which an outboard motor is mounted on a boat. In the outboard motor 100 in the drawing, an upper structure consisting of an engine, etc. is accommodated in a cowling 9 which is constituted by an upper cowling 91 and a lower cowling 92, an upper casing 93 and a lower casing 94 are successively connected underneath the lower cowling 92, and a drive shaft which is connected to the engine's crankshaft extends inside the upper casing 93 and lower casing 94 to as far as the lower end portion and is connected to a propeller 95 at its lower end portion. A bracket 99 is provided on the abovenoted bracket swivel 930, a clamp bracket 96 is mounted on the front end portion of this bracket 99 by means of a tilt shaft 97, and this bracket 96 is fitted on the upper end portion of a boat's transom 101 and is fixed by being tightened by a clamp handle 98. In this state, the propeller 95 can be raised above the water surface (be tilted up), as indicated by a dashed line, by rotating the outboard-motor 100 about the tilt shaft 97 and it is also possible to cause the outboard motor 100 to turn about a vertical axis not indicated in the drawing (to effect steering) by means of a steering handle 90 which is provided projecting forwardly from a side portion of the cowling 9. Fig. 1 is a plane layout view of the upper structure of the outboard motor, Fig. 2 is a side view in the direction of the arrow P in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side view in the direction of the arrow S in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the upper structure of the outboard motor which shows the cross-sectional plane A-A of Fig. 1 on the left and the cross-sectional plane B-B of Fig. 2 on the right. As shown in Figs. 1-4, the engine's cylinder body 1 has a cylinder head 11 connected to its rear side (the right-hand side in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) and it also has a cylinder head cover 12 connected to its rear side. A fuel tank 4 is installed at the front side of the cylinder body 1, and an oil pan 14 is formed in the lower portion. Above the cylinder body 1, there is a manual starter 3, and a starter handle 30 for this starter 3 projects forwardly from the upper cowling 91. A carburetor 7 is installed at the rear of the manual starter 3 and above the cylinder head 11. This carburetor 7 is installed in a manner such that, as seen in a plane view, it is inclined with respect to the direction of the engine's cylinder. The base portion of the steering handle 90 is fixed to a side portion of the cowling 9 and is formed projecting forwardly from the upper cowling 91. The carburetor 7 has a silencer 72 connected to one side portion, and its intake pipe 71 extends downwardly, and an intake port opens facing downward at its lower end. An intake manifold 73 is connected to the other side surface of the carburetor 7. This intake manifold 73 is bent to a U shape and is led to the cylinder head 11, which is below it. At the top portion of the outboard motor 100, there is provided a handle which is formed in an annular shape extending around practically the whole outer periphery portion of the cowling 9 covering this top portion. Grip portions which are at the front and the rear of the outboard motor are formed on this handle. That is, the handle consists of a carrying handle (front-side handle) 5 which forms the front-side half of the outer-periphery portion of the cowling 9 and which in plane view has a U shape and a tilt handle (rear-side handle) 6 which forms the rear-side half of the outer-periphery portion of the cowling 9 and which in plane view has a U shape, and the handles 5 and 6 are fixed to respective opposite side portions of the outboard motor 100. The carrying handle 5 is formed in the manner shown in Fig. 6. That is, in the carrying handle 5, two side portions 53 and 54 and a curved grip portion 50 which is in continuation to these portions are integrally formed with plastic in a shape which in plane view is a U shape, the grip portion 50 is formed in a tube shape, and the two side portions 53 and 54 are formed in U-shaped cross-sectional shapes which open at their respective inner sides. As shown in Figs. 6(c) and (d) and in Fig. 9, the grip portion 50 is formed curved downward, so that it is located on generally the same horizontal plane as the centre of gravity location 101 when the outboard motor 100 is in a vertical attitude. Respective pairs of bolt holes 57 and 58 for connection to opposite side portions of the outboard motor 100 are formed in the two side portions 53 and 54, so permitting fixing to be effected by passing bolts 51 through the bolt holes 57 and tightening them against a mounting member 8 which is described below on the port side (the side indicated by the arrow P in Fig. 1) and passing bolts 52 through the bolt holes 58 and tightening them against the cylinder body 1 on the starboard side (the side indicated by the arrow S in Fig. 1), as shown in Fig. 4. Further, mounting holes 55 and 56 which pass through in front-to-rear directions are formed in the two side portions of the grip portion 50, a stop switch 15 is mounted in the mounting hole 55, and a choke lever 16 is mounted in the mounting hole 56. The tilt handle 6 is formed in the manner shown in Fig. 7. That is, in the tilt handle 6, two side portions 63 and 64 and a curved grip portion 60 which is in continuation to these portions are integrally formed with plastic to a shape which in plane view is a U shape, the grip portion 60 is formed to a U shape and the two side portions 63 and 64 are formed to U-shaped cross-sectional shapes which open at their respective inner sides. As shown in Figs. 7 (c) and (d) and in Fig. 9, the grip portion 60 is formed curved in a manner such that it becomes higher going toward the rear, in order to make it easy for a person in the boat's stern to reach from above the upper cowling 91 and get hold of the grip portion 60. Respective pairs of bolt holes 67 and 68 for connection to opposite side portions of the outboard motor 100 are formed in the side portions 63 and 64, so permitting fixing to be effected by passing bolts 61 through the bolt holes 68 and tightening them against the mounting member 8 described below on the port side and passing bolts 62 through the bolt holes 67 and tightening them against the cylinder body 1 on the starboard side. The abovenoted mounting member 8 is formed in the manner shown in Fig. 8. That is, in the mounting member 8, a boss portion 81, which possesses a central hole 80, two wing portions 83 and 84, which extend from opposite sides of this portion, and a downwardly extending mounting portion 82 are integrally formed as an aluminum die casting, and, as shown in Figs. 8 (b) and (d) and in Fig. 4, the mounting portion 82 is formed sloping inward. The mounting portion 82 has a pair of bolt holes 85 formed in its lower end portion, and, as shown in Fig. 4, on the port side the mounting member 8 can be fixed by passing bolts 850 through the bolt holes 85 and tightening them against a side portion of the upper part of the upper case 13. Respective pairs of bolt holes 86 and 87 are formed in the wing portions 83 and 84, the arrangement being that one end portion of the tilt handle 6 can be fixed by tightening the abovenoted bolts 61 in the bolt holes 86 and one end portion of the carrying handle 5 can be fixed by tightening the abovenoted bolts 51 in the bolt holes 87. Use of this mounting member 8 makes it possible for the base portions of the tilt handle 6 and the carrying handle 5 to be also held on the port side, where there is no mounting portion such as that on the starboard side. Further, as shown in Fig. 1, the base portion of the steering handle 90 can be mounted by being fitted in the central hole 80. As illustrated in Fig. 5, at the carrying handle 5 and tilt handle 6 mounting portions, the opposite side portions of the lower cowling 92 are indented in the direction of width and the carrying handle 5 and the tilt handle 6 are fitted in these portions, so minimizing the widths of the handles 5 and 6. With the above structure, thanks to the provision of the tilt handle 6 and the carrying handle 5, the annular handle projects in all directions around the cowling 9, and so direct contact of the top portion of the outboard motor 100 during storage, etc. of the outboard motor 100 is prevented. Since the tilt handle 6 and the carrying handle 5 are formed separately, they can each easily be formed in a variety of shapes in accordance with required functions. In the carrying handle 5, portions for mounting on the outboard motor 100 are formed in the two side portions, and the handle is formed curved downward, so that the grip portion 50 is positioned on generally the same horizontal plane as the centre of gravity location 101 when the outboard motor 100 is in a vertical attitude. In the tilt handle 6, mounting portions are formed at opposite side portions, and the handle is formed curved in a manner such that it becomes higher going toward the rear, so that, in a state in which the outboard motor 100 is mounted at the stern of a boat, it is easy to reach from above the cowling 91 and get hold of the grip portion 60 when a person in the stern of the boat wishes to tilt up the engine. Further, it is frequently necessary to carry the outboard motor 100 for the purpose of fitting it to a boat and when the engine is removed from the boat and taken into storage, etc., and, in this case, as shown in Fig. 10, when the grip portion 50 of the carrying handle 5 is held by a person 103, the centre of gravity location 101 of the outboard motor 100 is positioned directly below it and the outboard motor 100 is maintained in a horizontal state, so making it easy to carry. Since there is mounting on a front-side handle, operations are easy, and there are no elements which constitute a hindrance during operations. Further, since the stop switch 15 and choke lever 16 are mounted on the front side of the carrying handle 5, which is located outside the cowling 9, there is the advantage that when a person in a boat's stern portion, which is in front of them, operates the stop switch 15 and choke lever 16, there are no elements which constitute a hindrance, and operations are easy. With the invention , since the choke lever and stop switch are mounted on the front-side handle, which is located outside the cowling, they are easy to handle and there are no elements which constitute a hindrance when a person in the boat's stern portion in front of them actuates them.

Claims: Handle structure for a detachable outboard motor (100), comprising a front-side handle (5) adapted to be mounted at a front side of a top portion (91,92) of said outboard motor (100) for carrying said outboard motor (100), said front-side handle (5) comprising two side portions (53,54) and a grip portion (50) therebetween, characterized in that said front-side handle (5) further comprises actuating means (15,16) for operating a choke and for stopping said outboard motor (100), wherein one of said actuation means (15,16) is mounted on one of said side portions (53,54) and the other is mounted on the other of said side portions (53,54). Handle structure according to claim 1, characterized by a steering handle (90) adapted to be mounted aside said top portion (91,92) of said outboard motor (100), wherein said stop actuating means (15) is arranged on the side portion (53) dose to the steering handle (90) and the choke actuating means (16) is arranged on the side portion (54) spaced apart from the steering handle (90). Handle structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the grip portion (50) is integrally continued by said side portions (53,54), so as to form in plane view, a generally U-shaped front-side handle, said side portions (53,54) having mounting surfaces on which said actuating means (15,16) are mounted, said mounting surfaces facing in front direction of said outboard motor (100). Handle structure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a rear-side handle (6) is provided which is adapted to be mounted at a rear side of a top portion (91,92) of said outboard motor (100), said rear-side handle (6) including a rear grip portion (60) at the rear of said top portion being connected to said front-side handle (5) so as to form together an annular handle (5,6) for extending around the outer periphery of said top portion (91,92). Handle structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the rear-side handle (6) further comprises two side portions (63,64) continuing said grip portion (60), so as to form, in plane view, a generally U-shaped handle, wherein the rear-side handle (6) and the front-side handle (5) each form approximately one half of the annular handle. Handle structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each handle (5,6) is adapted to be fixed to the top portion (91,92) of the outboard motor (100) at its side portions (53,54,63,64). Detachable outboard motor comprising: a top portion (91,92) for accommodating a power unit, and a handle structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, which is mounted on said top portion (91,92). Detachable outboard motor according to claim 7, characterized in that the grip portion (50) of the front-side handle (5) is positioned on generally the same horizontal plane as the location of the center of gravity when said outboard motor (100) is held in a vertical attitude. Detachable outboard motor according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a fuel tank (4) is arranged inside said top portion (91,92), said fuel tank (4) is arranged so that at least a portion thereof extends between said actuation means (15,16) when viewed from the front side. Detachable outboard motor according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that side portions of the top portion (91,92) of the outboard motor (100) are indented for receiving at least partly, portions of said front-side handle (5) and rear-side handle (6).

Inventors: KAMEOKA KENTARO, KAMEOKA, KENTARO
Applicants: SANSHIN KOGYO KK, SANSHIN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F02B61
IPC codes: F02B75, F02B61, B63H20