Abstract:
An apparatus for propelling a water craft including an outboard propulsion assembly having a removable configuration that can be mounted and demounted by hand without tools and a portable size so that it can be carried by an individual.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/060,698 entitled INBOARD/OUTBOARD WITH REMOVABLE OUTDRIVE filed Oct. 7, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an inboard/outboard with portable outdrive. 
         [0004]    2. The Prior Art 
         [0005]    In certain instances it is desirable to equip small watercraft with a propulsion system. For example, it would be convenient to deploy a powered drive on a sailboat if there is no wind, or in tight quarters. However, the presence of such propulsion systems is undesirable and unattractive when the boat is under sail. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,562 describes a transom bracket that allows a marine propulsion unit to be retracted when not in use. For example, FIG. 1 shows the marine propulsion unit in position for use. FIG. 2 shows the motor pivoted out of the water, while FIG. 5 shows the motor slid up out of the water. The transom bracket allows a conventional heavy motor to be translated through several positions while remaining on the transom at all times. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,870 describes an electric drive system for launches and sailboats. It does not specify how the drive system is mounted or if it is removable. U.S. Pat. No. 8,425,268 describes an outboard motor that is modularly connected to a battery power source. However, the motor is part of the outboard module, making it heavy and difficult to remove. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a portable, lightweight outdrive that can be mounted and demounted by hand without the use of tools. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an outdrive propulsion unit that can be attached and removed from a boat-mounted coupling by hand without the use of tools. 
         [0010]    It is a further object to make the outdrive propulsion unit lightweight so it can be portably carried by one person for stowage on or off the boat. 
         [0011]    The key aspects of the invention relate to a portable drive system including a hand operated coupling system mounted on a boat transom. 
         [0012]    It is a further object to provide steering options on the removable outdrive. 
         [0013]    More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for propelling a water craft having an outboard propulsion assembly with removable configuration that can be mounted and demounted by hand without tools and a portable size so that it can be carried by an individual. 
         [0014]    The removable configuration includes a quick-connect and quick-disconnect coupling. The coupling comprises a socket on the water craft and a mating plug on the outboard propulsion assembly. The plug and socket is the only connection between the water craft and the outboard propulsion unit. The mating plug is mounted to the water craft by plugging into the socket with a sliding motion in the axial direction. The coupling includes a simple hand-operated latching device. 
         [0015]    The apparatus further includes a drive unit attached to the coupling. The drive unit includes a battery and motor combined with the coupling in a self-contained package. The drive unit is inboard of the coupling. The drive unit is selected from the group consisting of a gas powered drive unit, a diesel powered drive unit and a battery powered drive unit. A tiller pivots the outboard propulsion assembly to selectively vary the direction of thrust. A steering wheel rotates the outboard propulsion assembly to selectively vary the direction of thrust. A bracket is mounted on the water craft transom, and means for pivoting the socket with respect to the bracket so that the propulsion unit can be raised and lowered. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The advantages, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments now to be described in detail in connection with accompanying drawings. In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a right side elevational view of a straight removable drive. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a boat hull with partial cut-away showing an embodiment of a removable drive system connected to the transom-mounted coupling. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a boat hull with partial cut-away showing the removable, and now portable, drive system disconnected from the transom-mounted coupling. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a right side elevational view of a steerable drive. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a boat hull with partial cut-away showing an embodiment of a steerable drive system connected to the transom-mounted coupling. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a boat hull with partial cut-away showing the steerable, and now portable, drive system disconnected from the transom-mounted coupling. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a right side elevational view of a rotating drive. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a boat hull with partial cut-away showing an embodiment of a rotating drive system connected to the transom-mounted coupling. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a boat hull with partial cut-away showing the rotating, and now portable, drive system disconnected from the transom-mounted coupling. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a boat transom section with a tiltable coupling shown in the tilted up position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a boat transom section with a tiltable coupling shown in the down and locked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    The invention relates to a configuration where only a portable propulsion unit is located outboard of the transom. This outboard assembly is lightweight and can easily be unplugged and removed by hand when not in use. The heavy battery and motor are located inboard of the transom and can be permanently or temporarily mounted. A coupling provides an easy way to connect and remove the removable propulsion unit by hand from the internal power source. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a portable propulsion assembly  60  having as primary features an input shaft  64  that drives a thrusting device, shown as a propeller  74  for illustrative purposes. Input shaft may be operatively coupled to propeller my any known drive means or linkages. For example input shaft may extend outwardly and drive belts that extend downwardly to a propeller shaft. The drive means are contained within a housing  62  having a coupling member  62   a  adjacent input shaft  64 . Coupling member  62   a  is slid in a axial direction  64   a  to install the propulsion unit for use. Coupling member  62   a  is then slid in the opposite axial direction  64   b  to remove the propulsion unit to make it portable. A brace  62   b  may be provided to support the housing. 
         [0030]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the invention provides a coupling unit  30  mounted on, and extending through, a boat transom  40 . Inboard of the transom, a battery  20  powers a motor  22  coupled to a drive unit  24 . The drive unit  24  may be a shaft directly driven by a power source or indirectly coupled via a transmission source. In this instance,  FIGS. 2 and 3  show a motor coupling attached to the drive unit on the inboard side of coupling  30 . 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 2  the propulsion assembly is attached to coupling unit  30 , where the propeller can be rotated by motor  22  and drive unit  24 . When the boat is under sail, propulsion assembly  60  can be disconnected from coupling unit  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3  and stowed. The removal of the propulsion assembly is achieved by sliding it in axial direction  64   b  by hand. Removing propulsion unit eliminates the drag and unattractiveness associated with propulsion units on sailboats. The propulsion unit is designed with a low weight so it can be pulled on loud by one person. The propulsion unit can then be carried to any suitable storage location. 
         [0032]    Coupling member  62   a  has a plug that fits into a mating socket provided on coupling unit  30 . To secure the plug in the socket, a simple hand operated latching device is provided. This may take the form of a clip or spring-loaded latch on either the plug or socket that can be unclipped by manual manipulation, The plug allows housing to remain stationary, while input shaft  64  drives propeller  74  internally. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate embodiment in the form of a steerable propulsion assembly  60   s.  A tiller  80  is pivotally mounted to effect angular rotation of the downwardly extending housing section thereby altering the direction of propeller  74 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  show how the steerable propulsion assembly  60   s  plugs into and out of the coupling unit  30  in the same manner as the propulsion assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 . In this embodiment, motor  22  is mounted to the bottom deck of the boat. Either motor mount can be used with either propulsion assembly. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternate embodiment in the form of a rotating propulsion assembly  60   r.  A steering wheel  90  is mounted to effect angular rotation of the downwardly extending housing section thereby altering the direction of propeller  74 . FIGS,  8  and  9  show how the rotating propulsion assembly  60   r  plugs into and out of the coupling unit  30  in the same manner as the propulsion assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 . In this embodiment, battery  20 , motor  22  and drive unit  24  are combined in a power pack. Either motor configuration can be used with either propulsion assembly. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , there is shown a tiltable coupling unit  30   t.  In prior embodiments, the coupling unit is fixedly mounted on the transom. In this embodiment, a tiltable coupling unit  30   t  is pivotally mounted on the transom  40 . More specifically, tiltable coupling unit  30   t  includes a bracket  30   b  mounted on transom  40  having a catch, and a pivoting section  30   p  having a striker  30   s.  Various other mechanical means can be employed to latch the tillable coupling unit in place. 
         [0036]    A motor  22  is mounted directly on pivoting section  30   p,  which provides a counter weight. From the operational configuration of  FIG. 11 , the catch can be released and motor  22  will pivot drive unit  24  downwardly, thereby pulling propulsion assembly  60   s  upwardly, to the configuration shown in  FIG. 10 . When it is desired to drop the propulsion unit into the water, the motor is lifted up by hand pivoting coupling unit upward  30   u  and propeller downward in direction  30   d . When the coupling unit is full pivoted, the striker  30   s  engages in the catch, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 11 . While steerable propulsion unit  60   s  is shown, either propulsion unit  60  or rotating propulsion unit  60   r  can be used interchangeably with the tiltable coupling unit  30   t.    
         [0037]    The propulsion unit includes a plug that can be axially plugged and removed from a socket located within tiltable coupling unit  30   t.  In other words, the plug and socket concept is present in all embodiments, whether straight drive, steerable drive or rotating drive. The socket may be fixed or pivotable. The motor may be mounted on a boat deck, on the coupling unit, or other suitable location. 
         [0038]    Having described preferred embodiments for (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It should be understood that propulsion assembly can take many varied forms, and is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and described. While a latter and electric motor are shown, it should be understood that other power sources can be employed within the scope of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.