Abstract:
A combined support and lock device ( 10 ) has a longitudinally extending support portion ( 20 ) and a longitudinally extending lock portion ( 50 ). The support portion ( 20 ) includes a centrally disposed strut ( 22 ) having a first end ( 24 ) and a second end ( 26 ). The first strut end ( 24 ) is adapted to rest against a member ( 8 ) of a boat trailer frame ( 6 ). The second strut end ( 26 ) is adapted to rest against a portion of a boat motor ( 12 ). The lock portion ( 50 ) includes a hook-like rod ( 60 ) having a first end ( 62 ) and a second end ( 66 ). The first end ( 62 ) of the rod ( 60 ) is curved ( 64 ) so as to engage a recess ( 18 ) defined within the rearward portion of the boat motor propeller ( 16 ). The rod ( 60 ) extends between two adjacent propeller blades ( 17 ) to prevent rotation of the propeller ( 16 ). The second end ( 66 ) of the rod ( 60 ) is lockable within a pivotable locking flange ( 52 ) the locking flange ( 52 ) being rotatably secured to the second strut end ( 26 ) of the support portion ( 20 ) of the device ( 10 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to locks and other security devices. More specifically, it relates to a device that is used to secure a motorboat propeller to the motorboat motor when the boat is not in use. It also relates to such a device that combines a transom saving element with the device to prevent torsional forces being exerted on the motorboat transom when the motor is in the elevated position for transport of the motorboat. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Recreational boating typically requires that motorboats be transported from one body of water to another. For outboard motor applications, this usually means that the motor, which is mounted to the boat transom, must be elevated such that the lowermost portion of the boat motor does not strike the ground or other obstacles at ground level. As the boat moves during transport, the elevated boat motor places dynamic torsional forces on that part of the boat transom to which the boat motor is mounted. Accordingly, it is desirable to place an additional support under the boat motor during elevation and transport to reduce those torsional forces. 
   Another unfortunate reality concerning motorboats is that the propeller of the elevated boat motor is vulnerable to theft since it can be relatively quickly and easily removed from the boat motor. Propellers are typically a very expensive component of the boat motor assembly. Propellers must be made of metal materials that are strong enough to perform as intended, which metal materials can be expensive, thus making replacement of the propeller an expensive proposition as well. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   What is needed is a device for securely and inexpensively supporting the boat motor during transport while at the same time locking the propeller to the motor. The present invention provides such a device that, when used properly, helps to prevent theft of boat motor propellers and provides support for the elevated boat motor and for the boat transom. The present invention provides for a unique locking device having a longitudinally extending support portion and a longitudinally extending lock portion. The support portion includes a centrally disposed strut having a first end and a second end. The first strut end is functionally adapted to rest against a member of the boat trailer frame. The second strut end is functionally adapted to rest against a portion of the boat motor. The lock portion includes a hook-like rod having a first end and a second end. The first end of the rod is curved so as to engage the recess that is defined within the rearward portion of the boat motor propeller. The rod extends between two adjacent propeller blades to prevent rotation of the propeller. The second end of the rod is lockable within a pivotable locking member, which locking member is also secured to the second strut end of the support portion of the device. The foregoing and other features of the device of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the combined supporting and locking device of the present invention as it is used with a boat motor that is mounted to a boat, which boat is situated atop a trailer for transport. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of that portion of the device which is illustrated within line  2  of  FIG. 1  and showing the combined supporting and locking device in the “locked” position relative to the boat motor propeller. 
       FIG. 3  is another enlarged perspective view of that portion of the locking device illustrated in  FIG. 2  and showing the combined supporting and locking device in the “unlocked” position relative to the boat motor propeller. 
       FIG. 4  is a further enlarged front, top and left side perspective view of the combined supporting and locking device of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbered elements correspond to like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the combined supporting and locking device, generally identified  10 , constructed in accordance with the present invention as it is used with a trailered boat  2  and boat motor  12 . Broadly speaking, the combined supporting and locking device  10  of the present invention includes a support portion, generally identified  20 , and a lock portion, generally identified  50 . See  FIG. 4 . 
   The support portion  20  of the combined supporting and locking device  10  includes a longitudinally extending central strut  22 . The strut  22  includes a first end  24  and a second end  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the strut  22  is formed of a longitudinally extending piece of sturdy tubular square material having a square central hollow defined therewithin. It is to be understood, however, that the cross-sectional square profile of the strut  22  could assume any form and still come within the scope of the invention. That is, the strut  22  could assume a circular, oblate, or even rectangular cross-section without deviating from the scope of this invention. Preferably, the strut  22  is formed from a single piece of metal material, although other sturdy materials could be used. Additionally, the strut  22  could be comprised of a solid structure as opposed to a hollow one. 
   The support portion  20  of the device  10  also includes a generally “U-shaped” frame collar  30 . The U-shaped frame collar  30  is situated at the first end  24  of the strut  22  and is variably and slidably attachable to it. The frame collar  30  includes a U-shaped frame notch or hollow  32  and a frame support  34 , the frame support  34  being disposed rearwardly of the frame hollow  32 . In the preferred embodiment, the frame collar  30  is formed from a single piece of metal material, all portions of it being integrally formed, although other strengthy materials could be used. The frame support  34  could also comprise a sleeve in the case where the strut  22  is fabricated of a solid material rather than tubular material. 
   Although not shown, it is to be understood that the first end  24  of the central strut  22  in the preferred embodiment is similarly a hollow member which is functionally adapted to receive the frame collar support  34  therewithin, the cross-sectional profile of the frame collar support  34  being complimentary to that of the first end  24  of the central strut  22 . As long as the frame collar support  34  and the strut end  24  allow one to slip inside the other, this engagement mode is accomplished. 
   The final adjustment setting of the frame collar  30  relative to the first end  24  of the strut  22  is accomplished by insertion and tightening of some sort of fastener (not shown). The precise type of fastener used is not a limitation of the present invention. The U-shaped hollow  32  of the frame collar  30  is functionally adapted to engage a portion of the horizontally disposed frame member  8  of the boat trailer  6 . See  FIG. 1 . 
   Situated at the second end  26  of the central strut  22  is a generally “V-shaped” motor collar  40 . Refer again to  FIG. 4 . The motor collar  40  includes a V-shaped notch or hollow  42  and a complimentary collar support  44 . As was the case with the frame collar  30 , the V-shaped hollow  42  and the support  44  of the motor collar  40  oppose one another and, in the preferred embodiment, are integrally formed with one another. In the preferred embodiment, the motor collar  40  is formed from a single piece of metal material, all portions of it being integrally formed, although other sturdy materials could also be used. The motor collar support  44  is functionally adapted to be inserted within the hollow second end  26  of the central strut  22  and secured in place by some sort of a fastener (not shown). In this fashion, the motor collar  40  is variably and slidably attachable to the second end  26  of the strut  22 . This allows the device to be used with and to accommodate various sizes of boats and motors. In the case where the strut  22  would be made of a solid material, as opposed to a hollow material, the motor collar support  44  could be configured as a sleeve-type fabrication. 
   The V-shaped hollow  42  of the motor collar  40  includes a pair of pads  48  that are functionally adapted to engage the bottom portion  14  of the boat motor  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the pads  48  are secured to the motor collar  40  with fasteners  49  and are fabricated of a material to prevent marring, scuffing and scratching of the lower boat motor portion  14 . See  FIG. 1 . 
   It should also be noted that, given the geometry of the horizontal boat frame member  8  relative to the vertically oriented boat motor  12  and, in particular, the bottom portion  14  thereof, the plane which defines the frame collar  30  is disposed  900  from the plane that defines the motor collar  40 . See  FIG. 4 . If the boat frame member  8  were oriented vertically, then the plane of each collar  30 ,  40  would be one in the same. Given the adjustability of the central strut  22  relative to the collar supports  34 ,  44 , this is a relatively easy situation to accommodate. 
   The lock portion  50  of the combined supporting and locking device  10  includes a primary locking flange  52  which is attached to and is rotatable about one side  46  of the motor collar  40  by means of a fastener  55 . See  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The flange  52  includes an aperture or opening  54 , which opening  54  is functionally adapted to receive a portion of a hook-shaped rod, generally identified  60 . One end  62  of the rod  60  includes a hook  64  and the opposite end  66  includes a plurality of adjacent ridges  68  defined within the rod  60 . A key way  56  is disposed within the flange  52  and is functionally adapted to receive a key and lock mechanism  58  therewithin. It is to be understood that the key and lock mechanism  58  allows a portion of the mechanism to engage a portion of the rod  60  between a pair of adjacent ridges  68 , thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the rod  60  within the opening  54 . This restriction of movement is what allows the locking of the device  10  to occur, as will be more apparent later in this detailed description. The hook end  64  of the rod  62  is functionally adapted to extend alongside the bottom motor portion  14 , through and between a pair of adjacent propeller blades  17 , and to then hook a portion of the recess  18  that is defined within the rearward portion of the propeller  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the hook end  64  of the rod  62  is coated with a cushioning material, such as plastic or vinyl, which prevents marring, scuffing or scratching of the propeller  16  or its blades  17 . 
   In application, the user of the combined supporting and locking device  10  elevates the boat motor  12  relative to the boat transom  4  and the motor&#39;s transom attachment means  13 . With the bottom motor portion  14  urged away from the transom  4 , the user can insert the support portion  20  of the device  10  between the bottom motor portion  14  and the horizontal boat trailer frame member  8 . Although it is understood that the adjustability of the device  10 , and particularly the lengthwise adjustability afforded by means of the U-shaped frame collar  30  and the V-shaped motor collar  40 , the device  10  can be used with a wide variety and sizes of boats  2 . The device  10  can even be manufactured in such a way that other mechanisms for attaching and securing the U-shaped frame collar  30  and the V-shaped motor collar  40  to the strut  22  can be used without deviating from the scope of this invention. For purposes of discussion and explanation of the fundamental concepts included here, it is to be understood that the central strut  22  of the preferred embodiment is a square hollow member and the collar supports  34 ,  44  are complimentary to it. With the support portion  20  of the device  10  firmly in place, it is the experience of this inventor that additional support is afforded during transport of the motor  12  and boat  2  whereby torsional forces that are otherwise exerted by the transom attachment means  13  on the transom  4  itself are substantially reduced. Thus, the support concept of this combined device  10  is fulfilled. 
   With the support portion  20  in place, the user rotates the lock flange  52  to allow general alignment with axis of the lock flange opening  54  in the direction of the boat propeller  16 . Making sure that the lock mechanism  58  is in the “unlocked position” and while continuing to hold the flange  52  in the foregoing position, the user inserts the second end  66  of the hook shaped rod  60  into the opening  54 . The user then urges the rod  60  through the opening  54  to the point that the hook end  64  of the rod  60  engages the rearward recess  18  defined within the propeller  16 . With the rod  60  in this position, the user then actuates the key and lock mechanism  58  to the “locked” position such that a pair of ridges  68  of the rod  60  are used to secure the rod  60  in place. With the rod  60  secured in this fashion, and with the rod  60  extending between adjacent blades  17  of the propeller  16 , the propeller  16  cannot be rotated or backed off relative to the lower portion  14  of the boat motor  12 . Thus, the lock concept of this combined device  10  is fulfilled. 
   Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details disclosed and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.