Patent ID: 7553206

Claim:
An outboard motor comprising an engine, a throttle mechanism, a shift mechanism, and a regulating mechanism, the throttle mechanism adapted to control a throttle opening of the engine, the shift mechanism configured to change a shift position of the outboard motor between at least a neutral state and a forward state, the regulating mechanism configured so that when the shift mechanism is set to the neutral state and the throttle mechanism is set so that the throttle opening exceeds a predetermined value, the regulating mechanism restricts the shift mechanism from shifting out of the neutral state but permits unrestrained operation of the throttle mechanism, the regulating mechanism further configured so that when the shift mechanism is set to a state other than the neutral state operation of the throttle mechanism remains unrestrained wherein the throttle mechanism comprises a cam member having a cam portion, the cam member adapted to rotate with a portion of the throttle mechanism, a plunger operatively connected to the cam portion and adapted to move linearly as the cam member rotates, and the shift mechanism has a regulating member having an engagement portion, wherein the plunger is adapted to engage the engagement portion when the shift mechanism is in the neutral state and the throttle mechanism is rotated to a position beyond a predetermined setting corresponding to the throttle opening predetermined value.