Patent ID: 7927160

Claim:
A marine outboard engine, comprising: a cowling; an engine disposed in the cowling; a driveshaft disposed generally vertically, the driveshaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the driveshaft being operatively connected to the engine; a gear case disposed generally below the engine; a propeller shaft disposed at least in part in the gear case, the propeller shaft being oriented generally perpendicularly to the driveshaft, the propeller shaft being operatively connected to the second end of the driveshaft; an actuator disposed within the gear case, the actuator being movable relative to the gear case between a first position and a second position; a propeller hub mounted to the propeller shaft; first, second, third and fourth propeller blades pivotably mounted on the propeller hub, the first, second, third and fourth propeller blades being pivotable with respect to the propeller hub about corresponding first, second, third and fourth pivot axes, each pivot axis being oriented generally perpendicularly to the propeller shaft, the first, second, third and fourth propeller blades being operatively connected to the actuator such that movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position causes the first, second, third and fourth propeller blades to pivot respectively about the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes to vary a pitch of the first, second, third and fourth propeller blades between a first pitch and a second pitch; a first support member having a first end at least partially disposed within the first propeller blade and a second end at least partially disposed within the second propeller blade, the first end having a first central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the first pivot axis, the second end having a second central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the second pivot axis; and a second support member having a first end at least partially disposed within the third propeller blade and a second end at least partially disposed within the fourth propeller blade, the first end having a third central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the third pivot axis, the second end having a fourth central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the fourth pivot axis.