Patent ID: 7442104

Claim:
A tiller handle assembly for an outboard motor comprising an elongated steering handle having a longitudinal axis, the steering handle being configured to be pivotally connected to the outboard motor and to extend outward from the outboard motor, a throttle grip attached to a front end of the steering handle and being rotatable generally about the longitudinal axis, a shift lever rotatably movable about a rotational axis to select an operational mode of the outboard motor among forward, neutral and reverse operational modes, a shift cable operatively linked to the shift lever and adapted to communicate the selected operational mode from the steering handle to the outboard motor, and a neutral switch disposed inside the steering handle and arranged to determine at least when the shift lever lies in a position corresponding to the neutral operational mode for the outboard motor, wherein the shift cable is disposed above the rotational axis of the shift lever and the neutral switch is disposed below the rotational axis of the shift lever.