GB2032372A - Bracket for outboard motors - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket for use with outboard motors comprises a mounting member 12 (Fig. 1) having a tube 16 received on the tilt pin of the motor. A forward projection 26 engages the transom of the boat. An aft-extending arm 34 pivoted to the member 12 may be locked in an up position as shown to support the motor securely for transport, or lowered to release the motor for use. In an alternative embodiment, the arm is fast with the mounting member and the transom engaging projection is pivotal on the mounting member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bracket for outboard motors This invention relates to a bracket for use in sup porting an outboard motor when towing a boat on a trailer.

Conventionaliy, an outboard motor is pivoted on a clamp assembly mounted on the transom of the boat. The motor can be tilted from its position of use, e.g. when approaching a beach, and held in raised position by a pinor other locking device while the boat is taken from the water.

When transporting the boat by road on a trailer, however, such an arrangement is not sufficiently strong to withstand the jolting which is experienced.

The outboard motor may sometimes be placed in its lowered position for towing, but often there is not sufficient ground clearance for this to be acceptable.

it is therefore common practice to support the motor at an angle by inserting a stout piece of timber between it and the transom, and holding the timber in position by ropes or elastic cords. This is a tedious procedure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bracket for use in supporting an outboard motor secured to the transom of a boat at an angle to the transom while the boat is being trailed. A further object is to provide such a bracket which permits one person to secure the motor in position unaided.

The invention accordingly provides a bracket for use with an outboard motor mounted on the transom of a boat, comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to the transom of the boat, an arm extending in an aft direction from the mounting member and having means for engaging the shaft portion of the outboard motor, and a transom engaging member extending in a forward direction from the mounting member and ending in a face for abutment with the transom, the transom engaging member being adjustable with respect to the mounting member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the arm is pivoted on the mounting member, and means are provided for locking the arm in a raised position with respect to the mounting member. The locking means may suitably comprise bars pivoted to the arm and mounting member respectively, and hinged together with an overlap which can be secured with a sliding hollow member.

In an alternative embodiment, the arm is rigidly secured to the mounting member, the transom engaging member is pivoted on the mounting member, and means are provided for locking the transom engaging member in a selected angular position with respect to the mounting member.

A further difficulty encountered in towing a boat on a trailer arises from the provision of vehicle lights and a number plate on the trailer. These are commonly mounted on a lighting board. On many boat trailers, however, there is no provision for mounting the lighting board on the trailer or, if this is provided, the boat and motor when mounted on the trailer obscure the lighting board. In accordance with a pre ferredfeature of the invention, this difficultly is overcome by providing a mounting for a lighting board at the outer end of the arm of the bracket. Preferably, this mounting also incorporates a handle which the user may grasp when raising the bracket into position.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket forming one embodiment of the invention; Figure la is a scrap perspective view from the other side of the bracket of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the same bracket with a lighting board attached to it; Figure 3 illustrates the same bracket in a partially lowered position; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the bracket in lowered position on a boat; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1, the bracket includes a mounting member generally designated at 10 and comprising spaced plates 12 and 14 spaced apart by a hollow tubular spacer 16 and pivot pins 18 and 20.

A transom engaging member formed by arms 22, 24 interconnected by a bar 26 projects forwardly from the mounting member 10. The bar 26 is suitably covered in rubber or other resilient material. The arms 22, 24 are provided with equispaced apertures 28, and are secured to the plates 12 and 14 by bolts passing through corresponding apertures in the plates at 30. The plates also have apertures 32 vertically above the apertures at 30 which may be used alternatively. The height and reach of the transom engaging member 22, 24, 26 can thus be adjusted.

An arm 34, suitably of sheet steel pressed to a U-section, is mounted on the pivot pin 18. A V-shaped block 36 is provided on the arm 34 for engaging the shaft portion of an outboard motor.

The position of the block 36 on the arm 34 may be adjusted to suit long and short shaft motors. The block 36 is suitably of rubber, or rubber-faced. A sheet steel member 38 secured to the end of the arm 34 (e.g. by welding) is bent over at 40 to provide a hand grip and at 42 to give rigidity.

A latch arrangement is provided by means of which the arm 34 can be locked in the position shown in Figure 1. The latch arrangement comprises a strap 44 pivoted at 46 to the arm 34 and a second strap 48 pivoted on the pin 20, the two being interconnected by a pin at 50. As seen in Figure 3, the straps 44 and 48 may be of U-shaped channel section, the strap 44 having part of its connecting web cut away. The strap 48 has a number of apertures for receiving the pin 50, thus allowing the angle of the arm 34 in the locked position to be chosen. When the straps 44,48 are aligned on raising the arm 34, a sliding collar 52 is moved over their common length to give positive locking.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown an outboard motor 54 pivoted to a clamp 56 on the transom 58 of a boat. As is common practice, the clamp 56 includes two plates (one of which is seen at 59) provided with aligned apertures 60 arranged on an arc. A pin 62 may be passed through a selected pair of the apertures 60 to set the angular position of the motor 54 with respect to the transom when the motor is in use. The present embodiment makes use of the pin 62 to mount the bracket, the pin being passed through the spacer 16 to secure the mounting member 10 to the transom. Where such a pin is not present, the mounting member 10 may be secured to the transom in any other suitable manner, e.g. by including in the mounting member a clamp similar to a G-clamp.

From the position shown in Figure 4, the user may raise the motor into a position suitable for towing and secure it there simply by grasping the hand grip portion 40 and pulling upwardly. When the desired position is reached, the latch arrangement locks.

An important feature of this embodiment is the adjustability of the transom engaging member and the arm with respect to the mounting member. This allows a single bracket to be manufactured which is usable with a wide variety of motors and boats. The bracket illustrated has been found suitable for motors ranging from 8 to 80 horse power; in practice this covers the range of interest since smaller outboard motors can readily be removed and carried by hand, while larger sizes are normally used on larger craft which are left at moorings rather than being trailed. In normal use, the bracket will be adjusted to suit a particular motor and boat combination and will then be used without further adjustment and without the need for tools.

As seen in Figure 2, a lighting board 64 may be attached to the sheet member 38, e.g. by nuts and bolts thr6ugh holes 66 (Figure 1a) in the member 38.

The lighting board 64 is of conventional form and carries a number plate, tail and brake lights, and turn indicators, and is thus held in a position in which it will be clearly visible to a following driver.

In the embodiment of Figure 5 similar parts to the above are denoted by like reference numerals. In this embodiment, however, the arm 34 is fixed rigidly to the mounting member 10 and is supported by fixed stays 68. The transom engaging member is pivoted to the mounting member 10 buy a pivot pin 70. When the bracket is attached to the transom, the transom engaging member hangs near vertical under its own weight. The bracket is then moved into the towing position by pulling upwardly on the end of the arm 34 and pushing the transom engaging member up into engagement with the transom. A strap 72 is provided on which the user may push with his foot for this purpose. The transom engaging member is then locked with respect to the mounting member by inserting a pin at 74 through aligned holes 76 in the transom engaging member and 78 in the mounting member. A number of holes 76 are provided along the length of the arms 22,24, and a number of holes 78 to allow for various angles of the arms 22, 24 with respect to the mounting member. This allows the bracket to be adjusted to suit the motor and boat.

Various modifications of the above embodiments are, of course, possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the block 36 may be rep laced by a V-grooved puliey journalled in the arm 34.

Similarly, the bar 26 may be replaced by a rubber faced pulleyjournalled between the arms 22 and 24.

Claims (8)

1. A bracket for use with an outboard motor mounted on the transom of a boat, comprising a mounting member adapted to be secured to the transom of the boat, an arm extending in an aft direction from the mounting member and having means for engaging the shaft portion of the outboard motor, and a transom engaging member extending in a forward direction from the mounting member and ending in a face for abutment with the transom, the transom engaging member being adjustable with respect to the mounting member.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, in which the arm is pivoted on the mounting member and means are provided for locking the arm in a raised position with respect to the mounting member.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2, in which the locking means comprises bars pivoted to the arm and mounting member respectively and hinged together with an overlap which can be secured with a sliding hollow member.

4. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, in which the arm is rigidly secured to the mounting member, the transom engaging member is pivoted on the mounting member, and means are provided for locking the transom engaging member in a selected angular position with respect to the mounting member.

5. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the aft end of the arm is provided with a mounting for a lighting board.

6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5, in which said mounting incorporates a handle for a user.

7. A bracket according to any preceding claim, in which the positions of attachment of the arm and the transom engaging member to the mounting member are adjustable.

8. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.