WO2023156555A1

WO2023156555A1 - Foldable trolley for an outboard motor

Info

Publication number: WO2023156555A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/053952
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Benjamin VAN ROOIJEN
Original assignee: Venturama B.V.
Priority date: 2022-02-16
Filing date: 2023-02-16
Publication date: 2023-08-24
Also published as: NL2030960B1

Abstract

An outboard motor trolley (1) comprising a frame with at least a stand (2) and a girder (3), at least one wheel (22), a connection plate (4) connected to the stand for supporting a power head of an outboard motor, and a tail support (7) for supporting a tailpiece of the outboard motor. The girder (3) and the stand (2) are hingedly connected to each other. The tail support (7) is preferably movable and selectively fixable with respect to the girder (3) in a longitudinal direction thereof. The stand (2) preferably comprises a telescopic tube. The outboard motor trolley (1) further may comprise a handle (27) hingedly connected to the stand (2) via a rod (28).

Description

FOLDABLE TROLLEY FOR AN OUTBOARD MOTOR

The invention relates to an outboard motor trolley comprising a frame with at least a stand and a girder, a connection plate connected to the stand for supporting a power head of an outboard motor, and a tail support for supporting a tailpiece of the outboard motor.

Such an outboard motor trolley is known from NL 1033256. In general, outboard motor trolleys are used to transport outboard motors between boats which are to be driven by the outboard motor, and storage or transport facilities. Since outboard motors can be relatively heavy and/or bulky, and at the same time may be easily damaged, they are notoriously hard to handle without the use of a proper trolley. A complicating factor exists in that the terrain across which the outboard motor needs to be moved is often relatively rough. Examples of such relatively rough terrain are unpaved lots, and piers in varying conditions. The outboard motor trolley may also be used to store an outboard motor in a position which is considered relatively safe for the outboard motor.

Although the trolley of NL1033256 has performed satisfactory to a certain extend, a need exists to further improve the trolley. One particular aspect of the trolley of NL1033256 that may be improved is the ease of use, since the known trolley requires a relatively long time to set up and/or collapse.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the known outboard motor trolley and/or to provide an outboard motor trolley that is relatively easy to use.

Said object is achieved by an outboard motor trolley according to the preamble, wherein the girder and the stand are hingedly connected to each other.

By hingedly connecting the girder and the stand, the outboard motor trolley can be collapsed and/or set up relatively easily and/or quickly. When collapsed, the outboard motor trolley may be more compact, so that it may be more easily stored and/or transported. A compact outboard motor trolley is particularly advantageous, because storage space can be limited in transport facilities (e.g. in the car) and in the pleasure craft (e.g. boat). For instance, a user may need to transport the outboard motor trolley in the trunk of his or her car, bring it on board during the boat trip or the outboard motor trolley may need to be stored in a (ware)house/garage/storage box with relatively little space. As opposed to the known outboard trolley, the girder and the stand may be connected permanently. This allows easy set-up of the outboard motor trolley. The hinging connection nevertheless allows collapsing.

The permanent connection may have the further advantage that components may easily be kept together while the outboard motor trolley is not being used.

A girder may for the purpose of this application be defined as a longitudinal, structural element which during use is placed substantially horizontally. A stand may for the purpose of this application be defined as a longitudinal, structural element, which during use is placed substantially vertically. In practice, the stand and/or girder may comprise a metal profile.

The girder and the stand may in particular be at a substantially right angle with respect to each other when in use.

In order to facilitate a positive connection of the outboard motor with the trolley, the connection plate may be similar in shape and dimension to a transom of a boat for which the outboard motor is designed.

In an embodiment of the outboard motor trolley, the girder is moveable with respect to the stand between an operating position, in which girder is substantially perpendicular to the stand, and a collapsed position, in which the girder extends substantially along the stand, i.e. substantially parallel there to.

Accordingly, the outboard motor trolley can be moved between the two positions so as to be able to carry the outboard motor and so as to be compact for transport/storage.

It may be especially advantageous if movement of the girder beyond its operating position is blocked.

As such, the weight of the outboard motor carried by the trolley may lock or otherwise keep the girder in place in its operating position, thereby contributing to a stable operation of the trolley. Also, when the girder’s movement is blocked beyond the operating position, it may be particularly easy for a user to move the girder to the operating position, as the user can move the girder until further movement is no longer possible. Said blocking may be achieved by a stop engaging on the girder. The stop may for instance comprise a u-profile extending substantially perpendicularly away from the stand, the u-profile being shaped with respect to the girder so as to receive a part of the girder in the operating position thereof. The stop may be fixed permanently with respect to, for instance directly to, the stand. For reasons of providing a compact trolley, the stop may be shorter than the girder.

In another embodiment of the outboard motor trolley, it comprises first and/or second locking means for locking the girder in its operating or collapsed position respectively.

Locking the girder in one or more of its positions may increase the ease of use of the trolley. For instance, when locking the girder in its collapsed position, the trolley may be stored more easily. By locking the girder in its operating position, it may be more easy to place an outboard motor on the trolley.

The girder may be locked in its collapsed position for instance when the girder is connected to the stand via a pin-slot joint. Movement of the pin through the slot could facilitate lateral movement of the girder with respect to the stand, which may be used to move the girder to and from a position in which it is rotationally locked in the collapsed position.

In yet another embodiment of the outboard motor trolley, the tail support is movable with respect to the girder in a longitudinal direction thereof.

Making the tail support movable allows the trolley to be suitable for a relatively large amount of types of outboard motors. It is noted the prior art uses a non-movable tail support of relatively large length to support outboard motors of different types. Such a long tail support detriments the compactness of the outboard motor trolley.

The advantages of the movable tail support may be achieved with an outboard motor trolley according to the preamble, with or without the characterizing feature of claim 1. Of course combinations can be made between the trolley with the movable tail support and other features presented hereabove and below.

The tail support may be selectively fixable with respect to the girder, i.e. the tail support may be fixed by a user in a chosen position along the girder. Additionally, said fixation may be released so as to make moving the tail support along the girder possible again. Accordingly, the user can set up the outboard motor trolley once, by selecting a position for the tail support which is suitable for the outboard motor he or she wishes to carry using the trolley, and then leave the tail support in the correct position as long as desired. When another type of outboard motor is to be supported, the tail support may be relocated.

The tail support may comprise a gutter. Such a gutter may be used to prevent the outboard motor from moving sideways with respect to the longitudinal direction of the gutter. Additionally, the gutter may be used to centre the outboard motor when supported by the tail support.

The gutter may be closed on at least a longitudinal end, said longitudinal end facing away from the stand.

As such, the outboard motor may be prevented from sliding out of the gutter away from the stand. Accordingly, the outboard motor can be supported more securely.

The gutter being closed on a longitudinal end may mean that the gutter comprises a blocking element in or above the gutter at the respective end, so that the tail of the outboard motor is unable to slide out of the gutter. The blocking element can for instance be a face formed from plate metal placed normal to the longitudinal direction of the gutter.

In yet another embodiment of the outboard motor trolley, a longitudinal axis defined by the stand runs through the connection plate and/or through the axle.

When said longitudinal axis runs through the connection plate and/or the axle, the centre of gravity of the connection plate, with or without an outboard motor connected thereto, may engage relatively close to said axis. As a result, the stand is better able to direct the weight resting on the connection plate downwards through the stand. Accordingly, the trolley may become more stable, e.g. may be less likely to topple.

The connection plate may be affixed permanently to the stand. Practically, the connection plate may define a receiving space into which a part of the stand extends. Accordingly, the longitudinal axis and the connection plate can be aligned, and a relatively strong connection can be made between the two.

The advantages of the longitudinal axis of the stand running through the connection plate may be achieved with an outboard motor trolley according to the preamble, with or without the characterizing feature of claim 1. Of course combinations can be made between the trolley with the longitudinal axis of the stand running through the connection plate and other features presented hereabove and below.

The outboard motor trolley may comprise at least one wheel defining a rotational axis. The wheel can be used to move the outboard motor trolley relatively easily. Preferably, the outboard motor trolley comprises two wheels with coaxial axes of rotation, for instance having a shared axle.

In yet another embodiment of the outboard motor trolley, the stand comprises a telescopic tube.

The stand may be extendable and/or contractible by virtue of the telescopic tube. As such, different lengths of the stand can be selected in order to accommodate outboard motors of different sizes. The telescopic tube may be selectively fixable, so as to fix the stand to a certain length chosen by e.g. a user. Also, contracting the telescopic tube allows to make the outboard motor trolley relatively compact for storing and/or transporting it.

In yet another embodiment of the outboard motor trolley, an end portion of the stand which faces away from the connection plate extends beyond the rotational axis as seen from the connection plate.

Said end may be a bottom end of the stand. When the bottom end extends beyond the rotational axis it extends further downward than the rotational axis. As such, the girder may engage on the stand at a position below the rotational axis. Accordingly, the girder, and thereby the tail support, can be placed relatively close to the ground, which lowers the centre of gravity of the trolley carrying an outboard motor, thereby making it more stable.

The girder engaging on the stand below the rotational axis may additionally or alternatively reduce the height to which the outboard motor needs to be lifted in order to place it on the trolley. It is noted that this advantage may be achieved when the girder and/or the tail support are placed lower than the rotation axis, regardless of how the girder is connected to the stand.

The stand and an extension thereof may extend at a distance from the rotational axis. As a practical example, this may be achieved by letting the rotational axis run through e.g. a tube section attached to the side of the stand. The distance from the rotational axis to the stand aids in creating ground clearance when the trolley is tilted about its rotational axis. Ground clearance may be particularly important for the outboard motor trolley, to allow its use on rough terrain such as unpaved lots and/or piers.

The advantages of the stand and an extension thereof extending at a distance from the rotational axis may be achieved with an outboard motor trolley according to the preamble, with or without the characterizing feature of claim 1. Of course combinations can be made between the trolley with the stand and an extension thereof extending at a distance from the rotational axis and other features presented hereabove and below.

In yet another embodiment of the outboard motor trolley, it further comprises a foot connected to the girder at a distance from the stand. The foot may be used to make the trolley self-supporting. In particular, the foot may present at least two ground contact points at a mutual distance that is transversal to the longitudinal direction of the girder. As such, the foot can additionally provide transversal stability.

The foot may be fixed to the girder permanently, i.e. removal of the foot may not be necessary to bring the girder to its collapsed position. Moreover, the foot may be rigidly connected to the girder, so that the collapsed position is easily obtained.

The outboard motor trolley may further comprise a handle hingedly connected to the frame via a rod. In particular, the handle may be hingedly connected to the stand.

Using the handle, a user may tilt and move the trolley, with or without an outboard motor supported thereon.

The handle may be selectively fixable with respect to the frame, i.e. the rod of the handle and the stand may be fixable at an angle with respect to each other, the angle being chosen by a user. Accordingly, a user may fix the handle in a comfortable position. When said fixation is released, the handle may be moved towards a position in which it is substantially parallel to the stand, thereby making the trolley relatively compact.

The girder and the stand may be interconnected using a joint which comprises respective receiving spaces for the stand and for the girder, and optionally for an additional profile to which wheels may be mounted. The stand and girder may protrude partially into their respective receiving spaces, and be fixed in place using fasteners. To allow pivoting, the girder may be pivotally in place by its fastener.

The use of such a joint allows a user to assemble the outboard motor trolley his- or herself, so that the trolley may be shipped in a relatively small packaging, thereby saving transport costs. Additionally or alternatively, the joint may remove the need to weld, thereby simplifying production. The joint may be a cast metal part.

Since welding may not be necessary, the frame may comprise aluminium profiles, preferably, the stand and the girder comprise aluminium profiles. Optionally, also the handle and/or the foot comprise an aluminium profile.

A relatively light weight trolley of sufficient strength may be achieved using aluminium profiles.

The trolley may comprise at least two co-axially arranged wheels, wherein a distance between the at least two wheels is adjustable. Accordingly, the distance may be changed to increase stability as desired, and decreased to reduce the space needed for storing or transporting the trolley when not in use. Moreover, the adjustable distance between the wheels allows suitably adjusting the trolley for outboard motors of different sizes and/or weights.

The wheels may be mounted on two separate axles. The position of the axles may be adjustable with respect to the frame in order to provide the adjustable distance between the wheels.

The axles may be received in a profile, preferably an aluminium profile, which extends transversally with respect to the girder and the stand. By moving the axles into and/or out of the profile, the distance between the wheels can be adjusted. The axles may be fixed in their desired position with the use of fasteners.

The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an outboard motor trolley;

Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the outboard motor trolley of figure 1, in a collapsed state; and

Figures 3 A and 3B schematically show side views of a slightly different embodiment of an outboard motor trolley with an outboard motor carried by it. Throughout the figures, like elements are referred to using like reference numerals.

Figures 1 - 3B show an outboard motor trolley 1, which has a frame. The frame comprises a stand 2 and a girder 3. As an example, the stand 2 is shown comprising a telescopic tube 2. The stand can, due to being telescopic, be adjusted in length and set using fastener 99. In the position shown in figure 1, in which the outboard motor trolley 1 is placed upright on the ground, the stand 2 extends vertically upwards. The girder 3 extends near the ground G at a right angle with respect to the stand, i.e. horizontally away from the stand 2. The stand 2 carries on its upper end a connection plate 4 for supporting a power head 5 of an outboard motor 6. The connection plate 4 is fixed permanently to the stand 2. The girder 3 is provided with a tail support 7 for supporting a tailpiece 8 of the outboard motor 6.

The girder 3 is permanently fixed to the stand 2 via a hinge 9. The hinge 9 is arranged in a u-profile section 10 which is fixed to the stand 2 and extends horizontally therefrom. The u-profile section 10 is open on its top, and is shaped in relation to the girder 3 so as to receive a part thereof (see figure 1). Figure 1 shows the girder 3 of the outboard motor trolley 1 in an operative position, i.e. extending away from the stand 2 at a substantially right angle. Although the girder 3 can hinge with respect to the stand 2, movement of the girder 3 beyond the operative position thereof is prevented by the u-profile section 10, which forms a stop. The u-profile section 10 is outfitted with a latch 11 which cooperates with a hole 12 in the girder 3 in order to lock the girder 3 in its operative position when desired. In the shown embodiment, the u-profile section 10 comprising the hinge 9 is comprised by a joint 95. The joint 95 forms in the u-profile section a receiving space for the girder 3. The joint 95 further comprises a receiving space for the stand 2, in this example formed by a pin (not shown) over which the hollow stand 2 can be slid. The stand 2 is fixed to the pin via a fastener 96. The joint 95 also includes an transversal passage, which forms a receiving space for a pipe section 23, which holds wheels 22 (see below). In this embodiment, the joint 95 is a cast-metal piece.

As is shown in figure 2, the hinge allows movement of the girder 3 to a collapsed position, in which it extends substantially along, i.e. parallel to, the stand 2. An end part 13 of the girder 3 is provided with a slot 97 which cooperates with a pin 14 to form the hinge 9. The slot extends in the longitudinal direction of the girder 3. Further, the u-profile section 10 defines an opening 15 near the hinge 9 (see figures 3A and 3B). As such, when moved to the collapsed position, the girder 3 can slide downwards through the opening 15 by movement of the pin 14 through the slot. The end portion 13 of the girder 3 then engages an edge of the opening 15, which thereby forms a stop for locking the girder 3 in the collapsed position. To make the outboard motor trolley 1 even more compact, the telescopic tube of the stand 2 has been moved to its shortest position, and the rod 28 of the handle (which will be introduced below), are placed so as to extend substantially parallel to the stand 2.

The tail support 7 comprises a tube section 16 which encompasses the girder 3 and is moveable over the girder 3 in a longitudinal direction thereof. The tube section 16 defines a through hole (not shown) through which a bolt with a knob 17 extends. By rotating the knob 17, the bolt can selectively engage or disengage the girder 3. As such, the tube section 16, and thus the tail support 7, can be fixed selectively with respect to the girder 3. The tail support 7 further comprises a gutter 18, with a V-shaped cross section formed by two plate metal parts extending at an angle with respect to each other. The gutter 18 itself has a longitudinal direction parallel to that of the girder 3. The gutter 18 is closed by a plate section 19 on its longitudinal end facing away from the stand 2.

As can be seen best in figures 3A and 3B, the stand 2 defines a longitudinal axis A, which runs through the core of the stand 2. The axis A runs through the connection plate 4. This is achieved by providing a receiving space in the connection plate 4 and receiving an upper end part 20 (see figures 1 and 2) of the stand 2 therein. The upper end part 20 is fixed permanently to the connection plate 4.

The outboard motor trolley 1 further comprises two wheels 22, each having a rotational axis. The wheels 22 of the outboard motor trolley 1 shown are coaxial, and thus share a rotational axis R. Both wheels 22 are carried by a shared pipe section 23 which extends at a right angles with respect to the stand 2 and the girder 3. Each wheel 22 has an axle 24 which is received in the pipe section 23 and locked therein using a bolt (not shown) in combination with a knob 25. By adjusting how far the axle 24 extends into the pipe section 23, the width of the outboard motor trolley 1, which is defined by its wheel-span, can be set. The axle can be locked and released using the knob 25. The pipe section 23 is fixed to a side of the stand 2. The stand 2 extends downwards beyond the pipe section 23, and as such beyond the rotational axis R. The girder 3 is connected tot the stand 2 below the pipe section 23 and below the rotational axis R, so that it is placed relatively close to the ground G. The extension of the stand 2 beyond the rotational axis R aids in creating ground clearance Ci, C2 between the ground G and the stand 2 and girder 3 when the outboard motor trolley 1 is tilted. This is best seen in figures 3A and 3B, in which one of the wheels 22 closest to the viewer has not been drawn. Figure 3B shows that the ground clearance C? when the outboard motor trolley 1 is tilted increases with respect to a ground clearance Ci when the outboard motor trolley is placed upright on the ground G as is the case in figure 3A. Finally, the outboard motor trolley comprises a foot 26 extending laterally at the end of the girder 3 and a handle 27 at the end of a rod 28 hingedly connected to the stand 2 via a hinge 29. The position of the rod 28 with respect to the stand 2 is selectively fixable via knob 30 which can be used to prevent movement of the hinge 29.

Although the invention has been presented herein with reference to specific embodiments and examples, the definition of the invention is not limited thereto. In fact, the scope of the invention is also defined by the claims, which now follow.

Claims

1. Outboard motor trolley comprising:

- a frame with at least a stand and a girder;

- a connection plate connected to the stand for supporting a power head of an outboard motor, and

- a tail support for supporting a tailpiece of the outboard motor, characterized in that the girder and the stand are hingedly connected to each other.

2. Outboard motor trolley according to claim 1, wherein the girder is moveable with respect to the stand between an operating position, in which girder is substantially perpendicular to the stand, and a collapsed position, in which the girder extends substantially along the stand.

3. Outboard motor trolley according to the previous claim, wherein movement of the girder beyond its operating position is blocked.

4. Outboard motor trolley according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising first and/or second locking means for locking the girder in its operating or collapsed position respectively.

5. Outboard motor trolley according any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the tail support is movable with respect to the girder in a longitudinal direction thereof.

6. Outboard motor trolley according to the previous claim, wherein the tail support is selectively fixable with respect to the girder.

7. Outboard motor trolley according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the tail support comprises a gutter.

8. Outboard motor trolley according to the previous claim, wherein the gutter is closed on at least a longitudinal end, said longitudinal end facing away from the stand.

9. Outboard motor trolley according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a longitudinal axis defined by the stand runs through the connection plate.

10. Outboard motor trolley according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one wheel defining a rotational axis.

11. Outboard motor trolley according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the stand comprises a telescopic tube.

12. Outboard motor trolley according to at least claim 10, wherein an end portion of the stand which faces away from the connection plate extends beyond the rotational axis as seen from the connection plate.

13. Outboard motor trolley according to at least claims 10 or 12, wherein the stand and an extension thereof extend at a distance from the rotational axis.

14. Outboard motor trolley according to any one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising a foot connected to the girder at a distance from the stand.

15. Outboard motor trolley according to any one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising a handle hingedly connected to the frame via a rod.

16. Outboard motor trolley according to the previous claim, wherein the handle is selectively fixable with respect to the frame.

17. Outboard motor trolley according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises aluminium profiles, wherein preferably the stand and the girder comprise aluminium profiles.

18. Outboard motor trolley according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least two coaxially arranged wheels, wherein a distance between the at least two wheels is adjustable.