Brunswick Corporation

Steven J Amerling

Brad J VanRuiswyk

Devan R Faust

Brad J Van Ruiswyk

Bradley R Stafford

Randall J Poirier

David Brian Griep

David M Foulkes

Timothy J Eddy

Evan N Kobman

John A Groeschel

Kerry J Treinen

John D Skroski

Darin C Uppgard

David J Waldvogel

Timothy S Reid

Thomas F Nickols

Chetan Avinash Dharmadhikari

Timothy D Krupp

Brian L Fisher

Rick R Roth

Thomas C Groneng

Timothy R Walters

A cowling is for a marine drive. The cowling has first and second cowl portions for enclosing a powerhead, and a latching device which is movable into a latched position in which the powerhead is enclosed by the first cowl and second cowl portions and an unlatched position in which the second cowl portion is movable with respect to the first cowl portion so that the powerhead is accessible. The latching device has an electric actuator configured to automatically move the latching device from the latched position to the unlatched position and a manually-operable input device which is accessible from outside of the cowling and is configured to actuate the electric actuator to thereby automatically move the latching device from the latched position to the unlatched position.

Cowlings for marine drives and latching devices for cowlings for marine drives

A hinge assembly is for a cowling on a marine drive. The cowling has a first cowl portion and a second cowl portion which together enclose a cowl interior. The hinge assembly has a first base frame configured for fixed attachment to an interior surface of the first cowl portion and a second base frame configured for fixed attachment to an interior surface of the second cowl portion. The second base frame is pivotally coupled to the first base frame by a connection device that enables manual removal of the second base frame from the intermediate frame without use of a tool, thus facilitating manual removal of the second cowl portion from the first cowl portion without the use of the tool.

Cowlings and hinge assemblies for cowlings on marine drives

A service door for a cowl for a marine propulsion device. A door panel is positionable in open and closed positions. A first hinge rotatably couples the door panel to the cowl. A coil spring biases the door panel towards the open position and a damper resists rotation of the door panel towards the open position. The first hinge rotates about a first axis and has a first hinge base, a first hinge axle, and a first hinge axle opening that receives the first hinge axle. The first hinge axle has base and distal ends. The base end is coupled to the first hinge base and the distal end has a spring slot. The coil spring has fixed and rotating ends. The rotating end imparts a spring force on the door panel with the fixed end in the spring slot.

Service doors for cowls on outboard marine propulsion devices

A cowling has first and second cowl portions that enclose a powerhead on a marine drive. A latching assembly is for latching the first and second cowl portions together. The latching assembly has a retainer portion fixed to the first cowl portion and a latching portion fixed to the second cowl portion. The latching portion comprises a latch arm and a bell crank, the latch arm and bell crank being rotatable into and between a latched position in which the latch arm is latched to the retainer portion and an unlatched position in which the latch arm is unlatched from the retainer portion. A novel detent mechanism mechanically retains the latch arm and bell crank in the latched position and alternately in the unlatched position. A pair of bolted connections that fix the first and second cowling portions together and are located on opposite sides of the cowling.

Cowlings and latching assemblies for cowlings for marine drives

A carrying tray facilitates installation of a latching assembly on a cowl of a marine drive. The carrying tray comprises a plurality of latching device cavities configured to retain a plurality of latching devices in a spaced-apart orientation that positions each respective latching device with respect to its mounting position on the cowl so that the respective latching device can be directly installed onto the cowl without tangling or damaging the flexible connectors, and an actuator retainer that retains an actuator in a position with respect to its mounting position on the cowl so that the actuator can be directly installed onto the cowl without tangling or damaging the flexible connectors.

Carrying trays and methods for transporting and installing latching assemblies on cowlings for marine drives

A marine drive has a powerhead and a cowling enclosing the powerhead. The cowling comprises a first cowl portion and a second cowl portion coupled to the first cowl portion and being movable with respect to the first cowl portion into and between a closed cowl position in which the powerhead is enclosed by the cowling and an open cowl position in which the powerhead is accessible. A recoil starter is for starting the marine drive. The recoil starter extends through the second cowl portion and comprises a pull-start handle coupled to the marine drive via a recoil cable. Manually pulling the pull-start handle out of a recoiled position with respect to the marine drive causes the marine drive to start. The pull-start handle is also movable into an offset position, in which the second cowl portion is freely movable into and out of the open and closed cowl positions.

Marine drives having a recoil starter

A service door for a cowl for an outboard marine propulsion device that includes a door panel that is positionable in an open position and in a closed position. A first hinge rotatably couples the door panel to the cowl. A biasing device operates in conjunction with the first hinge and biases the door panel towards the open position. A second hinge rotatably couples the door panel to the cowl and at least one of the first hinge and the second hinge provides only one shear of rotation between the door panel and the cowl. A damper operates in conjunction with the second hinge and resists rotation of the door panel towards the open position. The inside of the cowl is accessible when the door panel is in the open position and inaccessible when the door panel is in the closed position.

Service door for cowls on outboard marine propulsion devices

A marine drive includes an engine; a cowl having first and second cowl portions. The first cowl portion is movable with respect to the second cowl portion into an open position in which the engine is manually accessible and a closed position in which the engine is enclosed; and a rigging port in the second cowl portion. The rigging port provides a passageway for rigging connectors extending from the engine to a component located remotely from the engine. A rigging opening provides manual access to the rigging connectors and the engine, including when the first cowl portion is in the closed position. A removable access door covers the rigging opening and prevents manual access to the engine and rigging connectors via the rigging opening. The removable access door is fastened to the second cowl portion by a removable fastener that is hidden from view.

Marine drives and arrangements for rigging marine drives

A marine drive has a propulsion unit, a supporting cradle, a resilient mount that couples the propulsion unit to the supporting cradle, a sound blocking member that extends across an internal gap between the propulsion unit and the supporting cradle, and a cowling system having upper and lower cowlings that cover at least a portion of the propulsion unit and lower cradle covers that cover at least a portion of the supporting cradle. The upper and lower cowlings are separated from the lower cradle covers by an external gap so that the upper and lower cowlings can move along with the propulsion unit and with respect to the supporting cradle and the cradle covers. The sound blocking member blocks the sound which otherwise would emanate from propulsion unit via the internal gap and then from the marine drive via the external gap.

Marine drives having sound blocking member

A cowling is for a marine drive. The cowling has a first cowling portion and a second cowling portion that mates with the first cowling portion along a perimeter edge so as to enclose the marine drive. A perimeter seal is disposed along the perimeter edge and is axially sandwiched between the first cowling portion and the second cowling portion to thereby prevent ingress of water into the cowling. The perimeter seal is retained on the second cowling portion and is axially compressed against the first cowling portion when the second cowling portion is axially mated with the first cowling portion.

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

Steven J Amerling