The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 2025
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2024
Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US);
David J. Waldvogel, Fond du Lac, WI (US);
Randall J. Poirier, Fond du Lac, WI (US);
John O. Scherer, Iii, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Stephen R. Collins, Fond du Lac, WI (US);
Wayne M. Jaszewski, Jackson, WI (US);
Kevin M Moore, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US);
Abstract
A stern drive is for propelling a marine vessel in water. The stern drive has an upper drive unit with a lower mounting surface; a lower gearcase coupled to the lower mounting surface and a trailing end surface that is angled relative to the lower mounting surface; and a propeller shaft extending forwardly from the lower gearcase and being configured to rotate a propeller for pulling the marine vessel in the water. The upper drive unit and the lower gearcase are configured such that when a forward side of the lower gearcase impacts an underwater obstruction, the lower gearcase is caused to pivot relative to the upper drive unit until the trailing end surface impacts the lower mounting surface, which thereby causes the lower gearcase to completely uncouple from the upper drive unit.