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:
Jul. 11, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 10, 2013
Applicant:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Inventors:
John Schlintz, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Bryan L. Danner, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Douglas G. Bickelhaupt, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Assignee:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B63H 5/16 (2006.01); B63H 5/125 (2006.01); B63H 20/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B63H 5/165 (2013.01); B63H 5/125 (2013.01); B63H 20/00 (2013.01);
Abstract
A breakaway skeg for the lower portion of a marine propulsion unit is disclosed. The skeg is designed such that the attachment features will fail under certain load or impacts, thereby preventing damage to the lower portion of the marine propulsion unit. The breakaway skeg is attached via shear tabs that include a relief that accounts for at least a part of the volume of the base portion of the shear tab. The shear tabs are designed to fail under certain circumstances before other components of the marine propulsion.