US3287943A

US3287943A - Safety lock for outboard motors

Info

Publication number: US3287943A
Application number: US413813A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Vaughn; Felix F Roitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-11-25
Filing date: 1964-11-25
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

Nov; 29, 1966 e. w. VAUGHN ETAL 3,287,943

SAFETY LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Nov. 25, 1964 United States Patent 3,287,943 SAFETY LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS George W. Vaughn and Felix F. Roitz, both of 2038 Oakland Ava, Pueblo, Colo. Filed Nov. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 413,813 3 Claims. (Cl. 7058) 'Ilhe present invention relates to an improved lock for a pair of clamping members such as those applied to mount out-board motors, and more particularly the invention relates to an improved device ifOI locking the clamping screws of outboard motors so as to assure the prevention of unauthorized use and removal of the motor from its given clamped position.

While the invention is particularly adaptable for outboard motors, it is of course conceivable that the locking means of the invention may well be utilized to other structures that have clamps provided with a pair of spaced clamping screws or other rotatable elements that are similarly used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means universally adapted for locking outboard motors and preventing unauthorized use or removal of the clamp means that are used to mount the outboard motor on a boat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple construction of parts comprising a device that is positively secure in attaining the performance of locking the outboard motor and the attending clamps and preventing unauthorized manipulation and removal thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means for outboard motor clamps which not only prevents unauthorized removal of a motor from a boat, but

also prevents the clamping screws from unknowingly or,

accidentally becoming loosened with possible loss of the motor, or other consequential damage.

A further object of the invention provides for an outboard lock designed so that it will not interfere with the operation of the motor and the boat to which the motor is attached.

Another object and feature of the invention is that it provides for an outboard motor lock that is adjustable and consequently universally adapted for use in connection with motors and motor mountings of varying shapes and sizes.

An advantage of the invention is that it provides for an outboard motor lock that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is composed simply, essentially a single part, and is easy to manufacture.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention and its embodiment will more fully appear from the following description and illustrations in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear perspective view of a pair of clamps mounted on a transom or stem board of a boat, and embodying the concepts of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is substantially a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a generally back perspective view of the lock or device of the invention standing disassembled from the clamp and look to which it is capable of being applied.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a transom or stem board of a boat (not shown), a pair of

clamps

12, 12 having a

pivoted handle

14, 14 on a flat portion of the head of each

clamp

12, 12, and

clamp engaging means

16, 16 at the other ends thereof.

From the

clamps

12, 12, there is mounted supporting

structure

20, 20 for supporting the motor which is to drive the boat.

The free ends of the

handles

14, 14 contain a hole 3,287,943 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 or

aperture

22, 22 which is sufficiently large to receive a shank 26, or other locking member of a lock 28.

The shanks are threadedly constructed so that they engage threaded portions along the interior hole that extends through the support means 20, 20. The threaded portion of the support means is shown as 30.

The lock comprises a hollow, elongated, substantially square, tubular member 34 having its hollow portion at least extending from each end sufliciently to receive the pivoted handles within each of the respective ends, the recesses or hollow portions thereof being identified as 36,38. 7

As is further shown in FIGURE 3, there is an elongated slot 40 sufliciently long in length and of a cross-section to receive at least the width of the screw clamp 12, so that the end of the tubular member 34 having the hollow 36 may be inserted over the left handle 14, and the tubular member is moved leftwar-dly until the screw clamp 12 approaches or is proximate to the end of the elongated slot 40. At this point, the other end of the tubular member 34 'having an elongated slot 42 is applied so that the hollow 38 receives the right handle 14, and the tubular member 34 is moved a short distance to the right so that the right screw shank 12 is received within the slot 42.

On the top and bottom surfaces of the tubular member 34 there are provided apertures or

holes

46, 46, so that a lock shank 26 may pass through the tubular member and through the hole 22. while they are ooaxially aligned, and the lock may then be fastened or clamped into its locked position.

Thus it is seen that the device of the invention removes the handles from being manually operable or available for tampering, as well as preventing the handles from being loosened, accidentally or by vibration caused by operation of the motor, so that the invention provides a lock for a pair of spaced-apart clamping members, and prevents the clamping members from being rotated which would loosen the

screw clamps

12, 12.

It is within the scope of the invention to provide holes that coalesce or are coaxial with the hole 22 of the right handle 14 for providing an auxiliary or additional locking feature.

It is understood that the specific apparatus herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as many changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope :of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock for a pair of spaced-apart clamping members for preventing said members against unauthorized rotation or use of the clamping members, the clamping members having threaded shanks and a pivoted handle on each of the heads of the threaded shanks, said lock comprising a hollow, elongated square-shaped tubular member having a hollow portion extending at least from each end thereof to receive, respectively, a pivoted handle of said threaded shanks within each end thereof, an elongated slot of a cross-section to receive at least the width of the shank of said clamping members and extending from each end of said tubular member along the rear side thereof, said slots extending sufliciently to enable the tubular member to interfit between said clamping members when positioned in spaced-apart relation while the pivoted handles are positioned within the adjacent hollow portions of the tubular members, and an aperture extending through the upper and lower surfaces of said tubular member and through the free end of one of the handles in substantially coaxial alignment with each other and adapted for receiving the shank of a locking means.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the shank of a locking means is extended through the apertures while in coaxial alignment with each other.

3. A lock for a pair of spacedapart clamping members for preventing said members against unauthorized use, said clamping members comprising threaded shanks and having a pivoted handle dis-posed on the head of said threaded shank, said lock comprising a hollow, elongated, tubular member having the hollow portion extending from each end to receive said pivoted handle within each end thereof, an elongated slot extending from each end of the tubular member along a rear portion thereof for receiving at least the Width of the threaded shank, said slots extending sufliciently in length to enable the tubular member to interfit between said threaded shanks when positioned in spaced-apart relation while the pivoted handles are positioned within the adjacent hollow portions of the tubular members,

and an aperture extending through the free end of one of the handles and the upper and lower surfaces of said tubular member in coaxial alignment with each other for receiving a lock shank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A LOCK FOR A PAIR OF SPACED-APART CLAMPING MEMBERS FOR PREVENTING SAID MEMBERS AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED ROTATION OR USE OF THE CLAMPING MEMBERS, THE CLAMPING MEMBERS HAVING THREADED SHANKS AND A PIVOTED HANDLE ON EACH OF THE HEADS OF THE THREADED SHANKS, SAID LOCK COMPRISING A HOLLOW, ELONGATED SQUARE-SHAPED TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A HOLLOW PORTION EXTENDING AT LEAST FROM EACH END THEREOF TO RECEIVE, RESPECTIVELY, A PIVOTED HANDLE OF SAID THREADED SHANKS WITHIN EACH END THEREOF, AN ELONGATED SLOT OF A CROSS-SECTION TO RECEIVE AT LEAST THE WIDTH OF THE SHANK OF SAID CLAMPING MEMBERS AND EXTENDING FROM EACH END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ALONG THE REAR SIDE THEREOF, SAID SLOTS EXTENDING SUFFICIENTLY TO ENABLE THE TUBULAR MEMBER TO INTERFIT BETWEEN SAID CLAMPING MEMBERS WHEN POSITIONED IN SPACED-APART RELATION WHILE THE PIVOTED HANDLES ARE POSITIONED WITHIN THE ADJACENT HOLLOW PORTIONS OF THE TUBULAR MEMBERS, AND AN APERTURE EXTENDING THROUGH THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND THROUGH THE FREE END OF ONE OF THE HANDLES IN SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING THE SHANK OF A LOCKING MEANS.