초록

A cowl mounting system includes one or more stabilizer fulcrums spaced between front and rear cowl mounts and preloading the cowl to provide cowl stability in the mounted condition. The stabilizer fulcrums also provide port and starboard alignment guides during assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cowl mounting arrangement for an outboard marine drive for propelling a marine vessel, including in a forward direction, said outboard marine drive having an upper powerhead covered by a cowl, said cowl mounting arrangement comprising front and rear mounts coupling said cowl to said outboard ma

1. A cowl mounting arrangement for an outboard marine drive for propelling a marine vessel, including in a forward direction, said outboard marine drive having an upper powerhead covered by a cowl, said cowl mounting arrangement comprising front and rear mounts coupling said cowl to said outboard marine drive in covering relation to said upper powerhead, said cowl having a mounted condition coupled to said front and rear mounts, a stabilizer fulcrum comprising a vertically extending mounting surface spaced between said front and rear mounts and preloading said cowl to provide cowl stability in said mounted condition; wherein said cowl has a partially mounted condition in which said cowl is coupled to one of said front and rear mounts prior to being coupled to the other of said front and rear mounts, said cowl being coupled to both of said front and rear mounts in said mounted condition, and said stabilizer fulcrum preloads said cowl as said cowl is moved from said partially mounted condition to said mounted condition, and maintains a torque load across said stabilizer fulcrum on said cowl between said front and rear mounts in said mounted condition;wherein said outboard marine drive is subject to impact-strike against a submerged object during said propelling of said marine vessel, wherein said impact-strike would cause at least one dislodgement force vector tending to dislodge said cowl from said one mount, wherein said torque load on said cowl provided by said stabilizer fulcrum maintains said cowl in said mounted condition including in engagement with said one mount against said dislodgement force vector. 2. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said marine vessel has port and starboard sides, and comprising two said stabilizer fulcrums comprising a port stabilizer fulcrum and a starboard stabilizer fulcrum spaced between said front and rear mounts at laterally distally opposite port and starboard sides of said cowl and preloading said cowl to provide said cowl stability in the mounted condition thereof. 3. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 2 wherein: said cowl is an upper cowl covering said upper powerhead and removable therefrom, and comprising a lower cowl attached to said outboard marine drive and disposed below said upper cowl, said upper and lower cowls having front and rear ends, and port and starboard sides, wherein said port stabilizer fulcrum is on the port side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the port side of the other of said upper and lower cowls, and wherein said starboard stabilizer fulcrum is on the starboard side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the starboard side of the other of said upper and lower cowls. 4. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 2, wherein: said port stabilizer fulcrum is on said port side of said upper cowl, and said starboard stabilizer fulcrum is on said starboard side of said upper cowl; andsaid upper cowl is mounted to said outboard marine drive at front and rear latches at said lower cowl, respectively providing said front and rear mounts, one of said front and rear latches comprising a hook on one of said upper and lower cowls, and a retainer on the other of said upper and lower cowls, wherein said dislodgement force vector caused by said impact-strike would release said hook from said retainer but-for said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums preloading said hook and said retainer. 5. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 4, wherein: said upper cowl is rocked on said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums until latched by the other of said front and rear latches, wherein engagement of said upper cowl and said lower cowl at said other of said front and rear latches maintains said preload and provides said maintained load. 6. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 5, wherein: said hook and said catch are at said front end of said upper and lower cowls, and said other of said front and rear latches is at said rear end of said upper and lower cowls. 7. A cowl mounting arrangement for an outboard marine drive for propelling a marine vessel, including in a forward direction, said outboard marine drive having an upper powerhead covered by a cowl, said cowl mounting arrangement comprising front and rear mounts mounting said cowl to said outboard marine drive in covering relation to said upper powerhead, said cowl having a mounted condition mounted to said front and rear mounts, a stabilizer fulcrum spaced between said front and rear mounts and preloading said cowl to provide cowl stability in said mounted condition; wherein said cowl has a partially mounted condition engaging one of said front and rear mounts prior to engaging the other of said front and rear mounts, said cowl engages both of said front and rear mounts in said mounted condition, and said stabilizer fulcrum preloads said cowl as said cowl is moved from said partially mounted condition to said mounted condition, and maintains a load on said cowl in said mounted condition;wherein said outboard marine drive is subject to impact-strike against a submerged object during said propelling of said marine vessel, wherein said impact-strike may cause at least one dislodgement force vector tending to dislodge said cowl from said one mount, wherein said maintained load on said cowl provided by said stabilizer fulcrum maintains said cowl in said mounted condition including in engagement with said one mount against said dislodgement force vector;wherein said marine vessel has port and starboard sides, and comprising two said stabilizer fulcrums comprising a port stabilizer fulcrum and a starboard stabilizer fulcrum spaced between said front and rear mounts at laterally distally opposite port and starboard sides of said cowl and preloading said cowl to provide said cowl stability in the mounted condition thereof;said cowl is an upper cowl covering said upper powerhead and removable therefrom, and comprising a lower cowl attached to said outboard marine drive and disposed below said upper cowl, said upper and lower cowls having front and rear ends, and port and starboard sides, wherein said port stabilizer fulcrum is on the port side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the port side of the other of said upper and lower cowls, and wherein said starboard stabilizer fulcrum is on the starboard side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the starboard side of the other of said upper and lower cowls;said upper cowl is mounted to said outboard marine drive at front and rear latches at said lower cowl, respectively providing said front and rear mounts, one of said latches comprising a hook on one of said upper and lower cowls, and a retainer on the other of said upper and lower cowls, wherein said dislodgement force vector caused by said impact-strike tends to release said hook from said retainer but-for said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums preloading said hook and said retainer;wherein said upper cowl is rocked on said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums about said pivot-engagement to preload said hook and said retainer;said upper cowl is rocked on said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums about said pivot-engagement until latched by the other of said latches, wherein engagement of said upper cowl and said lower cowl at said other latch maintains said preload and provides said maintained load;said hook has a finger engaging said retainer and preventing vertical displacement therefrom in said mounted condition with said maintained load provided by said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums;said retainer has at least one vertical slot therein, said hook has at least one shoulder extending vertically into said vertical slot, and said shoulder and said vertical slot prevent horizontal displacement of said hook from said retainer in said mounted condition with said maintained load provided by said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums. 8. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said hook pivots with the cowl to engage said retainer during assembly to said mounted condition. 9. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said vertical slot of said retainer has a stop surface, said shoulder of said hook has a lower face facing said stop surface of said slot. 10. A cowl mounting arrangement for an outboard marine drive for propelling a marine vessel, including in a forward direction, said marine vessel having port and starboard sides, said outboard marine drive having an upper powerhead, an upper cowl covering said upper powerhead, a lower cowl attached to said outboard marine drive and disposed below said upper cowl, said cowl mounting arrangement comprising front and rear mounts removably coupling said upper cowl to said outboard marine drive at said lower cowl, and port and starboard alignment guides respectively guiding the port side of said upper cowl into alignment with the port side of said lower cowl and guiding the starboard side of said upper cowl into alignment with the starboard side of said lower cowl said port and starboard alignment guides also comprise port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums each comprising a vertically extending mounting surface spaced between said front and rear mounts at laterally distally opposite port and starboard sides of said cowl and preloading said cowl to provide cowl stability in the mounted condition thereof;each of said port and starboard alignment guides has a vertical guide surface providing alignment guiding, and a horizontal trunnion surface providing a respective stabilizer fulcrum;wherein said cowl has a partially mounted condition wherein said cowl is coupled to one of said front and rear mounts prior to being coupled to the other of said front and rear mounts, said cowl is coupled to both of said front and rear mounts in said mounted condition, and said stabilizer fulcrum preloads said cowl as said cowl is moved from said partially mounted condition to said mounted condition, and maintains a torque load across said stabilizer fulcrum on said cowl between said front and rear mounts in said mounted condition;wherein said outboard marine drive is subject to impact-strike against a submerged object during said propelling of said marine vessel, wherein said impact-strike would cause at least one dislodgement force vector tending to dislodge said cowl from said one mount, wherein said torque load on said cowl provided by said stabilizer fulcrum maintains said cowl in said mounted condition including in engagement with said one mount against said dislodgement force vector. 11. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 10 wherein: said port and starboard alignment guides are on said upper cowl;said upper cowl has a lower perimeteral edge facing said lower cowl, and wherein said port and starboard alignment guides extend downwardly beyond said lower perimeteral edge. 12. The cowl mounting arrangement according to claim 10 comprising four said alignment guides comprising two port alignment guides and two starboard alignment guides, said two port alignment guides comprising a forward port alignment guide and an aft port alignment guide spaced rearwardly of said forward port alignment guide, said two starboard alignment guides comprising a forward starboard alignment guide and an aft starboard alignment guide spaced rearwardly of said forward starboard alignment guide. 13. A method for mounting a cowl on an outboard marine drive propelling a vessel, including in a forward direction, said outboard marine drive having an upper powerhead covered by said cowl and having front and rear mounts for mounting said cowl to said outboard marine drive in covering relation to said upper powerhead, said method comprising: coupling said cowl with said outboard marine drive at one of said front and rear mounts;providing a stabilizer fulcrum comprising a vertically extending mounting surface spaced between said front and rear mounts, and pivoting said cowl on said stabilizer fulcrum;continuing to pivot said cowl to a mounted position coupling the other of said front and rear mounts;maintaining, by use of said stabilizer fulcrum, a torque load across said stabilizer fulcrum on said cowl between said front and rear mounts in said mounted position;wherein said outboard marine drive is subject to impact-strike against a submerged object during said propelling of said marine vessel, wherein said impact-strike would cause at least one dislodgement force vector which tends to dislodge said cowl from said one mount, and maintaining, by use of said stabilizer fulcrum, said torque load on said cowl and said one of said front and rear mounts in said mounted condition, including in engagement with said one mount, against said dislodgement force vector. 14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said marine vessel has port and starboard sides, and comprising providing two said stabilizer fulcrums comprising a port stabilizer fulcrum and a starboard stabilizer fulcrum, and rocking said cowl on both of said stabilizer fulcrums, and wherein said cowl is an upper cowl covering said upper powerhead and removable therefrom, and wherein a lower cowl is attached to said outboard marine drive and disposed below said upper cowl, said upper and lower cowls having front and rear ends, and port and starboard sides, wherein said port stabilizer fulcrum is on the port side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the port side of the other of said upper and lower cowls, and wherein said starboard stabilizer fulcrum is on the starboard side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the starboard side of the other of said upper and lower cowls and comprising rocking said upper cowl on both of said stabilizer fulcrums. 15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said upper cowl is mounted to said outboard marine drive at front and rear latches at said lower cowl, respectively providing said front and rear mounts, and comprising providing one of said latches as a hook on one of said upper and lower cowls, and a retainer on the other of said upper and lower cowls, wherein said dislodgement force vector caused by said impact-strike may release said hook from said retainer but-for the preloading provided by the rocking of said upper cowl on said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums. 16. The method according to claim 15 comprising providing port and starboard alignment guides at said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums, and comprising, during said rocking of said upper cowl, guiding the port side of said upper cowl at said port stabilizer fulcrum and said port alignment guide into alignment with said port side of said lower cowl, and during said rocking of said upper cowl, guiding the starboard side of said upper cowl at said starboard stabilizer fulcrum and said starboard alignment guide into alignment with the starboard side of said lower cowl. 17. A method for mounting a cowl on an outboard marine drive propelling a vessel, including in a forward direction, said outboard marine drive having an upper powerhead covered by said cowl and having front and rear mounts for mounting said cowl to said outboard marine drive in covering relation to said upper powerhead, said method comprising: engaging said cowl with said outboard marine drive at one of said front and rear mounts;providing a stabilizer fulcrum spaced between said front and rear mounts, and pivoting said cowl on said stabilizer fulcrum;continuing to pivot said cowl to a mounted position engaging the other of said front and rear mounts;maintaining, by use of said stabilizer fulcrum, a load on said cowl in said mounted position;wherein said outboard marine drive is subject to impact-strike against a submerged object during said propelling of said marine vessel, wherein said impact-strike may cause at least one dislodgement force vector which may dislodge said cowl from said one mount, and maintaining, by use of said stabilizer fulcrum, said maintained load on said cowl in said mounted condition, including in engagement with said one mount, against said dislodgement force vector;wherein said marine vessel has port and starboard sides, and comprising providing two said stabilizer fulcrums comprising a port stabilizer fulcrum and a starboard stabilizer fulcrum, and rocking said cowl on both of said stabilizer fulcrums, and wherein said cowl is an upper cowl covering said upper powerhead and removable therefrom, and wherein a lower cowl is attached to said outboard marine drive and disposed below said upper cowl, said upper and lower cowls having front and rear ends, and port and starboard sides, wherein said port stabilizer fulcrum is on the port side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the port side of the other of said upper and lower cowls, and wherein said starboard stabilizer fulcrum is on the starboard side of one of said upper and lower cowls and engages the starboard side of the other of said upper and lower cowls and comprising rocking said upper cowl on both of said stabilizer fulcrums;wherein said upper cowl is mounted to said outboard marine drive at front and rear latches at said lower cowl, respectively providing said front and rear mounts, and comprising providing one of said latches as a hook on one of said upper and lower cowls, and a retainer on the other of said upper and lower cowls, wherein said dislodgement force vector caused by said impact-strike may release said hook from said retainer but-for the preloading provided by the rocking of said upper cowl on said port and starboard stabilizer fulcrums;providing one of said latches as a hook on one of said upper and lower cowls, and a retainer on the other of said upper and lower cowls, providing said hook with a finger engaging said retainer and preventing vertical displacement therefrom, providing said retainer with at least one vertical slot therein, providing said hook with at least one shoulder, and comprising sliding said shoulder vertically into said vertical slot, and then pivoting said hook on said retainer such that said finger engages said retainer to prevent said vertical displacement therefrom.