US 12,214,851 B1
Copilot devices and apparatuses for supporting marine drives having a copilot device
Thomas F. Nickols, Fond du Lac, WI (US); Robert A. Podell, Slinger, WI (US); and Jeremy J. Kraus, Mt. Calvary, WI (US)
Assigned to Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed by Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/852,944.
Int. Cl. B63H 20/02 (2006.01); B63H 20/12 (2006.01); B63H 20/06 (2006.01); B63H 20/08 (2006.01); B63H 25/02 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 20/12 (2013.01) [B63H 20/02 (2013.01); B63H 20/06 (2013.01); B63H 20/08 (2013.01); B63H 25/02 (2013.01); B63H 2025/024 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for supporting a marine drive on a marine vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a transom bracket comprising a swivel cylinder;
a steering bracket configured to couple the marine drive to the transom bracket, the steering bracket comprising a swivel tube seated in the swivel cylinder, wherein steering of the marine drive relative to the transom bracket rotates the swivel tube in the swivel cylinder; and
a copilot device comprising a friction head having a first head portion and a second head portion that diametrically opposes the first head portion relative to the swivel cylinder, the first head portion and the second head portion being configured to frictionally restrain rotation of the swivel tube relative to the swivel cylinder by applying a clamping force on the swivel tube.