US 12,403,994 B2
Tillers for marine drives having tilt mechanism
Scott G. Ahlswede, Plymouth, WI (US); Gary D. Needham, Stillwater, OK (US); Robert A. Podell, Slinger, WI (US); Andrew J. Przybyl, Berlin, WI (US); and Matthew S. Dawes, Stillwater, OK (US)
Assigned to Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed by Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/881,018.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/310,369, filed on Feb. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0257091 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. B63H 20/10 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 20/10 (2013.01) 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tiller for a marine drive, the tiller comprising,
a base bracket assembly configured for fixed attachment to a marine drive;
a tiller arm coupled to the base bracket assembly, the tiller arm being pivotable about a tilt axis relative to the base bracket assembly; and
a tilt mechanism comprising a tilt bracket coupled to a first one of the base bracket assembly or the tiller arm and a pawl coupled to a second one of the base bracket assembly or tiller arm, wherein the tilt mechanism is movable into an engaged position in which the pawl engages the tilt bracket to retain the tiller arm in a selected one of a range of tilt positions relative to the base bracket assembly, and into a disengaged position in which the pawl is disengaged from the tilt bracket such that the tiller arm is freely pivotable about the tilt axis relative to the base bracket assembly;
wherein the range of tilt positions comprises a downward tilt position in which the tiller arm is angled downwardly relative to horizontal so as to facilitate carrying of the marine drive via the tiller arm, the tilt bracket comprises a ratchet wheel having an outer radius with a series of recesses corresponding to the range of tilt positions, the pawl ratchets across and engages with each recess in the series of recesses when the tiller arm is pivoted upwardly about the tilt axis, the pawl is spring-biased into contact with the ratchet wheel when the tilt mechanism is in the engaged position, and
wherein the tilt bracket comprises an uppermost recess corresponding to an uppermost tilt position in the range of tilt positions and a lowermost recess corresponding to a lowermost tilt position in the range of tilt positions.