Outboard Motor Carrier

Abstract

An outboard motor carrier device is arranged for carrying an outboard motor including a transom bracket arranged to be clamped onto a transom of a boat. The carrier device includes an upright frame including opposing front and rear sides and a pair of shoulder straps on the front side which are arranged to be secured over respective shoulders of a user. A transom bracket mount in the form of an upright panel is supported on the rear of the frame onto which the transom bracket of the outboard motor is clamped. Typically the transom bracket mount is positioned on the upright frame such that the transom bracket mount is arranged to wholly support the outboard motor thereon without any additional securement of the outboard motor to the upright frame of the carrier device being required.

1 . An outboard motor carrier device for carrying an outboard motor including a transom bracket arranged to be clamped onto a transom of a boat, the device comprising:
 an upright frame including opposing front and rear sides;   a harness supported on the front side of the frame comprising a pair of shoulder straps arranged to be secured over respective shoulders of a user; and   a transom bracket mount supported on the frame, the transom bracket mount comprising an upright panel including opposing sides joined at an upper free edge so as to be arranged to receive the transom bracket of the outboard motor clamped onto the opposing sides of the upright panel overtop of the upper free edge of the panel;   the transom bracket mount being positioned on the upright frame such that the transom bracket mount is arranged to wholly support the outboard motor thereon with the outboard motor supported along the rear side of the upright frame.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount is spaced rearwardly outwardly from the rear side of the upright frame opposite the harness. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the shoulder straps are anchored to the frame at a top end of the straps by respective top anchors, the transom bracket mount being supported on the frame spaced below the top anchors of the shoulder straps of the harness. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount spans substantially a full width in a lateral direction between opposing upright side edges of the upright frame. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount is substantially parallel to a plane of the upright frame. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount is positioned on the upright frame so as to be arranged to support a center of gravity of the outboard motor spaced above a bottom end of the upright frame. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the shoulder straps are anchored to the frame at a top end of the straps by respective top anchors and wherein the transom bracket mount is positioned on the upright frame so as to be arranged to support a center of gravity of the outboard motor in proximity to the top anchors. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided at least one access opening in the upright frame extending through the upright frame from the front side to the rear side thereof, said at least one access opening being located in proximity to the transom bracket mount. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one access opening in the upright frame comprises a pair of access openings at laterally spaced apart positions in alignment with the transom bracket mount. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9  wherein the shoulder straps are anchored to the frame at a top end of the straps by respective top anchors which are adjustable in height along a central portion of the upright frame, the pair of access openings being laterally spaced apart on opposing sides of said central portion of the upright frame. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises a pair of upright rails along laterally opposing side edges and at least one crossbar mounted to extend laterally between the upright rails, the transom bracket being supported at opposing ends of the upright rails. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount is supported on the frame so as to be adjustable in height relative to the upright frame. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount spans in a lateral direction between opposing upright side edges of the upright frame and the transom bracket mount is supported on the frame such that a space between the transom bracket mount and the upright frame is adjustable. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount is angularly adjustable about a lateral axis extending in a lateral direction between opposing upright side edges of the upright frame. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1  in combination with an outboard motor having a transom bracket with fasteners mounted on the transom bracket mount, wherein the transom bracket is supported on the upright frame for movement relative to the upright frame between a loading position in which the fasteners of the transom bracket mounted on the transom bracket mount are readily accessible and a transport position in which the fasteners of the transom bracket mounted on the transom bracket mount are received between the transom bracket and the upright frame. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the transom bracket mount extends substantially perpendicularly outward from a plane of the upright frame. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16  wherein the transom bracket mount is mounted on the upright frame so as to be adjustable in a lateral direction between opposing upright side edges of the upright frame. 
     
     
         18 . A method of carrying an outboard motor a transom bracket arranged to be clamped onto a transom of a boat, the method comprising:
 providing an upright frame including opposing front and rear sides;   supporting a harness on the front side of the frame comprising a pair of shoulder straps;   providing a transom bracket mount supported on the upright frame in which the transom bracket mount comprises an upright panel including opposing sides joined at an upper free edge;   supporting the outboard motor entirely on the transom bracket mount by clamping the transom bracket of the outboard motor onto the opposing sides of the upright panel overtop of the upper free edge of the panel of the transom bracket mount such that the outboard motor is supported along the rear side of the upright frame; and   securing the shoulder straps of the harness on the front side of the upright frame over respective shoulders of a user.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  including orienting the transom bracket mount to span in a lateral direction between opposing upright side edges of the upright frame and adjusting a position of the transom bracket along the transom bracket mount in the lateral direction until a center of gravity of the outboard motor is centered in the lateral direction between the shoulder straps of the harness. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18  including orienting the transom bracket mount to extend perpendicularly outward from a plane of the upright frame and adjusting a position of the transom bracket mount in a lateral direction between opposing upright side edges of the upright frame until a center of gravity of the outboard motor is centered in the lateral direction between the shoulder straps of the harness.