Rudder technologies for outboard motors

Abstract

A device including an outboard motor including a jet outlet portion, a stabilizer plate, and a rudder, where the stabilizer plate includes a first end portion and a second end portion, where the first end portion is proximal to the jet outlet portion, where the second end portion is distal to the jet outlet portion, where the rudder extends from the stabilizer plate between the first end portion and the second end portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outboard motor comprising:
 a lower unit having a port side and a starboard side;   a first stabilizer plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first stabilizer plate extends from the port side in a first direction away from the port side such that (1) the first end portion is proximal to the port side, (2) the second end portion is distal to the port side, and (3) the first end portion opposes the second end portion;   a first rudder extending from the first stabilizer plate between the first end portion and the second end portion;   a second stabilizer plate having a third end portion and a fourth end portion, wherein the second stabilizer plate extends from the starboard side in a second direction away from the starboard side such that (1) the third end portion is proximal to the starboard side, (2) the fourth end portion is distal to the starboard side, and (3) the third end portion opposes the fourth end portion, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction; and   a second rudder extending from the second stabilizer plate between the third end portion and the fourth end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of first rudder or the second rudder is flexible. 
     
     
         3 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first rudder or the second rudder controllably moves with respect to at least one of the first stabilizer plate or the second stabilizer plate, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first rudder or the second rudder includes a sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first rudder or the second rudder and at least one of the first stabilizer plate or the second stabilizer plate are in a T-shape relationship, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first rudder is parallel to the second rudder. 
     
     
         7 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first rudder is non-parallel to the second rudder. 
     
     
         8 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third rudder coupled to at least one of the first stabilizer plate or the second stabilizer plate.   
     
     
         9 . The outboard motor of  claim 8 , wherein the third rudder extends from the at least one of the first stabilizer plate or the second stabilizer plate between at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion or the third end portion and the fourth end portion respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein the rudder includes a light source. 
     
     
         11 . An outboard motor comprising:
 a lower unit having a port side and a starboard side;   a single stabilizer plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the lower unit is positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion such that (1) the port side opposes the first end portion and (2) the starboard side opposes the second end portion,   a first rudder extending from the single stabilizer plate between the port side and the first end portion;   a second rudder extending from the single stabilizer plate between the starboard side and second end portion.   
     
     
         12 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of first rudder or the second rudder is flexible. 
     
     
         13 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first rudder or the second rudder controllably moves with respect to the single stabilizer plate. 
     
     
         14 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first rudder or the second rudder includes a sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first rudder or the second rudder and the single stabilizer plate are in a T-shape relationship. 
     
     
         16 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein the first rudder is parallel to the second rudder. 
     
     
         17 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein the first rudder is non-parallel to the second rudder. 
     
     
         18 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a third rudder coupled to the single stabilizer plate.   
     
     
         19 . The outboard motor of  claim 18 , wherein the third rudder extends from the single stabilizer plate between at least one of between the port side and the first end portion or the starboard side and the second end portion. 
     
     
         20 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein the rudder includes a light source. 
     
     
         21 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein the single stabilizer plate includes a U-shaped portion from which the first rudder and the second rudder extend. 
     
     
         22 . The outboard motor of  claim 11 , wherein the single stabilizer plate includes a C-shaped portion from which the first rudder and the second rudder extend.