Attachment Device for Attaching an Outboard Motor to a Craft

Abstract

The invention relates to an attachment device (1) for attaching an outboard motor (22) to a craft. The attachment device (1) comprises an arm (2) which can be coupled to the motor (22), a support (3) which can be coupled to the craft, and a connecting interface (4) which can be inserted between the arm (2) and the support (3). The connection interface (4) can be pivotably coupled to the arm (2) by means of a so-called pivot connection (5) comprising at least one pivot axis (XX1) for a movement of the arm (2) between two end pivot positions. The connection interface (4) can be rotatably coupled to the support (3) by a so-called rotational connection (7) comprising at least one axis of rotation (YY1) to allow, in the coupled state of the connection interface (4) to the arm (2) and to the support (3), a movement of the arm (2) and of the connection interface (4) about the axis of rotation (YY1) over an angular range at least equal to 160°, preferably at least equal to 180°, and the axis of rotation (YY1) and the pivot axis (XX1) are orthogonal to each other.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An attachment device for attaching an outboard motor to a craft, the attachment device comprising:
 an arm adapted to be coupled to the outboard motor;   a support adapted to be coupled to the craft; and   a connection interface disposed between the arm and the support, wherein the connection interface is pivotably coupled to the arm by a pivot connection providing a pivot axis for a movement of the arm between two end pivot positions, and wherein the connection interface is rotatably coupled to the support by a rotational connection providing an axis of rotation to allow, in a coupled state of the connection interface to the arm and to the support, a movement of the arm and of the connection interface about the axis of rotation over an angular range.   
     
     
         14 . The attachment device of  claim 13 , wherein the angular range is at least 160°, and wherein the axis of rotation and the pivot axis are orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment device of  claim 13 , wherein the two end pivot positions of the arm in relation to the connection interface include a first end pivot position where the arm and the connection interface are close to and contact each other, and a second end pivot position where the arm is positioned away from the connection interface, and wherein the attachment device further comprises:
 a holding system for holding the arm at one or more pivot positions including the first and second end pivot positions, or one or more intermediate pivot positions.   
     
     
         16 . The attachment device of  claim 15 , wherein the holding system comprises:
 a pivoting lever having first and second pivoting ends, the first pivoting end coupled to the arm and the second pivoting end being engagable with one of a series of notches mounted on the connection interface and corresponding to the one or more pivot positions.   
     
     
         17 . The attachment device of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the connection interface is a plate with first and second faces opposite to each other,   the pivot axis of the pivot connection between the arm and the connection interface is materialized by a first shaft coaxial to the pivot axis,   the axis of rotation of the rotational connection between the support and the connection interface is materialized by a second shaft coaxial to the axis of rotation,   the first shaft is on the first face of the plate, and   the second shaft protrudes from the second face of the plate.   
     
     
         18 . The attachment device of  claim 17 , wherein the series of notches are on the first face of the plate. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment device of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more intermediate pivot positions include one or more pivot positions other than and intermediate to the first and second end pivot positions. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a locking member provided on the arm, the locking member being adapted to lock the arm in relation to the connection interface in the first end pivot position where the arm and the connection interface are close to and in contact with each other.   
     
     
         21 . The attachment device of  claim 20 , wherein the locking member is a lockable/unlockable member, and wherein the locking member is unlockable by applying a thrust force exceeding a predetermined value on the arm to pivotably move the arm away from the connection interface. 
     
     
         22 . The attachment device of  claim 20 , wherein the locking member is a pivoting hook pivotably coupled to the arm and able to hook with a complementary element of the connection interface. 
     
     
         23 . The attachment device of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot connection between the arm and the connection interface includes a first part formed on the arm and a second part formed on the connection interface, and wherein the first and second parts are adapted to be coupled to each other by automatic tool-free coupling by simple convergence or relative movement of the first and second parts relative to one another. 
     
     
         24 . The attachment device of  claim 13 , wherein the pivot axis of the pivot connection extends substantially horizontally to enable a raising or a lowering of the outboard motor relative to the craft, and the axis of rotation of the rotational connection extends substantially vertically. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly comprising:
 a watercraft;   an outboard motor; and   an attachment device for attaching the outboard motor to the watercraft, the attachment device comprising:
 an arm adapted to be coupled to the outboard motor; 
 a support adapted to be coupled to the watercraft; and 
 a connection interface disposed between the arm and the support, wherein the connection interface is pivotably coupled to the arm by a pivot connection providing a pivot axis for a movement of the arm between two end pivot positions, and wherein the connection interface is rotatably coupled to the support by a rotational connection providing an axis of rotation to allow, in a coupled state of the connection interface to the arm and to the support, a movement of the arm and of the connection interface about the axis of rotation over an angular range. 
   
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the angular range is at least 160°, and wherein the axis of rotation and the pivot axis are orthogonal to each other. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the two end pivot positions of the arm in relation to the connection interface include a first end pivot position where the arm and the connection interface are close to and in contact with each other, and a second end pivot position where the arm is positioned away from the connection interface, and wherein the attachment device further comprises:
 a holding system for holding the arm at one or more pivot positions including the first and second end pivot positions, or one or more intermediate pivot positions.   
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the holding system comprises:
 a pivoting lever having first and second pivoting ends, the first pivoting end coupled to the arm and the second pivoting end being engagable with one of a series of notches mounted on the connection interface and corresponding to the one or more pivot positions.   
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more intermediate pivot positions include one or more pivot positions other than and intermediate to the first and second end pivot positions. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a locking member provided on the arm, the locking member being adapted to lock the arm in relation to the connection interface in the first end pivot position where the arm and the connection interface are close to each other.   
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the locking member is a lockable/unlockable member, and wherein the locking member is unlockable by applying a thrust force exceeding a predetermined value on the arm to pivotably move the arm away from the connection interface. 
     
     
         32 . A method of attaching an outboard motor to a craft, the method comprising:
 positioning the outboard motor in the craft;   attaching a support of an attachment device to the craft;   attaching an arm of the attachment device to the outboard motor;   attaching a connection interface of the attachment device to the support;   attaching the connection interface of the attachment device to the arm, wherein the connection interface is disposed between the arm and the support, wherein the connection interface is pivotably coupled to the arm by a pivot connection providing a pivot axis for a movement of the arm between two end pivot positions, and wherein the connection interface is rotatably coupled to the support by a rotational connection providing an axis of rotation to allow, in a coupled state of the connection interface to the arm and to the support, a movement of the arm and of the connection interface about the axis of rotation over an angular range; and   pivoting the arm and rotating the connection interface to move the outboard motor from a position in which it is located in the craft to a position in which it is located outside the craft.