Tilt-up assisting structure of outboard motor

Abstract

A tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor includes a steering handle supported to be pivotable in raising and lowering directions; and a ratchet portion that restricts pivoting of the steering handle relative to the outboard motor. The ratchet portion includes plural teeth formed on an end surface of the steering handle, and a stopper disposed to face the end surface of the steering handle and supported to be pivotable. When the steering handle pivots in the raising direction and a tooth surface of any of the teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper pivots to allow the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction, and when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction and a tooth surface of any of the teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper is stationary to restrict the steering handle from pivoting in the lowering direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor for assisting tilt up of the outboard motor, the tilt-up assisting structure comprising:
 a steering handle that extends in a front-rear direction, wherein a rear end portion of the steering handle is supported to be pivotable about a handle pivoting axis extending in a left-right direction in the outboard motor, a rear end surface of the steering handle is formed in an arc shape about the handle pivoting axis, and the steering handle is pivotable with respect to the outboard motor in a raising direction in which a tip end portion moves upward and a lowering direction in which a tip end portion moves downward or forward; and   a ratchet portion that is configured to restrict pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor, wherein:   the ratchet portion includes:
 a plurality of teeth formed on the rear end surface of the steering handle; and 
 a stopper disposed at a position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle and supported to be pivotable about a stopper pivoting axis extending parallel to the handle pivoting axis in the outboard motor, and 
   when the steering handle pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor and a tooth surface of any tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper pivots to allow the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, and when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor and a tooth surface of any tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper is stationary to restrict the steering handle from pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor.   
     
     
         2 . The tilt-up assisting structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is disposed in a region from a rear side to a lower side of the rear end portion of the steering handle in the outboard motor such that the stopper does not protrude to a left side from an outer surface on a left side of the rear end portion of the steering handle and does not protrude to a right side from an outer surface on a right side of the rear end portion of the steering handle. 
     
     
         3 . The tilt-up assisting structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is disposed behind the rear end portion of the steering handle in the outboard motor. 
     
     
         4 . The tilt-up assisting structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is disposed below the rear end portion of the steering handle in the outboard motor. 
     
     
         5 . The tilt-up assisting structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the stopper includes:
 a base portion pivotably supported about the stopper pivoting axis in the outboard motor; and 
 a claw portion extending from the base portion toward the rear end surface of the steering handle, 
   wherein the claw portion has a tip end surface configured to come into surface contact with a tooth surface on a lowering direction side of each of the plurality of teeth, and   wherein when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor, a tooth surface on the lowering direction side of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into surface contact with the tip end surface of the claw portion and pushes the tip end surface of the claw portion in a direction of the base portion, so that the stopper is made stationary and the pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor is restricted.   
     
     
         6 . The tilt-up assisting structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the stopper includes:
 a base portion pivotably supported about the stopper pivoting axis in the outboard motor; and 
 a claw portion extending from the base portion toward the rear end surface of the steering handle, 
   wherein the claw portion has a tip end surface configured to come into surface contact with a tooth surface on a lowering direction side of each of the plurality of teeth, and   wherein when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor, a tooth surface on the lowering direction side of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into surface contact with the tip end surface of the claw portion and pushes the tip end surface of the claw portion in a direction orthogonal to the stopper pivoting axis, so that the stopper is made stationary and the pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor is restricted.   
     
     
         7 . The tilt-up assisting structure according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a holder that is configured to mount the steering handle and the stopper to the outboard motor,   wherein a front portion of the holder is provided with a handle mounting portion for mounting the rear end portion of the steering handle such that the rear end portion of the steering handle is pivotable about the handle pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, and a rear portion of the holder is provided with a stopper mounting portion for mounting the stopper such that the stopper is pivotable about the stopper pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, and   wherein the holder has a vertically symmetrical shape and is configured such that when the rear end portion of the steering handle is mounted on the handle mounting portion and the stopper is mounted on the stopper mounting portion, the handle pivoting axis and the stopper pivoting axis each pass through a center of the holder in an upper-lower direction.   
     
     
         8 . The tilt-up assisting structure according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a holder that is configured to mount the steering handle and the stopper to the outboard motor,   wherein an upper portion of the holder is provided with a handle mounting portion for mounting the rear end portion of the steering handle such that the rear end portion of the steering handle is pivotable about the handle pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, a lower portion of the holder is provided with a stopper mounting portion for mounting the stopper such that the stopper is pivotable about the stopper pivoting axis with respect to the outboard motor, and   wherein the holder has a front-rear symmetrical shape and is configured such that when the rear end portion of the steering handle is mounted on the handle mounting portion and the stopper is mounted on the stopper mounting portion, the handle pivoting axis and the stopper pivoting axis each pass through a center of the holder in a front-rear direction.