Rudder apparatus for a watercraft

Abstract

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a rudder apparatus for steering a watercraft includes a housing for being coupled to a stern of the watercraft. A blade casing is coupled to the housing. A blade is coupled to the blade casing. The blade casing is pivotally connected to the housing and pivotable with the blade between a deployed position in which the blade extends vertically downwardly into the water, and a stowed position in which the blade extends perpendicularly relative to the deployed position. The blade is pivotable relative to the blade casing from the deployed position to deflected positions to permit the blade to deflect when the blade impacts debris or the bed of the body of water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rudder apparatus for steering a watercraft, comprising:
 a housing for being coupled to a stern of the watercraft;   a blade casing coupled to the housing;   a blade coupled to the blade casing;   the blade casing pivotally connected to the housing and pivotable with the blade between a deployed position in which the blade extends vertically downwardly into the water, and a stowed position in which the blade extends perpendicularly relative to the deployed position; and   the blade pivotable relative to the blade casing from the deployed position to deflected positions to permit the blade to deflect when the blade impacts underwater debris or the bed of the body of water.   
     
     
         2 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the blade casing presents a first tab, and wherein the blade presents a second tab in alignment with the first tab of the blade casing to cause rotation of the blade in response to rotation of the blade casing while still permitting the blade to rotate independently of the blade casing. 
     
     
         3 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a first spring connected to the blade casing and the blade and biasing the blade toward the deployed position. 
     
     
         4 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a housing positioned about the blade casing, and a second spring connected to the blade casing and the housing and configured to bias the blade casing toward the stowed position. 
     
     
         5 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein a tension handle is selectively fixed to the housing, and wherein the second spring is fixed to the tension handle to effectuate the connection between the blade casing and the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the tension handle is rotatable relative to the second spring and the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the housing, the blade casing and the blade define a series of connection passages aligned with one another along a pivot axis, and wherein the blade and the blade casing are pivotable about the pivot axis, wherein the tension handle has a dial portion for being rotated by a user, and a face opposite the dial portion, wherein a cylinder extends from the face and through the connection passages, and wherein the second spring is fixed to the cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the second spring does not exert a biasing force on the blade and the blade casing when the blade and blade casing are in the stowed position, and wherein the second spring exerts a biasing force on the blade and blade casing toward the stowed position when the blade and the blade casing are in the deployed position. 
     
     
         9 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the housing, the blade casing and the blade define a series of connection passages aligned with one another along a pivot axis, and wherein the blade casing and the blade are pivotable about the pivot axis. 
     
     
         10 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the blade defines a first recess about the connection passage of the blade, wherein the blade has a first notch that extends radially into the first recess, wherein a first spring is received in the first notch and is connected to the blade casing and the blade and biases the blade toward the deployed position, and wherein the first spring has a first internal arm engaging the first notch. 
     
     
         11 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the blade casing has a first casing side and a second casing side coupled to one another on opposite sides of the blade, the second casing has a tube that extends into the connection passage of the blade, wherein the tube defines the connection passage of the second casing side, and wherein the first spring has an external arm connected to the tube of the second casing. 
     
     
         12 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the second casing side defines a second recess on an opposite side of the second casing side as the tube, wherein the second casing has a second notch that extends radially into the second recess, wherein a second spring is received in the second recess and is connected to the second casing side and the housing and biases the blade casing toward the stowed position, wherein a tension knob is selectively fixed to the housing, and wherein the second spring is fixed to the tension knob to effectuate the connection between the connection between the blade casing and the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the blade casing has a ramp along a perimeter of the blade casing, and where a cable extends along the ramp and is fixed to the blade casing to effectuate rotation of the blade casing in response to the cable being pulled to rotate the blade into the deployed position. 
     
     
         14 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein a cable guide is connected to the tiller plate, wherein the cable guide defines a cable passage receiving the cable for guiding the cable toward the ramp of the blade casing. 
     
     
         15 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the blade is configured to pivot 270 degrees between the deployed position and the stowed position. 
     
     
         16 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein a cable is connected to the blade casing, and wherein the blade casing and blade are configured to pivot in response to a user pulling on the cable. 
     
     
         17 . A rudder apparatus for a watercraft, comprising:
 a blade;   a blade casing secured to the blade;   a housing coupled to the blade casing; and   first and second springs biasing the blade in opposite directions, the second spring biasing the blade to retract from a deployed position for operational use to a stowed position adjacent to a stern of the watercraft in a horizontal configuration and, in the deployed position, the blade configured to be vertical and extend downward to act as a rudder for the watercraft when in operation and, in the deployed position, the first spring configured to allow the blade to pivot and deflect rearwardly away from the deployed position when the blade contacts underwater debris or the bed of the body of water, and then return the blade to the deployed position.   
     
     
         18 . The rudder apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein a single cable is connected to the blade casing and configured to pivot the blade from the stowed position to the deployed position in response to pulling on the cable away from the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The rudder system as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the blade casing presents at least one ramp along a portion of the outer circumference of the blade casing, and wherein the cable overlies the ramp to provide rotation of the blade casing and blade in response to movement of the cable. 
     
     
         20 . The rudder apparatus as set forth, in  claim 17 , further including a tension knob coupled to the second spring and configured to adjust a biasing force exerted by the second spring biasing the blade toward the deployed position.