ENGINE PROTECTION FOR PLEASURE BOATS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective frame (32) for a propeller (24) of an outboard motor (22) intended to be fixed to a pleasure boat (10), the protective frame (32) comprising at least one protective hoop (34) for the propeller (24), the protective hoop (34) being independent of the motor (22) and intended to be directly fixed to the boat, the protective frame (32) comprising at least one support (36) capable of holding at least one accessory (38) separate from the boat (10) on the protective frame (32), the support (36) being carried by the protective hoop (34) such that the protective hoop (34) and the support (36) extend in directions intersecting each other.

Description

Title of the invention: ENGINE PROTECTION FOR PLEASURE BOAT Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective frame for, among other things, ensuring the protection of an engine of a pleasure boat. Technical background

[0002] Pleasure boats with motors can be used by individuals to practice various activities such as trips and water sports. Such pleasure boats then include at least one propeller motor intended to set the boat in motion. A distinction is then made between so-called "inboard" boats, the motor of which is integrated into the structure of the boat and which remains permanently submerged, and so-called "outboard" boats, "outboard motor boats", which include a motor attached to the boat and fixed to the outside of the hull. For outboard motor boats, it is commonly provided that the motor can be raised when the boat is not in use by tilting it.

[0003] Apart from their use at sea, it is usual for these pleasure boats to be kept in a port by being moored next to each other and attached to pontoons. Such mooring in a port in the middle of other boats can cause damage both to one's own boat and to boats already moored. Indeed, the mooring maneuvers of a boat are delicate and it is not uncommon to find one's boat damaged by another careless user.

[0004] Such damage can then lead to significant economic consequences, particularly when it relates to the propeller of the engines. Indeed, for boats whose engine is raised, the propeller then out of the water can easily be subject to impacts from boats maneuvering to moor.

[0005] Protections for "outboard" boat engines exist but these consist only of protective covers against external debris such as leaves or against bad weather. Such covers do not provide physical protection for the engine propellers.

[0006] Cage-type propeller guards are also known which surround the said propeller, but these prove restrictive and reduce the boat's performance in terms of speed while increasing the boat's fuel consumption. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention proposes a protective frame for a propeller of an outboard motor intended to be fixed to a pleasure boat, the protective frame comprising at least one propeller protection hoop, the protective hoop being independent of the motor and intended to be directly fixed to the boat, the protective frame comprising at least one support capable of holding at least one accessory distinct from the boat on the protective frame, the support being carried by the protective hoop such that the protective hoop and the support extend in directions intersecting one another.

[0008] According to other characteristics of the invention:

[0009] - the protective hoop forms a first hoop and the support forms a second hoop, the first hoop and the second hoop each having a U shape;

[0010] - the protective arch and the support delimit a housing for receiving the motor wherein said motor can be moved about an axis of rotation between a use position and a guarding position;

[0011] - the frame comprises at least one fixing assembly, the fixing assembly comprising at least one removable coupling member and a fixing member intended to be fixed to the boat, the removable coupling member being intended to secure the protective arch to the boat by fitting into at least one housing of the at least one fixing member;

[0012] - the protective arch comprises at least one rectilinear portion extended on one side and on the other by two arms, the removable coupling member corresponding to a free end of at least one of the arms, the free end having an L-shaped curvature intended to fit into the housing;

[0013] - the frame comprises at least one flat surface which extends parallel to the protective arch at least partially covering the engine receiving housing, the flat surface being supported at least by the support and by an additional arch which extends from the protective arch, and such that the flat surface forms at least one other fixing space for the boat accessory;

[0014] - at least the protective arch is formed by at least two tubes sliding one in the other following a translation direction and such that the two sliding tubes are configured to be blocked in translation relative to each other by means of a blocking member;

[0015] - the support comprises at least one device for fixing the accessory to the frame of protection.

[0016] The invention also relates to a pleasure boat comprising at least one engine provided with at least one propeller which extends at one end of an engine body, the boat comprising at least one protective frame according to any one of the preceding characteristics, the protective arch of the protective frame extending beyond the engine propeller in a direction of main elongation of the boat when the engine is in a use position and in a guard position.

[0017] According to a characteristic of the invention, the pleasure boat comprises at least two rear platforms which delimit at least one space for receiving at least one engine, the protective arch extending at least partly between the rear platforms. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a pleasure boat comprising a protective frame for a propeller of an outboard motor of the boat according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] is a schematic top view of the boat of [Fig.l];

[0021] [Fig.3] is a schematic side view of the boat of [Fig.l] carrying an accessory on the protective frame in a fixing position;

[0022] [Fig.4] is a schematic side view of the boat of [Fig.l] carrying the accessory on the protective frame in a detached position;

[0023] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the protective frame of [Fig.l] including a roll bar and a support;

[0024] [Fig.6] is a schematic view of the protective arch of the protective frame according to a particular embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures, the longitudinal L and transverse T axes of which extend in a horizontal plane, will be adopted as a non-limiting example and without limiting reference to Earth's gravity. By convention, the longitudinal axis L is oriented from the rear to the front.

[0026] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0027] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a pleasure boat 10 which can be used for leisure activities such as water sports or even sea trips.

[0028] The pleasure boat 10 usually comprises a hull 12 delimiting, among other things, a living area on the boat 10 for at least one user. In particular, a longitudinal main elongation direction L of the boat 10 is defined, corresponding, among other things, to a main elongation direction of the hull 12. A front end 14 and a rear end 16 of the boat 10 are then also defined. following the longitudinal direction L of the boat 10 and following a conventional direction of movement of said boat 10 in forward navigation.

[0029] The pleasure boat 10 comprises at least two rear platforms 18 which delimit at least one space 20 for receiving at least one engine 22. More precisely and particularly visible in [Fig.l], the two rear platforms 20 extend longitudinally from the hull 12 of the boat, at its rear end 16.

[0030] Thus, it is understood that the two rear platforms 18 extend at a non-zero distance from each other in a transverse direction T of the boat 10, perpendicular to its longitudinal direction L. Such a transverse spacing between the two rear platforms 18 then delimits the receiving space 20 of the engine 22 of the boat 10.

[0031] Thus, the boat 10 comprises an engine 22 provided with at least one propeller 24 which extends at one end of a body 26 of the engine 22. In the illustrated example of the invention, the boat 10 comprises two engines 22.

[0032] In the remainder of the description, the structural and functional details will be discussed for an engine 22 but it is understood that these apply mutatis mutandis indifferently to one or more engines 22 of the boat 10.

[0033] Furthermore, the engine 22 of the boat 10 is here an outboard type engine 22, that is to say an engine 22 designed to be raised outside of navigation use and corresponding to a guarding position.

[0034] More precisely, a lower part 28a of the motor 22 and an upper part 28b of the motor 22 are defined, opposite each other in a main elongation direction P of the motor 22. The lower part 28a of the motor 22 corresponds in particular to the part of the motor carrying the propeller 24. The lower part 28a of the motor 22 is therefore intended to be immersed in water in a position of use of the motor 22 visible in [Fig. 3] and to be emerged in the guarding position of the motor 22 visible in [Fig. 4]. The upper part 28b of the motor 22 corresponds to the emerged end of the motor 22 regardless of whether the latter is in its position of use or its guarding position, visible respectively in [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 4].

[0035] The guarding position of the motor 22 is for example implemented when the boat 10 is moored at the pontoon of a port.

[0036] It is then understood that in a position of use of the motor 22 visible in [Fig. 3], the motor 22 extends substantially in a vertical direction V of the boat 10, and that in a position of guarding the motor 22 visible in [Fig. 4], the latter extends in a plane secant to the vertical direction V of the boat 10.

[0037] According to the example of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the motor 22 is connected to the boat 10 by a pivoting device 30 allowing the passage of said motor 22 from its position of use to its guarding position and vice versa, around an axis of rotation R. More particularly, the axis of rotation R of the motor 22 is parallel to the transverse direction T of the boat 10.

[0038] The boat 10 according to the invention comprises at least one protective frame 32.

[0039] The protective frame 32, particularly visible in Figures 1 and 5, comprises at least one protective hoop 34 for the propeller 24, the protective hoop 34 being fixed to the boat 10. The protective frame 32 also comprises at least one support 36 for an accessory 38 separate from the boat 10, visible in Figures 2 and 3.

[0040] The support 36 of the protective frame 32 is carried by the protective hoop 34. More particularly, the protective hoop 34 and the support 36 extend relative to each other in intersecting directions. Advantageously, the protective hoop 34 and the support 36 extend perpendicularly to each other.

[0041] As seen in Figures 2 to 4, the protective arch 34 extends in a longitudinal plane L and transverse plane T and the support 36 extends in a transverse plane T and vertical plane V.

[0042] According to the example of the invention illustrated, the protective hoop 34 forms a first hoop 40 and the support 36 forms a second hoop 42. It is then understood that the first hoop 40 and the second hoop 42 each extend in a plane perpendicular to one another.

[0043] In the remainder of the description, it should be considered that the term first hoop 40 will always be associated with the protective hoop 34, and that the term second hoop 42 will always be associated with the support 36.

[0044] Each of the first hoop 40 and the second hoop 42 is here formed by a rectilinear main portion 44 extended on either side by two arms 46, so as to have a U shape. It is then understood that each of the arms 46 of each of the hoops 40, 42 comprises a joining end 48 with the associated main portion 44, and a free end 50, opposite the joining end 48 in a direction of elongation of the arm 46. According to a non-limiting example of the invention, the arms 46 of each of the hoops 40, 42 extend substantially perpendicularly from the associated main portion 44.

[0045] The first hoop 40 and the second hoop 42, respectively forming the protective hoop 34 and the support 36, can be formed by hollow cylindrical tubes.

[0046] According to the example of the invention illustrated, the protective hoop 34 and the support 36 delimit a receiving housing 52 of the motor 22 in which said motor 22 can be moved around the axis of rotation R of the pivoting device 30, between its position of use and its guarding position.

[0047] In other words, it is understood that the protective frame 32 is configured in such a way that it allows the at least one motor 22 to switch from one position to the other without it being necessary to move or remove the protective hoop 34 and / or the support. 36. Such a feature is advantageous in that it facilitates the use of the protective frame 32 without constraining a user with additional maneuvers.

[0048] It is further understood that at least the protective arch 34 of the protective frame 32 is independent of the engine 22 of the boat 10. In other words, the protective arch 34 and the engine 22 are strictly distinct from one another such that the movement of one does not cause the other to move.

[0049] It is also understood that the reception housing 52 is at least partly merged with the reception space 20 delimited by the rear platforms 18.

[0050] The protective arch 34 of the protective frame 32 extends at least partly between the rear platforms 18. More particularly, the protective arch 34 is secured to the boat 10 by means of a fixing assembly 54, visible in [Fig.5].

[0051] The fixing assembly 54 comprises at least one removable coupling member 56 of the protective arch 34 with the boat 10. Removable means that the coupling member 56 can be detached and reattached to the boat without breaking or deforming or unscrewing the fixing assembly 54.

[0052] In the illustrated example of the invention of [Fig. 5] and in a non-limiting manner, the removable coupling member 56 corresponds to the free end 50 of each of the arms 46 of the first hoop 40 forming the protective hoop 34, the free ends 50 having a curvature such as to have an L shape in a longitudinal plane L and transverse plane T.

[0053] The fixing assembly 54 also comprises a fixing member 58 secured to the boat 10. More precisely, the fixing member 58 is secured to one of the rear platforms 18 of the boat 10 and in such a way that it faces towards the receiving space 20 of the engine 22. Even more precisely, an internal side wall 19 of the rear platform 18 is defined, the internal side wall 19 facing towards the receiving space 20 of the engine 22, the fixing member 58 being secured to the internal side wall 19.

[0054] In the illustrated example of the invention, the fixing assembly 54 comprises two fixing members 58 secured to each of the internal side walls 19 of the rear platforms 18 and in such a way as to cooperate with the arms 46 of the first arch 40.

[0055] According to the illustrated example of the invention, the fixing members 58 comprise at least one hollow housing 60 which extends vertically.

[0056] Thus, the L-shaped free end 50 of each of the arms 46 of the first hoop 40 is capable of cooperating by vertical insertion with the hollow housing 60 formed on each of the fixing members 58 secured to the boat 10.

[0057] The fixing members 58 may, for example and in a non-limiting manner, be secured to the boat 10 by screwing.

[0058] Thus, it is understood that the fixing assembly 54 as just described, makes it possible to unhook and hook the protection hoop 34 to the boat 10, by cooperation between the free L-shaped ends 50 of each of the arms 46 of the protection hoop 34 and the hollow housing 60 of each of the fixing members 58 secured to the boat 10.

[0059] According to a non-illustrated example of the invention, a locking member may be installed on the fixing assembly so as to lock in position the L-shaped free ends of the arms of the first hoop in their respective hollow housing. The locking member may be, for example, a pin passing simultaneously through the free end of the arms and the hollow housing in which they are located.

[0060] As particularly visible in Figures 3 and 4, the protective arch 34 of the protective frame 32 extends beyond the propeller 24 of the engine 22 in the longitudinal direction L of the boat 10 when the engine 22 is in its position of use, visible in [Fig.2], and in its guarding position, visible in [Fig.3].

[0061] According to the example of the invention illustrated, the protective arch 34 extends longitudinally beyond the rear platforms 18 of the boat.

[0062] Thus, advantage is taken of the protective frame 32 according to the invention in that it ensures the protection of the motor 22, and in particular of its propeller 24, independently of the position of said motor 22.

[0063] In other words, the protective arch 34 of the protective frame 32 forms a safety perimeter around the at least one engine 22 of the boat, thus limiting impacts against the latter. More particularly, the protective arch 34 ensures protection of the propeller 24 of the engine 22 in the longitudinal direction L by its main portion 44 and in the transverse direction T by its arms 46. The protective arch 34 thus makes it possible to block a movement of another boat, at least in a longitudinal plane L and transverse plane T, towards the propeller 24, by forming physical protection around it.

[0064] The protective frame 32 also includes the support 36 mentioned previously and particularly visible in [Fig.5].

[0065] The support 36 is carried by the protective hoop 34, and more particularly by the arms 46 of the protective hoop 34. In other words, it is understood that the arms 46 of the support 36 extend from the arms 46 of the protective hoop 34.

[0066] According to the example of the invention illustrated, the support 36 forming the second hoop 42 comprises at least one fixing device 62 for the accessory 38 separate from the boat, hereinafter referred to as appendix 38 and visible in figures 1 to 4. More precisely, the fixing device 62 is integral with the main portion 44 of the second hoop 42 forming the support 36.

[0067] The accessory 38 may be, for example and in a non-limiting manner, a boat, a surfboard or even water skis.

[0068] The protective frame 32 is then configured so that the accessory 38 rests vertically, bearing at least on the arms 46 of the protective arch 34 while bearing longitudinally against the support 36.

[0069] Thus, the accessory 38 can be held on the protective frame 32 for example by means of a rope to which it is connected and attached to the support 36 via the fixing device 62.

[0070] It is further understood that the protective frame 32 may have more than one fixing device 62 in order to improve the retention of the accessory 38 on the protective frame 32.

[0071] According to another example illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the fixing device 62 comprises at least one pulley 64 and a fixing lug 66. The pulley 64 is then arranged on the main portion 44 of the second hoop 42 while the fixing lug 66 can be arranged, for example, on the boat 10.

[0072] Such a fixing device 62 makes it easier to release the accessory 38 from the protective frame 32, the pulley 64 allowing the rope connected to said accessory 38 to slide. In other words, the pulley 64 makes it possible to accompany the inclination of the accessory 38 in a direction opposite to said boat 10, in order to place it on the surface of the water.

[0073] Also the pulley 64 makes it easier to reassemble the accessory 38 on the protective frame 32.

[0074] According to the example of the invention illustrated, the protective frame 32 comprises a flat surface 68 visible in [Fig. 5] and which extends parallel to the plane in which the protective arch 34 extends. More precisely, the flat surface 68 is supported at least by the support 36 and extends from the main portion 44 of the latter.

[0075] According to the example of the invention illustrated, the flat surface 68 is also supported by tension cables 70 which extend between said flat surface 68 and the boat 10. The tension cables 70 ensure in particular longitudinal support of the flat surface 68 and thus also of the protective frame 32.

[0076] According to another example of the invention, the flat surface 68 can also be supported by an additional hoop 71, visible in [Fig.4] and structurally identical to the support 36. The additional hoop 71 then extends longitudinally between the boat 10 and the support 36 and from the arms 46 of the protective hoop 34.

[0077] According to another example of the invention, visible in [Fig.5], the flat surface 68 can also be supported by at least one bracket 73 which extends between one of the arms 46 of the second arch 42 and the flat surface 68.

[0078] Such a flat surface 68 is particularly advantageous in that it provides additional attachment space for other accessories distinct from the boat. The flat surface may for example include various installations such as 72 cup holders.

[0079] According to another example of the invention, the protective frame 32 may comprise an additional flat surface 74 which extends at least in part between the arms 46 of the first hoop 40. More precisely, the additional flat surface 74 extends at least in part between the arms 46 and the main portion 44 of the first hoop 40 and over a longitudinal dimension configured to allow the motor 22 to tilt from its use position to its guarding position.

[0080] Such an additional flat surface 74 is then advantageous at least in that it improves the vertical support of the accessory 38 and offers an additional support surface, for example to help a user to hoist himself onto the boat when leaving the water.

[0081] According to an embodiment of the invention visible in [Fig.6], at least the protective arch 34 is formed by at least two sliding tubes 76 one inside the other in a rectilinear translation direction. It is understood in particular that the two sliding tubes 76 have a different diameter from each other, such that one slides inside the other.

[0082] It is further understood that the sliding tubes 76 are hollow and each have a plurality of bores 78 intended to cooperate with the bores 78 of the other sliding tube 76. More precisely, the bores 78 of each of the sliding tubes 76 are intended to cooperate by extending opposite one another, such that a locking member 80 is capable of passing through the bore 78 of each of the sliding tubes 76 to block their translational movement.

[0083] According to an example of the invention, the main portion 44 of the first hoop 40 forming the protective hoop 34 is formed by two sliding tubes 76. It is then understood that here, the two sliding tubes 76 each have an L shape so as to form the U shape of the first hoop 40, once assembled.

[0084] According to another example of the invention illustrated in [Fig.6], the main portion 44 and the arms 46 of the protective arch 34 are each formed by sliding cylinders 76 one inside the other.

[0085] Thus, it is understood that in this example of the invention, the protective hoop 34 is formed of four sliding cylinders 76 so as to form the U shape of the protective hoop 34. Two sliding cylinders 76, each forming a part of the main portion 44 and a part of one of the arms 46, then have an L shape while two other sliding cylinders 76, each forming the other part of one of the arms 46, have a rectilinear shape.

[0086] Advantage is taken of such a configuration of the protective arch 34 in that it allows its longitudinal dimension L and transverse dimension T to be adapted according to the size of the boat 10 and the at least one engine 22 that it protects.

[0087] It is further understood that in this configuration of the protective frame 32, the support 36 has a configuration identical to the protective hoop 34 so that the modularity of the protective frame 32 can be implemented.

[0088] Numerous advantages arise from the invention. A first advantage relates to the safety aspect of a boat passenger. Indeed, on the one hand, certain boat licenses, called coastal licenses, do not require the presence of a lifeboat on board the boat, and on the other hand, the lack of space on a small boat greatly limits the presence of such a lifeboat. Thus, the protective frame according to the invention, and in particular the support that it comprises, is particularly advantageous in that it allows a lifeboat or any other accessory such as a paddle or a buoy, which can be used as a lifeboat, to be easily and without obstruction.

[0089] It is therefore understood that the above invention is advantageous in that it allows, on the one hand, effective protection of an outboard motor of a pleasure boat without complicating the use of said outboard motor, and on the other hand, to allow the presence of a lifeboat or an accessory that can serve as a lifeboat, without reducing the space available for a passenger on the boat.

Claims

Claims

1. Protective frame (32) for a propeller (24) of an outboard motor (22) intended to be fixed to a pleasure boat (10), the protective frame (32) comprising at least one protective hoop (34) for the propeller (24), the protective hoop (34) being independent of the motor (22) and intended to be directly fixed to the boat, the protective frame (32) comprising at least one support (36) capable of holding at least one accessory (38) separate from the boat (10) on the protective frame (32), the support (36) being carried by the protective hoop (34) such that the protective hoop (34) and the support (36) extend in directions intersecting each other, the protective hoop (34) forming a first hoop (40) and the support (36) forming a second hoop (42), the first hoop (40) and the second hoop (42) each having a U shape.

2. Protective frame (32) according to the preceding claim, in which the protective hoop (34) and the support (36) delimit a receiving housing (52) of the motor (22) in which said motor (22) can be moved around an axis of rotation (R) between a position of use and a guarding position.

3. Protective frame (32) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one fixing assembly (54), the fixing assembly (54) comprising at least one removable coupling member (56) and a fixing member (58) intended to be fixed to the boat, the removable coupling member (56) being intended to secure the protective arch (34) to the boat (10) by fitting into at least one housing (60) of the at least one fixing member (58).

4. Protective frame (32) according to the preceding claim, in which the protective arch (34) comprises at least one rectilinear portion (44) extended on either side by two arms (46), the removable coupling member corresponding to a free end (50) of at least one of the arms (46), the free end (50) having an L-shaped curvature intended to fit into the housing (60).

5. Protective frame (32) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one flat surface (68) which extends parallel to the protective hoop (34) at least partly covering the receiving housing (52) of the motor (22), the flat surface (68) being supported at least by the support (36) and by an additional hoop (71) which extends from the protective hoop (34), and such that the flat surface (68) forms at least one further fixing space for the accessory (38) of the boat.

6. Protective frame (32) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least the protective arch (34) is formed by at least two sliding tubes (76) one inside the other in a translation direction and such that the two sliding tubes (76) are configured to be blocked in translation relative to each other by means of a blocking member (80).

7. Protective frame (32) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support (36) comprises at least one device (62) for fixing the accessory (38) to the protective frame (32).

8. A pleasure boat (10) comprising at least one engine (22) provided with at least one propeller (24) which extends at one end of a body (26) of the engine (22), the boat (10) comprising at least one protective frame (32) according to any one of the preceding claims, the protective arch (34) of the protective frame (32) extending beyond the propeller (24) of the engine (10) in a direction of main elongation (L) of the boat (10) when the engine (22) is in a use position and in a guarding position.

9. Pleasure boat (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising at least two rear platforms (18) which delimit at least one reception space (20) of the at least one engine (22), the protective arch (34) extending at least partly between the rear platforms (18).

Images