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.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment device for attaching an outboard motor to a craft, in particular to the transom of said craft, to an assembly comprising a craft, a motor and such an attachment device, and to a method of attaching a motor to a craft using such an attachment device.

[0002] Existing attachment devices for attaching an outboard motor to a craft, and in particular to the transom of a craft, take the form of a clamp straddling the upper edge of the transom and / or a parallelogram-type articulated connecting structure, also known as a motor bracket. Such attachment devices generally allow the raising and the lowering of the motor for use in shallow waters. Such attachment devices are, however, time-consuming to install, and require the operator to bend over from within the inside of the craft towards the motor on the outside of the craft while supporting motor, risking injury to the back of the operator due to the weight represented by the motor.

[0003] One task of the invention is to propose an attachment device the design of which allows rapid and simplified assembly.

[0004] To this end, the object of the invention is an attachment device for attaching an outboard motor to a craft, characterized in that the attachment device comprises an arm which can be coupled to the motor, a support which can be coupled to the craft, and a connection interface which can be inserted between the arm and the support, in that the connection interface can be pivotably coupled to the arm by means of a so-called pivot connection comprising at least one pivot axis for a movement of the arm between two end pivot positions, in that the connection interface can be rotatably coupled to the support by a so-called rotational connection comprising at least one axis of rotation to allow, in the 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 at least equal to 160°, preferably at least equal to 180°, and in that the axis of rotation and the pivot axis are orthogonal to each other. The design of the attachment device with a connection interface that is which can be coupled, on the one hand, to the support and, on the other hand, to the arm allows for rapid assembly. The pivot connection of the connection interface to the arm comprises at least one so-called “horizontal” pivot axis. When the arm is moved between two end pivot positions, this pivot connection of the connection interface to the arm allows a raising and a lowering of the motor. This makes it easy to adapt to the depth of the zone being navigated. The axis of rotation of the rotational connection of the connection interface to the support forms the axis about which the arm and associated outboard motor can rotate in the moving state by the steering bar of the motor to steer the craft. The design of the connection interface can allow the positioning of the outboard motor inside the craft, to couple the arm and support to the connection interface when the outboard motor is inside the craft, before positioning the motor outside the craft by rotation of the connection interface. It should be noted that the fact that the axis of rotation and the pivot axis are orthogonal to each other allows the pivot axis to be positioned horizontally in the vertical state of the axis of rotation.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, the end pivot positions of the arm in relation to the connection interface correspond, on the one hand, to a position of the arm close to the connection interface and, on the other hand, to a position of the arm away from the connection interface, and in that the attachment device comprises at least one system for holding the arm in at least one of the pivot positions, this holding system having an active configuration and an inactive configuration. The position where the arm is close to the connection interface corresponds to a low position of the motor which is useful in deep water, whereas the position of the arm away from the connection interface corresponds to a high position of the motor which is useful in shallow water. In the active configuration, the holding system allows the arm to be held in the desired pivot position, which may be the end pivot position in which the arm is at maximum distance from the connection interface, or an intermediate position between the end pivot positions.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, the system for holding the arm in at least one of its pivot positions comprises a pivoting lever coupled at one of its pivoting ends to the arm and a series of notches mounted on the connection interface, and the end of the pivoting lever opposite the one coupled to the arm is, in the active configuration of the holding system, inserted into one of the notches. As a result, the holding system is easily activated by simply inserting one end of the lever into the notches and deactivated by the simple exit of one end of the lever out of the notches.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the pivot positions of the arm in which the holding system can be positioned in the active configuration is a pivot position of the arm other than the end pivot position corresponding to the position of the arm close to the connection interface.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the attachment device comprises at least one locking member for the arm in the pivoted position of the arm corresponding to the position of the arm close to the connection interface. This locking member is useful when reversing, allowing to prevent unintentional pivoting of the arm in the sense of a raising of the motor.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, this locking member is a lockable / unlockable member, wherein this member is unlockable under the effect of a thrust force exceeding a predetermined value exerted on the arm in the sense of a movement of the arm away from the connection interface. This possibility of unlocking under the effect of a thrust force exceeding a predetermined value makes it possible, in the event of the motor encountering an obstacle, to cause a pivoting movement of the arm in the sense of a raising of the motor.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking member is a pivoting hook pivotably coupled to the arm and able to hook with a complementary element carried by the connection interface.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connection interface is in the form of a plate with two opposite faces, the pivot axis of the pivot connection between the arm and the connection interface and the axis of rotation of the rotational connection between the support and the connection interface are respectively materialized by a shaft that is coaxial to the axis they materialize, the shaft that is coaxial to the pivot axis is carried by one of the faces of the plate, referred to as the first face, and the shaft that is coaxial to the axis of rotation protrudes from the other face of the plate, referred to as the second face. In other words, the connection interface is in the form of a plate with one first and one second faces, and the arm and support are arranged on opposite sides of the plate.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the notches are carried by the first face of the plate.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pivot connection between the arm and the connection interface comprises a first part carried by the arm, a second part carried by the connection interface, wherein said first and second parts are configured to be able to be coupled one to the other by automatic tool-free coupling by simple convergence or relative movement of said parts relative one to the other. A simple coupling between the arm and the connection interface results.

[0014] A further object of the invention is an assembly comprising a craft, an outboard motor and an attachment device for attaching the outboard motor to the craft, characterized in that the attachment device is of the aforementioned type and, in the attached state of the outboard motor to the craft, the pivot axis of the pivot connection of the arm to the connection interface of the attachment device extends substantially horizontally to ensure, in the moving state in which the arm is displaced between the two end pivot positions, a raising or a lowering of the outboard motor, and the axis of rotation of the rotational connection of the connection interface to the support extends substantially vertically. Substantially horizontal or substantially vertical means horizontal or respectively vertical to within plus or minus 25°.

[0015] Preferably, the outboard motor comprises a body, a propeller, a motor system for rotating the propeller and a steering bar equipped with a rotary acceleration lever, wherein the body is a hollow body delimiting a cavity for receiving the motor system for rotating the propeller and a longitudinal axis guideway, wherein at least part of the steering bar is slidably mounted in the guideway for the movement of the steering bar to move from an at least partially retracted configuration inside said body to a deployed configuration in which the bar is at least partially outside said body, wherein this steering bar, in the deployed configuration, is mounted movable to pivot about a so-called horizontal axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the guideway in the state positioned vertical to said longitudinal axis for the passage of the steering bar from a position in which it extends in the extension of the guideway to a position in which it forms an angle generally between 6° and 120° with said longitudinal axis.

[0016] A further object of the invention is a method of attaching a motor to a craft by means of an attachment device, characterized in that the attachment device is of the aforementioned type, wherein the method comprises a step of positioning the outboard motor in the craft, a step of attaching the connection interface of the attachment device to the support, a step of attaching the connection interface of the attachment device to the arm, and a step of 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.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will be well understood upon reading the following description of embodiment examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of a craft in a state with a raised motor in a position inside the craft and an associated detail view;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a craft in a state with a raised motor in a position inside the craft;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of a craft in a state with a raised motor in a position outside the craft, with an associated cross-sectional detail view;

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a partial perspective view of a craft in a state with a lowered engine in a position outside the craft, with an associated cross-sectional detail view;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an attachment device in the lowered state of the motor, corresponding to the position close to the arm of the connection interface, and in which the locking member is in the unlocked state;

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an attachment device in the lowered state of the motor, corresponding to the position close to the arm of the connection interface, and in which the locking member is in the locked state;

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a partial perspective view of a craft in a state with the motor raised and the holding system activated in a position outside the craft, with an associated cross-sectional detail view;

[0025] FIG. 8 shows a partial perspective view of a craft in a state with the motor lowered in navigation configuration of the craft, where the steering bar of the motor permits the steering of the craft by rotational movement of the motor, the arm and the connection interface about the axis of rotation of the rotational connection of the connection interface to the support;

[0026] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the attachment device during the coupling of the arm to the connection interface;

[0027] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment device during the coupling of the arm to the connection interface;

[0028] FIG. 11 shows a partial perspective view of the attachment device in the coupled state of the arm to the connection interface;

[0029] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the connection interface and of the support of the attachment device during the coupling of the connection interface to the support;

[0030] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the connection interface and the support of the attachment device in the coupled state of the connection interface and the support;

[0031] FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment device and motor in the retracted position of the steering bar of the motor;

[0032] FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment device and motor in the extended position of the steering bar of the motor.

[0033] As mentioned above, the object of the invention is to provide an attachment device 1, as illustrated for example in FIG. 1, for attaching an outboard motor 22, which is to say, a motor which is detachable from a craft, to a craft 20, as well as an assembly comprising the craft 20, the outboard motor 22 and the attachment device 1, as well as a method of attaching the outboard motor 22 to the craft 20 using such an attachment device 1.

[0034] The craft 20 can be any craft 20 suitable for operation with an outboard motor 22. In the example shown, craft 20 is a semi-rigid craft. This craft 20 can be entirely rigid or flexible, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0035] This craft 20 generally has a transom, shown as element 21 in the figures, where the attachment device 1 for coupling the outboard motor 22 to the craft 20 is positioned.

[0036] As mentioned above, an outboard motor is understood to be a motor that is detachable from the craft.

[0037] The outboard motor 22 can be a commercial outboard motor. As is well known, this outboard motor is equipped with a steering bar 24 terminated at its end by a rotating acceleration lever 25.

[0038] This outboard motor comprises a body 23, a propeller positioned at one end of the body and a drive system for rotating the propeller, these elements forming a single unit.

[0039] The steering bar 24 is used to rotate the outboard motor 22 about an axis of rotation, which will be described below, arranged at the attachment device 1 to allow the steering of the craft.

[0040] In the examples shown, this steering bar 24 is a bar that is retractable into the body of the motor. This steering bar 24 is therefore slidably mounted along a longitudinal axis guideway formed inside the body, to allow the steering bar 24 to move from a configuration at least partially retracted inside the body 23 to a deployed configuration in which the steering bar 24 is arranged at least partially outside the body, wherein this steering bar 24 in the deployed position is pivotably mounted about a so-called horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guideway in the state positioned vertically to the longitudinal axis for the passage of the steering bar 24 from a so-called raised position in which it extends in the extension of the guideway to a so-called lowered position in which it forms an angle, generally between 6° and 120° with said longitudinal axis, and allows control of a rotational movement of the outboard motor 22 about an axis of rotation located at the attachment device by a simple pulling or pushing of the steering bar 24. These two positions are illustrated in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. It should be noted that an outboard motor 22 with a liftable steering bar or a telescopic steering bar or a traditional steering bar can be used without departing from the scope of the invention, even if solutions in which the steering bar is a telescopic and / or liftable and / or retractable bar are preferred.

[0041] The attachment device 1, that is the subject matter of the invention, allows the attachment of an outboard motor 22 to the craft 20, in particular to the transom 21 of the craft 20.

[0042] This attachment device 1 comprises an arm 2, a support 3, and a connection interface 4 which can be inserted between the arm 2 and the support 3.

[0043] The support 3 is intended to be coupled to the craft 20. This coupling can be accomplished by screwing or other means. An example of a support 3 is shown in FIG. 12.

[0044] This support 3 is in the form of a block of generally parallelepiped shape, with one face of the block provided with a hole for the connection of the support 3 to the connection interface 4, as shown, for example, in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The block constituting the support 3 has a face that can be applied against the transom of the craft, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0045] Retention in application can be achieved by screwing or otherwise.

[0046] When the transom is inclined in relation to a vertical plane, as shown in the figures, the application face of the support on the transom replicates this inclination to, ideally, allow a hole in the block serving to connect the support 3 with the connection interface 4 to have a longitudinal axis extending vertically in the state in which the support is attached to the craft.

[0047] The connection interface 4 can be rotatably coupled to the support 3 by means of a rotational connection 7 comprising at least one axis of rotation shown as YY′ in the figures. This axis of rotation YY′ is materialized by a shaft shown as 8 in FIG. 12. One end of this shaft 8 is inserted into the hole in the support 3, whereas the other end of shaft 8 is rotatably coupled to the connection interface 4.

[0048] This connection interface 4 is presented here in the form of a circular plate with two opposite faces, wherein one face, the so-called first face 41, forms the top face of the plate, facing the sky in the coupled state of the connection interface to the support 3 and in the coupled state of the support to the craft, which is to say, in the vertical state of shaft 8, and wherein the other face, the so-called second face 42, forms the bottom face of the plate, facing the ground in the coupled state of the connection interface to the support 3 and in the coupled state of the support 3 to the craft, which is to say, in the vertical state of shaft 8.

[0049] The shaft 8 protrudes from the second face 42 of the plate, in a manner perpendicular to this second face starting from the center of this second face.

[0050] Thanks to this rotational connection 7 between the support 3 and the connection interface 4, the connection interface 4, in particular the plate of the connection interface 4, can rotate about the axis YY′ in the stationary state of the support 3 and in particular in the state in which the support 3 is attached to the craft 20.

[0051] The arm 2 of the attachment device 1 is itself intended to be attached to the outboard motor 22.

[0052] This arm 2 is preferably couplable to an outer surface 23 of the body of the outboard motor 22, in a longitudinally shiftable manner along the body of the outboard motor. This makes it possible to vary the distance between the propeller and the bottom of the craft.

[0053] In the examples shown, in particular in FIG. 4, this arm 2 comes to be fixed by one of its ends in a slideway located on the outside of the body of the outboard motor and extending along the longitudinal axis of the body 2.

[0054] The arm 2 can thus slide in the slideway until it is immobilized in the desired position in relation to the propeller. It is noted that this arm is positioned on the body of the outboard motor, on a surface of the body of the outboard motor opposite to the one carrying the propeller.

[0055] This arm 2 extends below the steering bar 24 and along a line substantially parallel to said bar when the steering bar 24 is in the lowered position.

[0056] This arm 2 is, at its opposite end, coupled to the connection interface 4 by a pivot connection 5 comprising at least the pivot axis shown as XX′ in the figures for a movement of the arm 2 between two end pivot positions able to allow a raising and a lowering of the outboard motor 22.

[0057] This pivot axis XX′ extends parallel to one of the faces of the plate forming the connection interface 4. In particular, the pivot axis XX′ of the pivot connection 5 between the arm 2 and the connection interface 4 is materialized by a shaft 6 that is coaxial to said pivot axis XX′ as illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

[0058] This shaft 6, which is coaxial to the pivot axis XX′, is carried by the first face 41 of the plate. The axis of rotation YY′ and the pivot axis XX′ are orthogonal to each other. Thanks to the design of the connection interface 4 and its pivot connection 5 to the arm 2 and rotational connection 7 to the support 3 in the coupled state of the connection interface 4 to the arm 2 and the support 3, the arm 2 and the connection interface 4 are able to move about the axis of rotation XX′ over an angular range at least equal to 160°, preferably at least equal to 180°. Assuming that the arm 2 and the support 3 are respectively pre-attached to the outboard motor 22 and to the craft 20, it is possible to implement a method for attaching the motor 22 to a craft 20 by implementing the following steps, namely a step for positioning the motor 22 in the craft, a step for attaching the connection interface 4 to the support 3, a step for attaching the connection interface 4 of the attachment device 1 to the arm 2 and a step for pivoting the arm 2 to raise the motor away from the bottom of the craft and obtain a configuration as shown in FIG. 1, a step of rotating the connection interface and the associated arm to move the motor 22 from a position in which it is located inside the craft 20 to a position in which it is located outside the craft 20, as shown in FIG. 3, before once again pivoting the arm in the sense of a lowering in order to position the motor in a navigation configuration as shown in FIG. 4.

[0059] It should be noted that the step of attaching the connection interface to the support 3 can be carried out before or after the said step of positioning the motor in the craft. Generally speaking, once the connection interface 4 has been attached to the support for the first time, this attachment remains permanent.

[0060] The various operations described above allow the prevention of fatigue to the operator during coupling of the motor to the craft, it being possible to carry out this coupling from within the craft. Indeed, the operator can be brought from within the craft to mount or dismount the motor from the craft 20. It is understood that the procedure for the dismounting is similar, which is to say, the motor is raised by pivoting the arm upwards. During this maneuver, the operator can grasp a handle fitted to the motor to assist in pivoting the motor and arm. The connection interface is then rotated to bring the motor inside the craft, before pivoting the arm in the sense of a lowering of the arm to place the motor on the bottom of the craft and thereinafter uncouple the arm from the connection interface.

[0061] To facilitate such an assembly, the pivot connection 5 between the arm 2 and the connection interface 4 comprises a first part 14 carried by the arm 2, and a second part 15 carried by the connection interface 4. The first and second parts 14 and 15 are configured to be couplable one to the other by automatic tool-free coupling, by simple convergence or relative movement of said parts 14 and 15 relative one to the other. An example of such an automatic coupling is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

[0062] In this embodiment, the second part 15 of the pivot connection carried by the connection interface 4 comprises the shaft 6 that is coaxial to the pivot axis XX′ of the pivot connection 5, wherein this shaft 6 extends parallel to the first face 41 of the plate forming the connection interface 4.

[0063] The arm 2 is, for its part, equipped at its end which can be coupled to the shaft 6 with a U-shaped jaw 140 able to be closed by a pivoting U-shaped locking member 141, wherein this locking member 141 is returned by a spring (not shown) when jaw 140 is in the open position.

[0064] This locking member 141 can be immobilized during pivoting by a pawl 142 returned to a position in which it rests against the locking member 141, and can be maneuvered in the sense of a movement away from the locking member 141 by means of an actuating member 143, here in the form of a pivoting lever.

[0065] The operation is as follows: the jaw 140 is moved towards shaft 6 to allow the accommodation of the shaft 6 in the jaw 140. During this movement, the locking member 141 is, by means of a bearing contact with the shaft 6, driven in a pivoting movement from an open position of the jaw 140 to a closed position of the jaw 140. The pawl 142 allows the pivoting of this locking member 141 to a locking position during pivoting. Assembly is now complete. To open the jaw and allow an uncoupling of the arm and the connection interface, it is necessary to act on the pawl 142 actuating member 143, which allows the pawl 142 to be moved away from the locking member 141 and, under the action of the spring fitted to the locking member 141, allows a pivoting movement of the locking member 141 in the sense of an opening of the jaw 140.

[0066] Of course, other systems for automatic coupling of the connection interface and the arm can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0067] Similarly, flanges mounted on the connection interface 4 or the arm can be used to allow a coupling and uncoupling of the arm 2 and of the connection interface 4.

[0068] In the coupled state of the arm 2 to the connection interface 4, the arm 2 is therefore able to pivot between two end pivot positions to allow, in the coupled state of the motor to the arm 2, the movement of the motor 22 from a low position, as shown in FIG. 4, to a high position, as shown in FIG. 7, or vice versa, wherein the position is chosen as a function of the depth of the water.

[0069] It is noted that the end pivot positions of the arm 2 relative to the connection interface 4 correspond, on the one hand, to a position of the arm 2 close to the connection interface 4, and on the other hand, to a position of the arm 2 away from the connection interface 4.

[0070] The arm 2 is, moreover, able to take on an intermediate position between the end pivot positions.

[0071] To prevent the operator from needing to retain the motor 22 in the desired position, the attachment device 1 comprises at least one system 9 for holding the arm 2 in at least one of the pivot positions.

[0072] This holding system 9 has an active and an inactive configuration. The active configuration of this holding system 9 can be seen in FIG. 3 and the inactive configuration in FIG. 5.

[0073] The system 9 for holding the arm 2 in at least one of the pivot positions of the arm comprises a pivoting lever 10 pivotably coupled to the arm 2, by one of its ends identified as 100 in the figures, and a series of notches 11 mounted on the connection interface 4. In the active configuration of the holding system 9, the end 101 of the pivoting lever 10 opposite that coupled to the arm 2 is inserted into one of the notches 11.

[0074] In the active configuration, this pivoting lever 10 acts as a strut between the arm 2 and the connection interface 4 as shown in FIG. 7, wherein this strut prevents the arm 2 from pivoting in the sense of a convergence of the connection interface 4.

[0075] This holding system 9 is characterized by its simplicity of construction and its ease of switching from the active to the inactive configuration and vice versa.

[0076] In practice, all the operator needs to do is grasp the outboard motor 22 by its handle to pivot the arm 2 and the outboard motor 22 until reaching the desired raised position, and to position the pivoting lever 10 in the corresponding notch 11.

[0077] To lower the motor, one must only lift the motor slightly to allow the lever 10 to exit from the notch 11, to return the lever 10 to a position in which it extends substantially parallel to the arm 2 in order to not interfere with the pivoting of the arm 2, wherein this position of the lever can be held by a hard point, and then pivoting the arm 2 and the outboard motor 22 in the sense of a lowering to the desired position.

[0078] It is noted that the or at least one of the pivot positions in which the holding system 9 can be positioned in the active configuration is a position other than the end pivot position corresponding to the position of the arm 2 close to the connection interface 4.

[0079] The attachment device 1 comprises at least one locking member 12 for the arm 2 in the pivoted position of the arm 2 corresponding to the position of the arm 2 close to the connection interface 4.

[0080] This locking member 12 is a lockable / unlockable member. This member 12 can be unlocked by exerting a thrust force greater than a predetermined value on the arm 2 in the sense of a movement of the arm 2 away from the connection interface 4.

[0081] In the example shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the locking member 12 is a pivoting hook pivotably coupled to the arm 2 and able to hook with a complementary element 13 carried by the connection interface 4. This complementary element 13 here takes the form of a slot in the plate pre-equipped with a rod, and the locking member 12 is able to hook onto said rod in the locked position.

[0082] This complementary element 13 is arranged on the connection interface 4 diametrically opposite the position on the plate at which the pivot connection 5 between the arm 2 and the connection interface 4 is arranged.

[0083] This locking member 12 is useful when the motor is running in reverse. Indeed, in forward operation, there is no need to prevent the raising of the arm 2 and associated motor 22, as the weight of the motor and the forward thrust keep them lowered. The fact of leaving the motor free to rise reduces the risk of damage in the event of contact with the bottom. In reverse, on the other hand, the motor and arm tend to rise if the reverse locking member 12 is not locked.

[0084] This locking member 12 is bistable, which is to say, it has at least two stable positions, one active in which it is hooked with the complementary element 13, the other inactive in which it is not hooked with the complementary element 13 in a position close to the connection interface arm as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0085] In the locked position, the locking member 12 cooperates with the complementary element 13 in a form-fitting manner to allow automatic unlocking under the effect of a predetermined force, again to prevent damage to the motor in the event of the motor encountering an obstacle.

[0086] In practice, the combination of motor 22, craft 20 and attachment device 1 can thus be used as follows, wherein it is assumed that the motor 22 is not installed on the craft 20. One therefore proceeds as described above to couple the motor 22 pre-equipped with the arm 2 and the craft pre-equipped with the support 3 to the connection interface 4. The operator then chooses whether or not to activate the holding system 9 depending on the water depth and the locking member 12 depending on the direction of travel. To control the direction of the craft 20, the operator typically pulls or pushes on the steering bar 24 to generate a movement of the arm, of the associated motor and of the connection interface about the axis of rotation YY′ of the rotational connection 7 of the connection interface 4 to the support 3, as a function of the desired direction of the said craft.

Claims

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; anda 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, andthe 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; andan 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; anda 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; andpivoting 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.

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