Apparatus and method for tilting and trimming a boat motor

Abstract

An apparatus for tilting and trimming a boat motor is disclosed. The apparatus for permits the rearward the movement of the lower unit of the boat motor to reduce the likelihood of damage to the boat motor or boat when an obstruction is hit. The apparatus provides a lower actuator bracket pivotally mounted to the transom bracket of a boat motor. An actuator is pivotally connected to the lower actuator bracket and to a mounting bracket to tilt and trim the lower unit. The lower actuator bracket is configurable between an engaged position for tilting and trimming the boat motor and a released position to allow the lower unit to pivot over obstructions. A shear pin may also be provided to maintain the engaged position of the lower actuator bracket while operating the boat motor in reverse.

1 . A boat motor, comprising: 
 an upper unit including an engine;    a lower unit secured to the upper unit and including a drive train and a propeller with the drive train connected to the engine to drive the propeller; and    a mounting bracket rotatably secured to the lower unit;    a transom bracket pivotally secured to the mounting bracket;    a lower actuator bracket is pivotally secured to the transom bracket and includes an actuator mount with the actuator mount extending a radial distance from an actuator bracket axis so that the actuator mount may rotate about the actuator bracket axis; and    an actuator having a first end and a second end with the first end pivotally secured to the mounting bracket, with the second end pivotally secured to the actuator mount, and with the actuator movable between at least a withdrawn position and an extended position.    
     
     
         2 . A boat motor, as in  claim 1 , further comprising an upper actuator bracket to pivotally secure first end of the actuator to the mounting bracket with the upper actuator bracket secured to the mounting bracket and the first end of the actuator pivotally secured to the upper actuator bracket.  
     
     
         3 . A boat motor, as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shear pin with the shear pin received within at least one shear pin receiver defined by the lower actuator bracket.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for tilting and trimming a boat motor comprising: 
 a transom bracket;    a mounting bracket pivotally mounted to the transom bracket;    an actuator having a first end and a second end with the first pivotally secured to the mounting bracket, and    a lower actuator bracket pivotally secured to the transom bracket with the second end of the actuator pivotally secured to the actuator bracket and the actuator bracket rotatable between at least an engaged position and a disengaged position.    
     
     
         5 . An apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising an upper actuator bracket to pivotally secure the first end of the actuator to the mounting bracket with the upper actuator bracket secured to the mounting bracket and the first end of the actuator pivotally secured to the upper actuator bracket.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising at least one shear pin with the shear pin received within at least one shear pin receiver defined by the lower actuator bracket.