Multipurpose control mechanism for a marine vessel

Abstract

A multipurpose control mechanism allows the operator of a marine vessel to use the mechanism as both a standard throttle and gear selection device and, alternatively, as a multi-axes joystick command device. The control mechanism comprises a base portion and a lever that is movable relative to the base portion along with a distal member that is attached to the lever for rotation about a central axis of the lever. A primary control signal is provided by the multipurpose control mechanism when the marine vessel is operated in a first mode in which the control signal provides information relating to engine speed and gear selection. The mechanism can also operate in a second or docking mode and provide first, second, and third secondary control signals relating to desired maneuvers of the marine vessel.

1. A multipurpose control mechanism for a marine vessel, comprising:
 a base portion;  
 a lever movably attached to said base portion, movement of said lever along a first path relative to said base portion providing a primary control signal for a primary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a first mode; and  
 a distal member attached to said lever for rotation about a central axis of said lever, rotation of said distal member about said central axis providing a secondary control signal for a secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a second mode.  
 
     
     
       2. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 movement of said lever along said first path relative to said base portion provides a second secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode.  
 
     
     
       3. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 movement of said lever along a second path relative to said base portion provides a third secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode.  
 
     
     
       4. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said lever is rotatably movable relative to said base portion about a generally horizontal axis.  
 
     
     
       5. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first path is aligned in a forward-aft direction.  
 
     
     
       6. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said second path is aligned in a port-starboard direction.  
 
     
     
       7. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said primary marine propulsion function comprises operation of a marine propulsion engine at speeds greater than a preselected threshold.  
 
     
     
       8. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said secondary marine propulsion function comprises operation of said marine propulsion engine at speeds less than said preselected threshold.  
 
     
     
       9. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel is a docking function.  
 
     
     
       10. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said distal member controls the relative speeds of two outboard motors.  
 
     
     
       11. A multipurpose control mechanism for a marine vessel, comprising:
 a base portion;  
 a lever movably attached to said base portion, movement of said lever along a first path relative to said base portion providing a primary control signal for a primary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a first mode, said lever being rotatably movable relative to said base portion about a generally horizontal axis; and  
 a distal member attached to said lever for rotation about a central axis of said lever, rotation of said distal member about said central axis providing a secondary control signal for a secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a second mode.  
 
     
     
       12. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein:
 movement of said lever along said first path relative to said base portion provides a second secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode.  
 
     
     
       13. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein:
 movement of said lever along a second path relative to said base portion provides a third secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode.  
 
     
     
       14. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said first path is aligned in a forward-aft direction.  
 
     
     
       15. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said second path is aligned in a port-starboard direction.  
 
     
     
       16. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said primary marine propulsion function comprises operation of a marine propulsion engine at speeds greater than a preselected threshold.  
 
     
     
       17. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said secondary marine propulsion function comprises operation of said marine propulsion engine at speeds less than said preselected threshold.  
 
     
     
       18. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said distal member controls the relative speeds of two outboard motors.  
 
     
     
       19. A multipurpose control mechanism for a marine vessel, comprising:
 a base portion;  
 a lever movably attached to said base portion, movement of said lever along a first path relative to said base portion providing a primary control signal for a primary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a first mode; and  
 a distal member attached to said lever for rotation about a central axis of said lever, rotation of said distal member about said central axis providing a secondary control signal for a secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a second mode, said secondary control signal for a secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel being disabled when an associated engine of said marine vessel is operating at speeds above a predetermined threshold magnitude.  
 
     
     
       20. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein:
 movement of said lever along said first path relative to said base portion provides a second secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode, movement of said lever along a second path relative to said base portion providing a third secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode, said lever being rotatably movable relative to said base portion about a generally horizontal axis, said first path being aligned in a forward-aft direction, said second path is aligned in a port-starboard direction, said primary marine propulsion function comprising operation of a marine propulsion engine at speeds greater than a preselected threshold, said secondary marine propulsion function comprising operation of said marine propulsion engine at speeds less than said preselected threshold.  
 
     
     
       21. A multipurpose control mechanism for a marine vessel, comprising:
   a base portion;        a lever movably attached to said base portion, movement of said lever along a first path relative to said base portion providing a primary control signal for a primary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a first mode; and        a distal member attached to said lever for movement of at least one of said distal member and said lever along a second path relative to said base portion providing a secondary control signal for a secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a second mode.     
     
     
       22. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 21  wherein said first path is aligned in a forward- aft direction.   
     
     
       23. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 21  wherein said second path is aligned in a port- starboard direction.   
     
     
       24. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 23  wherein said second path is an arc about a horizontal axis. 
     
     
       25. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 24  wherein said horizontal axis extends in a forward- aft direction.   
     
     
       26. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 21  wherein in combination:
   said first path is aligned in a forward - aft direction and is an arc about a first horizontal axis which extends in a port - starboard direction;        said second path is aligned in a port - starboard direction and is an arc about a second horizontal axis which extends in a forward - aft direction;        said primary marine propulsion function comprises operation of a marine propulsion engine at speeds greater than a preselected threshold;        said secondary marine propulsion function comprises operation of said marine propulsion engine at speeds less than said preselected threshold, and wherein said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel is a docking function.     
     
     
       27. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 21  wherein said secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel is disabled when an associated engine of said marine vessel is operating at speeds above a predetermined threshold magnitude, and wherein movement of said lever along said first path relative to said base portion provides a second secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode, said primary marine propulsion function comprising operation of a marine propulsion engine at speeds greater than a preselected threshold, said secondary marine propulsion function comprising operation of said marine propulsion engine at speeds less than said preselected threshold. 
     
     
       28. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 27  wherein said distal member is a separate member distinct from said lever. 
     
     
       29. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 28  wherein said distal member is movable relative to said lever. 
     
     
       30. A multipurpose control mechanism for a marine vessel, comprising a base portion, a lever moveably attached to said base portion, movement of said lever along a first path relative to said base portion providing a primary control signal for a primary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a first mode, movement of said lever along a second path relative to said base portion providing a secondary control signal for a secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in a second mode. 
     
     
       31. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 30  wherein said first path is aligned a forward- aft direction.   
     
     
       32. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 30  wherein said second path is aligned in a port- starboard direction.   
     
     
       33. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 32  wherein said second path is an arc about a horizontal axis. 
     
     
       34. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 33  wherein said horizontal axis extends in a forward- aft direction.   
     
     
       35. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 30  wherein in combination:
   said first path is aligned in a forward - aft direction and is an arc about a first horizontal axis which extends in a port - starboard direction;        said second path is aligned in a port - starboard direction and is an arc about a second horizontal axis which extends in a forward - aft direction;        said primary marine propulsion function comprises operation of a marine propulsion engine at speeds greater than a preselected threshold;        said secondary marine propulsion function comprises operation of said marine propulsion engine at speeds less than said preselected threshold, and wherein said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel is a docking function.     
     
     
       36. The multipurpose control mechanism of  claim 30  wherein said secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel is disabled when an associated engine of said marine vessel is operating at speeds above a predetermined threshold magnitude, and wherein movement of said lever along said first path relative to said base portion provides a second secondary control signal for said secondary marine propulsion function of said marine vessel when said multipurpose control mechanism is in said second mode, said primary marine propulsion function comprising operation of a marine propulsion engine at speeds greater than a preselected threshold, said secondary marine propulsion function comprising operation of said marine propulsion engine at speeds less than said preselected threshold.