IP Library › Granted Patent US 12662227
Granted Patent B1
US 12662227 · App. 18/406,775 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Tillers for controlling an operational characteristic of marine drives

Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede (Plymouth, WI); Gary D. Needham (Stillwater, OK); Robert A. Podell (Slinger, WI)
Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
B63H21/213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662227
App. No.
18/406,775
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A tiller for controlling speed of a marine vessel, the tiller comprising a tiller arm and a grip which is rotatable relative to the tiller arm for controlling at least one operational characteristic of the marine vessel. The grip is rotatable away from a center position in a first direction and in an opposite, second direction. A return device biases the grip back towards the center position in both the first direction and the second direction.

Claims (32)

1 . A tiller for controlling speed of a marine vessel, the tiller comprising:

a tiller arm, and

a grip which is rotatable relative to the tiller arm for controlling at least one operational characteristic of the marine vessel, the grip being rotatable away from a center position in a first direction and in an opposite, second direction, and

a return device which biases the grip back towards the center position in both the first direction and the second direction.

2 . The tiller according to claim 1 , wherein the return device comprises a first spring configured to bias the grip opposite the first direction, and a second spring configured to bias the grip opposite the second direction.

3 . The tiller according to claim 2 , wherein the first spring and the second spring are separate components.

4 . The tiller according to claim 1 , wherein the return device comprises

a first spring configured to apply a first spring bias on the grip as the grip is rotated from the center position in the first direction but to not apply the first spring bias on the grip as the grip is rotated from the center position in the second direction, and

a second spring configured to apply a second spring bias on the grip as the grip is rotated from the center position in the second direction but to not apply the second spring bias on the grip as the grip is rotated from the center position in the first direction.

5 . The tiller according to claim 1 , wherein the return device comprises

a first spring configured to rotate the grip towards the center position opposite the first direction, and

a second spring configured to rotate the grip towards the center position opposite the second direction.

6 . The tiller according to claim 5 , wherein the first spring and the second spring have ends coupled to the grip and to the tiller arm, respectively.

7 . The tiller according to claim 5 , wherein rotating the grip away from the center position in the first direction winds the first spring but not the second spring, and wherein rotating the grip away from the center position in the second direction winds the second spring but not the first spring.

8 . The tiller according to claim 5 , wherein the first spring comprises a first end coupled to the grip and a second end coupled to the tiller arm, and wherein the second spring comprises a first end coupled to the grip and a second end coupled to the tiller arm.

9 . The tiller according to claim 1 , wherein the return device comprises a first spring coupled to one of the grip and the tiller arm via a slot which engages the first spring when the grip is rotated away from the center position in the first direction but which disengages from the first spring when the grip is rotated away from the center position in the second direction, and further wherein the return device comprises a second spring coupled to one of the grip and the tiller arm via a slot which engages the second spring when the grip is rotated away from the center position in the second direction but which disengages from the second spring when the grip is rotated away from the center position in the first direction.

10 . The tiller according to claim 9 , the grip is coupled to an elongated member extending in the tiller arm such that rotation of the grip causes rotation of the elongated member, and wherein the first spring and the second spring are coupled to the elongated member and to the tiller arm.

11 . The tiller according to claim 1 , wherein the return device is configured to increase a first spring bias on the grip as the grip is rotated in the first direction, and wherein the return device is configured to increase a second spring bias on the grip as the grip is rotated in the second direction, and wherein the first spring bias and the second spring bias are proportionally equal.

12 . The tiller according to claim 1 , wherein the return device comprises a dual counter-acting spring device.

13 . A tiller for controlling speed of a marine vessel, the tiller comprising:

a tiller arm,

a manually-operable member which is movable relative to the tiller arm for controlling at least one operational characteristic of the marine vessel, the manually-operable member being movable away from a center position in a first direction and in an opposite, second direction, and

a return device which biases the manually-operable member back towards the center position in both the first direction and the second direction.

14 . The tiller according to claim 13 , wherein the manually-operable member comprises a grip.

15 . The tiller according to claim 14 , wherein the return device comprises a first spring configured to bias the grip opposite the first direction, and a second spring configured to rotate the grip opposite the second direction.

16 . The tiller according to claim 13 , wherein the return device comprises

a first spring configured to rotate the manually-operable member towards the center position opposite the first direction, and

a second spring configured to rotate the manually-operable member towards the center position opposite the second direction.

17 . The tiller according to claim 16 , wherein rotating the manually-operable member away from the center position in the first direction winds the first spring but not the second spring, and wherein rotating the manually-operable member away from the center position in the second direction winds the second spring but not the first spring.

18 . The tiller according to claim 16 , wherein the first spring is coupled to one of the manually-operable member and the tiller arm via a slot which engages the first spring when the manually-operable member is rotated away from the center position in the first direction but which disengages from the first spring when the manually-operable member is rotated away from the center position in the second direction, and further wherein the second spring is coupled to one of the manually-operable member and the tiller arm via a slot which engages the second spring when the manually-operable member is rotated away from the center position in the second direction but which disengages from the second spring when the manually-operable member is rotated away from the center position in the first direction.

19 . The tiller according to claim 13 , wherein the return device is configured to increase a first spring bias on the manually-operable member as the manually-operable member is rotated in the first direction, and wherein the return device is configured to increase a second spring bias on the manually-operable member as the manually-operable member is rotated in the second direction, and wherein the first spring bias and the second spring bias are proportionally equal.

20 . The tiller according to claim 13 , wherein the return device comprises a dual counter-acting spring device.