Patents by Inventor Gary D. Needham

Gary D. Needham has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12662227
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell
  • Publication number: 20260167315
    Abstract: A transportable outboard motor has a tiller which is pivotable about a lateral tilt axis into a plurality of tilt positions and also pivotable about an axial yaw axis into a plurality of yaw positions. The tiller is pivotable about the axial yaw axis into a straight-ahead position, into a port yaw position which is oriented towards the port side relative to the straight-ahead position, and into a starboard yaw position which is oriented towards the starboard side relative to the straight-ahead position. The tiller is pivotable downwardly about the lateral tilt axis from the port yaw position, and downwardly about the lateral tilt axis from the starboard yaw position. Pivoting the tiller into the plurality of yaw positions creates space for a user to manually grasp a swivel tube and thereby lift the transportable outboard motor from a rear-laydown position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2026
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Todd D. Dannenberg, Matthew Z. Seta, Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl, Matthew S. Dawes
  • Patent number: 12570384
    Abstract: A transportable outboard motor has a tiller which is pivotable about a lateral tilt axis into a plurality of tilt positions and also pivotable about an axial yaw axis into a plurality of yaw positions. The tiller is pivotable about the axial yaw axis into a straight-ahead position, into a port yaw position which is oriented towards the port side relative to the straight-ahead position, and into a starboard yaw position which is oriented towards the starboard side relative to the straight-ahead position. The tiller is pivotable downwardly about the lateral tilt axis from the port yaw position, and downwardly about the lateral tilt axis from the starboard yaw position. Pivoting the tiller into the plurality of yaw positions creates space for a user to manually grasp a swivel tube and thereby lift the transportable outboard motor from a rear-laydown position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Todd D. Dannenberg, Matthew Z. Seta, Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl, Matthew S. Dawes
  • Patent number: 12545387
    Abstract: A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl
  • Patent number: 12545385
    Abstract: A transportable outboard motor has a midsection and a tiller extending forwardly from the midsection. The tiller is pivotable about a lateral tilt axis into a downward tilt position in which the tiller is oriented transversely to the lateral and longitudinal directions. The tiller in the downward tilt position is configured to permit manual carrying of the transportable outboard motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Todd D. Dannenberg, Matthew Z. Seta, Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl, Matthew S. Dawes
  • Patent number: 12528571
    Abstract: A tiller is for a marine drive. The tiller has a tiller arm and a grip on the tiller arm, the grip being rotatable out of a center position to control speed of the marine drive. The grip is operable in a right-hand mode in which the grip is only rotatable in a right-hand rotational range away from the center position and the grip is alternately operable in a left-hand mode in which the grip is only rotatable in a left-hand rotational range away from the center position, wherein the right-hand rotational range is diametrically opposite of the left-hand rotational range. A switching device is movable into a right-hand switch position in which the grip is operable in the right-hand mode and alternatively movable into a left-hand switch position in which the grip is operable in the left-hand mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Needham, Scott G. Ahlswede, Ronald L. Hall, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl
  • Patent number: 12403994
    Abstract: A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl, Matthew S. Dawes
  • Patent number: 12391351
    Abstract: A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Matthew S. Dawes, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl
  • Publication number: 20250256823
    Abstract: A tiller is for steering a marine vessel. The tiller has a yaw bracket configured for attachment to a marine drive, a tiller arm which is pivotable about a yaw axis relative to the yaw bracket, and a yaw lock configured to lock the tiller arm in a plurality of yaw positions relative to the yaw bracket. Unlocking the yaw lock facilitates movement of the tiller arm into a new yaw position in the plurality of yaw positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jessie Gao, Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell
  • Publication number: 20250256824
    Abstract: A tiller is for steering a marine drive relative to a marine vessel. The tiller has a tiller arm and a lever for changing an operational characteristic of the marine drive. The lever is pivotably coupled to the tiller arm along a lateral pivot axis and extends along both the port side and the starboard side of the tiller arm and thus is manually operable from both the port side and the starboard side of the tiller arm. A sensor is configured to sense pivoting of the lever and electronically communicate a sensed position of the lever to a controller for controlling an operational characteristic of the marine drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Needham, Wang Jun, Scott G. Ahlswede, Robert A. Podell
  • Publication number: 20240092468
    Abstract: A transportable outboard motor has a midsection and a tiller extending forwardly from the midsection. The tiller is pivotable about a lateral tilt axis into a downward tilt position in which the tiller is oriented transversely to the lateral and longitudinal directions. The tiller in the downward tilt position is configured to permit manual carrying of the transportable outboard motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Todd D. Dannenberg, Matthew Z. Seta, Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl, Matthew S. Dawes
  • Publication number: 20240092470
    Abstract: A transportable outboard motor has a tiller which is pivotable about a lateral tilt axis into a plurality of tilt positions and also pivotable about an axial yaw axis into a plurality of yaw positions. The tiller is pivotable about the axial yaw axis into a straight-ahead position, into a port yaw position which is oriented towards the port side relative to the straight-ahead position, and into a starboard yaw position which is oriented towards the starboard side relative to the straight-ahead position. The tiller is pivotable downwardly about the lateral tilt axis from the port yaw position, and downwardly about the lateral tilt axis from the starboard yaw position. Pivoting the tiller into the plurality of yaw positions creates space for a user to manually grasp a swivel tube and thereby lift the transportable outboard motor from a rear-laydown position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Todd D. Dannenberg, Matthew Z. Seta, Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl, Matthew S. Dawes
  • Publication number: 20230257091
    Abstract: A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl, Matthew S. Dawes
  • Publication number: 20230257092
    Abstract: A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Matthew S. Dawes, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl
  • Publication number: 20230257093
    Abstract: A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Scott G. Ahlswede, Gary D. Needham, Robert A. Podell, Andrew J. Przybyl