Patents by Inventor William D. Dunham

William D. Dunham 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: 6257940
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a propulsion unit having a power head which includes an internal combustion engine, a lower unit including a drive shaft housing fixed to the engine and a propeller shaft joined by the lower unit driven by the engine and having thereon a propeller. A cowling extends over the engine downwardly to the drive shaft housing defining an enclosed space containing the engine. An opening is provided to the enclosed space proximate the juncture between the cowling and the drive shaft housing. A plurality of electrical cables enter the enclosed space through the opening. A sealed housing is mounted to a side of the engine and contains a plurality of electrical devises for operating the engine. The cables connect to preselected devices by means of water-tight connections on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Dunham, Harold L. Osborn, Linda DeLine
  • Patent number: 5899177
    Abstract: A cylinder block for an internal combustion engine includes a mounting surface having therein a crankcase cavity and a pair of cylinders respectively extending from the cavity in acute angular relation to each other and each including a cylinder wall. The cylinder walls include outer ends having cylinder head mounting surfaces, mixture transfer ports, mixture supply ports, gas discharge ports and a main exhaust gas discharge passage. A passage communicates between the exhaust gas discharge ports and with the main exhaust gas discharge passage. Mixture supply passages extend between the mounting surface and the cylinder head mounting surfaces and include reed valves. Branch passages communicate between the transfer ports in the cylinder walls and the mixture supply passages at respective locations between the cylinder head mounting surfaces and the reed valves. Auxiliary supply passages extend from the mounting surface and communicate with the mixture supply ports in the cylinder walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Binversie, George L. Broughton, Paul W. Breckenfeld, William D. Dunham, Stephen J. Towner, James A. Nettles
  • Patent number: 5738051
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a four-stroke internal combustion engine comprising a common crankcase, a crankshaft extending in the crankcase, first and second cylinders respectively extending from the common crankcase in acute angular relation to each other and respectively including first and second cylinder walls respectively including first and second exhaust gas discharge ports, a passage connecting the first and second exhaust gas discharge ports, first and second pistons respectively located in the first and second cylinders and respectively connected to the crankshaft for reciprocating movement toward and away from the crankshaft and between top dead center and bottom dead center positions, first and second cylinder heads respectively connected to the first and second cylinders, respectively partially defining first and second combustion chambers, and respectively including first and second mixture inlet passages respectively communicating with the first and second combustion chambers, first and second exhaust
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Binversie, George L. Broughton, Paul W. Breckenfeld, William D. Dunham, Stephen J. Towner, James A. Nettles
  • Patent number: 5338236
    Abstract: An outboard motor comprising a propulsion unit including a propeller shaft and a power head drivingly connected to the propeller shaft, and a cowling surrounding the power head, the cowling comprising a first cover member including an outer surface having therein a recess, a second cover member mating with the first member, and a selectively engageable latch mechanism for securing the second member to the first member, the latch mechanism including a latch handle which is supported by the first member, which is movable in a first direction between a flush position wherein the latch handle is in the recess and is flush with the remainder of the outer surface and a non-flush position wherein the latch handle extends from the recess, and which is movable in a second direction to engage and disengage the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Dunham, Jerry A. Hladilek, Steven R. McNeill, John A. Pierman, Charles T. Rogan, Robert L. Turk
  • Patent number: 5192235
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit including a wall defining a cavity, and a rubber mount which is located in the cavity and which includes an annular outer shell having an outer surface engaging the wall and an inner surface defining an axially extending bore having a minimum diameter, an inner core extending through the bore, being adapted to be connected to a kingpin, and including an end core portion having a diameter less than the minimum diameter, and an opposite end core portion having a diameter greater than the minimum diameter, and a resilient member extending between the outer shell surface and the inner core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Dunham, John C. Heiti
  • Patent number: 5080618
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a lower unit, a propeller shaft rotatably supported by the lower unit and adapted to support a propeller, an engine supported by the lower unit and drivingly connected to the propeller, the engine including an engine block, and a throttle arm movably mounted on the engine block, a control cable operably connected to the throttle arm, a mechanism for removably securing the control cable to the engine block, and a cowl assembly surrounding the engine and including a pan-like lower cover member and a dome-shaped upper cover member, one of the cover members having therein an access opening affording access to the mechanism for securing the control cable to the engine block, and an access cover removably secured to the cover member in covering relation to the access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Dunham, Steven D. Burmeister, H. Norman Petersen, John A. Pierman, Charles T. Rogan, Louis R. Neal
  • Patent number: 5052353
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a lower unit, a propeller shaft rotatably supported by the lower unit and adapted to support a propeller, an engine supported by the lower unit and drivingly connected to the propeller shaft, and a cowl assembly surrounding the engine and including a lower cover member having an upper end, an upper cover member having a lower end, a seal located between the upper end and the lower end, and interengaging mechanisms on the seal and on one of the upper and lower cover members for securing the seal to the one of the upper and lower cover members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Dunham, Steven D. Burmeister, H. Norman Petersen, John A. Pierman, Charles T. Rogan, Jerry A. Hladilek
  • Patent number: 4979918
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device comrising a propulsion unit including a cavity defined in part by a wall, an opening communicating with the cavity, a rubber mount insertable into the cavity through the opening, and an expandible wedge insertable through the opening and into the cavity, securable to the propulsion unit, and engageable with the rubber mount for fixedly securing the rubber mount to the propulsion unit and between the insertable expandible wedge and the wall of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Paul W. Breckenfeld, George L. Broughton, William D. Dunham
  • Patent number: 4708673
    Abstract: An outboard motor comprising a propulsion unit having opposite first and second sides and including a lower unit including a rotatably mounted propeller, and a drive shaft housing including a drive shaft drivingly connected to the propeller, and a power head mounted on the drive shaft housing and including an internal combustion engine drivingly connected to the drive shaft, a cowl assembly enclosing the power head and including a first lower cowl member removably and resiliently mounted on the first side of the propulsion unit, a second lower cowl member removably and resiliently mounted on the second side of the propulsion unit, and an upper cowl member removably mounted on the first and second lower cowl members, and a bolt detachably connecting the first lower cowl member to the second lower cowl member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Dunham, John D. Flaig, H. Norman Petersen, Robert F. Young
  • Patent number: 4643149
    Abstract: An adjustable throttle linkage for use in an outboard motor having a pivotable throttle valve, and a throttle lever for controlling the position of the throttle valve. The adjustable throttle linkage comprises a connecting link having opposite ends, one end being connected to the throttle lever. The other end of the connecting link is adjustably connected to a control member in turn connected to the throttle valve. The apparatus for adjustably connecting includes a yoke connected to the control member, and the yoke includes a body having a first portion including a central bore adapted to house the threaded portion of the connecting link. The yoke includes a slot including opposed surfaces and housing a thumb wheel, the thumb wheel being threaded onto the threaded portion of the connecting link such that threaded movement of the thumb wheel on the connecting link causes movement of the yoke with respect to the connecting link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Dunham, Gerald L. Miller