Patents Examined by Anthony D Wiest
  • Patent number: 11975952
    Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing line for mooring a boat to a dock includes a user interface, an auto-retracting reel assembly, and optionally, a conduit connecting the user interface to the reel assembly. The user interface comprises a canister mounted on a gunwale, or the like, for storing the distal, looped end of a mooring line, a top lid that slides horizontally between an open and closed position, a rail support engaged by the top lid, and a bottom lid having a hole defined therein. The extended mooring line may be locked into place by frictional engagement between the spring loaded top lid and the rail support. To retract the mooring line, a user may open the top lid of the user interface for automated retraction, winding around the reel, until the stopping collar prevents the distal, looped end of the mooring line from passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: William Garrett Dell
  • Patent number: 11977201
    Abstract: The invention discloses an integrated detection method of electromagnetic searching, locating and tracking for subsea cables. After being launched into water, the cable-tracking AUV carries out primary Z-shaped reciprocating sailing to search the electromagnetic signal of the target subsea cable, when the electromagnetic signal reaches a preset threshold value, the AUV executes the cable-tracking detection. In the tracking process, if the target electromagnetic signal intensity is lower than the preset threshold, it is determined that subsea cable tracking is lost. At this time, the secondary Z-shaped cable-researching route planning and tracking are performed based on the lost point. In the process that the AUV autonomously tracks and detects the subsea cable, relative locating between AUV and subsea cable is performed based on the electromagnetic signal radiated by the subsea cable, and autonomous tracking control under the guidance of the electromagnetic locating signal is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xianbo Xiang, Jialei Zhang, Shaolong Yang, Qin Zhang, Gong Xiang, Guohua Xu
  • Patent number: 11975806
    Abstract: A boat stabilizer system includes a first gyro stabilizer configured to be arranged inside a hull, a first fin stabilizer including a fin configured to be arranged outside the hull and move relative the hull, and a power transmission interconnecting the first gyro stabilizer and the first fin stabilizer. The power transmission is arranged to transfer energy derived from precession torque of the first gyro stabilizer to the first fin stabilizer to actuate the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SLEIPNER MOTOR AS
    Inventor: Ronny Skauen
  • Patent number: 11970248
    Abstract: Some fishing boats include a livewell system. This document describes livewell systems that have multiple modes of operation. The modes of operation include, at least, a first mode with a lower water level and a second mode with a higher water level. While the livewell is operating in the second mode, the tank is nearly full of water. Accordingly, with a nearly full tank, the water in the livewell will resist sloshing around while the boat is navigating rough seas or travelling at high speeds or for long distances. Moreover, the health of the fish in the livewell will be protected because of the water's lessened tendency to slosh around in the livewell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Advanced Marine Performance, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley G. Garringer, Randy W. Hopper
  • Patent number: 11970245
    Abstract: A yoke plate assembly for mooring a floating object in a body of water by a pair mooring lines, includes an assembly plate mechanically coupling to an anchor body, an elongated yoke plate with a center thereof pivotally connected to the assembly plate by an articulation, a first lever arm having a first proximal end connected by a first coupler to a first end of the elongated yoke plate, a second lever arm having a second proximal end connected by a second coupler to a second end of the elongated yoke plate longitudinally opposite the first end. The first lever arm at a first distal end thereof is connectable by a first distal joint to one of the pair of mooring lines, and the second lever arm at a second distal end thereof is connectable by a second distal joint to the other of the pair of mooring lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.
    Inventors: Guillaume Bonnaffoux, Morgan Ducarin, Benjamin Bodot
  • Patent number: 11964732
    Abstract: A marine surface vessel includes an air ventilated hull, and a deck, where the vessel includes at least one air conduit leading to at least one ventilation opening beneath a waterline of the vessel. The at least one air conduit is arranged to guide air to the at least one ventilation opening, where the deck is at least party surrounded by a gunwale, where the at least one air conduit is arranged to guide the air from at least one water drainage opening arranged to drain water from the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FRODE MARINA AB
    Inventor: Mikael Frodė
  • Patent number: 11964190
    Abstract: Embodiments of footwear to optimize propulsion while swimming in the water and walking on land, in particular, amphibious footwear capable of duty on land and in the water as well as versions that are optimized for predominantly use in the water for swimming. The exoskeleton amphibious footwear reduces metabolic demand of walking and swimming while also improving gait speed and swim speed. This is accomplished by assisting plantar flexion during land mode, and assisting dorsiflexion in water mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Costin Roser
  • Patent number: 11933101
    Abstract: A window for a grain trailer, having an oval-shaped stem with a perimeter to fit within a hole of a grain trailer having similar size and shape, the perimeter substantially uniform throughout a length of the window, an integrally-formed flange on one end of the stem, the flange having a perimeter that extends outwardly from the perimeter of the stem, a groove adjacent an end of the window and having a perimeter that extends inwardly from the perimeter of the stem. a bracket to fit within the groove and against an inside wall of the grain trailer to prevent the window from sliding out of the grain trailer, a compressible seal against a surface of the flange that faces toward the groove and seals the hole of the grain trailer such that dust and other particles cannot ingress into an interior of the grain trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Jet Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Heider, Scott Heider, Ross Heider, Kevin Heider, Benjamin F. Nedved
  • Patent number: 11926232
    Abstract: A system has a submarine vessel and a submarine docking port. The docking port is arranged for transfer of electrical energy to the submarine vessel when the submarine vessel is docked. The submarine vessel has a submarine navigation system. The docking port has a primary coil for emitting a magnetic field. The submarine vessel has a secondary coil. The submarine vessel has means for measuring a strength of the magnetic field received by the secondary coil. The submarine vessel has a positioning electronics that guides the submarine vessel in a horizontal plane to maximize the measured local magnetic field. The positioning electronics guides the submarine vessel in the vertical direction when the measured magnetic field is at a local maximum and the magnetic field increases when the submarine vessel descends towards the primary coil. Also, a method is for docking a submarine vessel on a submarine docking port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: WPC Wireless Power and Communication AS
    Inventors: Geir Olav Gyland, Lars Gunnar Hodnefjell
  • Patent number: 11919608
    Abstract: A hydrofoiling watercraft is disclosed that includes a board having a top surface for supporting a user and a bottom surface. Extending from the top surface of the board is a handlebar. Extending from the bottom surface of the board is a hydrofoil including a strut and a hydrofoil wing. A propulsion system is attached to the hydrofoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kai Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Montague, Joseph Andrew Brock, Jamieson Edward Schulte, Daniel Elliot Schabb
  • Patent number: 11920559
    Abstract: A floating platform for high-power wind turbines, comprising a concrete substructure, said concrete substructure forming the base of the platform, which remains semi-submerged in the operating position, and consisting of a square lower slab on which a series of beams and five hollow reinforced concrete cylinders are constructed, distributed at the corners and the center of said lower slab; a metal superstructure supported on the concrete substructure and forming the base for connection with the wind turbine tower, said tower being coupled at the center thereof; and metal covers covering each of the cylinders, on which the metal superstructure is supported and to which vertical pillars are secured, linked together by beams, which join at the central pillar by an element whereon the base of the wind turbine tower is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: DRAGADOS S.A., FHECOR INGENIEROS Y CONSULTORES S.A.
    Inventors: Miguel Vazquez Romero, Noelia Gonzalez Patiño, Elena Martin Diaz, Alejandro Perez Caldentey, José María Ortolano Gonzalez, Raúl Guanche Garcia, Victor Ayllon Martinez, Francisco Ballester Muñoz, Jokin Rico Arenal, Marcos Cerezo Laza, Iñigo Javier Losada Rodríguez
  • Patent number: 11913420
    Abstract: An anchoring device for adapting to tide level for a wave energy power generation device comprises: a housing, wherein a central main shaft is provided at the center thereof, two ends of the central main shaft are respectively rigidly connected to a volute spring, and the interior of the housing is divided into several independent compartments, including a central compartment accommodating the central main shaft; a shaft lock and a central main gear capable of driving the central main shaft to rotate mounted on the central main shaft; and a plurality of hoisting wheel compartments arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential array around the central main shaft. A hoisting wheel is provided in each of the hoisting wheel compartments, and an anchor chain wound on the hoisting wheel protrudes out of the housing through an opening at the bottom of the hoisting wheel compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: OCEAN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA
    Inventors: Feifei Cao, Hongda Shi, Meng Han, Xiaoqiang Jiang, Ziyue Zhong, Yilin Pan, Haozhe Bai, Zhen Liu, Ji Tao
  • Patent number: 11912386
    Abstract: An underwater ROV or AUV with 8 vectored thrusters that provides a high degree of dynamic stabilisation, 6-degrees of freedom, and a system to control an underwater ROV or AUV with single or multiple thruster failures. In addition, the ROV/AUV has a system to minimise silt disturbance when operating close to fine silt or sensitive environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BOXFISH RESEARCH LIMITED
    Inventors: Craig Thomas Anderson, Benjamin Martin King
  • Patent number: 11904987
    Abstract: A personal standing balance assist assembly is adapted for use in a recreational watercraft. The balance assist assembly includes a balance assist pole having a distal end for being grasped by an occupant in a standing position on the recreational watercraft. A scupper plug is located at a proximal end of the balance assist pole and is configured to engage the watercraft adjacent a top mouth of the scupper hole. A hull plug is configured to engage the watercraft adjacent a bottom mouth of the scupper hole. An elongated assembly connector extends vertically through the scupper hole and is adapted for urging the scupper plug and hull plug into close contact with the watercraft proximate respective top and bottom mouths of the scupper hole, thereby securing the balance assist assembly to the watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: William Michael Rigler
  • Patent number: 11904984
    Abstract: A mooring post unit is provided with a cable holding device on top of the mooring post. The cable holding device has a first pulley wheel, a second pulley wheel and a cable clamp, arranged to guide a mooring cable from a ship over the first pulley wheel to the clamp, back and forth via the second pulley wheel. A hydraulic force limiter is coupled between the second pulley wheel and the mooring post. The hydraulic force is expandable and compressible in the direction of a force exerted by the axis of the pulley wheel. The hydraulic force limiter temporarily gives way when a peak in the force exceeds a threshold. The clamp comprises a pair of drums, around which the mooring cable runs back and forth. By synchronously rotating the drums, the mooring cable may be hauled in or paid out under stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ShoreTension Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Gerrit Van Der Burg
  • Patent number: 11891979
    Abstract: The invention relates to a marine energy production assembly (1) comprising: anchoring means (2); a floating wind turbine (4) comprising a turbine (7) having a fixed axis of rotation (A-A) of a rotor (71) with respect to a floating structure (5) of the floating wind turbine (4), means (8) for determining the wind direction (V); characterised in that it comprises: means (81) for detecting an orientation of the floating wind turbine (4) with respect to the wind direction (V); means (9) for detecting an inclination of the floating wind turbine (4); means (10) for controlling the inclination of the floating wind turbine (4); a computation unit (11) for transmitting an instruction to the means (10) for controlling the inclination of the floating wind turbine (4) and altering the orientation of the floating wind turbine (4) with respect to the wind direction (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Guyot Marc
  • Patent number: 11884366
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved device for attaching a watercraft to another structure such as another watercraft or a fixed structure, such as a dock. The apparatus comprises a spacing bar and specialized, quick connecting and releasing attachment devices that allow the watercraft to be quickly and effectively moored to other structures on the water without the risk of collision or damage to the watercraft. The quick-connect devices may be positioned near ends of the spacing bars to effectively hold the watercraft at a predetermined distance from the other structure. The device may further include tensioning mechanisms that are operable to keep the spacing bars at a substantially orthogonal orientation relative to the watercraft to maintain the pre-determined spacing between the watercraft and the other structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Scott Logan
  • Patent number: 11878778
    Abstract: A floating platform comprised of a tower, buoyant outriggers, and an articulated arm can be used in one embodiment to support an offshore wind turbine. The buoyant articulated arm is positioned with a winch system that supports the tower in a nearly horizontal position during assembly at shore and during transport. The winch and articulated arm elevate the system into its operational position at sea. The tower may include a keel structure to reduce motions and stresses on the system. The floating platform may rotate about an area surrounding an anchor system without active wind alignment equipment. The natural alignment with the wind allows for optimization of the structure, resulting in lighter-weight, less material mass and ultimately lower cost. The horizontal transport alleviates clearance restrictions of many bridges. Requiring neither large cranes nor specialized ships during installation, its ability to raise itself is scalable to large sizes lowering cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Larry Alan Viterna
  • Patent number: 11872459
    Abstract: A system for learning to float including an aquatic learning station deployable in a volume of water. The learning station can include a horizontal member having an upper and a lower surface, wherein the horizontal member is supported in the volume of water with the upper surface located within four inches of a surface of the volume of water. The system can include a tether assembly coupled to the aquatic learning station. The tether assembly can include a tether portion releasably coupled to and extending away from the aquatic learning station and a belt portion connected to the tether portion and wearable by a person learning to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Melon Dash
  • Patent number: 11866130
    Abstract: A system for restriction of hawser movement in a tandem mooring and loading system is provided comprising a first floating structure being spread moored, a second floating structure, and a tandem mooring arrangement between the first and second floating structure. The tandem mooring arrangement comprises at least one hawser connected in a first end to a hawser connection arrangement on the first floating structure, and in a second end connected to a hawser connection point on the second floating structure and a loading arrangement, wherein the system further comprises a hawser guide arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: APL Norway AS
    Inventors: Christian W. Mosgren, Geir Olav Hovde