Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a mounting bracket assembly adapted to be mounted on a boat transom for pivotal movement relative to the boat transom about a generally horizontal tilt axis, a propulsion unit including an internal combustion engine and rotatably connected to the mounting bracket assembly for rotation relative to the mounting bracket assembly about a generally vertical steering axis, and for common pivotal movement with the mounting bracket assembly about the tilt axis, a shroud substantially enclosing the engine, and a duct including a first rigid portion adapted for connection to and through the transom of the boat, and a second rigid portion communicating with and being rotatably connected to the first rigid portion for rotation about the tilt axis, and communicating with and being rotatably connected to the shroud for rotation about the steering axis.

Abstract: A floatable collar having a floatable chin bar to secure the collar on the neck of the swimmer and having an inflatable and expandable section to provide greater buoyancy and stability to the swimmer.

Abstract: A full or partial tunnel wedge is positioned in the propeller shaft tunnel ft of the propeller on a waterborne craft. The size and angle of the wedge is determined by the characteristics of the particular craft. The wedge converges water flow and increases water pressure aft of the propeller. The higher water pressure increases the propeller thrust and reduces the hull drag of the propeller shaft tunnel thus reducing the shaft horsepower required to maintain a given speed.

Abstract: An outboard motor embodying an improved steering mechanism that is operative to retain the motor in a preset steered position and which may be easily and automatically disengaged by the operator to permit steering under emergency conditions. In addition, the means for retaining the motor in its steered condition is operable from a remote position at the end of the tiller in proximity to the operator so that he need not remove a hand from the tiller to either engage or release the mechanisms. Furthermore, other controls for the engine are disposed at the end of the tiller in proximity to the steering control.

Abstract: A mobile crane comprises a multi-section telescopic main boom and a boom extension pivotally connected to the point end of the main boom. The boom extension can be manually swung horizontally between an in-use position extending axially from the point end of the main boom and a stored position parallel to and alongside the main boom. Front and rear boom extension storage mechanisms releasably secure the boom extension in stored position. The front mechanism comprises two vertically spaced-apart storage pins which are slidable in tubular pin guides mounted on one lateral side of the main boom. The storage pins are slidably movable fore and aft by a swingable lever to which they are pivotally connected. The storage pins move into and out of engagement with a pair of vertically spaced-apart aligned pin-engaging holes in a member attached to a confronting side of the boom extension when the latter is in stored position.

Abstract: A portable, readily disassembleable, roof hoist mounted on the roof of a building for lifting heavy products, such as heavy rolls of roofing to the roof wherein a first, base, A-frame is disposed transversely to the edge of the roof with the ends of its legs adjacent an edge of the roof, and lies with its apex rearward on the roof, free of any securement to the roof. A second, generally vertically disposed A-frame has its leg ends releasably pivotally connected to the leg ends of the first A-frame for fore and aft vertical swinging movement of its apex from a position above a location spaced substantially inboard of the edge of the roof to a position substantially outboard of the edge of the roof. An elongate forwardly extending hydraulic cylinder has a cylinder rod pivotally releasably connected to the apex of the second A-frame, and its opposite end is pivotally releasably connected at the apex of the first A-frame.

Abstract: An oar or paddle comprising a shaft having two parallel grooves of circular cross-section extending throughout its length, each groove pivotally supporting a blade. The grooves have a peripheral extent which permits the blades to pivot between a position in which they are parallel and a further position in which they project in opposite directions in a common plane. The blades are located axially of the grooves by retainers which are mounted in the grooves at opposite ends of the portion of the blades disposed within the groove.

Abstract: A demountable catamaran assembly includes a pair of cockpit-equipped, kayak-type canoe hulls laterally joined in spaced-apart relationship by the frame of a trampoline. Longitudinally spaced pairs of tabernacles on the two hulls removably receive four depending spigot components on the trampoline frame to maintain the assembly of the pair of hulls while a further tabernacle on the trampoline frame removably receives a sail mast.

Abstract: Stabilizers especially intended for mobile heavy equipment such as concrete delivery vehicles, mobile cranes and like vehicles are pivotally associated with the respective equipment and are downwardly pendent. For driving the vehicle, telescoping stabilizer legs can be moved clear of the ground by respective piston-cylinder units. In their operating condition, when the vehicle is parked, they stabilize the equipment and vehicle on the ground. The respective legs are connected at the frame in such a way that they can be swung into a substantially horizontal position when the vehicle is driven to another location.

Abstract: A deep vee entry hull is disclosed and includes a central running surface flanked in the after portion thereof, by inboard, intermediate and outboard running surfaces. The central and inboard surfaces terminate at the aft ends thereof in a first transverse step while the intermediate running surfaces terminate in a second transverse step aft of the first.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a life-jacket assembly primarily intended for aircraft passengers, including a buoyant body (7) furnishing at least the principal part of the buoyancy, and straps or the like adapted to retain the life-jacket assembly in position on persons in emergency situations, said buoyant body (7) being utilized as upholstery in a chair or the like.The novel feature is that the life-jacket includes an elongated, generally flat buoyancy body (7) substantially made of buoyancy material, that the life-jacket is entirely contained in an upwardly open compartment in the back-rest of a chair where the buoyant body (7) forms at least part of the upholstery, that an end surface of the life-jacket is provided with a pull handle (6) which is accessible at the top end of the back-rest, and that the generally flat body (7) has, at some distance from that end which is provided with the pull handle, an opening (8) through which the user has to pass his head.

Abstract: A swim-safe play suit is provided and consists of a plurality of substantially equi-spaced flexible waterproof buoyant elements arranged within upper portion of the play suit in parallel relation so that if wearer of the play suit enters water the wearer will not drown.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaing underwater surfaces including at least one rotatable brush and pump for producing a stream of water from the front to the rear thereof. The brush and pump are axially reciprocable in a housing. The brush has bundles of bristles, each bundle having a head portion fitted into notches at the periphery of a main ring and held therein by a pinch ring, the main and pinch rings together constituting a brush base which is detachably secured to a rotatable base associated with the pump, by means of a pair of fixed members which are engagable upon relative rotation of the rotatable base and brush base.

Abstract: The present invention entails a combination surfboard-kneeboard. The multi-purpose aquatic board of the present invention is provided with detachable fins, ankle strap, and knee strap in order that the same can be utilized for either surfing or kneeboarding. Further, the board is elongated and includes a lower base portion and a raised upper deck having a cavity formed therein. A resilient pad, such as a neoprene pad, is secured within said cavity to form a resilient upper deck about a substantial portion of the board.

Abstract: A mechanical device is provided to link a payload and a parachute together prior to and during parachute dropping of the payload and provide for automatic separation of the payload from the parachute after the payload and parachute have landed. The payload is secured to either a shaft or housing of the device, and the parachute is secured to the other. The forces acting on the device during parachute dropping of the payload arm a mechanical system for releasably dis-associating the shaft and the housing, and when the payload has landed, the different forces prevalent on the system cause mechanical releasing of the shaft and housing. The device according to the present invention provides a novel method of parachute/payload separation and avoids the use of, and problems inherent with the use of, detonators which have been previously used for such purposes.

Abstract: Sailboat luff system including a longitudinal one-piece extruded luff member, a feeder secured about the luff member, a spacer, and a prefeeder all positioned from top to bottom along a forestay or a headstay of a sailboat. The longitudinal extruded luff member includes two channels or grooves encompassing a third channel or groove, the two channels wrapping around to form the third channel where the third channel is supported by the forestay or the headstay of the sailboat. The extruded luff member is of a material to maintain memory of the channels with respect to each other and snaps around the forestay or headstay with a flick of the fingers. The feeder includes slots leading to the tapered holes or grooves, beveled edges and a headstay groove for securing the feeder about the luff member and feeds the sail tape through slots and grooves, respectively, towards the extruded luff member.

Abstract: A pair of water sliders each comprising of a foot strap fastened on top of the float assembly and a tail having its forward part inserted and bonded to the rear of the float assembly. The water sliders are made of light materials for greater buoyancy but strong and durable to enable the wearer to float, slide or walk on the surface of the water.

Abstract: In the quick-release lock for a parachute, a measuring device (1, 2) is used for continuously measuring the distance of the parachutist from the surface on which he intends to land. In this arrangement, the measured distance values are repeatedly compared with predetermined values in a comparing device (3, 4, 7) during the descent. Only if the measured values agree with the predetermined values during the last section of the descent during, which the comparisons are carried out, is the parachute automatically released from the load, for example a person, when the distance 0 is reached.

Abstract: A steering structure for a ship propelling device includes: a support member for supporting the body of the ship propelling device on a hull; a universal joint for connecting between a drive shaft connected to a drive source and an input shaft of the ship propelling device; a vertically driving means adapted to cause the body to vertically pivot about a pivot shaft; and a turning driving means adapted to cause the body to pivot about an axis orthogonal to the axis of the pivot shaft. The vertically driving means and the body are connected together through a link mechanism. Such arrangement makes it possible to turn the whole of the ship propelling device independently of any vertical movement thereof, contributing to reduction of the production cost and a stable steering operation of the propelling device.

Abstract: An anchor retriever for deploying an anchor from a boat into the water and for retrieving the anchor from the water includes a base portion having a metal plate for attachment directly to the boat and a synthetic material guide providing a sliding channel arrangement for a movable carriage. Pivotally attached to the movable carriage is an anchor retention assembly which provides the actual anchor holder portion which pivots from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical orientation as the anchor goes from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation into the water. When the anchor is retrieved it applies force on certain portions of the retriever assembly, these portions are then allowed to come out of locking engagement whereby the anchor retention assembly pivots from its vertical orientation to its horizontal orientation as it goes from a deployed condition to a stowed condition.