Patents by Inventor Michael J. Fafard

Michael J. Fafard 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).

  • Publication number: 20170135485
    Abstract: Automatically adjustable seating apparatus are described. The automatically adjustable seating apparatus include first and second seat bottom portions that at least one of which is moveable. The first and/or second seat bottom portions are moveable by automatic adjusters that alter the position of a seat bottom portion between a retracted position and an extended position. When the moveable seat bottom portion or portions are in their retracted position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the seat bottom portion or portions are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
  • Publication number: 20170129573
    Abstract: Boats can include an elevation-adjustable platform. For example, some boats can include an aft swim platform that is elevation-adjustable to facilitate convenient movement of people between the boat and the water. The elevation-adjustable platforms can be integrally manufactured as an extension to the hull or deck of a new boat, or manufactured separately and subsequently affixed to a previously manufactured boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventor: Michael J. Fafard
  • Publication number: 20160369939
    Abstract: In one aspect, a boat lift includes a base, a boat support pivotally attached to a given portion of the base, and one or more stabilizers extending from the given portion of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, William S. Pegg, Anthony Tillman Lanier, David Paul Money
  • Publication number: 20160244126
    Abstract: Boats can be adapted to generate a wake that is well-suited for the sport of wake surfing. For example, boats can include an aft platform with a contoured underside that contacts water to generate such a wake for wake surfing. In some embodiments, the contoured underside of the platform includes dual opposing wake-shaping surfaces that shape the water flowing aft from the boat hull to create a wake shape that is well-suited for wake surfing. The aft platforms can be integrally manufactured as an extension to the hull or deck of a new boat, or manufactured separately and subsequently affixed to a previously manufactured boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, William S. Pegg, Michael Anthony Werle
  • Patent number: 9370245
    Abstract: Automatically adjustable seating apparatus are described. The automatically adjustable seating apparatus include first and second seat bottom portions that at least one of which is moveable. The first and/or second seat bottom portions are moveable by automatic adjusters that alter the position of a seat bottom portion between a retracted position and an extended position. When the moveable seat bottom portion or portions are in their retracted position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the seat bottom portion or portions are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
  • Publication number: 20140300153
    Abstract: Automatically adjustable seating apparatus are described. The automatically adjustable seating apparatus include first and second seat bottom portions that at least one of which is moveable. The first and/or second seat bottom portions are moveable by automatic adjusters that alter the position of a seat bottom portion between a retracted position and an extended position. When the moveable seat bottom portion or portions are in their retracted position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the seat bottom portion or portions are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Chaparral Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
  • Publication number: 20130247813
    Abstract: Boats including elevated walkways that are useful for increasing cabin height in a boat, such as a bow rider style boat, are described. Such elevated walkways are elevated relative to either a cockpit deck portion or a deck portion of a bow area and can be used to connect the bow area to the cockpit area. The cabin of a boat with an elevated walkway as described is located at least partially below the elevated walkway. The portion of the cabin below the elevated walkway has a ceiling area that is elevated relative to either the deck portion of the bow area or the cockpit area deck portion where the elevated walkway overlaps the cabin space. Elevated walkways as described herein are located on the boat such that they either overlap the central longitudinal axis of the boat or the end of the elevated walkway near the cockpit is located between port and starboard dash consoles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Chaparral Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Pegg, Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
  • Patent number: 8499377
    Abstract: Automatically adjustable bunk apparatus are described that can be used, for example, in applications in which space is limited, such as, for example, boats and recreational vehicles. The automatically adjustable bunk apparatus can be configured in an extended bunk configuration or a space saving retracted configuration. The automatically adjustable bunk apparatus have a substantially horizontal portion and an adjustable portion either of which can be configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the automatically adjustable bunk apparatus is in its retracted configuration, the adjustable portion is positioned outside the plane of the horizontal portion, and when the automatically adjustable bunk apparatus is in its extended position, the horizontal portion and the adjustable portion form a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
  • Patent number: 8443746
    Abstract: Boats including elevated walkways that are useful for increasing cabin height in a boat, such as a bow rider style boat, are described. Such elevated walkways are elevated relative to either a cockpit deck portion or a deck portion of a bow area and can be used to connect the bow area to the cockpit area. The cabin of a boat with an elevated walkway as described is located at least partially below the elevated walkway. The portion of the cabin below the elevated walkway has a ceiling area that is elevated relative to either the deck portion of the bow area or the cockpit area deck portion where the elevated walkway overlaps the cabin space. Elevated walkways as described herein are located on the boat such that they either overlap the central longitudinal axis of the boat or the end of the elevated walkway near the cockpit is located between port and starboard dash consoles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Pegg, Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
  • Publication number: 20110146562
    Abstract: Boats including elevated walkways that are useful for increasing cabin height in a boat, such as a bow rider style boat, are described. Such elevated walkways are elevated relative to either a cockpit deck portion or a deck portion of a bow area and can be used to connect the bow area to the cockpit area. The cabin of a boat with an elevated walkway as described is located at least partially below the elevated walkway. The portion of the cabin below the elevated walkway has a ceiling area that is elevated relative to either the deck portion of the bow area or the cockpit area deck portion where the elevated walkway overlaps the cabin space. Elevated walkways as described herein are located on the boat such that they either overlap the central longitudinal axis of the boat or the end of the elevated walkway near the cockpit is located between port and starboard dash consoles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: CHAPARRAL BOATS, INC.
    Inventors: William S. Pegg, Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
  • Publication number: 20110109136
    Abstract: Automatically adjustable seating apparatus are described. The automatically adjustable seating apparatus include first and second seat bottom portions that at least one of which is moveable. The first and/or second seat bottom portions are moveable by automatic adjusters that alter the position of a seat bottom portion between a retracted position and an extended position. When the moveable seat bottom portion or portions are in their retracted position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the seat bottom portion or portions are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
  • Publication number: 20110017120
    Abstract: Automatically adjustable bunk apparatus are described that can be used, for example, in applications in which space is limited, such as, for example, boats and recreational vehicles. The automatically adjustable bunk apparatus can be configured in an extended bunk configuration or a space saving retracted configuration. The automatically adjustable bunk apparatus have a substantially horizontal portion and an adjustable portion either of which can be configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the automatically adjustable bunk apparatus is in its retracted configuration, the adjustable portion is positioned outside the plane of the horizontal portion, and when the automatically adjustable bunk apparatus is in its extended position, the horizontal portion and the adjustable portion form a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: CHAPARRAL BOATS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
  • Publication number: 20090261629
    Abstract: Automatically adjustable seating apparatus are described. The automatically adjustable seating apparatus include first and second seat bottom portions that at least one of which is moveable. The first and/or second seat bottom portions are moveable by automatic adjusters that alter the position of a seat bottom portion between a retracted position and an extended position. When the moveable seat bottom portion or portions are in their retracted position, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus is configured as two seats back-to-back, and when the seat bottom portion or portions are in their extended positions, the automatically adjustable seating apparatus forms a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: CHAPARRAL BOATS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
  • Patent number: D784996
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Fafard