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).
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Publication number: 20170135485Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
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Publication number: 20170129573Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventor: Michael J. Fafard
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Publication number: 20160369939Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, William S. Pegg, Anthony Tillman Lanier, David Paul Money
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Publication number: 20160244126Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, William S. Pegg, Michael Anthony Werle
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Patent number: 9370245Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
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Publication number: 20140300153Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Chaparral Boats, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
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Publication number: 20130247813Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Chaparral Boats, Inc.Inventors: William S. Pegg, Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
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Patent number: 8499377Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
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Patent number: 8443746Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.Inventors: William S. Pegg, Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
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Publication number: 20110146562Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: CHAPARRAL BOATS, INC.Inventors: William S. Pegg, Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
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Publication number: 20110109136Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
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Publication number: 20110017120Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: CHAPARRAL BOATS, INC.Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, Michael Anthony Werle
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Publication number: 20090261629Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2008Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: CHAPARRAL BOATS, INC.Inventors: Michael J. Fafard, James S. Phares, Raymond L. Tanguay, Steven C. Flowers
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Patent number: D784996Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Chaparral Boats, Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Fafard