Inflatable Patents (Class 114/345)
  • Patent number: 11884369
    Abstract: A convertible inflatable stand-up paddle board includes a main body member defining a first aperture and optionally a second aperture, and one or more panels fixed to the main body member and covering a bottom end of the apertures. A foldable seat assembly is disposed in the first aperture, and a second seat assembly is disposed in the second aperture. The seat assemblies have a seat portion and a backrest portion. The backrest portion is movable between (i) a folded position wherein a surface of the backrest portion and an upper surface of the main body member define a standing surface for the stand-up paddle board, and (ii) an upright position wherein the backrest portion extends away from the seat portion. The stand-up paddle board is thereby convertible between a stand-up configuration and a sit-down configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Connelly Skis, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas A. Cannon, Jon Donald Cottons
  • Patent number: 11745836
    Abstract: The present disclosure features inflatable kayaks that have a non-planar hull bottom surface. The kayaks may include an inflatable, tubular body having a bow, a stern and a midsection, wherein opposed side tubes of the midsection define an open central seating area having a predetermined width when the tubular body is inflated; and a hull bottom fabric joined to a lower surface of the body outside of a periphery of the seating area, the hull bottom fabric having a width that is greater than the width of the central seating area such that the hull bottom fabric is not tensioned between the side tubes, and the hull bottom fabric being joined to the side tubes outboard of a vertical center line of the side tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ALPACKA RAFT LLC
    Inventor: Sheri Lynn Tingey
  • Patent number: 11673631
    Abstract: A device and method for temporarily attach a tool, such as a paddle or a fluid container, to a floatation watercraft, wherein the device is partially covered by a user's gear, such as a kayak skirt. The user's gear preferably includes an elastic edge element that slips under a lip of a cockpit or hatch of the watercraft wherein the invented is positioned between the lip and the elastic edge element while coupled with one or more tools. The device extends beyond both the watercraft lip and the user's gear whereby the tool may be supported distally from the watercraft lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Tohill
  • Patent number: 11584486
    Abstract: An inflatable watercraft of the kayak type including a hull including: a longitudinal bottom comprising a central longitudinal edge and two lateral longitudinal sides, so as to have a V-shaped cross section, the bottom comprising at least one inflatable shell, and a stiffening upper structure comprising two lateral longitudinal inflatable shells and at least one transverse element mounted between the two lateral inflatable shells, each lateral inflatable shell being mounted on one of the lateral longitudinal sides of the longitudinal bottom, in which each of the two lateral inflatable shells comprises two superimposed walls, each of said walls including a textile mat and being connected together by a multitude of connecting threads distributed over the entire surface of said mats while forming a structure suited to be inflated to a pressure capable of stiffening said structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Nicolas Senie, Emmanuelle Pion, Diego Casas
  • Patent number: 11498008
    Abstract: A water ride includes ride vehicles and spectator areas for allowing interaction between ride vehicles and/or between a ride vehicle and spectators to the ride. The water ride may include engagement components (e.g., water guns) located on the ride vehicle and/or at spectator areas. Users of the engagement components may therefore interact with other users operating other engagement components. Activators and corresponding reactors may be triggered by users and/or automatically providing additional entertainment and interaction for the water ride. Various charging capabilities may be used for powering one or more components, activators, and/or reactors of the ride, ride vehicle, and/or spectator areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Whitewater West Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kelly Sall, Rick Briggs, Mark Weston
  • Patent number: 11401008
    Abstract: The present invention provides inflatable watercraft that are light weight, easily stowed in relatively small spaces and formed from inflatable drop stitch panels. A preferred watercraft is a boat having a bow, stern, keel and an open transom for self-bailing. A deck can be provided as a separate panel that is either permanently, or detachably, connected to freeboard sides of the watercraft. When connected, the deck provides a sitting area, and enhances the strength and rigidity of the watercraft by functioning like a deck beam. Optional features include a bucket held in place by, and fitted through, a hole in the deck panel. Preferred inflation pressures are between 2 and 25 p.s.i., and more preferably between 12 and 18 p.s.i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: BOTE, LLC
    Inventor: Corey Cooper
  • Patent number: 11247759
    Abstract: A sponson attachment for an airboat allows the airboat to increase its safety and stability very quickly. A method for attaching a sponson to an airboat hull includes attaching first and second flexible tethers to a side of the sponson. The method also includes removably securing the first flexible tether to an exterior of the airboat hull adjacent a gunnel, and removably securing the second flexible tether below the first flexible tether on the exterior of the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Billy Miller
  • Patent number: 11235839
    Abstract: Disclosed is a boat including a bottom bordered radially externally by a wall which includes an inflatable and foldable front wall, an inflatable and foldable side wall, and a rear wall. The boat includes at least one inflatable and foldable longitudinal support parallel to the side wall, the support including an inflatable tube and a foldable upper connection which connects the tube to the upper part of the side wall, the upper connection extending longitudinally along the side wall and forming during use a surface P capable of receiving an element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZODIAC MILPRO INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Marc Cassañas, Guillaume Lacoste
  • Patent number: 11148762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water sports device comprising an inflatable body component (1) having a longitudinal direction (L) and inflatable arms (8a, 8b) on a rear end, the arms being distanced from one another and orientated in the longitudinal direction (L), between which arms a receptacle (2) having an inner contour is formed, and comprising a drive component (7) having a tread surface (4) and an underwater surface (3), which drive component is formed with a complimentary contour (10a, 10b, 11) on two longitudinal sides (10a, 10b) that are distanced from one another and which component can be inserted into the receptacle (2) from the rear end, wherein the inner contour and the complimentary outer contour (10a, 10b, 11) form a connection to one another and a position of the inserted drive component (7) in the receptacle (2) is secured in the direction of the tread surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: WBV Weisenburger Bau+Verwaltung GmbH
    Inventor: Benjamin Kohnsen
  • Patent number: 11124276
    Abstract: A double-chambers inflatable kayak, including an upper chamber and a lower chamber which are fixedly connected to each other by a connecting portion and between which a cavity is formed, wherein the upper chamber includes a cockpit hole and a first air valve provided on the surface, the cockpit hole being in communication with the cavity, and the first air valve being used to inflate and deflate the upper chamber, and wherein the lower chamber includes a second air valve which is used to inflate and deflate the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: ADVANCED ELEMENTS, INC., PADDLE NORTH LLC, WEIHAI WINNER INNOVATION OCEAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaorong Ding
  • Patent number: 11091228
    Abstract: Disclosed is a boat including a flexible bottom bordered radially towards the outside by a wall which includes an inflatable and flexible front wall, an inflatable and flexible lateral wall, and a rear wall. At least one part of at least one of the lateral wall and of the front wall is constituted by a first inflatable element configured as a panel having two parallel planar faces, a second inflatable element of which the cross section is in the form of a D with a planar portion, and a flexible assembly device, the second element being situated radially towards the outside of the boat with respect to the first element, the assembly device maintaining the planar portion of the second element in contact with one of the planar faces of the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ZODIAC MILPRO INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Marc Cassanas, Guillaume Lacoste
  • Patent number: 10953957
    Abstract: Disclosed are a propelling module and a surfing apparatus having the same. The propelling module includes a module housing, a rotating device, a transmission shaft and a propeller; wherein the module housing is provided with a sealed chamber, the propeller is arranged outside the sealed chamber, the rotating device is arranged inside the sealed chamber, one end of the transmission shaft is connected to the rotating device, the other end of the transmission shaft penetrates through a side wall of the sealed chamber and extends to the exterior of the sealed chamber, and is connected to the propeller; the module housing is provided with a power connection member, and the rotating device is electrically connected to the power connection member, and is configured to be electrically connected to an external device via the power connection member; and the module housing is further provided with a water passage, and the propeller is arranged in the water passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: YUJET INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Yu Tian
  • Patent number: 10926840
    Abstract: An inflatable flotation chamber comprising a seamlessly constructed flexible tube, sealed ends, and a valve for inflation and deflation. Said chamber characterized in that it can be inflated to a relatively high pressure, giving functional shape and independent structural rigidness to the chamber. A watercraft characterized by one or a multitude of such inflatable flotation chambers. A method of constructing such an inflatable flotation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Tiemen Tobias van Dillen
  • Patent number: 10875607
    Abstract: Implementations of an inflatable raft that has a figure-eight shape are provided. The figure-eight shape serves to stabilize the inflatable raft and allows it to be paddled and maneuvered by a single paddler. An example inflatable raft may include a figure-eight shaped buoyant member comprised of a plurality of tube-sections. The plurality of tube-sections are connected together end-to-end to form a front lobe, a rear lobe, and a narrow central section, the narrow central section connects the front lobe to the rear lobe. The inflatable raft also includes a floor that is connected to the underside of the figure-eight shaped buoyant member. The plurality of tube sections that form the front lobe, the rear lobe, and the narrow central section are positioned to define a compartment of some depth between them, the floor acts as a bottom for the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy Hardee
  • Patent number: 10787237
    Abstract: A jet pump includes a propulsion system including an impeller coupled to a rotatable shaft configured to receive torque from an engine and an exhaust system including an exhaust flow path configured to direct exhaust from the engine to an exterior of the watercraft, wherein the exhaust system is integrated with the propulsion system. In another embodiment, a jet pump includes a propulsion system including a water intake configured to take in water from a body of water, the water intake including an intake grate and an intake base, and an exhaust system including an exhaust flow path configured to direct exhaust from the engine to an exterior of the watercraft, wherein the intake base of the water intake is configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of a hull of the watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Indmar Products Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. Kimball
  • Patent number: 10759499
    Abstract: A cockpit covering system for a small boat comprises a tent or cover comprising a plurality of wall portions and a base, and wherein the tent is sized to extend over a recessed area of a cockpit and to enclose an interior that extends from above deck height to below the height of a base layer. A compressible gasket is below the base for resting on a deck of the small boat around the cockpit outer perimeter. A plurality of webbing straps extend from the outer perimeter of the boat to the tent. A plurality of webbing straps extend from the cockpit outer perimeter to the tent covering system. Tension applied to the plurality of webbing straps compresses the compressible gasket to form a seal along a cockpit recessed area. Pole housings can be provided on webbing straps or on the tent base to secure tent poles at deck level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: William Douglas Henderson, III
  • Patent number: 10710679
    Abstract: An inflatable boat with a motor mount for use in shallow water conditions. The inflatable boat with the motor mount has a U-shaped hull in plan view, which is formed by open outline of inflatable boards and nose, as well as a transom installed on the boat stern and an inflatable bottom attached to the hull from below, and which bottom has an axissymmetric groove laying longitudinally from the stern end. The groove is V-shaped in cross-section. The depth of the groove is reduced uniformly in direction to the bottom nose. The inflatable boat according to the present invention allows expansion of usage specifications of the inflatable boats with motor mount, provides an additional guard for the outboard motors installed on them against possible mechanical damages and lowers fuel consumption in comparison with the boats of similar design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventors: Stanislav Vladimirovich Zykov, Mihail Viktorovich Losev, Sergej Valer'evich Chesnokov
  • Patent number: 10703444
    Abstract: The present invention relates broadly to an unmanned surface vessel (10) comprising a hull (12), an underwater appendage (14), a winch (16), and a cable or rope (18). The cable or rope (18) is at its distal end attached to a remote device (20) with the cable or rope (18) arranged to cooperate with the winch (16) to be deployed and retrieved from the vessel (10) via operation of the winch (16). The underwater appendage is in the form of a keel including a cavity (22) designed to partly locate the winch (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SOLAR SAILOR PTY LTD
    Inventor: Robert Dane
  • Patent number: 10583895
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a hybrid frame boat. The hybrid frame boat may include a cover and a drop-stitch port bladder, a drop-stitch starboard bladder, and a keel beam that may each couple to the cover. The cover may have an aft end portion, a forward end portion, a port side, a starboard side, a longitudinal length extending from the aft end portion to the forward end portion. The drop-stitch port bladder may extend along one or more portions of the port side of the cover. The drop-stitch starboard bladder may extend along one or more portions of the starboard side of the cover. The keel beam may extend along one or more portions of the longitudinal length of the cover between the drop-stitch port bladder and the drop-stitch starboard bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED ELEMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Clayton F. Haller, Charles P. Hall, Ryan Pugh
  • Patent number: 10549819
    Abstract: Packrafts are disclosed that include an inflatable, tubular packraft body having a bow, a stern, and a midsection, and a floor portion joined to the packraft body to define a central seating area. In these packrafts, the stern comprises a center panel joined to a pair of side panels such that the stern has a generally frustoconical shape. This stern shape provides the packraft with enhanced handling characteristics, particularly in whitewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ALPACKA RAFT LLC
    Inventor: Sheri Lynn Tingey
  • Patent number: 10542827
    Abstract: An infant accommodation apparatus comprising an inflatable support device and a frame which abuts and extends over the device and includes toys arranged to stimulate an infant accommodated within an accommodation region of the device. The device maybe inverted to reveal a second infant accommodation region which is arranged to provide a safe and secure environment for a baby from birth. A region includes a padded headrest and a body support region. A harness is provided and arranged to receive a baby's legs. In use, a baby can be placed on a region, with its head resting in a region of a headrest and safely secured in position by engagement with the harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: JAMES GALT & CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Sophie Cross
  • Patent number: 10529214
    Abstract: A shock awareness system including a shock detector for measuring an electrical condtion in a body of water and a remote station in communication with the shock detector with the shock awareness system displaying a measured electrical condtion in the body of water in relation to a known hazardous electrical condtion in the body of water to enable an operator to determine a level of danger in a body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SHOCK ALERT LLC
    Inventors: L. Herbert King, Jr., James Keeven, William Hiner, Frank Vlasaty
  • Patent number: 10479449
    Abstract: A watercraft is made of at least two inflatable members, each being made of a drop-stitch which provides strength and stiffness comparable to a solid material. Air pressures of twenty to thirty pounds are possible with drop-stitch material. Using near net shape structures, a cockpit is formed by stacking one inflatable member on top of the other. The two members are separately inflatable and bound together adhesively or with heat welding or tacking. Advantageously, the watercraft can function as both a board type watercraft or as a boat, capable of being paddled while standing up, or motored with an outboard motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: BOTE, LLC
    Inventor: Corey Cooper
  • Patent number: 10378233
    Abstract: A tent is designed for use in the air, connected at its vertices to trees or the like. The tent is further designed with enough support from an independent support structure to create a shelter there-in while in the air or on the ground. Further, the tent is built atop a floating mat or base. In order to provide enough strength to the base that it can be used to float the entire tent or hold the tent airborne, straps extend from each vertex of the mat through a central portal and connect back to themselves. From these straps, loops are further created to attach the tent, by way of the loops, to trees while the entirety of the mat is buoyant enough to hold the tent and people there-in afloat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TENTSILE LTD
    Inventor: Alex Shirley-Smith
  • Patent number: 10351250
    Abstract: An inflatable evacuation device may include a tube defining a chamber. A releasable bulkhead may be coupled to an inner surface of the tube and defining a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion within the chamber. The releasable bulkhead may comprise a first mating portion and a second mating portion. The first mating portion and the second mating portion may be configured to releasably engage to restrict a fluid flow between the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy C. Haynes, Daniel Bahena
  • Patent number: 10279868
    Abstract: Shrouds for water vessels are described herein. In various embodiments, a shroud may include port, starboard, and bow surfaces that are contoured to an outer periphery of one or more inflatable tube portions of an inflatable raft. The shroud may also include a bottom surface from which at least the port side surface and starboard side surface extend upwardly. The shroud may define an interior cavity that is bounded by the port side surface, a starboard side surface, and the bow surface. The interior cavity may be sized and shaped to removably receive the inflatable raft. In some embodiments in which the shroud is secured to a self-bailing raft, the shroud may obstruct one or more fore self-bailing ports of the self-bailing inflatable raft and leave one or more aft self-bailing ports of the self-bailing inflatable raft unobstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Billy W. Matney
  • Patent number: 10124658
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiment of a vehicle rescue system. The vehicle rescue system may include a gas chamber that is attached to a vehicle, the gas chamber comprising an enclosed cavity; a gas tube that is connected to the gas chamber, the gas tube being filled with a gas; and an inflation control module attached to the gas chamber, the inflation control module being configured to control a release of the gas from the gas tube into the gas chamber, wherein releasing the gas inflates the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Sami Ibrahim Sarhan
  • Patent number: 10011329
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, the invention is directed to a watercraft that includes a selectively attachable motor mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Bote, LLC
    Inventor: Corey Cooper
  • Patent number: 9975611
    Abstract: A cockpit assembly for providing enhanced traction and stability for an inflatable material is disclosed. The cockpit assembly includes a cavity defined partially by the inflatable material, a support structure suspended within the cavity, and a cover material configured to cover the cavity. The inflatable material defines portion of side walls of the cavity. The support structure may be configured to be free of any contact with a bottom surface of the cavity and the cover material in a relaxed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SDS Asia Limited, BVI #1748971
    Inventor: Leroy L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9944366
    Abstract: A drone equipped with a camera, a wireless communication module, an acoustic sensor, a GPS receiver, software and collapsible floatation device patrols above swimmers. The camera and acoustic sensor capture the video and audio of the swimmers. The information is either streamed to a command center or processed by the onboard software. With audio and video analysis capabilities, software is used to detect a swimmer in distress (SID). Alternatively the information is streamed to lifeguard or volunteers all over the world to spot SID. Another detection method is to let swimmer wear a wearable emergency notification device, which sends wireless signals comprising GPS location data. A SID presses a button to indicate rescue request and the drones fly over by GPS signal guidance. Solar power is used as the optional power source of the drones, which would allow the to sustain operation for a prolonged period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Rujing Tang
  • Patent number: 9738357
    Abstract: A collar assembly for a watercraft includes an elongate tubular casing with a lengthwise sealable opening. A foam core is removably positioned in the tubular casing, and includes a body portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced foam springs that extend outwardly to engage the tubular casing, to bias the foam core towards a center position in the tubular casing. In some embodiments a body portion of the foam core has a circular cross section, and the foam springs are co-formed with the body portion. In some embodiments the foam core comprises a plurality of longitudinal sections that are enclosed in a membrane having an inflation valve that extends through the tubular casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: William M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 9663190
    Abstract: A tail fin assembly for an inflatable product is provided. The tail fin assembly includes a pedestal coupled to a surface of the inflatable product, and a sliding groove positioned on the pedestal, where the sliding groove includes a pair of protruding locking members formed in one end of the sliding groove. The tail fin also includes a fin having a fin body and a fin base, where the fin body is detachably coupled to the pedestal at the fin base which slidably engages the sliding groove. A retainer is coupled to the fin body near the fin base for locking with the protruding locking members to secure the fin to the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BESTWAY INFLATABLES & MATERIAL CORP.
    Inventor: Feng Liu
  • Patent number: 9656726
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vessel with two watertight flaps attached in a tensioned state on the two sides of the longitudinal keel, each being under one of the two rear side portions of the V-shaped hull, the outer side edge of each flap being connected under the shell covering the bottom compartment on the same side, and the bottom side edge being connected to the bottom along a line which is angled from the rear to the front and angled toward the lower compartment, with a flap width tapering from the tensioned, free rear edge between the ends at the transom, toward a front portion connected to the bottom and/or to the shell at the connection between the upper and lower compartments, defining, with the latter and the bottom, a channel converging from front to rear and angled toward the rear end of the edge of the V-shaped craft hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: ZODIAC MILPRO INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Marc Cassanas, Lionel Boudeau
  • Patent number: 9637201
    Abstract: An inflatable dinghy includes a drop stitch inflatable floor made of high pressure drop stitch material; port and starboard drop stitch inflatable sides made of high-pressure drop stitch material attached at outside edges of the drop stitch inflatable floor, respectively; a rigid bow mold attached to the drop stitch inflatable floor and drop stitch inflatable sides; and a rigid stern transom attached to the drop stitch inflatable floor and drop stitch inflatable sides. The inflatable dinghy includes only three separate air compartments including the drop stitch inflatable floor and the drop stitch inflatable sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SEA EAGLE BOATS, INC.
    Inventor: Cecil C. Hoge, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9545962
    Abstract: An electric vehicle for personal transportation includes an inflatable body that is airtight and a chassis. The chassis is made of two box-like structures connected together with a hinge so that when rotated together around the hinge the two box-like structures form an enclosure configured to hold the inflatable body when the inflatable body is deflated. The inflatable body preferably holds a number of independent “air bags” or chambers formed in the shape of an automobile and includes a driver's compartment with a driver's seat. A front-end chamber of the electric vehicle inflates a collision air-bag through a flowable connection when the front-end chamber is impacted in a front-end collision. A suspension system may be present for each wheel. The suspension system includes an arm between two tubular bearings. The arm is made of an air-chamber bag partially contained by a sheet-metal cap providing rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Yi Pang
  • Patent number: 9452809
    Abstract: An inflatable kayak includes an inflatable floor made of high pressure drop stitch material; and inflatable sides made of high-pressure drop stitch material formed at port and starboard sides of the inflatable floor, respectively. The drop stitch inflatable sides can be glued or welded directly to the port and starboard sides of the inflatable floor, and the inflatable sides are configured to be inclined outboard from the inflatable floor. Alternatively, the inflatable sides may be glued or welded to a non-inflated fabric floor and the inflatable floor made of high pressure drop stitch material may be positioned and attached to a top of the non-inflated fabric floor with the inflatable sides pressing against the inflatable floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SEA EAGLE BOATS, INC.
    Inventor: Cecil C. Hoge, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9394041
    Abstract: A device for righting a boat or other water vessel following a capsize. The device has an inflatable body which can be stowed in a collapsed state when uninflated. Compressed gas inflates the body following a capsize. The inflatable body has a flexible skin which forms at least first and second inflatable chambers. A valve arrangement causes the chambers to be inflated in a predetermined sequence. The first chamber securely mounts the valve upon the vessel. The second chamber is coupled to the first, supported by the first chamber when the device is deployed. Due to its buoyancy when submerged, the second chamber applies a righting moment to the vessel. The first chamber transmits this moment to the vessel. The staged inflation of the body alleviates its tendency to “pop up” to the surface before it is adequately inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Marine Specialised Technology Limited
    Inventors: Philip Hilbert, Ben Kerfoot, Andy Phillips, Chris Chadwick
  • Patent number: 9376180
    Abstract: Embodiments generally to raft assembly components and methods. Specific aspects provide a tape configuration that can assist positioning of raft tubes with respect to one another, as well as positioning a life raft floor with respect to one or more of the raft tubes. The tape configuration may have a base and an extending T-shaped flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Air Cruisers Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Swierkocki, Stanley J. Pawlowski, Jr., Cristina Ramos, Sean M. Blazick, Donna Eckert, Linda Radomski, Alberto González Montes, Alejandra Gabriela Cardona Erives, Elizabeth López Reyes, Rubén Salinas Hinojos, Adrian Enrique Fernández Manriquez, Ana Karina Navar Guerra, Juan Ramón Burciaga Holguín
  • Patent number: 9334023
    Abstract: An auxiliary deck assembly for a pontoon boat includes a stowable auxiliary deck and mounting structure. The mounting structure swingably supports the auxiliary deck for swinging movement between stowed and operating positions. The auxiliary deck is configured so that the auxiliary deck surface is generally aligned with the primary deck surface when the auxiliary deck is in the operating position. The auxiliary deck is further configured so that the auxiliary deck surface is oriented at a generally upright angle relative to the primary deck surface when the auxiliary deck is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Woodrow Wilson Admire
  • Patent number: 9259656
    Abstract: An inflatable recreation device includes a plurality of inflatable rocking devices joined together end to end to form a walkway for a user to walk along wherein, as the user walks along the walkway, the walkway moves up and down under the user to provide a challenging and entertaining walk which also provides good balancing exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Donald W. Gordon
  • Patent number: 9167190
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a program guide graphical user interface (“GUI”) to a display for presentation to a user, the program guide GUI including a portion of a program guide. The media content processing subsystem is further configured to provide at least one navigation tool to the display for presentation in the program guide GUI, the navigation tool including a plurality of selectable options for navigating the program guide. The media content processing subsystem is further configured to detect a user selection of one of the selectable options and initiate a navigation to a location in the program guide based on the selected option. In certain embodiments, the navigation tool includes at least one of a time-based navigation tool and a channel navigation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Heath Stallings, Brian Roberts, Donald H. Relyea
  • Patent number: 9126667
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion control device includes a marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section that stores a plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns corresponding to a plurality of combinations of a propulsion device attached to a marine vessel and an operation device attached to the marine vessel, a selection information storage section that stores selection information that specifies one marine vessel maneuvering pattern selected from the plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns, and a control section programmed to read out from the marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section a marine vessel maneuvering pattern corresponding to selection information stored in the selection information storage section, and to output a command signal to the propulsion device according to an operation signal of the operation device based on the read-out marine vessel maneuvering pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9126655
    Abstract: An inflatable shallow draft fishing boat having a removable, inflatable paddleboard floor that provides stable flotation for at least two standing adults, the boat also including an adjustable, detachable rowing frame. The boat can be maneuvered and propelled by oars, a push pole or a small motor. The detachable rowing frame may hold a cooler seat and may also serve as an elevated push poling platform. The rowing frame allows the rower to switch his rowing position from facing the stern (for best speed) or face the bow (for better visibility when searching for fish). The paddleboard floor may be held in place by frictional engagement when the boat and the paddleboard are inflated; alternatively, the paddleboard may be removed and function independently as a stand-up paddleboard that can be used for fishing, swimming, or similar recreational water sports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventor: Richard L. Swan
  • Patent number: 9114853
    Abstract: A watercraft having a changeable hull structure. More particularly, a watercraft having a first subassembly and one or more second subassemblies. The first subassembly includes a sponson, a flooring, and a transom, the one or more second subassemblies, each being a replaceable hull structure. The first subassembly and each of the one or more second subassemblies have commensurate shapes allowing for attachment and/or replacement of the one or more replaceable hull structures. The watercraft also includes one or more elongated connectors are used to attach the first and second subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Thomas Apple, David Pogorzelski, Elbert Adamos, Heidi Murphy, Loc Nguyen, Christopher Hart, Gary Shimozono
  • Patent number: 9114862
    Abstract: An inflatable board, which can be used for floating or paddling on water, with a thin layer of inelastic material, such as acrylic, bonded between the layers of material forming the top or bottom surfaces of an inflatable board. The thin layer of inelastic material is bonded between the inner material and the outer material. The thin layer of inelastic material is bendable, so that the un-inflated board may be rolled-up for storage or transportation. When inflated, the thin layer of inelastic material bonded between the layers of the top or bottom surfaces of the board increases the rigidity of the board and the board's ability to resist flexing and bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Northwest River Supplies, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Dingel
  • Patent number: 9108710
    Abstract: A pontoon boat has left and right pontoons extending longitudinally, a tunnel therebetween, and a deck supported thereon. Bow and stern ends, and a boat length therebetween, are defined by at least one of the pontoons and the deck. An opening of the deck communicating with a tunnel thereunder has an outboard engine mounted therein and a hatch disposed thereover. A longitudinal center plane is vertical and equidistant from the bow and stern ends. A drive unit of the engine has a driveshaft, a propeller shaft operatively connected thereto, and a propeller connected to the propeller shaft. A mounting bracket connects the drive unit to the deck. The engine is disposed forward of the stern end by a distance at least equal to one-fourth of the boat length. The engine is aligned with or rearward of a longitudinal center plane. A method of operating the pontoon boat is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: BRP US INC.
    Inventors: Richard McChesney, George Broughton, Nicolas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9061734
    Abstract: Collapsible boats with foldable rigid transoms are disclosed. A collapsible boat includes a collapsible hull formed from a plurality of panels that extend from a first end to a second end of the collapsible/inflatable boat. Each of the panels is connected with at least one the other panels. The collapsible hull is configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A folding rigid transom is used to constrain at least two rear margins of the panels when the hull is in the expanded configuration. The folding rigid transom and seats remain attached to the hull when the hull is in the collapsed configuration. A collapsible boat can have one or more interior members that are inflatable to support the collapsible hull in the expanded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Alex R. Kaye and Frances Raye Trust
    Inventor: Alex R. Kaye
  • Patent number: 9045207
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inflator assembly. The assembly operates by puncturing a diaphragm of an associated container to thereby releasing a volume of pressurized gas. The pressurized gas, in turn, is used to inflate an article, such as a life raft. The inflator assembly is adapted to be either manually or automatically actuated. The various details of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Carleton Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Anderson, Robert E. Clark
  • Patent number: 9038562
    Abstract: A craft includes a rigid hull (1) that consists of a V-shaped bottom (5) and a bridge (4) on which a load can rest. The hull includes plating consisting of compartmentalized pneumatic floats (2), the rear compartments (32) of which are combined with an inflation and deflation system so as to vary the buoyancy of the craft. The craft also includes a submergible hull (1), the central cavity (9) of which is formed between the bottom (5) and the bridge (4) and is open at the rear so as to be automatically filled or emptied, the central cavity (9) containing at least one bag (10) that is combined with an inflation and deflation system enabling the buoyancy to be varied and consequently the level of immersion of the stern (7) to be changed as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ZODIAC MILPRO INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Marc Cassanas, Erle Dumontier, Lionel Boudeau
  • Publication number: 20150128843
    Abstract: An inflatable boat (1) formed in particular from flexible inflatable tubes (2) which have, substantially at the ends of same, relatively rigid tensioning members (3, 3a), such as rings, holding the walls of the tubes apart in the same shape as when the tube is inflated. The boat also has, in the walls of the floats of said boat, openings that are hermetically closable and of much larger dimensions than inflating valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Frédéric Dat