Patents Assigned to Choice, Inc.
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Patent number: 10239591Abstract: A wakeboat has a hull, the hull forming a wake when moving forward in the water, with a port disturbance and a starboard disturbance in the wake. A trim tab is supported by the hull at the stern of the hull. The trim tab comprises a primary subtab and a secondary subtab. One or more actuators may be optionally included to reposition the trim tab more into, or more out of, the water. Other systems and methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventors: Richard Lawrence Hartman, Matthew Douglas Brown, Travis Lane Turley
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Patent number: 10202177Abstract: A wakeboat has a hull, the hull forming a wake when moving forward in the water, with a port disturbance and a starboard disturbance in the wake. A trim tab is supported by the hull at the stern of the hull. The trim tab comprises a primary subtab and a secondary subtab. One or more actuators may be optionally included to reposition the trim tab more into, or more out of, the water. Other systems and methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventors: Richard Lawrence Hartman, Matthew Douglas Brown, Travis Lane Turley
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Patent number: 10112688Abstract: A wakeboat has a hull, the hull forming a wake when moving forward in the water, with a port disturbance and a starboard disturbance in the wake. A trim tab is supported by the hull at the stern of the hull. The trim tab comprises a primary subtab and a secondary subtab. Actuators may be optionally included to reposition the trim tab more into, or more out of, the water. Other systems and methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventors: Richard Lawrence Hartman, Matthew Douglas Brown, Travis Lane Turley
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Patent number: 10093398Abstract: Wakeboat ballast pump systems and methods are provided to monitor the operational condition and parameters of wakeboat ballast components. Systems and methods for sensing and measurement are provided to detect parameters associated with wakeboat ballast pumps and compartments, including systems and methods that can economically retrofit into existing wakeboat ballast systems. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action based on various operational conditions and parameters to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast pumps.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. Hartman
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Patent number: 10040522Abstract: A wakeboat has a hull, the hull forming a wake when moving forward in the water, with a port disturbance and a starboard disturbance in the wake. Left (port) and right (starboard) trim tabs are installed at the stern of the hull. Each trim tab comprises a primary subtab and a secondary subtab. Actuators may be optionally included to reposition the trim tabs more into, or more out of, the water. Such repositioning causes the disturbance on one side of the wake to be selectively repositioned to the other side of the wake, enlarging a quiet region on the side of the wake on which the repositioned disturbance was originally positioned. Other systems and methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2018Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventors: Richard Lawrence Hartman, Matthew Douglas Brown, Travis Lane Turley
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Wakeboats, wakeboat displays, and systems and methods of measuring and indicating wakeboat potential
Patent number: 9950771Abstract: A wakeboat creates a wake, the performance level of the wake varying depending upon the mass of the wakeboat, the wakeboat including a hull; an engine supported by the hull; a controller supported by the hull; a processor coupled to the controller; a memory coupled to the processor; a sensor configured to measure at least one parameter of the wakeboat, the controller being coupled to the sensor and being configured to receive data from the sensor, the controller being configured to derive the present mass of the wakeboat from said sensor data, the controller being configured to determine the present wake performance level of the wakeboat based on the present mass of the wakeboat; anda display coupled to the controller, the controller being configured to use the display to indicate the present wake performance level of the wakeboat.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventors: Richard Lawrence Hartman, Brian Anthony Ewasko, Matthew Douglas Brown, Jeffrey David Harrison, Zachary Thomas Davis -
Patent number: 9873491Abstract: Wakeboat hull control systems and methods are provided to permit the accurate reproduction of a wake behind a wakeboat. The onboard wake control system receives data from a draft measuring system. Incorporation of the data from the draft measuring system permits accurate reproduction of a wake behind the wakeboat after a change in an onboard variable such as the number, weight or position of passengers, the weight or position of cargo and the position of trim tabs or amount/location of ballast.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. Hartman
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Patent number: 9828075Abstract: Wakeboat hull control systems are provided that can include a first accelerometer operatively associated with the hull of the wakeboat to measure the acceleration of the hull along a first axis; a second accelerometer operatively associated with the hull of the wakeboat to measure the acceleration of the hull along a second axis, the first axis being non-parallel to the second axis; and processing circuitry calculating the rotation of the hull of the wakeboat about a third axis based on the acquired measurements. Wakeboat hull control methods are provided that can include using the processing circuitry to calculate the rotation of the hull of the wakeboat about a third axis based on the acquired measurements.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. Hartman
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Publication number: 20170036738Abstract: Wakeboat hull control systems and methods are provided to permit the accurate reproduction of a wake behind a wakeboat. The onboard wake control system receives data from a draft measuring system. Incorporation of the data from the draft measuring system permits accurate reproduction of a wake behind the wakeboat after a change in an onboard variable such as the number, weight or position of passengers, the weight or position of cargo and the position of trim tabs or amount/location of ballast.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: Skier's Choice, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. Hartman
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Patent number: 8919622Abstract: A beverage carriage if provided for wear around a user's waist area. The apparatus includes an accessory that attaches to a user's waist area. A hanger depends from the accessory, the hanger having an upwardly positioned socket. A mounted sleeve has a top opening having an opening that enables a contained beverage to be housed within the sleeve interior. A curved panel/plate fits inside the sleeve. A projecting member is attached to the curved panel/plate and extends through the insulated sleeve to a position spaced externally of the sleeve. A detachable connector joins the projecting member to the hanger when the detachable connector is lowered into the socket via the open top. A locking member moves between locking and release positions, the locking member automatically interlocking with the connector when the connector is lowered into the socket, the locking member having a manually operated release portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Guide's Choice IncInventors: Mark J. Gabriel, Clarence Barton Kemper, III, Victor James Bergeron, Creighton Pier Ward, Melissa B. Rogers, Billy James McDonald, Krista Wohlfeil, Donald Scott Rogers
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Patent number: 8346681Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention use a construct referred to herein as a “choicebox” to support choice-making within a conceptual choicespace. The choicebox allows the identification of one or more options, one or more factors, and one or more perspectives for a particular choice. Each choice is associated with one or more categories. The options, factors, and perspectives are logically mapped to imagined x, y, and z axes and can be envisioned and graphically represented as a three-dimensional assessment matrix or box. Within the context of the present invention, choiceboxing is the activity of deliberating about a choice using such matrices. Choiceboxes are built and manipulated using software that renders their data into visual and interactive form. They serve as shareable places for collaborative deliberation.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: All ABout Choice, Inc.Inventor: Marc Richard Lauritsen
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Publication number: 20120246033Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for converting an online interaction into a brick-and-mortar or online transaction between an Internet user and a plurality of merchants via the Internet. This invention assesses a buyer's purchasing intent and provides offers based on the buyer's purchasing intent and the buyer's purchasing score. The method involves maintaining a database of buyer attributes and receiving from a buyer a request for one or more offers. After receiving a request, a special intent server determines a purchasing score of the buyer based, at least in part, on information stored in the database of buyer attributes. Next, after a purchasing score is determined, the request and the purchasing score are transmitted to one or more offer sources. Finally, the intent server and the method then receives one or more offers from the offer sources and provides them to the buyer via the Internet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: Per Choice, Inc.Inventor: Bruce Keiser
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Patent number: 7776366Abstract: A method is provided improving fertility in a mammal using glucosamine based composition. The composition is effective to improve fertility in mammals, including humans and stallions.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: MD's Choice, Inc.Inventors: David F. Davenport, J. Eric Martin
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Publication number: 20080003302Abstract: A method is provided improving fertility in a mammal using glucosamine based composition. The composition is effective to improve fertility in mammals, including humans and stallions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2007Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: MD's Choice, Inc.Inventors: David Davenport, J. Martin
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Patent number: 6223662Abstract: An apparatus for producing grass sprigs from bulk sod, evenly distributing the grass sprigs on the ground to be planted, and thereafter planting the grass sprigs. The apparatus comprises a rigid frame member having a driven conveyor assembly, a bulk sod shredding assembly, and a planting assembly. The driven conveyor transports bulk sod to the shredder assembly at a rate proportional to the ground speed of the apparatus, thus providing the proper sprig output rate from the shredder. The shredding assembly utilizes a rotating shaft having a plurality of shredding members extending therefrom for shredding the bulk sod cooperatively with a shredder bar. The planting assembly comprises a sizable chute for guiding the sprigs from the shredder to the ground to be planted without clogging, a plurality of coulters for pressing the sprigs into the ground, and a plurality of press wheels for firming the soil planted subsequent to the coulters.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Spriggers Choice, Inc.Inventors: Anthony W. Lastinger, Jesse B. Grimsley, Jr.
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Patent number: 6067719Abstract: A ruler device for eliciting judgements about the ratio of factors includes a first base member having first indicia indicating the ratio of factors, and a second base member slidably mounted to the first base member. The second base member moves longitudinally along the first base member, and has second indicia indicating an optical weighing of the factors. The second indicia is adjacent with the first indicia and alignable with respect thereto by relative movement of the first and second base members with respect to each other. When the second indicia are aligned with the first indicia in accordance with a predetermined manner, a value of the ratio of the factors is determined therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1997Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Expert Choice, Inc.Inventor: Ernest H. Forman
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Patent number: 5802661Abstract: A wiper blade assembly (10) is provided including a housing (12), two blades (14), (16), two blade support structures (18), (20), and a switching mechanism (22). The housing (12) includes a shell (26) having two longitudinal channels (28), (28'). The housing (12) further includes a lower opening (36) and a bottom plate (38) sized to cover the lower opening. The bottom plate (38) is releasably connected to the shell (26) and includes two slots (40). An inner seal (46) attaches to an interior surface of the bottom plate and includes slots (48) that align with the bottom plate slots (40). The blades (14), (16) and blade support structures (18), (20) are positioned within the housing channels and are aligned with the bottom plate slots. Each support structure includes a middle portion having a transverse central hole (54). The switching mechanism (22) includes a shaft (62) and first and second cams (70), (72) attached to the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1997Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Choice, Inc.Inventors: James M. Miller, Walter L. Webb
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Patent number: 4624633Abstract: The combination of a novel fuel (18) with a fuel canister (14) and a wick (16) for transporting the novel fuel (18) from the interior to the exterior of the canister (14); wherein the novel fuel comprises a combustible fuel having a flash point greater than 100.degree. F. and comprising a minimum of 20% of a glycol or a glycol derivative.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1985Date of Patent: November 25, 1986Assignee: MTC-Choice, Inc.Inventor: David Bandel
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Patent number: 4580276Abstract: A private local area network (LAN) is created for use with a variety of transmission media for the purpose of exchanging data preassigned addresses, and control signals according to simplified protocols. The LAN members can consist of any combination of computers, electronic devices or terminals adapted for intercommunication via microprocessor-based modems which are capable of performing either master or slave functions within the LAN in accordance with their individual software designations. Each modem operating on the LAN has the capability of filtering analog noise, detecting/blocking digital data errors, operating within a wide range of appropriate line impedances, and both transmitting and receiving digital data at rates in the neighborhood of 85 kbaud in the form of frequency, or tone, bursts according to a hybrid ASK/FSK data encoding an transmission scheme.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1983Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignee: Consultant's Choice Inc.Inventors: Anthony M. Andruzzi, Jr., Stanley B. Warner
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Patent number: D464489Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Bright Choice, Inc.Inventors: Michael B. Emerick, Craig S. Tsukayama, Luis A. Dauway, Luis T. Dauway, Jack Conlee