Abstract: A course-holding, high-speed, sea-going vessel having a hull which is intended to hold payloads or passengers and at least one rotatable, preferably electric, rudder propeller (POD) which is arranged gondola-like under the hull of the vessel and has, to supply it with power, at least one motor/generator unit which is arranged in the hull of the vessel, the hull of the vessel having at least in part a bottom which rises somewhat toward the two sides of the hull, and in that the front part of the hull is designed so as to stabilize the course and movement of the vessel and ending under water, in particular in a relatively slender bow with a bulb, and in that a flow-guiding element (skegg) is arranged upstream of each rudder propeller in order both to optimize the handling characteristics and to achieve an optimized flow against the rudder propeller, which has a displacement volume for the water flowing against the respective rudder propeller.

Abstract: A device by pressure vessels (2) for sea transport of petroleum fluids, where at least two pressure vessels (2) are connected to and communicate with a manifold (1).

Abstract: A display holder for attachment to an interior of a vehicle. The display holder is capable of slidably receiving a display. The display holder comprises a rectangular window plate comprising a front edge, rear edge, first side edge and second side edge. A first mounting plate is attached to the first side edge wherein the window plate and the first mounting plate form a first elongated slot there between. A second mounting plate is attached to the second side edge wherein the window plate and the second mounting plate form a second elongated slot there between. An end cap is attached to the interior and overlays the front edge.

Abstract: An auxiliary watercraft roll-on, roll-off cradle system removably attachable to an aft platform of a boat consists of a first set of rollers tiltably attached to the platform and a second set of supporting rollers removably attachable to the platform.

Abstract: Designs and methods are disclosed for permitting permit scooped shaped swim fin blades (184) to flex around a transverse axis to a significantly reduced angle of attack while reducing or preventing the scooped blade portion (254) from collapsing or buckling under the longitudinal compression forces (222) exerted on the scooped portion during a large scale blade deflection (212) by strategically alleviating or controlling such compression forces (222). Method are also disclosed for increasing flow capacity, effective scoop length, scoop depth over a greater length of the blade, reducing blade resistance to large scale deflections, reducing bending resistance within scooped blade portions (254) that are experiencing high levels of blade deflection. Methods are also provided for reducing lost motion and increasing propulsion during the inversion phase of a reciprocating kicking stroke cycle while also increasing the formation of a scooped blade region (254) during the inversion phase of the stroke cycle.

Abstract: A new and useful propulsion apparatus for use by a swimmer is provided. The propulsion apparatus comprises (a) a support structure configured for connection to a swimmer's foot, and (b) a fin connected with the support structure by a flexible coupling in a manner that enables the fin to be stroked in alternating downstrokes and upstrokes by flexion of a swimmer's knees. The flexible coupling is configured to enable the fin to rotate in a first direction relative to the support structure during a downstroke, and the propulsion apparatus has a mechanical stop for limiting rotation of the fin in the first direction to physically set the angle of attack on the fin during a downstroke. The flexible coupling comprises an elastic suspension extending between the support structure and the fin, the elastic suspension being configured to (a) allow the fin to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction during an upstroke and (b) dynamically set the angle of attack during an upstroke.

Abstract: An extruded snap frame panel arrangement assembly for the biased pinching of a display panel therewithin. The arrangement includes an elongated back frame plate, a front frame plate and a curved snap plate integrally co-extruded with the back plate and front plate, for biasedly pinching the display panel therebetween. An elongated, separately extruded cover plate is slidably attached to the curved snap plate for providing a bias to the pinching of the display panel.

Abstract: Sound insulation for an engine contained within an outer casing, the insulation made up from a minimal number of interlocking molded foam insulation pieces forming a substantially continuous shroud surrounding the operating parts of the engine and having an outer surface matching the inner shape of the outer casing and in contact therewith. Preferably the outer casing is used to generate the molds used to manufacture the molded sound insulation pieces, thereby providing a good surface fit between the outer insulation surface and the inner casing surface.

Abstract: A boat having at least two hulls with an adjustable frame which maintains the relative separation of the hulls. Each hull having one or more buoyancy sections. Each buoyancy section of each hull may be relocated laterally, by expansion or contraction of an adjustable frame which causes the relative separation of corresponding buoyancy sections to be controllably adjusted. Accordingly, both deck area of the boat and its stability are increased when the buoyancy sections are extended laterally.

Abstract: A bearing body for rotatably supporting a drive shaft for driving an impeller on a watercraft body includes a bearing chamber containing bearing members rotatably supporting the drive shaft. Seal members are disposed on both sides of the bearing members and partition the bearing chamber by making contact with an outside circumferential surface of the drive shaft. The seal members are disposed so that grease in the bearing chamber does not leak out through the contact portions between the seal members and the outside circumferential surface of the drive shaft, and a breather passage is communicated with the bearing chamber. Two bearing members within the bearing chamber have a space formed between the bearing members, e.g., to form a grease reservoir between the bearing members. The aforementioned bearing structure reduces the necessity of maintenance, e.g., supplying grease to a drive shaft bearing portion, or at least the reduces the required frequency of maintenance.

Abstract: A kickboard comprising a relatively thin, buoyant board no longer than twenty six inches. The board has a back edge and a front edge joined by side edges. The board also has top and bottom surfaces joined by the front, back and side edges. Two, spaced-apart, forearm receiving depressions are provided in the top surface of the board, the depressions extending forwardly from the back edge of the board over a major portion of the length of the board to near the front edge. The depressions help to retain the forearms of a swimmer using the board on the board. The kickboard has hand grips located in front of the forearm receiving depressions. Preferably, at least the front portions of the side edges are bent toward each other, and the hand grips are located on the bent front portions, preferably just in front of, and aligned with, the forearm receiving depressions. Gripping the bent front portions allows the wrists to remain in a normal position relative to the forearms thus reducing stress.

Abstract: A framing system suitable for framing artwork, drawings, pictures and the like and mounting the framed work on a surface includes at least one frame member that cooperates with a plurality of mounting elements to surround the work with the frame member(s) and mount the resultant framed work to a mounting surface. The frame member(s) include a plurality of frame member portions that will be oriented toward the mounting surface when the framed work is mounted onto the surface. Each mounting element comprises magnetic material and adhesive material. The magnetic material and corresponding frame member portion provides magnetic coupling between the mounting element and the corresponding frame member portion that is used to releasably affix the frame members and the work to the mounting elements. The adhesive material is used to mount the resulting framed work to the surface by an adhesive bond between the mounting elements and the surface.

Abstract: To provide a jet propulsion boat in which cooling water is prevented from flowing into the footrest deck or from splashing toward the footrest deck and wherein the occupant can easily recognize the cooling water. A jet propulsion boat includes a vessel body constructed of a lower hull including a ship bottom and an upper hull superimposed thereon. A saddle-riding type seat is provided at the center of the upper surface of the upper hull with footrest decks provided on the left and right of the saddle-riding type seat. An engine and an exhaust system are provided in the interior of the vessel body. The jet propulsion boat includes cooling flow paths for forcing the engine and the exhaust system to be cooled by cooling water. The cooling water discharge ports from the cooling flow paths is provided on the rear surface of the vessel body, except for the portion immediately behind the saddle-riding type seat.

Abstract: A safety seat assembly including a seat or like occupant support structured to maintain an occupant, such as a child or infant, in a predetermined, substantially upright orientation relative to the vehicle during travel thereof. A stabilization assembly includes an orientation portion moveable with the vehicle relative to the occupant support throughout a substantially universal range of orientations so as to compensate for any movement of the vehicle including lateral sway, turning, acceleration, de-acceleration, etc, which would tend to displace the occupant and occupant support from the preferred orientation. In one embodiment, the occupant support includes a floatation assembly as well as a ballast structure, wherein the occupant support is removably mounted on a water craft and is structured to maintain an occupant in an above surface, floating orientation in the water in the event of an emergency.

Abstract: A rigid hull inflatable style boat constructed of rigid-shell modules. Modular gunwale sections are mounted to the trailing ends of a modular bow section to form the a flotation collar. Boats having greater/shorter lengths can be constructed by increasing or decreasing the number of gunwale modules. The bow and gunwale modules may be formed of molded polyethylene filled with hydrophobic foam material. The floor/hull module can be mounted at varying heights within the flotation collar to alter the performance characteristics of the craft. The hull module may have a V-shaped hydrodynamic contour, so that when the hull module is mounted relatively high within the collar the boat has a sponson-type hull form, and when the hull module is mounted relatively low within the flotation collar the boat has a V-type hull configuration.

Abstract: An illuminated flag decal attached to a base surface. The illuminated flag decal has a generally rectangular frame with a front face and a back face, a plurality of suction cups that will secure the generally rectangular frame to the base surface, an image of a flag that is placed in the generally rectangular frame, an illumination source to cast light onto the image of the flag, a power source to provide power to the illumination source and a removable backing on the rear face of the generally rectangular frame for gaining access to and changing the illumination source.

Abstract: A convertible anchor capable of being converted between a first position usable on sandy bottom floors and a second position usable on debris laden bottom floors, such as reefs. The convertible anchor may include an elongated shank and one or more flukes rotatably coupled to the elongated shank. The convertible anchor may also include an engagement limiting device placing the convertible anchor in a first position in which the fluke is prevented from rotating relative to the elongated shank. The convertible anchor may also include a catch device so that the convertible anchor can grab a debris laden bottom when the convertible anchor is in the second position.

Abstract: To provide a jet propulsion watercraft that allows a step, a vent hole, and the like to be easily provided on a bottom surface thereof. A ride plate of a jet propulsion watercraft is a member, which is formed into a substantially rectangular shape in compliance to an opening in a bottom surface of a hull bottom. The ride plate is provided with a lock tab at a front edge thereof, and bolt holes are made in a right and left end portion thereof. The ride plate is further provided with a step portion that forms part of a general bottom surface, since it is flush with the general bottom surface, a higher level surface that forms a flat surface higher than the step portion by a predetermined distance, and a pair of vent holes that pass vertically through the higher level surface at a position therein closer to the step portion.

Abstract: To provide a cooling system for a jet propulsion boat in which the number of components are reduced and the construction is simplified. A cooling system for a jet propulsion boat is a system in which a jet propulsion unit is provided at a rear portion of the vessel body. The jet propulsion unit is driven by the engine to emit a jet of water for propelling the boat. The engine is cooled by flowing a part of the jet of water in the engine-cooling flow path as cooling water. The cooling system for a jet propulsion boat comprises a constantly opened flow path having a constant cross sectional area and a flow regulating valve that opens the valve body when the primary pressure exceeds a prescribed value. The opening of the opened valve body is varied according to the primary pressure in the engine-cooling flow path.

Abstract: The system is an integrated and self contained electric thruster system integral with a dynamic positioning control system for dynamic positioning of any waterborne vessel having a hull with at least two sides and a deck connecting the sides, at least two azimuthing thrusters, each removably mounted to the vessel, at least two self-contained electric power units removably secured to the deck, one for each thruster, at least one dynamic positioning computer connected to each of the self contained electric power units, at least one motion reference sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer to correct reference position signals for motion of the vessel, at least one heading sensor, and at least one sensor that is either a position reference sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer, environmental sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer, or a combination thereof.