Patents Examined by Andrew Polay
  • Patent number: 11904990
    Abstract: One example provides a floating drive-on pontoon port including a plurality of floating sections pivotally coupled together in series with one another to form an articulating port track base and an articulating starboard track base extending longitudinally in parallel with one another, the port and starboard track bases each having a lower surface to be disposed in water and an opposing upper surface to face away from the water. A port transport track extends longitudinally across the upper surface of the port track base, and a starboard transport track extends longitudinally across the upper surface of the starboard track base and in parallel with the port transport track, the port and starboard transport tracks each comprising a series of spaced apart rollers configured to respectively receive, transport, and support a port pontoon and a starboard pontoon of a pontoon during loading, unloading, and storage of the pontoon boat on the pontoon port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Innovative Outdoor Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Johanneck
  • Patent number: 11904993
    Abstract: In a configurable vehicle a variety of mechanisms connect an external heat sink to an interior volume of the vehicle without creating a fluid conduit between the exterior and interior volume of the vehicle. Reliability of the vehicle is improved since exterior elements cannot penetrate to the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eric Seeley, Wade Kempf, Andrew Roth, Mark Sorna
  • Patent number: 11892269
    Abstract: Underwater craft including means for launching an underwater vehicle using water pressure, including a vehicle-launching tube having a front part and a rear part and the rear part of which is connected to a water distribution tank itself connected to a water tube in which is positioned a piston for delivering water into the rear part of the tube in order to push and eject the vehicle, is characterized in that the piston is associated with a linear electric actuator for moving same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NAVAL GROUP
    Inventors: Vincent Fazillault, Fabien Jagailloux, Geoffrey Arrignon, Arnaud Lamotte
  • 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: 11878781
    Abstract: A paddleboard paddle system is convertible from a single paddle to a double-paddle and has a paddle handle including a hand aperture and thumb aperture in the paddle portion. A paddleboard paddle has a first paddle portion and a second paddle portion that can be connected to form a double-paddle, or a paddle having a paddle portion on opposing end of the paddle arm. A paddle arm is the rod or extension from the paddle portion that is typically used to guide the paddle through the water. A user may use the single paddle while standing on the paddle board or may connect the second paddle portion to produce the double-paddle to use while sitting on the paddleboard or for use in a kayak. Also, a user may use a double-paddle while standing. The paddle handle may be gripped by the user to guide the opposing end through the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Douglas J. Masi
  • Patent number: 11873063
    Abstract: Various implementations include a sports board storage device. The device includes a housing, one or more linkages, a foot, and one or more linkage members. The housing has a first prong and a second prong. The one or more linkages are pivotably coupled to the first prong. The foot is pivotably coupled to the one or more linkages. The one or more linkage members are coupled to at least one of the one or more linkages. The one or more linkage members are movable relative to the housing to cause rotation of the one or more linkages and to cause the foot to move between a retracted position and an extended position. The foot is closer to the second prong in the extended position than it is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Protomet Corporation
    Inventors: Stewart Boyd, Nathan Mellas, Brian Pitcher, Lynn Haynes, William Matthew Reid, Jeff Bohanan, Alec Stuckey
  • Patent number: 11873071
    Abstract: A stowable propulsion device for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. An arm pivotably couples the propulsor to the base to move the propulsor into and between a stowed position located proximate to the marine vessel and a deployed position located relatively distal from the marine vessel as compared to the stowed position. An actuator linkage includes a first link that is pivotably coupled to the base and a second link that pivotably couples the first link to the arm. An actuator pivots the actuator linkage to move the propulsor into and between the stowed position and the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron J. Novak, Jeremy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11873069
    Abstract: A swim aid device comprising a belt having a hoop portion including a first tab and a second tab, a front end and a back end opposite said front end wherein the back end includes an opening and wherein the belt is biased in a first closed position and operatively openable to a second open position; and one or more buoyant elements couplable to said back end of the belt and securable in place with said tabs wherein a buoyancy of the one or more buoyant elements allows a user to remain afloat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Andrew Cox
  • Patent number: 11866144
    Abstract: A method for operating a propulsion device having a propulsor with a propeller, the propulsion device having a base coupled to a marine vessel and being configured to propel the marine vessel in water. The method includes moving the propulsor from a deployed position towards a stowed position, where the propulsor is closer to the marine vessel in the stowed position than in the deployed position, and where the propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in the deployed position. The method further includes rotating the propeller so as to fit between sides of the base coupled to the marine vessel when the propulsor is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Robert A. Podell, James E. Erickson, Kenneth G. Gable, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Derek J. Fletcher, Jeremy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11866136
    Abstract: A watercraft and associated pedal drive system are provided. Method of operating the pedal drive are also provided. The pedal drive system allows for unassisted manual pedaling to provide thrust to the watercraft. The pedal drive system also provides on demand pedal assistance of varying levels via an assist drive train having an electric motor to supplement the manual pedal force input provided by a user at the pedals of pedal drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine G. Kuehmichel, Timothy A. Bragg
  • Patent number: 11866132
    Abstract: A watercraft mounting system that embodies a moving mounting platform and a protective hull cavity which provides protection, prevents damage and improves storage of data collection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hobie Cat IP, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Christopher Kardas, Drew William Brackett, William John Broadway, James Taylor Czarnowski, Philip James Dow, Elizabeth Catherine Sexton, Shane Yellin
  • Patent number: 11866143
    Abstract: A drive system for a ship, including at least two propulsion units, each propulsion unit having a propeller and a drive engine with an above-water transmission connected downstream for driving the propeller. Each drive engine can be connected to and disconnected from the associated above-water transmission with a clutch and between the above-water transmissions, a switchable drive train is provided by which in one switching state, the above-water transmissions can be coupled and driven jointly and in another switching state, they can be decoupled from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTTEL GMBH
    Inventor: Sascha Scholz
  • Patent number: 11858598
    Abstract: A water ski system includes an elongate ski body member having an aft end portion with a mounting face. Interchangeable tail members having an engagement face are configured to be selectively mounted to the ski body such that the engagement face of the tail member abut the mounting face of the ski body member. Attachment hardware removably fixes the selected tail member to the ski body member. The interchangeable tail members may have a variety of shapes and lengths, allowing a skier to customize the water ski to accommodate differing water ski styles, water, conditions, and skill levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Connelly Skis, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas A. Cannon
  • Patent number: 11858590
    Abstract: A mast righting assistance assembly includes a trailer hitch extension subassembly includes a trailer hitch extension insert and a trailer hitch extension receiver tube extending opposite directions, a winch subassembly carried by the trailer hitch extension subassembly, and a vertical column carried by the trailer hitch extension subassembly. A winch cable is routed from a winch drum through a cable redirecting component attached to a top of the vertical column. The cable is secured to rigging of the mast for controlling stepping and unstepping of the mast. The winch spools and unspools the cable to step and unstep the mast respectively. The vertical column is adjustable in height to obtain a desirable minimum force application angle respective to stowed mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Leslie Ann Nicholson
  • Patent number: 11858609
    Abstract: A foot controller system includes a foot controller having a base that engages a portion of a marine vessel when the foot controller is in an operable position. The foot controller also includes a foot pedal pivotable, with respect to the base, about a first axis, and rotatable, with respect to at least a portion of the base, about a second axis different from the first axis. The foot controller controls a first aspect of a marine motor system when the foot pedal is pivoted about the first axis and controls a second aspect of the marine motor system different from the first aspect when the foot pedal is rotated about the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: David F. Lammers-Meis
  • Patent number: 11851149
    Abstract: A flotation device for providing emergency flotation for a person swimming or passing through a body of water, comprising a container filled with a charge of a gaseous material under a pressure such that it is in its liquid phase at normal environmental temperatures. The container is connected to a flexible flotation chamber through a passage which remains normally closed until actuated by the user. When the device is actuated by opening the passage, the charge expands into the flotation chamber, thereby inflating it, and providing support to the user in the water. The gaseous material has thermodynamic properties such that it remains in its liquid phase right up to the maximum temperatures to which the device is expected to be exposed to. Consequently, its volume, and hence the internal pressure within the gas container, does not increase significantly, thereby enabling the container to be of lightweight construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SEA ARK TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Oriya Shoham, Moshe Shoham, Matityahu Azriel
  • Patent number: 11851150
    Abstract: A propulsion device for a marine vessel. The propulsion device includes a base configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position. A lock device has a rigid member and is selectively engageable such that the rigid member prevents the propulsor from pivoting away from the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Robert A. Podell, Jeremy J. Kraus, James E. Erickson, Randall J. Poirier, Derek J. Fletcher, Matthew Z. Seta
  • Patent number: 11845519
    Abstract: An article with at least two partially or fully separable portions that are configured to be securely fastened together to assemble the completed article. There are a plurality of releasable fastening mechanism, each fastening mechanism located in part in each of two adjoining portions that are configured to be joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Daniele La Posta
  • Patent number: 11834137
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a folding stowable seat for use on a boat is provided that includes a compartment in which the seat is stowed when not in use; a moveable lid attached with a hinged connection to the boat, the lid covering the compartment when the seat is stowed, and a top side of the lid configured for use as a step on the boat for use by boaters, and the lid is raisable about the hinged connection to an upright position to move the seat into a use position; a seat back; a seat bottom; and a movement assembly connecting the seat bottom to the compartment, the movement assembly facilitating movement of the seat bottom from a stowed position contained entirely within the compartment to a use position wherein the seat is at least partially outside of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Highwater Marine, LLC
    Inventor: Rod Mast
  • Patent number: 11834142
    Abstract: An oarlock that is designed to be used with an oar-right. It is an oarlock that has a pin for securing the oarlock in an oar holder or gunwale of a boat. A U-shaped bracket is attached to the pin. There is a formed piece that has a cylindrical upper portion and a lower squared portion that is secured to the U-shaped bracket. An oar fits into the cylindrical upper portion and the oar-right fits into the lower squared portion of the formed member. The U-shaped bracket can rotate on the pin, which means that the oarlock can rotate 360 degrees and the formed member is free to pivot between the arms of the U-shaped bracket. Because the formed piece is a closed member, the oar cannot come out of the oarlock no matter how much the oar maybe moved or jostled by rough water, nor can the oar rotate on its own axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Douglas P. Bushey