Abstract: A wind propelled vehicle comprising: (a) an assembly of airfoils fixedly joined; (b) all-moveable rudder and horizontal stabilizer, or suitable substitute, for aerodynamic yaw and pitch control; and (c) pontoons and hydrofoils, skis, skates, runners or wheels. The vehicle is wind-propelled by controlling the angle of the relative wind to produce a sideways lift force on the airfoil assembly and controlling the angle of the pontoons, etc. to use that force to cause forward motion. Airborne operation is achieved by changing the angle of the relative wind to produce an upward lift force on the airfoil assembly. Water rudder is absent. Orientation is always controlled aerodynamically.

Abstract: A personal watercraft having an engine provided in a body formed from a hull and a deck, and a supercharger provided for the engine. An oil exit of the supercharger is disposed higher than an oil surface in the oil pan when the engine is not running. An oil tank is provided on an extension line of a crankshaft. A one-way valve is interposed in an oil returning passage, which communicates with the oil exit of the supercharger. This configuration minimizes oil residing in the supercharger when an engine is not running, and thus reduces the degradation of the entire oil supply for the engine and supercharger.

Abstract: A flexible housing member (20) for enclosing the connection of a surf leash (05) to an anchor plug (10). The turret shaped housing member (20), having a base (29) with a centered base opening (22), is rotatably mounted to a bodyboard (02). By employing an anchor plug (10) through the base opening (22), an axis point for the housing member (20) is provided for projecting the surf leash in a desired direction. As the anchor plug (10) is tightened, the guide sleeve housing (20) is held with rotational friction to the desired direction. Thin optional washers, (50) and (65), between the anchor plug (10) and the guide sleeve base (29), may be used to adjust the rotational friction holding the guide sleeve passage (32) position. The surf leash guide sleeve housing (20), comprised of a flexible material such as rubber, provides a character of resilience allowing a leash (05) to be pulled in any direction, and urged to return to the desired position as a pulling force is released.

Abstract: A motor for driving a propeller is disclosed which has a drive shaft (10) which is coupleable to a propeller shaft (20) by bevel gears (12 and 14) so as to rotate the shaft (20) to in turn rotate propeller blades P of an outboard motor. The drive shaft (20) has an internal concentric shaft (30) which enables the adjustment of the pitch of the propeller blades P by mounting the propeller blades P for rotation about a pitch axis and coupling the mounting (72′) via an integral bevel gear (104) to a bevel gear (102) on the shaft (30). A phase adjustment mechanism (40) is provided for rotating the shaft (30) relative to the shaft (20) to in turn rotate the propeller blades P around the pitch axis to change the pitch of the propeller blades P. The phase adjustment mechanism comprises ring gears (48 and 50), together with planet gears (48) in engagement with a gear on the shaft (30) and planet gears (46) in engagement with a gear (26) on the shaft (20).

Abstract: A self-righting inflatable life raft (10) comprises a raft body (11) having inflatable side walls (21, 22) and a floor (15) located therebetween. At least two inflatable tube members form arches (51, 52) that extend from one side of the raft body to the other, each arch extends upwardly and outwardly from a perimeter of said raft body (11) at an angle from the perpendicular to said raft body. The life raft has a central axis of symmetry (61) and a center of gravity through which the weight of the life raft acts to rotate the raft on the surface of water from an unstable inverted position to a stable upright position. The tube members when inflated have a buoyancy sufficient to exert a turning moment on the life raft (10) causing the life raft to topple by gravity to an upright position. At least one inflatable interconnecting tube (70, 71, 72, 76, 77) is positioned between the arches (51, 52) and offset from the central axis (61) to increase the turning moment.

Abstract: In an improved sail for a sailboat, the trailing edges of a pair of serrated flaps of sailcloth are attached to the trailing edge of the sail, one on each side; the leading portions of corresponding members making up the serrated flaps are not fixed to the sail, but are connected to one another by short sections of line extending through holes in the sail. When the boat is tacked from one tack to the other, the leading portions of the members on the new windward side are pulled away from the surface of the sail by the wind, so that a serrated flow-impeding lip is provided on the windward side of the leech. At the same time, the lines pull the leeward members against the main body of the sail, so that drag is not increased substantially. Substantial improvements in sailing performance are realized, while no control action is required to cause the flaps to be suitably reconfigured upon tacking, and while ordinary sailing manuevers and all normal sail handling operations may be carried out without complication.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a motor-driven watercraft includes: (a) a movable, two-directional joystick including a steering arm (b) a depressible throttle trigger affixed to an upper end portion of the joystick; and (c) a pulley system including a steering cable attached to a lower end of the steering arm, the steering cable extending around pulleys affixed to the starboard or port side of the watercraft in matching pairs; a front, matching pair of the pulleys being pivotably affixed to a hull of the watercraft on either side of the joystick, a rear pair of the pulleys being affixed to the hull of the watercraft on either side of the motor; wherein depression of the throttle trigger and relatively simultaneous movement of the joystick in a first direction, or in a second, opposite direction causes the watercraft to turn in the direction of the movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying cable in a body of water comprising an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of converting vertical motion into horizontal travel, having a housing and means to deploy cable in a body of water. The cable, usually a cable sensor array, is released from a cable storage section of the AUV as the AUV glides. Vertical motion can be provided by buoyancy change, by dropping the AUV into the water, or by release of the AUV from a weighted bunker at the bottom.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, is a cooling system for a marine engine and includes cylinder cooling jackets, cylinder head cooling jackets, and thermostatic and pressure controls which facilitate safely operating the engine with low water flow rates. In one specific embodiment, the cooling system is employed in a marine engine including a V-type cylinder block with two cylinder banks and a valley between the banks. Each cylinder bank includes a plurality of cylinder bores (e.g., each cylinder bank includes three cylinder bores in a six cylinder engine), and respective exhaust ducts extend from and are in flow communication with each cylinder bore. Respective coolant flow paths extend from the valley to a section of each cylinder bore water jacket adjacent each cylinder exhaust duct. Specifically, water is provided from the valley to adjacent each exhaust duct in the cylinder banks. Each cylinder bore water jacket includes an outlet at an upper portion of each said cylinder bank.

Abstract: A multiple component gripper extrusion for the gripping support of a poster display arrangement. The gripped extrusion comprises an elongated extruded back panel having a front face, a back face, a lower edge and an upper edge. An elongated extruded front panel with a panel leg at a proximal portion thereof and a channel at a distal edge thereof is arranged with the back panel. The front panel is integrally connected by a living hinge co-extruded simultaneously therewith. An elongated spring is adjustably disposed between the back panel and the distal edge of the front panel to permit controllable biasing of a poster supported on the back panel by the front panel.

Abstract: A flexible fluid containment vessel or vessels fabricated out of spirally wound strips of fabric for transporting and containing a large volume of fluid, particularly fresh water, having beam stabilizers, beam separators, reinforcing, and the method of making the same.

Abstract: A high-speed marine vessel, the weight of which is supported by a combination of hull elements including planing surfaces, displacing volumes, air cushions, and, at high speeds, also surfaces that are affected by aerostatic and aerodynamic pressure. The size and arrangement of the hull elements are designed to achieve a larger effect for respective lifting and motion damping properties in order to give the vessel advantageous characteristics of speed, resistance, and behavior in waves.

Abstract: A system for controlling thrust of a jet propulsion type watercraft during various steering conditions. The system comprises a thrust mechanism for providing jet propulsion thrust, a throttle regulator for regulating thrust provided by the thrust mechanism, a throttle position sensor for sensing the throttle position of the watercraft, a steering position sensor for sensing the steering position of the watercraft and a controller for determining the desired throttle position of the throttle regulator. Wherein the desired throttle position is based on the throttle position received from the throttle position sensor and the steering position received from the steering position.

Abstract: An adjustable boat whip assembly for maintaining a boat in spaced relation to a dock includes a boat whip, an elongate base member secured to the dock, a whip support member having a receptacle for receiving the boat whip in a generally upright position, and an interconnecting structure for attaching the support member to the base member so that the support member can move along the length of the base member. A fastener is further provided for locking the support member to the base member. In one embodiment of the invention, the base member of the boat whip assembly includes a structural tubular body having an upwardly extending top flange that is received in a slot provided in the support member. The arrangement is such that the support member is movable along the length of the base member.

Abstract: A system for controlling thrust of a jet propulsion type watercraft during various steering conditions. The system comprises a thrust mechanism for providing jet propulsion thrust, a throttle regulator for regulating thrust provided by the thrust mechanism, a throttle position sensor for sensing the throttle position of the watercraft, a steering position sensor for sensing the steering position of the watercraft and a controller for determining the desired throttle position of the throttle regulator. Wherein the desired throttle position is based on the throttle position received from the throttle position sensor and the steering position received from the steering position.

Abstract: An emergency towing system for vessels. This system comprises a return guide fitted to the vessel to be towed; a closed ring-cable is fitted around this return guide, wherein this ring-cable comprises a coupling-member which, when the ring-cable is heaved around, establishes a connection with a contra-coupling-member on the vessel to be towed.

Abstract: A tilt-trim subsystem assembly affixed to an outdrive of a stern drive that may be supported by a gimbal unit and may be configured to rotate about a predetermined axis to impart a desired trim or tilt to the drive system is provided. The tilt-trim assembly has one respective end thereof configured to pivotally receive one anchor pin supported by the outdrive. The assembly includes one or more cylinders having one end thereof pivotally connected to another anchor pin so that when the cylinder is actuated the outdrive and the tilt-trim subsystem assembly are jointly rotated about the predetermined axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a framework for a balloon decoration capable of forming a balloon ornament at a predetermined shape by inserting a plurality of balloons into a space created between connecting rods of the framework. More particularly, this framework for the balloon decoration is mainly used for enhancing an effectiveness of advertisement at a ceremony to open a business or at a party held in celebration of an event. This framework can be fabricated such as a sectional toy and can be expressed as a variety of shapes adapted to further enhance the effectiveness of advertisement. According to the present invention, the framework for a balloon decoration includes a plurality of connecting balls (20) having a plurality of connecting holes (21) formed on a radial outer surface of the balls (20), and a connecting member (10) having a pair of connecting ends (13) and a connecting rod (11) extending between the connecting ends (13).

Abstract: A hidden cleat structure for boat comprises a seat body, a mobile pile, elastic components, a driving piece, and a driving rod. The mobile pile longitudinally and slidably connects the seat body. The elastic components are disposed in the sliding direction between the mobile pile and the seat body. The driving piece can move transversely, and is disposed in a receiving cavity of the seat body. An erect heart-shape track is disposed on the driving piece. One end of the driving rod is fixed on the mobile pile, and the other end thereof is located in the heart-shaped track. The heart-shape track includes an upper and a lower stop points and two transitional points obliquely placed in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The driving rod can make unidirectional circulatory motion in the heart-shaped track along with upward and downward slide of the mobile pile.

Abstract: A sheet material container, which, when observed, gives a uniform geometric appearance. The appearance of the container of the present invention is accomplished through the use of an oval-shaped base section and an oval brim spaced by a lateral wall. These cooperate to provide lateral, opposed, crescent-shaped pockets which hold an oval-shaped sheet material.