Patents Examined by Edwin Swinehart
  • Patent number: 10053197
    Abstract: A pair of rowing devices is installed on respective port (left) and starboard (right) sides of a watercraft such as a rowboat, kayak or canoe. Unlike in conventional rowing the operator sits forward facing the bow (front). By pulling the inboard portion of the oars towards the stern (back) while the blade is in the water, the watercraft is propelled forward. The system described herein reverses the direction of the blades motion through the water using a gearbox. The gearbox also allows for feathering of the paddles, that is, changing the angle of the paddle in relation to the water. This is done by turning the handle throughout the movement of the oars as done with traditional oars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Chris Wencloff
  • Patent number: 9873497
    Abstract: A marine muffler capable of handling both marine engine exhaust gas and marine engine cooling water includes a double wall baffle partitioning the muffler interior so as to function as a cooling water conduit. The cooling water conduit includes an inlet disposed external to the main muffler housing and an outlet configured and disposed so as to discharge the engine cooling water into the exhaust duct connected to the muffler outlet. The muffler is thus able to convey the engine cooling water through the muffler housing within a dedicated conduit while maintaining the cooling water separate from the exhaust gas. A muffler that is adapted to handle both the exhaust and cooling water flowing from a marine engine allows for the elimination of engine cooling water piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventors: Woodrow Woods, Darrin Woods
  • Patent number: 9873486
    Abstract: This invention provides a water craft hull having an air chamber, wherein the sidewalls of the air chamber extend lower than the fore wall and the aft wall of the air chamber, and wherein the hull comprises at least one air injector configured to deliver pressurized air to the air chamber. Optionally, a hull of the invention has a high aspect ratio air chamber defined by a stable fore wall, a stable aft wall, and stable sidewalls, is a non-planing hull, has a wave-piercing bow, and has elongated keel fins (e.g. inner keel fins and/or outer keel fins). Optionally, the air chamber is configured for recirculating air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Orin Jackson
  • Patent number: 9873499
    Abstract: An asymmetric propulsion mechanism capable of providing both axial thrust as well as lateral maneuverability from a single axis of rotation is described. The mechanism may be used on aquatic vehicles to minimize cost and maximize reliability and endurance. The mechanism comprises one or more propeller blades disposed asymmetrically around a rotating hub under the guidance of a control system including a motor capable of driving the propeller at various radial speeds throughout the course of a single revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Inventors: Thomas Austin, Michael Purcell, Frederic Jaffre, Jeffrey Kaeli, Ben Allen, Robin Littlefield
  • Patent number: 9868500
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an outboard motor body, a mount mounted on a boat body, and a support member that supports the outboard motor body so as to be steerable with respect to the mount. The support member includes an upper support that surrounds a drive shaft and supports the outboard motor body, a lower support that is spaced below the upper support, surrounds the drive shaft, and supports the outboard motor body, and a coupler that couples the upper support to the lower support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9868493
    Abstract: Provided is an independent tank, and a manufacturing method therefor, for which local bending stress occurring on the vicinity of a boundary portion (welded portion) can be reduced without increasing plate thickness. An independent tank has at least one curvature change portion in which the curvature along the axial direction of plate members that form the tank changes along the axial direction. Both the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the plate member on the small curvature side are not flush with respect to the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the plate member on the large curvature side. The plate thickness center of the plate member on the small curvature side is offset toward the radial direction inner side or the radial direction outer side with respect to the plate thickness center of the plate on the large curvature side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotomo Ohtsuka, Satoshi Miyazaki, Michihisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9862464
    Abstract: According to embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided a modular boat that includes a first pontoon, a second pontoon, an arched coupling member, a deck frame, a deck surface and at least one inflatable seat. The first pontoon has a first longitudinal axis and the second pontoon has a second longitudinal axis. The arched coupling member is removably coupleable to the first pontoon and the second pontoon so that the arched coupling member is perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axis. The deck frame is removably coupleable to the arched coupling member. The deck surface is removably coupleable to the deck frame and extends in a first plane that is parallel to a second plane that contains the first and second longitudinal axis. The inflatable seat is removably coupleable to the deck surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Chad Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9856005
    Abstract: An outboard drive device comprising a motor having a crankshaft, wherein said outboard drive device further comprises a propeller shaft with a propeller, and a power coupling system for transferring power from the motor to the propeller shaft. The power coupling system involves a transmission including side-by-side positioning of forward and reverse gears of the device, which are rotatably engaged with a drive shaft. Particular variables of the system enable increased power output to be transmitted through the transmission, while also providing quick and efficient power distribution among different rotations of the propeller shaft of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CIMCO MARINE AB
    Inventors: Christer Flodman, Andreas Blomdahl
  • Patent number: 9850679
    Abstract: A canopy assembly for a marine vessel having at least one U-shaped canopy support member each removably coupled to a first side section and a second side section of a marine vessel, a cover coupled to the at least two U-shaped canopy support members, with an upper surface providing a water barrier to, and in an overlapping relationship with, an upper surface of a bow of the marine vessel, spanning from the first and second ends of each of the at least one U-shaped canopy support member, and having a cover zipper assembly with a plurality of teeth. The assembly also includes a track zipper assembly having a plurality of teeth removably interlocked with the plurality of teeth of the cover zipper assembly to form a joint contouring a portion of the marine vessel that includes the first and second side sections and the fore section of the marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Eyal Waters
  • Patent number: 9849956
    Abstract: A pump device includes a first case, a second case, a sacrificial anode. The first case has a channel in which hydraulic fluid flows. The second case provides in contact with the first case. The sacrificial anode is coupled to one of the first case and the second case and suppresses corrosion of the first case and the second case. At least one of the first case and the second case includes an insulating section that interrupts electric coupling between the first case and the second case. The pump device further includes a valve member provided in the channel, controlling the flow of the hydraulic fluid flowing in the channel, and electrically coupling the first case and the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Tsutsui, Takahiko Saito, Atsushi Kagawa
  • Patent number: 9849936
    Abstract: Provided is a nautical sector, in particular a catamaran boat including a first catamaran craft functioning independently, having a prevailing direction of longitudinal development along the median axis (x) and including a bow, a stern, motor means and directional means; a second catamaran craft functioning independently, having a prevailing direction of longitudinal development along the median axis (x) and including a bow, a stern, motor means and directional means, where said first catamaran craft and said second catamaran craft each include joining means for their mutual stable coupling, obtained matching the relative sterns, on a transverse junction plane (?), to carry out said catamaran boat able to function as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventors: John Scanu, Luca Rivieri
  • Patent number: 9849950
    Abstract: A floatation device is configured to provide floatation without interfering with a user's upper body movement. The floatation device has a first set of four straps adapted to encircle the user's hips. A right thigh floatation pad and a right back hip floatation pad are joined to the first four straps. A first elastic band is joined to the first four straps and a waist floatation pad. A second set of four straps are adapted to encircle the user's hips. A left thigh floatation pad and a left back hip floatation pad are joined to the first four straps. A second elastic band is joined to the second four straps and a second waist floatation pad. Three elastic bands are joined to four floatation pads and the second elastic band. Three straps with buckles are attached to the elastic bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Mark A. Stickler
  • Patent number: 9849954
    Abstract: A deep-sea exploration multi-joint underwater robot system and a spherical glass pressure housing including a titanium band are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology
    Inventors: Bong-Huan Jun, Hyung-Won Shim, Jin-Yeong Park, Seong-Yeol Yoo, Hyuk Baek, Pan-Mook Lee
  • Patent number: 9840317
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a cooling water passage structure, in which a combustion chamber periphery water jacket through which the cooling water flows around the combustion chamber and an exhaust port periphery water jacket through which the cooling water flows around the exhaust port are formed in the cylinder head, a cylinder periphery water jacket through which the cooling water flows around the cylinder is formed in the cylinder block, and an exhaust passage periphery water jacket through which the cooling water flows around the exhaust passage is formed around the exhaust passage. The water jackets are connected such that the cooling water from the water passage will flow through the combustion chamber periphery water jacket, the exhaust port periphery water jacket, the cylinder periphery water jacket, and the exhaust passage periphery water jacket in order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsushi Achiwa, Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9840311
    Abstract: A swiveling seat insert for kayaks allows a kayak user to physically turn their entire body while sitting in a kayak in order to gain a more advantageous body position for performing activities while using the kayak or for increased range of viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SWIVEL POD 360, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Gonzales, III
  • Patent number: 9834284
    Abstract: A method for pulling an autonomous submersible vehicle into a mother ship. The method includes the steps of letting out a floating line from the mother ship, allowing at least part of a capturing line to rise from the submersible vehicle using a capturing buoy, to cause the submersible vehicle to cross under the floating line in such a way that the capturing line with the capturing buoy becomes caught on the floating line, and to draw the submersible vehicle to the mother ship by pulling in the floating line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH
    Inventor: Sven-Christian Hesse
  • Patent number: 9834280
    Abstract: A water flow deflection device configured to be attached to a side of a boat for boat wake enhancement is disclosed. The water flow deflection device includes a frame which includes a base, an extension arm, and two or more suction cups for attaching the water flow deflection device to the side of the boat. The water flow deflection device also includes a water flow deflector attached to the frame and includes an enlarged surface area aligned away from the extension arm and configured to deflect water. The deflector having two sections that are movable relative to each other such that the surface area is adjustable. The water flow deflection device also includes an adjustable support that extends between and connects the deflector to the extension, the support configured to adjust an angle of the deflector relative to the side of the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Howard Wilmoth, III
  • Patent number: 9834287
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a floating platform, wherein multiple layers of compartments are configured along the height direction of the floating platform, and the center of gravity of each layer of compartments in a full-load process and a loading and unloading process is always located on a vertical line where the whole center of gravity of the floating platform is located; the multiple annular compartments are of equal-ratio subdivision in volume: the volume ratio of every two adjacent upper and lower annular compartments is inversely proportional to the density of liquid stored in the compartments; in the practical loading process, the floating platform is always kept at a constant displacement to maintain the waterplane unchanged by adjusting crude oil or seawater loaded in different layers of compartments, and thus the floating plate always has optimal hydrodynamic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yi Huang, Wenhua Wang, Yuxin Yao, Maosheng Ye, Gang Liu, Qi Zhang, Hongxia Li, Jingjie Chen, Leilei Dong
  • Patent number: 9828073
    Abstract: An accessory mounting track provides quick and easy removable attachment and positioning of various devices. The method of attachment of devices to the accessory mounting track may be compatible with the attachment of these devices to other mounting systems, allowing the accessory mounting track to be used interchangeably with those systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Luther Cifers, III
  • Patent number: 9821890
    Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a device that receives and supports one or more storage containers mounted to a water craft. The device includes a frame, secured to the water craft, that includes a center frame and one or more outer frames with a width and length equal to the width and length of one or more complimentary storage containers, which provide equal distribution of weight to the frame to balance and contribute to the buoyancy of the water craft. In some embodiments, the frame may be transformed into a table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wingman Outfitter, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Drew Arney, Austin Gardner Bousman, Bernard Joe Lipke