Abstract: A multipurpose slide for supporting a human passenger during water and snow sports activities. The board has an enlongated, foam filled, seamless body of blow molded polyethylene. The top wall has formed therein a knee well to serve as a cockpit for the passenger, with the bottom of the knee well being covered with a foam pad. A strap passing through the body is used to secure the passenger to the surfboard. The bottom wall, or hull is formed such that the slide may be ridden forward, backward or maneuvered through spins or other similar maneuvers.

Abstract: The invention relates to the generation of compressed gas for bubbling from a ship's hulls in ice-laden water in order to reduce the drag on the ship's movement produced by the ice, and also to help break up the ice. The compressed gas is generated by apparatus having an air compressor, a device for mixing fuel with the compressed air, a device for igniting the fuel/air mixture so that hot gas is generated under pressure, and at least one pipe which is provided for receiving the hot compressed gas and for supplying the gas to holes located in the hull of the ship below the waterline. The pressure of the gas is greater than the water pressure at the holes so that bubbling of the gas from the holes takes place.

Abstract: Axial-geometry incandescent lamps with accurately aligned, self-centering helical filaments are disclosed, the filaments having heavy end sections which are mechanically deformed to grip a helical center section. Tubular lamp envelopes have a glass center section and metal end sections heat-sealed thereto. Envelopes are produced in quantity by a machine having magazines loaded with envelope components, the components being automatically assembled and united by heat sealing. Envelopes of larger size may employ glass-beaded metal end sections formed before the end sections are assembled with the center section. Rotation of the envelope components during heat sealing ensures seal uniformity and concentricity.

Abstract: The conventional anchor stowing arrangement on a ship includes a hawser pipe through which the anchor chain passes, and in which the leg of the anchor is normally located during a voyage. According to the present arrangement the anchor is stowed upon an open bed, easy to reach for inspection from the deck, and not likely to cause any damages during hauling-in.

Abstract: A wave powered pumping system including a floating platform and a plurality of floats hinged about the periphery of the platform. A double acting piston pump is provided on the platform for each float, with the float driving the piston of the pump utilizing both upward and downward movements of the float in a variable stroke operation. Nozzles for water jets may be carried on the platform below the water line to provide positioning and/or propulsion forces for the platform. In one embodiment, the platform is free floating; in another embodiment, the platform moves up and down with the swells and has a telescoping pipe anchor.

Abstract: This boat consists primarily of an electrically powered motor which is removably secured to a spring-loaded bracket fastened to the transom of the hull. A pulley secured to the motor shaft, carries upon it a pair of ropes, one each being slidably received within tubing fastened to the floor, the tubing being bent to form back rest means and guide means for the rope, the rope extending forwardly to a pivotable T-type bar arrangement which serves as foot pedal means for rotating the motor.

Abstract: A line tensioning device for maintaining a resilient sinuous bend in an elongated flexible line includes a pair of opposed semi-circular sections forming a rigid tube clamped coaxially about a portion of the length of the line and a pair of parallel elongated springs directed respectively between the opposite ends of the member and points along the line.

Abstract: A high speed planing boat hull including a transom stern, freeboard side portions and a wide-keeled lower hull portion which comprises keel sidewalls forming steep relatively constant deadrise angles, and keel bottom surfaces which are flat at the transom and progress forwardly to form shallow deadrise angles. First steps having shallow deadrise angles are located adjacent the keel sidewalls, second steps having similar deadrise angles are located adjacent the side portions, and risers having steep deadrise angles interconnect the first and second steps.

Abstract: A bottom release mechanism for a sonobuoy is provided in which a removable end cap is provided with a deformable detent member in the form of either a leaf spring or frangible member, which normally maintains a spring-loaded pin in locking engagement with the sonobuoy package thereby to lock the end cap in position at the bottom of the sonobuoy package. Upon water impact the deformable detent is deformed out of engagement with the spring loaded pin thereby releasing it which permits release of the end cap from the sonobuoy package. The use of the deformable detent member increases reliability of end cap release over large entrance angles of the dropped sonobuoy with respect to the surface of the ocean.

Abstract: This invention consists of a kit for facilitating the portage of canoes. The kit contains two identical spring loaded telescopic rods which attach spaced and parallel to each other to and between the central bar of the canoe and and any other strut on either side of said central bar, or to the front edge of the rear or front seat of the canoe. The other part of the kit consists of a cushion of soft resilient material which attaches to the center bar of the canoe and which is contoured to fit comfortably the back of the neck and center between the shoulders of the person carrying the canoe.

Abstract: A rudder post tube assembly for sailing craft having an inverted frusto-conical shell rotatably fitting in an inverted frusto-conical casing which opens out of the bottom of the craft. A rudder post tube is secured to the wall of the shell for rotatably supporting a rudder post of a rudder assembly so that the rudder post can be canted to port or starboard of the vertical axis of the craft by rotatably adjusting the position of the shell within the casing.

Abstract: A flotation jacket has flotation material therein to provide adequate inherent buoyancy for adults. A flap of waterproof insulative closed cell material is concealed on the inside of the body of the jacket and can be released therefrom to be converted into panels providing thermal protection in cold water to the lower trunk region of the wearer.

Abstract: A control system for a submersible barge wherein an operator can control movements of the barge by pushing joy sticks in various directions which correspond psychologically with the desired movements. The barge has a ballast tank located in each of its lateral quadrants along with a system for independently ballasting or deballasting any one of the tanks. The mounting of the joy sticks on the barge and the configuration of the ballasting and deballasting system are such that the operator can control the barge in pitch or roll in regard to any one of the barges longitudinal or diagonal axes.

Abstract: A water vessel having a pair of spaced, parallel pontoons connected by a deck on which there is fixedly supported a land traversing vehicle such as a motorcycle or a snowmobile. The water vessel includes at least one propeller operatively coupled to the power output drive of the land traversing vehicle, such that the propeller is rotated when the land traversing vehicle is operated. The water vessel further comprises a steering coupling mechanism which operatively couples the steering mechanism of the land traversing vehicle to at least one rudder carried by the water vessel such that the rudder is responsive to control the direction of the water vessel in response to the movement of the steering mechanism of the land traversing vehicle. The water vessel also comprises a rotatably mounted shaft having L-shaped outer ends extending beyond the outer portion of each pontoon.

Abstract: A waterborne vessel capable of carrying in its partially submerged hold a predetermined number of buoyant cargo containers, each container being partially supported by its own buoyancy and also engaged by the vessel, resulting in exchange of buoyancy between each container and the vessel. Plural hinged swash bulkheads are provided, and when the vessel is loaded to less than full capacity, some of the swash bulkheads are raised to an upright position at predetermined locations in the bottom hull structure of the vessel to resist potentially damaging forces of sloshing waters therein. When a full load of cargo containers is carried in the hold, the swash bulkheads are retracted to a stowed position in the bottom structure of the hull.

Abstract: A propulsion unit for vessels has rotatably interconnected upper and lower housing portions, the upper portion being arranged to extend horizontally through the hull and permit rotation of the unit in a vertical plane for access to the lower portion. The lower portion is independently rotatable through 360.degree. to provide steering and reverse functions and includes a screw propeller positioned for rotation in a horizontal plane enclosed by fluid inlet and outlet ducts, a shallow depth inlet duct being the only projection below the hull bottom line. The unit is designed to provide normal propulsion for slow and medium speed boats and jet propulsion for light, high speed planing craft.

Abstract: A set of plates, one rigidly mounted to the strut and the others to the craft structure. The plates are held together and are interconnected to one another by several sets of dowel pins which are sequenced to shear when an impact load at the foil rotates the strut. Thereafter, a pair of additional energy absorber devices, positioned to the left and right of the strut mounted plate, will likewise absorb energy until a rigid stop is obtained. Finally, a tang portion on the strut mounted plate will be sheared by the rigid stop at a load below which the strut will obtain damage.

Abstract: The specification describes a float device with at least one float body which forms a support surface element and has at least one skin which is resistant to water and forms a chamber. The chamber is filled up at least partly with plastic foam having closed pores and extending along the whole inner periphery of the flexible skin.

Abstract: An ocean-going catamaran has a pair of hulls which are connected by a bridge structure. Each hull has a longitudinal axis, forward hull portion and a rearward hull portion and is asymmetrical relative to its longitudinal axis. The forward and rearward portions of each hull are mirror symmetrical with reference to one another and the forward portion of each hull is straight at one side and curved at the opposite side in the region of the waterline. The straight sides of the respective forward portions include with one another an angle.

Abstract: A mooring system is proposed for use at docks where tide changes are large. The system requires two vertical mooring posts positioned on the dock at a distance apart so that when the ship is docked one will be at a bow section of the ship and the other at a stern section. The ship is fitted with two post-engaging devices, one in the bow area and one in the stern area, each of which will be in alignment with the appropriate mooring post. The post-engaging devices are mechanically movable so as to engage the adjacent post and the engagement will prevent horizontal movement of the ship, but will permit vertical movement in accord with the tides.