Patents Examined by Jesus D. Sotelo
  • Patent number: 7578714
    Abstract: A hand covering for controlling the stroking power of hand is provided. The hand covering includes a tubular shaped body-cover for bringing the hand in a covered state. The hand covering includes one or more insert members disposed within the body-cover of the hand covering. The insert members extend the body-cover beyond the fingers. Further, one or more slits are provided on the body-cover for bringing the hand in an exposed state from the covered state. The exposed state allows the hand covering to be rolled back onto the wrist of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Arthur E. MacKay
  • Patent number: 7562634
    Abstract: A diving device is provided herein. The diving device includes a sealed main body and an actuator. The sealed main body has a flexible portion disposed on one part of the sealed main body. The flexible portion is controlled by the actuator to change the volume of the diving device. Therefore, a force is generated to drive the diving device moving upward or downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Ching-Min Shu
  • Patent number: 7549903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an auxiliary device in connection with disassembly and/or assembly of a tunnel thruster unit by use of the auxiliary device (1) to guide the thruster unit (2) and its movement during disassembly/assembly inside the tunnel (4), the thruster unit (2) thereafter being led away through the tunnel (4), said auxiliary device (1) being removably fixed at the thruster unit (2) before final disassembly, such that the auxiliary device (1) controls the movement during disassembly/assembly, mainly by compressive forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Lars-Göran Andersson
  • Patent number: 7549385
    Abstract: The boat hull includes a bow, a stern and a bottom surface which extends from the bow to the stern. The hull includes a bottom surface with a deep-V shaped portion extending from the bow to a hull point which is aft of the mid-point of the bottom surface, approximately two-thirds thereof. At least two steps, referred to as flat steps, are included in the bottom surface of the boat, between the hull point and the stern. The steps extend across a portion of the bottom surface. Flat pads extend from each step to the next step or to the rear of the stern. A decrease in the size of the entire hull, referred to as a hull step, occurs at the second or third step in the bottom surface of the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventors: John F. Hansen, Lloyd T. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7547238
    Abstract: A floatable water board for supporting at least an upper body portion of a user person lying on the board when in a body of water is described. The board is formed of a flotation body constructed of buoyant material. The flotation body defines a bow end portion, a stern end portion, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A viewing cavity is provided in the flotation body and disposed at a predetermined location in a forward region of the flotation body. A transparent pane is sealingly retained at a bottom end of the viewing cavity and extends substantially in a plane of the bottom surface. An inflatable circumferential flotation collar assembly is secured about the cavity by a flexible and extendible section sealingly engaged about the viewing cavity and deployable above the top surface of the flotation body. The bottom surface of the flotation body is also provided with rails and channels to direct a water flow over the pane to evacuate any air bubbles which can impair visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Michel Melancon
  • Patent number: 7544111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas management device 10; 20; 30; 40; 50 comprising: a gas inlet 11; 32; 42; 52 adapted to secure a casing of a vessel 22, preferably a closure 26 sealing an opening of a gas cylinder containing pressurized gas; a gas outlet 12; 33; 43; 53 adapted to be secured to an inflatable unit 23; and a puncture device 10b; 31b; 41b; 51b for puncturing the casing of the vessel 22. The puncture device 10b; 31b; 41b; 51b comprises a pyrotechnical detonator 16 that, when activated, creates a chock wave which punctures the casing of the vessel 22, whereby gas from the vessel 22 is directed to the inflatable unit 23. The invention also relates to a method and a system for transferring gas from a pressurized vessel to an inflatable unit via a gas management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: P&P AB
    Inventors: Erik Isberg, Tor Christiansson
  • Patent number: 7544108
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power generation, distribution, and on-board power supply system for low-emission surface marine (navy) ships of different classes and sizes. The system is embodied as an equipment segment and includes at least one cruising speed drive unit, which can be supplied with electrical power from a DC network, and at least one auxiliary drive unit, e.g. a hydrojet, which can be supplied with electrical power from an AC network and can be connected as required. The DC network and the AC network are configured in such a way that power can be mutually transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rzadki, Matthias Schulze, Ronald Völzke, Bernd Wacker
  • Patent number: 7544110
    Abstract: An actuator for a marine transmission uses four cavities of preselected size in order to provide four potential forces resulting from pressurized hydraulic fluid within those cavities. The effective areas of surfaces acted upon by the hydraulic pressure are selected in order to provide increased force to move the actuator toward a neutral position from either a forward or reverse gear position. Also, the relative magnitudes of these effective areas are also selected to provide a quicker movement into gear than out of gear, given a similar differential magnitude of pressures within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: George E. Phillips, Richard A. Davis, Wayne M. Jaszewski
  • Patent number: 7543542
    Abstract: Device for disembarkation on a marine structure for landing a craft that can be conveyed on the surface of water, comprising interacting landing devices arranged to the marine structure and craft respectively. The landing devices comprise a principally vertically elongated part and a contact member, respectively. The contact member is intended to partially surround part of the elongated part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Inventor: Mikael Jakobsson
  • Patent number: 7540253
    Abstract: A boat steering system provides an operator with excellent efficiency and an excellent operation feel during direction guide member deflection by considering and making adjustments based on a running status of the boat. An ECU controls a direction guide member deflection angle limit. The ECU includes and/or communicates with detectors and the like for detecting one or more of an operation status corresponding to a steering wheel operation, a running status of the boat, recognizing a status of an outboard motor, and detecting a status of an electric motor that rotates an outboard motor. The ECU also controls a direction guide member deflection angle limit based on one or more of the detection values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7540796
    Abstract: This invention is directed toward a device which provides buoyancy to objects with negative buoyancy in water. The invention comprises a water-sensitive trigger which, when activated, causes a balloon to inflate, causing the object to float upon the surface where the user can then easily and safely retrieve it, through one of two mechanisms: first, a compressed gas is allowed to exit a canister and enter a balloon, second, one or more substances which, when mixed with water will produce bubbles are exposed to water and the balloon is filled with bubbles from the chemical reaction. There are a number of variable characteristics, including canister size and shape, trigger fuse length, balloon configuration, and housing material that allow a user tremendous flexibility in selecting a proper size of the invention for the user's intended purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventors: Fredrick Spears, Manfred Bradley Olson
  • Patent number: 7540797
    Abstract: Device for performing a gliding sport on water using a board of the water-ski type or the like, comprising: at least one board (1) for gliding on water, at least one boot assembly (2) designed to be releasably attached to the board, for a safe connection between the board and at least one foot of a user, and comprising: a rigid structure (3) comprising at least: a rigid sole (4) provided with a heel (5), a rigid metatarsal strap (6) provided with means (7) for locking on the user's foot, a rigid rod (8) provided with means (9) for locking around the user's lower leg, and pivotably connected to the heel of said sole, joint means (10) between said rod and the heel of the sole, located in an area corresponding substantially to the user's ankle, a flexible boot (11) arranged inside said rigid structure, means (12) for attachment, with a safety release, of said at least one boot assembly to said at least one board, which device includes at least one first rigid lateral blade (16), arranged at the right o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Pierre Blanger
  • Patent number: 7540249
    Abstract: An acceleration system for a link belt-mounted ship includes; water wheels, rotating shafts mounted through the water wheels, link belts surrounding the water wheels and formed at an outer peripheral surface thereof with hook-shaped blades, ball bearing units mounted external to the water wheels so that the rotating shafts are inserted therethrough, square pipes onto which the ball bearing units are bolted, hinges bolted onto the square pipes and each hinge having a hinge rod bolted to the hull, and hydraulic cylinders fastened on the square pipes so that they are fixed to the bottom surface of the hull by way of upper brackets and associated pins, and fixed to the square pipes by way of lower brackets and associated pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Nam Soo Park
  • Patent number: 7540252
    Abstract: An apparatus or integrated hull design to stabilize boats with V-shaped hulls. This invention includes a cavity affixed to the inside of the hull confirming to the shape of the inside of the hull. The hull has a step toward the rear of the hull to transition from the V-shape to an essentially flat shape. An opening is provided through the hull and cavity in the step. The cavity extends above water level and is provided with a cover and a vent. The design allows water to enter the cavity enhancing stability when idle or at slow speed and to exit the cavity when at higher speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Claude Carbonel
  • Patent number: 7534153
    Abstract: A surfboard manufacturing machine for fabricating a surfboard is disclosed. The machine may comprise gripper arms and suction arms which rotate and grip the surfboard blank or shaped surfboard as the surfboard manufacturing machine fabricates the surfboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: B4 Custom
    Inventors: Fred Koelling, Venugopal Subramanyam
  • Patent number: 7533627
    Abstract: A boat hull shield is disclosed including a hull perimeter bracket adapted to attach to a boat hull, the bracket extending along a port and a starboard chine of the boat hull. The hull shield further includes a convex panel, with a low-friction hard surface, for covering a bottom surface of the boat hull, having an outer edge retained by the bracket, extending from the port chine to the starboard chine of the boat hull, the convex panel forming a hollow space between the convex panel and the boat hull. A trim component is included in the hull shield which is attached to the aft end of the boat for adjusting an angle of a surface of the convex panel. The hull shield also includes a suspension component for absorbing impact force on the low-friction hard surface of the convex panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventor: Glen R. Wooldridge
  • Patent number: 7534154
    Abstract: A floating water surface cover module, comprising a rim (1), and a shallow dome-shaped cover (2 )extending from the top of the rim (1 )and formed with a vent (3), the rim and cover being formed with shaped air-filled air-tight cavities (5 )spaced around the rim (1 )to provide buoyancy, the rim (1 )and the cover (2 )being configured so that one module will nest within another to form a stable stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Ian Arthur Burston, Raymond Walter Shaw, Mark Donald Edward Coghill
  • Patent number: 7530322
    Abstract: An apparatus with two configurations: a deployed configuration forming a watercraft that floats in water and a folded configuration that allows for transport of the apparatus. The apparatus includes multiple modules. One module is a planar sheet of corrugated material with a plurality of joints that allow the sheet to assume the shape of a hull when in the deployed configuration and to assume a box-shape when in the folded configuration. Another module is a paddle assembly that is releaseably connected to a pair of sidewalls when the sheet is in the deployed configuration. The paddle assembly is foldable such that it fits within the box-shape when the sheet is in the folded configuration. The planar sheet is foldable around a plurality of joints or hinges that are configured to fold two ways, thereby allowing the sheet to assume the two configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph A. Angelini
  • Patent number: 7527538
    Abstract: A small boat has multiple propulsion units. A toe angle of the multiple propulsion units can be altered while the boat is under way. The toe angle can be adjusted to improve performance in any of a number of areas, including top speed, acceleration, fuel economy, and maneuverability, at the demand of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7527007
    Abstract: A personal watercraft (PWC) is disclosed that is convertible between a stand-up type watercraft, and at least one of a straddle-type watercraft, a sit-down type watercraft or a kart-type position watercraft. The PWC includes a hull supporting a power source, and a deck, the deck supporting a steering handle support assembly. A kart-type seat assembly is removably supported by the deck, such that the seat assembly can be selectively removed by the user so that the personal watercraft can be operated with and without the kart-type seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Adamczyk, Yves Berthiaume
  • Patent number: 5155589
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for decomposing a set of complementary color signals that form a color enhanced image into four or five color maps of an image, for storing said four or five color maps on a sheet of black and white film, and for reconstructing color images from the black and white film images. An image that has been color enhanced in selected regions with color added to depict a variable characteristic that is color independent so that changes in that chracteristic can be determined is decomposed into four or five color constituent maps. The decomposition is performed on an image that is presented electronically as three complementary color bytes, or analog equivalents thereof, for each pixel with the value encoded in each byte being the intensity of that complementary color at that pixel of the image. Also disclosed is the storing on black and white film the constituent parts of a composite color image having a plurality of parts, e.g. four or five colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Inventor: David S. Gere