Patents Examined by Jovon E Hayes
  • Patent number: 11697483
    Abstract: System and methods are provided that relate to a drive arrangement for propelling a boat, in particular a kayak. In some embodiments, the drive arrangement can include an electric drive motor with a shaft and a receiving device for receiving the shaft. An arresting element can be provided for determining a first desired distance along the shaft between the receiving device and the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Despineux, Dominik Busse
  • Patent number: 11685485
    Abstract: A vessel hull stabilization system includes a housing having a rotatable shaft mounted thereto, the shaft configured to connect to a fin such that the fin is located on an outside of the vessel hull and the housing is located on an inside of the vessel hull. A drive system is mounted to the housing and includes a motor and a drive element. The motor is connected to a central shaft of the drive element. The drive element includes a plurality of teeth positioned between the outer element and the central shaft such that when the motor rotates the central shaft, the plurality of teeth oscillate inwards and outwards to interact with teeth in the outer element and thereby cause rotation of a fin shaft connected to the outer element or to the gear having the oscillating teeth. A controller receives sensor readings to determine control signals to send to the motor(s) to impart rotation of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Naiad Maritime Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Venables, Steven J. Venables, Cameron Costen, Ryan W. Knapp
  • Patent number: 11687099
    Abstract: A boat includes a propulsion device that generates, by driving of an engine, a propulsive force to propel a boat body, a trim changer that changes a trim angle of the boat body, a trim actuator that drives the trim changer, and a controller configured or programmed to control operation of the trim actuator based on a value corresponding to a change in a boat speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11685477
    Abstract: A collapsible anchoring device is disclosed. The device includes a generally shaped frame made of metal and having a front and rear section. The frame includes two to four spades welded/formed to the front and rear sections ranging from 35 to 55-degree angles. Two or four spades are welded/formed on top of the frame and two or four spaded are welded/formed on the bottom side of the frame. Four butt hinges are welded to each end of the frame with stainless steel, galvanized, and or powder coated hardware in order allow the anchor to fold and lay flat. A handle bar attached to said frame and adapted for attachment to a boat anchor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Michael L. Campisi
  • Patent number: 11685499
    Abstract: A steering system for marine propulsion devices having a steering device and steering actuators configured to change steering angles of the marine propulsion devices. A control system is operatively connected to the steering actuators and operatively connected to the steering device to receive steering requests from the steering device. The control system is configured to receive a request to activate the steering for a first device among the marine propulsion devices. The control system is further configured to change the steering angle of the first device according to a steering request when the steering request is received after receiving the request to activate the steering for the first device and to leave the steering angle for the first device unchanged when the steering request is received before receiving the request to activate the steering for the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Thomas S. Kirchhoff, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 11685495
    Abstract: A system for suspending a lubricant in a marine propulsion device having a gearcase, the gearcase defining a gearset cavity for containing a propeller shaft gearset rotated by a driveshaft. The system includes a pump device configured to pump the lubricant away from the gearset cavity, and a reservoir located away from the gearset cavity and configured to receive the lubricant from the pump device. An input passage conveys the lubricant from the pump device to the reservoir, and an output passage conveys the lubricant from the reservoir to the gearset cavity. The reservoir is configured to retain a portion of the lubricant circulating between the gearset cavity and the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua S. Smith, David J. Landowski, David J. Waldvogel
  • Patent number: 11679846
    Abstract: A fin for use on a surfboard, the fin comprising: a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a base, the base comprising at least one mount for mounting the fin onto a surfboard; a first and a second outer fin surface which meet along the leading edge and the trailing edge and abut the base; and a first ridge protruding laterally from the first outer fin surface, and/or a second ridge protruding laterally from the second outer fin surface; wherein the shape and configuration of the fin creates an area of lower water pressure around and in front of the fin, as well as disrupting and/or reducing the size of trailing vortices, resulting in additional forward thrust for the board on which the fin is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Glenndin George Miller
  • Patent number: 11673631
    Abstract: A device and method for temporarily attach a tool, such as a paddle or a fluid container, to a floatation watercraft, wherein the device is partially covered by a user's gear, such as a kayak skirt. The user's gear preferably includes an elastic edge element that slips under a lip of a cockpit or hatch of the watercraft wherein the invented is positioned between the lip and the elastic edge element while coupled with one or more tools. The device extends beyond both the watercraft lip and the user's gear whereby the tool may be supported distally from the watercraft lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Tohill
  • Patent number: 11667357
    Abstract: A power surfboard includes a surfboard body defining a first side, a supporting piece including at least one first fastener, and a power assembly. An accommodating groove is defined on the first side of the surfboard body. The supporting piece is arranged in the accommodating groove. The power assembly includes a power housing, an operating assembly, and a power source. The operating assembly includes an operating body, at least one second fastener connected to inner side walls of the operating body, and at least one operating piece arranged on the operating body. The power assembly is detachably arranged in the accommodating groove. When each operating piece is in a first state, each second fastener is connected to a corresponding first fastener. When each operating piece is in a second state, each second fastener is separated from the corresponding first fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FEILUN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaodan Yi
  • Patent number: 11667358
    Abstract: The invention relates to a watercraft, particularly a kayak having a battery compartment and motor mount for mounting a motor thereto. The kayak can be propelled either by a motor mounted to the motor mount or by manual paddling by a user of the kayak. The kayak may additionally have a seat mounted onto a track to allow the user to adjust their position as needed in the kayak. The kayak is extra wide to provide stability, while chamfered side walls allow the user to paddle with comfort regardless of the extra width. The kayak may optionally have wheels mounted thereon to facilitate handling and transport by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: PELICAN INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Réjean Boyer, Isabelle Dubreuil, Jean-Thomas Girard
  • Patent number: 11649014
    Abstract: A hydrofoil watercraft, in particular, a hydrofoil board is described herein. The hydrofoil board may comprise one or more of a body, a hydrofoil assembly, and/or other components. The body may have one or more of a deck surface configured to support a rider, a bottom surface opposite the deck surface, and/or other surfaces and/or features. The body may comprise a fore portion having a planing surface forming part of the bottom surface. The body may have an aft portion having an aft bottom surface forming part of the bottom surface. The fore portion may be toward a front end of the board. The aft portion may be toward a rear end of the board. An aft cross-sectional thickness between the deck surface and the aft bottom surface may be less than a fore cross-sectional thickness between the deck surface and the planing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Forward Maui LLC
    Inventor: Keith Teboul
  • Patent number: 11649027
    Abstract: Described is an acceptor/adapter device for securing an outboard jet motor to a watercraft. The acceptor/adapter comprises a shrouded opening for communication with an intake of the outboard jet motor. Sidewalls of the acceptor/adapter device can form a tunnel, wherein the tunnel is configured for directing a flow of water through the tunnel, into the adapter/acceptor device, and into the intake of the outboard jet motor. Also described is a hull with a tunnel for directing a flow of water to an intake of an outboard jet motor, as well as a directional device which allows for vertical or horizontal adjustments to the jet output or reversing the jet output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: WAIMED ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventor: Mason Basten
  • Patent number: 11649012
    Abstract: A mooring device including: a strut with a first end and a second end; a first head; a pivot mount; a first suction cup; a rotating mount; a second head; a second suction cup; a rod; and a flotation cover sleeve. The pivot mount allows the first head to pivot about a first head axis and therefore to rotate relative to the strut. The rotating mount allows the suction cup to rotate about a second axis relative to the strut. The flotation cover sleeve having a buoyancy sufficient to render the entire apparatus positively buoyant in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: The HookCups Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Brant Gonzales, J. Scott Roberts
  • Patent number: 11649011
    Abstract: A mooring device including: a strut with a first end and a second end; a first head; a pivot mount; a first suction cup; a rotating mount; a second head; a second suction cup; a rod; and a flotation cover sleeve. The pivot mount allows the first head to pivot about a first head axis and therefore to rotate relative to the strut. The rotating mount allows the suction cup to rotate about a second axis relative to the strut. The flotation cover sleeve having a buoyancy sufficient to render the entire apparatus positively buoyant in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: The HookCups Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Brant Gonzales, J. Scott Roberts
  • Patent number: 11649020
    Abstract: A fender davit device is disclosed. The fender davit device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes a fender and a davit comprising a hauling line holding the fender and a winch configured to move the fender by winding or unwinding the hauling line. The fender davit device also includes a hauling line tension maintaining part configured to maintain a tension of the hauling line holding the fender to prevent the hauling line from breaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG HEAVY IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang-Whee Kim
  • Patent number: 11643175
    Abstract: A personal watercraft includes a watercraft body including a deck. The deck includes a side-opening storage recessed inward to accommodate items. The side-opening storage has an opening facing outward in a width direction of the watercraft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Araki, Yu Shibuta, Kazunori Yamada
  • Patent number: 11643177
    Abstract: An apparatus that facilitates search and rescue, for example, in open water. The apparatus comprises a substrate with a particular geometry and a perimeter. The apparatus further comprises a cover positioned atop the substrate with the cover also having a particular geometry and perimeter, which correspond to the geometry and perimeter of the substrate. An air-tight seal seals the substrate perimeter to the cover perimeter and creates a sealed internal region. A breakable vessel holding an activator is located in the sealed internal region, along with illuminable dyes that are also located in the sealed internal region. When the breakable vessel is broken, the activator reacts with the illuminable dyes and illuminates the illuminable dyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Battle Sight Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Ripplinger, Christopher J. Vogt
  • Patent number: 11643176
    Abstract: A hull assembly for a pontoon boat includes a hull extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end. A first thruster assembly is attached to a first lateral side of the hull. A second thruster assembly is attached to a second lateral side of the hull. The first and second thruster assemblies include respective thrust units that are each movable between a deployed position and a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Mueller, Daniel J. Balogh, Wayne M. Jaszewski
  • Patent number: 11643174
    Abstract: A small planing watercraft with an imaging device includes: the imaging device incorporated in the small planing watercraft, and capturing an image of surroundings of the small planing watercraft; and a display device incorporated in the small planing watercraft at a location where the display device is recognizable by an operator of the small planing watercraft, and displaying the image of surroundings captured by the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Kawasaki Motors, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Kato, Toshio Araki, Hiroaki Maeda, Yoshinobu Uozumi
  • Patent number: 11634196
    Abstract: A straddle seat assembly having a backrest and a straddle seat is disclosed. The straddle seat has a base structure that has an upper surface to which a resiliently deformable top portion is connected. The resiliently deformable top portion covers at least partially the upper surface. The backrest is selectively connected to the resiliently deformable top portion at either one of at least two positions along a length of the straddle seat such that deformation of the top portions permits movement of the backrest. A personal watercraft having the straddle seat assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Carl Begin, Kim Ross, Simon Baldachino, Richard Lefebvre