Patents Examined by Sherman Basinger
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Patent number: 7402017Abstract: An arrangement is provided for dry storing boats (2) and holding them readily available, comprising a number of boat storage spaces (22) arranged at a waterfront area, and a lifting device (7) for lifting or pulling boats (2) from the water. The boat storage spaces (22) are formed according to the invention by a mechanized shelf or honeycomb storage facility (13) or the like, having fixed installed transportation devices (15, 19) for the storage and removal of boats (2). Preferably, cassettes (16) are provided, on which the boats (2) are stored and removed as well as transported.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: KEURO Besitz GmbH & Co. EDV-Dienstleistungs KGInventor: Armin Stolzer
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Patent number: 7401567Abstract: The present invention relates to a prefabricated boat. The prefabricated boat comprises a body part being composed of a plurality of division members capable of being assembled, an armor part for wrapping around and fixing the body part assembled into a single body, and an air tube mounted on a desired position of the inner face of the armor part. The armor part has the form of a bag and is provided with an opening for receiving the plurality of division members constituting the body part. Air is injected into the air tube to expand it in the state that the armor part wraps around the body part. Due to the expansion force of the air tube, the division members constituting the body part are fixed firmly, thereby preventing the relative movements between the division members.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2004Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Inventor: Sun-Jae Park
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Patent number: 7396266Abstract: A watercraft paddle may include a shaft having first and second ends and at least one grip position therebetween for a user's hand. The paddle may further include a blade carried by the first end of the shaft, and at least one drip barrier positioned between the at least one grip position and the blade. The at least one drip barrier may include a base surrounding the shaft, and a concave sidewall portion extending vertically from the base toward the blade and curved laterally inward toward the shaft to define a water collection reservoir with the base for collecting water drippage from the blade along the shaft. The concave sidewall portion may have an arclength spanning greater than ninety degrees.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Inventor: David W. Woods
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Patent number: 7395772Abstract: The present invention is an accessory ready assembly that mounts to a support structure on a marine vessel. The assembly includes a male spline fitting having an end face that is configured to mount onto the support structure. A female spline connector is removably disposed on the male spline fitting. An accessory is disposed on an end of the female spline connector. A clamp is disposed on the female spline connector. The clamp securely fastens the female spline connector and the accessory to the male spline fitting.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Inventor: Stephen O. Slatter
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Patent number: 7389735Abstract: An apparatus for supporting docking of a marine vessel includes a distance measuring unit which measures a distance between the marine vessel and a candidate docking site, a distance measurement controlling unit which controls the distance measuring unit to measure distances between the marine vessel and at least three measurement points defined around the candidate docking site, a configuration evaluating unit which evaluates the configuration of the candidate docking site based on the distances between the marine vessel and the at least three measurement points, and a docking suitability judging unit which judges, based on the result of the evaluation, whether or not the candidate docking site is suitable for docking of the marine vessel.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kubushiki KaishaInventors: Hirotaka Kaji, Takao Kawai
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Patent number: 7387555Abstract: An apparatus and method for injecting a boat engine's exhaust gasses into the boat propeller's propwash, aft of the propeller. The apparatus comprises piping which injects the boat engine's exhaust gasses into the propwash of the boat, aft of the propeller. This results in the movement of the exhaust gasses away from the boat thus protecting the health of the boat occupants, reduced levels of air pollutants, and a reduction in noise pollution. The injection piping includes several features that protect the boat in the event that the injection piping should strike a solid object in the water.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Inventor: Larry Wayne Mann
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Patent number: 7383786Abstract: A device for elevating a platform over a boat deck. This type of device can include a platform, a drive, and at least one driven lift which is in communication with the drive. This driven lift can be coupled at a first end to the platform and at a second end to the boat deck. There can also be at least one controller in communication with the drive. In this case, the controller can be for controlling a height of the lift.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Inventor: John Giannasca
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Patent number: 7381106Abstract: A steering assist system for a watercraft including a force detection assembly adapted to detect a force further applied to an operator steering control of the watercraft after the steering control is turned to a maximum turning position. The steering assist system also includes a controller configured to increase a steering force produced by the watercraft in response to an output of the force detection assembly. In one arrangement, the steering assist system increases an output of a propulsion system of the watercraft in proportion to an output of the force detection assembly. In another arrangement, the steering assist system moves a steering force producing member, such as a deflector or rudder, for example, in response to an output of the force detection assembly in addition to, or alternative to, increasing an output of the propulsion system.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Mizuno, Ryoichi Nakase, Tsuide Yanagihara
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Patent number: 7377223Abstract: A personal watercraft has a hull, a deck disposed on the hull, a bin, and hood. The hood is operatively connected to the deck and is movable between an open position providing access to the storage bin and a closed position preventing access to the storage bin. An opening having a contour is provided in the deck forwardly of the watercraft's steering handles. The storage bin is disposed in the opening. The storage bin has a container disposed in the opening and a lid operatively connected to the container. The lid is movable between an open position providing access to an interior of the container and a closed position preventing access to the interior of the container. A storage bin to be used in combination with a personal watercraft is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventors: Pascal Toupin, Martin Bernier
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Patent number: 7377226Abstract: A remotely controlled apparatus for transporting liquid, such as oil, toxic chemicals, or the like, in a tank of a sunken ship to a floating body, without leakage and a method performed by the apparatus are disclosed. An underwater recovery device (100) of the apparatus includes a supporting frame (10), to which a plurality of devices including a linkage (111) are fixed, chucking devices (20) for fixing the underwater recovery device (100) to the sunken ship (500), a grabber (30) for attaching the base plate (80) to the supporting frame (10), DTB systems 40 for attaching the base plate (80) to the sunken ship (500), thrusters (50) for providing a propulsive force so as to attach the supporting frame (10) to the sunken ship (500), a hole cutter (60) for drilling a hole for the recovery of the liquid, and a liquid recovery device (70) for recovering the liquid through the hole drilled in the sunken ship (500).Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Korea Ocean Research and Development InstituteInventor: Hyek-Jin Choi
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Patent number: 7373897Abstract: A boat cover system that can provide some level of protection to the interior of the boat when the boat is not in use, and can also provide some level of protection to the occupants of the boat when the boat is in use. The cover system may include a cover assembly that includes a support frame and a cover, where the support frame supports the cover. One or more cover supports may be provided for supporting the cover assembly. The one or more cover supports may be adapted to allow the cover assembly to be moved between a raised position and a lowered position. In some cases, more than one cover assembly may be used on a boat.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: i3 VenturesInventor: Brian N. Tufte
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Patent number: 7373892Abstract: Novel prefabricated structural components such as precast concrete boxes having forms including rectangular parallelepipeds and hexagonal cylinders are disclosed which can be assembled together and/or with structural shapes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,697,736 and 5,697,473 to form waterfront structures such as seawalls, levees and breakwaters. Novel methods of waterborne transport and installation of the boxes and arrays thereof are disclosed, including modular vessels having bow and stern sections which can be connected directly together or mounted to a mid-section containing assemblies of such boxes, other structural elements or other vessels such as floating drydocks. Modular vessels can be assembled with any or all of the bow, midship and stern sections comprising honeycomb arrays of vertically-oriented hexagonal boxes.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Inventor: Sidney E. Veazey
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Patent number: 7367279Abstract: A system for supporting a user in a shock absorbing manner over a base floor comprising at least one base platform selectively secured the base floor. There is at least one additional platform wherein this platform can be stacked on top of the base platform. This additional platform can comprise the following elements: a flexible elastic shock absorbing element which may be in the form of any shock absorbing material such as rubber; and a substantially rigid housing disposed around the flexible element. This substantially rigid housing may be in the form of any substantially rigid material and may for example be a polyurethane foam or a blow molded plastic. At least a portion of the shock absorbing element can fit inside of this substantially rigid housing in a recessed region. There is also an additional layer of rigid material which is secured to this shock absorbing element in the form of a flexible layer. This additional layer of rigid material may also be in the form of rigid foam.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Inventor: John Giannasca
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Patent number: 7363870Abstract: A method and a device for protecting a vessel's loading space, the hold (1) of the vessel being provided with cargo pressure tanks (12), from excess pressure if a gas leakage should occur in the hold (1), the vessel being provided with a ventilating duct (8) which is separated in a gastight manner from the remaining rooms of the vessel and extends along the hold (1) of the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Knutsen OAS Shipping ASInventor: Per Lothe
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Patent number: 7363871Abstract: Improvements to a cleaning assembly include a support for a rotating object, a rotary brush, an apparatus for manoeuvring a floating vessel and an arm arrangement for cleaning a surface. Thus, an inventive cleaning assembly is provided, the cleaning assembly comprising a submersible framework, and two arms of the aforementioned arrangement pivoted to the submersible framework at the opposite end of the arm to the brush and gimbal arrangement, the arms having a substantially horizontal rest position and pivoted to allow the arms to move to move the brush to clean both sides of a floating vessel.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Lone Oak Investments LimitedInventor: Adrian Gerald Hudd
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Patent number: 7361070Abstract: An aquatic propulsion device for holding a hand or foot in a desired position, the device comprising a curvilinear support surface and a linking element arranged across the hand or foot joint at a desired angle to secure the joint in the desired position.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Inventor: Brian Bolstor
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Patent number: 7357090Abstract: A personal watercraft has a pole having a forward portion pivotally connected to the deck. Handlebars are operatively connected to the rearward portion of the pole. A pole support is connected to the pole at one end and to the deck at the other in order to support the pole above the deck. The pole support is preferably connected to the pole and the deck with latches. The length of the pole support can be adjusted in order to accommodate different sizes of riders.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventors: Sam Spade, Daniel Ferland, John Huberty
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Patent number: 7357684Abstract: The invention comprises a method of using a scalable, configurable “propulsor” system to move and navigate a submersible device through a fluid medium. A propulsor system is an assembly of individual propulsors that act in concert to form a substantially continuous control surface that undulates in a working fluid. Each propulsor is driven and configured by computer-controlled actuators so that the control surface undulates in various wave forms. Optional actuators that may refine the surface shape include an “orientation” actuator that drives rotation about the propulsor's longitudinal axis, and a “geometry” actuator that controls each propulsor's geometric configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Carl Phillip Gusler
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Patent number: 7357091Abstract: A self-repairing and unsinkable watercraft has the hull of the mid section of the craft covered by two moveable water impermeable sheaths. The sheaths rotate in opposite directions to temporarily seal a breach and to allow for better ease of permanent repair or replacement. In one preferred embodiment, the craft is fitted on each side with at least one pontoon-like sealed foam structure that is attached by moveable telescoping arms. Adjustment of the positions of these structures with arm movement provides for greater stability of the craft during various maneuvers, aids in keeping the craft upright, and adjusts for changes in buoyancy and lift as needed. When additional stability is wanted, the craft contains a layer of sealed foam beneath the main deck at or above the waterline and from one to three submerged cylinders that are opened or closed to the water at both ends as needed.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Inventor: Bernard Zeidler Koslower
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Patent number: 7354322Abstract: The present invention relates to a watercraft with an improved waterjet propulsion system. The present invention further relates to a waterjet propulsion system with an improved steering nozzle design. The watercraft preferably is either what is known as a jet ski, a boat or a ship. A watercraft can be propelled by the thrust produced by a high-speed waterjet discharged from a nozzle located at the rear of the watercraft. A device that enables this type of propulsion is called a waterjet propulsor or a propulsor. Larger watercraft, such as a boat or a ship may often have two or more waterjet propulsors. The improved steering nozzle design incorporates a groove(s) or a channel(s) that is formed or machined into the steering nozzle wall thickness and does not exceed the thickness of the wall. The groove(s) or channel(s) begins at a point between the steering nozzle inlet and exit and ends at a point near or at the exit of the steering nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2003Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.Inventors: Reed Carver, Brian M. Kolkowski