Abstract: A marine propulsion system is configured to be preassembled prior to the attachment of a marine engine to the marine vessel. In other words, the marine engine is attached to a transom plate, a gimbal ring, and a bell housing prior to insertion of the engine into the marine vessel. The subassembly is then moved rearwardly to cause the bell housing, gimbal ring, and portion of the transom, bracket to pass through a preformed opening in the transom. Subsequently, a transom ring is attached to the transom bracket to affix the subassembly to the transom. Then a marine drive unit is attached to the bell housing.

Abstract: An infant seat/carrier equipped with low-density material spaced from the center of gravity of the seat/carrier to provide a torsion force on the seat/carrier to urge the seat/carrier to an upright position.

Abstract: A water ski having a fin mounted to an inflexible carrier and protruding through a rear portion of the ski in order that the user may take advantage of the natural flexibility of the ski to vary the depth of the fin in the water during use.

Abstract: A shock absorbing cushioning mat designed to protect the compartment liner of a liquid or oil carrying sea going vessel from tear or puncture by steel from the vessel's structure being forced inward by the external pressure created by grounding or collision of a bulk liquid carrying sea going vessel, while providing a firm yet flexible foundation for the compartment liner to eliminate or greatly reduce the potential for spillage of the cargo. The present invention also addresses the problem of compartment liner fasteners coming apart due to the continued motion of a sea going bulk liquid carrying vessel graveling across a body of water.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for a vehicle has an input shaft which is connected to pinion shafts so as to rotate together with the pinion shafts in a transfer casing. Pinion gears, provided on the pinion shafts, mesh with first and second differential side gears provided around the input shaft. A first output shaft is formed as a unitary body with the first differential side gear. Since a clutch mechanism is disposed on one side of and beside the first output shaft, the entire transfer apparatus structure is compact in both axial and radial directions of the input shaft. The second differential side gear is connected to a sprocket, which connected to a second output shaft. In order to transfer rotation of either the input shaft or the second differential side gear to the clutch mechanism, either a differential casing or a portion extending from the sprocket is provided so as to connect with the clutch mechanism.

Abstract: An improved handle for assisting in boarding or disembarking a water vessel such as a boat or power boat, particularly when such vessel is docked. The handle is pivotally secured to the dock so as to preferably swing from a position substantially vertical to the dock to a position substantially horizontal thereto, and reversely. Further, the handle, in one embodiment, is releasably secured to the dock at the pivot point so that it can be removed for storage when not in use. In another embodiment the handle includes a shaft comprised of a plurality of sections which slide with respect to one another and which are releasably secured to one another so that the hand-gripping portion can be removed for storage when not in use. Yet another embodiment of the invention features a handle which is releasably locked in the substantially vertical position to provide support for a user boarding or disembarking the water vessel.

Abstract: A hull intended for multi-hull vessels for goods and passenger transport at speeds of, e.g., 30-50 knots is characterized in that the vertical distance from the base line of the hull to the center-of-gravity point of the volume of the underwater body of the hull, up to a water line corresponding to a normal hull draft, is over 55% of the hull draft defined between the base line (BL) and the water line (T) in the case of the stern half of the hull extending between the stern and midships.

Abstract: A small boat mooring system is provided for securing a boat to a dock, pier or pilings in such a way that the boat is free to move vertically with the normal changes in tide or wave action. The system comprises a plurality of nylon lines, a snaphook for connecting each line to the boat, a counterweight connected to the other end of each line, and hardware mounted on each of a plurality of pilings. The hardware comprises a steel plate section, a lag eye, a quick link, and a pulley connected thereto for conveying the nylon line through the hardware. The system of the present invention permits vertical movement of the boat, such as that caused by rise and fall of tides or rolling of the boat, while maintaining the boat centered in the slip and away from an associated dock, pier or piling. The system further redistributes or absorbs energy produced by the action of water, wind and other conditions on the boat.

Abstract: An aeorsol dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid under pressure as an aerosol without the use of a pre-dosed propellant, comprising a container for storing the liquid to be sprayed, spray mechanism, and a mechanism for manually introducing atmospheric air into the apparatus to generate a positive pressure therein, the spray mechanism having a nozzle by which the fluid may be dispensed and a feeder pipe to supply the nozzle with fluid to be sprayed, characterized in that the apparatus additionally comprises an intermediate spacer collar which supports the spray mechanism, and to which the container may be attached.

Abstract: The electronic winterizer is a device that is installed in the interior of a boat. It winterizes an inboard/outboard engine without the use of a person knowledgeable of this process. It can be accomplished in or out of the water. The invention allows a boat owner to operate his inboard/outboard engine in cold temperatures without having to employ a person to winterize the engine each time he uses it. Thus it is made useful all winter. To operate, the inboard/outboard engine is first started. After the engine reaches an acceptable temperature, the thermostat is opened. While the engine is running the operator turns on a switch that is mounted in the dash of the driver's console. The switch activates an electronic timer that operates a DC powered valve and pump. At the time of operation the valve opens and the pump starts. The pump drains antifreeze from a holding tank that is also installed in the boat's interior. The pump dispenses antifreeze through the open valve and into the injector.

Abstract: A minesweeping system, self-contained within the water vessel sought to be rotected against contact-actuated moored mines, effective against moored mines which are directly in the path of the vessel, featuring a beam-and-float arrangement. A ruddered float is maintained by a control system in virtually forward position with respect to the vessel and is attached at the fore end of a long boom beam, the aft end of which is pivotably attached to the bow of the vessel. A depressor for maintaining submergence of the lower end of the tow wire and the inward ends of the sweepwires is attached at the lower end of the tow wire, the upper end of which is attached to the beam near the float. Port and starboard sweepwires are attached to the tow wire near the depressor, each sweepwire projecting generally horizontally and backwardly obliquely. Diverters attached at the outward ends of the two sweepwires maintain their proper orientation. Cutters are situated along the outward ends of the sweepwires.

Abstract: A small watercraft adapted to seat one or more riders in motorcycle fashion and which has a hull configured so as to facilitate leaning without capsizing. The foot area for the riders is such that a rider may either sit on the seat in straddle fashion or stand behind the seat and may move between these positions easily and while the watercraft is in motion.

Abstract: A roller skate wheel is constructed for rolling in both the forward and lateral directions of the skate. A plurality of rollers are mounted on the wheel hub, each roller rotatable about an axis tangential to a circle on the wheel axis. The rollers conform to a second circle on the wheel axis for contact with a skating surface. Application of friction to the rollers controls the resistance to lateral rolling, thus providing a braking action to the skater.

Abstract: An improved flexible boot 20 is provided for protecting aircraft operating mechanisms such as bearing 18 from foreign objects such as sand and dirt. The boot 20 has a slit 30 and an associated resealing arrangement 39 which allows the slit 30 to be resealably closed. The resealing arrangement 39 thus enables the protected mechanism or bearing 18 to be inspected without removal of, or damage to, the boot 20 while still allowing the boot to retain its ability to protect the bearing 18 from foreign object damage. The preferred resealing arrangement 39 is of the hook and loop type which is sold under the registered trademark Velcro.RTM..

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle has a hull with a seat portion formed on its upper side. An operator seated upon the seat would straddle the hull. The hull has a flotation body for buoyancy and four hollow, cylindrical wheels also contribute to the buoyancy. Handlebars are used to steer the wheels and to operate a rudder so that the amphibious vehicle may be operated on firm, sandy, soft, and liquid surfaces. The wheels have vanes which radiate outwardly and curve counterclockwise, viewing each wheel in the foreground and the hull in the background. This causes the vaned wheels to grip soil or mud and to channel water rearwardly to propel the amphibious vehicle forwardly. The vehicle is propelled by a pedaling mechanism.

Abstract: A protective tip cover for the sharply angled nose portion of a surfboard for reducing or preventing injury to the user upon impact with the nose portion of the board. Tip covers may be used for any type of surfboard, including those used for wind surfing. The cover comprises a relatively soft, resilient (e.g., silicone), generally V-shaped member provided with a gently rounded apex portion and a pair of rearwardly extending wing portions which merge into side surfaces of the board. Where used with a wind surfing surf board, the tip cover has a substantially flat bottom and gradually curved top. Upper and lower surfaces of the board may be provided with slots extending from the juncture of the wing portions toward the apex. An after market kit is also provided for enhancing the safety of existing boards. The kit includes a surfboard tip cover, suitable primer and adhesive, applicators and installation instructions.

Abstract: A marine propulsion driving apparatus for an inboard engine of the type having an input drive shaft with a propeller shaft extending through the stern of the boat, with the body of the drive extending substantially straight out from the stern of the boat with a propeller at the outer end thereof. Both steering of the boat and vertical trimming of the drive body are brought about by operating the drive body itself, the drive body being mounted in a mounting ring at the stern of the boat. A trimming mechanism mounted relative to the mounting ring includes two cooperating inclined adjustment rings mounted in direct contact with each other. One of these adjustment rings carries the drive body and the two adjustment rings are rotatable relative to each other such that different inclination angle combinations are obtained and the drive body is thereby trimmed vertically.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted to a boat for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal tilt axis, and for pivotal movement about a generally vertical steering axis, the propulsion unit including a propeller shaft adapted to support a propeller for rotation therewith, the marine propulsion device further comprising a steering mechanism for pivoting the propulsion unit about the steering axis, and a control system including structure for sensing force applied on the steering mechanism by the propulsion unit, and structure for pivoting the propulsion unit about the tilt axis in response to the force sensed by the force sensing structure.

Abstract: A backdown buoy-type mooring is provided which will pull supply vessels away from a tension leg platform while the supply vessel is being unloaded. The boat mooring system will consist of surface buoys attached to the top pad-eye of the lateral mooring intermediate buoys. The boat mooring system of the invention is configured for centering over a spaced array of ocean floor wells, being moved over to the farthest well, and adapted to be moved over to the nearest well.

Abstract: A trim and tilt mechanism angularly moves an outboard engine assembly into a desired trimmed position and also into a tilted position above the surface of the water. The outboard engine assembly is detachably mounted on the stern of a boat through a transom bracket and a swivel bracket coupled to the transom bracket for vertical angular movement relative to the transom bracket about a horizontal axis. The trim and tilt mechanism has a hydraulic cylinder unit including a casing which has one end pivotally coupled to the transom bracket and a piston rod which has one end pivotally coupled to the swivel bracket and which is reciprocally movable in the casing. Working oil to be supplied to and discharged from the casing is stored in a main tank and an auxiliary tank which are disposed in diametrically opposite relation to each other across the casing. The auxiliary tank is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a circular opening defined in its upper end and normally closed by an end cap.