Patents Examined by Stephen Avila
  • Patent number: 9505474
    Abstract: A low-disturbance trolling transducer mount system and method for shallow-water fishing and similar situations presenting a need to navigate through vegetation and obstructions, protecting against obstructions, without disturbing or destroying the fish-inhabited vegetation, without disturbing the water around the vegetation, placing and maintaining the transducer in the proper relation to the vegetation and to the trolling motor to avoid entanglement and turbulence affecting reliability of readings, including prevention of the trolling motor hindering the operation of the transducer, or vice versa, allowing for movement of the transducer around obstructions and heavy vegetation, with a streamlined design and durable construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Michael G. Marodis
  • Patent number: 9499235
    Abstract: A kayak paddle holder includes a handle retention clip and at least one suction cup. The handle retention clip includes a lengthwise body and a pair of opposing lips. The lengthwise body includes an inner perimeter, which is sized to receive a handle of a kayak paddle. The pair of opposing lips extend inward from opposing edges of the lengthwise body. Each suction cup includes a suction cup portion and a mounting portion. The suction cup portion is retained by the mounting portion. The mounting portion is preferably attached to the handle retention clip with at least one fastener. The suction cup may be replaced with a twist lock suction cup. It is preferable to attach one suction cup to each end of the handle retention clip. In use, the at least one suction cup is secured to a flat surface on a kayak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Michael A. Blavat
  • Patent number: 9493047
    Abstract: An amphibious unicycle, comprising an annular casing having an accommodation cavity; two sides of the annular casing are respectively provided with openings communicating with the accommodation cavity; the openings are provided with doors for closing the openings; the doors are rotatably connected to the annular casing; the two sides of the annular casing are respectively provided with annularly arranged external rotor motors; the external rotors of the external rotor motors are provided with a plurality of drainage holes therein arranged along the circumference of the external rotors; the accommodation cavity is provided with a power system for driving the unicycle to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ZHIYOU BATTERY INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shugang Gong, Bo Fu, Lei Peng, Yiguo Xu, Yun Chen
  • Patent number: 9493216
    Abstract: System and methods for floating dockside liquefaction of natural gas are described. A system for floating dockside liquefaction of natural gas comprises a natural gas pretreatment facility located onshore proximate a dock, wherein the natural gas pretreatment facility is configured to process pipeline quality gas into pretreated natural gas, a floating liquefaction unit moored at the dock, wherein the floating liquefaction unit further comprises a natural gas liquefaction module on a deck, and an LNG storage tank for storing produced LNG below the deck, a pipeline coupling the onshore pretreatment facility to the dock, wherein the pipeline is configured to transport pretreated natural gas onto the dock, and a high pressure gas arm fluidly coupling the pipeline to the floating liquefaction unit, wherein the gas arm is configured to transfer pretreated natural gas to the floating liquefaction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Excelerate Liquefaction Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Scott, Thomas M. Norton, Michael Anthony Watzak, Kenneth Hugh McGeachie, Robert Tylor Olsen, Martin A. Hruksa
  • Patent number: 9487269
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a keel having a support mount disposed proximate a bow end of the keel and a power plant disposed proximate an aft end of the keel, a support rotatably mounted to the keel at the support mount and supporting a cabin or equipment, a canard mounted to the keel, and an airfoil mounted to the support. The canard is adjustable to thereby adjust an amount of lift provided to the bow end of the keel, and the airfoil is adjustable to thereby adjust an amount of lift provided to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Richard Chutter
  • Patent number: 9486020
    Abstract: A daily-use garment that is substantially normal in appearance includes a head portion corresponding to a head region of a person, and a body portion corresponding to a torso of the person. The head region is configured to cover the head region of the person with a first flexible chamber positioned in the head portion. A second flexible chamber is positioned in the body portion. A fluid supply device of the daily-use garment includes a container configured to hold a fluid under pressure, a first activation member configured to open the container, and one of a conduit and a nozzle that supplies the fluid from the container. The fluid supply device opens the container and supplies the fluid to at least one of the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber, and the daily-use garment is converted from a first state to a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventors: Rohan Arora, Rahul Busayavalasa, Prasan Chari, Caroline Maloney, Grace Maloney, Satya Paruchuri, Connor Patterson, Samantha Steadman
  • Patent number: 9487272
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for deploying one or more anchor piles on the seafloor using submersible line tensioning systems and techniques to achieve tensioning of mooring lines at the seafloor rather than at the conventional vessel deck level. Among other things, the disclosed systems and methods may be advantageously employed for tensioning mooring lines for Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) when additional mooring legs must be added to the original complement of MODU legs, as well as and for tensioning mooring lines for vessels having turret mooring systems, each of which have limited space for surface tensioning equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Intermoor, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Bauer
  • Patent number: 9481437
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a drive shaft that transmits rotational power from an engine, a shift unit provided in the middle of the drive shaft, and a water pump that feeds a coolant to the engine. The drive shaft has a first input shaft that receives rotational power transmitted from the engine and a second input shaft that receives rotational power transmitted from the first input shaft. The shift unit has an upper gear rotating in synchronization with the first input shaft, an intermediate gear meshing with the upper gear at all times, and an intermediate shaft extending to the rear side from the intermediate gear and rotating in synchronization. The oil pump as an accessory is operated by the rotational power transmitted to the intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsushi Achiwa, Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9481430
    Abstract: A lightweight transport vessel transports compressed natural gas underwater without needing to liquefy the gas for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Elwha, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Tom Driscoll, Alexander Galt Hyde, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9475563
    Abstract: There is provided an electric outboard motor. An upper unit is provided to be rotatable in a horizontal direction about a swivel unit. A lower unit is provided below the upper unit and configured to function as a rudder. The upper unit comprises an electric motor supported by a rear side of the swivel unit via a mount unit. The upper unit or lower unit has a gear deceleration device configured to couple an output shaft of the electric motor and a drive shaft extending in an upward and downward direction to each other. The drive shaft is coupled to the gear deceleration device in front of the output shaft of the electric motor and configured to transmit an output of the electric motor to a propeller provided in the lower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shomura, Akinori Yamazaki, Sho Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 9475562
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a drive shaft that transmits rotational power from the engine, and a shift unit provided in the middle of the drive shaft. The shift unit has a dog clutch that reciprocates in parallel with the drive shaft, a shift fork member that reciprocates the dog clutch in parallel with the drive shaft, and a linear motion type actuator that reciprocates the shift fork member in parallel with the drive shaft. The actuator is arranged in the vicinity of the front side of the dog clutch such that the direction of the rectilinear motion of the screw shaft is in parallel with the axial line of the drive shaft, and the shift fork member is connected to the screw shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Sugiyama, Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9475560
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an internal combustion engine, and an adapter plate having an upper end that supports the engine and a lower end formed as a cylindrical neck. A driveshaft housing below the adapter plate has an integral oil sump collecting oil that drains from the engine and through the adapter plate neck. One or more bearings couple the adapter plate neck to the oil sump such that the driveshaft housing is suspended from and rotatable with respect to the adapter plate. A driveshaft is coupled to a crankshaft of the engine, and extends along a driveshaft axis through the adapter plate neck, bearing(s), and oil sump. A steering actuator is coupled to and rotates the oil sump, and thus the driveshaft housing, around the driveshaft axis with respect to the adapter plate, which varies a direction of the outboard motor's thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne M. Jaszewski, Randall J. Poirier, Andrew Tuchscherer
  • Patent number: 9475549
    Abstract: An inflatable shallow draft fishing boat having a removable, inflatable paddleboard floor that provides stable flotation for at least two standing adults, the boat also including an adjustable, detachable rowing frame. The boat can be maneuvered and propelled by oars, a push pole or a small motor. A detachable rowing frame allows the rower to switch his rowing position from facing the stern (for best speed) or face the bow (for better visibility when searching for fish). The paddleboard floor may be held in place by frictional engagement when the boat and the paddleboard are inflated; alternatively, the paddleboard may be removed and function independently as a stand-up paddleboard that can be used for fishing, swimming, or similar recreational water sports. The transom may be shortened for navigating rocky rivers, and measurement markings may be included on the outer side for measuring fish while the fish remain in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Richard L. Swan
  • Patent number: 9469385
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a stand-up board (1) endowed with a lighting system and an underwater viewing window (3) hermetically placed between the upper (2) and lower (8) plates, provided with a waterproof box for feeding battery (6), and a vapor purge valve (7); furthermore, the referred board has a visual alert signaling system (4 and 5) arranged along bow and stern of the respective stand-up board (1), that may be self-powered or use a feeding battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: WORK STATION COMERCIO DE PECAS LTDA-ME.
    Inventor: Everson Imparato
  • Patent number: 9463849
    Abstract: A flexible lifting tether system for lifting a marine vehicle or object is described which is capable of significantly improving the primary characteristics of an existing cable by enhancing load-carrying capabilities (e.g. in air), modifying the tether to have altered specific gravities in water, and relieving torsional stresses when in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Inventors: Robert McCabe, Andrew Bowen, Matthew Heintz
  • Patent number: 9457876
    Abstract: A multiple strand pool noodle is provided. The multiple strand pool noodle has at least two strands formed of extruded foam where each of the strands has a first end and a second end. The first ends of the strands are contained in a first end member and the second ends of the strand are contained in a second end member. A length of the strands extends between the first and second end members. The strands are movable with respect to each other along the length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HICKORY SPRINGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Wesley Godfrey, Joseph Shawn Huffman
  • Patent number: 9452812
    Abstract: Propulsion unit for propulsion and maneuvering of a maritime vessel, including a nozzle provided with a sectioned leading edge on inlet of the nozzle, which leading edge is formed by sections of a low-weight non-metallic material, and a front ring, which front ring is arranged between main part of the nozzle and the sectioned leading edge and is arranged for providing a fastening point for the sections of the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Marine AS
    Inventors: Steinar Aasebø, Rune Garen
  • Patent number: 9452813
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine including a plurality of cylinders, a drive shaft, an oil pan portion provided below the engine and including an oil storage region, an oil pump configured to be driven by a drive portion of the drive shaft passing through the oil storage region and located in the oil storage region, and a supply path configured to supply oil from the oil pump to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kimitaka Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 9452811
    Abstract: A support and guidance structure includes a support equipped with a guidance device configured to guide at least two masts in translation in a raising direction. The support delimits a respective housing for each of the masts, and a fixation device is configured to fix the support and guidance structure to a structural part of the underwater vehicle. Each housing is open, on all planes perpendicular to the raising direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: DCNS
    Inventors: Stephanie Biraben, Fabien Foucaud
  • Patent number: 9452808
    Abstract: A watercraft includes a hull, a first sponson and a first movement damper coupled to the first sponson that dampens movement of the first sponson relative to the hull. The watercraft further includes a second sponson and a second movement damper coupled to the second sponson damping movement of the second sponson relative to the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, Jr.