Patents Examined by Stephen P. Avila
  • Portable propulsion facilitation system, device and method
    Patent number: 11548602
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable propulsion facilitation device and system for a marine vessel provide a rechargeable power source and a removable trolling motor mounting base securable to a marine vessel. In various embodiments, the power source employs rechargeable batteries that are secured within a cover. The device can include an access door that permits a user to access the power source when removal or replacement is necessary. The power source can be maintained within a housing of a trolling motor or one or more housings secured to the mounting base. In various embodiments, the mounting base is integrated with, or attachable to, one or more tubes, wherein the tube(s) can be secured and/or placed in a traditional fishing rod holder or other opening on the vessel. A trolling motor can be secured to the mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Randall Vann Rienerth, Jay Robert Scanny
  • Systems and methods for rotational control of a trolling motor
    Patent number: 11548603
    Abstract: Trolling motor assemblies and related methods of operation. A method includes providing an assembly comprising a main housing; a shaft rotatably coupled with the main housing, the shaft having a longitudinal axis; a gear coupled with the shaft; a plate rotatably coupled with one of the shaft and the main housing; and a projecting rib coupled with the other of the shaft and the main housing. The plate is rotated through a first angular displacement about the longitudinal axis. The gear is rotated through a second angular displacement about the longitudinal axis that is greater than the first angular displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Christopher D. Crawford, Guy Coonts, Peter VerBrugge
  • Amphibious pumping vehicle
    Patent number: 11541708
    Abstract: An amphibious vehicle has a floatable vehicle body; ground engaging propulsion structure having a plurality of ground engaging elements powered by a hydraulic motor; a fluid pump for pumping liquid manure; a power source connected to a hydraulic pump and configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump; and, remote control structure for controlling the ground engaging propulsion structure and a flow of fluid from the fluid pump. The speed and/or direction of the vehicle is remotely controllable by an operator remote from the vehicle when the vehicle is ground engaging and when the vehicle is floating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Nuhn Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Nuhn
  • Surfboard with replaceable battery
    Patent number: 11535341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surfboard with an electric drive (2), a battery for the electric drive (2), said battery being arranged in a battery housing (3), a first recess (4) for the battery housing (3), and a handle (5) on the battery housing (3), wherein the handle (5) is designed as a D-shaped bracket handle which is pivotally mounted on opposite sides (6) of the battery housing (3) and has a locking mechanism (7) for the first recess (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: WBV Weisenburger Bau+Verwaltung GmbH
    Inventor: Nicolai Weisenburger
  • Wind generator
    Patent number: 11530686
    Abstract: A wind generator for sailboats including a mast (A) provided with crosstrees (C), including: at least one wind generator (1) provided with a distribution of blades (2) arranged to rotate integrally with a shaft (6) of axis (a) in response to receiving a wind flow in an active direction (v) incident to the blades distribution; an electric generator (3) operatively connected to the generator (1) for converting the rotation of the blades (2) into electricity, comprising structure (22, 41) for fixing the generator (1) to a crosstree (C), and with the blades (2) being movable from an open operating position (P1) of maximum incidence of wind flow (F) to a closed non-operating position (P2) of minimum obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventor: Andrea Moscardini
  • Scuttle module for field configurable vehicle
    Patent number: 11530017
    Abstract: A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The vehicle can include a module that enables the vehicle to be scuttled or destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Eric Seeley
  • Personal water craft foot well drainage system
    Patent number: 11524749
    Abstract: A personal water craft includes a hull; a deck attached to, or integral with, the hull; a foot well having a foot well floor that is configured to receive a foot of a user of the personal water craft; and a drainage system configured to drain liquid from the foot well, the drainage system having a tube extending from the foot well floor to a location outside the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: Richard W. Schmidt
  • Universal motorized personal watercraft propulsion mounting system
    Patent number: 11524758
    Abstract: A paddle assistance and propulsion system for use with personal watercraft is disclosed. The paddle assistance and propulsion system may include different mounting techniques that allow a propulsion device (e.g., a motor) to be coupled to various types of personal watercraft. Some mounting techniques may include the use of magnets to couple a motor-side mount to a boat-side mount. The paddle assistance and propulsion system may also utilize a variety of sensors in combination with control systems to provide various types of paddle assistance and different types of paddle assistance modes for the user of the personal watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Defekt Biomedical, LLC
    Inventors: Damon Vincent Borich, Karen Borich, Andrea Grbavac, Zwckxally Obregon
  • Water sports boat with foil displacement system
    Patent number: 11518482
    Abstract: A foil displacement system includes one or more foils that can be deployed and stowed. When deployed, each foil can exert downforce or uplift depending on its orientation. For example, each foil may be positioned to have an angle of attack that creates a downward force effectively transmitted to the hull to pull the hull deeper within the water to, for example, create a larger wake. Use of the foil displacement system can enhance or replace the use of a ballast tank system, can be integrated into a new boat or retrofitted to existing boats, can be electronically or manually positioned, can enhance activities such as wake surfing, wake boarding, water skiing or other similar or related water sports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Malibu Boats, LLC
    Inventors: Cory Wade Dugger, Rachael Marie Green, Jeffrey Lee Predmore, Scott Thomas Ward, Matthew Welton
  • Surfboard with replacement battery and push-up mechanism
    Patent number: 11518267
    Abstract: A surfboard with an electric drive (2), a battery for the electric drive (2), said battery being arranged in a battery housing (3), a first recess (4) for the battery housing (3), and a handle (5) on the battery housing (3), wherein the handle (5) is designed as a bracket handle which is mounted pivotably around a respective centre of rotation (21) at each of the handle ends on opposite sides (6) of the battery housing (3), and in each case a lug (9) protrudes from the base side of the recess below the centres of rotation (21) inside the first recess (4), and at each handle end of the bracket handle a second projection (33) is formed, which has a curved edge (34) and which rests on the lug, and a distance between a contact point of the curved edge (34) with the lug (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: WBV Weisenburger Bau+Verwaltung GmbH
    Inventors: Nicolai Weisenburger, Claudia Zeiger, Jochen Schneider
  • Systems and methods for enhancing features of a marine propulsion system
    Patent number: 11519327
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel has an outboard motor including a cowl covering an internal combustion engine that powers the outboard motor and an accelerometer mounted to the outboard motor. A control module is communicatively connected to the accelerometer. The control module receives information regarding an acceleration of the outboard motor from the accelerometer. The control module uses the information regarding the acceleration of the outboard motor to do at least one of the following: determine an angle of the outboard motor with respect to gravity; determine an amount of oil in an oil sump of the outboard motor; and determine if a reading of the amount of oil in the oil sump is accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Lemancik, Jason S. Arbuckle, Matthew W. Snyder, Robert R. Osthelder, Steven J. Andrasko
  • Outboard motor and control method for outboard motor
    Patent number: 11512657
    Abstract: A controller performs hydrolock prevention control when an engine is started. The controller determines whether a crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times upon starting the engine without ignition of the engine. The controller performs the ignition of the engine after the crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Amphibious aircraft taxiing and docking systems
    Patent number: 11511832
    Abstract: Provided herein is a taxiing system for steering an amphibious aircraft on a body of water. The system has a pair of thrusters that are deployed after landing on the water to taxi the amphibious the aircraft prior to docking and to unloading and are retractable to taxi the amphibious aircraft prior to take-off. Also provided is a docking device to dock the amphibious aircraft to a mooring buoy. In addition provided herein is a system for maneuvering an amphibious aircraft during taxiing and docking on water that integrates the taxiing system with the docking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: They
  • Marine engines having a supercharger
    Patent number: 11511840
    Abstract: A marine engine comprises a powerhead having an engine block, a cylinder head and a crankcase containing a crankshaft. Operation of the marine engine causes rotation of the crankshaft. A crankcase cover encloses the crankshaft in the crankcase. A supercharger is on the crankcase cover, the supercharger being configured to provide charge air for combustion in the powerhead. The supercharger comprises a charge air outlet for conveying charge air from the supercharger for combustion in the powerhead, the charge air outlet being oriented so as to discharge the charge air towards the powerhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg D. Langenfeld, Jinesh Arakkal Meethal, Christopher R. Jenks
  • Posture control system for hull and marine vessel
    Patent number: 11511833
    Abstract: A posture control system for a hull includes a movable posture control plate. An outboard motor is attached to the hull and is movable with respect to the hull. A controller is configured or programmed to control movement of the posture control plate and movement of the outboard motor so as to control the posture of the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inoue, Jun Nakatani, Satoru Hamada
  • Mounting apparatus and related methods of fabricating or retrofitting a surfboard with said mounting apparatus
    Patent number: 11505290
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surfboard foothold with at least one digit that is removably provided to a receiver with a digited footprint in a surface of a surfboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Byron Rohrer
  • Outboard motor stabilizer
    Patent number: 11506117
    Abstract: An outboard motor stabilizer of unitary construction has a cylindrical body and an axially oriented cylindrical orifice with an opening at the bottom end of the body. The orifice has a diameter sized to fit onto a tilt rod of an outboard motor and is of a length that is longer than the tilt rod of the outboard motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Rich Frey
  • Neutrally buoyant liquid supply units for underwater vehicles
    Patent number: 11498436
    Abstract: An underwater liquid supply unit includes a first bladder containing a first liquid, a second bladder containing a second liquid, and a third bladder containing a third liquid. The combined volume of the first liquid, second liquid, and third liquid is neutrally buoyant relative to a surrounding medium the liquid supply unit is disposed in (e.g., in seawater). As the first liquid, second liquid, and third liquid are dispensed from the bladders, the bladders may reduce in size in at least one dimension. As the liquids are dispensed, the liquids may be dispensed in a predetermined volumetric ratio based on the density of the liquids to maintain neutral buoyancy of the combined volume of liquid. The underwater liquid supply unit may also include an integrated generator such as a fuel cell, as well as a propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Theodore Bloomstein
  • Systems and methods for an amphibious submersible for pipe interior and wall inspection
    Patent number: 11499665
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an amphibious submersible vehicle for use in non-destructive testing of pipe interiors and walls are disclosed herein. In one aspect, the vehicle is operable for amphibious submersible operation such that pipes of various diameters can be inspected under full, partially full, and dry conditions. In another aspect, the vehicle is equipped with a plurality of propellers for travel when fully or partially submerged in water and a plurality of wheels for traveling when in contact with a pipe wall or for traveling over debris. In some embodiments, the vehicle is equipped with a plurality of sensors configured for imaging and navigation which enable the vehicle for pipe inspection and identification of problem areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Hamidreza Marvi, Borhan Beigzadeh, Hosain Bagheri, Tae-woo Lee
  • Control system for small marine vessel
    Patent number: 11498647
    Abstract: A control system for a marine vessel that includes a drive source and an operator that receives an operation is able to switch a control mode of the drive source without providing an additional operator. An operation received by the operator when the drive source is resting is disabled, and a function of switching a control mode of the drive source is assigned to the operation of the operator that is received when the drive source is resting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryutaro Iwaki, Shigeyuki Ozawa