Patents by Inventor Blair Donat

Blair Donat has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12258110
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Fishburn, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Michael J. Fuchs, Andrew C. Schmid
  • Patent number: 12179889
    Abstract: Boat handling and control systems and methods related to one or more of steering and propulsion of a pontoon boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Krosschell, Blair A. Donat, Louis J. Brady, Patrick D. Weldon, Bradley R. Fishburn, Chiao George Liu, Michael F. Donoughe, Aidan B. Shaughnessy
  • Patent number: 12151798
    Abstract: An aquatic vessel, illustratively a pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed. The aquatic vessel executes a process to automatically position the aquatic vessel relative to a target location such as a mooring implement. Exemplary mooring implements include a dock, a slip, or a lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignees: Polaris Industries Inc., Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Andrew C. Schmid, Michael J. Fuchs, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Bradley R. Fishburn, Herman Herman, Prasanna Kannappan, Matthew Glisson, Krishna Pandravada, Suryansh Saxena, Louis Hiener, Nishant Pol, Gabriel Goldman, Karl Muecke
  • Publication number: 20240325948
    Abstract: A containment system for a fuel-water separator assembly on a watercraft. The containment system may be used to shield the fuel-water separator assembly from sunlight, enabling the containment system to be located outside existing above-deck compartments. When location within an existing compartment is desired, the containment systems, by virtue of isolating the fuel-water separator from the internal surroundings of the compartment, can be placed in closer proximity to electrical equipment, providing a greater degree of freedom with respect to the placement of the fuel-water separator assembly. The disclosed containment systems can be readily accessed for maintenance of the fuel-water separator. In some embodiments, the disclosed containment system is provided as a kit for retrofitting of existing watercraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Craig Blume, Blair Donat
  • Publication number: 20240251953
    Abstract: An adjustable seat assembly may have a seat back that is configurable in a fore position or a stern-facing seat, an aft position for a bow-facing seat, and a pillow position which facilitates a user laying down across the stern-facing seat. In addition, the seat back may be placed in a stowed position in which the seat back is absent from both the bow-facing and stern-facing seats, such that the seats cooperate to provide a planar support surface along an aft-to-fore extent of the seat assembly. The seat back may be adjustable by hand without tools, such that a user may easily reconfigure the seat assembly to sit facing the bow, to sit facing the stern, or to lie down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Blair A. Donat, David A. Yoder
  • Publication number: 20240253745
    Abstract: In some examples, a seat for a boat passenger is provided. The seat includes a seat back that has a forward passenger support interface. The seat back includes a main support and a supplemental support. The main support has a recess. The supplemental support is moveable relative to the main support between a first position wherein a first portion of the supplemental support forms part of the forward passenger support interface and a second position wherein a second portion of the supplemental support forms part of the forward passenger support interface. At least a portion of the supplemental support is received in the recess of the main support in the first position and is spaced apart from the recess in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Blair A. Donat, Victor B. Garcia
  • Publication number: 20240190535
    Abstract: A pontoon boat having a battery stowage system for suspension of batteries in a pontoon. The system provides sufficient clearance between the batteries and a bottom interior of the pontoon to enable water that may enter the pontoon to pass under the batteries for discharge, for example with a bilge pump. The stowage system providing for positioning the batteries in a stowed position below the deck in a pontoon and for translating the batteries upwardly to a deck access opening. The system may provide ease of access during installation and service of the batteries while protecting the batteries from elements that may be present in the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Blair Donat, Erik Rogers, Benjamin D. Duke
  • Patent number: 11992131
    Abstract: An adjustable seat assembly may have a seat back that is configurable in a fore position or a stern-facing seat, an aft position for a bow-facing seat, and a pillow position which facilitates a user laying down across the stern-facing seat. In addition, the seat back may be placed in a stowed position in which the seat back is absent from both the bow-facing and stern-facing seats, such that the seats cooperate to provide a planar support surface along an aft-to-fore extent of the seat assembly. The seat back may be adjustable by hand without tools, such that a user may easily reconfigure the seat assembly to sit facing the bow, to sit facing the stern, or to lie down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Blair A. Donat, David A. Yoder
  • Publication number: 20230373606
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Fishburn, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Michael J. Fuchs, Andrew C. Schmid
  • Patent number: 11738841
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Fishburn, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Michael J. Fuchs, Andrew C. Schmid
  • Patent number: 11618537
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed. The pontoon boat executes various operations relating to a speed and heading of the pontoon boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Schmid, Katie C. Kirchner, Michael F. Donoughe, Jeremy C. Smith, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Bradley R. Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20220411021
    Abstract: Couplers for attachment to a protrusion extending outward from a portion of a boat is provided. The coupler may comprise a base having an opening adapted to receive the protrusion, the base having a locked position and an unlocked position. The base being translatable along a first direction between the unlocked position and the locked position. The coupler may further comprise a retainer positioned to hold the base in the locked position; and an accessory support extending outward from the base in a second direction angled relative to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Fishburn, Blair A. Donat
  • Publication number: 20220348291
    Abstract: A pontoon boat is provided that includes at least two pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto; a deck framework mounted above and connected to the pontoons; a deck mounted on the deck framework; a recessed deck portion extending downwardly through the deck and the deck framework, the recessed deck portion forming a cavity into the deck including a bottom and side walls forming a basin extending into and beneath the deck; and at least one seat adjacent the recessed deck portion and mounted to the deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jacob Steven Vogel, Brad Roy Fishburn, Blair A. Donat
  • Patent number: 11420711
    Abstract: A pontoon boat is provided that includes at least two pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto; a deck framework mounted above and connected to the pontoons; a deck mounted on the deck framework; a recessed deck portion extending downwardly through the deck and the deck framework, the recessed deck portion forming a cavity into the deck including a bottom and side walls forming a basin extending into and beneath the deck; and at least one seat adjacent the recessed deck portion and mounted to the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Steven Vogel, Brad Roy Fishburn, Blair A. Donat
  • Publication number: 20220001962
    Abstract: Boat handling and control systems and methods related to one or more of steering and propulsion of a pontoon boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Brian D. Krosschell, Blair A. Donat, Louis J. Brady, Patrick D. Weldon, Bradley R. Fishburn, Chiao George Liu, Michael F. Donoughe, Aidan B. Shaughnessy
  • Patent number: 11208188
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Fishburn, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Michael J. Fuchs, Andrew C. Schmid
  • Publication number: 20210380210
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Bradley R. Fishburn, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Michael J. Fuchs, Andrew C. Schmid
  • Publication number: 20210298483
    Abstract: An adjustable seat assembly may have a seat back that is configurable in a fore position or a stern-facing seat, an aft position for a bow-facing seat, and a pillow position which facilitates a user laying down across the stern-facing seat. In addition, the seat back may be placed in a stowed position in which the seat back is absent from both the bow-facing and stern-facing seats, such that the seats cooperate to provide a planar support surface along an aft-to-fore extent of the seat assembly. The seat back may be adjustable by hand without tools, such that a user may easily reconfigure the seat assembly to sit facing the bow, to sit facing the stern, or to lie down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Blair A. Donat, David A. Yoder
  • Publication number: 20210094665
    Abstract: An aquatic vessel, illustratively a pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed. The aquatic vessel executes a process to automatically position the aquatic vessel relative to a target location such as a mooring implement. Exemplary mooring implements include a dock, a slip, or a lift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew C. Schmid, Michael J. Fuchs, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Bradley R. Fishburn, Herman Herman, Prasanna Kannappan, Matthew Glisson, Krishna Pandravada, Suryansh Saxena, Louis Hiener, Nishant Pol, Gabriel Goldman, Karl Muecke
  • Publication number: 20210094661
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed. The pontoon boat executes various operations relating to a speed and heading of the pontoon boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Schmid, Katie C. Kirchner, Michael F. Donoughe, Jeremy C. Smith, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Bradley R. Fishburn