Patents by Inventor Daniel Scott Trotter

Daniel Scott Trotter 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).

  • Publication number: 20240067321
    Abstract: A safety system for a boat, watercraft or other vehicle includes a kill switch connected to the motor for preventing the motor from running under dangerous circumstances. The system includes at least one proximity sensor operatively connected to the kill switch, so that the motor only runs when the proximity sensor detects a person properly positioned at the captain's console. Other sensors may form an array to communicate with the kill switch, either hard-wired together or wirelessly, upon detection of dangerous situations, including proximity sensors to detect if a swimmer is near the propeller or if the captain is not in position at the helm, gate sensors to detect when gates on the boat are in an open position, and ladder sensors to detect when a ladder is in a down position. The system may also include at least one rear facing camera operatively connected to a console-mounted video screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel Scott Trotter
  • Patent number: 11691698
    Abstract: A watercraft safety lighting system includes one or more light sensors for measuring ambient light levels, which are operatively connected to an electronic controller, such as a programmable logic controller or any suitable programmable computing device. The navigation lights are operatively connected to the electronic controller, as well as docking lights, interior lights, and instrument panel lighting, such as the lighting for gauges, instrument panels, video screens, GPS monitors, and the like. When ambient light levels reach a predetermined level of low light (as darkness is setting in, for example), the electronic controller is programmed to switch on the navigation lights, and to adjust other lighting to appropriate levels for night-time operations. The system may also shut off docking lights at a predetermined speed after dark, and may include alarms to warn the boat captain of improper lighting settings in low-light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Trotter, Maron Isom
  • Publication number: 20230150620
    Abstract: A watercraft safety lighting system includes one or more light sensors for measuring ambient light levels, which are operatively connected to an electronic controller, such as a programmable logic controller or any suitable programmable computing device. The navigation lights are operatively connected to the electronic controller, as well as docking lights, interior lights, and instrument panel lighting, such as the lighting for gauges, instrument panels, video screens, GPS monitors, and the like. When ambient light levels reach a predetermined level of low light (as darkness is setting in, for example), the electronic controller is programmed to switch on the navigation lights, and to adjust other lighting to appropriate levels for night-time operations. The system may also shut off docking lights at a predetermined speed after dark, and may include alarms to warn the boat captain of improper lighting settings in low-light conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Trotter, Maron Isom
  • Patent number: 10793245
    Abstract: A safety system for a boat, watercraft or other vehicle includes a kill switch connected to the motor for preventing the motor from running under dangerous circumstances. The system includes a fob that wirelessly communicates with the kill switch, so that the motor only runs when the fob is within a predetermined distance from the captain's console. Other sensors communicate with the kill switch, either hard-wired together or wirelessly, upon detection of dangerous situations, including proximity sensors to detect if a swimmer is near the propeller or if the captain is not in position at the helm, gate sensors to detect when gates on the boat are in an open position, and ladder sensors to detect when a ladder is in a down position. The system may also include an alarm emitting a visual or audible warning to the boat captain based on input from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Daniel Scott Trotter