Patents by Inventor Derek J. Fletcher

Derek J. Fletcher 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: 11939036
    Abstract: A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. A rail is configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A carriage is moveable relative to the rail into first and second positions. A shaft has a first end pivotally coupled to the marine vessel and a second end for coupling to the propulsor. An actuator is configured to pivot the shaft relative to the marine vessel to thereby move the propulsor into and between stowed and deployed positions. A lock is manually operable to fix the carriage in the first position in which the actuator prevents manual pivoting of the shaft and alternatively in the second position in which the shaft is permitted to be manually pivoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Robert A. Podell, Jeremy J. Kraus, James E. Erickson, Randall J. Poirier, Derek J. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11932369
    Abstract: A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. The device includes a mounting bracket configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A support frame has a carriage and is configured for the propulsor to be coupled thereto, where the carriage is configured to slidably engage with the mounting bracket into a fixed position. A member is manually engageable to prevent the carriage from sliding out of the fixed position. The propulsor is coupled to the marine vessel by sliding the carriage into the fixed position and engaging the member, where the propulsor is operable to propel the marine vessel in water when the carriage is in the fixed position, and where the propulsor is configured for decoupling from the marine vessel by disengaging the member and sliding the carriage out of engagement with the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Tom Geng, Steven Lu, Matthew Z. Seta, Jeremy J. Kraus, Keith W. Schmidt, James E. Erickson, Ronald L. Hall, Derek J. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11866144
    Abstract: A method for operating a propulsion device having a propulsor with a propeller, the propulsion device having a base coupled to a marine vessel and being configured to propel the marine vessel in water. The method includes moving the propulsor from a deployed position towards a stowed position, where the propulsor is closer to the marine vessel in the stowed position than in the deployed position, and where the propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in the deployed position. The method further includes rotating the propeller so as to fit between sides of the base coupled to the marine vessel when the propulsor is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Robert A. Podell, James E. Erickson, Kenneth G. Gable, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Derek J. Fletcher, Jeremy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11851150
    Abstract: A propulsion device for a marine vessel. The propulsion device includes a base configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position. A lock device has a rigid member and is selectively engageable such that the rigid member prevents the propulsor from pivoting away from the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Robert A. Podell, Jeremy J. Kraus, James E. Erickson, Randall J. Poirier, Derek J. Fletcher, Matthew Z. Seta
  • Publication number: 20230150632
    Abstract: A method for operating a propulsion device having a propulsor with a propeller, the propulsion device having a base coupled to a marine vessel and being configured to propel the marine vessel in water. The method includes moving the propulsor from a deployed position towards a stowed position, where the propulsor is closer to the marine vessel in the stowed position than in the deployed position, and where the propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in the deployed position. The method further includes rotating the propeller so as to fit between sides of the base coupled to the marine vessel when the propulsor is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Robert A. Podell, James E. Erickson, Kenneth G. Gable, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Derek J. Fletcher, Jeremy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11603179
    Abstract: A propulsion device for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A shaft includes an upper segment and a lower segment each extending along a length axis, wherein the upper segment is coupled to the base. A propulsor is coupled to the lower segment, where the propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. A shock absorber includes a resilient member that resiliently couples the upper segment and the lower segment together, where the resilient member dampens impact forces received at the lower segment and reduces transfer of the impact forces to the upper segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Randall J. Poirier, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Jeremy J. Kraus, Derek J. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11591057
    Abstract: A propulsion device for marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel, the base having sides that extend downwardly from the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor comprises a propeller having a hub with blades extending away therefrom. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position by rotating the propeller. An alignment device aligns the blades of the propeller between the sides of the base when the propulsor is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Robert A. Podell, James E. Erickson, Kenneth G. Gable, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Derek J. Fletcher, Jeremy J. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20230020248
    Abstract: A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. A rail is configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A carriage is moveable relative to the rail into first and second positions. A shaft has a first end pivotally coupled to the marine vessel and a second end for coupling to the propulsor. An actuator is configured to pivot the shaft relative to the marine vessel to thereby move the propulsor into and between stowed and deployed positions. A lock is manually operable to fix the carriage in the first position in which the actuator prevents manual pivoting of the shaft and alternatively in the second position in which the shaft is permitted to be manually pivoted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Robert A. Podell, Jeremy J. Kraus, James E. Erickson, Randall J. Poirier, Derek J. Fletcher
  • Publication number: 20220266970
    Abstract: A propulsion device for a marine vessel. The propulsion device includes a base configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position. A lock device has a rigid member and is selectively engageable such that the rigid member prevents the propulsor from pivoting away from the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Robert A. Podell, Jeremy J. Kraus, James E. Erickson, Randall J. Poirier, Derek J. Fletcher, Matthew Z. Seta
  • Publication number: 20220266968
    Abstract: A propulsion device for marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel, the base having sides that extend downwardly from the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor comprises a propeller having a hub with blades extending away therefrom. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position by rotating the propeller. An alignment device aligns the blades of the propeller between the sides of the base when the propulsor is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Robert A. Podell, James E. Erickson, Kenneth G. Gable, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Derek J. Fletcher, Jeremy J. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20220266969
    Abstract: A propulsion device for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A shaft includes an upper segment and a lower segment each extending along a length axis, wherein the upper segment is coupled to the base. A propulsor is coupled to the lower segment, where the propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. A shock absorber includes a resilient member that resiliently couples the upper segment and the lower segment together, where the resilient member dampens impact forces received at the lower segment and reduces transfer of the impact forces to the upper segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Randall J. Poirier, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Jeremy J. Kraus, Derek J. Fletcher