Patents by Inventor L. Earl Bentz

L. Earl Bentz 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: 4708672
    Abstract: A boat stabilizer is disclosed for substantially eliminating "porpoising" or up and down movement of the bow portion of a boat as the boat is moving through the water. The stabilizer includes a wedge-shaped member formed on an adjustably mounted trim tab located on the underside of an anti-cavitation plate of an outboard motor. The wedge-shaped member has a downwardly inclined lower surface extending generally laterally from and perpendicularly to a fin-shaped member of the trim tab. Movement of the boat through the water imparts a force against the downwardly inclined surface to effect a generally vertical torque on the boat substantially eliminating porpoising of the boat in a given speed range. The force imparted against the downwardly inclined surface is proportional to the angle of attack of the downwardly inclined surface so that upward displacement of the bow of the boat moving through the water is opposed by a proportionately greater force on the downwardly inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventors: L. Earl Bentz, Roark H. Summerford