Patents by Inventor Michael J. Boks
Michael J. Boks 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).
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Patent number: 11814150Abstract: A mount for a trolling motor pivots the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position. The mount includes a base coupled to a deck of a watercraft and upper and lower arms pivotably coupled to the base. A bracket also couples the upper arm to the lower arm. The mount includes a pivotable latch and an associated latch blocker on the upper or lower arm or the base and a corresponding striker pin configured to engage with the pivotable latch in the deployed and/or stowed position of the trolling motor to lock the upper or lower arm to the base.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Michael J. Boks, John Witte
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Patent number: 11753119Abstract: A seating system for installation on a marine vessel includes a base to be connected to a deck of the marine vessel and a pedestal to be removably installed in an upright position on or in the base. The base includes a built-in first electrical connector to be electrically connected to a power source on the marine vessel. The pedestal includes a second electrical connector designed to mate with the first electrical connector in the base. A base for the seating system and a pedestal for the seating system are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: John Witte, Michael J. Boks, Eric S. Deuel
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Patent number: 11447044Abstract: A seat support assembly has a lower member with a first channel extending in a front-back direction of the seat support assembly and an upper member positioned above the lower member and having a second channel extending in the front-back direction. A first linkage has a lower end pivotably coupled to the lower member and translatable in the front-back direction by way of the first channel and an upper end pivotably coupled to the upper member. A second linkage has a lower end pivotably coupled to the lower member and an upper end pivotably coupled to the upper member and translatable in the front-back direction by way of the second channel. The first and second channels are offset from one another in the front-back direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Michael J. Boks
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Publication number: 20210371063Abstract: A system for a marine vessel includes a first peripheral device including a controller, and a second peripheral device. A first serial bus connects the controller to the second peripheral device. At least one sensor is coupled to the controller via a second serial bus. The first peripheral device's controller can do one or more of the following: automatically control switches in the first peripheral device in response to information from the sensor; stage the first peripheral device upon start-up of the system; diagnose a malfunction of the first peripheral device and control the second peripheral device in response to determining that the first peripheral device is malfunctioning; and/or report a status of the first peripheral device over the serial bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventors: John Witte, Eric S. Deuel, Michael J. Boks, Brian C. Scott, Richard J. Bovill
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Publication number: 20210371064Abstract: A system for a marine vessel includes a peripheral device having an actuator configured to move part of the peripheral device between a retracted position and an extended position. A first serial bus is configured to connect the peripheral device to other peripheral devices. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator and is in signal communication with the first serial bus. A sensor is coupled to the controller via a second serial bus. The controller is configured to activate the actuator to move the part of the peripheral device from the extended position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position in response to information from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Michael J. Boks, John Witte, Christopher C. Bostwick
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Patent number: 11097823Abstract: A mount for a trolling motor pivots the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position. The mount includes a base coupled to a deck of a watercraft and upper and lower arms pivotably coupled to the base. A bracket also couples the upper arm to the lower arm. The mount includes one of the following: (1) a deployed-position latch coupled to the upper arm or the base and a corresponding deployed-position striker pin configured to engage with the deployed-position latch in the deployed position of the trolling motor to lock the upper arm to the base; or (2) a pivotable latch and an associated latch blocker on the upper or lower arm or the base and a corresponding striker pin configured to engage with the pivotable latch in the deployed and/or stowed position of the trolling motor to lock the upper or lower arm to the base.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Michael J. Boks, John Witte
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Patent number: 10906622Abstract: A trolling motor includes a head unit, a propulsion unit, and a shaft coupling the head unit to the propulsion unit. A shaft support couples the shaft to a mount base, which may be coupled to watercraft's deck. The shaft support is pivotable with respect to the mount base to move the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position with respect to the deck. The trolling motor further includes a spring and damper combination coupled between the mount base and the shaft support, wherein a spring portion of the spring and damper combination provides a spring force to assist in pivoting the shaft support away from the deck, and a damper portion of the spring and damper combination provides a damping force to slow pivoting of the shaft support towards the deck and/or a metal-reinforced, self-lubricating bearing pivotably coupling the shaft support to the mount base.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: Michael J. Boks, John Witte
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Patent number: 10351220Abstract: A trolling motor assembly includes a main housing holding an electric motor. A propeller is attached to a propeller shaft that is driven by the electric motor and projects from a rear end of the main housing. A steering shaft is configured to couple the main housing to a watercraft. A nosecone is coupled to the main housing at the front end of the main housing. The nosecone is removable from the front end of the main housing. The main housing is watertight when the nosecone is removed therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventors: John Witte, Nathan D. Koetsier, Michael J. Boks, Katherine D. Winer, Benjamin D. Curtis, Haley A. Raatz, Kevin T. Downey
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Patent number: 10155464Abstract: A head restraint assembly for a seat, the assembly including: At least one support for mounting a bun assembly above the seat back; a bun assembly including a core portion, the core portion having integral first bearing surfaces; a stationary hub mounted on the at least one support, the stationary hub disposed at least substantially within the core portion and pivotally supporting the core portion via the integral first bearing surfaces; and a lock pivotally supported within the core portion. The lock is selectively pivotally moveable between positions of engagement with, and disengagement from, the stationary hub. The position of engagement is characterized in that the core portion is fixed relative to the stationary hub and at least one support, and the position of disengagement is characterized in that the core portion is pivotally moveable relative to the stationary hub and at least one support.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Gill Industries, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Boks, John Witte, Robert Sutter
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Publication number: 20160288677Abstract: A head restraint assembly for a seat, the assembly including: At least one support for mounting a bun assembly above the seat back; a bun assembly including a core portion, the core portion having integral first bearing surfaces; a stationary hub mounted on the at least one support, the stationary hub disposed at least substantially within the core portion and pivotally supporting the core portion via the integral first bearing surfaces; and a lock pivotally supported within the core portion. The lock is selectively pivotally moveable between positions of engagement with, and disengagement from, the stationary hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Michael J. Boks, John Witte, Robert Sutter
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Patent number: 8979203Abstract: A head restraint assembly, comprising: a support for mounting the head restraint above a seat back; a bun assembly pivotally mounted on the head restraint support for movement in first and second directions relative to the head restraint support; and an adjustment mechanism disposed at least substantially within the bun assembly, the adjustment mechanism operative to permit (i) the selective pivotal movement of the bun assembly in either of the first and second directions and, as the bun assembly is moved in either of the first and second directions, (ii) the incremental positioning of the bun assembly in any of a plurality of predefined positions along a path of travel of the bun assembly in the first and second directions.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Gill Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert R. Sutter, Jr., Craig A. Ulman, Brian C. Leja, Michael J. Boks
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Patent number: 8205951Abstract: A closing device that includes a latching member that when moved a given distance utilizes a gear to effect a mechanical advantage that results in an end of a biasing member being moved less than the given distance. The biasing member is used in moving a first drawer slide member to a closed position relative to a second drawer slide member, and use of the gear and the resulting mechanical advantage provide a smoother transition when the first drawer slide member is engaged or disengaged from the closing device.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Knape & Vogt Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Michael J. Boks
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Publication number: 20110101839Abstract: A closing device that includes a latching member that when moved a given distance utilizes a gear to affect a mechanical advantage that results in an end of a biasing member being moved less than the given distance. The biasing member is used in moving a first drawer slide member to a closed position relative to a second drawer slide member, and use of the gear and the resulting mechanical advantage provide a smoother transition when the first drawer slide member is engaged or disengaged from the closing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: KNAPE & VOGT MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventor: Michael J. Boks
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Publication number: 20040262474Abstract: A kit for mounting a monitor including a mounting plate adapted to mount to a monitor, a joint adapted to be coupled to the mounting plate in a quick-release manner, and a bracket having first and second ends. The first end is adapted to couple to the joint and the second end is adapted to be attached to a fixed structure, such as a pole or a wall. The articulated arm has a fixed end and a movable end with the movable end adapted to be coupled to the joint, whereby the joint can be coupled to either of the bracket and the articulated arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Michael J. Boks, Timothy S. Graber
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Publication number: 20040183411Abstract: A self-closing drawer slide includes a cabinet member, a drawer member, a plurality of bearings interfitted between the cabinet and drawer members, a generally planar surface having a channel defined therein, which extends in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the drawer member, and a slider positioned in the channel and adapted to selectively engage the drawer member. A spring is connected to the slider and adapted to exert a pulling force that tends to pull the slider toward the back end of the channel. In addition, a holding notch is defined in the planar surface adjacent the front end of the channel, which is adapted to releasably hold the slider near the front end of the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventor: Michael J. Boks
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Patent number: D895522Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Brunswick CorporationInventor: Michael J. Boks