Patents by Inventor Normand Beauregard
Normand Beauregard 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: 7018252Abstract: A watercraft includes a watercraft control mechanism that is capable of steering, decelerating, and/or trimming a watercraft without causing the stern to elevate and the bow to dive; steers or assists steering in off-power situations; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that can be stowed or retracted to minimize hydrodynamic drag at high speeds; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that does not become clogged or jammed by seaweed or flotsam or foreign objects floating in the water; and decelerates or assists in decelerating a watercraft in a smooth and stable manner when the watercraft is travelling at high speeds.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2002Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventors: Richard Simard, Normand Beauregard, Yves Berthiaume, Robert Bourret, Jean Daunais, Daniel Nadeau, Martin Pelletier, Gilles Pesant, Sam Spade, Martin Talbot
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Patent number: 6592413Abstract: The invention provides an improved nozzle assembly for waterjet-propelled watercraft such as a personal watercraft. In particular, the invention features an improved reverse gate assembly used to travel in a reverse direction. The reverse gate is linked to the steering-controlling waterjet outlet nozzle and pivots laterally with it to provide significantly enhanced steering response and control when the reverse gate is extended for reverse direction travel of the watercraft. The reverse gate actuation linkage assembly enables such linkage of the reverse gate and the steering-control nozzle member even when the nozzle is configured to pivot vertically (in addition to laterally) to “trim” the attitude of the watercraft in the water. Differential or laterally asymmetric design of the reverse gate compensates for vorticity or swirl in the waterjet to help ensure uniform watercraft performance when travelling in a reverse direction and turning either to the right or to the left.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Bombardier Inc.Inventors: Richard Simard, {dot over (E)}ric M{dot over (e)}nard, Normand Beauregard
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Publication number: 20030127035Abstract: A watercraft includes a watercraft control mechanism that is capable of steering, decelerating, and/or trimming a watercraft without causing the stern to elevate and the bow to dive; steers or assists steering in off-power situations; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that can be stowed or retracted to minimize hydrodynamic drag at high speeds; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that does not become clogged or jammed by seaweed or flotsam or foreign objects floating in the water; and decelerates or assists in decelerating a watercraft in a smooth and stable manner when the watercraft is travelling at high speeds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Richard Simard, Normand Beauregard, Yves Berthiaume, Robert Bourret, Jean Daunais, Daniel Nadeau, Martin Pelletier, Gilles Pesant, Sam Spade, Martin Talbot
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Patent number: 6546888Abstract: A stabilizing fin assembly for use with a watercraft includes a mounting structure, a stabilizing fin structure, and a releasable securement structure. The mounting structure is fixedly attached to a side portion of a hull of a watercraft. The stabilizing fin structure is removably mounted to the mounting structure. When the mounting structure is fixedly attached to the hull, the stabilizing fin structure is disposed externally of the hull and adjacent the side portion of the hull in an operative position wherein at least a portion of the stabilizing fin structure extends into a body of water while the watercraft is in a normal operative position. The releasable securement structure is disposed in a releasably secured position on the hull. The stabilizing fin structure facilitates removal and replacement of the stabilizing fin structure without requiring access to the interior of the watercraft.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Bombardier Inc.Inventors: François Bertrand, Jean-Luc De Henau, Éric Guevin, François LaGloire, Normand Beauregard
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Patent number: 6533623Abstract: The invention provides an improved nozzle assembly for waterjet-propelled watercraft such as a personal watercraft. In particular, the invention features an improved reverse gate assembly used to travel in a reverse direction. The reverse gate is linked to the steering-controlling waterjet outlet nozzle and pivots laterally with it to provide significantly enhanced steering response and control when the reverse gate is extended for reverse direction travel of the watercraft. The reverse gate actuation linkage assembly enables such linkage of the reverse gate and the steering-control nozzle member even when the nozzle is configured to pivot vertically (in addition to laterally) to “trim” the attitude of the watercraft in the water. Differential or laterally asymmetric design of the reverse gate compensates for vorticity or swirl in the waterjet to help ensure uniform watercraft performance when travelling in a reverse direction and turning either to the right or to the left.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Bombardier Inc.Inventors: Richard Simard, Éric Ménard, Normand Beauregard
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Patent number: 6524146Abstract: A control mechanism for a watercraft includes a selectively movable flap connected to an actuator, which moves the flap into and out of the flow of water to affect steering, deceleration and trimming. The flap is recessed with respect to the lower surface of the hull so that it does not create drag at high speeds. The flap may be a portion of the ride plate, may be disposed in a recess in the bottom of the hull, or may be disposed on the stern above the bottom of the hull.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2002Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Bombardier Inc.Inventors: Sam Spade, Normand Beauregard, Richard Simard
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Publication number: 20020160669Abstract: A control mechanism for a watercraft includes a selectively movable flap connected to an actuator, which moves the flap into and out of the flow of water to affect steering, deceleration and trimming. The flap is recessed with respect to the lower surface of the hull so that it does not create drag at high speeds. The flap may be a portion of the ride plate, may be disposed in a recess in the bottom of the hull, or may be disposed on the stern above the bottom of the hull.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2002Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Sam Spade, Normand Beauregard, Richard Simard
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Publication number: 20020078875Abstract: A stabilizing fin assembly for use with a watercraft includes a mounting structure, a stabilizing fin structure, and a releasable securement structure. The mounting structure is fixedly attached to a side portion of a hull of a watercraft. The stabilizing fin structure is removably mounted to the mounting structure. When the mounting structure is fixedly attached to the hull, the stabilizing fin structure is disposed externally of the hull and adjacent the side portion of the hull in an operative position wherein at least a portion of the stabilizing fin structure extends into a body of water while the watercraft is in a normal operative position. The releasable securement structure is disposed in a releasably secured position on the hull. The stabilizing fin structure facilitates removal and replacement of the stabilizing fin structure without requiring access to the interior of the watercraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Francois Bertrand, Jean-Luc De Henau, Eric Guevin, Francois Lagloire, Normand Beauregard
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Publication number: 20020028614Abstract: The invention provides an improved nozzle assembly for waterjet-propelled watercraft such as a personal watercraft. In particular, the invention features an improved reverse gate assembly used to travel in a reverse direction. The reverse gate is linked to the steering-controlling waterjet outlet nozzle and pivots laterally with it to provide significantly enhanced steering response and control when the reverse gate is extended for reverse direction travel of the watercraft. The reverse gate actuation linkage assembly enables such linkage of the reverse gate and the steering-control nozzle member even when the nozzle is configured to pivot vertically (in addition to laterally) to “trim” the attitude of the watercraft in the water. Differential or laterally asymmetric design of the reverse gate compensates for vorticity or swirl in the waterjet to help ensure uniform watercraft performance when travelling in a reverse direction and turning either to the right or to the left.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2001Publication date: March 7, 2002Inventors: Richard Simard, Eric Menard, Normand Beauregard
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Publication number: 20020028615Abstract: The invention provides an improved nozzle assembly for waterjet-propelled watercraft such as a personal watercraft. In particular, the invention features an improved reverse gate assembly used to travel in a reverse direction. The reverse gate is linked to the steering-controlling waterjet outlet nozzle and pivots laterally with it to provide significantly enhanced steering response and control when the reverse gate is extended for reverse direction travel of the watercraft. The reverse gate actuation linkage assembly enables such linkage of the reverse gate and the steering-control nozzle member even when the nozzle is configured to pivot vertically (in addition to laterally) to “trim” the attitude of the watercraft in the water. Differential or laterally asymmetric design of the reverse gate compensates for vorticity or swirl in the waterjet to help ensure uniform watercraft performance when travelling in a reverse direction and turning either to the right or to the left.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2001Publication date: March 7, 2002Inventors: Richard Simard, Eric Menard, Normand Beauregard
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Publication number: 20010018300Abstract: A control mechanism for a watercraft is described herein said control mechanism comprising a steerable propulsion source, a steering controller for controlling said steerable propulsion source, a lid member connected to said steerable propulsion source, and at least one tab connected to said linking member, said at least one tab moveable between an inoperative position and an operative position whereby said at least one tab can be angled such that, in the operative position and when said watercraft is traveling upright in water in a substantially forward direction, a volume of water impinges on a top surface of said at least one tab thereby creating a downward and rearward force on said watercraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Applicant: Bombardier Inc.Inventors: Sam Spade, Normand Beauregard, Richard Simard
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Patent number: 6174210Abstract: A control mechanism for a watercraft is described herein, said control mechanism comprising a steerable propulsion source, a steering controller for controlling said steerable propulsion source, a linking member connected to said steerable propulsion source, and at least one tab connected to said linking member, said at least one tab moveable between an inoperative position and an operative position whereby said at least one tab can be angled such that, in the operative position and when said watercraft is traveling upright in water in a substantially forward direction, a volume of water impinges on a top surface of said at least one tab thereby creating a downward and rearward force on said watercraft.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1998Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Bombardier Inc.Inventors: Sam Spade, Normand Beauregard, Richard Simard