Patents by Inventor William J. Abernethy

William J. Abernethy 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: 5463971
    Abstract: A collapsible sea anchor or drogue (50) having first and second hollow frusto-conical body parts (74, 80) which are made from strong flexible material, such as canvas. Four flexible lines (60, 62, 64, 66) connect the two body parts (74, 80) together and to a nose portion (52) to which a towing line can be connected. The sea anchor or drogue (50) is very effective in that the drag is large having regard to the diameter of the body parts (74, 80) and, moreover, it can be compactly stored when in a collapsed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: William J. Abernethy
  • Patent number: 5016556
    Abstract: A sea anchor comprising a hollow body having a front part and a rear part and at least one water outlet located adjacent to the rear end of the front part. The front part has water inlet openings, and the rear part is moveable relative to the front part between first and second positions. In the first position, the forward end of the rear part engages the rear end of the front part to close at least one water outlet. In the second position, the forward end of the rear part is separated from the rear end of the front part to define the water outlet. The front part contains attachment means for attaching a line for towing the body in a forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: William J. Abernethy
  • Patent number: 4969413
    Abstract: A sea anchor or drogue having a body comprised of a front section which tapers forwardly to a nose, and a hollow, rearwardly tapering back section. Longitudinal open channels are formed in the front section and lead into the back section, with vanes or tubes defining the sides of the channels. In certain embodiments, baffles are fixed in each channel and oriented so as to direct water into the back section to create the drag effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Inventor: William J. Abernethy
  • Patent number: 4562788
    Abstract: A device of the nature of a sea-anchor has a body tapered to the nose where it is attachable to a cable from a boat and formed with ports normally closed by spring-loaded closures but opened, by predetermined cable tension, to increase resistance to passage through water. Tail fins behind the body, and water passages through the body restrict rotation of the device. A chamber in the body when air-filled converts the device to a distress buoy, the tail fins uppermost to serve as a radar reflector, aerial for a distress transmitter in the body and carrier for a light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Inventor: William J. Abernethy
  • Patent number: D303369
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Inventor: William J. Abernethy
  • Patent number: RE33068
    Abstract: A device of the nature of a sea-anchor has a body tapered to the nose where it is attachable to a cable from a boat and formed with ports normally closed by spring-loaded closures but opened, by predetermined cable tension, to increase resistance to passage through water. Tail fins behind the body, and water passages through the body restrict rotation of the device. A chamber in the body when air-filled converts the device to a distress buoy, the tail fins uppermost to serve as a radar reflector, aerial for a distress transmitter in the body and carrier for a light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Inventor: William J. Abernethy
  • Patent number: D315136
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Inventor: William J. Abernethy