Expanding Bladder Patents (Class 114/287)
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Patent number: 11319025Abstract: A marine vessel hull, and marine vessels comprising at least one such hull, comprising a non-entrapment hull having at least one partial-beam, longitudinally vented transverse step, each partial-beam, longitudinally vented transverse step comprising a transverse step with port and starboard portions that do not continuously extend from port chine to starboard chine. In one embodiment, the port and starboard portions extend inwardly to an intersection with at least one longitudinal step but do not fully extend from starboard to port across the full beam of the vessel. In another, the port and starboard portions extend between longitudinal steps across the centerline but not to the starboard and port chines.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Cross Step LLCInventor: Stephen Daniel Matthews
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Patent number: 11230356Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing a stern wave on a watercraft, in particular a sports boat, for wakesurfing and/or wakeboarding on the stern wave, comprising at least one pivoting deflector that can be pivoted out laterally, in particular respectively on a right-hand and left-hand lateral region of the hull of the watercraft, having an arranging means, in particular hinge means, on a lateral hull region of the watercraft, in particular in the region of the stern, wherein a stern wave for wakesurfing and/or wakeboarding can be formed by the pivoting deflector in the pivoted-out state, and an integration region for the pivoting deflector in the lateral hull region of the watercraft, such that the hinge means is substantially integrated in the hull region of the watercraft in the pivoted-in stage, to adapt and/or continue a hull outer line in the lateral hull region of the watercraft.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Eberhardt Boote GmbHInventor: Jürgen Eberhardt
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Patent number: 9802675Abstract: A moveable exhaust trim tab for a motorized boat directs exhaust gas and cooling liquid into the water, changing the size and shape of the wake and reducing engine noise. The device comprises a trim tab base having a lip and a cap attached to the trim tab base to form a cavity between the lip and the cap into which the boat's exhaust is directed. The cavity has various apertures that permit the exhaust to exit the cavity and, in some embodiments, permit water to enter the cavity from below. The device may comprise baffles, outlets, inlets, and directional collars to change the flow of the exhaust. The trim tab is attached to the boat with an actuator that lets the trim tab to be adjusted at an angle relative to the boat.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Fineline LLCInventor: Shane Stillman
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Patent number: 9676449Abstract: A boat hull comprises a central hull having top and bottom portions and first and second side hulls slidably supported from the top portion of the central hull so as to be transversely extendable relative thereto. The bottom portion of the central hull is rotatably connected to the top portion so as to be movable between raised and lowered positions. A method of reconfiguring the boat hull comprises slidably displacing first and second side hulls relative to a central hull and rotatably displacing a bottom portion of the central hull relative to a top portion from a raised position to a lowered position between the first and second side hulls.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Inventor: Brendon Avery Syryda
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Patent number: 9623933Abstract: A boat hull with port and starboard side walls that are vertical in cross section while the bottom of the hull immediately prior to the commencement of the stern part there-after is horizontal in cross section. Extending throughout the buoyant hulls stem part a longitudinally rectangular flat plate with port and starboard upwardly extending side walls, one each side, are located throughout the length of the vessels stem part. An upwardly directed second rectangular flat plate is arranged fore/aft extends midway between the afore side walls to a height in excess of the side walls. This upstanding plate butts its lowermost edge onto the mid-line of the first plate. Linking the forward edge of the longitudinally rectangular plate to the buoyant hull at its aftmost and deepest point are hinges.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Inventor: Anthony Hugh Orr
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Patent number: 9180933Abstract: The invention is directed to an integrated stern bulb and flap for a water vessel, more particularly, a bulb having a main body section and a forebody section, the bulb positioned between first and second flap portions. The integrated stern bulb and flap provides improved power efficiency by reducing resistance at high speeds. The bulb of the integrated stern bulb and flap may be hollow, the interior being stowage space adding to the payload of the water vessel.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Gabor Karafiath, Chengwen Lin, Steven Fisher, Dominic S. Cusanelli, Andrew J. Nowakowski
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Patent number: 9174703Abstract: A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline. Each wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member. Each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: MASTERCRAFT BOAT COMPANY, LLCInventors: Darren S. Sheedy, Matthew J. Huyge, Michael D. Myers, Zane E. Schwenk
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Patent number: 5058520Abstract: An apparatus for influencing the position of a boat in water, with trim flaps disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the boat, the flap angles of said trim flaps always being adjustable by a drive with a control device, which acts upon all the flap drives in dependence on a central control switch, which comprises several control contacts assigned to the tilting directions of the boat.In order to control the position of the boat in the water automatically, the apparatus is designed so that the control switch comprises at least one movable, gravity-dependent contact-making body, which automatically activates the control device via the control contacts when the boat tilts.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1989Date of Patent: October 22, 1991Assignee: elTGrim Hugo Kruger KGInventor: Volker A. Fahrney
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Patent number: 4538539Abstract: An underwater appendage for sailboats, such as a keel or rudder, is fitted with an external shell-like shroud, which is placed around a core portion of the appendage such that the outer shroud forms a deformable water foil which is fastened on both sides of the core near its rear or trailing edge, and which shroud is everywhere else spaced away from the core. This deformable shroud forms a hydrofoil, the leading edge of which can be displaced to either side of the core by means of inflatable bladders placed on either side of the core, thus creating a desired angle of attack for the deformable foil, either to port or starboard. Inflation of the bladder on the windward side of the boat creates an angle of attack to windward and also a bulging of the shrouded water foil on the windward side creating the desired hydrodynamic lift to counter the lateral component of the aerodynamic force on the sail.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1984Date of Patent: September 3, 1985Inventor: David E. Martin
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Patent number: 4494477Abstract: A boat hull having water engaging parallel hull portion separated by a bridge portion and an intermediate water-engaging hull portion disposed between adjacent parallel hull positions and underneath each bridge portion. An expandable and compressible plenum is disposed between each intermediate hull portion and bridge portion so that each intermediate hull portion will be lowered and raised respectively as the plenum is expanded and contracted.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1982Date of Patent: January 22, 1985Inventor: Leslie N. Matthews
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Patent number: 4351262Abstract: A boat hull having a pair of water engaging parallel hull sections separated by a bridge portion, an intermediate water-engaging hull section being disposed between the parallel hull sections and underneath the bridge portion. An expandable bag being disposed between the intermediate hull section and the bridge portion such that the intermediate hull portion will be lowered and raised respectively as air is blown into and out of the bag.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1980Date of Patent: September 28, 1982Inventor: Leslie N. Matthews