Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8104420 | Tethered tow body, communications apparatus and system The problem of providing a submerged vehicle with above-the-surface communications to a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite while traveling at operating speed is solved by an efficiently deployable tethered tow body having a hydrodynamic and buoyant hull bod... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8104419 | Device for automatically attaching and detaching a towed sonar transmitter to and from an active-sonar tow line The present invention relates to the handling, the attaching to a drag line and the putting to sea of a submersible craft, dragged by a surface vessel. The invention includes a system for automatically attaching and handling submersible craft towed by a tow line, co... | 01/31/2012 |
| 7921793 | Airborne tugboat for emergency aid for seagoing vessels An airborne tugboat with three hulls (4): an underbody (4), surface body (5) and inflatable body (6). When stationed on shore the inflatable body is not activated, but is folded up against the surface body. Gas turbine (1) drives t... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7798087 | Attachment of waterski tow bracket to towing vessel A mounting of a ski line bracket includes the attachment of a ski line bracket (1) of the type whereby the ski line can roll along a circular tube by means of a pulley, wherein attachment of the bracket uses an attachment device of the outboard engine to the ... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7748338 | Method of intercepting and yawing a sailing vessel A method for intercepting and yawing an errant sailing vessel is disclosed, wherein the vessel might have been hijacked or malfunctioned and in danger of colliding with an object. The method comprises dispatching a pair of watercraft to approach said sailing vessel,... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7699015 | Sub-ordinate vehicle recovery/launch system Sub-ordinate and host maritime vessels are connected to each other by a tow loop trailed by the host vessel through a capture frame which engages the sub-ordinate vessel. The capture frame acts to engage the sub-ordinate vessel in the transitional coordinate space s... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7699016 | Water sport towing method Wakeboarding performance is improved using a vessel which is fitted with a towing frame having spaced supports attached on opposite sides of the vessel while coupling upper extremities of the supports with a bridging portion, to which a tow rope attachment point is ... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7665411 | System and method for a tow-rope retraction device for watercraft A device used when towing a user with a watercraft includes a tow-rope and a tow-rope retraction device receiving the tow-rope. The tow-rope retraction device is configured to selectively retract the tow-rope so as to accelerate a user being towed by the watercraft ... | 02/23/2010 |
| RE40926 | Towing system and method for a water sports apparatus A system and method for towing a water sports apparatus over a body of water behind a towing vessel. The system includes a rider towline for coupling a rider of the water sports apparatus to the towing vessel. The rider towline includes a distal end adapted to the g... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7520236 | Elevated water sport tow extension apparatus An elevated tow device comprised of: first and second substantially vertical support members, each slidably and pivotally engaging a boat support structure on a lower end and forming an apex on an upper end, the height and width of which can be adjusted; a tether at... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7428879 | Tower flag actuator A safety device automatically raises and lowers a warning flag over a boat based on the tension applied to a line towed by the boat. For the device, the tow line is anchored to a tower mounted on the boat. Further, an arm is pivotably connected to the tower for move... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7415936 | Active steering for marine sources A seismic survey system includes a winch having a winch cable coupleable to a source array towable between two deflected lead-ins, a positioning system for determining a current position of the source array and a controller for adjusting the winch to modify the curr... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7404370 | Steerable diverter for towed seismic streamer arrays A paravane for a marine seismic survey system includes a float and at least one diverter operatively coupled to the float. The diverter is configured to redirect flow of water past the paravane with respect to a direction of motion of the paravane through water. The... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7392758 | Wake tower and method of making same An attractive wake tower assembly that can be readily pivotally mounted on powerboats of various constructions to enable the wake tower assembly to be pivoted from an upstanding to a lowered position. The wake tower assembly is of a high-strength, simple constructio... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7370599 | Multi-purpose boat tower A multi-purpose boat tower comprising a unitary device with discrete and integral components including a rigid frame cage mounted to a portion of the deck and transom of a boat, a horizontal platform removably mounted to the top of the rigid frame, a plurality of fo... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7353767 | Underwater recreation apparatus and method therefor An underwater recreation apparatus and method therefor. The apparatus allows a diver to explore varying water depths with a minimal amount of equipment and with manageable equipment. The apparatus also allows the diver to cover substantial distances with minimal phy... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7352073 | Ocean wave energy converter having an improved generator and ballast control The ocean wave energy converter uniquely includes a generator with a rotating inner rotor surrounded by a counter-rotating outer rotor for generating electricity. A reciprocating drive rod drives the inner rotor on the downstroke of the drive rod and the outer rotor... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7350475 | Launch and recovery system A method and apparatus for launching and recovering an object by a host vessel while the host vessel is in motion. The recovery system utilizes a tethered capture system for connecting with the object and then directing the object to the host vessel where it is secu... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7350755 | Watercraft accessory tower mount The watercraft accessory tower mount may be used for attachment of watercraft accessories to a watercraft tower structure. A clamp bracket may be attachable to a clamp base. An accessory attachment may have a rotational shaft disposed for insertion in a rotational a... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7340373 | Weight detecting apparatus for crane and crane having the same A weight detecting apparatus for a crane includes a base machine comprising a lower traveling body and an upper rotating body; weights mounted on this base machine; ID (identification) tags which are installed on the respective weights and in which ID information on... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7334808 | Tow device A tow device having a mounting bracket adapted for vehicle mounting, a spring-loaded bobbin, a hollow telescoping rod, a tow line, and a handle. The hollow telescoping rod, which can be automatically extended, has one end attached to the mounting bracket while the o... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7311056 | Pontoon float towable behind a watercraft An apparatus for towing cargo behind a watercraft that includes a floating assembly for towing behind the watercraft and comprising a frame and at least one floatation device mounted on the frame. The apparatus further includes a linking assembly mounted on the floa... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7309268 | Hovering inflatable towable water-sport device An inflatable towable device capable of both being towed across a surface and to hover over the surface is disclosed. The device includes an inflatable frame and a wing surface that extends across the bottom surface of the inflatable frame. The inflatable frame is a... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7302907 | Mounting system and method for rigidly attaching a water sports towing frame to a vessel A mounting system rigidly attaches a towing frame to a vessel deck, and includes a base having an arcuate top surface and a bottom surface conforming the deck. A joint member rigidly attached to the towing frame has an arcuate surface mating with the arcuate top sur... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7303452 | Kayak paddle with safety light A kayak paddle safety lighting system incorporated into a kayak paddle that may serve as a set of illumination or running lights more effective than current deck mounted running lights. The lighting system includes an operational switch located in the handle of the ... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7299761 | Water sport towing apparatus Wakeboarding performance is improved using a vessel which is fitted with a skeletal towing frame having spaced supports attached on opposite sides of the vessel while coupling upper extremities of the supports with a horizontal bridging portion, to which a tow rope ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7263944 | Portable universal ski boat pylon A temporarily mounted towing device for towing a water sporter as part of a water sporting activity. An elongate towing member is stowed within a storage housing temporarily secured to the bottom of a watercraft. The storage housing extends upwardly from the bottom ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7261611 | Aquatic surface skipping toy device The present invention relates to an aquatic toy device that is particularly adapted for skipping upon and across the irregular surface of a body of water. The aquatic surface skipping toy device may be used for recreation, sports, or exercise either by an individual... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7261607 | Hovering inflatable towable water-sport device An inflatable towable device capable of both being towed across a surface and to hover over the surface is disclosed. The device includes an inflatable frame and a wing surface that extends across the bottom surface of the inflatable frame. The inflatable frame is a... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7234408 | Water sport tow attachment with recoil A pivot is coupled to a water craft. A lever arm is pivotally coupled to the pivot at one end. A tow spool is coupled to the lever arm at an end opposite the pivot. The tow spool is configured to provide an attachment for a towline. A recoil device is coupled to the... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7232355 | Flying ski The present flying ski is designed to be towed behind a conventional powered watercraft with the rider in a seated position. The flying ski comprises an elongate board and a seat that extends generally perpendicular to and upward from the board to support the seated... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7225102 | Reel mechanism with watertight electronics module A fishing reel with an electronics module enclosed by an exterior housing of the fishing reel is disclosed. The electronics module provides a watertight environment for a plurality of circuits. The circuits are useful to perform a variety of functions, including but... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7221620 | Apparatus for seismic measurements An apparatus for three-dimensional single-channel seismic measurements, wherein at least one seismic source and hydrophone devices are towed behind a vessel, and a pair of submerged deflectors are used and which, as the vessel moves, seek to move in a direction tran... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7219617 | Wake tower and method of making same An attractive wake tower assembly of a unique, generally U-Shaped configuration that can be readily pivotally mounted on powerboats of various constructions to enable the wake tower assembly to be pivoted from an upstanding to a lowered position. The wake tower asse... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7216604 | Retractable arch system for a boat A retractable arch system for a boat is provided that includes at least four substantially vertical legs for permanent installation on the boat. A first traverse member forms a first arch and is removably coupled by first and second separable couplings to two of the... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7182294 | Kite surfing bar An apparatus for controlling movement of a flying device, such as a kite. In controlling such movement, the apparatus comprises a series of force transmitting members associated with a control bar to be grasped by an operator. Such association minimizes interference... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7178475 | High maneuverability towcraft A maneuverable towcraft consisting of a partial hull structure to which is removably attached at least three downward-projecting fins. A first ventral fin of sufficient size and draft is located along the craft's centerline, toward the front of the craft. A second a... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7165502 | Trawling vessel with a lock chamber A trawling vessel is provided with a trawl net (5) for catching marine bio-resources, with a trawl sack (3) attached aft on a trawl net (5) for keeping the catch. The vessel comprises lines (51, 61) for towing and hauling the trawl net ( | 01/23/2007 |
| 7167412 | Apparatus for steering a marine seismic streamer via controlled bending A marine seismic streamer steering device comprises at least two hinged sections pivotally coupled to each other and connected between two adjacent sections of the seismic streamer, and a bend control unit that controls bending of the hinged sections relative to the... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7156036 | Launch and recovery system The launch and recovery system provides a dive wing and drogue assembly that is towed behind a ship by cables. The dive wing imparts a downward thrust to the drogue, so that the drogue is towed underwater, placing tension on the cables. The cables become stiff due t... | 01/02/2007 |
