Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7634971 | Convertible vessel A vessel includes an heavy loaded catamaran, one or several movable buoyant roll-on/roll-off platform(s) (3); a moving element is provided for draft variation in heavy deep seas so that the platform(s) (3) may be raised or lowered between the hulls the... | 12/22/2009 |
| 7587986 | Modular personal pontoon boat A modular personal flotation system comprising, at least in part, rigid, seamless, non-woven modules, such as a seat module and various pontoon modules, formed by the process of rotational molding or blow molding, from a Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), High... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7461607 | Apparatus for attaching a pontoon to a watercraft The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching a pontoon to a watercraft. There is provided an a first quick-coupler adapted to be connected to the pontoon and a second quick-coupler, complemental with the first quick-coupler. adapted to be connected to... | 12/09/2008 |
| 7367153 | Collapsible planar board The planar board disclosed features a convexo-concave board characteristic that allows the boards to channel the water creating a water rail for smoother more controlled performance. The planar board also features one removable cross member end that allows for colla... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7357091 | Rapid self-repairing and unsinkable watercraft A self-repairing and unsinkable watercraft has the hull of the mid section of the craft covered by two moveable water impermeable sheaths. The sheaths rotate in opposite directions to temporarily seal a breach and to allow for better ease of permanent repair or repl... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7314014 | Water craft A water craft (77) is disclosed which includes a chassis portion (78), at least four water engaging means (30, 34, 38, 42) and interconnecting means (94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7293516 | Apparatus for reconfiguration of a variable-draft vessel A vertical translation mechanism for reconfiguring the hull form of a reconfigurable vessel having independently movably side hulls and a center hull is disclosed. The vertical translation mechanism includes a hydraulic-force actuator and a nonmetallic bearing. The ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7278364 | Reconfigurable attack and reconnaissance vessel I A reconfigurable marine vessel is disclosed. The marine vessel includes an upper hull, two propulsion hulls, and two struts for coupling the propulsion hulls to the upper hull. The struts are segmented and are capable of reconfiguring the marine vessel. In one confi... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7263940 | Pontoon frame and adjustable motor mount A float structure having a mainframe and pontoons is described. The mainframe includes floor support beams transversely attached to pontoon connector beams. The pontoon connector beams are operatively connected to the pontoons such that there are no weak points in t... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7255618 | Screw drive vehicle A screw drive vehicle has a main housing with forward and aft ends and first and second lateral sides. A first support arm rotatably supports a first pontoon assembly from the first lateral side of the main housing. A second support arm rotatably supports a second p... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7234720 | Apparatus for supporting and transporting a bleacher A trailer apparatus is for use with a portable bleacher of the type having a lower framework supporting and interconnecting a plurality of generally parallel longitudinally extending bleacher seat assemblies. The framework includes longitudinally spaced laterally ex... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7234405 | Sea rescue craft An apparatus, method and system for rescuing persons and distressed vessels, up to about 50 tons displacement, in foul weather and for transporting loaded full sized truck/ship containers or other loads by water. Two pairs of long straight pontoons, each having five... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7219613 | Reconfigurable attack and reconnaissance vessel II A reconfigurable marine vessel is disclosed. The marine vessel includes an upper hull, two propulsion hulls, and two struts for coupling the propulsion hulls to the upper hull. The struts are segmented and are capable of reconfiguring the marine vessel. The upper hu... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7213527 | Folding pontoon trailer for all-terrain vehicle A pontoon usable for supporting a load, the pontoon being towable on land and usable on water to support the load thereonto. The pontoon includes a hinge; a first platform attached to the hinge, said first platform including a first substantially buoyant body extend... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7194972 | Variable-draft vessel A vessel that varies its draft by adopting any one of three primary hull forms or configurations is disclosed. The primary hull forms include: a catamaran configuration, a barge configuration, and a SWATH configuration. The vessel is capable of reconfiguring between... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7171915 | Water-stable inflatable pontoon boat transportable by trailer A boat having inflatable pontoons connected therewith by rotatable support assemblies is described. The structure is capable of collapsing to a small size for transport on a trailer, but provides a wide base for stable operation when deployed on water. A foldable de... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7152614 | Foldable, expandable framework for a variety of structural purposes A foldable, deployable framework for a structure has a lower hub having a first central axis, sets of tracks, masts, and rafters connected pivotally to the lower hub, to one another, and to an upper hub in a manner that allows the framework to be folded into one, tw... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7137349 | Kickdown catamaran A kick down and kick up catamaran assembles by hand with holes in main spar and stern spar ends receiving threaded rods extending vertically from the side-by-side hulls, secured in place with hand knobs. A bow spar with a line to the mast lifts the mast to vertical ... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7047896 | Multi-hulled vessel A cargo carrying nautical vessel (1) is provided, having a plurality of cargo carrying hulls (2a, 2b) connected by at least two connecting structures (3, 4), each connecting structure including legs (5a, 5 | 05/23/2006 |
| 7040244 | Watercraft having plural narrow hulls and having submerged passive flotation devices A watercraft has at least two narrow hulls with a shallow draft and has one or more passive flotation devices that are entirely submerged. The hulls enclose the power trains for the watercraft and are accessible from the compartments of the watercraft. The passive f... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7004092 | Pontoon frame and adjustable motor mount A float structure having a mainframe and pontoons is described. The mainframe includes floor support beams transversely attached to pontoon connector beams. The pontoon connector beams are operatively connected to the pontoons such that there are no weak points in t... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6966807 | Screw drive vehicle A screw drive vehicle has a main housing with forward and aft ends and first and second lateral sides. A first support arm rotatably supports a first pontoon assembly from the first lateral side of the main housing. A second support arm rotatably supports a second p... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6923131 | Windsurfing catamaran with dynamic shock dampened rig centering keel and hull support A windsurfing catamaran with a self-stabilizing wing. The wing is moved to the correct position by counter balancing water pressure from a rotating central keel connected to a central mast. The keel rotates in the opposite direction of the wing when the wing is move... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6877450 | Variable-draft vessel A variable-draft vessel. The variable-draft vessel including a center hull; a first side hull coupled to a first side of the center hull; a second side hull coupled to a second side of the center hull; and at least one cross support coupling the first and second sid... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6874439 | Flexible ocean-going vessels with surface conforming hulls The vessel has a pair of flexible hulls flexibly coupled to a “cabin” between and above the hulls, thereby allowing the hulls to independently follow the surface of the water. Motor pods are hinged to the back of the hulls to maintain the propulsion system in th... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6860215 | Assembly for converting a catamaran into a trimaran An assembly for converting a catamaran into a trimaran, the assembly comprising a center hull, left and right side linkage members, with each linkage member having front and rear lateral portions and an interconnecting longitudinal portion, and a plurality of adapto... | 03/01/2005 |
| 6851378 | Articulated multi-hull water craft A multi-hull vessel capable of planing. The vessel has a rigid superstructure that is rotatably linked to flat-bottomed hulls. As the vessel heels, the pivotable connection between the superstructure and the hulls allows the superstructure to heel over while the hul... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6840825 | Amphibious recreational vehicle An amphibious recreational vehicle (motorhome, trailer, SUV, and the like) of conventional RV height, width, and length restricted dimensions necessary to travel on highways and roads, and which upon entering the water, the bottom of the vehicle expands outwardly an... | 01/11/2005 |
| 6830003 | Multihull boat The invention relates to an apparatus for attachment to a multihull boat, the apparatus including a beam means substantially transversely associated with at least a first hull and a second hull, the first hull and the second hull being laterally opposed and each hul... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6640737 | Retractable multi-hulled watercraft A catamaran boat that can be sailed or motor driven having a central cabin structure carried above water by a pair or more of retractable hulls whether hulls are extended or retracted. Each hull outboard side has an upward extending hull wall hinged close... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6588352 | WAY as acronym for wave avoidance yacht In operation for wave avoidance the WAY presents only a small profile and a small part of its total structure to the most dynamically active part of all ocean waves, their surface and crests. This includes all storm and rogue waves. In this mode the bulk ... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6564735 | Folding pontoon boat A folding pontoon boat which can be folded to a lesser width unfolded to a greater operating width. The boat can be launched in the folded configuration, unfolded on the water, and subsequently refolded to the reduced width on the water. The boat comprise... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6546885 | Collapsible catamaran A catamaran type water craft having two tandem pairs of scissors-like folding mechanisms disposed between and pivotally connecting to the opposing upright surfaces of adjacent, juxtaposed hulls. The folding mechanisms comprise two pairs of overlapped cros... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6345582 | Outrigger apparatus A outrigger apparatus for connecting a pontoon to a canoe and placing a platform therebetween. The outrigger apparatus includes a pontoon portion. A coupling means couples the pontoon portion to a canoe. The coupling means includes a pair of bars. Each of... | 02/12/2002 |
| 6176190 | Suspension system for a speed boat A watercraft allowing relative motion of its deck relative to its hull structure to increase passenger comfort. The deck is mounted to the hull structure in a manner which permits relative motion of the deck structure to the hull in at least two independe... | 01/23/2001 |
| 6146218 | Universal platform for human powered floatation devices A universal platform for a human powered floatation device. The platform has a frame with two spaced apart rail members adapted to interchangeably receive multiple types of propulsion devices. A support arm and a crossbar are provided for securing a prope... | 11/14/2000 |
| 6095079 | Folding pontoon boat A folding pontoon boat comprising first and second pontoons having first and second decks secured thereto, respectively, which extend therebetween. The inner sides of the first and second decks are hingedly secured together to enable the boat to be moved ... | 08/01/2000 |
| 6070544 | Boat with outriggers A boat has a main hull and a pair of outriggers which extend to distal, capsizing-resistance formations. The capsizing-resistance formation are relatively diminutive:--they displace a substantially small fractional amount of water relative to what the mai... | 06/06/2000 |
| 6044784 | Marine vessels A marine vessel comprises at least one hull stabilized by at least one pair of outboard sponsons and propelled by propulsion means carried by the sponsons or hull. One aspect of the invention is shown in FIG. 7, where a marine vessel (20) is provided with... | 04/04/2000 |
| 6003458 | Expandable pontoon boat An expandable pontoon boat that is retractable into a retracted configuration for trailering and expandable to provide additional passenger room. The expandable pontoon boat includes an interlock switch to prevent the expandable pontoon boat from being ex... | 12/21/1999 |