Did You Know...
...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7288011 | Personal floatation device Personal floatation devices for use in supporting an individual in a face up and horizontal position along the surface of the water are disclosed. An illustrative personal floatation device may include a main body, at least one upper inflatable floatation member for... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7169001 | Life jacket A buoyancy device has a rear buoyancy area interconnected to a pair of lateral under arm buoyancy areas by a pair of front buoyancy areas, and combining to form a simulated W-shape when viewed in a plan view. The provision of the lateral or underarm buoyancy areas f... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7059924 | Personal flotation device A personal flotation device that may be worn alone, as well as fitted into a separate garment, such as a jacket or vest. The personal flotation device may include a wearable inflatable bladder that is selectively adjustable into a retaining configuration that fits t... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7033236 | Surfboard A method for manufacturing a surfboard includes providing a first member having a general surfboard shape, the first member comprising high-density ethyl vinyl acetate; locating a second member on a first exterior side of the first member, wherein the second member ... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7014520 | Internal body encircling belt for personal floatation devices The present invention comprises a system for a buoyant material, a cover, and a belt arranged between the cover and the buoyant material. The belt is stitched to the cover at at least one location. In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the belt is sti... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6582266 | Personal flotation device A personal flotation device, includes a shell defining a cavity having a first portion and a second portion for each receiving a buoyant element where the first and second portions are relatively moveable. Aa fastener for releasably interconnecting the fi... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6554668 | Life jacket A life jacket in including impact absorption materials on both sides of a hard protection material in which a high-impact fiber cloth is incorporated buoyant material on at least one impact absorption material provides buoyancy. The jacket includes front ... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6537119 | Personal floatation device A personal floatation device comprises a wide buoyant collar hinged to a thoracic float. The collar has a front portion projecting forwardly under the chin of the wearer to cooperate with the thoracic float to limit forward tilting movements of the wearer... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6478510 | Dive vest A dive vest that includes a torso-engaging member with a waistband, an air bladder contained throughout the torso-engaging member, beaded weight pads quickly releasable from the waistband, a scuba tank carrier plate attached to the torso-engaging member, ... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6447353 | Toddler/adult float jacket A personal flotation vest device is provided that includes front flotation members that work in conjunction with a buoyant neck stabilizing member extending from the top of the back of the vest portion, and a buoyant buttocks support member extending from... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6379208 | Personal flotation device with adjusting flotation layers A personal flotation device having adjustable flotation layers is disclosed. The personal flotation device includes at least one back body portion, at least one front body portion opposite the back body portion, shoulder portions connecting the at least o... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6364729 | Personal flotation device with front portion central pull system A personal flotation device for being worn by a user includes a buoyant back body portion, a buoyant front body portion opposite the back portion, first and second straps coupled to the back body portion and converging into a third strap, and a fastener c... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6346022 | Reversible inflatable personal flotation device An inflatable personal flotation device that is reversible and comparatively easily to put on and secure even under difficult conditions. The device can be donned and worn with either side to the front. The personal flotation device of the present inventi... | 02/12/2002 |
| 6183164 | Hydrostatic balancing jacket A hydrostatic balancing jacket includes a dorsal element ending into two shoulder strips and two pectoral-abdominal strips. The dorsal element is equipped, on its outer side, with two wing-shaped strips. The wing-shaped strips are connected to the dorsal ... | 02/06/2001 |
| 6176815 | Swimming exercise and training apparatus A swimming exercise and training apparatus having a flotation member constructed of a generally lightweight, semi-rigid, buoyant material and sized and shaped so that it may be positioned against a portion of a person's upper torso, a plurality of straps ... | 01/23/2001 |
| 6089936 | Personal floatation device A personal floatation device comprising an improved float to provide buoyant lift to the body of the wearer of the device when in water and a strap assembly to connect the improved float about the wearer. The improved float includes a front sized to gener... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6062929 | Float garment Vest-like flotation garment including a buoyant work vest and a flotation unit attached to the work vest in order to enhance the buoyancy of the work vest. The work vest includes a wear-resistant surface layer and an inner lining, between which is arrange... | 05/16/2000 |
| 5921898 | Water exercise method An exercise device for use in water is made of a material adapted for floating and has sufficient buoyancy to support a user positioned in a body of water. Two opposed end portions are connected by a narrowed central portion that is dimensioned to fit bet... | 07/13/1999 |
| 5833505 | Multipurpose float A multipurpose float is provided which employs a rotatable bar attached to a main body of the float. Four bolts, each having a snap ring disposed at the bolt head, are located in four deep holes respectively formed in four sides of the main body. The rota... | 11/10/1998 |
| 5775967 | Diaper swim suit A personal floatation device particularly adapted for home use with babies under parental supervision. The personal floatation device has floatation foam pads sewn into a sturdy, non-slip, woven cotton cover. The back section has three floatation foam pan... | 07/07/1998 |
| 5759076 | Lightweight personal flotation device A one-piece lightweight personal flotation device which is aerodynamic and form-fitting for a male or female wearer includes an inflatable bladder having front and rear panels, the front panel having generally concave longitudinal side edges to create an ... | 06/02/1998 |
| 5669795 | Life-saving float The present invention relates to a life float. The life float comprises a stretching capsule and a string or cord starting at the ends thereof, arranged to pass around over a shoulder and under an arm. The watertight capsule consists of a part resembling ... | 09/23/1997 |
| 5603647 | Inflatable life preserving floatation device formed from double woven textile fabrics The present invention is related to a novel inflatable floatation device and a method of forming the same. The device is formed of a one piece double woven fabric having first and second layers which are separable from each other to form a chamber capable... | 02/18/1997 |
| 5588891 | Swim training device A improved swim training device for teaching a novice swimmer to swim that includes a pair of buoyancy units that are defined as a pair of interconnected jackets adapted to removably store a plurality of floatation cells. The jackets are adjustable to the... | 12/31/1996 |
| 5569057 | Body surfing device A body surfing device 10 consisting of a board 12 and a harness 14 secured to the board 12 for strapping the board to the front torso part of a person's body. The board 12 has an upper face 16, a lower face 18, a leading end 20, a trailing end 22 and two ... | 10/29/1996 |
| 5567191 | Improvements relating to life jackets The invention provides an inflatable life jacket which is held in a horse-shoe shaped cover from which the jacket breaks free when inflated. The jacket has two legs (34, 36) and a rear jacket (44,46). The rear portion (44, 46) fits behind the user's head ... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5456623 | Inflatable flotation device An inflatable flotation device having a belt for securing same to the user. A pair of VELCRO™ carrying flaps are secured to the belt and overlap a folded inflatable bag. A release mechanism is carried by the belt and a manifold secured to the release me... | 10/10/1995 |
| 5348505 | Swimming aid device A water exercise device to be worn by a person who is desirous of acquiring increased buoyancy while exercising in water. The device includes a waist-encircling band of flexible buoyant material such as elastomeric foam through which is intertwined a flex... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5295765 | Snorkeling vest A vest of the type having an inflatable bladder providing selectable degrees of buoyancy, such as for snorkeling. The vest comprises an elastic upper body garment for encircling the chest and back of the user and an airtight inflatable bladder, secured at... | 03/22/1994 |
| 5183440 | Method for converting elliptical to rectangular motion A lead frame conveying apparatus comprises a driving force converting unit for transmitting to a frame receiving arm a horizontal reciprocating linear motion of an elliptic motion of a timing belt place over two timing pulleys between the centers of the t... | 02/02/1993 |
| 5101818 | Snorkeling system A dive vest and snorkel system is provided. The dive vest is constructed of air and water impervious material having an inflation chamber capable of receiving and storing air and further having an exhaust port which automatically exhausts the air stored i... | 04/07/1992 |
| 5095957 | Flotation assembly A flotation assembly designed to keep an individual afloat in water comprising a size adjustable harness adapted to fit the torso of an individual, to which are attached bottle closure devices. The closure devices are designed to have empty bottles insert... | 03/17/1992 |
| 4934973 | Life preserver A yoke-type life preserver is provided including a relatively thick buoyant filler assembly loosely received within a flexible outer cover panel assembly for the life preserver and with the buoyant filler assembly being constructed to enable the life pres... | 06/19/1990 |
| 4889511 | Flotation assembly A flotation assembly designed to keep an individual afloat in water comprising a size adjustable harness adapted to fit the torso of an individual, to which are attached bottle closure devices. The closure devices are designed to have empty bottles insert... | 12/26/1989 |
| 4842562 | Inflatable buoyancy belt An inflatable buoyancy belt is disclosed comprised of a segment of expandable tubing closed at either end with flattened plugs, carrying fittings enabling adjustable securement of a nonstretchable belt, the tubing segment and connected belt each of a leng... | 06/27/1989 |
| 4753621 | Inflatable lifejacket An inflatable lifejacket for providing buoyancy in water to a wearer of the lifejacket includes an inflatable buoyancy envelope which is donned by a wearer who passes his head through a neck opening in the envelope to bring a main body portion of the enve... | 06/28/1988 |
| 4623316 | Flotation vest A flotation vest in the form of a buoyancy compensator for divers or a PFD (personal flotation device) for canoeists and the like including a collar and waistcoat assembly secured to the body of a user by a modified and simplified parachute style harness.... | 11/18/1986 |
| 4578042 | Safety harness personal flotation device A safety harness personal flotation device (10) is disclosed. The device (10) comprises a buoyant body portion (12) having front and back sections (14 and 20, respectively) defining armholes (22a and 22b) and a neckhole (24). The device (10) further compr... | 03/25/1986 |
| 4519783 | Swimmer's restraining apparatus A flotation restraint apparatus for use in a body of water comprising a longitudinal buoy of sufficient buoyancy to provide flotation along the longitudinal axis of a swimmer, an annular flotation collar connecting to the longitudinal buoy and extending a... | 05/28/1985 |
| 4397636 | Body surfing shirt A shirt formed of a woven material which clings when wet and having long sleeves, elastic cuffs, collar and waist band, bears underlying forearm pads on respective sleeves between the elbow and the cuff, and a chest pad is centered on the front of the shi... | 08/09/1983 |
