Multi-hull watercraft with self-righting capabilities
Patent 5848574 Issued on December 15, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date: 
February 13, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
February 13, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3141435 3604382 3656445 Catamaran with swingable mast and hulls High stability trimaran Multihull vessels Variable-beam catamaran Patent #: 5277142 InventorApplicationNo. 799302 filed on 02/13/1997US Classes:114/39.17, Rig righting device114/61.11, With capsize prevention or uprighting means114/91, Swinging114/123FloatsExaminersPrimary: Basinger, Sherman D.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassB63B 001/14AbstractA multi-hull watercraft, such as a catamaran or trimaran is constructed to facilitate the righting thereof following a capsize. By providing a pivot connection between the hulls and the cross-members, in accordance with one method, it is possible to right the capsized vehicle by piecemeal rotation of the hulls through 180° from an inverted to an upright disposition. Following this maneuver, the mast may be either rotated up and out of the water to an erect disposition or, alternatively, the mast can be jacked vertically through the deck. In accordance with a second method, the multiple hulls are interconnected by articulated, extendable and contractible cross-members and righting is achieved by sequentially reducing the beam of the craft, canting its buoyant mast from vertical so that the watercraft will roll so as to be floating on one hull and on the buoyant mast and then while canting the mast in the opposite direction again extending the cross-member to increase the beam such that a rotational moment about the one hull is created sufficient to raise the mast out of the water to an upright disposition.Other References
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