Ships – Ballasting – Floats
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-11
2001-10-23
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Ballasting
Floats
C114S283000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305306
ABSTRACT:
RELATED DOCUMENT
This invention is related to and based upon a United Kingdom national application 98018948 GB filed Jan. 30, 1998 in England as the inventor was then residing in England and reduced the invention to practice in England.
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to methods, device and systems for stabilizing watercraft. More particularly it relates to a means for stabilizing a canoe or the like watercraft and includes a portable, articulated, heavy-duty and versatile mounting bracket which can be rapidly mounted and dismounted on a small watercraft with a pair of float units. The facile mounting of suitable accessory floats on the articulated outer strut arms of the mounting bracket transforms the unit into a versatile and compact flotation device.
TECHNICAL CHARACTER
The technical character of this invention resides in the design and utility of a pair of float units as a means for stabilizing a watercraft which float unit is easily and quickly attachable and stow-able in the watercraft.
THE PROBLEM
The problems with prior art boat stabilizers such as those utilizing foam or hull modification are not suitable for majority of trekkers. The prior art stabilization and portage systems all fall short of fulfilling the needs of the average trekker.
SUMMARY
This invention comprises a pair of floats individually engage-able and deploy-able on opposite sides of the watercraft near the center of gravity. Either float or neither or both can be deployed (folded out) or stowed away (folded in) without any interference with the normal operation of the watercraft. The bottom of the floats is shaped like SKI's. The width of the Ski determines the speed range of the watercraft. Suitable mounting hardware for quick release and deployment is included. While the preferred embodiment is a unitary design, an alternate embodiment with plurality of floats on each side requires assembly of components and is particularly suitable for high speeds.
The width of the SKI's is inversely proportional to the speed. The normal skis are suitable for emergency rescue services and sportsmen in severe conditions or for slow moving and stationary watercraft use. Very thin knife edge SKI's are suitable for non-severe conditions at all speeds. An alternate embodiment is suitable for high speeds and is typically a few inches above the water, which comes into play for turning the watercraft to which it is attached at high speeds. Splashing and spray problems of lower speeds are minimal at high speeds.
PRIOR ART
A prior art patentability search was commissioned and conducted by the inventor. Furthermore the inventor is intimately familiar with the prior art. Following is a listing of the typical prior art arranged in the reverse chronological order for ready reference of the reader.
a) U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,376 awarded to Jerzy Kostanski on Nov. 3, 1998 for “Outrigger Watercraft”
b) U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,529 bestowed upon James Ely on Oct. 27, 1998 for “Stabilizing Hull for Watercraft”
c) U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,006 honorably given to Monsour Al-Dokhi on Sep. 8, 1998 for “Float Master for a Watercraft”
d) U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,297 earned by William Hanson on Jul. 15, 1997 for “Foam Stabilized Watercraft”
e) U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,126 honorably issued to Donald Rypinski on Dec. 10, 1996 for “Modular Watercraft System”
f) U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,169 showered upon James Denker on Mar. 26, 1996 for “Universal Canoe Accessory Mounting Bracket”
g) U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,454 granted to Donald Streck on Mar. 22, 1994 for “Safety Release Outrigger Attachment for an Outrigger Canoe”
h) U.S. Design Pat. No. D-341,813 designed by Schlangen et al on Nov. 30, 1993 for “Pontoon for Personalized Watercraft”
i) U.S. Design Pat. No. D-322,773 issued to Kissel et al on Dec. 31, 1991 for “One Man Outrigger Canoe”
j) U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,844 bestowed upon Richard Barr on Dec. 18, 1990 for “Life Step Stabilizer”
k) U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,551 creatively earned by Gwyn Ace of Canada on Feb. 28, 1989 for “Portable Outrigger”
l) U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,594 honorably issued to Harry Birkett on Feb. 10, 1987 for “Canoe Conversion Kit”
m) U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,277 honorably given to Donald Williams on Apr. 23, 1985 for “Adjustable Canoe Pontoons”
Unfortunately none of the prior art devices singly or even in combination provide all of the features and objectives established by the inventor for this system as enumerated below.
OBJECTIVES
1. It is an objective of this invention to provide method, devices and system for increasing the stability of a aircraft.
2. Another objective of this invention is to provide a watercraft stabilizer system suitable for all types of bodies of water and all types of watercraft for operation at low, medium and high speeds.
3. Another objective of this invention is that it use little or no additional power or energy.
4. Another objective of this invention is that it is easy to use even for novices and beginners and therefore requires little additional training.
5. Another objective of this invention is that the stabilizer system of this invention is integrated and streamlined to the watercraft.
6. Another objective of this invention is that it be physically safe in normal environment as well as accidental situations.
7. Another objective of this invention is that it be environmentally friendly.
8. Another objective of this invention is that it be made of modular units easily interface-able to each other.
9. Another objective of this invention is that it meet all federal, state, local and other private standards, guidelines and recommendations with respect to safety, environment, quality and energy consumption.
10. Another objective of this invention is that it permit safe operation in inclement weather conditions such as turbulence.
11. Another objective of this invention is that it be elegantly simple in concept and design.
12. Another objective of this invention is that it be applicable to retrofit as well as OEM market.
13. Another objective of this invention is that it be easy to install, de-install, deploy, stow, transport and store.
14. Another objective of this invention is that it can be adapted for other uses.
15. Another objective of this invention is that the floatation device is easily separable in case of emergency to serve as life preserver.
16. Another objective of this invention is to only minimally interfere with the cruise speed of the watercraft.
Other objectives of this invention reside in its simplicity, elegance of design, ease of manufacture, service and use and even aesthetics as will become apparent from the following brief description of the drawings and concomitant description.
DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART
Existing flotation devices do not fulfill the needs of the average small, narrow beam watercraft user. Small, narrow beam watercraft are typically more susceptible to being swamped or capsized than other small watercraft. Anti-roll, anti-list, and anti-swamp stability can be achieved in a small, narrow beam watercraft using pontoons, sponsons, floats, or float units fixed to a mounting bracket which in turn is fixed to the hull of these craft. These flotation devices (mounting bracket plus the attached float units) have typically been of a fixed nature, vertically adjustable, or laterally extendable from the side of the hull.
Many of the existing float units are custom-made, and are, therefore not universally applicable to small, narrow beam watercraft. The floats are of differing sizes and shapes but in general they are rather bulky to handle and/or provide substantial hydrodynamic drag to the vessel.Typically, these flotation devices do not allow the float units to be readily engaged or disengaged while the vessel is in motion. The float units are not readily stow-able for launching, docking, or beaching the small, narrow beam watercraft. The flotation devices are typically not designed to facilitate the easy manoeuvering of the small, narrow beam watercraft in areas obstructed with rocks, brush, trees, and debris.
The majority of existing flotation devices do not provide a means for stowing the floa
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