US 10,501,148 B2Granted

Boat having an improved ability to get on plane and improved method of getting a boat on plane

AssigneeMasterCraft Boat Company, LLC

InventorsMatthew J. Huyge, Michael D. Myers, Darren S. Sheedy, David F. Ekern

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A boat includes at least three trim devices positioned aft of the boat's transom. To improve the boat's ability to get on place, each trim device is initially positioned to a deployed position. The speed of the boat is then determined as the boat gains speed. When the speed of the boat exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the first trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. When the speed of the boat exceeds a second predetermined threshold, the second trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. When the speed of the boat exceeds a third predetermined threshold, the third trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. At least one of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds is different from the other two of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A boat comprising:

a hull including a bow, a transom, and port and starboard sides;
at least three trim devices positioned aft of the transom, a first one of the trim devices being a port-side trim device provided on a port side of the boat's centerline, a second one of the trim devices being a starboard-side trim device provided on a starboard side of the boat's centerline, and a third one of the trim devices being an intermediate trim device provided between the port-side and the starboard-side trim devices, each of the at least three trim devices being movable between a deployed position and a non-deployed position, the deployed position being a position in which the respective trim device is configured to create an upward force on the boat as the boat moves through the water;
a plurality of drive mechanisms, each drive mechanism configured to move a corresponding trim device between the deployed position and the non-deployed position;
a speed sensing device configured to determine the speed of the boat;
and
a controller configured to:
actuate the plurality drive mechanisms to move each of the at least three trim devices to the deployed position;
receive the speed of the boat from the speed sensing device;
determine when the speed of the boat exceeds a first predetermined threshold;
actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the port-side trim device to move the port-side trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when the speed of the boat exceeds the first predetermined threshold;
determine when the speed of the boat exceeds a second predetermined threshold;
actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the starboard-side trim device to move the starboard-side trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when the speed of the boat exceeds the second predetermined threshold;
determine when the speed of the boat exceeds a third predetermined threshold;
and
actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the intermediate trim device to move the intermediate trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when the speed of the boat exceeds the third predetermined threshold,
wherein the third predetermined threshold is greater than the first and second predetermined thresholds.

13 more elements

A boat comprising:

a hull including a bow, a transom, and port and starboard sides;
at least three trim devices positioned aft of the transom, a first one of the trim devices being a port-side trim device provided on a port side of the boat's centerline, a second one of the trim devices being a starboard-side trim device provided on a starboard side of the boat's centerline, and a third one of the trim devices being an intermediate trim device provided between the port-side and the starboard-side trim devices, each of the at least three trim devices being moveable between a deployed position and a non-deployed position, the deployed position being a position in which the respective trim device is configured to create an upward force on the boat as the boat moves through the water;
a plurality of drive mechanisms, each drive mechanism configured to move a corresponding trim device between the deployed position and the non-deployed position;
a speed sensing device configured to determine the speed of the boat;
and
a controller configured to:
actuate the plurality drive mechanisms to move each of the at least three trim devices to the deployed position;
receive the speed of the boat from the speed sensing device;
determine when the speed of the boat exceeds a first predetermined threshold;
actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the port-side trim device to move the port-side trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when the speed of the boat exceeds the first predetermined threshold;
determine when the speed of the boat exceeds a second predetermined threshold;
actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the starboard-side trim device to move the starboard-side trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when the speed of the boat exceeds the second predetermined threshold;
determine when the speed of the boat exceeds a third predetermined threshold;
and
actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the intermediate trim device to move the intermediate trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when the speed of the boat exceeds the third predetermined threshold,
wherein the third predetermined threshold is less than the first and second predetermined thresholds.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/918,022Filed 12 Mar 2018 · continuation
Priority: 22 Jan 2015
Published: US 2018/0201342 A119 Jul 2018
Granted: 10 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B63B 1/22
Of hydroplane type: with adjustable planing surfaces
B63B 1/286
Changing the angle of attack or the lift of the foil: using flaps
B63B 1/32
Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils: other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls
B63B 34/75
Arrangements on vessels specially adapted for generating waves for surfing, wakeboarding or the like, e.g. ballast tanks: arrangements of wake plates

Family

Application62/106,330Us provisional application · filed 22 Jan 2015
Application15/004,050Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Jan 2016
US 2018/0201342 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Jul 2018
US 9,914,503 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0214681 A1Published application
US 10,501,148 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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