US 12,522,326 B2Granted

Energy harvesting vessels with modular hulls

AssigneeLilypad Labs, Inc.

InventorsJames T. Hotary, Rodger W. Eich

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Described herein are watercraft comprising a hull comprising a first hull assembly, and a second hull assembly opposite the first hull assembly and parallel to the first hull assembly; and a frame configured to couple the first hull assembly to the second hull assembly. In some embodiments, the first hull assembly comprises a first quarter hull coupled to a second quarter hull, and the second hull assembly comprises a third quarter hull coupled to a fourth quarter hull. In some embodiments, the first and third quarter hulls are substantially reflectively duplicative of the second and fourth quarter hulls. In some embodiments, the first hull assembly is substantially reflectively symmetrical to the second hull assembly. Various embodiments may further include a roof comprising one or more energy harvesting arrays thereon. The roof may be movable, in various embodiments, between a closed configuration and an open configuration.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A watercraft comprising:

a propulsion system;
a hull comprising:
a first hull assembly, and
a second hull assembly opposite the first hull assembly and parallel to the first hull assembly;
a roof configured to slide along a rail system between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
an interior between the first hull assembly and the second hull assembly, the interior being accessible when the roof of the hull is in the open configuration and inaccessible when the roof of the hull is in the closed configuration,
wherein the roof comprises a first roof section and a second roof section that slide apart when in the open configuration and slide together when in the closed configuration;
a photovoltaic energy harvesting array affixed to the roof to provide power to the propulsion system;
and
a frame configured to couple the first hull assembly to the second hull assembly,
wherein the first hull assembly comprises a first quarter hull coupled to a second quarter hull, and the second hull assembly comprises a third quarter hull coupled to a fourth quarter hull,
wherein the first and third quarter hulls are substantially reflectively duplicative of the second and fourth quarter hulls, and
wherein the first hull assembly is substantially reflectively symmetrical to the second hull assembly.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/871,330Filed 22 Jul 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 22 Jul 2021
Published: US 2023/0028155 A126 Jan 2023
Granted: 13 Jan 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

B63B 35/44
Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for: floating buildings, stores,…
B63B 1/121
The hulls being interconnected rigidly: comprising two hulls
B63B 7/02
Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels: comprising only rigid parts
B63B 34/00
Vessels specially adapted for water sports or leisure