Lifesaving boat hull handle system
OwnerJames Salmelainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lifesaving handle system for a watercraft surface such as, but not limited to, a boat hull. The handle system remains attached to an exterior surface of a watercraft hull when the watercraft is upright (i.e., when it is not capsized) such as when it is flowing on a body of water in normal operation. The handle may be rotatably attached to a hinge attachment such that when the boat is upright, as in non-capsized operation, the handle hangs vertically and is not within the flow of water passing along and around the watercraft hull when the boat is motivated on a body of water; and when the boat is overturned or capsized, the handle rotates out from the watercraft hull under the force of gravity such that the grip handle is presented to a person in the water.
Claims15
A handle system for a watercraft, comprising:
- a hinge attachment positioned on an exterior surface of the watercraft;
- a handle rotatably attached in a rotatable attachment to said hinge attachment when the watercraft is disposed in an upright position, said handle having a grasping portion;
- wherein the handle hangs from the hinge attachment with the grasping portion of the handle oriented in a downward position when the watercraft is said upright position;
- wherein, when the watercraft is capsized into an upside-down position, the handle rotates away and outward from the watercraft on said hinge attachment without allowing water to intrude into an interior of the watercraft through a portion of the exterior surface of the watercraft located under the handle;
- wherein the hinge attachment is molded into the watercraft exterior surface;
- and
- wherein the grasping portion is sized to be grasped by a hand of a person in a body of water both when the watercraft is upright and when the watercraft is capsized.
A watercraft, comprising:
- a watercraft exterior surface;
- wherein said watercraft exterior surface comprises a handle system, said handle system comprising:
- a hinge attachment positioned on an exterior surface of the watercraft;
- a handle rotatably attached in a rotatable attachment to the hinge attachment when the watercraft is disposed in an upright position, said handle having a grasping portion;
- wherein the handle hangs from the hinge attachment with the grasping portion of the handle oriented in a downward position when the watercraft is said upright position;
- wherein, when the watercraft is capsized into an upside-down position, the handle rotates away and outward from the watercraft on said hinge attachment without allowing water to intrude into an interior of the watercraft through a portion of the exterior surface of the watercraft located under the handle;
- wherein the hinge attachments is molded into the watercraft exterior surface;
- and
- wherein the grasping portion is sized to be grasped by a hand of a person in a body of water both when the watercraft is upright and when the watercraft is capsized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.