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US 6,484,656 B2Granted
Automatic inflating boat flotation device
AssigneeFloat Rail, Inc.
InventorsArthur W. Mears, Richard S. Coate
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFloat Rail, Inc.
InventorsArthur W. Mears, Richard S. Coate
Estimating the term…
A flotation device for maintaining a watercraft in a floating condition is provided. The flotation device comprises an elongated housing mounted to the watercraft. A carrier is slidably received within the housing with the carrier having a first and second cover channel and a bladder retaining slot. A first collapsible tubing is receivable within the first cover channel. An elongated cover is releasably secured within the first cover channel and the second cover channel. A space is defined between the carrier and the cover. A flotation bladder is receivable within the space with the flotation bladder having a bladder edge receivable in the bladder retaining slot. An inflation mechanism is connected to the first collapsible tubing and the flotation bladder for inflating the first collapsible tubing and for inflating the flotation bladder wherein upon inflation of the first collapsible tubing, the cover is released from the first cover channel of the carrier and the flotation bladder moves the first edge of the cover in a direction generally away from the watercraft allowing the flotation bladder to substantially completely inflate.
A flotation device for maintaining a watercraft in a floating condition, the flotation device comprising:
An emergency buoyant support for a watercraft, the emergency buoyant support comprising:
A method for maintaining a watercraft in a floating condition, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure
By improving buoyancy: using outboard floating members
Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures: for filling with compressed gases
Using outboard floating members: pneumatic, e.g. inflatable on demand
Term ended 10 Apr 2021 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flotation devices for watercraft and, more particularly, it relates to an automatically inflating flotation device that would prevent a watercraft from sinking. The flotation device would automatically inflate when a predetermined amount of water entered the hold of the vessel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flotation device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation device being mounted on a hull of a watercraft having a boat rail;
FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating the flotation device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation device mounted to the hull adjacent the waterline;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the flotation device, constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a flotation device, indicated generally at 10, for mounting to a watercraft 12 which automatically activates to maintain the watercraft in a floating condition. The flotation device 10 includes a mounting plate 14 preferably mounted on the exterior of the hull 16 of the watercraft 12. The mounting plate 14 and the cover 22 is the only portion of the flotation device 10 that is visible on the exterior of the watercraft 12. It is considered important that the mounting plate 14 have low profile and an unobtrusive visual presence, so that the mounting plate 14 does not significantly affect either the aerodynamic or visual lines of the watercraft 12 when not inflated. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounting plate 14 is mounted at approximately the water line 18 on the hull 16 of the watercraft 12.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in an embodiment flotation device 10 of the present invention, the mounting plate 14 has a carrier 20, a cover 22, and a deflated flotation bladder 24. The mounting plate 14 is preferably made from aluminum or similar material although constructing the mounting plate 14 from different types of material is within the scope of the present invention.