IP Library Granted Patent US 7,207,287
Granted Patent B2
US 7,207,287 · App. 11/320,038 · Granted Apr 24, 2007

Boat control device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,207,287
App. No.
11/320,038
Granted
Apr 24, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drift bag that includes one or more narrowing members to reshape a mouth of the drift bag in the vertical direction to reduce a draft of the drift bag.

Claims (31)

1. A drift bag for use in boat control, the drift bag comprising:

a flexible container having a mouth for delivering water to an interior of the container; and

a narrowing member attachable at a pair of ends to the flexible container and capable of reshaping the mouth to reduce a vertical dimension of the mouth when the drift bag is deployed in water.

2. The drift bag of claim 1 , and further comprising:

a float secured to the flexible container near the mouth.

3. The drift bag of claim 2 , wherein the float is secured to the flexible container near an attachment location for attaching one of the pair of ends of the narrowing member to the flexible container.

4. The drift bag of claim 1 , wherein the narrowing member comprises a strap for fixedly reducing draft of the drift bag mouth while maintaining circumferential length of the drift bag mouth.

5. The drift bag of claim 1 , wherein the resilient container comprises a plurality of flexible panels sewn together.

6. The drift bag of claim 1 , wherein the mouth is outwardly resilient.

7. The drift bag of claim 6 , wherein the mouth comprises an outwardly resilient expansion hoop.

8. The drift bad of claim 7 , wherein the resilient expansion hoop is sewn into to the flexible container.

9. The drift bag of claim 1 , wherein the drift bag includes a plurality of narrowing members.

10. The drift bag of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container comprises polyester fabric.

11. The drift bag of claim 1 , and further comprising:

an outlet in the flexible container to allow water to exit from the interior of the container, wherein the outlet is smaller than the mouth.

12. A drift bag for use in boat control, the drift bag comprising:

a flexible container having a mouth for receiving water into an interior of the container;

means for reshaping the mouth to reduce only a vertical dimension of the mouth when the drift bag is deployed in water; and

a float secured to the flexible container near the mouth.

13. The drift bag of claim 12 , wherein the reshaping means comprises a plurality of narrowing members.

14. The drift bag of claim 12 , wherein the reshaping means comprises a strap attachable at a pair of ends to the flexible container.

15. The drift bag of claim 12 , wherein the mouth is outwardly resilient to resist collapsing when the drift bag is deployed in water.

16. The drift bag of claim 15 , wherein the mouth comprises an outwardly resilient expansion hoop.

17. The drift bag of claim 12 , wherein the flexible container comprises polyester fabric.

18. A drift bag for use in boat control, the drift bag comprising:

a flexible container having a mouth for receiving water into an interior of the container;

a narrowing member attachable at a pair of ends to the flexible container and capable of reshaping the mouth to reduce only a vertical dimension of the mouth to decrease draft of the drift bag when the drift bag is deployed in water while maintaining circumferential length of the drift bag mouth;

a float secured to the flexible container; and

a resilient expansion hoop to prevent the mouth from collapsing when the drift bag is deployed in water.

19. The drift bag of claim 18 , wherein the float is attached to the flexible container near the mouth.

20. The drift bag of claim 12 wherein the means for reshaping the mouth comprises a strap for fixedly reducing draft of the drift bag mouth while maintaining circumferential length of the drift bag mouth.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2008
From: PLASTIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
To: EBSCO INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 021064/0213 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2008
From: LINDY-LITTLE JOE, INC.
To: PLASTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020666/0632 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2006
From: JNB ORIGINALS, INC.
To: LINDY-LITTLE JOE, INC.
Reel/Frame 017738/0798 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2006
From: BEECH, JOSEPH C.
To: JNB ORIGINALS INC.
Reel/Frame 017737/0603 →