IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,008,075
Granted Patent B2
US 11,008,075 · App. 16/419,930 · Granted May 18, 2021

Pontoon systems and methods

Inventor: Lawrence Donald Sporing (Deer Park, OH)
B63B35/38B63B1/121B63B13/00B63B43/06B63B2207/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,008,075
App. No.
16/419,930
Granted
May 18, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments include a retrofit pontoon system including a pontoon, the pontoon having a pontoon body defining a first cavity, the pontoon body having a first aperture; a retrofit assembly, the retrofit assembly including a selectively fillable container sized to pass through the first aperture; and a pump. The pump is operably coupled with the selectively fillable container such that operation of the pump selectively fills and drains water from the selectively fillable container, wherein filling the selectively fillable container lowers the profile of the pontoon in the water and emptying the selectively fillable container raises the profile of the pontoon in the water.

Claims (26)

1. A retrofit pontoon system comprising:

a pontoon, the pontoon having a pontoon body defining a first cavity, the pontoon body having a first aperture;

a retrofit assembly, the retrofit assembly including a selectively fillable container sized to pass through the first aperture; and

a pump, the pump being operably coupled with the selectively fillable container such that operation of the pump selectively fills and drains water from the selectively fillable container, wherein filling the selectively fillable container lowers the profile of the pontoon in the water and emptying the selectively fillable container raises the profile of the pontoon in the water.

2. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 1 , wherein the retrofit assembly further comprises a plate for securing the retrofit assembly to the pontoon body.

3. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 1 , wherein the retrofit assembly further comprises a first release valve.

4. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 1 , wherein the retrofit assembly further comprises a first port such that air in the first cavity is released when the selectively fillable container expands.

5. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 1 , wherein the selectively fillable container is a compliant balloon.

6. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 1 , wherein the selectively fillable container is a non-compliant balloon.

7. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 1 , wherein the pump includes an impeller.

8. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of retrofit assemblies associated with a plurality of pontoon sections.

9. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of retrofit assemblies are coupled with the pump.

10. The retrofit pontoon system of claim 9 , wherein the pump is controlled with a controller.

11. A method for retrofitting a pontoon using a retrofit assembly, the pontoon having a pontoon body defining a first cavity, the pontoon body having a first aperture, the retrofit assembly including a selectively fillable container sized to pass through the first aperture, the method comprising:

inserting the selectively fillable container through the first aperture into the first cavity of the pontoon body;

coupling a pump with the selectively fillable container; and

operating the pump such that the pump selectively fills and drains water from the selectively fillable container, wherein filling the selectively fillable container lowers the profile of the pontoon in the water and emptying the selectively fillable container raises the profile of the pontoon in the water.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the retrofit assembly further comprises a plate for securing the retrofit assembly to the pontoon body.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the retrofit assembly further comprises a first release valve.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the retrofit assembly further comprises a first port such that air in the first cavity is released when the selectively fillable container expands.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selectively fillable container is a compliant balloon.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selectively fillable container is a non-compliant balloon.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pump includes an impeller.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of retrofit assemblies associated with a plurality of pontoon sections.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of retrofit assemblies are coupled with the pump.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the pump is controlled with a controller.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 16039157 · Jul 18, 2018
Continuation 15491515 · Apr 19, 2017
Provisional Application 62325268 · Apr 20, 2016
Related Publication 20200115011A1 · Apr 16, 2020