IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,415,591
Granted Patent B2
US 12,415,591 · App. 18/776,105 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Underwater propulsion device

Inventors: Brandon Robinson (West Palm Beach, FL); Lowell Kim Robinson (Sanford, FL); Marc Barber (Deltona, FL)
Assignees: Brandon Robinson; Lowell Kim Robinson; Marc Barber
B63H19/00A63B35/12B63C11/02B63C11/46
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 12,415,591
App. No.
18/776,105
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An underwater propulsion device is disclosed comprising two sleeves for fitting around each of a user's lower legs, with each sleeve mounting a propulsion unit, and the sleeves being connectable by a bar between them during underwater operation of the device by the user.

Claims (14)

1. A device, comprising:

an assembly for mounting to a user's foot, wherein the assembly comprises a foot pedal, a battery sealed in a watertight compartment, and a battery-powered underwater propulsion unit;

a throttle control system integrated with said foot pedal, wherein said foot pedal is capable of a swivel motion about an axis parallel to said user's lower leg in response to a swivel motion of said user's foot about said axis, said motion controlling the throttle of said propulsion unit, wherein said propulsion unit comprises a motor-propeller combination within a cowling.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said motor-propeller combination and said cowling are configured for ducted fan propulsion.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said motor-propeller combination and said cowling are configured for jet propulsion.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a pre-swirl stator mounted at the intake of said motor-propeller combination.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said cowling has a base configured to rest flat on a surface to allow said device to stand on a surface without damaging the motor-propeller combination.

6. A device, comprising:

an assembly for mounting to a user's foot, the assembly comprises a foot pedal, a battery sealed in a watertight compartment, and a battery-powered underwater propulsion unit;

a throttle control system integrated with said foot pedal, wherein said foot pedal is capable of moving up or down in response to the motion of said user's foot up or down, said motion controlling the throttle of said propulsion unit, wherein said propulsion unit comprises a motor-propeller combination within a cowling.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein said motor-propeller combination and said cowling are configured for ducted fan propulsion.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein said motor-propeller combination and said cowling are configured for jet propulsion.

9. The device of claim 6 , further comprising a pre-swirl stator mounted at the intake of said motor-propeller combination.

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein said cowling has a base configured to rest flat on a surface, allowing said device to stand on a surface without damaging the motor-propeller combination.

Continuity (10)
Continuation 18473968 · Sep 25, 2023
Continuation 17826075 · May 26, 2022
Continuation 16936134 · Jul 22, 2020
Continuation In Part 16785361 · Feb 7, 2020
Continuation 16115392 · Aug 28, 2018
Continuation 15916235 · Mar 8, 2018
Provisional Application 62922011 · Jul 22, 2019
Provisional Application 62590238 · Nov 22, 2017
Provisional Application 62469129 · Mar 9, 2017
Related Publication 20240367770A1 · Nov 7, 2024
References Cited (69)
US 3422787A · Rush · 1969 [cited by applicant]
US 3635188A · Rutkowski · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 4832630A · Alexander et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 5396860A · Cheng · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5643029A · Rudofsky · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5645460A · Johnson · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5906521A · Tippmann · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6341993B1 · Lalli, Jr. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6443087B1 · Stecker, Sr. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 9145206B1 · Robinson · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10071289B1 · Robinson · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10576332B2 · Robinson · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11173345B2 · Robinson · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11345453B2 · Robinson et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11596839B2 · Robinson · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11926402B2 · Robinson et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 12151796B2 · Robinson · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20050020155A1 · Spagnuolo · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060234570A1 · Cadorette · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070077831A1 · Kuo · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20110174209A1 · Thiessen · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20160068239A1 · Railey · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160347428A1 · Mahar · 2016 [cited by applicant]
BE 762369A · 1971 [cited by applicant]
CN 2220991Y · 1996 [cited by applicant]
CN 2256850Y · 1997 [cited by applicant]
CN 201254282Y · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 201470012U · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 203047518U · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 103776428A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 103935489A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 104432944A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 204317634U · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 205220850U · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 205256619U · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 205293033U · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 106110596A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 205854451U · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 2100827A1 · 1972 [cited by applicant]
EP 1977968A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 1977968B1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005225478A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
KR 20140120626A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2012002682A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015132478A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
Australian Examination Report dated Nov. 12, 2021, from application No. 2018230432. [cited by applicant]
Brazilian Office Action dated Sep. 13, 2022, from application No. BR112019018518-6. [cited by applicant]
Brazilian Written Opinion dated Oct. 17, 2023, for application No. BR112019018518-6. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Office Action dated Apr. 14, 2023, for application No. 20211119451.9. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Office Action dated Oct. 9, 2020, from application No. 201880016653.5. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report dated Nov. 30, 2020, from application No. 18763123.9. [cited by applicant]
Indian Examination Report dated Jan. 18, 2022, from application No. 201927039911. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 29, 2018, from application No. PCT/US2018/021630. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action dated Jan. 4, 2022, from application No. 2019-570348. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Feb. 5, 2021, from U.S. Appl. No. 16/785,361. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 12, 2019, from U.S. Appl. No. 16/115,392. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 7, 2022, from U.S. Appl. No. 17/518,501. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Oct. 23, 2019, from U.S. Appl. No. 16/115,392. [cited by applicant]
US Non-Final Office Action dated Mar. 3, 2023, for U.S. Appl. No. 17/826,075. [cited by applicant]
US Non-Final Office Action dated Sep. 27, 2023, for U.S. Appl. No. 18/117,948. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated Apr. 16, 2024, for U.S. Appl. No. 18/473,968. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated Feb. 1, 2024, for U.S. Appl. No. 18/117,948. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated Jul. 20, 2021, from U.S. Appl. No. 16/785,361. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated Jun. 26, 2023, for U.S. Appl. No. 17/826,075. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated May 7, 2018, from U.S. Appl. No. 15/916,235. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated May 8, 2024, for U.S. Appl. No. 18/117,948. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 1, 2021, from U.S. Appl. No. 16/936,134. [cited by applicant]
US Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 2, 2023, for U.S. Appl. No. 17/826,075. [cited by applicant]
Examination Report from Canada Patent Application No. 3055320 dated Aug. 22, 2024, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]