Thomas Hancock

Title: Thomas Hancock and the Pressurized Livewell System

Introduction

Thomas Hancock is an inventor associated with Summerville, South Carolina. His patent work addresses a practical challenge in boating: protecting live bait from injury caused by water movement inside a livewell when a boat encounters rough conditions.

Latest Patents

Hancock’s listed patent is “Pressurized livewell system and method.” The invention is designed to keep a livewell tank substantially full and maintain slightly elevated, steady water pressure, helping reduce sloshing that could harm or kill live bait.

The system uses a tank with a lid, a water-pressure sensor, an electronic controller programmed with an algorithm, a pump, and an outflow system with an in-line low-pressure check valve. The sensor continuously sends pressure data to the controller, which adjusts the voltage supplied to the pump and, in turn, the water output rate. The preferred operating pressure is between 0.08 and 0.1 psi. The system can be operated in either manual or automatic mode. Hancock is listed with 1 patent.

Career Highlights

The patent reflects an engineering approach to a specific boating need: maintaining stable conditions in a livewell without requiring constant manual adjustment. By combining pressure sensing and automated pump control, the system aims to keep water levels and pressure consistent as conditions change.

Collaborations

Jeff Hudson is identified as Hancock’s coworker. The available information does not specify further details about their collaboration or Hudson’s role in the patented system.

Conclusion

Thomas Hancock’s “Pressurized livewell system and method” applies sensor-based pump control to help protect live bait in rough water, representing a focused innovation in boating equipment.