The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1989
William P Spencer, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Other;
Abstract
The device comprises a thruster assembly which consists of a housing, thruster motor, thruster propeller, and thruster motor control device. When integrated into a stern mounted main drive, the thruster housing becomes integral with the main drive. The thruster is situated on the transom just above the bottom line of the hull with its axis in line with the transom, horizontal with the water line, and at right angles to the main drive. The thruster control device is connected to the boat's steering wheel linkage so that when the wheel is turned the thruster is activated. Turning the steering wheel causes the thruster to push the boat's stern at right angles to the main drive thus causing the boat to turn. The direction the wheel is turned determines the direction of thrust (right or left) and therefore, the direction the boat turns. Additionally, thruster control can be achieved by connecting the thruster control device to the throttle/shift lever. Mounting this lever from side to side would activate the thruster causing the boat to turn in the desired direction.