Caterpillar to Twin Disc
Status: sold Listed: 2021-11-05 Patents: 10
Portfolio representative figure
The patent describes an innovative marine vessel hull design featuring a V-pattern hull bottom that forms a central keel, enhancing stability and hydrodynamic efficiency. A uniquely contoured pod mounting surface is integrated between the central keel and stern, designed for a propulsor pod, which optimizes propulsion characteristics. This design facilitates improved performance and maneuverability in marine applications.

Patents

Patent Number Summary Breadth Complexity Enforceability Infringement
10518855 The patent protects a marine vessel design featuring a hull with a V-pattern bottom forming a central keel and a contoured pod mounting surface between the keel and stern, which includes a planar mounting face for propulsor pods and a transition face with a concave longitudinal profile that can have a curvilinear shape, providing optimized hydrodynamic performance and modularity for propulsive elements.
D
C
B
-
09849959 The patent 09849959 protects a marine drive system for vessels that features an innovative design comprising an inboard engine connected to a marine pod drive unit via a driveshaft, which is enclosed in a guard sleeve equipped with annular packings to isolate vibrations and allow angular displacement at both ends, enhancing durability and functionality.
C
C
C
-
09714071 The patent protects a drive pod for marine craft propulsion systems featuring a uniquely designed shaft assembly that includes a through-hull coupling housing, a gearbox, and a shaft with specialized features such as a blind hole, thinned portion with an undercut, and a pin for enhanced structural integrity and performance.
C
C
B
-
09701381 The patent protects a marine propulsion unit featuring a lower gear case with a breakaway skeg that includes shear tabs engineered to fail at predetermined stress levels, enabling the skeg to detach under specific forces while maintaining alignment and integration with the propulsion system.
C
C
B
-
09376198 The patent protects a serviceable steering system for a marine pod unit that includes a dual signal configuration allowing a servo motor to rotate a lower pod relative to an upper pod, with integrated safety features such as a steering brake and service harness for fault management and maintenance.
C
C
B
-
09187164 The patent protects a breakaway connector and a disconnect fitting for bottom-mounted drive units in watercraft hulls, featuring a strength-reduced intermediate section that allows for controlled displacement upon force application, and includes valve mechanisms that prevent fluid leakage while enabling connection and disconnection between housing sections.
C
D
A
-
09114864 This patent protects a boat hull design featuring a bottom-mounted drive unit that incorporates an innovative retention mechanism utilizing tapered surfaces and seals, ensuring secure installation and water-tight integrity, including ribs and recesses for enhanced structural support.
C
C
B
-
09110467 The patent protects a method and system for automating the steering of a marine vessel in response to signals regarding the vessel's orientation, the angle of a fish, and the force applied by the fish, enabling enhanced engagement for anglers while minimizing steering error through real-time adjustments by an electronic controller.
A
C
C
-
09067664 This patent protects a method and control system for steering a marine vessel that utilizes a thruster system to generate turning moments based on comparative signals from two control levers for separate propulsion units, wherein the system activates the thruster in response to these signals crossing a user-defined or engine speed threshold.
C
B
B
-
09067665 The patent protects a marine pod drive steering system featuring a unique fuse pin that shears when the torque exceeds a specified limit, thus providing a safety mechanism within the gear and shaft assembly that includes a driving shaft, intermediate gear, and driven gear.
C
C
B
-

Patent Details

10518855 - Marine vessel hull having profiled propulsor pod mounting surface
Published: 2019-12-31
The patent protects a marine vessel design featuring a hull with a V-pattern bottom forming a central keel and a contoured pod mounting surface between the keel and stern, which includes a planar mounting face for propulsor pods and a transition face with a concave longitudinal profile that can have a curvilinear shape, providing optimized hydrodynamic performance and modularity for propulsive elements.
D
Breadth
C
Complexity
B
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09849959 - Marine pod drive system
Published: 2017-12-26
The patent 09849959 protects a marine drive system for vessels that features an innovative design comprising an inboard engine connected to a marine pod drive unit via a driveshaft, which is enclosed in a guard sleeve equipped with annular packings to isolate vibrations and allow angular displacement at both ends, enhancing durability and functionality.
C
Breadth
C
Complexity
C
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09714071 - Breakaway shaft
Published: 2017-07-25
The patent protects a drive pod for marine craft propulsion systems featuring a uniquely designed shaft assembly that includes a through-hull coupling housing, a gearbox, and a shaft with specialized features such as a blind hole, thinned portion with an undercut, and a pin for enhanced structural integrity and performance.
C
Breadth
C
Complexity
B
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09701381 - Breakaway skeg for a marine propulsion unit
Published: 2017-07-11
The patent protects a marine propulsion unit featuring a lower gear case with a breakaway skeg that includes shear tabs engineered to fail at predetermined stress levels, enabling the skeg to detach under specific forces while maintaining alignment and integration with the propulsion system.
C
Breadth
C
Complexity
B
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09376198 - Serviceable marine pod steering brake system
Published: 2016-06-28
The patent protects a serviceable steering system for a marine pod unit that includes a dual signal configuration allowing a servo motor to rotate a lower pod relative to an upper pod, with integrated safety features such as a steering brake and service harness for fault management and maintenance.
C
Breadth
C
Complexity
B
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09187164 - Marine pod breakaway connection
Published: 2015-11-17
The patent protects a breakaway connector and a disconnect fitting for bottom-mounted drive units in watercraft hulls, featuring a strength-reduced intermediate section that allows for controlled displacement upon force application, and includes valve mechanisms that prevent fluid leakage while enabling connection and disconnection between housing sections.
C
Breadth
D
Complexity
A
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09114864 - Marine pod hull seal assembly
Published: 2015-08-25
This patent protects a boat hull design featuring a bottom-mounted drive unit that incorporates an innovative retention mechanism utilizing tapered surfaces and seals, ensuring secure installation and water-tight integrity, including ribs and recesses for enhanced structural support.
C
Breadth
C
Complexity
B
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09110467 - Automatic control of a marine vessel during sport fishing mode
Published: 2015-08-18
The patent protects a method and system for automating the steering of a marine vessel in response to signals regarding the vessel's orientation, the angle of a fish, and the force applied by the fish, enabling enhanced engagement for anglers while minimizing steering error through real-time adjustments by an electronic controller.
A
Breadth
C
Complexity
C
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09067664 - Automatic thruster control of a marine vessel during sport fishing mode
Published: 2015-06-30
This patent protects a method and control system for steering a marine vessel that utilizes a thruster system to generate turning moments based on comparative signals from two control levers for separate propulsion units, wherein the system activates the thruster in response to these signals crossing a user-defined or engine speed threshold.
C
Breadth
B
Complexity
B
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis
09067665 - Steering fuse
Published: 2015-06-30
The patent protects a marine pod drive steering system featuring a unique fuse pin that shears when the torque exceeds a specified limit, thus providing a safety mechanism within the gear and shaft assembly that includes a driving shaft, intermediate gear, and driven gear.
C
Breadth
C
Complexity
B
Enforceability
Claims
Infringement Analysis