Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A multihull vessel comprising: a center section, a pair of floats disposed on opposite sides of the center section and spaced therefrom, pivot connection means pivotally connecting each float to the center section for movement between: a first position laterally extended from the center section to render the vessel stable in an upright condition, and a second position located beneath the center section when the vessel is fully capsized to render the vessel unstable by locating the center of buoyancy of the capsized vessel below the center of gravity to promote righting of the capsized vessel; power means for moving said pivot connection means between said first and second positions, the pivot connection means comprising a float arm assembly on each side of the vessel interconnecting the center section and a respective float, each float arm assembly including first and second arm means, said first and second arm means being pivotably attached to said center section at vertically spaced locations, said first and second arm means each including means for progressively changing the effective length of said first and second arm means as said float moves between said first and second positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A multihull vessel comprising: a center section, a pair of floats disposed on opposite sides of the center section and spaced therefrom, pivot connection means pivotally connecting each float to the center section for movement between: a first position laterally extended from the center section to render the vessel stable in an upright condition, and a second position located beneath the center section when the vessel is fully capsized to render the vessel unstable by locating the center of buoyancy of the capsized vessel below the center of gravity to promote righting of the capsized vessel; power means for moving said pivot connection means between said first and second positions, the pivot connection means comprising a float arm assembly on each side of the vessel interconnecting the center section and a respective float, each float arm assembly including first and second arm means, said first and second arm means being pivotably attached to said center section at vertically spaced locations, said first and second arm means each including means for progressively changing the effective length of said first and second arm means as said float moves between said first and second positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said first and second arm means each comprises a fluid-actuated extensible and retractible ram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vessel according to claim 1, wherein one of said arm means comprises a plurality of arm segments interconnected by a horizontal pivot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vessel according to claim 3, wherein said power means is operably connected to said one arm means to relatively rotate said segments thereof and thereby change the effective length of said arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vessel according to claim 3, wherein either of said arm means comprises a fluid-actuated extensible and retractable arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A vessel according to claim 1, wherein each float is movable to a third position located beneath the center section when the vessel is upright, said means for progressively changing the effective length comprises means for progressively changing the effective length of the respective said arm means as said float moves between said first and third positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said power means comprises a mechanically extensible and retractible member connected to at least one of said first and second arm means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A vessel according to claim 7, wherein said member comprises a fluid-actuated motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said power means comprises at least one mechanically extensible and retractible member connected to at least one of said first and second arm means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vessel according to claim 9, wherein said mechanically extensible and retractible member comprises a fluid-actuated motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said pivot connection means pivotally connects each float to the center section for movement between said first and second positions and further between a third position located downwardly and inwardly from said first position when the vessel is in an upright condition, or upwardly and inwardly from said first position when the vessel is in an inverted condition, to reduce the beam of the vessel. --