US4058075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine life growth inhibitor device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-08-24
•
Granted: 1977-11-15
•
Expires: 1996-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A marine life growth inhibitor device is disclosed for inhibiting marine life on the outer surface of a submerged object such as a boat. The device includes a controller connected to a source of electrical power and a plurality of speakers electrically connected to the controller and attached at predetermined locations on the interior of the boat's hull, whereby vibrations may be transmitted through the hull. The controller may also include a transformer for reducing the voltage of the alternating current power source. Each of the plurality of speakers has a speaker diaphragm having a first and a second speaker diaphragm side. Each of the speakers is mounted in a speaker housing secured to the hull of the boat for enabling transfer of acoustical energy from both the first and second side of the speaker diaphragm to the boat hull to inhibit the growth of marine life on the exterior surface of the boat hull. The speakers are selected to produce acoustical vibration in the audible range.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R. Piper, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:39
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B59/00; B63B59/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A marine life growth inhibitor device primarily intended for use in combination with a boat hull, comprising in combination: vibratory means comprising speaker means and speaker housing means for housing said speaker means, said speaker means including a speaker diaphragm having a first and a second speaker diaphragm side, said speaker diaphragm being moveable relative to said frame upon application of electrical power to said speaker means for transferring electrical energy into acoustical energy; means for mounting said speaker means in said speaker housing means enabling acoustical energy to be directed from said second side of said speaker diaphragm adjacent the first side of the speaker diaphragm;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A marine life growth inhibitor device primarily intended for use in combination with a boat hull, comprising in combination: vibratory means comprising speaker means and speaker housing means for housing said speaker means, said speaker means including a speaker diaphragm having a first and a second speaker diaphragm side, said speaker diaphragm being moveable relative to said frame upon application of electrical power to said speaker means for transferring electrical energy into acoustical energy; means for mounting said speaker means in said speaker housing means enabling acoustical energy to be directed from said second side of said speaker diaphragm adjacent the first side of the speaker diaphragm;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
said speaker housing means including a first and a second speaker housing portion; said first housing portion having a liquid impermeable housing diaphragm for enabling transfer of acoustical energy from said speaker diaphragm to the boat hull; means for mounting said first and second housing portions and said housing diaphragm to form a water repellent speaker housing means; means mounting said speaker housing means on the boat hull for enabling transfer of acoustical energy from said speaker diaphragm to the boat hull; and connection means for connecting said speaker means to an electrical power source to transfer acoustical energy from said speaker diaphragm to the boat hull to inhibit the growth of marine life on the exterior of the boat hull.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
said speaker housing means including a first and a second speaker housing portion; said first housing portion having a liquid impermeable housing diaphragm for enabling transfer of acoustical energy from said speaker diaphragm to the boat hull; means for mounting said first and second housing portions and said housing diaphragm to form a water repellent speaker housing means; means mounting said speaker housing means on the boat hull for enabling transfer of acoustical energy from said speaker diaphragm to the boat hull; and connection means for connecting said speaker means to an electrical power source to transfer acoustical energy from said speaker diaphragm to the boat hull to inhibit the growth of marine life on the exterior of the boat hull.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said speaker means includes a speaker pair mounted on opposite sides of a central line of the boat hull.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical power source includes an alternating power source frequency in the audible range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said power source frequency includes 60 cycles per second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said speaker means includes a plurality of speakers; and said connection means including means connecting said plurality of speakers in electrical series for terminating operation of said vibratory means upon an open circuit in any one of said plurality of speakers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said speaker means includes a speaker frame moveably mounting said speaker diaphragm; and said means mounting said speaker means includes means for mounting said speaker frame to said speaker housing means with an acoustical passage established adjacent substantially all of the perimeter of said speaker frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said speaker means is mounted in said speaker housing means to enable constructive interference between acoustical energy propagating from said first and second sides of said speaker diaphragm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said speaker housing means is mounted on the inside surface of and below the normal waterline of the boat hull.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2366162A
Cited
GB703158A
Cited
US2667706A
Cited
GB719650A
Cited
US3089562A
Cited
US3391754A
Cited
US3947635A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-14 | 1981-05-16 | 1981-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-14 | 1985-05-16 | 1985-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-14 | 1989-05-16 | 1989-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |