US 11,970,251 B2
Lanyard system and method for a marine vessel
Steven J. Gonring, Slinger, WI (US); Walter B. Ross, Fond du Lac, WI (US); Fredrik Eriksen, Viken (NO); and Christian Frost Røine, Viken (NO)
Assigned to Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed by Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US); and FELL Marine Inc., Delray Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/184,245.
Application 18/184,245 is a continuation of application No. 16/786,207, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,618,538.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/804,976, filed on Feb. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0227132 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B63B 21/24 (2006.01); B63B 45/02 (2006.01); B63B 45/08 (2006.01); B63C 9/00 (2006.01); B63H 21/21 (2006.01); G01S 1/70 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 79/40 (2020.01) [B63B 21/24 (2013.01); B63B 45/02 (2013.01); B63B 45/08 (2013.01); B63C 9/0005 (2013.01); B63H 21/21 (2013.01); B63H 2021/216 (2013.01); G01S 1/7038 (2019.08); G01S 2201/08 (2019.08)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vessel control system for a marine vessel propelled by at least one propulsion device, the system comprising:
a wireless lanyard system including:
at least one fob worn by an individual on the marine vessel, wherein each of the at least one fob is either an operator fob or a passenger fob;
a helm transceiver at a helm area of the marine vessel configured to receive radio signals from the at least one fob;
a controller configured to:
detect, based on communications between each of the at least one fob and the helm transceiver, that each of the at least one fob is present on the marine vessel;
determine that a missing fob of the at least one fob is no longer detected at the helm transceiver, wherein the missing fob is either the operator fob or the passenger fob;
generate a man overboard event when the missing fob is not detected, wherein the man overboard event is an operator overboard event if the missing fob is the operator fob or a passenger overboard event if the missing fob is the passenger fob; and
wherein the vessel control system is configured to automatically activate one or more search assistance functions based on the man overboard event, wherein the search assistance functions activated depend on whether the man overboard event is the operator overboard event or the passenger overboard event.