US 12,071,208 B2
System and peripheral devices for a marine vessel
Michael J. Boks, Grand Rapids, MI (US); John Witte, Ada, MI (US); and Christopher C. Bostwick, Rockford, MI (US)
Assigned to Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed by Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/227,959.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/704,874, filed on Jun. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0371064 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B63B 21/04 (2006.01); B63B 45/02 (2006.01); B63B 45/04 (2006.01); B63B 79/00 (2020.01); B63B 79/10 (2020.01)
CPC B63B 79/40 (2020.01) [B63B 21/04 (2013.01); B63B 45/02 (2013.01); B63B 45/04 (2013.01); B63B 79/10 (2020.01); B63B 79/00 (2020.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for a marine vessel, the system including:
a peripheral device including an actuator configured to move a movable part of the peripheral device between a retracted position and an extended position;
a first serial bus configured to connect the peripheral device to other peripheral devices;
a controller located on or in the peripheral device, operatively connected to the actuator, and in signal communication with the first serial bus;
a sensor coupled to the controller via a second serial bus; and
a breakaway joint provided between the movable part of the peripheral device and the actuator and the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to activate the actuator to move the movable part of the peripheral device from the extended position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position in response to information from the sensor; and
wherein the breakaway joint is configured such that if force above a predetermined threshold is applied to the movable part of the peripheral device, the movable part of the peripheral device will pivot or partially or completely break off from the actuator and the controller.