US 12,420,896 B2
Floating charging station for an electric boat
Joseph Sarokhan, Basking Ridge, NJ (US); Joshua Mehlman, Monroe Township, NJ (US); Ethan Butler, Monroe Township, NJ (US); and David Goldstein, Washington, NJ (US)
Assigned to OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Monroe Township, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/936,528.
Application 18/936,528 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2024/021635, filed on Mar. 27, 2024.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/454,807, filed on Mar. 27, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0058858 A1, Feb. 20, 2025
Int. Cl. B63B 35/44 (2006.01); B60L 53/12 (2019.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.01); B60L 53/35 (2019.01); B60L 53/53 (2019.01); B60L 53/57 (2019.01); B60L 53/66 (2019.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.01)
CPC B63B 35/44 (2013.01) [B60L 53/12 (2019.02); B60L 53/16 (2019.02); B60L 53/35 (2019.02); B60L 53/53 (2019.02); B60L 53/57 (2019.02); B60L 53/66 (2019.02); B60L 2200/32 (2013.01); B63B 2035/4486 (2013.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.02)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for charging electric vehicles on or near water, the system including a charging station comprising:
an electric energy storage coupled with a means to recharge the energy storage; a means for an electric boat to find the charging station;
a signal emitter configured to broadcast a signal, wherein the signal includes a location of the charging station;
a means to hold the electric boat connected to the energy storage during charging;
a means to transfer electric energy to the electric boat; and
an aquatic structure adapted to float on a body of water and being attached to a shore, ground, or bed of the body of water; and
one or more receptacles connected to the aquatic structure and adapted to float on the body of water,
wherein at least some of the means for an electric boat to find the charging station, the electric energy storage, and the means to recharge the energy storage are mounted to the aquatic structure;
wherein at least some of the means for an electric boat to find the charging station, the means to hold the electric boat connected to the energy storage during charging, and the means to transfer electric energy to the electric boat are housed in the one or more receptacles; and
wherein the means to hold the electric boat connected to the energy storage during charging includes a flexible link and one of a hook, clamp, and cage member capable of capturing the electric boat, wherein the one of a hook, clamp, and cage member can move in water via propulsion.