ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 9 -- United States Patent no. 12,286,197, issued on April 29, was assigned to Lifetime Products Inc. (Clearfield, Utah).
"Venturi effect scupper drain" was invented by Brent Steed (Syracuse, Utah) and Edward G. Van Nimwegen (Ogden, Utah).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An example watercraft includes a hull that defines a cockpit. A scupper is provided that extends from the cockpit through an exterior surface of the hull. A recess defined by the hull is in communication with the scupper, and the recess defines a portion of a venturi tube. A plate that is attachable to the hull is configured to define another portion of the venturi tube such that when the plate is attached t...