Patent ID: 9266592
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B63H

Claim Text:
1. A protector for protecting a propeller, comprising: a housing with a substantially symmetrical shape having an exterior surface, an interior surface, an opening facing a first direction for receiving the propeller, and a central axis extending longitudinally through the opening, wherein the housing comprises a buoyant material; and a plurality of bendable fingers of substantially same length extending inwardly from the interior surface toward a center portion of the housing, the fingers having fixed ends attached to the interior surface and free distal ends together defining the center portion of the housing, the fingers being configured to engage one or more blades of the propeller when at least a portion of the propeller is received into the housing through the opening, wherein the fingers extend toward an outer periphery of the center portion so that the free distal ends of the fingers are pointed away from the central axis, and wherein the length of each of the fingers is greater than the shortest distance between the inner surface and the center portion.