Patent ID: 7821150

Claim:
An apparatus for converting the energy in water waves into another more useful form, comprising: a. at least one buoyant structure at or near the surface of a body of water, said structure reacting in a plane substantially parallel to the water's surface as caused by the forces of wave energy and further having at least one side with a cross-section designed to capture incident wave energy, including the circular motion of the water molecules, and actuate the buoyant structure in a substantially uniform manner throughout its length; b. a pivot point secured within a body of water in a substantially vertical position, the buoyant structure being securable to the pivot point so as to allow the structure to stay positioned near the water's surface along its length at the same general location and while rotating back and forth relative to the pivot point axis in an arc substantially parallel to the water's surface; and c. means to attach one or more drive elements to said buoyant structure for actuating a mechanism as a result of wave energy striking said buoyant structure.