Boat trim tab and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A trim tab for a power boat comprises a first portion adapted to attach to a transom of the power boat, a second portion adapted to contact, at a variable angle, a fluid in which the power boat is being operated to control a trim angle of the power boat, and a live hinge adapted to hingedly affix the second portion to the first portion. The first and second portions may be constructed of aluminum. The live hinge may comprise a strip of a thermoplastic polymeric material having a relatively thin center section spanning a gap between the first and second portions and having relatively thick edge sections on opposite sides of the center section. The thermoplastic polymeric material may comprise polypropylene. The first and second portions may each define a gap for receiving one edge section of the live hinge.

1 . A trim tab for a power boat, comprising:
 a first portion adapted to attach to a transom of the power boat;   a second portion adapted to contact, at a variable angle, a fluid in which the power boat is being operated to control a trim angle of the power boat; and   a live hinge adapted to hingedly affix the second portion to the first portion;   wherein the live hinge comprises a strip of a thermoplastic polymeric material having a relatively thin center section spanning a gap between the first and second portions and having relatively thick edge sections on opposite sides of the center section, and wherein the first and second portions each define a gap for receiving one edge section of the live hinge, each gap spanning an entire width of the respective first and second portion.   
   
   
       2 . The trim tab of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the live hinge are constructed of an extrudable material. 
   
   
       3 . The trim tab of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are constructed of aluminum. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The trim tab of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric material comprises polypropylene. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . A method of manufacturing a trim tab for a power boat, the method comprising:
 providing trim tab stock material comprising (a) stock material for a first portion adapted to attach to a transom of the power boat, (b) stock material for a second portion adapted to contact, at a variable angle, a fluid in which the power boat is being operated to control a trim angle of the power boat and (c) stock material for a live hinge adapted to hingedly affix the second portion to the first portion;   cutting the stock material to a customer-specified width; and   assembling the cut stock material into a trim tab having the customer-specified width.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second portion stock material is selected from stock material having one of a plurality of pre-determined lengths. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second portion stock material is constructed of aluminum. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the live hinge stock material comprises a strip of a thermoplastic polymeric material having a relatively thin center section and having relatively thick edge sections on opposite sides of the center section. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric material comprises polypropylene. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second portion stock materials each define a gap for receiving one edge section of the live hinge stock material. 
   
   
       14 . A trim tab for a power boat, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a transom attachment portion and a live hinge portion; and   a second portion adapted to contact, at a variable angle, a fluid in which the power boat is being operated to control a trim angle of the power boat;   wherein the transom attachment portion is adapted to attach to a transom of the power boat, wherein the live hinge portion is adapted to hingedly affix the second portion to the transom attachment portion of the first portion, wherein the second portion defines a gap spanning an entire width of the second portion for receiving the distal portion.   
   
   
       15 . The trim tab of  claim 14 , wherein the live hinge portion comprises a relatively thick distal portion adapted to be affixed to the second portion and a relatively thin flexible portion spanning the edge portion and the transom attachment portion. 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The trim tab of  claim 14 , wherein the transom attachment portion defines a channel adapted to receive a washer plate. 
   
   
       18 . The trim tab of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion is constructed of a thermoplastic polymeric material and the second portion is constructed of aluminum. 
   
   
       19 . A method of manufacturing a trim tab for a power boat, the method comprising:
 providing trim tab stock material comprising (a) stock material for a first portion adapted to attach to a transom of the power boat and comprising a transom attachment portion and a live hinge portion and (b) stock material for a second portion adapted to contact, at a variable angle, a fluid in which the power boat is being operated to control a trim angle of the power boat;   cutting the stock material to a customer-specified width; and   assembling the cut stock material into a trim tab having the customer-specified width.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second portion stock material is selected from stock material having one of a plurality of pre-determined lengths. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the live hinge portion comprises a relatively thick distal portion adapted to be affixed to the second portion and a relatively thin flexible portion spanning the edge portion and the transom attachment portion. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second portion defines a gap for receiving the distal portion. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the transom attachment portion defines a channel adapted to receive a washer plate. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first portion is constructed of a thermoplastic polymeric material and the second portion is constructed of aluminum.