Suzuki Motor Corporation is to allow royalty-free use of 34 patents related to its outboard motor micro-plastic collecting device, including pre-grant phase applications.
The company says the move – which is the first time Suzuki has offered its patents royalty-free – is part of its commitment to promoting marine environmental conservation and contributing to the realisation of a sustainable society.
Suzuki points out that plastic waste flowing into the ocean has become a significant environmental issue worldwide.
Plastic waste is broken down into micro-plastics, which can have serious impacts on ecosystems, including ingestion by ocean life.
Standard equipment
To address these issues, Suzuki developed a micro-plastic collecting device that can be installed on outboard motors and also began production of outboard motors equipped with this device as standard equipment on select models in July 2022.
Suzuki obtained its first patent related to its micro-plastic collecting device in 2021 and has subsequently acquired various patents in major markets for outboard motors.
Suzuki will also continue its efforts to protect the ocean through initiatives such as its ‘Sukuki Clean Ocean Project’
Engine-cooling system
The patent portfolio focuses on the engine-cooling system of outboard motors that pump up seawater while running and enables the collection and removal of micro-plastics.
The micro-plastic collecting device is installed in the cooling-water passage after the engine has been cooled.
The portfolio also includes improvement patents that arrange a parallel bypass channel to divert flow when the device’s filter becomes clogged.
