TRU-TOSS LLC recently secured a major technological breakthrough with the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12774059. This patent, titled ‘Device for floating a boat line’, introduces an innovative approach to marine safety and docking procedures. Invented by Matthew Glenn Reimers, the product addresses a significant safety issue for passengers who struggle to throw heavy or awkward dock lines. The device utilizes a soft, durable, and buoyant material that houses the boat line, allowing users to toss the rope to a dock or another vessel with enhanced accuracy and ease while ensuring the line remains afloat in the water.
IOWA PATENT OF THE MONTH – NOVEMBER 2026
The invention earned the prestigious Iowa Patent of the Month award for November 2026, granted by Swanson Reed, due to its exceptional alignment with the firm’s strict evaluation criteria. Swanson Reed highlights patents that demonstrate technological radicalness, broad market scope, and economic utility. This device fulfills these dimensions by introducing a new principle of operation to traditional docking ropes, expanding its market to recreational boaters nationwide, and providing real world efficiency gains by reducing docking accidents and associated property damage. The practical safety improvements offered by this device set a new standard for boating accessories and marine safety.
R&D Tax Credit Eligibility
The practical applications and development of this patented device provide a strong foundation for claiming the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit in the United States. To bring this product to market, the engineering team likely engaged in a systematic process of trial and error to resolve technical uncertainties regarding material buoyancy, aerodynamic shape, and durability in harsh marine environments. Activities such as prototyping different material compositions, testing the physical dynamics of the throwing mechanism under various wind conditions, and evaluating the material’s resistance to saltwater degradation directly align with the four part test of IRS Section 41. The expenses related to these iterative testing and design phases, including employee wages and prototype supplies, would be eligible expenditures, rewarding the company for its technical innovation.
