Zodiac has registered over 1000 patents, trademarks, trade dress and copyrights in these fields and leads the world in innovation for inflatable marine applications. Some of these innovations are listed below:

Zodiac Patents & Trademarks
Below are brief descriptions of a few of the many patents and trademarks that Zodiac holds and uses on military and professional boats:

Composite Buoyancy Collars
Uniting advantages of foam and inflation. By combining the two technologies, the collars enhance their resistance to punctures that otherwise might deflate them. 

Wrap-around Collars For Boats
By extending along entire peripheries of the boats, these collars provide extra buoyancy, particularly during rough seas.

Automatic inflation systems for rapid inflation, topping-off pressures and rapid deflation of the inflatable compartments. 

Foam-buoyancy Collars
For boats with excellent durability. This enhanced durability is supplied, in part, by special reinforcement and surface coatings.

Diver Accessibility
Designed to aid diver ingress and egress without sacrificing the overall buoyancy of an inflatable boat. The constructions accomplish this result by incorporating tube elements that may be removed when a diver needs to pass into or out of a boat.

Deck and Hull Systems
For securing inflatable tubes onto boats. Unlike other systems, these innovations do not require additional screws or stabilizers and allow for easy and quick repair and replacement of the tubes.

Lifting Eye Design
For a lifting eye for boats with deck-mounted lift points. The eye folds flush when not in use, providing an attractive, unobtrusive structure.

Shock Mitigation Flooring
Zodiac is an exclusive user of SKYDEX shock mitigating flooring systems. View more information and pictures here.

SMS™ (Shock Mitigation Systems - 2 types of seating)
Even though a Zodiac RIB is inherently shock mitigating due to its collar design, Zodiac now offers a variety of SMS products including 2 types of cockpit seating systems. View more information and pictures here of our available SMS products.

DiverDoor™ and Rapid Access Door
A patented system of being able to remove a section of the collar for greater access to the water for divers, human retrieval or marine mammals.

DuraRib™ Foam Collar
A patented system which upgrades an inflatable collar to a foam filled collar. The Durarib collar retains 100% of its form and function even if punctured due to its outer polyurethane skin supported by layers of closed cell foam.

DuraCoat™ Foam Collar
A patented half round polyurethane foam collar system that forms the fendering and flotation of a range of GRP and aluminum high sided Utility boats from 17' to 24'.

SeaRib™
A uniquely design rigid inflatable boat.

WrapAround™ Collar
A patented system of extending the collar behind the boat and engines to give greater buoyancy aft especially when launching and recovering from a stern ramp of a ship.

AutoFlate™
This patented system allows the air pressure inside the collar to be automatically maintained by a 12volt inflation pump. The system is deployed by operating a switch on the dash panel and ensuring that each chamber in the air collar is inter connected by the exclusive Zodiac valve.

ThermalCover™
This patented system allows for the engine(s) or engine compartment to be covered by an insulating material that reduces the heat signature of the boat.

ArmorFlate™
This is a patented system that provides anti ballistic protection for the passengers, crew and vital components of the boat. It is easily and quickly deployed and can be configured for protection against various armaments and on most of the craft in the Zodiac range.

SafeLift™
A patented lift point that is recessed into the deck of a RIB. The lifting sling is easily attached to the swivel eye which is normally hidden in the deck when not in use thus avoiding a major trip hazard and a significant Health and Safety issue.

DuraFit™ and QuikFit™
These unique systems are far superior to the attachment of components to the deck by regular wood screws and lag bolts that our competitors use.

Pop a John™
An innovative way of providing sanitary facilities on open craft on patrol or on duty for long periods. This patented device is fully self contained in a rigid container the size of a large ice chest and easily placed and secured on any deck or flat surface.

Learn more about our innovative optional systems from Zodiac.