U.S. patent application number 11/757375 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-13 for powered surfboard for preserving energy of surfer during paddling.
This patent application is currently assigned to BOUNCING BRAIN INNOVATIONS SEASON TWO SUBSIDIARY 14, LLC. Invention is credited to Mike R. Railey.
Application Number | 20070283865 11/757375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39103387 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070283865 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Railey; Mike R. |
December 13, 2007 |
POWERED SURFBOARD FOR PRESERVING ENERGY OF SURFER DURING
PADDLING
Abstract
An improvement to a conventional surfboard includes an impeller
and an electric motor contained primarily within the body of the
surfboard, whereby performance of the surfboard is substantially
unaffected by the presence of the impeller and the electric motor.
The electric motor is operatively connected to the impeller for
providing a forward thrust of the surfboard. The improvement to the
conventional surfboard also includes a throttle for selective
control of the electric motor for operating the impeller to provide
a forward thrust of the surfboard, the throttle being configured
for use by a surfer lying in a prone position on the smooth top
surface of the body of the surfboard. An extent of the surfer's
energy that otherwise would be expended during paddling can be
preserved for riding waves by using the impeller to provide the
forward thrust during paddling.
Inventors: |
Railey; Mike R.; (Del Mar,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TILLMAN WRIGHT, PLLC
P.O. BOX 471581
CHARLOTTE
NC
28247
US
|
Assignee: |
BOUNCING BRAIN INNOVATIONS SEASON
TWO SUBSIDIARY 14, LLC
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
39103387 |
Appl. No.: |
11/757375 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11263505 |
Oct 31, 2005 |
7226329 |
|
|
11757375 |
Jun 3, 2007 |
|
|
|
60624455 |
Nov 1, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/55.58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H 21/17 20130101;
B63B 32/10 20200201; B63H 5/08 20130101; B63H 21/22 20130101; B63H
5/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/055.58 |
International
Class: |
A63B 35/12 20060101
A63B035/12 |
Claims
1. In a surfboard having a body with top and bottom surfaces,
wherein the body of the surfboard is configured to support a surfer
lying in a prone position on the top surface while paddling, the
improvement comprising, (a) an impeller and an electric motor
contained primarily within the body of the surfboard, whereby
performance of the surfboard is substantially unaffected by the
presence of the impeller and the electric motor, the electric motor
operatively connected to the impeller for providing a forward
thrust of the surfboard; and (b) a throttle for selective control
of the electric motor for operating the impeller to provide a
forward thrust of the surfboard, the throttle being configured for
use by the surfer lying in the prone position on the top surface of
the body of the surfboard, whereby an extent of the surfer's energy
that otherwise would be expended during paddling is preserved for
riding waves.
2. The surfboard of claim 1, wherein the body of the surfboard is
made from wood.
3. The surfboard of claim 1, wherein the body of the surfboard is
made from fiberglass.
4. The surfboard of claim 1, wherein the body of the surfboard is
made from foam board.
5. The surfboard of claim 1, wherein the impeller and the electric
motor both are contained within a thickness of the surfboard body
such that neither protrudes beyond either top and bottom surfaces
of the body of the surfboard.
7. In a surfboard having a body configured to support a surfer
lying in a prone position while paddling, the improvement
comprising, (a) a radio frequency (RF) receiver contained primarily
within the body of the surfboard; (b) an impeller contained
primarily within the body of the surfboard; and (c) a remote
controlled electric motor contained primarily within the body of
the surfboard and operatively connected to the impeller for
providing a forward thrust of the surfboard, the RF receiver
operatively connected to the remote controlled electric motor for
selective operation of the impeller through RF communications with
the receiver for providing forward thrust of the surfboard.
8. The surfboard of claim 7, further comprising a RF transmitter in
the surfboard and configured to communicate with the RF receiver
for selective operation of the impeller for providing forward
thrust of the surfboard.
9. The surfboard of claim 8, wherein the RF transmitter is disposed
proximate one end of the surfboard and the impeller is disposed
proximate an opposite end of the surfboard.
10. A method for preserving an extent of a surfer's energy that
otherwise would be expended during paddling, comprising the steps
of: (a) paddling while lying in a prone position on a surfboard,
and (b) actuating an impeller such that a forward thrust of the
surfboard is provided during paddling by the surfer.
11. The method of claim 10,wherein the impeller is contained
primarily within the body of the surfboard.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of actuating the
impeller includes controlling an electric motor, the electric motor
being operatively connected to the impeller.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein contained primarily within the
body of the surfboard.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling of the electric
motor includes transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals to a RF
receiver that is contained primarily within the body of the
surfboard.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the RF signals are transmitted
from an RF transmitter that is contained primarily within the body
of the surfboard.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present application is a U.S. continuation-in-part
patent application of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120
to, U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 11/263,505,
filed Oct. 31, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,329, which
nonprovisional patent application and patent are incorporated by
reference herein, and which is a nonprovisional patent application
of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) to, U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/624,455, filed Nov. 1,
2004, now expired, which provisional patent application is
incorporated herein by reference. The present application also
incorporates herein by reference Disclosure Document No. 542742
received by the USPTO on Dec. 5, 2003, which document is referenced
in the present file history by the applicant.
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
[0002] All of the material in this patent document is subject to
copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States
and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the
facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the
patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records
but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are
reserved.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a motor driven
surfboard.
[0004] Surfing is the sport of riding a surfboard (heavy timber
"plank", fiberglass, light wood or foam board) on the face of an
ocean wave towards the shoreline. Jet powered surfboards have been
devised and utilized for the purpose of surfing without waves such
as in lakes or other calm waters. Several types of motorized water
boards in the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,634 to Jung;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,560 to Austin; U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,840 to
Efthymiou; U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,166 to Chang; and U.S. Pat. No.
4,020,782 to Gleason.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention includes many aspects and
features.
[0006] In one aspect of the invention, a conventional surfboard has
a body with substantially flat and smooth top and bottom surfaces,
wherein the body of the surfboard is configured to support a surfer
lying in a prone position on the smooth top surface while paddling.
This aspect of the invention is an improvement to such a
conventional surfboard, wherein the improvement includes an
impeller and an electric motor contained primarily within the body
of the surfboard, whereby performance of the surfboard is
substantially unaffected by the presence of the impeller and the
electric motor. The electric motor is operatively connected to the
impeller for providing a forward thrust of the surfboard. The
improvement to the conventional surfboard also includes a throttle
for selective control of the electric motor for operating the
impeller to provide a forward thrust of the surfboard, the throttle
being configured for use by the surfer lying in the prone position
on the smooth top surface of the body of the surfboard. As a result
of the improvement, an extent of the surfer's energy that otherwise
would be expended during paddling is preserved for riding waves,
thereby providing an more enjoyable surfing experience.
[0007] In features of this aspect, the body of the surfboard is
made from wood, fiberglass, or foam board.
[0008] In another feature, the impeller and the electric motor both
are contained within a thickness of the surfboard body such that
neither protrudes beyond either top and bottom surfaces of the body
of the surfboard.
[0009] In another aspect of the invention, a conventional surfboard
has a body configured to support a surfer lying in a prone position
while paddling. This aspect of the invention is an improvement to
such a conventional surfboard, wherein the improvement includes a
radio frequency (RF) receiver contained primarily within the body
of the surfboard; an impeller contained primarily within the body
of the surfboard; and a remote controlled electric motor contained
primarily within the body of the surfboard. The electric motor is
operatively connected to the impeller for providing a forward
thrust of the surfboard and, in turn, the RF receiver is
operatively connected to the remote controlled electric motor for
selective operation of the impeller through RF communications with
the receiver for providing the forward thrust of the surfboard.
[0010] In a feature of this aspect, the improvement further
includes a RF transmitter in the surfboard that is configured to
communicate with the RF receiver for selective operation of the
impeller for providing forward thrust of the surfboard. The RF
transmitter preferably is disposed proximate one end of the
surfboard and the impeller is disposed proximate an opposite end of
the surfboard.
[0011] In still yet another aspect of the invention, a method for
preserving an extent of a surfer's energy that otherwise would be
expended during paddling, comprising the steps of: paddling while
lying in a prone position on a surfboard, and actuating an impeller
such that a forward thrust of the surfboard is provided during
paddling by the surfer.
[0012] In a feature of this aspect, actuating the impeller includes
controlling an electric motor that is the electric motor being
operatively connected to the impeller. The electric motor may be
controlled by transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals to a RF
receiver. The RF signals are transmitted from an RF
transmitter.
[0013] In other features of this aspect, the impeller, the electric
motor, the RF receiver, and/or the RF transmitter are contained
primarily within the body of the surfboard.
[0014] In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of
the present invention, it should be noted that the present
invention further encompasses the various possible combinations of
such aspects and features
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] One or more preferred embodiments of the present invention
now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein the same elements are referred to with the same
reference numerals, and wherein,
[0016] FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the motorized
surfboard.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the motorized
surfboard.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the tail portion of one
embodiment of the motorized surfboard.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows an upside-down view of the tail end of one
embodiment of the motorized surfboard.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a block drawing showing a configuration of one
embodiment of the drive system, which may be placed within the
motorized surfboard.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a drawing of the interior portions of one
embodiment of the motorized surfboard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by
one having ordinary skill in the relevant art ("Ordinary Artisan")
that the present invention has broad utility and application.
Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being
"preferred" is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated
for carrying out the present invention. Other embodiments also may
be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a
full and enabling disclosure of the present invention. Moreover,
many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications,
and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the
embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the
present invention.
[0023] Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein
in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be
understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of
the present invention, and is made merely for the purposes of
providing a full and enabling disclosure of the present invention.
The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not
intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent
protection afforded the present invention, which scope is to be
defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not
intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present
invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found
herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
[0024] Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of
steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are
illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be
understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may
be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order,
the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being
carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an
indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or
methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences
and orders while still falling within the scope of the present
invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent
protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by the
appended claims rather than the description set forth herein.
[0025] Additionally, it is important to note that each term used
herein refers to that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand
such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein.
To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein--as understood
by the Ordinary Artisan based on the contextual use of such
term--differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition
of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as
understood by the Ordinary Artisan should prevail.
[0026] Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein,
"a" and "an" each generally denotes "at least one," but does not
exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise.
Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having an apple" describes "a
picnic basket having at least one apple" as well as "a picnic
basket having apples." In contrast, reference to "a picnic basket
having a single apple" describes "a picnic basket having only one
apple."
[0027] When used herein to join a list of items, "or" denotes "at
least one of the items," but does not exclude a plurality of items
of the list. Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having cheese or
crackers" describes "a picnic basket having cheese without
crackers", "a picnic basket having crackers without cheese", and "a
picnic basket having both cheese and crackers." Finally, when used
herein to join a list of items, "and" denotes "all of the items of
the list." Thus, reference to "a picnic basket having cheese and
crackers" describes "a picnic basket having cheese, wherein the
picnic basket further has crackers," as well as describes "a picnic
basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basket further has
cheese."
[0028] Referring now to the drawings, one or more preferred
embodiments of the present invention are next described. The
following description of one or more preferred embodiments is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its implementations, or uses.
[0029] Traditionally, the sport of surfing comprises a rider
("surfer") "paddling out" by lying prone on the surfboard and
paddling away from the shoreline towards a point at which waves are
cresting; turning to face the shoreline; paddling quickly towards
the shoreline when a wave begins to crest so as to "catch the
wave"; and "riding the wave" on the surfboard propelled by the wave
towards the shoreline in a prone, sitting or standing position.
When riding a wave, a surfer may turn the surfboard towards or away
from different parts of the cresting wave depending on the
preference and skill of the surfer. Subsequently, the surfer must
paddle out and repeat the process of catching and riding waves.
After catching and riding waves for a period of time, the surfer
must "paddle in" by lying prone on the surfboard and paddling
towards the shoreline to end the sport of the surfing for the day.
Paddling out, turning, paddling quickly to catch waves and paddling
in can be tiring and time consuming to the surfer and can thus
limit the surfer's energy and time for riding waves. Advantageous
embodiments of the present invention preserve a surfer's maximum
energy for riding waves rather than exhausting the surfer's energy
on paddling.
[0030] Jet powered motorized surfboards have been used for the
purpose of surfing without the need for waves, such as in lakes or
other calm waters. The general purpose of the present invention,
which will be described in greater detail below, is to provide a
motorized surfboard which has the advantages of traditional
surfboard design, with increased performance and function without
many of the disadvantages of the motor driven surfboards,
wakeboards, boogie boards, belly boards, personal watercraft, etc.
in the prior art.
[0031] In advantageous embodiments, a motorized surfboard body 101
has substantially flat and smooth top 102 and bottom 201 surfaces,
a maximum thickness of approximately three inches and no
substantial protruding parts other than fins 202 extending from the
bottom of the tail portion of the body of the surfboard 101. The
body of the surfboard 101 may be elongated, rounded or square
shaped. In advantageous embodiments the body of the surfboard 101
is an oblong, traditional surfboard shape and comprises a nose, a
tail and left and right rails. Generally, the body of the surfboard
101 will be made from wood, fiberglass or foam board, although
other types of strong, low density materials may also be used. FIG.
1 shows the body of the surfboard 101 with a top surface 102 and
essentially no protruding parts from the top surface 102. FIG. 1
shows the tail of the surfboard in this embodiment with a stomp pad
103 where a surfer may stand on the board when riding waves. FIG. 2
shows the body of the surfboard 101 with a bottom surface 201 and
no substantial protruding parts other than fins 202. FIG. 3 shows
the body of the surfboard 101 with a bottom surface 201 with no
substantial protruding parts other than fins 202. FIG. 4 shows the
body of the surfboard 101 as well as the top surface 102 and the
bottom surface 201 with no substantial protruding parts other than
fins 202. The drawing of this embodiment also shows a gentle
curvature of the generally flat and smooth top surface 102 towards
the sides of the surfboard.
[0032] Some embodiments of the present invention use at least one
impeller 501. Advantageously, an impeller 501 comprises rotating
blades attached to a hub contained within a tube. The impeller 501
is attached to an electric motor or motors 502 via a motor shaft or
a coupler 508. The motor shaft or a coupler 508 allows the electric
motor or motors 502 to rotate the blades of the impeller 501 so
that when the surfboard is floating in water, water will enter into
impeller tube entrance holes 203 and exit out of impeller tube exit
holes 104. In some advantageous embodiments, an impeller or
plurality of impellers 501 is encased within the body of the
surfboard in such a way that water will have access to enter the
impeller tube entrance hole 203 and exit the impeller tube exit
hole 104. When in combination with an electric motor or motors 502,
the impeller or plurality of impellers 501 will force water out of
impeller exit holes 104 and propel the surfboard and/or a surfboard
and rider combination generally in a forward direction when the
surfboard body 101 is floating in water.
[0033] FIGS. 1-4 show various physical features of advantageous
embodiments of the impeller tubes of the motorized surfboard. FIG.
1 shows the tail of the surfboard where impeller tube exit holes
104 in this particular embodiment allow water to be expelled and
thus propel the surfboard in a forward direction when the surfboard
is floating in water. FIG. 2 shows the impeller tube entrance holes
203 as recessed openings in the bottom of the tail portion of this
particular embodiment. The impeller tube entrance holes 203 allow
water to enter the impellers 501 when the surfboard is floating in
water. FIG. 3 shows impeller tube entrance holes 203 as recessed
openings in the bottom portion of the tail of the surfboard body
101 in this particular embodiment. FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of
the motorized surfboard that positions impeller tube exit holes 104
in the tail of the surfboard. FIG. 4 also shows one way in which
the impellers 501 may be embedded within the body of the surfboard
101 without significantly interfering with the relatively flat and
smooth top surface 102 of the surfboard.
[0034] In some embodiments, impellers 501 may be advantageously
placed in the front, side or rear portion of the surfboard body 101
depending on the type of control desired by the surfboard rider
when riding a motorized surfboard. In some embodiments an impeller
501 connected to a motor 502 may be partly contained within some
portion of one or more fins 202 protruding from the body of the
surfboard 101. In some advantageous embodiments the
impeller-electric motor combination is contained primarily within
the body of the surfboard 101; thus, the body of the surfboard 101
will encase 105 the impeller 501 and the electric motor 502 such
that a protrusion or disturbance of the flat surface of the board
will be minimal--e.g. not greater than the radius of an impeller
501 or of an electric motor 502. In the case of a protrusion or
disturbance in the otherwise flat surface of the board 102, that
protrusion or disturbance will not affect the performance of the
surfboard when engaged in a traditional form of surfing. An
impeller-motor combination may be configured to propel an otherwise
stationary surfboard in a reverse direction, such as for purposes
of braking, if desired. Types of impellers 501 may include water
jets with reverse bucket and excess reinforcement fins removed. Jet
drives or impellers such as those types used in and adopted for use
in toy model boats are also appropriate.
[0035] In some advantageous embodiments of the present invention a
motorized surfboard may be propelled by at least one lightweight
electric motor 502. In some embodiments the electric motor has
adequate power to propel a surfboard and rider combination in water
when paddling out, turning, catching waves, riding waves or
paddling in. An acceptable electric motor may have power and
performance characteristics similar to those used in toy model
boats and/or model airplanes. Acceptable electric motors 502
include those of a brushless DC type or types comprising components
originally designed for radio controlled hobby vehicles. In some
advantageous embodiments, the electric motor(s) 502 is rated at
approximately 150 to 450 watts.
[0036] Advantageously, the electric motor or motors 502 are
embedded in the surfboard body 101. In some embodiments the
electric motor 502 is completely enclosed within the surfboard
body. Within the surfboard body 101 the electric motor 502 is
coupled to an impeller or plurality of impellers 501 as described
above. The electric motor or motors 502 in combination with the
impeller or impellers 501 are configured to propel the surfboard
when the surfboard is floating in water as described above.
[0037] In advantageous embodiments the electric motor or motors 502
receive power from a power source 506. Acceptable sources of power
include a lithium battery or plurality of lithium batteries capable
of generating approximately 70 amps of current embedded in the body
of the surfboard. A power source 506 including LiPo batteries may
provide sufficient electrical current to power to the electric
motor 502 coupled to an impeller 501. Types of batteries used as a
power source 506 might include a 3 cell 860 mAh, 11.1 V LiPoly Pack
with a JST connector, a 3 cell 2100 mAh, 11.1 V High Discharge
LiPoly Pack with 16 gauge wire, or one or more 3S2P 4200 mAh, 11.1
V LiPoly Pack with 16 gauge wire. A series connector module 505 may
be used to connect multiple lithium battery packs and maximize
voltage output to the motor or motors 502.
[0038] In some advantageous embodiments the electric motor or
motors 502 connect to a motor controller 503. The motor controller
503 is embedded into either the nose or tail portion of the body of
the surfboard such that the motor controller 503 does not protrude
from the body of the surfboard 101 in such as way as to interfere
with the performance of the surfboard during traditional surfing.
Advantageously, the motor controller 503 connects to a receiver
504, such as a radio receiver, using a splitter. A basic splitter
is a transformer-like device comprising a ferrite core and windings
of fine wire, which accepts a single signal stream and splits it
into identical parts that are each diminished in strength. The
radio receiver 504 and splitter are embedded in the body of the
surfboard 101 so that neither interferes with the generally flat
and even top 102 and bottom 201 surfaces of the motorized
surfboard.
[0039] In another advantageous embodiment, a motorized surfboard is
configured so that the motor controller 503 connected to the
receiver 504 may receive radio signals from a radio transmitter
circuit board 601 connected to a throttle 602. Acceptable radio
control circuit boards 601 and throttles 602 may be obtained from
dismantling a pistol grip radio. The radio transmitter circuit
board 601 may be of the type found in RC remote controllers. FIG. 5
shows impellers 501 connected to electric motors 502 controlled by
motor controllers 503. FIG. 5 also shows motor controllers 503
connected to a connector module 505 that receives power from a
power source 506. Motor controllers 503 in FIG. 5 are additionally
connected to a radio receiver 504 that receives radio signals from
a radio circuit board 601, which is connected to a throttle
602.
[0040] In some embodiments the radio circuit board 601 is embedded
within the body of the surfboard 101 such that it does not protrude
or significantly disturb the otherwise even surface of either the
top 102 or bottom 201 surfaces of the motorized surfboard. In some
embodiments the throttle 602 is embedded in the body of the
surfboard 101, but is not completely encased within the body of the
surfboard 101. In those embodiments, the throttle 602 protrudes
sufficiently from the top 102 or bottom 201 surface of the
surfboard body 101 to allow hand operation of the throttle 602 by a
surfer when the surfer is riding the surfboard in a sitting or
prone position. In some advantageous embodiments the throttle 602
may be customized with a dowel and a dimmer switch to allow for
throttle control via twisting of the dowel. In some advantageous
embodiments the throttle 602 may be a customized throttle embedded
so as to be flush with or slightly protrude from the body of the
surfboard 101, and which may still allow for throttle control by a
surfer.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows the surfboard with one arrangement of the
motorized components within the body of the surfboard 101 that
would power this embodiment of a motorized surfboard. In FIG. 6
impeller tube exit holes 104 are built into the body of the
surfboard 101. FIG. 6 shows impellers 501 are connected to electric
motors 502 controlled by motor controllers 503. Within a dry box
area 507 a connector module 505 is connected to a power source 506.
Additionally in FIG. 6 the connector module 505 is connected to a
radio receiver 504, which receives signals transmitted from a radio
circuit board 601 connected to a throttle 602. In some embodiments
the throttle 602 is located in the nose of the surfboard and
protrudes slightly from the top surface of the board 102. The radio
circuit board 601 in FIG. 6 is connected to a power source via
wires 604 embedded within the surfboard body 101. In other
embodiments, the throttle 602 is connected directly to the motor
controller 503 without the use of the radio circuit board 601 or
the radio receiver 504.
[0042] In some advantageous embodiments a throttle 602 may also be
connected directly to a motor controller 503 via a regulator and
switch combination. The motor controller 503 may be thus configured
to receive signals from the throttle 602 via the regulator and
switch. In those embodiments, neither a radio receiver 504, nor a
radio circuit board 601 is present. At least one electric motor is
connected to a motor controller, which is connected to a
receiver.
[0043] In some embodiments a radio control circuit board 601 in
combination with a throttle 602 may also be hand held. In such an
embodiment, the hand held radio controlled circuit board 601 and
throttle 602 may allow hand operation of the throttle either by a
surfer riding in a sitting or prone position on the surfboard or by
a surfer or other person not riding on the surfboard. In such an
embodiment, a throttle 602 may be customized with a dowel and a
dimmer switch to allow for power control of the electric motor or
motors via twisting the dowel.
[0044] In some advantageous embodiments the throttle 602 is
configured to control the electric motor or motors 502 connected to
the impeller or plurality of impellers 501. In those embodiments,
the impellers will propel the surfboard body 101 when the surfboard
body 101 is floating in water. Thus, in those embodiments, the
throttle control 602 will control the propulsion of the
surfboard.
[0045] In some advantageous embodiments, holes are cut or otherwise
formed into the body of the surfboard 101 to accommodate each
impeller 501, electric motor 502, motor controller 503, power
source 506, receiver 504, circuit board 601, and throttle 602
combination. A dry box area 507 may house the power source 506
and/or a combination of other components. In embodiments in which a
battery power source 506 is located within the dry box 507, the dry
box 507 may allow for easy access to the battery or batteries for
recharging purposes. In some embodiments a watertight recharge
nipple may be embedded in the body of the surfboard to allow for
recharging of the battery or batteries without opening the dry box
507 or removing the battery or batteries embedded within the body
of the surfboard 101. After placing each impeller 501, electric
motor 502, motor controller 503, power source 506, receiver 504,
circuit board 601, and throttle 602 into the holes cut into the
surfboard body 101, the holes may be foamed where there are no
moving parts then sealed with wood, resin foam etc. The exterior of
the surfboard body 101 may then be glassed and finned. In one
advantageous embodiment a motorized surfboard is designed as and
configured to perform as a traditional surfboard. It will be
appreciated that the present invention does not have a heavy bulky
design or the presence of an outboard motor that might inhibit the
safety and performance of the motorized surfboard in the manner of
traditional surfing. In advantageous embodiments, the motorized
surfboard will nevertheless have all of the capabilities and
characteristics of a traditional surfboard; advantageous
embodiments will improve the surfer's ability to catch and ride
waves by the extra forward thrust provided, and will act and ride
like a traditional surfboard. Advantageous embodiments will also
avoid significant drag from protruding parts or significant
deviation from a traditionally flat, smooth surfboard design.
[0046] Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily
understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present
invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many
embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than
those specifically described herein, as well as many variations,
modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from
or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing
descriptions thereof, without departing from the substance or scope
of the present invention.
[0047] Accordingly, while the present invention has been described
herein in detail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments,
it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative
and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for the
purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the
invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed
to limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any such other
embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent
arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the
claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *