U.S. patent application number 11/766619 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-17 for propeller driven surfing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to JOY RIDE TECH. CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Ming-Chen Liao, Chia-Wen Ruan.
Application Number | 20080168937 11/766619 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39616805 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080168937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ruan; Chia-Wen ; et
al. |
July 17, 2008 |
PROPELLER DRIVEN SURFING DEVICE
Abstract
A propeller driven surfing device includes a buoyant body having
an outer contour divergent from a nose end to a front trunk
segment, a rearmost surface which has a water outlet port that
extends forwardly to form a water passage, and a water intake port
that extends from a bottom surface to be communicated with the
water passage. A drive motor is disposed in the buoyant body, and
has an output shaft which extends into the passage to drive a
propeller disposed in the passage. A power supply is disposed in
the buoyant body and is operably coupled to the drive motor.
Inventors: |
Ruan; Chia-Wen; (Nantou,
TW) ; Liao; Ming-Chen; (Nantou, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT, P.C.;PACWEST CENTER, SUITE 1900
1211 SW FIFTH AVENUE
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Assignee: |
JOY RIDE TECH. CO., LTD.
Nantou
TW
|
Family ID: |
39616805 |
Appl. No.: |
11/766619 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/55.56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 32/10 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/55.56 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/79 20060101
B63B035/79 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 16, 2007 |
TW |
096101600 |
Claims
1. A propeller driven surfing device comprising: a buoyant body
having nose and tail ends opposite to each other in a longitudinal
direction, and front and rear trunk segments which are interposed
between said nose and tail ends, and which are respectively
proximate to said nose and tail ends said buoyant body having deck
and bottom surfaces which are opposite to each other in an upright
direction, and which extend respectively from said nose end to said
tail end, said nose end and said front trunk segment being
integrally formed and being configured to have an outer contour
that is divergent from said nose end to said front trunk segment,
and that is streamlined towards said front trunk segment to have an
uninterrupted surface, said tail end having a rearmost surface
which extends in the upright direction, and which has a water
outlet port that extends between said deck and bottom surfaces and
forwardly to terminate at a partition wall surface so as to form a
water passage, said bottom surface at said tail end defining a
water intake port which is disposed rearwardly of said partition
wall surface, and which extends towards said deck surface to be
communicated with said water passage; a drive motor which is
disposed in said rear trunk segment between said deck and bottom
surfaces, and which includes an output shaft that extends outwardly
of said partition wall surface and into said water passage so as to
be disposed downstream of said water intake port; a power supply
which is disposed in said front trunk segment proximate to said
deck surface, and which is operably coupled to said drive motor;
and a propeller which is driven by said drive motor, and which is
disposed in said water passage between said rearmost surface and
said partition wall surface.
2. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 1,
wherein said front trunk segment has a cavity which extends from
said deck surface towards said bottom surface for receiving said
power supply.
3. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 2,
wherein said buoyant body further has a cover plate which is
disposed to cover said cavity and which is flush with said deck
surface.
4. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 2,
further comprising a control member which is disposed in said
cavity and which is electrically coupled to said drive motor and
said power supply so as to control operation of said drive
motor.
5. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 4,
further comprising an operating member which is electrically
coupled to said control member, and which is disposed to be movable
relative to said buoyant body so as to be operable to control
operation of said control member.
6. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 5,
further comprising a cable which is electrically connected to said
operating member and said control member.
7. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 5,
wherein said operating member controls said control member over a
wireless network using the Bluetooth protocol.
8. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 1,
wherein said drive motor has a coupler which is disposed to
interconnect said output shaft and said propeller, said buoyant
body further having a supporting seat which is secured in said
water passage and which has an axial hole for passage of said
coupler so as to support said coupler.
9. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 1,
further comprising a stabilizing unit which includes a pair of
connecting shafts that extend from said decking surface laterally
to terminate at left and right ends, respectively, and a pair of
buoyant barrels that are connected to said left and right ends,
respectively, so as to float on water.
10. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 7,
further comprising a stabilizing unit which includes a head post
that is disposed adjacent to said nose end and that extends from
said decking surface in the upright direction to terminate at an
upper end, and a handlebar that has a middle portion connected to
said upper end, and two handgrip portions extending laterally from
said middle portion, said operating member being disposed on one of
said handgrip portions.
11. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 7,
further comprising a sail unit which includes a sail and a sail
mast that extends from said decking surface in the upright
direction to brace said sail.
12. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 1,
further comprising a stabilizing unit which includes a pair of tail
fins that extend from said bottom surface and that are disposed
laterally of said water intake port.
13. The propeller driven surfing device according to claim 4,
wherein said buoyant body further has a plurality of cooling slits
which extend through said bottom surface so as to dissipate heat of
said drive motor and said control member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 096101600, filed on Jan. 16, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a surfing device, more
particularly to a propeller driven surfing device that is driven by
a motor to move through water.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional propeller driven surfing
device 1 is shown to include a surfboard 11, a propeller unit 12
disposed on the surfboard 11, a stabilizing handle 13 coupled to
the propeller unit 12, and a handlebar 14 connected to the
stabilizing handle 13. The propeller unit 12 includes a drive motor
121 which is mounted on a rear edge of the surfboard 11, and a
propeller 122 which is disposed rearwardly of the surfboard 11 and
which is coupled to the drive motor 121 to be driven to propel the
surfboard 11. The propeller driven surfing device 1 can be driven
to move through relatively calm water. However, as the propeller
unit 12 is disposed outwardly of the surfboard 11, increased
resistance will result to weaken the propelling force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a
propeller driven surfing device which has reduced resistance in
water so as to achieve an enhanced driving force for forward
propulsion.
[0007] According to this invention, the propeller driven surfing
device includes a buoyant body having nose and tail ends opposite
to each other in a longitudinal direction, and front and rear trunk
segments which are interposed between the nose and tail ends. The
buoyant body has deck and bottom surfaces which are opposite to
each other in an upright direction, and which extend from the nose
end to the tail end. The nose end and the front trunk segment are
integrally formed and are configured to have an outer contour that
is divergent from the nose end to the front trunk segment, and that
is streamlined towards the front trunk segment to have an
uninterrupted surface. The tail end has a rearmost surface which
extends in the upright direction, and which has a water outlet port
that extends between the deck and bottom surfaces and forwardly to
terminate at a partition wall surface so as to form a water
passage. The bottom surface at the tail end defines a water intake
port which is disposed rearwardly of the partition wall surface,
and which extends towards the deck surface to be communicated with
the water passage.
[0008] A drive motor is disposed in the rear trunk segment between
the deck and bottom surfaces, and includes an output shaft that
extends outwardly of the partition wall surface and into the water
passage so as to be disposed downstream of the water intake
port.
[0009] A power supply is disposed in the front trunk segment
proximate to the deck surface, and is operably coupled to the drive
motor.
[0010] A propeller is driven by the drive motor, and is disposed in
the water passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a conventional propeller
driven surfing device;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of a propeller driven surfing device according to this
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment, taken from a bottom side thereof;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second preferred
embodiment of a propeller driven surfing device according to this
invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the third preferred
embodiment of a propeller driven surfing device according to this
invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fourth preferred
embodiment of a propeller driven surfing device according to this
invention;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fifth preferred
embodiment of a propeller driven surfing device according to this
invention, taken from a bottom side thereof; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the fifth
preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to
denote like elements throughout the specification.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of
a propeller driven surfing device according to the present
invention is shown to comprise a buoyant body 2, a drive unit 3,
and a control unit 4.
[0024] The buoyant body 2 has nose and tail ends 20,21 opposite to
each other in a longitudinal direction, and front and rear trunk
segments 23,24 which are interposed between the nose and tail ends
20,21, and which are respectively proximate to the nose and tail
ends 20,21. The buoyant body 2 has deck and bottom surfaces 25,26
opposite to each other in an upright direction, and which extend
respectively from the nose end 20 to the tail end 21. The nose end
20 and the front trunk segment 23 are integrally formed, and are
configured to have an outer contour that is divergent from the nose
end 20 to the front trunk segment 23, and that is streamlined
towards the front trunk segment 23 to have an uninterrupted
surface. The tail end 21 has a rearmost surface (21a) which extends
in the upright direction, and which has a water outlet port 214
that extends between the deck and bottom surfaces 25,26 and
forwardly to terminate at a partition wall surface (21b) so as to
form a water passage 211. The bottom surface 26 at the tail end 21
defines a water intake port 213 which is disposed rearwardly of the
partition wall surface (21b), and which extends towards the deck
surface 25 to be communicated with the water passage 211. The front
trunk segment 23 has a cavity 231 which extends from the deck
surface 25 towards the bottom surface 26. A cover plate 28 is
disposed to cover the cavity 231 and is flush with the deck surface
25. The buoyant body 2 further has a supporting seat 27 which is
secured in the water passage 211 and which has an axial hole 271
extending therethrough.
[0025] The drive unit 3 includes a drive motor 31 and a propeller
32. The drive motor 31 is disposed in the rear trunk segment 24
between the deck and bottom surfaces 25, 26, and includes an output
shaft 311 which extends outwardly of the partition wall surface
(21b) and into the water passage 211 so as to be disposed
downstream of the water intake port 213. The output shaft 311 is
coupled to a coupler 312 which extends through the axial hole 271
in the supporting seat 27 to be rotatably supported by the
supporting seat 27. The propeller 32 is coupled to the coupler 312,
and is disposed in the water passage 211 between the rearmost
surface (21a) and the partition wall surface (21b).
[0026] The control unit 4 includes a power supply 42, a control
member 41, and an operating member 43. The power supply 42, such as
a battery, is received in the cavity 231, and is operably coupled
to the drive motor 31 so as to drive the propeller 32. The control
member 41 is disposed in the cavity 231 and is electrically coupled
to the drive motor 31 and the power supply 42 so as to control
operation of the drive motor 31. The operating member 43 is
electrically coupled to the control member 41 by means of a cable
44 to be movable relative to the buoyant body 2 so as to be
operable to control operation of the control member 41, thereby
shifting the drive of the drive motor 31, such as the rotational
speed of the output shaft 311.
[0027] Accordingly, the surfing device of this invention allows a
person with little surfboard riding skill to operate in relatively
calm water. Moreover, as the driving unit 3 is disposed inwardly of
the buoyant body 2, resistance in water is generated only by the
buoyant body 2. Therefore, the resistance is relatively low and a
great driving force for forward propulsion can be achieved.
[0028] Preferably, a plurality of cooling slits 261 are formed and
extend through the bottom surface 26 and are communicated with the
cavity 231 so as to dissipate the heat of the control member
41.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, the second preferred embodiment of a
propeller driven surfing device according to this invention is
shown to be similar to that of the aforesaid embodiment in
construction. This embodiment further includes a stabilizing unit 5
which includes a pair of connecting shafts 51 that extend from the
decking surface 25 laterally to terminate at left and right ends,
respectively, and a pair of buoyant barrels 52 that are connected
to the left and right ends, respectively, so as to float on water.
Due to the provision of the stabilizing unit 5, the floating are a
of the surfing device is increased to prevent overturning.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 7, the third preferred embodiment of a
propeller driven surfing device according to this invention is
shown to be similar to that of the first preferred embodiment in
construction. This embodiment further includes a stabilizing unit 6
which includes a head post 61 that is disposed adjacent to the nose
end 20, that extends from the decking surface 25 in the upright
direction, and that inclines rearwardly to terminate at an upper
end, and a handlebar 62 that has a middle portion connected to the
upper end, and two handgrip portions 621 extending laterally from
the middle portion. In addition, instead of using the cable 44, the
operating member 43 controls the control member 41 over a wireless
network using the Bluetooth protocol, and is detachably mounted on
one of the handgrip portions 621. Thus, control of the surfing
device is easier and the movement of the surfing device is
steadier.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 8, the fourth preferred embodiment of a
propeller driven surfing device according to this invention is
shown to be similar to that of the first preferred embodiment in
construction. This embodiment further includes a sail unit 7 which
includes a sail 72 and a sail mast 71 that extends from the decking
surface 25 in the upright direction to brace the sail 72. Similar
to the third embodiment, the operating member 43 in the fourth
embodiment controls the control member 41 over a wireless network
using the Bluetooth protocol.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the fifth preferred embodiment
of a propeller driven surfing device according to this invention is
shown to be similar to that of the first preferred embodiment in
construction. This embodiment further includes a stabilizing unit 8
which includes a pair of tail fins 81 that extend from the bottom
surface 26 and which are disposed laterally of the water intake
port 213. In addition, the buoyant body 2 further has a guiding
member 29 which is disposed in the water passage 211 to shield the
drive motor 31, and a plurality of cooling slits 261 which are
formed and extend through the bottom surface 26 adjacent to the
drive motor 31 so as to dissipate the heat of the drive motor 31.
The output shaft 311 of the drive motor 31 extends through the
guiding member 29, and is coupled to the coupler 312 by means of a
universal joint 313 such that the coupler 312 and the universal
joint 313 are rotated with the output shaft 311.
[0033] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *