WATERCRAFT

Abstract

The invention relates to a watercraft comprising an at least partly elastic and preferably inflatable casing (1), in particular a casing which surrounds an inner region. The watercraft has a base (2), an energy storage device (6), and a drive device which is secured to the base and comprises a drive unit (4) that is located in the water during operation, the flow of water produced by the drive unit during operation being controllable by means of a controller. The drive device is releasably secured to the base as a module comprising the energy storage device (6), which is designed as part of the module, such that the module can be removed as a structural unit.

Claims

1. A watercraft comprising: an at least partly elastic casing; a base; an energy storage device; and a drive device which is secured to the base and comprises a drive unit that is located in water during operation, the flow of water produced by the drive unit during operation being controllable by means of a controller, wherein the drive device is releasably secured to the base as a module comprising the energy storage device, which is designed as part of the module, such that the module can be removed as a structural unit.

2. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module has at least one upper base profile body designed for fixing to the base.

3. The watercraft as claimed in claim 2, wherein the module is secured to the base by at least two base profile bodies.

4. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is inflatable.

5. The watercraft as claimed claim 1, further including a recess which is at least partially filled with water during operation, in the base, into which recess the drive unit can be introduced in order to reduce the depth of the watercraft.

6. The watercraft as claimed claim 1, further including a holding device, via which the drive unit is movable.

7. The watercraft as claimed in claim 6, wherein the holding device of the drive unit is arranged height-adjustably in a guide of the module.

8. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is formed by a receptacle as an exchangeable part of the module.

9. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing of the watercraft completely comprises an elastic impact zone.

10. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive unit is arranged centrally.

11. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing has an at least substantially polygonal or round outer contour.

12. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device has at least one sensor unit, which receives an input signal for controlling the drive unit, and a control unit for generating a control signal to the drive unit.

13. The watercraft as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor unit comprises a gyroscope and/or a wireless or wired hand controller.

14. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device has a steering unit designed for manual actuation.

15. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive device has a dead man's switch.

16. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises an impeller arranged in a flow duct.

17. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least partly elastic casing is inflatable.

18. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least partly elastic casing surrounds an inner region.

19. The watercraft as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base is arranged on the inside of the casing and is provided with inner connecting elements which, spaced apart from the edge of the base, connect the top side and base inner side of the base to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference char-acters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an object according to the invention in a perspective illustration,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the object according to FIG. 1 in a further perspective illustration.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the object according to FIG. 1 in a rear view.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows the object according to FIG. 3 along the section A-A.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the object according to FIG. 1 in a top view.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows the object according to FIG. 1 in a view from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined with previously described exemplary embodiments and with the features of the independent claim and any other claims to form subject matter according to the invention. If expedient, functionally identically acting elements are provided with identical reference numbers.

[0036] A watercraft according to the invention is provided with an inflatable casing 1 which has a polygonal outer contour in the top view according to FIG. 5. A base 2 downwardly delimits an inner region likewise surrounded by the casing. A drive device comprises a drive unit 4 which is located in the water during operation and the energy of which originates from an energy storage device 6 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0037] The drive unit is designed as a jet drive with an impeller 10 located in a flow duct (FIG. 4). A control device has a steering unit which is designed for manual actuation and is in the form of a steering wheel 12 which is connected to a holding device in the form of a shaft 14. Said shaft 14, on the one hand, constitutes a handlebar on which the drive unit 4 is arranged and, on the other hand, after release of a locking lever 15, only partially illustrated, the shaft can be moved in the directions indicated by the double arrow 16 in FIG. 4. In a variant in which there is no filter basket 16, the drive unit can then be at least partly introduced into the recess 18 of the base 2 in order to reduce the depth of the watercraft.

[0038] After release of a lower base profile body 20, the drive device together with the drive unit 4 and the control device can be pulled upward out of the base 2 in the form of a structural unit. Mile the upper base profile body the energy storage device 1 and the drive device with the drive unit and control means necessary for this purpose and the control device are arranged on an upper base profile body 22 formed upward in the manner of a plate. For this purpose, the module has a frame 24 to which the energy storage device 6 is releasably fixed. Said frame 24 at the same time forms a guide for the shaft 14 and is screwed here to the upper base profile body 22. A control unit 26 which regulates the flow of energy to the drive unit 4 is likewise fixed to the upper base profile body 22.

[0039] The two base profile bodies 20 and 22 have profiles 28 which are adapted to a curvature of the edge of the base 2 such that, when the two base profile bodies 20 and 22 are clamped in relation to each other, a tight fit of the two base profile bodies 20 and 22 and an enlarged contact surface on the base are realized. By this means, the forces which arise transversely with respect to the double arrow 16 and act on the shaft 14 by means of the drive are transmitted better into the base.

[0040] The shaft 14 as part of the holding device can likewise be considered to be part of the control device.

[0041] The energy storage device 6 is aligned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the shaft and arranged upright on the frame 24 such that little area of the base or of the interior is required for the module. The space available to operators is thus increased.

[0042] Instead of the illustrated arrangement eccentrically, the drive unit can also be arranged centrally—indicated by the dashed line 30 illustrated in FIG. 5. The base 2 and casing 1 can be securely closed by means of valves 32 after they have been inflated. Optionally, a drain valve 34 can ensure that water which has accumulated in the interior after operation can be drained.