SURFBOARD WITH LOW-PROFILE PROPULSION SYSTEM

Abstract

Conventional surfboards enable a rider to catch a wave and ride towards the shoreline while utilizing the power of the ocean to enjoy the ocean waves uniquely. A low-profile motorized surfboard has been developed to assist riders who may have a disability or struggle to get into the position necessary to begin riding the waves. The surfboard may comprise at least one propeller and electromechanical motor, which may provide propulsion for the rider. The surfboard may have an internal power system and supporting circuitry for safe and reliable propulsion. The motorized surfboard may have a low-profile system that is collapsible and allows for the rider to enjoy the surf as if the surfboard were a conventional system. The system may also function to return the rider to the shoreline.

Claims

1. A low-profile motorized surfboard comprising: a. a surfboard body having an interior cavity for storing electrical power and circuitry; b. an at least one electro-mechanical motor and collapsible propeller assembly; c. a power control system operable to electrically control said motor and propeller assembly; and d. a handheld controller operable to wirelessly control the system.

2. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a interior material and a outer skin.

3. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the electrical power may be stored in a battery.

4. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the circuitry is operable to regulate power discharge to the electro-mechanical motor.

5. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the electro-mechanical motor is a DC motor rated to operate up to 500 watts.

6. A motorized surfboard as in claim 5, wherein the motor is nested in the interior material of the body and is operable to turn a propeller via a shaft.

7. A motorized surfboard as in claim 6, wherein the shaft passes through a fin and has a propeller fixedly attached to said shaft.

8. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the power control system is operable to communicate with a controller.

9. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the collapsible propeller assembly is operable to fold into an aerodynamic shape.

10. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the electro-mechanical motor may be disengaged from the collapsible propeller assembly.

11. A low-profile motorized surfboard comprising: a. a surfboard body having an interior cavity for storing electrical power circuitry; b. an at least one electro-mechanical motor and collapsible impeller assembly; c. a power control system operable to electrically control said motor and propeller assembly; and d. a handheld controller to wirelessly control the electric power circuitry.

12. A motorized surfboard as in claim 11, wherein the body is comprised of an interior material and an outer skin.

13. A motorized surfboard as in claim 11, wherein the interior cavity may store the circuitry and battery system and is operable to protect the components from environmental elements.

14. A motorized surfboard as in claim 11, wherein the electro-mechanical motor is a brushless DC, which may be rated to operate up to 500 watts.

15. A motorized surfboard as in claim 11, wherein the body may have a storage compartment operable to receive said impeller and motor system.

16. A motorized surfboard as in claim 11, wherein the collapsible impeller is attached adjacently to the rails and parallel to the stringer.

17. A motorized surfboard as in claim 11, wherein the impeller is nested inside a volute and is operable to compress a fluid for developing thrust.

18. A low-profile motorized surfboard comprising: a. a surfboard body having an interior cavity for storing electrical power and circuitry, wherein the body is comprised of a interior material and a outer skin; b. an at least one electro-mechanical motor and collapsible propulsion assembly, wherein the circuitry is operable to regulate power discharge to the electro-mechanical motor and mechanical connections operable to translate motion from the electro-mechanical motor to said collapsible propulsion device are at least partially positioned in a fin of said surfboard; c. a power control system operable to electrically control said motor and propeller assembly; and d. a handheld controller operable to wirelessly control the system.

19. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein the said collapsible propulsion assembly protrudes from a posterior side of said fin.

20. A motorized surfboard as in claim 1, wherein a prop drive shaft of said collapsible propulsion assembly is mechanically connected to a rotatable shaft at least partially embedded in said fin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a bottom trimetric view of a motorized surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a cut-out of the bottom view of a motorized surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a motorized surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a motorized surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a motorized surfboard hand controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a motorized surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 7 shows a rear view of a motorized surfboarding according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a motorized surfboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a motorized surfboarding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] References will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0021] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-9, it is seen that the present invention includes various embodiments of the motorized surfboarding device, systems using the same, and methods of using the same.

[0022] The motorized surfboarding device 100 of FIGS. 1-5, according to the an embodiment of the present invention. Device 100 comprises a surfboard with fins 101, 102, and 103 operable for a rider to direct the surfboard. The fin 101 is operable to house a shaft 113a, which may be fixedly attached to a propeller blade 105, the shaft 113a may rotate with a DC motor 112a which receives power from a battery system 108a. The fin 103 is operable to receive a shaft 113b, which may be fixedly attached to a propeller blade 104 and may rotate with a DC motor 112b that receives power from a battery system 108b, as shown in the exemplary view of FIG. 1. The DC motors 112a and 112b may be secured with fasteners via brackets 115a and 115b, respectively, to the surfboard to the mounting locations 109 and 110.

[0023] A system control circuitry 116 is operable to regulate and direct the power of the system and may contain various sub-circuits. The subcircuits may be comprised of a microcontroller, accelerometer, a brushless motor speed controller (e.g., ESC), and Bluetooth compatible device. The accelerometer may be operable to determine the orientation and heading of the surfboard and enables the controller to identify the event of a capsized surfboard, which may intermittently cut power to the electric motors 112a and 112b. The speed controller may be operable to determine the rpm speed of the DC motors 112a and 112b and regulate a manual speed input at the motors 112a and 112b (e.g., by an analog speed dial controller) or speed input from a handheld controller 117. The speed of the motors may correspond to a voltage input from the brushless motors 112a and 112b, where the voltage input may be a ramp signal corresponding to the remaining voltage in the batteries 108a and 108b.

[0024] In embodiments that include a handheld controller 117, the controller 117 is operable to wirelessly send a command to the system control circuitry 116 to increase the speed of the DC motor from input from button 118. The capacitance of the system may be displayed to the user from LEDs 119 on the handheld controller 117 to the operator. The location 120 is a charging port to charge an internal battery; the charging port may be of a common micro dongle type (e.g., universal serial bus, type-c, etc.). In another embodiment, a handheld controller may display the capacitance of the system with an LED screen.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary rear view of the motorized surfboard of FIG. 1, device 100. The motorized surfboard may have fins 101, 102, and 103, where fins 101 and 103 are capable of supporting a shaft that may rotate propellers 104 and 105. The plates 106 and 105 are operable to have a watertight seal and protect the battery and motor from the environment. FIG. 4 shows a front view of the device of FIG. 1. The watertight seal may be comprised of 0-rings or a gasket to seal the system from the environment.

[0026] Device 100 is assisting a rider in overcoming the surf zone when staging for a ride. The device offers a low-profile method of propulsion, which still enables the feel and control of a conventional surfboard.

[0027] FIG. 6-8 shows an embodiment of a low-profile motorized surfboarding device 300 with another propeller propulsion system. FIG. 7 shows a frontal view of the fin 310, collapsible propeller 301, the input shaft 303, and bearing 308. The input shaft 303 and bearings 308 are in line with the centerline of the fin 310 and propeller 301. The input shaft 303 may be operable to connect to a clutch system, which may allow for free rotation and disengage the engine and propeller 301. The bearings may be of the sealed or unsealed type and are placed at various locations within the powertrain system. The propeller 301 is shown in it's expanded form, which facilitates propulsion. The mounting location of the propeller 301 may be mount at various locations along the fin 310. The collapsible propeller 301 may have blades with a geometry operable to fold into a prolated lemon-like spheroid shape, which is aerodynamic shape and functions to prevent additional drag from acting on the system.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows an interior side view of the low-profile motorized surfboarding device of FIG. 6. The fin 310 is operable to enclose various shafts bearings and bushings, which allow for the rotation of the collapsible propeller 301; the propeller in FIG. 7 is shown in the semi-collapsed state. The input shaft 303 may rotate about the central axis of the shaft and may turn in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and the DC-motor may determine the direction of rotational motion as in previous embodiments. The input shaft 303 joined to an internal shaft 304 is supported with a bearing 308 and is connected to a lateral shaft 305, which is operable to translate the rotation motion to a prop drive shaft 306, which may then turn the collapsible propeller 301 in the desired rotation. The joining mechanism for the internal shaft 304 and the lateral shaft 305 may be a U-joint mechanism 309, and similarly, the joining location for the lateral shaft 305 and the prop drive shaft 306 may be a U-joint 307. The lateral shaft 305 may be supported with a bearing 308, which may be of the thrust bearing type. The propeller 301 may be collapsed at the location 302 using an additional motor or may utilize a gear train which may collapse the system when the configuration may rotate in a direction that opposes thrust. The shafts may be composed of various materials. In some embodiments, the u-joints 307 and 309 may utilize a gear (e.g., bevel gears, spiral bevel gears, etc.) to translate the motion from each shaft. In some embodiments, the input shaft 303 may have a clutch and thrust mechanism to join with the DC motor.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows another interior side view of the low-profile motorized surfboarding device of FIG. 6. The collapsible propeller 301 shown is in its fully collapsed form. The input shaft 303 may join the DC motor with a dog clutch system 311, which may be operable to engage and disengage the propeller drive system. The dog clutch system 311 may have a synchromesh-type system to facilitate the teeth from both shafts lining up to allow for smooth engagement and disengagement of the system.

[0030] The motorized surfboard device 200 of FIG. 9 shows a side view of another embodiment of the present invention. The motorized surfboard 200 may have a waterjet propulsion system that is largely interior to the surfboard. The system may have a fin 201, battery and control circuitry 202, and a DC electric motor 203. The motor is operable to turn a shaft 204, and which may turn a turbine rotor and stator 205, the inlet 206 is operable to feed a volume of water through a channel to the turbine rotor and stator 205. The thrust tube 207 may have a geometry such that the fluid may follow a vane path without resistance to flow. A thrust nozzle 208 may have a fixed geometry operable to generate a propulsive force and facilitate the rider in moving the surfboard. An inlet flap 209 is operable to close off the flow of fluid when the rider is prepared to ride the wave through the surf. Additionally, an outlet flap 210 may be operable to slow down the speed of the device by actuating the outlet flap and choking the device, while the motor voltage is simultaneously cut-off. The control circuitry 202 may have a battery storage system, ESC, accelerometer, and various servo motors. The servo motors are operable to actuate the inlet and outlet flaps to the desired positions. The system may be controlled with the handheld control of device 100 shown in FIG. 5. The location of the outlet may be adapted to fit at various locations along with the bottom panel.

CONCLUSION/SUMMARY

[0031] The present invention provides a novel and improved motorized surfboard device operable to assist a rider in overcoming the surf and staging for a ride. It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention, and uses thereof, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.