Water sports device

Abstract

The invention relates to a water sports device comprising an inflatable body component (1) having a longitudinal direction (L) and inflatable arms (8a, 8b) on a rear end, the arms being distanced from one another and orientated in the longitudinal direction (L), between which arms a receptacle (2) having an inner contour is formed, and comprising a drive component (7) having a tread surface (4) and an underwater surface (3), which drive component is formed with a complimentary contour (10a, 10b, 11) on two longitudinal sides (10a, 10b) that are distanced from one another and which component can be inserted into the receptacle (2) from the rear end, wherein the inner contour and the complimentary outer contour (10a, 10b, 11) form a connection to one another and a position of the inserted drive component (7) in the receptacle (2) is secured in the direction of the tread surface.

Claims

1. A surfboard, comprising: an inflatable hull component (1) having a longitudinal direction (L) and, at a stern end, inflatable arms (8a, 8b) which are spaced apart from one another by an inflatable bead (9) and which are oriented in the longitudinal direction (L), said arms and said bead (9) forming therebetween a receptacle (2) having an inner contour; a drive component (7) having a tread surface (4) and an underwater surface (3), which drive component is formed with a complementary contour (10a, 10b, 11) on two spaced-apart longitudinal sides (10a, 10b) and can be inserted into the receptacle (2) from the stern end, wherein the inner contour and the complementary outer contour (10a, 10b, 11) form a connection with one another and a position of the inserted drive component (7) in the receptacle (2) is fixed in the direction of the tread surface (4) and the underwater surface (3) and laterally; and at least one fastening means (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) for fastening the drive component (7) in the receptacle (2), which fastening means can be opened and closed, is provided at a stern end of the drive component (7) and of the arms (8a, 8b) and prevents the drive component (7) from slipping out of the receptacle (2) at the stern end.

2. The surfboard according to claim 1, wherein the connection forms a form-fitting connection.

3. The surfboard according to claim 1, wherein the two arms (8a, 8b) are convex on their mutually facing inner sides in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L); and the drive component (7) is concave on the two spaced-apart longitudinal sides (10a, 10b) so that the concave longitudinal sides (10a, 10b) engage partially around the convex arms (8a, 8b) with a form fit.

4. The surfboard according to claim 1, wherein the two arms (8a, 8b) are convex on their mutually facing inner sides along the entire extension thereof in the longitudinal direction (L) in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L).

5. The surfboard according to claim 1, wherein the two arms (8a, 8b) are circular in cross-section.

6. The surfboard according to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal sides (10a, 10b) engage around the arms (8a, 8b) in cross-section over at least ⅓ of the circumference.

7. The surfboard according to claim 1, wherein the drive component (7) comprises a jet drive and a rechargeable battery.

8. The surfboard according to claim 7, wherein the drive component (7) has at least two chambers (14a, 14b) which can be separated from one another, and a separating plane runs transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), and the fastening element (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b), upon being closed, exerts a force in the longitudinal direction (L) and presses the two chambers (14a, 14b) against one another.

9. The surfboard according to claim 1, wherein in each case at least one fastening means (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) is arranged on each of the arms (8a, 8b).

10. The surfboard according to claim 9, wherein the at least one fastening means comprises an elastic rubber strap (12a, 12b) with a thickened end which is arranged on the longitudinal sides, and a fork (13a, 13b) which is arranged on the drive component (7) and which can engage behind the thickened end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described on the basis of exemplary embodiments in four figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an inflatable surfboard according to the invention with a receptacle for a drive component according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a one-part drive component according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a two-part drive component according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a surfboard according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 shows an inflated hull component 1 of the surfboard according to the invention. The hull component 1 has a longitudinal direction L which extends from the stern of the hull component 1 to a bow of the hull component 1. A cutout 2 is provided in the stern of the hull component 1. The hull component 1 has an underwater surface 3 and a tread surface 4, which forms part of an above-water surface. A surfer stands with his feet on the tread surface 4 while surfing, or kneels on the tread surface 4. Provided at the bow of the hull component 1 is an eyelet 6 for a grab line, by which the surfer can hold on with one hand while surfing. In another hand, the surfer holds a controller (not shown) for a drive component 7 according to FIG. 2 or FIG. 3. The drive component 7 comprises a jet drive and an accumulator.

(7) The speed of the surfboard can be changed by means of the controller; to this end, the controller has, for example, a pistol grip. Turning manoeuvres are initiated by the surfer shifting his weight on the surfboard.

(8) The hull component 1 is made of a drop stitch material. A drop stitch material is to be understood to mean an air-permeable fabric with stabilizing longitudinal threads. The cutout 2 at the stern of the hull component 1 is open counter to the direction of travel, which is usually oriented in the longitudinal direction L, that is to say the cutout 2 is substantially U-shaped. At the side, the cutout 2 has arms 8a, 8b which run in the longitudinal direction L and which are approximately circular in cross-section. The arms are circular in cross-section along their entire longitudinal extension. The two arms 8a, 8b, which are oriented in the longitudinal direction L, form the two U-limbs of the U-shaped cutout.

(9) The U-bottom of the cutout 2 is formed by a bead 9 which is semicircular in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. An inner side of the U-shaped cutout 2 is therefore curved inwards, that is to say is convex, along the entire U-shaped inner side of the cutout.

(10) The hull component 1 is shown in the inflated state in FIG. 1, but the drive component 7 is not inserted in the inflated hull component 1. The hull component 1 in FIG. 1 is around 1 m to 4 m long and between 0.7 m and 1 m wide. The hull component 1 can be inflated with air, and air can also be discharged again therefrom.

(11) FIG. 2 shows the drive component 7, which with its external dimensions is precisely adapted to the internal dimensions of the cutout 2 of the hull component 1 and can be inserted into the cutout 2 with a form fit. The drive component 7 comprises a jet drive which is not shown and which can be supplied with power by way of an accumulator. A fin may be provided on an underwater surface 3 of the drive component 7.

(12) The jet drive has a water inlet (not shown) on the underwater surface 3 of the drive component 7 and a water outlet at the stern of the drive component 7. A propeller is provided in a water channel connecting the water inlet and water outlet. A nozzle is arranged at the water outlet, through which nozzle the water is sprayed out rearwards counter to the direction of travel, thereby propelling the surfboard forward. With the drive component 7 inserted in the hull component 1, the surfer standing on the surfboard can vary the speed or the rate of advance by means of the hand-held controller and can initiate and execute turning manoeuvres by shifting his weight. A position of the nozzle could also be controlled using the controller, and the position of the fin could also be controlled using the controller. However, both are not necessarily the case.

(13) The drive component 7 fits into the cutout 2 with a form fit, wherein lateral outer walls 10a, 10b and a bow-side outer wall 11, which are arranged between the underwater surface 3 and the tread surface 4 of the drive component 7, are together likewise U-shaped and are concave around the U so that the drive component 7 can be pushed into the cutout 2 of the hull component 1 from the stern in the longitudinal direction L and establishes a form-fitting connection with the hull component 1. The inflated hull component 1 has such a strength that the drive component 7 is held in the hull component 1 in a very stable manner on account of the fact that the concave lateral outer walls 10a, 10b engage partially around the associated arms 8a, 8b and the bow-side outer wall 11 engages partially around the bead 9.

(14) To prevent the drive component 7 from slipping out of the cutout 2 at the stern end, two fastening means are provided in the form of rubber straps 12a, 12b which are each fastened to the inside of the stern end of one of the arms 8a, 8b and which each have a thickening at their free end. The forks 13a, 13b provided at the stern end of the drive component cooperate with the rubber straps 12a, 12b. The thickenings of the rubber straps 12a, 12b engage behind the forks 13a, 13b.

(15) FIG. 3 shows the drive component 7 according to FIG. 2 inserted into the hull component 1. The rubber straps 12a, 12b press the drive component 7 against the hull component 1 in the longitudinal direction L and secure it to the hull component 1.

(16) In a second embodiment of the drive component 7, the drive component 7 is formed with two chambers. In both embodiments according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the drive component 7 is impervious to water, that is to say the electrics of the jet drive are encapsulated and sealed against the ingress of water.

(17) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the jet drive is arranged in a stern-side chamber 14a while the accumulator is provided in a bow-side chamber 14b. Otherwise, the same reference signs denote the same features as in FIG. 2. Plug-in connections 15 are provided between the two chambers 14a, 14b, which plug-in connections may inter alia also comprise an electrical connection. When the drive component 7 with two chambers is inserted into the cutout 2, the two chambers 14a, 14b are pressed against one another by the force that the two rubber straps 12a, 12b exert on the drive component 7 in the longitudinal direction L, a mechanical and electrical connection or contact is established, and thus the two chambers 14a, 14b are securely held in the cutout 2. A separating surface between the accumulator chamber 14b and the jet drive chamber 14a may be planar and may have both mechanical and electrical plug-in connections. However, other designs of the separating surface may also be possible, such as for example concave/convex interlocking configurations or other form-fitting connections.

(18) FIG. 4 shows the surfboard according to the invention comprising the hull component 1 made of the drop stitch material and the drive component 7; the tread surface 4 of the surfboard is formed in a planar manner by tread surfaces 4 of the drive component 7 and of the hull component 1.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(19) 1 hull component 2 cutout 3 underwater surface 4 tread surface 6 eyelet 7 drive component 8a arm 8b arm 9 bead 10a lateral outer wall 10b lateral outer wall 11 bow-end outer wall 12a rubber strap 12b rubber strap 13a fork 13b fork 14a stern-side chamber 14b bow-side chamber 15 plug-in connections L longitudinal direction