WATER SPORTS APPARATUS COMPRISING A WATER VEHICLE AND USE OF A WATER VEHICLE

Abstract

A water sports apparatus (20) including a water vehicle (30) having a motorized, in particular electric, drive (36), wherein the water vehicle (30) is designed without an onboard steering device, wherein the water sports apparatus (20) includes a tether (40) for towing a water sports enthusiast (62) or a second water sports apparatus (64) along behind the water vehicle (30), wherein the water vehicle (30) includes a fastening device (38) for fastening the tether (40), wherein the tether (40) is fastened or can be fastened by one end to the fastening device (38), wherein the fastening device (38) is arranged in a stern-side half of the water vehicle (30), and wherein a handle (50) for a water sports enthusiast (62) or for a second water sports apparatus (64) is arranged, in particular fastened or fastenable, on another end of the tether (40).

Claims

1. A water sports apparatus comprising a water vehicle having a motorized electric drive, wherein the water vehicle does not have an onboard steering device, wherein the water sports apparatus comprises a tether for towing a water sports enthusiast and/or a second water sports apparatus behind the water vehicle, wherein the water vehicle comprises a fastening device to which the tether is fastened at a first end, wherein the fastening device is arranged in a stern-side half of the water vehicle, and wherein a handle for the water sports enthusiast and/or for the second water sports apparatus is fastened to a second end of the tether.

2. The water sports apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water sports apparatus comprises an emergency stop device for stopping the water vehicle, wherein the emergency stop device comprises an emergency detector, wherein the emergency stop device is configured to stop the drive when the emergency detector is tripped.

3. The water sports apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emergency detector is configured to be tripped when a safety element is removed from a recess of the handle provided for said safety element.

4. The water sports apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emergency detector is arranged on or in the handle, wherein the emergency detector comprises a magnet having an effective range and a first reed switch, wherein the magnet is releasably arranged on the handle, wherein the first reed switch is arranged within the effective range of the magnet, wherein the first reed switch is contained in an emergency stop electrical circuit, wherein the first reed switch is configured to open the emergency stop electrical circuit when the magnet is removed from the first reed switch.

5. The water sports apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the magnet is coupled to a fastening line that is configured to be fastenable to a wrist or item of clothing of the water sports enthusiast.

6. The water sports apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the emergency stop device comprises a battery arranged in the handle or in the water vehicle for supplying voltage to the emergency stop electrical circuit.

7. The water sports apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive is controllable by means of drive control signals, wherein a remote controller that is operable by the water sports enthusiast is provided for operating the water vehicle, wherein the drive control signals are transmittable to the drive by means of the remote controller.

8. The water sports apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the handle comprises a recess for receiving the remote controller in the handle, and wherein the remote controller is releasably fastened to the handle.

9. The water sports apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drive control signals are transmittable at least partially wirelessly to the drive by means of the remote controller.

10. The water sports apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emergency stop device comprises an emergency stop effecting unit arranged on or in the water vehicle or in the handle, and wherein the emergency stop effecting unit is configured to detect whether the emergency detector has been tripped and to stop the drive (36) when the emergency detector is tripped.

11. The water sports apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the emergency stop effecting unit comprises an electromagnet, wherein the electromagnet is contained in the emergency stop electrical circuit, wherein the emergency stop effecting unit comprises a reed sensor for the magnetic field of the electromagnet in order to detect when the emergency stop electrical circuit is open, and wherein the emergency stop effecting unit is configured to stop the drive when the emergency stop electrical circuit is detected to be open.

12. The water sports apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the electromagnet is connected to the first reed switch by means of an emergency stop signal cable, wherein the emergency stop signal cable extends through the handle along the tether to the water vehicle.

13. The water sports apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the electromagnet is fastened to or in the water vehicle by means of a flexible retaining lip.

14. The water sports apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the remote controller is arranged in the handle, wherein the remote controller is connected to a drive control signal cable that extends along the tether, wherein the drive control signals are transmittable from the remote controller to the drive by means of the drive control signal cable, wherein the emergency stop effecting unit is arranged in the handle, wherein the emergency stop effecting unit is configured to prevent transmission of the drive control signals from the remote controller to the drive depending on whether the emergency detector is tripped.

15. The water sports apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the emergency stop effecting unit is designed to receive a continuous emergency stop safety signal, wherein the emergency stop safety signal is sent from a safety signal sending unit contained in the emergency stop electrical circuit, and wherein the emergency stop effecting unit is configured to stop the drive when no emergency stop safety signal has been received for a predetermined period of time.

16. The water sports apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water vehicle has an upper face, wherein the fastening device of the water vehicle comprises a connection region of the tether to the fastening device for fastening the tether, wherein the fastening device is mounted in an elevated position on the upper face of the water vehicle in such a way that a predetermined lever effect is producible on the water vehicle by means of the tether.

17. The water sports apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an integrated control element controllable by the water sports enthusiast, wherein the control element is configured to transmit drive control signals to the drive via a signal cable, wherein the signal cable extends from the control element inside the tether or outside along the tether in a direction toward the water vehicle.

18. The water sports apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control element comprises a lever and a deflection of the lever is detected by means of a Hall sensor of the control element in order to generate the drive control signals.

19. The water sports apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tether comprises a transmitter unit configured to transmit control signals wirelessly to a receiver unit of the water vehicle, and wherein the transmitter unit is configured to rest against the receiver unit of the water vehicle.

20. The water sports apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the receiver unit of the water vehicle comprises an induction unit, and wherein the induction unit is configured to supply the transmitter unit, which rests against the receiver unit, with electric current by means of induction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] Within the framework of the present disclosure, features which are labeled with in particular are to be understood to be optional features.

[0066] The embodiments are described below, without restricting the general concept of the invention, based on the exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein reference is expressly made to the drawings regarding all of the details which are not explained in greater detail in the text, wherein:

[0067] FIG. 1 is a schematic overall side view of an embodiment of a water sports apparatus with a water sports enthusiast,

[0068] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional representation in detail of a handle,

[0069] FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of an embodiment of an emergency stop sensor arranged in the water vehicle,

[0070] FIG. 4 is a side view of a second water sports apparatus with a raised fastening device for the tether,

[0071] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional representation in detail of a handle with a hand throttle, and

[0072] FIG. 6 is a schematic side sectional view of an embodiment of a water vehicle with a receiver unit and a tether with a transmitter unit for wireless signal transmission and current supply by means of induction.

[0073] In the drawings, the same or similar elements and/or parts are, in each case, provided with the same reference numerals such that they are not introduced again in each case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0074] FIG. 1 is a side overall view of a water sports apparatus 20, which is being operated by a water sports enthusiast 62 by means of a remote controller 60. The water sports enthusiast 62 is being towed by a water vehicle 30 by means of a tether 40 while holding onto a handle 50. The water sports enthusiast 62 is standing on a surfboard 64. The water vehicle 30 and the water sports enthusiast 62 with the surfboard 64 are floating on the water surface 96. In this embodiment, the water vehicle 30 is a bodyboard having a bow module 32 and a stern module 34 as well as a jet drive 36. The jet drive 36 is supplied with power by a voltage supply module (not shown).

[0075] The water vehicle 30 comprises a fastening device 38 for fastening the tether 40. Furthermore, an emergency stop effecting unit 80, which is described in more detail in FIG. 3, is arranged in the stern module 34 of the water vehicle 30.

[0076] The water sports enthusiast 62 can control the drive 36 of the water vehicle 30 by means of the remote controller 60, i.e. they can increase or reduce the speed of the drive. In particular, the remote controller 60 has no steering option. Likewise, the water vehicle 30 has no onboard steering device. Instead, the water sports enthusiast 62 can determine the travel direction of the water vehicle 30 and thus the movement direction of the water sports enthusiast 62 by means of weight displacement and by changing the towing direction by means of the tether 40.

[0077] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a handle 50, which comprises a hand engagement region 51 as well as components of an emergency stop device. An emergency detector 55 is arranged in the handle 50 and has a first reed switch 52, which, in this exemplary embodiment, produces a closed emergency stop electrical circuit 54 when the magnet 66 is located in the vicinity of the first reed switch 52. The magnet 66 is a component of the emergency detector 55 and is fastened, for example, to the wrist of the water sports enthusiast 62 or to the belt of the water sports enthusiast 62 by means of a fastening line 68. If the water sports enthusiast 62 moves away from the handle 50, the magnet 66 is also moved away from the handle 50 by means of the fastening line 68, such that the emergency detector 55 is tripped by means of the first reed switch 52 and the emergency stop device stops the drive.

[0078] The emergency stop device also comprises a battery 56 having a first battery terminal 57 and a second battery terminal 58, wherein, in this exemplary embodiment, the first battery terminal 57 is the positive terminal of the battery 56 and the second battery terminal 58 is the negative terminal of the battery 56. In this exemplary embodiment, the battery 56 is a lithium-ion accumulator equipped with a 3.2 V operating voltage. The battery 56 constitutes the voltage supply for the emergency stop electrical circuit 54 and is connected to the first reed switch 52 of the emergency detector 55.

[0079] The emergency stop electrical circuit 54 extends from the handle 50 via the emergency stop signal cables 71, 72 via a connection device 74 into the tether section 42 of the tether 40 that is closest to the handle 50. The connection device connects the handle 50 to the tether 40 and is intended for a stable tensile connection between both components as well as stable electrical contacts for the emergency stop signal cables 71, 72.

[0080] The tether 40 is a stable rope designed for tensile loads of multiple times the weight of the water sports enthusiast 62. The water sports enthusiast holds the hand engagement region 51 of the handle 50 in their hand when using the water sports apparatus 20, wherein the hand is not shown in FIG. 2.

[0081] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an emergency stop effecting unit 80, which, when the emergency detector 55 has been tripped, detects this and stops the drive of the water vehicle 30. In this exemplary embodiment, the emergency stop effecting unit 80 comprises a reed sensor 86, which sends a stop command to the drive 36 via the reed sensor signal cable 88 when the emergency detector 55 has been tripped.

[0082] The reed sensor 86 detects the magnetic field of an electromagnet 82, which is arranged in a housing 84, wherein the housing 84 is arranged in the stern module 34 of the water vehicle 30. In this exemplary embodiment, the positioning of the housing 84 provides additional stability, in that two retaining lips 94 delimit the recess in which the housing 84 of the electromagnet 82 is inserted.

[0083] The electromagnet 82 is part of the emergency stop electrical circuit 54, to which it is connected by means of the emergency stop signal cables 71, 72. The emergency stop signal cables 71, 72 are, for example, the continuations of the emergency stop signal cables 71, 72 from FIG. 2. The emergency stop signal cables 71, 72 are guided in the tether 40 from the handle 50 to the water vehicle 30 including the fastening device 38. Whereas the tether 40 is fastened to the fastening device 38, the emergency stop signal cables 71, 72 are guided in a cable guide 90 from the fastening device 38 to the housing 84 of the electromagnet 82. In this way, the electromagnet 82 is connected to the emergency stop electrical circuit 54 such that, when the emergency stop electrical circuit 54 is closed, the electromagnet 82 has a magnetic field which can be detected by the reed sensor 86. If the first reed switch 52 is opened due to the emergency condition being satisfied, the emergency stop electrical circuit 54 is also opened and the electromagnet 82 loses its magnetic field. This is detected by the reed sensor 86 and an emergency stop signal is transmitted to the drive 36.

[0084] The embodiment described uses an open emergency stop electrical circuit 54 as the emergency condition. In another embodiment, it is also possible for the emergency stop condition to be a closed emergency stop electrical circuit 54. Likewise, in other embodiments, the electromagnet 82 is magnetic when the emergency stop electrical circuit 54 is open and non-magnetic when the emergency stop electrical circuit 54 is closed.

[0085] FIG. 4 is a side view of a second water sports apparatus 20, which also comprises a water vehicle 30, a tether 40, and a handle 50. The water vehicle 30 differs from the water vehicle 30 from FIG. 1 in that the fastening device 38 is arranged in an elevated position on the upper face 31 of the water vehicle 30, such that a predeterminable lever effect can be produced on the water vehicle 30 when the tether 40 is pulled.

[0086] During operation of the water sports apparatus 20, for example during acceleration from standstill of the water vehicle 30, this serves to tilt the bow of the water vehicle 30 slightly upward during a forward movement of the water vehicle 30, propelled by a jet drive 36 in the stern region of the water vehicle 30, such that safe and effective towing of a water sports enthusiast 62 or water sports apparatus 64 is made possible. This is indicated in FIG. 4 by means of arrows, with the bow of the water vehicle 30 being raised during forward thrust of the drive 36.

[0087] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional representation of another embodiment of a handle 50. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the handle 50 in FIG. 5 comprises a control element 100, which is firmly integrated into the handle 50. In the embodiment shown, the control element 100 comprises a lever 102 in the form of a hand throttle, which can be pulled by the water sports enthusiast 62 when he holds the handle 50. By means of a Hall sensor 103, a deflection of the lever 102 is measured and drive control signals are generated, which are transmitted through the tether section 42 via a signal cable 101. In this way, the power of the drive 36 can be easily regulated.

[0088] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side sectional view of an embodiment of a water vehicle 30 comprising a receiver unit 111 for wireless reception of drive control signals. The tether 40 comprises a transmitter unit 110 designed to wirelessly transmit to the receiver unit 111 the drive control signals, which are transmitted from the signal cable 101 to the transmitter unit 110. From the receiver unit 111, the drive control signals are forwarded to the drive 36. In the embodiment shown, an emergency stop effecting unit 80, which is only insinuated in FIG. 6, is also integrated into the system comprising the transmitter unit 110 and receiver unit 111. For example, the emergency stop effecting unit 80 shown in FIG. 6 is an emergency stop effecting unit 80 as shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The transmitter unit 110 is configured to rest directly against the receiver unit 111, in particular to rest on the receiver unit 111. In this way, a high signal transmission quality is achieved. In the embodiment shown, the transmitter unit 110 is mounted or fixed on the receiver unit 111. For example, the transmitter unit 110 is held against the receiver unit 111 by means of the retaining lips 94 of the emergency stop effecting unit 80.

[0089] Furthermore, the receiver unit 111 comprises an induction unit 112, for example an induction coil, which is configured to supply a power supply 113 of the transmitter unit 110 with electric current. In this way, a separate power source for the tether 40 and the handle 50 can be dispensed with. The electrical current is transmitted wirelessly by means of induction, which is possible without interference even in the presence of water in the area of the transmitter unit 110 and the receiver unit 111. With the power supply 113, not only the transmitter unit 110, but also the emergency stop device and the control element 100 can be supplied with electrical power.

[0090] While there has been shown and described what is considered to be embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS APPEARING IN DRAWING FIGURES

[0091] 20 Water sports apparatus [0092] 30 Water vehicle [0093] 31 Upper face [0094] 32 Bow module [0095] 34 Stern module [0096] 36 Drive [0097] 38 Fastening device [0098] 40 Tether [0099] 42 Tether section [0100] 50 Handle [0101] 51 Hand engagement region [0102] 52 First reed switch [0103] 54 Emergency stop electrical circuit [0104] 55 Emergency detector [0105] 56 Battery [0106] 57 First battery terminal [0107] 58 Second battery terminal [0108] 60 Remote controller [0109] 62 Water sports enthusiast [0110] 64 Surfboard [0111] 66 Magnet [0112] 68 Fastening line [0113] 71, 72 Emergency stop signal cables [0114] 74 Connection device [0115] 80 Emergency stop effecting unit [0116] 82 Electromagnet [0117] 84 Housing [0118] 86 Reed sensor [0119] 88 Reed sensor signal cable [0120] 90 Cable guide [0121] 94 Retaining lip [0122] 96 Water surface [0123] 100 Control element [0124] 101 Signal cable [0125] 102 Lever [0126] 103 Hall sensor [0127] 110 Transmitter unit [0128] 111 Receiver unit [0129] 112 Induction unit [0130] 113 Power supply