Water ski

Abstract

The invention relates to water ski (1) having a buoyant ski body (2), to which, in addition to a binding (3), a propelling drive is assigned, which comprises a rotary drive unit with a rotary drive (4) and a screw drive which can be driven thereby, and having a control device (6) for presetting a drive power. In order to create advantageous drive conditions, it is proposed that the water skis (1) of a pair of water skis each comprise a rotary drive unit with at least one drive sensor (7) each, an associated energy storage device and a communication device, which adjusts the rotary drives (4) of both water skis (1) as a function of drive sensor data and preset data of the control device (6).

Claims

1. A water ski comprising: a buoyant ski body having a binding and a propelling drive associated therewith; wherein said propelling drive comprises a rotary drive unit with a rotary drive and a screw drive driven thereby, said propelling drive further having a control device presetting a drive power; wherein the water ski is configured so that the water ski can be combined with another water ski that has a respective rotary drive and a respective control device so as to form a pair of water skis; and wherein the rotary drive unit of each of said water skis has at least one drive sensor, an associated energy storage device, and a communication device adjusting the respective rotary drive of both of said water skis based on drive sensor data and preset data of the respective control device.

2. The water ski according to claim 1, wherein the rotary drive unit is a jet drive with an outlet nozzle arranged in an area of an end of the water ski in a region of a water line.

3. The water ski according to claim 2, wherein the outlet nozzle of the jet drive is mounted on a body of the jet drive so that the jet drive pivots about at least one axis.

4. The water ski according to claim 3, wherein the outlet nozzle of the jet drive is mounted on a jet drive body so that the let drive pivots about at least one axis by an actuator that is adjusted as a function of the preset data of the control device.

5. The water ski according to claim 1, wherein the water ski is equipped with a sensor measuring at least one angle of inclination about a longitudinal axis of the water ski so as to detect a position of the water ski on water.

6. The water ski according to claim 1, wherein the binding has a binding plate, and is equipped with a pressure sensor detecting when a fall of a user has occurred.

7. The water ski according to claim 1, wherein the water ski is equipped with a position sensor detecting a mutual position of the pair of water skis on the water.

8. The water ski according to claim 1, wherein the water ski is configured such that the water ski can be mechanically connected to a coupling device connecting with the other water ski of the pair of water skis.

9. The water ski according to claim 1, wherein the communication device can be wirelessly coupled to a computer unit for reading out data.

10. The water ski according to claim 4, wherein the water ski is equipped with a sensor measuring at least one angle of inclination about a longitudinal axis of the water ski so as to detect a position of the water ski on water.

11. A water ski system, comprising: a pair of water skis each including a respective buoyant ski body having a binding for a foot of a user, and a propelling drive supported on the ski body; said propelling drives each including a respective rotary drive unit with a rotary drive driving a screw drive, and said propelling drives each having a respective control device associated therewith controlling a drive power thereof; and wherein the rotary drive units have respective drive sensors, respective energy storage devices, and respective communication devices adjusting operation of the respective rotary drive of both of said water skis based on data of the drive sensor and stored preset data via the respective control device.

12. The water ski system according to claim 11, wherein each of the rotary drive units is a jet drive with an outlet nozzle arranged in an area of an end of the associated water ski in a region of a water line, the outlet nozzle of the jet drive being mounted on a body of the jet drive so that the jet drive pivots about at least one axis responsive to an actuator based on some of the preset data of the respective control device.

13. The water ski system according to claim 11, wherein the water skis are each equipped with a respective sensor measuring at least one angle of inclination of the water ski about a respective longitudinal axis of the water ski so as to detect positions of the water skis on water.

14. The water ski system according to claim 11, wherein the binding has a pressure sensor detecting when a fall of a user has occurred.

15. The water ski system according to claim 11, wherein the water skis have a position sensor detecting a mutual position of the pair of water skis relative to each other on the water.

16. The water ski system according to claim 11, wherein the water skis are mechanically connected by a coupling device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) The subject matter of the invention is shown in the drawings by way of example, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows water skis according to the invention in a schematic diagonal view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a water ski in a partly cut side view, and

(4) FIGS. 3 to 5 show a possible motion sequence during a start procedure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) The water skis 1 of a pair of water skis each comprise a buoyant ski body 2, to which, in addition to a binding 3, a propelling drive is assigned, which comprises a rotary drive unit with a rotary drive 4, an electric motor, and a screw drive which can be driven by it, in the embodiment example a jet drive 5. In addition, a control device 6 is provided for setting a drive power.

(6) The water skis 1 of the water ski pair each comprise a rotary drive unit with at least one drive sensor 7 each, for example a speed sensor or the like, an associated energy storage device 8, a battery pack and a communication device 9. The communication device 9 adjusts the rotary drives 4 of both water skis 1 as a function of drive sensor data and preset data of the control device 6 and controls the water skis 1 accordingly, e.g. for starting, for a turn or for speed changes. For this purpose, the communication devices 9 of both water skis 1 communicate accordingly via a radio link, for example via Bluetooth. For stabilization, a fin 10 is arranged on the underside of the water ski, below the binding 3, on the water ski 1.

(7) The outlet nozzle 11 of the jet drive 5 is arranged in the area of the water ski end in the region of a waterline. In addition, the outlet nozzle 11 can be pivotably mounted about at least one axis H, V on a jet drive body 12. For this pivoting adjustment, an actuator (not shown in more detail) can be provided, by means of which the outlet nozzle 11 is mounted on a jet drive body 12 so as to be mounted in a pivotably adjustable manner as a function of preset data of the control device 6. The jet drive 5 sucks in the water to be discharged in the usual manner in front of its propeller (impeller) on the underside of the water ski and discharges it via a nozzle to generate the drive thrust behind the propeller (impeller).

(8) In addition, the water skis 1 are equipped with an inclination angle sensor 13 measuring at least one angle of inclination around the water ski longitudinal axis L to detect the position of the water skis on the water.

(9) In a possible starting position, the water skier equipped with a life jacket sits in the water with skis strapped on (FIG. 3). In this case, the water ski stern sinks under water, whereas the shovel-shaped ski tips protrude above the water surface.

(10) If the skier operates the control device 6 by hand, the rotary drive 4 turns up the screw drive of the jet drive 5 and accelerates the skis, wherein the skier initially remains in a sitting position with his body weight shifted forwards. In this case, the pivotably adjustable nozzle can ensure stability by pivoting around the corresponding axis depending on the speed of travel to provide more or less additional buoyancy. Depending on whether the jet stream is intended to press the ski end under water or lift it out of the water (FIG. 4). As a result of the buoyancy of the water skis 1, which increases with increasing speed, they float up to the water surface until they enter a gliding phase, after which the skier can take up his riding position with an upright upper body and slightly bent knees (FIG. 5). In this position, the pivotably adjustable nozzles can be used to support changes in direction of travel by deflecting them accordingly.