EP0020439A1 - Motorised surf-board, skateboard etc. - Google Patents

Motorised surf-board, skateboard etc.

Info

Publication number
EP0020439A1
EP0020439A1 EP79901220A EP79901220A EP0020439A1 EP 0020439 A1 EP0020439 A1 EP 0020439A1 EP 79901220 A EP79901220 A EP 79901220A EP 79901220 A EP79901220 A EP 79901220A EP 0020439 A1 EP0020439 A1 EP 0020439A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
craft
propulsion unit
motorised
rider
held
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP79901220A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Patrick Gordon Soord
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0020439A1 publication Critical patent/EP0020439A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16P—SAFETY DEVICES IN GENERAL; SAFETY DEVICES FOR PRESSES
    • F16P3/00—Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body
    • F16P3/12—Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine
    • F16P3/16—Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine with feeling members moved by the machine
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C17/00—Roller skates; Skate-boards
    • A63C17/01—Skateboards
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C17/00—Roller skates; Skate-boards
    • A63C17/12—Roller skates; Skate-boards with driving mechanisms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K28/00—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions
    • B60K28/02—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver
    • B60K28/04—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B34/00—Vessels specially adapted for water sports or leisure; Body-supporting devices specially adapted for water sports or leisure
    • B63B34/60—Arrangements for towing, e.g. for use with water-skis or wakeboards
    • B63B34/63—Holding means for the user, e.g. handle bars or harnesses

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a craft e.g. a motorised skateboard, or to a water craft of the type which can be termed a motorised surf-board, such as, for example, of the type described in my co-pending British Patent Application No. 4020/77 (Serial No ) and in my British Patent No. 1375 766.
  • Watercraft of this type generally have a substantially planar hull and are provided with a propulsion unit, such as a propeller or a water jet propulsion unit.
  • a propulsion unit such as a propeller or a water jet propulsion unit.
  • the rider stands on the hull and controls the speed of the craft by a hand-held throttle. Steering is accomplished by means of foot controls and/or by means of altering the weight distribution of the rider on the hull.
  • These craft are capable of high speeds and it is desirable to provide means to disable the propulsion unit in the event that the rider falls off.
  • a runaway motorised surf-board is not the most desirable of objects on a crowded beach.
  • skateboard propulsion means be disabled in the absence of the rider of the board.
  • a motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, having a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by, a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is also provided a dead mans handle device arranged to be held in a hand of the rider and which is arranged to prevent propulsion when not so held.
  • a motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is provided means for preventing the propulsion of the board;
  • the prevention means comprising a pressure switch responsive to pressure changes in a fluid, a fluid reservoir, and means connecting the fluid reservoir to the pressure switch whereby the latter is responsive to changes in pressure within the fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir being associated with the throttle means, being arranged such that it may be held within the throttle hand of the rider, and, when so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a first condition which enables the propulsion unit to drive the craft and, when not so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a second condition which prevents the propulsion unit from driving the craft.
  • the craft is a motorised surf-board of the type described in the aforementioned Patent Application and Patent.
  • the pressure switch may be capable of controlling a drive unit of the propulsion unit (for example a clutch) but preferably it is an electrical switch which, when in the second condition, simply switches off the propulsion unit. It might be, for instance, installed in the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine employed to propel the craft.
  • the fluid reservoir is preferably an enclosed sac or balloon of a suitable, preferably resilient material and of a size to fit conveniently in the palm of the rider's throttle hand.
  • this positive pressure on the reservoir is released and the pressure switch transfers to its second condition and disables the craft.
  • an internal combustion engine 2 employed to drive a water jet propulsion unit of a watercraft (not shown).
  • a switch 4 is incorporated in the ignition circuit of the engine 2 and is connected by an air tube 6, suitably of rubber or plastics material, to an air sac 8 of resilient material.
  • the watercraft includes a hand throttle 10 coupled to the watercraft by a lanyard 12.
  • a throttle cable 14 extends to the engine 2 from a finger-operable accelerator machanism 16.
  • the throttle 10 includes a frame 18 which, at one end as shown, has the air sac 8 connected thereto.
  • the throttle 10 In use, the throttle 10 is held in the hand of a rider of the watercraft and the accelerator mechanism 16 gripped by the fingers. With such a configuration, the air sac 8 is pressed in the palm of the hand and the positive air pressure so exerted closes the switch 4. In the event of the hand throttle 10 being, released, the switch 4 opens to open-circuit the ignition circuit of the engine and cause the latter to cut-out.
  • the dead man's handle device constitutes a trigger or other pressure switch means arranged on or adjacent the throttle control and mechanically connected by means of levers, linkages, bowden cables or the like, to the propulsion unit, and arranged so that only when the trigger or switch means is actuated by the hand of the rider, can the craft be propelled by the propulsion unit.

Abstract

Une planche a moteur telle qu'une planche a roulettes ou une planche de surf motorisee comprend un dispositif a poignee du type''homme mort''pour empecher la propulsion de la planche par son moteur si le conducteur tombe ou se separe de la planche. De preference, le dispositif comprend une poche contenant un fluide (8) et (par exemple de l'air) montee sur une poignee de commande des gaz (10) prevue pour actionner un commutateur a pression (4) lorsqu'elle est saisie par la main du conducteur, lequel commutateur est concu pour permettre la propulsion de la planche par son unite de propulsion (2).A motor board such as a skateboard or a motorized surfboard comprises a handle device of the `` dead man '' type to prevent propulsion of the board by its engine if the driver falls or separates from the board . Preferably, the device comprises a pocket containing a fluid (8) and (for example air) mounted on a gas control handle (10) designed to actuate a pressure switch (4) when it is grasped by the driver's hand, which switch is designed to allow propulsion of the board by its propulsion unit (2).

Description

Title of Invention: MOTORISED SURF-BOARD, SKATEBOARD ETC.
DESCRIPTION
This invention relates to a craft e.g. a motorised skateboard, or to a water craft of the type which can be termed a motorised surf-board, such as, for example, of the type described in my co-pending British Patent Application No. 4020/77 (Serial No ) and in my British Patent No. 1375 766.
Watercraft of this type generally have a substantially planar hull and are provided with a propulsion unit, such as a propeller or a water jet propulsion unit. The rider stands on the hull and controls the speed of the craft by a hand-held throttle. Steering is accomplished by means of foot controls and/or by means of altering the weight distribution of the rider on the hull. These craft are capable of high speeds and it is desirable to provide means to disable the propulsion unit in the event that the rider falls off. A runaway motorised surf-board is not the most desirable of objects on a crowded beach.
Similarly, in the case of a motorised skateboard for use on pavements, roads, skateboard rinks and the like, it is highly desirable that the skateboard propulsion means be disabled in the absence of the rider of the board.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, having a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by, a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is also provided a dead mans handle device arranged to be held in a hand of the rider and which is arranged to prevent propulsion when not so held.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is provided means for preventing the propulsion of the board; the prevention means comprising a pressure switch responsive to pressure changes in a fluid, a fluid reservoir, and means connecting the fluid reservoir to the pressure switch whereby the latter is responsive to changes in pressure within the fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir being associated with the throttle means, being arranged such that it may be held within the throttle hand of the rider, and, when so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a first condition which enables the propulsion unit to drive the craft and, when not so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a second condition which prevents the propulsion unit from driving the craft.
Very preferably the craft is a motorised surf-board of the type described in the aforementioned Patent Application and Patent.
The pressure switch may be capable of controlling a drive unit of the propulsion unit (for example a clutch) but preferably it is an electrical switch which, when in the second condition, simply switches off the propulsion unit. It might be, for instance, installed in the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine employed to propel the craft.
The fluid reservoir is preferably an enclosed sac or balloon of a suitable, preferably resilient material and of a size to fit conveniently in the palm of the rider's throttle hand. In normal driving the rider actuates the throttle by hand and exerts a positive pressure on the fluid reservoir. This is transmitted by means of, for example, a tube to the pressure switch to maintain the latter in the first condition. In the event of the rider releasing the throttle (e.g. by falling off a surf-board) then this positive pressure on the reservoir is released and the pressure switch transfers to its second condition and disables the craft.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, in which drawing there are shown schematically components of a water craft according to the invention.
Referring to the drawing ( which only shows the most relevant details of the watercraft insofar as they relate to this invention) there is provided an internal combustion engine 2 employed to drive a water jet propulsion unit of a watercraft (not shown). A switch 4 is incorporated in the ignition circuit of the engine 2 and is connected by an air tube 6, suitably of rubber or plastics material, to an air sac 8 of resilient material.
The watercraft includes a hand throttle 10 coupled to the watercraft by a lanyard 12. A throttle cable 14 extends to the engine 2 from a finger-operable accelerator machanism 16. The throttle 10 includes a frame 18 which, at one end as shown, has the air sac 8 connected thereto.
In use, the throttle 10 is held in the hand of a rider of the watercraft and the accelerator mechanism 16 gripped by the fingers. With such a configuration, the air sac 8 is pressed in the palm of the hand and the positive air pressure so exerted closes the switch 4. In the event of the hand throttle 10 being, released, the switch 4 opens to open-circuit the ignition circuit of the engine and cause the latter to cut-out.
In another embodiment, not illustrated, the dead man's handle device constitutes a trigger or other pressure switch means arranged on or adjacent the throttle control and mechanically connected by means of levers, linkages, bowden cables or the like, to the propulsion unit, and arranged so that only when the trigger or switch means is actuated by the hand of the rider, can the craft be propelled by the propulsion unit.
It will be appreciated that the invention may be performed otherwise than as particularly described hereinbefore and the scope of the present invention is to be construed as being limited only to the extent necessary, having regard to the appendant claims.

Claims

CLAIMS;
1. A motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, having a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is also provided a dead mans handle device arranged to be held in a hand of the rider and which is arranged to prevent propulsion when not so held.
2. A motorised platform craft according to claim 2, characterized in that the dead mans handle device comprises a trigger or other pressure switch means mounted on or adjacent the throttle and connected via levers, linkages, bowden cables or the like to the propulsion unit, whereby in use the propulsion unit can operate to propel the craft only when the said trigger or switch means is engaged by the hand of the rider.
3. A motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, having a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is provided means for preventing the propulsion of the board, the prevention means comprising a pressure switch responsive to pressure changes in a fluid, a fluid reservoir, and means connecting the fluid reservoir to the pressure switch whereby the latter is responsive to changes in pressure within the fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir being associated with the throttle means, being, arranged such that it may be held within the throttle hand of the rider, and, when so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a first condition which enables the propulsion unit to drive the craft and, when not so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a second condition which prevents the propulsion unit from driving the craft.
4. A motorised platform craft according to claim 3, characterized in that the fluid to be employed in said prevention means comprises air.
5. A motorised platform craft according to claim 3, characterized in that the fluid reservoir comprises a sac of air-impermeable resilient material of a size suitable to be gripped by the hand of the rider.
6. A motorised platform craft according to claim 3, characterized in that the propulsion unit includes an internal combustion engine and that the pressure switch is arranged to make or break an ignition circuit therefor.
7. A motorised platform craft according to claim 3, characterized in that the propulsion unit includes a clutch and that the pressure switch is arranged to engage and disengage the clutch.
8. A motorised platform craft according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it constitutes a skateboard.
9. A motorised platform craft, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it constitutes a surf-board.
EP79901220A 1978-10-19 1980-05-07 Motorised surf-board, skateboard etc. Withdrawn EP0020439A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB4114278 1978-10-19
GB7841142 1978-10-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0020439A1 true EP0020439A1 (en) 1981-01-07

Family

ID=10500435

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP79901220A Withdrawn EP0020439A1 (en) 1978-10-19 1980-05-07 Motorised surf-board, skateboard etc.

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0020439A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1980000823A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004073810A1 (en) * 1995-05-31 2004-09-02 Staelin David H Powered skateboard
US9434374B2 (en) 2013-08-12 2016-09-06 Che Hang Cliff Chan Apparatus including operation-switch assembly for switching propulsion operation of vehicle
BR202019008100U2 (en) * 2019-04-22 2020-11-03 Sandro Jose Garcia ANTI CARBURETOR SHOOTING

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1132678A (en) * 1955-10-05 1957-03-14 Ferodo Sa Safety device for vehicles with automatic clutch
FR1443426A (en) * 1965-05-19 1966-06-24 Means of preventing a passenger from falling from a farm tractor or a running device and passing under their wheels or those of their trailers
CA999662A (en) * 1972-03-30 1976-11-09 Kenneth Graydon Safety device for mobile conveyances
GB1375766A (en) * 1972-07-26 1974-11-27
US4022146A (en) * 1974-02-27 1977-05-10 Sadler Clinton P Fluid pressure controlled circuit breaker as boat safety apparatus
US3942604A (en) * 1974-08-13 1976-03-09 Indak Manufacturing Corporation Safety system for lawn mowers or other vehicles
IT1033999B (en) * 1975-05-23 1979-08-10 Goldoni Spa DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC STOP OF THE MOTOR OF MOTOR CULTIVATORS, TILLERS AND MOTOR MOWERS
CA1132226A (en) * 1976-06-03 1982-09-21 Bombardier Inc. Snowmobile engine safety cut out system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8000823A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1980000823A1 (en) 1980-05-01

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Legal Events

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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Designated state(s): FR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

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Effective date: 19801225