EP0159995B1 - Floats to be used pairwise to walk on water - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongated float to walk on water has at least one cavity open at the bottom (29, 30). The stepping surface (4) for the foot is at a level lower than the upper ridge of the cavity. Furthermore, it may be more or less closed on the lower side. The float may be provided with driving members such as blades, paddles or flippers.

Description

The invention relates to a buoyancy body to be used in pairs with a foot receptacle for one foot each for running on the water.

Floats that can keep a person afloat have been known for a long time. However, they have the disadvantage that they are relatively large and heavy and accordingly expensive. Furthermore, it is very difficult to balance and move on them as little practiced. This is mainly due to the fact that the user normally stands with the legs apart on the buoyancy bodies. Thus, these are loaded obliquely, but so far no consideration has been given to their shape and the arrangement of the foot mounts. In the case of the buoyancy bodies known from FR-A-2 294 726, US-A-4 261 069 and DE-C-38 685, the centers of volume of the displaced liquid with respect to the central longitudinal axes are in the direction of due to the asymmetrical configuration of the cross sections the inner edges, but also the foot mounts are also inward. Thus, even in these cases, the oblique load by the user is not compensated for by a corresponding counterforce.

In contrast, the invention has for its object to develop a device for running on the water, on which it is easier to keep balance, while it is otherwise comparable in terms of portability, use and costs with skis.

The above object is achieved according to the invention in that the arrangement of the foot receptacle is laterally offset outwards and / or the mass distribution with respect to the foot receptacle in the transverse direction is so asymmetrical that the same effect is achieved with regard to buoyancy as in the case of a foot receptacle offset laterally outwards . In practice, the lowest possible contact area for the foot should be sought, because this improves stability. The invention offers this possibility in all versions, in particular also when there are cavities which are open at the bottom and which result in a relatively high but narrow construction which allows walking, similar to that on skis.

Depending on the design in individual cases, several advantages can be achieved with the hollow spaces mentioned below. First, the volume of air trapped in the cavity is used for buoyancy. Through an upper opening of an inner cavity which is otherwise only open at the bottom, in connection with a check valve, a non-return valve or the like, it can be achieved that air can flow from above through the non-return valve into the cavity during movement when there is a negative pressure in the cavity but can no longer escape upwards. In addition, the cavities offer the opportunity to influence the sliding resistance solely by their design or in cooperation with guiding, guiding and / or driving elements which extend into the water. Normally, the aim will be that only a relatively low sliding or flow resistance is felt in the forward direction, but that it is significantly greater in the reverse direction. This allows one foot to push one buoy forward, while the other foot-carrying buoy provides backward support.

The cavities mentioned can also be e.g. in that they are largely but not completely closed at the bottom, so that they fill up with water during use and this water volume is carried along, has a stabilizing effect and improves certain dynamic properties.

In a further practical embodiment, cavities can be designed so that water enters at the front and exits at the rear during the movement. By means of flaps and the like, it can be ensured that a flow through the cavity in the reverse direction from the rear to the front is not possible in the same way as from the front to the rear.

In a preferred practical embodiment, each buoyancy body has essentially a catamaran-like structure, the two hull parts on the one hand taking over the lateral guidance - henceforth referred to below as lateral guidance parts - and on the other hand forming the lateral boundary of one or more cavities. The corner guide parts should generate lift themselves and be relatively long and high, but narrow to do the job of cornering. H. To prevent sliding in the transverse direction, to fulfill as well as possible.

The two side guide parts are preferably connected to one another by an upper part covering them and other connecting elements and are kept at a predetermined distance. As such connecting elements e.g. Partitions or intermediate bodies serve which delimit cavities at the front or back. The front surfaces and / or rear surfaces of the intermediate walls and intermediate bodies are expediently designed obliquely in the direction or provided with bevels in such a way that sliding in the forward direction is facilitated while resistance is opposed to sliding in the rearward direction.

The foot receptacle preferably also serves as the connecting element between the two lateral guide parts. In longitudinal section, this preferably has essentially the shape of a shoe.

In the upper area of the buoyancy body, which is attached or formed on the side outside of the side guide parts, made of light material, the buoyancy is further strengthened and stabilized. There is also

the possibility of covering hard reinforcement inserts, reinforcements or the like.

Regardless of the measures already mentioned for generating a different sliding resistance in the forward and backward directions, the new buoyancy body can be provided with suitable drive elements. These can of course be of a motor type. However, drives that are either driven by foot movements or changes in load are preferred. As an example in this context, blade-like or fin-shaped drive elements are mentioned which are moved by movement of the foot relative to the foot receptacle in such a way that a driving force is generated. In another practical embodiment, the foot movements can be used to operate a pump device which pushes water backwards and thereby generates propulsion.

Closed-cell soft plastic is preferred as the material for the new buoyancy body, although individual parts can also be solidified or can consist of stronger materials. Because of the better transport with a passenger car, each buoyant body preferably consists of several short parts that can be assembled to the total length.

• Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemässen Auftriebskörpers,
• Fig. 2 einen Querschnitt durch den Auftriebskörper nach Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf den Auftriebskörper nach Fig. 1 und 2,
• Fig. 4 nochmals einen Querschnitt durch einen Auftriebskörper in grösserem Massstab,
• Fig. 5 eine Prinzipzeichnung entsprechend einer Seitenansicht oder einem Längsschnitt zum Aufbau des vorderen Teils eines Auftriebskörpers,
• Fig. 6 einen weiteren Querschnitt durch einen beispielhaften Auftriebskörper,
• Fig. 7 eine Seitenansicht des mittleren Teils eines Auftriebskörpers,
• Fig. 8 eine als Rücklaufbremse wirkende, frei schwenkbar gelagerte Schaufel in Vorderansicht,
• Fig. 9 die Schaufel nach Fig. 8 in Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 10 eine durch Fussbewegung willkürlich zu bewegende Antriebsschaufel in Vorderansicht,
• Fig. 11 die Schaufel nach Fig. 10 in Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 12 einen Schnitt durch eine beispielhafte Schwenklagerung eines Antriebsorgans im Bereich der Fussaufnahme,
• Fig. 13 und 14 sich ergänzende Schnittansichten des vorderen und des hinteren Teils eines gemäss Fig. 12 gelagerten Antriebsorgans in Form eines Schwingpaddels,
• Fig. 15 und 16 die entsprechenden Draufsichten zu Fig. 13 und 14,
• Fig. 17 die besondere Form eines Antriebspaddels, welches manuell oder durch Fussbetätigung antreibbar ist, und
• Fig. 18 eine Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Paddelschaufelform.

For further preferred alternative embodiments, reference is made to the patent claims and the following example description. The drawing shows:

• 1 is a side view of a buoyancy body according to the invention,
• 2 shows a cross section through the buoyancy body according to FIG. 1,
• 3 is a plan view of the buoyancy body according to FIGS. 1 and 2,
• 4 again a cross section through a buoyancy body on a larger scale,
• 5 is a schematic drawing corresponding to a side view or a longitudinal section for building the front part of a buoyancy body,
• 6 shows a further cross section through an exemplary buoyancy body,
• 7 is a side view of the middle part of a buoyancy body,
• 8 is a front pivoting, freely pivoting blade acting as a return brake,
• 9 shows the blade according to FIG. 8 in a side view,
• 10 is a front view of a drive blade that can be moved arbitrarily by foot movement,
• 11 is a side view of the blade of FIG. 10,
• 12 shows a section through an exemplary swivel mounting of a drive member in the area of the foot mount,
• 13 and 14 complementary sectional views of the front and rear part of a drive member mounted in accordance with FIG. 12 in the form of an oscillating paddle,
• 15 and 16, the corresponding top views of FIGS. 13 and 14,
• 17 shows the special shape of a drive paddle which can be driven manually or by foot actuation, and
• 18 shows a side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a paddle blade shape.

In Figures 1 to 3, a buoyancy body is shown as a preferred embodiment, the metacenter is particularly deep. The buoyancy body is divided into an upper part 1, two side guide parts 2 and side parts 3 arranged in the upper region on the outer sides thereof. The side guide parts 2 are further connected to one another by a foot receptacle 4, a front inner part 5, an inner discharge part 6, an inner guide wedge 7 and a rear inner part 9. With 8 a water guide part and 10 with a flap stop part is designated. A foot opening is shown at 11 and a guide opening behind it at 12. The lower water line labeled 13 applies to the unloaded buoyancy body, the upper water line labeled 14 applies to the loaded state. By swinging movements that are intentional or e.g. Waves are generated, the buoyancy body swings around the water line 14 in the area of the upper angle 15 and the lower angle 16. These oscillating movements as well as all other movements of the buoyancy body are also carried out by the rear unit mount 17 and the front unit mount 18. There are certain aggregates, e.g. B. brake or drive elements, which will be discussed in more detail later. For example, with 17 or 18 swiveling or otherwise mounted folding devices, paddles and, if necessary, even elements provided with additional buoyancy bodies that use the different vibrations, penetration depths and loads as well as other movements to drive the buoyancy body in the forward direction and to brake in the reverse direction. For example, 1 in Fig. 1 denotes the starting position of a swing arm, with 20 its bottom dead center and with 21 its top dead center. If, instead of the above-mentioned rocker arm or next to it, a paddle is pivotally mounted on the rear unit mount 17, this can, as also indicated in FIG. 1, assume a zero position secured by a stop, essentially vertical, braking against movement in the reverse direction, or when driving in A first inclined position 23 in the forward direction or a second inclined position 24 in the case of faster travel, and finally an upper position 25 in the case of an even faster travel in the forward direction.

1 and 3, a rear transverse guide tube 26 and a front transverse guide tube 27 are also shown. At 28, an optional water guiding part is indicated by dashed lines, which can be designed in the manner of a so-called sword.

The above-mentioned parts 1, 2, 5, 6 delimit an inner front cavity 29 which, in the example, is only open on the underside. A corresponding rear cavity 30 is limited by parts 1, 2, 7, 9. During the use of the buoyancy body, the cavities 29 and 30 open at the bottom are partly filled with air and partly with water and are therefore also referred to as water chambers. The trapped air promotes buoyancy and the water contained in the cavities 29 and 30 increases the mass moved during the journey and thus has a stabilizing effect.

FIG. 2, in conjunction with FIG. 1, shows the deep position of the foot receptacle 4. In addition, it can be seen that the side guide parts have several functions by sliding their lower region in the water and preventing lateral drift, while at the same time providing buoyancy and improving it by trapping the air in the cavities 29 and 30 in the upper region hold.

The foot receptacle is laterally offset outwards (not shown), so that the load when viewed in the transverse direction is asymmetrical when loaded, and in such a way that it is higher on the inside edges of both buoyancy bodies used by a person than on the outside edges. The same effect could also be achieved by using different materials for the side guide parts 2 or side parts 3.

Starting from the exemplary embodiment shown, the cavities or water chambers 29 and 30 can be opened further or else closed on the underside. This can influence the inertia and stability of the buoyancy body during the run. In addition, the water chambers can be provided with materials which generate fluidic resistance, so that the opened chambers release liquid only with a time delay or depending on the speed. Such a material can e.g. be a redigulated filter foam.

The foot entry opening 11 shown in plan view in FIG. 3 is designed in such a way that the foot can easily get in and out. Suitable footwear can also be used.

At its front end, the buoyancy body is fluidly shaped in terms of flow.

4 shows, on an enlarged scale, a cross section through an exemplary buoyancy body. As in the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, this consists of an upper part 1, two side guide parts 2 and two side parts 3. The foot receptacle is again designated 4 and its opening 11.

4 shows an upper inner reinforcement 32 and an upper outer reinforcement 34 as well as a lower inner reinforcement 36 and a lower outer reinforcement 38 on the side guide parts 2. The upper outer reinforcements 34 are each covered by the side parts 3. The reinforcements located opposite each other on a side guide part can be braced against one another by means of reinforcement tensioning parts 40 and 42 and thereby generate a compressive prestress when using compressible materials for the side guide parts. Incidentally, a guide holder tube is indicated at 44, which extends through the two side guide parts 2, connects them together and for storing other parts, for. B. the drive or the foot mount can serve.

The front part of the buoyancy body according to FIG. 1 shown in FIG. 5 clearly shows that attention is paid to a suitable water flow through the outer and inner slopes. In the example, the upper part 1 is provided with an upper slope 46 and each side guide part with a lower slope 48. The front inner part 5 has an outer bevel 50 and an inner bevel 52. The parts that constantly come into contact with the water can be surface-finished so that the flow losses are reduced. In addition, the surfaces can be coated with environmentally friendly lubricants, which, like skiing, reduce adhesion and friction.

Fig. 6 shows another section through a buoyancy body shown as an example. The removable and adjustable foot holder can be seen in particular.

In this connection, FIG. 7 shows a side view of the central part of the buoyancy body shown in cross section in FIG. 6. It can be seen how the footbed is attached and can be adjusted using a simple plug-in device. By arranging grid holes in several positions, the foot holder can be brought into the desired position.

The exemplary position of the reinforcement can also be seen by comparison with FIG. 6. The outer reinforcement 34 according to FIGS. 4 and 6 is covered by the application of the side parts 3, so that there is no risk of accidents due to protruding hard, non-yielding parts.

8 and 9 together show the front view and the side view of a paddle which serves to drive and is pivotably mounted between the side guide parts 2. There should be no restriction associated with this name. You could also call this part a flap or a shovel. In the exemplary embodiment, it is divided into a guide vane 54 and a large paddle 56, which is attached laterally to its free end. The flap is pivotally mounted on a guide tube 58 using spacers 60.

When the feed rate relative to the water is zero, the flap assumes the substantially vertical position 62 shown in FIG. 9. If a backward movement is initiated by the foot, the upper arm 64 of the flap presses against a locking block 66, so that the flap remains in the position 62 shown and the guide vane 54 together with the large paddle 56 offer considerable resistance in the water, which the user can use for support when advancing the other foot with the other buoyancy body.

As soon as the buoyancy device moves with the flap forward at a certain speed relative to the water, the paddle swings to position 68 at a relatively low speed, then to position 70 at high speed. If the speed then slows down again, it will approach the paddle again at position 62 according to its own weight, so that further propulsion can take place through further foot movements.

To optimize the system, the guide vane 54 and / or the large paddle 56 can consist of several vane parts, all of which can carry out a corresponding oscillating movement in relation to the other parts and have a defined locking mechanism. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, for reasons of simplification, the flap 54, 56, 64 is an inherently rigid part of a substantially U-shaped cross section, the guide tube 58 on which the flap is mounted extending through the side webs according to FIG. The flap can of course also be provided with weights or buoyancy elements so that various desired positions are adopted depending on the driving conditions. In addition, the flap can be preloaded to a specific position by a spring.

With 72, 74 and 76 intermediate positions are indicated.

10 and 11 together show a front view and a side view of a pendulum paddle drive that can be actively operated with the foot. This pendulum paddle is in turn pivotally mounted on a guide tube 78 extending between the side guide parts 2 and firmly connected to the plate-shaped foot receptacle 4. From this side arms 80 extend downward to a paddle 82. The angular movements of the foot are in this case by the Arms 80 enlarged and an effective paddle movement generated. Depending on the foot actuation, the paddle 82 swings from position 84 to position 86 to position 88. Satisfactory propulsion is ensured by rapid movement of the paddle in the backward direction and slow movement in the forward direction.

It can be seen particularly well from FIG. 11 that the pivot point of the paddle lies directly under the stressing foot. In the middle position 86 shown, the blade surface of the paddle 82 is essentially horizontal. The paddle can in turn be designed to be resilient and articulated. Depending on the distance of the paddle 82 from the bearing 78, the load requirement for the user is increased or reduced.

Another exemplary embodiment of a drive is shown in the associated FIGS. 12 to 16. 12 shows a cross section in the area of the foot receptacle, FIGS. 13 and 14, which have to be imagined to be connected horizontally one after the other, a side view and FIGS. 15 and 16, which also adjoin one another horizontally, a plan view of one essentially horizontally extending rocker 90 attached paddles 92. The rocker 90 is angled upward at the front end in front of the foot receptacle and is pivotably mounted by means of a guide tube 94 which extends between the side guide parts 2. For fluidic reasons, the rocker 90 is mounted centrally in the drive body. It extends from its bearing at 94 to the rear below the foot receptacle 4, which is provided in the area of the verse of the foot with an opening through which a lever element 96 connected to the rocker 90 breaks through to the foot, via which pressure is applied of the foot can be loaded and moved. The purpose of this arrangement is to alternately load and relieve the rocker 90 with the paddle 92 when the drive body is alternately loaded and unloaded by the foot, and thereby move it. The rocker 90 in FIG. 13 is brought from the position 98 shown into the indicated position 100 by the pressure of the foot.

FIGS. 14 and 16 show the paddle at the rear end of the rocker 90 in a side view and a top view. It is shown that an additional paddle 102 can be pivotably mounted at the rear end of the paddle 92. In addition, the paddle 92 is provided with vertical ribs 104 as a lateral guide device. The paddle 92 is connected to the rocker by means of a wedge 106.

17 and 18 together show an end view and a side view of a further embodiment of a drive paddle which can be operated manually or by foot operation. The shape is selected in such a way that it can be actuated even without lateral linkage guidance. The blade designated overall by 108 is divided into a front blade part 110 and a rear blade part 112. A guide part is designated by 114. The blade 108 is guided on a stick 116 which is connected to the blade by means of a stick holding part 118 and a stick clamping part 120 with associated connection points 122 and 124. The front plunge angle of the paddle is indicated at 126. The paddle is moved from this position to the rear position 130 via the middle position 128 shown. The upper water line is shown at 132 and the lower water line at 134.

It goes without saying that numerous further modifications are possible within the scope of the patent claims.

Claims (10)

1. Float, to be used pairwise with one other such float, having a foot rest for receiving one respective foot, for walking on water, characterised in that the arrangement of the foot rest (4) is laterally outwardly offset, and/or the mass distribution is asymmetrical in the transverse direction with respect to the foot rest in such a manner that the same effect is achieved as regards buoyancy as when the foot rest is laterally outwardly offset.

2. Float according to claim 1, characterised in that it is constructed with at least one downwardly open cavity (29, 30), and the supporting surface for the foot is situated below the upper edge of the cavity (9, 30).

3. Float according to claim 2, characterised in that the cavity (29, 30) is provided with an upper opening at which a non-return valve is arranged which allows air to flow into the cavity only inwardly from the outside.

4. Float according to claim 2, characterised in that it is constructed in the manner of a catamaran with two relatively narrow elongated buoyancy- imparting bodies (2) as lateral guide parts, between which the cavity (29, 30) is situated.

5. Float according to claim 4, characterised in that at least one of the forward surfaces of the walls (6), bodies (5, 6) or other connecting elements between the lateral guide parts (2) is sloped downwardly from front to rear, and at least one of the rear surfaces of the walls (6), bodies (5, 9) or other connecting elements between the lateral guide parts (2) is sloped upwardly from front to rear.

6. Float according to claim 4, characterised in that the supporting surface (4) for the foot is situated near to the lower edge of the lateral guide parts (2).

7. Float according to claim 1, characterised in that the foot rest (4) is adjustable in its length, height and width, and/or in position.

8. Float according to claim 1, characterised in that it consists of a plurality of parts (1, 2, 3) which are fitted into one another and are connected to each other releasably by means of connecting elements.

9. Float according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a foot-operated drive.

10. Float according to claim 1, characterised in that it is constructed with drive means (90, 92) which are adapted to be driven by varying the load when weight is shifted.

Images