EP3728015B1 - Inflatable surfboard having a drive unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an inflatable surfboard with a drive unit.

Surfboards are in the prior art, for example from DE 10 2015 103 503.0 known. The well-known surfboard has an inflatable hull component with a rear recess and a drive unit which fits positively into the rear recess and is inserted into it. The problem with the known surfboard, however, is that the drive unit can slip out of the recess at the rear.

In the DE 10 2015 108 863 A1 fastening means in the form of rubber bands are disclosed, but these do not exert sufficient lateral force on the drive unit used.

In the U.S. 4,811,682 B discloses a children's boat with a surrounding inflatable rubber tube. A seat part is attached to the surrounding hose by means of straps. The children's boat is not suitable for dynamic surfing.

In the CN 205675195 U describes an inflatable surfboard with a fixed cover plate and a fixed base plate, with a drive unit being inserted into the fixed recess at the rear. The drive unit is secured with a hook to prevent it from slipping out at the back.

In the JP200326085 discloses a surfboard with an inflatable U-shaped ring and a rear end plate 13 in front of which a drive unit is placed.

In the DE 2155978 discloses an air mattress with a hole-shaped recess into which a drive member is inserted.

In the CN 202541788 U describes a ratchet mounted on ends of an annular strap passed through two opposite eyelets.

In the U.S. 2008/0236467 A1 discloses a catamaran having two inflatable hulls interconnected by two transoms.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an inflatable surfboard which avoids, or at least reduces, the disadvantages mentioned above.

The object is achieved by an inflatable surfboard with the features of claim 1 as mentioned at the outset.

The inflatable surfboard has an inflatable hull component with two lateral arms that form a receptacle, and a drive unit that has an outer contour that fits into the receptacle with a positive fit at least in sections. At least one fastening means is provided at the rear end of the surfboard. The at least one fastener is non-elastic.

The inflatable fuselage component is preferably made from a drop stitch material and is inflated under high pressure using a compressor, an air pump or the like. inflated. At its rear end, the fuselage component has two lateral arms, so that an approximately U-shaped cutout is formed at the rear end, seen from above, which forms a receptacle for a drive unit. The outer contour, ie the lateral wall of the drive unit, is adapted to the contour of the lateral inner wall of the inflated receptacle, so that a largely form-fitting connection is established when the drive unit is inserted into the receptacle.

The inner wall of the receptacle of the inflatable fuselage component is advantageously curved outwards, that is to say it is of convex design. The lateral wall surrounding the drive unit in a U-shape is correspondingly concave. This design prevents the drive unit from slipping out upwards towards the tread surface or downwards towards the underwater surface.

It has been shown that rubber bands provided at the rear end are not sufficient to reliably prevent the drive unit from slipping out of the receptacle. It has been shown that inelastic fastening means are significantly more expedient and reliably prevent the drive unit from slipping out.

The at least one fastening means is designed as at least one strap. The strap is not elastic. The belt can be in one piece or in two pieces; two or more belts can also be selected, each of which is designed in two pieces. The belt is fastened to the two lateral arms and runs along the drive unit on the rear side, and the at least one belt can be tensioned by means of at least one lever mechanism.

With a one-piece belt, two belt ends are arranged in a fixed position on the sides of the arms, i. H. glued or sewn there or attached in some other way. The belt then preferably runs along the rear part of the drive unit in the inflated state and prevents it from slipping out. The belt can also be designed in two parts, in belt sections, and have a closure that connects both belt sections to one another via a lever mechanism, a ratchet, or the like. connects. This can have the advantage over the one-piece strap that the drive unit can also be pushed into the inflated surfboard from behind, while with the one-piece strap some air must first be let out of the fuselage component in order to be able to insert or remove the drive unit. In both cases, the belt is tightened by inflating the surfboard with high pressure.

In another embodiment, two straps are provided at the rear end, each having two strap sections, each of which in turn can be connected to one another via a fastener, for example in the form of a lever mechanism, i.e. an eyelet and a lever fastener, a toggle lever or a ratchet or a ratchet or similar devices. In this case, each of the belts can have a belt section which is attached to the side of an arm or to a rear end of the arm, and an associated corresponding belt section which is attached to the side next to the nozzle on rear end of the drive unit is attached. The same construction can also be provided on the other arm of the fuselage component. It is now possible to arrange the eyelet on one strap section and the lock on the corresponding strap section or vice versa. The same applies to the strap on the other arm.

In a further embodiment, which is not the subject of the invention, no separate belt is provided, but the lateral arms run behind the drive unit in a hook-like manner and engage behind the drive unit so that it is prevented from slipping out. The arms run laterally along the drive unit and at the rear end they hook inwards. In this embodiment, the drive unit is first placed in the fuselage component that is not or only partially inflated. The fuselage component is then tightened and inflated with a compressor or an air pump, and the drive unit is prevented from slipping out upwards or downwards by the form-fitting connection between the concave and the convex formation of the side wall. The hook-shaped design of the arms also prevents the drive unit from slipping out of the rear of the surfboard.

This embodiment is preferred because the attachment means is an integral part of the arms through the hooks. There are no separate fasteners. According to the invention, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with an additional fastening means according to the other embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine seitliche Schnittansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Surfboards,

Fig.2a

eine Rückansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform eines Befestigungsmechanismus mit zwei geschlossenen heckseitigen Befestigungsgurten,

Fig.2b

eine Rückansicht der ersten Ausführungsform mit zwei geöffneten heckseitigen Befestigungsgurten,

Fig. 2c

eine Rückansicht der ersten Ausführungsform mit zwei geöffneten heckseitigen Befestigungsgurten mit herausgenommener Antriebseinheit,

Fig.3a

eine Rückansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Befestigungsmechanismus mit zwei geschlossenen heckseitigen Befestigungsgurten,

Fig.3b

eine Rückansicht der zweiten Ausführungsform mit zwei geöffneten heckseitigen Befestigungsgurten,

Fig.3c

eine Rückansicht der zweiten Ausführungsform mit zwei geöffneten heckseitigen Befestigungsgurten mit herausgenommener Antriebseinheit,

Fig. 4a

eine Rückansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform eines Befestigungsmechanismus mit einem geschlossenen heckseitigen Gurt,

Fig. 4b

eine Rückansicht der dritten Ausführungsform des geöffneten heckseitigen Gurtes,

Fig. 4c

eine Rückansicht der dritten Ausführungsform des geöffneten heckseitigen Gurtes mit herausgenommener Antriebseinheit,

Fig. 5a

eine Rückansicht einer vierten Ausführungsform eines Befestigungsmechanismus mit einem heckseitigen Gurt, die nicht Teil der vorliegenden Erfindung ist,

Fig. 5b

eine Rückansicht der vierten Ausführungsform eines Befestigungsmechanismus mit einem heckseitigen Gurt mit herausgenommener Antriebseinheit,

Fig. 6

Rückansicht einer fünften Ausführungsform eines heckseitigen Befestigungsmittels, die nicht Teil der vorliegenden Erfindung ist.

The invention is described using three exemplary embodiments in 10 figures. show:

1

a side sectional view of a surfboard according to the invention,

Fig.2a

a rear view of a first embodiment of a fastening mechanism with two closed rear fastening straps,

Fig.2b

a rear view of the first embodiment with two opened rear attachment straps,

Figure 2c

a rear view of the first embodiment with two opened rear fastening straps with the drive unit removed,

Figure 3a

a rear view of a second embodiment of a fastening mechanism with two closed rear fastening straps,

Fig.3b

a rear view of the second embodiment with two opened rear fastening straps,

Fig.3c

a rear view of the second embodiment with two opened rear fastening straps with the drive unit removed,

Figure 4a

a rear view of a third embodiment of a fastening mechanism with a closed rear strap,

Figure 4b

a rear view of the third embodiment of the opened rear belt,

Figure 4c

a rear view of the third embodiment of the opened rear belt with the drive unit removed,

Figure 5a

a rear view of a fourth embodiment of a fastening mechanism with a rear strap, which is not part of the present invention,

Figure 5b

a rear view of the fourth embodiment of a fastening mechanism with a rear belt with the drive unit removed,

6

Rear view of a fifth embodiment of a stern attachment means not forming part of the present invention.

1 shows a surfboard 1 according to the invention. Basically, a surfboard 1 is to be understood as a device on which a surfer stands, kneels or sits, and which floats on the water and ideally has buoyancy sufficient to carry the surfer. If necessary, the buoyancy can only be chosen so large that, together with the advance of a drive, it is sufficient to carry the surfer.

The surfboard 1 comprises a bow 2 and a stern 3. The surfboard 1 is essentially designed in two parts and comprises an inflatable hull component 4, which completely forms the bow-side and middle area of the surfboard, and a drive unit 6 in the stern-side section of the surfboard 1, which flanked along its longitudinal sides by inflatable arms 7a, 7b of the fuselage component 4, possibly even at least partially surrounded.

The drive unit 6 includes a jet drive 8. The jet drive 8 is only shown schematically here. The jet drive 8 comprises a water inlet 9 in an underwater surface 5 of the drive unit 6 and a water channel 11 with a water outlet 12 arranged on a rear end face 10 of the stern Tread 13 arranged axis of rotation is rotatable. A rotor 14 is arranged in the water channel 11, which sucks water into the water channel 11 and sprays it out of the nozzle in the opposite direction of travel, thereby giving the surfer propulsion with the surfboard. Rotor 14 is understood to mean propeller and impeller here.

A motor 16 for the rotor 14, which drives the rotor 14 via a drive train, and a controller for the motor 16, with which a power of the motor 16 can be controlled, are arranged in a hull of the surfboard 1 in the drive unit. In particular, the speed of the surfboard 1 can be controlled with it.

The fuselage component 4 is preferably made from a so-called "drop stitch material". The drop stitch material is manufactured using the drop stitch process, in which two or more plastic fabric panels, preferably denier polyester fabric panels, are laid one on top of the other. The two or more plastic webs are through a variety, d. H. Thousands of polyester threads tied together. The two lengths of fabric are kept at a distance from one another, so that the space between the lengths of fabric filled with polyester threads can later be filled with compressed air. The polyester threads are sewn on both sides with the two fabric panels using a drop stitch sewing machine, for example. The two fabric panels sewn together form the supporting structure, which gives the fuselage component its mechanical strength when inflated.

The two interconnected webs of fabric are cut to the desired shape. The upper and lower fabric webs are preferably coated with PVC layers, preferably with three layers, pressed in layers and glued. The sides are glued with overlapping seam tape and pressed, so that the airtight fuselage component 4 is created. The drop stitch process makes it possible to manufacture the inflatable hull component 4 with excellent mechanical strength properties, which can withstand both high tensile and compressive loads and shearing loads.

The drop stitch outer skin of the inflatable fuselage component 4 is airtight and, when inflated, extremely stable to deformation, so that a surfer can stand on the fuselage component 4 and surf while maintaining the external shape of the inflated fuselage component 4 . The fuselage component 4 is filled with air under high pressure. The filling can be done by means of an air pump or a compressor. The compressor can be fed, for example, with the electrical energy from the accumulator 17 built into the surfboard.

The hull component 4 made from the drop stitch material is preferably low-noise because the noise generated by the impact of the waves, but also by the drive, is dampened by the hull. The fuselage component 4 is preferably low in vibration during operation because vibrations are reduced by the drop stitch material. Since the hull member 4 is slightly deformable, shocks from waves, etc. are advantageously absorbed. Another advantage over conventional surfboards is that the softer torso causes fewer injuries, e.g. B. when the surfboard 1 collides with the surfer when the surfer falls.

The inflatable hull component 4 has a rear recess 20, for example in the Figure 2a and 2c is shown. The recess 20 is essentially U-shaped and has a convex side wall, ie a side wall that curves into the recess 20 .

The drive unit 6 fits into the recess 20 in a form-fitting manner. It has a U-shaped, concave wall which partially surrounds the drive unit 6 and is correspondingly shaped inwards. The form-fitting engagement of the convex into the concave wall prevents the drive unit 6 from slipping out upwards and downwards, ie. H. in the direction of the tread 13 or in the direction of the underwater surface 5, prevented. The height of the drive unit 6 is such that it advantageously forms a common tread 13 together with the surfboard 1 . A tread 13 of the surfboard 1 is formed in one plane with a tread 13 of the drive unit 6 . The entire step surface 13 has only a narrow U-shaped gap 22 which forms the contact line between the drive unit 6 and the fuselage component 4 .

The two lateral arms 7a, 7b of the inflatable fuselage component 4 are, in a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction L, essentially approximately circular, curved outwards at least along the entire circumference.

In order to prevent the drive unit 6 from slipping out towards the rear end during operation, various fastening means are provided. Although a force acts laterally on the drive unit 6 due to the inflation of the fuselage component 4 and the two arms 7a, 7b, the force is usually not sufficient to generate sufficient friction to keep the drive unit 6 safe during operation To leave fuselage component 4 anchored.

In the Figure 2a , 2 B , 2c A fastening means is shown in the form of two belt sections 23a, 23b, which are each guided from the outside inwards along the rear end face 10 of the surfboard 1.

Each of the two belt sections 23a, 23b is attached to the side or to the rear end of an inflatable arm 7a, 7b. The attachment may be an adhesive bond or a sewn bond, or a combination of both, or some other bond. The belt sections 23a, 23b have ends 24a, 24b pointing inwards towards the recess. The ends 24a, 24b cooperate with lever locks 26a, 26b in the 2 are shown in a closed state. The lever locks 26a, 26b are arranged at a distance from the nozzle of the jet drive 8 on both sides. The lever locks can in particular be designed as toggle lever locks or as ratchets.

In the Figure 2a , 3a , 4a , the lever movements of the lever locks 26a, 26b and the directions of movement of the ends 24a, 24b resulting from the back and forth movements of the lever locks 26a, 27a are indicated by double arrows or arrows.

Figure 2b shows the lever locks 26a, 26b in an open state. In this state, the lever locks are folded outwards in the direction of the arms 7a, 7b and release the ends 24a, 24b of the two belt sections 23a, 23b. When closing, the ends 24a, 24b are threaded into the lever closures 26a, 26b, and the lever closure is repeatedly pivoted upwards and towards the nozzle by the action of force and gradually tightens the respective belt section 23a, 23b.

The belt sections 23a, 23b are not elastic. The elasticity required for closure is provided by the elasticity of the not fully inflated arms 7a, 7b which, as long as they are not fully inflated, are designed to be significantly elastically variable in diameter.

In the Figure 2c shows the state in which the drive unit 6 has been removed from the recess 20 of the inflatable fuselage component 4 . The drive unit 6 can be exchanged or stored separately from the then slackened fuselage component 4 for transport.

In the Figures 3a to 3c Figure 1 shows the closure of the first embodiment in an inverted configuration. The belt sections 23a, 23b are preferably permanently fastened to the drive unit 6, preferably glued, sewn, riveted, screwed or otherwise fastened, they are arranged on both sides in a horizontal plane at a distance from the nozzle, each with one of the ends 24a, 24b, each of which outside towards the inflatable arms 7a, 7b. A corresponding belt section 27a, 27b is fastened to each of the inflatable arms 7a, 7b, each with one of the lever closures 26a, 26b permanently fastened to it.

In the Figure 3a are the two lever locks 26a, 26b lowered and the belt sections 23a, 23b are stretched and thus secure the drive unit 6 in the recess 20 of the inflatable surfboard 1. In the Figure 3b the two lever locks 26a, 26b are open and the two straps 23a, 23b with the ends 24a, 24b hang loosely from the rear end of the surfboard 1. The two lever locks 26a, 26b also hang loosely on the belt sections 23a, 23b.

3c shows the surfboard 1 in a disassembled state according to the second embodiment.

In the Figures 4a to 4c a third embodiment of the rear attachment means is shown. In this embodiment, no part of the fastening means is arranged on the drive unit 6 . Rather, a strap is stretched along the rear face of the surfboard 1 . The belt consists of two belt sections 23, 27, at one end of one belt section 23 is in turn the end 24 and at one end of the corresponding belt section 27 the lever lock 26 is formed. The belt sections 23, 27 are fastened to the side or to the rear face 10 of the two arms 7a, 7b, for example by means of an adhesive connection or a sewn connection. By moving the lever lock 26, sufficient tension is generated, which pulls the two inflatable arms 7a, 7b together, so that on the one hand a greater lateral force acts on the drive unit 6 and, in addition, the transverse belt prevents the drive unit 6 from slipping out at the rear can. In the Figure 4b the belt is shown in an open state, in which Figure 4c the drive unit 6 is removed from the fuselage component 4.

The Figure 5a and 5b show a fourth embodiment which is a modification of the third embodiment in FIGS Figures 4a to 4b and which is not part of the present invention.

In the fourth embodiment in FIGS Figure 5a and 5b a belt 28 is formed in one piece. It is guided from one arm 7a, 7b to the other along the rear face 10 thereof. There, the two ends of the belt 23 are in turn firmly connected to the side or the rear face of the two arms 7a, 7b, ie sewn or glued or both or otherwise attached. The surfboard 1 is set up by first spreading out the deflated hull component 4 and possibly incompletely filling it with air, then inserting the drive unit 6 into the recess 20 of the deflated or partially inflated hull component 4 and only then inserting the strap 28 along the rear end face 10 of the drive unit 6 is placed. In this case, however, the belt 28 is not placed over the nozzle of the jet drive 8 . The fuselage component 4 is then inflated with high pressure. The length of the strap 28 is selected to be so short that it is tensioned when the fuselage component 4 is inflated and additional pressure can be generated laterally on the drive unit 6 . In the Figure 5b the drive unit 6 is removed from the fuselage component 4.

6 shows a fifth embodiment not forming part of this invention. The rear attachment means is designed as a kink 61a, 61b in the lateral, inflatable arms 7a, 7b. Each of the lateral, inflatable arms 7a, 7b is hook-shaped or L-shaped and engages behind the drive unit 6 at least in sections at the rear by means of the kink 61a, 61b.

The nozzle remains free. No fastener extending completely along the entire rear face 10 is provided. However, it has been found that the kinks 61a, 61b of the side arms 7a, 7b, with the hooks pointing inwards towards the surfboard 4, are sufficient to prevent the drive unit 6 from slipping out the rear when inflated under high pressure . In a cross section are drive unit 6 and side arms 7a, 7b as well as the embodiments of FIG 2 designed in such a way that the arms 7a, 7b have a curvature pointing towards the recess 20 and the drive unit 6 has an inwardly curved side wall, so that a largely form-fitting connection is also created here, which prevents slipping out in the direction of the tread surface 13 or the underwater surface 5 completely safely prevented. In order to remove the drive unit 6 from the inflatable hull component 4, at least some air must be let out of the hull component 4 first.

Reference List

1

surf board

2

bow

3

Rear

4

fuselage component

5

underwater surface

6

drive unit

7a

poor

7b

poor

8th

jet propulsion

9

water inlet

10

rear face

11

water channel

12

water outlet

13

tread

14

rotor

16

engine

17

accumulator

20

recess

22

gap

23

belt

23a

belt

23b

belt

24a

End

24b

End

26a

lever lock

26b

lever lock

27

belt section

27a

belt section

27b

belt section

28

belt

61a

kink

61b

kink

L

longitudinal direction

Claims (6)

1. Inflatable surfboard with an inflatable hull component with two lateral arms (7a, 7b) which form a receptacle, and a drive unit (6) which forms an outer contour which fits into the receptacle in a positively locking manner, and at least one fastening means (23, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 27, 27a, 27b, 28, 61a, 61b) at the stern end of the surfboard (1), wherein the at least one fastening means (23, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 27, 27a, 27b, 28, 61a, 61b) is inelastic and is designed as at least one belt (23, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 27, 27a, 27b, 28) which is fastened to the two lateral arms (7a, 7b) and runs along the drive unit (6) at the stern end, characterised in that the at least one fastening means (23, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 27, 27a, 27b, 28, 61a, 61b) also has a lever mechanism (24a, 26a, 24b, 26b) with a lever closure, wherein the belt (23, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 27, 27a, 27b, 28) can be tensioned by means of the lever mechanism (24a, 26a, 24b, 26b) with the lever closure by movements to and fro.
2. Inflatable surfboard according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one fastening means comprises two belt sections (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b) which in each case run from one of the two arms (7a, 7b) to the drive unit (6).
3. Inflatable surfboard according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one fastening means (23, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 27, 27a, 27b, 28, 61a, 61b) is configured in plan view as an L-shaped rear engagement (61a, 61b) of the drive unit (6).
4. Inflatable surfboard according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that two fastening means (23, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 27, 27a, 27b) are provided and in each case are designed as a belt, which in each case runs from one side of the arms (7a, 7b) or runs from a stern end of the arms (7a, 7b) to the stern end of the drive unit (6) and releasably connects the stern end of the arms (7a, 7b) and the stern end of the drive unit (6) to one another.
5. Inflatable surfboard according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the lever mechanism (24a, 26a, 24b, 26b) is configured as a toggle lever or ratchet.
6. Inflatable surfboard according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a belt section (23, 23a, 24a, 26a, 27, 27a) is fastened by means of a ratchet or a toggle lever to a counterpart of a corresponding belt section (23b, 24b, 26b, 27b).

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