WO2004091736A1

WO2004091736A1 - Personal propulsion apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2004091736A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000893
Authority: WO
Inventors: Moo Hak Park
Original assignee: Moo Hak Park
Priority date: 2003-04-18
Filing date: 2004-04-19
Publication date: 2004-10-28
Also published as: KR200320554Y1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a personal propulsion apparatus that is fast and smoothly moved under water by a propulsion force in such a manner that a screw is selectively driven in a state that a propulsion apparatus having a screw is worn by a user. The personal propulsion apparatus comprises a wearing part that is selectively worn by a waist or hip of a human body, a driving part that is extended from a lower side of the wearing part with a certain length for thereby generating a certain driving force based on a user’s operation, and a screw part that is installed in a lower side of the driving part for thereby receiving a certain driving force from the driving part and generating a propulsion force.

Description

PERSONAL PROPULSION APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a personal propulsion apparatus, and in particular to a personal propulsion apparatus that is fast and smoothly moved under water by a propulsion force in sich a manner that a screw is selectively driven in a state that a propulsion apparatus having a screw is worn by a user.

Background Art

[2] Generally, people swim or dive in sea or river water for the purposes of entertainment, leisure, work or mission. In particular, a fast and smooth movement is needed for a short time period when a woman diver dives for collecting marine products or when a navy soldier or marine soldier operates a certain mission.

[3] Therefore, a worker swims or dives in a state that the worker puts on a certain equipment sich as a fin for a fast and smooth movement under water.

[4] However, when the worker swims or dives in a state that the worker puts on a certain equipment such as a fin, there is a certain limit for fast moving under water, so that the equipment sich as a fin may be separated from a user and may be lost under water.

[5] In addition, when a user swims or dives in a state that the user puts on a certain equipment sich as a fin, the user should continuously perform a certain action such as a kicking for performing a maximuri performance. Therefore, it is impossible to perform swimming or dividing for a long time period. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Solution

[6] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a personal propulsion apparatus capable of overcoming the problems encountered in the conventional art.

[7] It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal propulsion apparatus by which a user can fast and smoothly move under water for thereby achieving an effective swimming and dividing in a state that a user puts on a propulsion apparatus having a screw.

[8] To achieve the above objects, there is provided a personal propulsion apparatus, comprising a wearing part that is selectively worn by a waist or hip portion of a himan body, a driving part that is extended from a lower side of the wearing part with a certain length for thereby generating a certain driving force based on a user's operation, and a screw part that is installed in a lower side of the driving part for thereby receiving a certain driving force from the driving part and generating a propulsion force.

[9] The wearing part includes a belt member that is worn by a waist portion of a himan body with an adjustable length, and a mounting member that is provided in a lower side of the belt member and has an engaging member in a front side for detachably engaging the belt member selectively wherein the hip portion of the himan body is supported thereby.

[10] The driving part includes a bracket installed in a lower side of the wearing member in a longitudinal direction in a state that a space part is formed in the interior of the same, a pair of pedal parts provided at both sides of the bracket at an angle of 180 ° , and a gear part formed of a plurality of plane gear and bevel gears in the interior of the bracket for transferring a force to the screw part wherein the force is generated as the user pressurizes the pedal of the pedal part. In addition, the driving part includes a bracket installed in a lower side of the wearing member in a longitudinal direction in a state that a space part is formed in the interior of the same, a power part provided in the interior of the bracket for supplying a certain power to the apparatus wherein an externally applied power is charged or a battery is received therein, a driving motor part that is driven by receiving a power from the power part wherein the rotary shaft of the same is connected with the screw part for thereby driving the screw part, and an operation part that includes a switch designed in such a manner that the power of the power part is selectively applied to the driving motor part, and an operation button provided for adjusting a rotation speed and rotation direction of the driving motor.

[11] More preferably, the wearing part includes a shoulder string, and fixing members correspond to each other and are provided in the outer surfaces of the shoulder string and the driving part, and the driving part is upwardly lifted and is fixed to the shoulder string when carrying the personal propulsion apparatus, so that it is possible to easily carry the personal propulsion apparatus.

[12] According to the present invention, the personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention is worn by a waist or hip portion of himan body using a wearing part, and the driving part is selectively driven, and the screw part is rotated. Therefore, it is possible to fast and smoothly move under water by a propulsion force.

Description of Drawings

[13] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[14] Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[15] Figure 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the constriction of a driving part of a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[16] Figure 3 is a lateral side view illustrating a state of use of a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[17] Figure 4 is a lateral side view illustrating a state of idle of a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[18] Figure 5 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a personal propulsion apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode

[19] The constriction of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[20] Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the construction of a driving part of a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a lateral side view illustrating a state of use of a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a lateral side view illustrating a state of idle of a personal propulsion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention includes a wearing part 10 that a user puts on at his waist or hip side for fixing the same, a driving part 30 extended from a lower side of the wearing part 10 with a certain length for thereby generating a certain driving force, and a screw part 60 that is installed at a lower side of the driving part 30 and is rotated by a driving force generated by the driving part 30 for thereby generating a propulsion force.

[21] Here, the wearing part 10 includes a belt member 12 positioned at a waist of a himan body when user puts on, and a mounting member 14 positioned at a hip side of a himan body. The wearing part 10 looks like a diaper. At this time, the belt member 12 is length-adjustable and is worn by a waist part of a himan body. The mounting member 14 has a rear end integrally engaged with a lower rear end of the belt member 12, and a front end having an engaging member 16b. The engaging member 16b is selectively engaged to an engaging member 16a formed to correspond with a front lower end of the belt member 12 for thereby achieving an easier engaging and disengaging. [22] In addition, the driving part 30 is formed of a cubic shape in a lower surface of the mounting member 14 of the wearing part 10. In the interior of the driving part 30, a bracket 32 having a certain space part is engaged by a screw 38 and is installed in a longitudinal direction. A pair of pedal parts 40 are provided at both sides of the bracket 32 for generating a pressurizing force while stepping the pedals 42 by a user wherein the pedal parts 40 are installed at an angle of 180 ° from each other.

[23] A gear part 34 formed of a plurality of plane gears and bevel gears for transferring a force applied through the pedal parts 40 to the screw part 60 installed at a lower side of the bracket 32 is installed in the interior of the bracket 32. The gear part 34 includes a first gear part 34a installed at a link shaft 46 of the pedal parts 40 for thereby being rotated by receiving a rotational force generated based on a pressurizing of the pedals 42 of the pedal parts 40 through the link 44 and the link shaft 46. A second gear part 34b formed of a small diameter gear engaged with the first gear part 34a and a large diameter gear cooperating with the small diameter gear for thereby obtaining a high deceleration ratio is installed in an upper side of the first gear part 34a. A third gear part 34c designed to obtain a high deceleration ration based on an engagement with the large diameter gear of the second gear part 34b is provided in a lower side of the second gear part 34b.

[24] In addition, a fourth gear part 34d formed of a plane gear engaged with the third gear part 34c and a bevel gear cooperating with the plane gear is provided in a lower side of the third gear part 34c. A fifth gear part 34e formed of a bevel gear engaged with the fourth gear part 34d is provided in a lower side of the fourth gear part 34d. A sixth gear part 34f is engaged like passing through the rotary shaft 62 of the screw part 60 vertically with respect to the fifth gear part 34e and is formed of a bevel gear capable of rotating the screw part 60 based on a rotational force applied from the fifth gear part 34e.

[25] At this time, the size, kinds and nimber of various gears forming the gear part 34 may be changed for effectively transferring the force from the pedal part 40 to the screw part 60. A driving sprocket (not shown) is installed in a link shaft 46 of the pedal part 40, and a driven sprocket (not shown) is installed in the rotary shaft 62 of the screw part 60. The driving sprocket and the driven sprocket are connected by a chain (not shown), so that the pressurizing force from the pedal part 40 is transferred to the screw part 60.

[26] In addition, the bracket 32 forming the driving part 30 has a certain length longer than the lower side of the same for thereby preventing a lower side of the himan body from interfering with the screw part 60 when the screw part 60 is rotated and has a water resistant function for the user under water.

[27] A holding string 24 is provided in a lower outer side of the bracket 32, so that the bracket 32 is lifted by using the holding string 24. Velcro tapes 26a, 26 are provided in an outer surface of the bracket 32 at a portion of the holding string 24 and a portion corresponding to an end portion of the holding string 24 for thereby selectively attaching the holding string 24.

[28] A shoulder string 20 is provided in the wearing part 10 of the personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention, so that a user hangs the personal propulsion apparatus on this shoulder. Fixing members 22 and 36 are provided at the outer surfaces of the shoulder string 20 and the bracket 32. Therefore, the bracket 32 is lifted up with respect to the mounting member 14 of the wearing part 10, and the bracket 32 is fixed to the shoulder string 20 through the fixing members 22 and 36, so that the personal propulsion apparatus is carried.

[29] Figure 5 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a personal propulsion apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the construction of the driving part 30 of the personal propulsion apparatus, a power part 50, a driving motor part 52 and an operation part 54 are provided inside or outside the bracket 32 installed in the lower side of the mounting member 14 of the wearing part 10, so that the screw part 60 is automatically operated.

[30] Here, the power part 50 is formed of a charging battery capable of storing power externally supplied or is formed in sich a manner that a plurality of batteries are mounted therein, so that power is supplied to the driving motor part 52. The driving motor part 52 is driven by the power applied from the power part 50. The rotary shaft 62 of the screw part 60 is engaged to the rotary shaft, so that the screw part 60 is rotated.

[31] The operation part 54 including a switch for selectively supplying the power from the power part 50 to the driving motor part 52, and an operation button capable of controlling a rotation speed and rotation direction of the driving motor part 52 is provided in one surface of the bracket 32.

[32] The operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 through 5.

[33] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in order to use the personal propulsion apparatus under water according to the present invention, the length of the belt member 12 of the wearing part 10 provided in the personal propulsion apparatus is adjusted, and the personal propulsion apparatus is worn by a user's waste. The mounting member 14 of the wearing part 10 is closely contacted with the hip part of the himan body. The engaging member 16b provided in a front end side of the mounting member 14 is engaged with the engaging member 16a formed in a front lower side of the belt member 12, so that the wearing part 10 is fixed to the waste and hip part of the himan body.

[34] In addition, in order to obtain a certain propulsion force under water in a state that the wearing part 10 is worn by the himan body, the pedals 42 of the pedal parts 40 formed at both surfaces of the bracket 32 formed in the lower side of the mounting member 14 of the wearing part 10 are continuously driven using both feet.

[35] The pressuriang force is transferred to the link shaft 46 through the link 44 of the pedal part 40 for thereby rotating the link shaft 46. As the link shaft 46 is rotated, the rotational force is applied to the rotary shaft 62 of the screw part 60 through the gear part 34 in which the first gear part through sixth gear part 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, and 34f are engaged, so that the rotary shaft 62 is rotated at a certain speed.

[36] Therefore, the user of the personal propulsion apparatus has a certain propulsion force based on the rotation of the screw part 60, so that the user can fast and smooth move under water.

[37] As shown in Figure 5, in order to use the personal propulsion apparatus under water according to another embodiment of the present invention, the wearing part 10 is worn by the waist or hip part of the himan body in the same manner as the above description. In a state that the wearing part 10 is worn under water, the switch provided in the operation part 54 of the driving part 30 is turned on.

[38] Therefore, the power is applied from the power part 50 to the driving motor part

52, so that the driving motor part 52 is driven. As the driving motor part 52 is driven, the screw part 60 engaged to the rotary shaft is rotated, so that a certain propulsion force is generated.

[39] At this time, the user of the personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention operates the operation button, and the rotation direction and speed of the screw part 60 are adjusted. The personal propulsion apparatus is properly changed based on the purpose of use and the environment of use.

[40] In addition, as shown in Figure 4, when the personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention is carried, the wearing part 10 is separated from the himan body, and the bracket 32 of the driving part 30 is lifted up with respect to the mounting member 14 and is stably fixed using the opposite fixing member 22 and 36 provided in the outer surface of the shoulder strip 20 of the wearing part 10 and the bracket 32. The personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention is hung on the shoulder using the shoulder string 20, so that it is possible to easily carry the personal propulsion apparatus.

Industrial Applicability

[41] As described above, in the present invention, a person can fast and smoothly move under water in such a manner that the propulsion apparatus having a screw is worn by a himan body and is operated under water. Therefore, a woman diver can efficiently perform underwater work, and a navy or marine soldier can efficiently perform an underwater mission.

[42] In addition, the personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention can be adapted to various plays and leisure performed under water, including scuba dividing or snorkeling. An applicable range of the present invention is very wide, and anyone can easily use the personal propulsion apparatus according to the present invention with easier handling.

[43] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

[1] A personal propulsion apparatus, comprising: a wearing part that is selectively worn by a waist or hip of a himan body; a driving part that is extended from a lower side of the wearing part with a certain length for thereby generating a certain driving force based on a user's operation; and a screw part that is installed in a lower side of the driving part for thereby receiving a certain driving force from the driving part and generating a propulsion force.

[2] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wearing part includes: a belt member that is worn by a waist portion of a himan body with an adjustable length; and a mounting member that is provided in a lower side of the belt member and has an engaging member in a front side for detachably engaging the belt member selectively wherein the hip portion of the himan body is supported thereby.

[3] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driving part includes: a bracket installed in a lower side of the wearing member in a longitudinal direction in a state that a space part is formed in the interior of the same; a pair of pedal parts provided at both sides of the bracket at an angle of 180 ° ; and a gear part formed of a plurality of plane gear and bevel gears in the interior of the bracket for transferring a force to the screw part wherein the force is generated as the user pressurizes the pedal of the pedal part.

[4] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driving part includes: a bracket installed in a lower side of the wearing member in a longitudinal direction in a state that a space part is formed in the interior of the same; a power part provided in the interior of the bracket for supplying a certain power to the apparatus wherein an externally applied power is charged or a battery is received therein; a driving motor part that is driven by receiving a power from the power part wherein the rotary shaft of the same is connected with the screw part for thereby driving the screw part; and an operation part that includes a switch designed in such a manner that the power of the power part is selectively applied to the driving motor part, and an operation button provided for adjusting a rotation speed and rotation direction of the driving motor. [5] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wearing part includes a shoulder string, and fixing members correspond to each other and are provided in the outer surfaces of the shoulder string and the driving part, and the driving part is upwardly lifted and is fixed to the shoulder string when carrying the personal propulsion apparatus, so that it is possible to easily carry the personal propulsion apparatus.