Drive and Glide Out Prop Surfboard

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electric powered surfboards.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electric powered surfboards for the purpose of providing paddling assistance have come on to the market in recent years that claim to be able to maintain traditional surfing performance. These are jet drives that surf waves with the power on which is not traditional surfing. If these jet drive boards were to surf waves with the power off, the large jet tube intakes on the bottom surface of the surfboard will significantly restrict forward movement and thwart turning performance of any surfboard, especially short ones. These intake holes allow water to flow through them even when the power is off. Therefore this disruption of the planing hull makes the claim of “traditional surfing performance” impossible.

The present invention is different because it provides a way to shut off the motor and hoist it out of the way. The present invention is better because the motor is taken up past the planing water line and therefore allows a motorized surfboard to glide like a traditional non-powered surfboard when riding a wave with no disruption of the planing surface. Other considerations are the stacked deck shapes that can allow thin rail sensitivity on a surfboard that is 5 inches thick or more at the prone and standing area, and the mass centralization of onboard weight that makes the surfboard respond like a much lighter surfboard when in motion.

The present invention solves a few problems with open-holed jet boards and adds some new advantages over these boards and all existing prior art. The prior art referred to is Rott et al US 2011/0201238 A1 and Railey U.S. Pat. No. 7,993,178 B2 and Toyohara et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,913 and Derrah U.S. Pat. No. 9,718,521 B2 and Dusablon et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,105 B2.

DETAILED DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

FIG. 1 shows a port side view of a Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 in the up or glide position with props 3 folded where motor hoist 4 is seen aft of the rider standing area and the side fin 8.

FIG. 2 shows a port side see-through side view of a Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard's motor 2 in the up or glide position revealing a battery and control box 5 a servo crank box 6 a motor hoist 4 with an out-runner brushless motor 2 held in place by a fitted cowl 7 that slides up and down the hoist's 4 “T” slotted frame 9 wherein the prop 3 is seen folded and the servo arm 11 is seen pulling the hoisting line 12 and the motor 2 and prop 3 completely past the planing water line.

FIG. 3 shows a port side see-through side view of a Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 and prop 3 in the down or drive position wherein the servo arm 11 is seen letting out the hoisting line 12 allowing the motor 2 and prop 3 to drop below the planing water line.

FIG. 4 shows a see-through top view of a Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 revealing a battery and control box 5 a servo crank box 6 a motor hoist 4 and motor 2 and prop as well as the stacked deck layered rail shape 14 of the extra thick surfboard.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with both fins 8 seen canted and towed in. Also seen is the motor 2 cowl 7 and prop 3 wherein the bottom of the hoist frame 9 is seen revealing the “T” shaped slots that allow the motor 2 and prop 3 to slide up and down through a swallowtail shape in the surfboard 1.

FIG. 6 shows an aft end view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 in the up or glide position with the prop 3 folded. Also shown is the motor hoist 4 with its pulley wheel 15 atop the “T” slotted frame 9 with a hoisting line 12 connected to the motor cowl 7 that slides up and down on a motor carrier fin 20 that is firmly connected to a traveler block 18 (not shown) having two block faces 17 that ride up and down the “T” slotted frame 9 stabilizing the movement of the traveler block 18.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the cowel 7 covered motor 2 with prop 3 inside the “T” slotted frame 9 disconnected from the surfboard 1 wherein the motor hoist 4 is shown with two pulley wheels 15 that have a hoisting line 12 that has pulled the motor 2 and prop 3 up into a compressed glide position showing the motor carrier fin 20 and the two traveler block faces 17.

FIG. 8 shows an aft end view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 in the down or run position with the prop 3 splayed out and also showing the motor carrier fin 20 at full extension which adds one inch of travel to the five inches of travel provided by the “T” grooved hoist frame 9 wherein the hoisting line 12 is seen fully let out from the pulley wheel 15 atop the “T” slotted frame.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the cowel 7 covered motor 2 with prop 3 disconnected from the surfboard 1 in the down or run position wherein the carrier fin 20 is at full extension with the hoisting line 12 let out all the way showing the two block faces 17 and both pulley wheels 15.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the tail section of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 in the down or run position revealing the twin spar top of the motor hoist 4 that supports the pulley wheels 15 that the hoisting line 12 rides in. Also shown is the motor cowl 7 that fits into a swallowtail shape of the surfboard 1 and the outer block face 17 is seen above the motor 2 and the folding prop 3 and a top view of the 3 tier layered deck shape 14 is revealed.

FIG. 11 shows a three part separated view of the traveler block 18. The central part is a stainless steel “T” shaped slider and rod set 16 the block 18 has a hole in it for the rod to fit into and rotates on it between the two frame sides 9 in FIG. 12. The two traveler block faces 17 are bonded to the traveler block 18 when assembled (not shown).

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the tail section of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 in the run position wherein the “T” slots of the hoist frame 9 are seen with the block faces 17 on both sides of the “T” slotted frame.

FIG. 13 shows an aft end view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 and prop 3 in the down or run position. A motor cable 19 is shown protruding from the starboard side then up and out the back of the motor hoist 4 forming an easy bending loop then plugged into the tail of the surfboard 1.

FIG. 14 shows an aft end view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 and prop 3 in the up or glide position. The motor cable 19 that protrudes from the starboard side then stems out the back and over the top of the hoist 4 forming a larger bent loop then back down to the tail of the surfboard 1.

FIG. 15 shows a see through side view of the Drive-N-Glide Drop-Jet surfboard 24 in the up or glide position with a different motor 21 and jet 22 that replaces the motor 2 and prop 3 from FIGS. 13 and 14 and uses all of the same hoisting means outlined in FIGS. 1 through 12.

FIG. 16 shows a see through side view of a Drive-N-Glide Drop-Jet surfboard 24 in the down or run position wherein a different motor 21 and jet 22 replaces the motor 2 and prop 3 from FIGS. 13 and 14 and uses all of the same hoisting means outlined in FIGS. 1 through 12.

FIG. 17 shows a see through side view of the jet housing impeller and sorter 22 with a different motor 21 at full extension wherein the hoisting line 12 is fully let out and the motor carrier fin 20 is directly connected to the top of the jet housing 22. FIG. 18 shows a side view of the jet 22 with a different motor 21 compressed inside the “T” slotted frame 9 and hoist 4 wherein the hoisting line 12 has pulled the motor 21 and jet 22 up into the glide position.

BRIEF DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

FIG. 1 shows a port side view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with motor 2 in the up or glide position and the propeller 3 folded.

FIG. 2 shows a port side see-through side view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard in the up or glide position revealing the motor 2 and folded prop 3 inside a hoist 4 frame 9 wherein a servo 10 arm 11 is seen pulling a hoist line 12 that lifts the motor 2 out past the planning water line.

FIG. 3 shows a port side see-through view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 in the down or run position revealing the motor 2 submerged in the water wherein the servo 10 arm 11 has let out the hoist line 12. Also seen is the battery and control box 5 and the splayed-out prop 3.

FIG. 4 shows a see-through top view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 revealing the battery box 5 and the servo box 6 with the motor 2 and hoist 4 plus a top view of the layered deck 14.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with both fins 8 plus the motor 2 and cowl 7. Also seen are the “T” slots in the hoist frame 9 connected to the side of the surfboard's 1 swallow tail shape opening.

FIG. 6 shows an aft view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 in the up or glide position with the prop 3 folded.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the cowl 7 covered motor 2 with prop 3 inside the “T” slotted frame 9 disconnected from the surfboard 1 with the prop folded.

FIG. 8 shows an aft end view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 in the down or run position showing the prop 3 splayed-out. Also showing the motor carrier fin 20 at full extension.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the cowel 7 covered motor 2 with the prop 3 and hoist 4 frame 9 disconnected from the surfboard 1 in the down or run position.

FIG. 10 show a top view of the tail section of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 in the down or run position revealing the twin spar top of the motor hoist 4 that supports the pulley wheels 15 that the hoisting line 12 rides in. Also shown is the stacked deck 14 layered rail shape.

FIG. 11 shows a separated part view of the 3 parts it takes to make up the traveler block 18.

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the tail section of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard in the run position wherein the “T” slots of the hoist frame 9 are seen with the block faces 17 on both sides of the “T” slotted frame 9.

FIG. 13 shows an aft end view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 with the motor 2 and prop 3 in the run position noting the motor cable 19 pulled down and runs into the surfboard's 1 body.

FIG. 14 shows an aft end view of the Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard 1 in the glide position noting the motor cable 19 is pushed up in an even loop.

FIG. 15 shows a see-through side view of the Drive-N-Glide Jet-Drop surfboard 24 with the motor 21 and jet 22 in the up or glide position.

FIG. 16 shows a see-through side view of the Drive-N-Glide Jet-Drop surfboard 24 with the motor 21 and jet 22 in the down or run position.

FIG. 17 shows a side view of a motor 21 and jet 22 housing connected to the motor fin 20 and the rest of the hoisting components outlined in FIGS. 1-14 shown in the down or run position.

FIG. 18 shows a side view of a motor 21 and jet housing 22 connected to the motor carrier fin 20 and the rest of the hoisting components outline in FIGS. 1-14 shown in the up or glide position.

Parts Names

• • 1. Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop surfboard
  • 2. Motor
  • 3. Folding prop
  • 4. Motor Hoist
  • 5. Battery and control box
  • 6. Servo crank box
  • 7. Motor cowl
  • 8. Side fin ×2
  • 9. “T” slotted frame
  • 10. Servo
  • 11. Servo arm
  • 12. Hoisting line
  • 14. Stacked deck layered rail shape
  • 15. Hoist pulley ×3
  • 16. Stainless “T” slider and rod set
  • 17. Traveler block face ×2
  • 18. Traveler block
  • 19. Motor cable
  • 20. Motor carrier fin
  • 21. Jet motor
  • 22. Jet housing impeller and sorter
  • 23. Hold down spring clip
  • 24. Drive-N-Glide Jet Drop surfboard

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With this Out-Prop propelled surfboard surfers turn a historic corner to experience a new reality in modern surfing making it possible for a surfer to travel fast while standing up on a short board that would otherwise sink without a wave pushing it along. While standing, the surfer's overall height gives him increased visibility and the advantage to see sets of oncoming waves. Another advantage is the ability to quickly maneuver to a more desirable point of entry while standing, and power drive into a wave that is outside the pack of surfers sitting in the conventional takeoff area. Once the rider feels the wave is carrying him forward it's time to push the power off button. This starts the sequence to stop the impeller and hoist the motor and prop out of the water. Now that the board is gliding along motor off, like a conventional planning hull surfboard, the rider is able to drop in and surf the wave at will, doing all the moves an average surfer would normally perform on a short, high performance surfboard.

This Drive-N-Glide Out-Prop Surfboard can weigh up to two and a half times the weight of a conventional surfboard due to the motor, batteries and moving parts. These components are strategically placed between the surfer's front and rear foot and just aft of the widest point of the surfboard thereby centralizing the weight mass at the surfboard's balance point and contributing to the good handling characteristics.

The present invention formula to combine centralization of weight mass with the thin rails provided by the stacked deck and the retractable outrunner brushless motor and folding prop makes for the finest handling motorized surfboard ever developed, and the only one that really surfs. It is designed to surf waves with the motor and prop off and out with no protruding parts or open cavities to interrupt the flow of water across the hull's planning surface.