Device and System for Propelling a Passenger

• US 20140158832A1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZipH20 SAS
• Original Assignee: Personal Water Craft Products
• Inventors: Zapata, Frankie
• Granted Patent: US 8,979,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/23.A
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/15 for hydroflight sports
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 11/04 by means of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 11/113 Pivoted outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2011/006 with propulsive medium supplied from sources external to propelled vessel, e.g. water from public water supply

Abstract

The invention relates to a propulsion device (10) comprising a body (11) arranged for receiving a passenger (1) and engaging with a thrust unit (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) supplied with a pressurised fluid from a compression station. The arrangement of such a device offers great freedom of movement through the air or under the surface of a fluid. The invention also relates to a propulsion system in which the compression station can be remote in the form of a motorised marine vehicle.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A propulsion device, comprising:

a platform having a bottom surface, and a top surface on which a passenger stands;

a thrust unit adapted to be supplied with a pressurized fluid, and including at least one nozzle engaging the bottom surface of the platform and oriented to provide thrust in a direction away from the position of a passenger standing on the top surface; and

at least two protective projections that extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the platform to form supports that prevent contact between the nozzle of the thrust unit and non-fluid elements during take-off and landing of the propulsion device.

22. The propulsion device according to claim 21, wherein the protective projections are located forward and aft of the nozzle, relative to the direction in which a passenger faces when standing on the platform.

23. The propulsion device according to claim 21, comprising four protective projections respectively disposed in front of and behind the positions at which the feet of a passenger are located when standing on the platform.

24. The propulsion device according to claim 21, further comprising an attachment device to maintain the passenger on the top surface of the platform.

25. The propulsion device according to claim 24, wherein said attachment device comprises footwear and a binding for attaching the footwear to the top surface of the platform.

26. The propulsion device according to claim 21, further comprising a fluid collector and distributor that supplies pressurized fluid to the nozzle, and that is configured to connect a supply channel to the device.

27. The propulsion device according to claim 26, wherein the fluid collector and distributor comprises a base to which a supply channel is connected, enabling free rotation of the supply channel about an axis substantially parallel to that of the channel.

28. The propulsion device according to claim 27, wherein the fluid collector and distributor comprises an arm that engages with the nozzle to supply the nozzle with a pressurized fluid collected from the base and to allow free rotation about an axis substantially parallel to that of said arm.

29. The propulsion device according to claim 21, wherein the thrust unit includes a plurality of nozzles engaging the bottom surface of the platform, each of said plurality of nozzles being oriented to provide thrust in a direction away from the position of a passenger on the top surface.

30. A propulsion device, comprising:

a platform having a bottom surface, and a top surface on which a passenger stands;

a thrust unit adapted to be supplied with a pressurized fluid, and including a plurality of nozzles engaging the bottom surface of the platform, each of said plurality of nozzles being oriented to provide thrust in a direction away from the position of a passenger standing on the top surface; and

at least one protective projection that extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the platform to form a support structure that is located forward and aft of the nozzles, relative to the direction in which a passenger faces when standing on the platform, and that prevents contact between the nozzles of the thrust unit and non-fluid elements during take-off and landing of the propulsion device.

31. The propulsion device according to claim 30, further comprising a fluid collector and distributor that supplies pressurized fluid to the nozzles, and that is configured to connect a supply channel to the propulsion device.

32. The propulsion device according to claim 31, wherein the fluid collector and distributor comprises a base to which a supply channel is connected, enabling free rotation of the supply channel about an axis substantially parallel to that of the channel.

33. The propulsion device according to claim 32, wherein the fluid collector and distributor comprises arms respectively engaged with the nozzles to supply the nozzles with a pressurized fluid collected from the base and to allow free rotation about an axis substantially parallel to that of said arms.

34. A propulsion device, comprising:

a platform having a bottom surface, and a top surface on which a passenger stands; and

a thrust unit adapted to be supplied with a pressurized fluid, and including at least one nozzle engaging the bottom surface of the platform and oriented to provide thrust in a direction away from the position of a passenger standing on the top surface;

wherein the platform has a width that is narrower in the center than at outer portions where the feet of a passenger are located when standing on the platform,

and wherein the thickness of the platform is greater at the center than at said outer portions where the feet of a passenger are located when standing on the platform.

35. The propulsion device of claim 34, wherein said greater thickness at the center is implemented by a projection that extends above the said outer portions of the surface where the feet of a passenger are located when standing on the platform.