MOTORISED SURF-BOARD,SKATEBOARD ETC

Abstract: Motorised platform craft such as a motorised skateboard or surf-board incorporating a "deadman's" handle device to prevent propulsion of the board by a propulsion unit thereof if the rider thereof falls from or otherwise become separated from the craft. Preferably the device comprises a fluid (e.g. air-) containing sac (8) mounted on a hand-operable throttle control (10) arranged to actuate a pressure switch (4) when grasped by the rider's hand, which switch (4) is adapted only then to permit propulsion of the craft by the propulsion unit (2).

Description: Title of Invention: MOTORISED SϋlF-BOARD, SKATEBOARD ETC. DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a craft e.g. a motorised skateboard, or to a watercra of the type which can be termed a motorised surf-board, such as, for example, of he type described in my co-pending British Patent Application No. 4020/77 (Serial No ) and in my British Patent No. 1375 7ββ. Watercraft of this type generally have a substan¬ tially planar hull and are provided with a propulsion unit, such as a propeller or a water jet propulsion, unit. The rider stands on the hull and controls the speed of the craft by a hand-held throttle. Steering is accomplished by means of foot controls and/or by means of altering the weight distribution of the rider on the hull. "BUREAU OMPI Λ, wipo -Λ These craft are capable of high speeds and it is desirable to provide means to disable the propul¬ sion unit in the event that the rider falls off. A runaway motorised surf-board is not the most desirable of objects on a crowded beach. • Similarly, in the case of a motorised skateboard for use on pavements, roads, skateboard rinks and the like, it is highly desirable that the skateboard propulsion means be disabled in the absence of the rider of the board. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, having a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by, a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is also provided a dead mans handle device arranged to be held in a hand of the rider and which is arranged to prevent propulsion when not so held. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a motorised platform craft such as a motorised sur -board, skateboard or the like, a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is provided means for preventing the propulsion of the board; the prevention means comprising a gUR OM pressure switch responsive to pressure changes in a fluid, a fluid reservoir, and means connec¬ ting the fluid reservoir to the pressure switch whereby the latter is responsive.to changes in pressure within the fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir being associated with the throttle means, being arranged such that it may be held within the throttle hand of the rider, and, when so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be- in a first condition which enables the propulsion unit to drive the craft and, when not so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a second condition which prevents the propulsion unit from driving the craft. Yery preferably the craft is a motorised surf-board of the type described in the afore¬ mentioned Patent Application and Patent. The pressure switch may be capable of controlling a drive unit of the propulsion unit (for example a clutch) but preferably it is an electrical switch which, when in the second condition, simply switches off the propulsion unit. It might be, for instance, installed in the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine employed to propel the craft. The fluid reservoir is preferably an enclosed sac or balloon of a suitable, preferably resilient material and of a size to fit conveniently in the palm of the riders throttle hand. In normal driving the rider OMPI actuates the throttle by hand and exerts a positive pressure on the fluid reservoir. This is transmitted by means of, for example, a tube to the pressure switch to maintain the latter in the first condition. In the event of the rider releasing the throttle (e.g. by falling off a surf-board) then this positive pressure on the reservoir is released and the pressure switch transfers to.its second condition and disables the craft. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the accom¬ panying drawing, by way of example only, in which drawing there are shown schematically components of a water craft according to the invention. Referring to the drawing ( which only shows the most relevant details of the water- craft insofar as they relate to this invention) there is provided an internal combustion engine 2 employed to drive a water jet propulsion unit of a watercraft (not shown). A switch 4 is incorporated in the ignition circuit of the engine 2 and is connected by an air tube 6, suitably of rubber or plastics material, to an air sac 8 of resilient material. The watercraft includes a hand throttle 10 coupled to the watercraft by a lanyard 12. A throttle cable 14 extends to the engine 2 from a finger-operable accelerator machanism 16 ' .. The throttle 10 includes a frame 18 which, at one end as shown, has the air sac 8 connected thereto. In use, the throttle 10 is held in the hand of a rider of the watercraft and the accelerator mechanism 16 gripped by the fingers. With such a configuration, the air sac 8 is pressed in the palm of the hand and the positive air pressure so exerted closes the switch 4. In the event of the hand throttle 10 being, released, the switch 4 opens to open-circuit the ignition circuit of the engine and cause the latter to cut-out. In another embodiment, not illustrated, the dead mans handle device constitutes a trigger or other pressure switch means arranged on or adjacent the throttle control and mechanically connected by means of levers, linkages, bowden cables or the like, to the propulsion unit } and arranged so that only when the trigger or switch means is actuated by the hand of the rider, can the craft be propelled by the propulsion unit. It will be appreciated that the invention may be performed otherwise than as particularly described hereinbefore and the scope of the present invention is to be construed as being limited only to the extent necessary, having regard to the appendant claims.

Claims: CLAIMS; 1. A motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, having a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is also provided a dead mans handle device arranged to be held in a hand of the rider and which is arranged to prevent propulsion when not so held. 2. A motorised platform craft according to claim 2, characterized in that the dead mans handle device comprises a trigger or other pressure switch means mounted on or adjacent the throttle and conn¬ ected via levers, linkages, bowden cables or the like to the propulsion unit, whereby in use the propulsion unit can operate to propel the craft only when the said trigger or switch means is engaged by the hand of the rider. 3. A motorised platform craft such as a motorised surf-board, skateboard or the like, having a platform adapted to receive a standing rider, a propulsion unit, a throttle unit for the propulsion unit which is arranged to be held in, and to be controlled by a hand of the rider, and characterized in that there is provided means for preventing the propulsion of the board, the prevention means comprising a pressure switch responsive to pressure changes in a fluid, a fluid reservoir, and means connecting the fluid reservoir to the pressure switch whereby the latter is responsive to changes in pressure within the fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir being associated with the- throttle means, being, arranged such that it may be held within the throttle hand of the rider, and, when so held, the pressure of fluid within"the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a first condition which enables the propulsion unit to drive the craft and, when not so held, the pressure of fluid within the reservoir causing the pressure switch to be in a second condition which prevents the propulsion unit from driving the craft. 4. A motorised platform craft according to claim 3, characterized in that the fluid to be employed in said prevention means comprises air. 5. A motorised platform craft according to claim 3, characterized in that the fluid reservoir comprises a sac of air-impermeable resilient material of a size suitable to be gripped by the hand of the rider. 6. A motorised platform craft according* to claim 3 » characterized in that the propulsion unit includes an internal combustion engine and that the pressure switch is arranged to make or break an ignition circuit therefor. 7. A motorised platform craft according to claim 3, characterized in that the propulsion unit includes a clutch and that the pressure switch is arranged to engage and disengage the clutch. 8. A motorised platform craft according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it constitutes a skateboard.. 9. A motorised platform craft, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it constitutes a surf-board.

Inventors: SOORD P
Applicants: SOORD P
Application year: 1979
Main classification: B60K28
IPC codes: A63C17, B60K28, B63B35, F16P3