Patent ID: 12208866

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. When the word “each” is used to refer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least one in number, the word “each” does not necessarily imply a plurality of the elements, but can also mean a singular element.

FIGS.1-3and10illustrate a towing device10for a rider20on a body of water15, such as a lake or ocean. The rider20may be utilizing preferably a low-drag hydrofoil board21, or with a stronger towing device10a surfboard (not shown), a boogie board (not shown), or the like.

The towing device10comprises a buoyant platform30having a top side39(FIGS.4and5), a bottom side31(FIGS.6A,6B), and a peripheral edge35that includes at least a rear end38and a front end32. In some embodiments the buoyant platform30is shaped to be self-righting if capsized, having an open space therein for a container60that holds a controller100, and optionally a weight (not shown) fixed at the bottom side31for aiding in self-righting, as is known in the art. In the embodiments shown, however, the buoyant platform30resembles a buoyant board. The buoyant platform30may also take the shape of a boat hull (not shown) or other water vessel (FIG.11).

At least one electric motor40each with a prop50are fixed with the bottom side31of the buoyant platform30and are adapted to propel the buoyant platform30on the body of water15. The at least one electric motor40spins the prop50when active, and is mounted to the bottom side31of the buoyant platform30preferably with an aquadynamic mast41(FIGS.6A and9A).

The container60has an internal space65(FIG.7) and is fixed with the top side39of the buoyant platform30(FIGS.4,5and7) or within the buoyant platform30(FIG.11). In some embodiments, the container60includes a lid70movable between an open configuration80and a closed configuration90(FIGS.4,5, and11). The lid70when in the closed configuration90forms a water-tight seal such that water is inhibited from entering the internal space65of the container60.

The controller100(FIGS.7and10) is disposed within the internal space65of the container60and has at least a power source101, a CPU102, a non-volatile memory103, a volatile memory104, a motor driver105, and a wireless module106for receiving wireless commands from a wireless remote control140(FIG.8). The controller100is adapted to power the at least one electric motor40with the motor driver105, and is connected to the at least one electric motor40with a plurality of electric cables107. The power source101is preferably a rechargeable battery.

The wireless remote control140preferably includes, preferably, a trigger throttle control141(FIGS.8and10), a battery148, and preferably a CPU161, a memory162, and a wireless module163for sending wireless commands to the controller100. The wireless remote control140may utilize any suitable wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth, long range Bluetooth beacon technology, Wi-Fi, simple RF, or other suitable protocol.

A tow rope mount110is fixed with the top side39of the buoyant platform30proximate the rear end38, or with the rear end38(FIG.11), and is adapted to engage a proximal end112of a tow rope115. As such, with the rider20holding the wireless remote control140and engaged with a distal end118of the tow rope115, which preferably terminates at a handle119(FIG.4), commands from the wireless remote control140are sent to the wireless module106of the controller100to control power to the at least one electric motor40.

Preferably, the at least one electric motor40includes a port side electric motor43(FIG.6B) and a starboard side electric motor44, each laterally mutually adjacent, wherein steering of the towing device10is controlled by the controller100modulating power to each motor43,44, the wireless remote control140having a steering control142and adapted to send steering signals from the steering control142to the controller100to cause the controller100to modulating power to each of the electric motors43,44in accordance with the steering signals, wherein when the controller100sends more power to the port side electric motor43than to the starboard side electric motor44the towing device10is steered to the right, and when the controller100sends more power to the starboard side electric motor44than to the port side electric motor43the towing device10is steered to the left.

In some embodiments, the towing device10further includes a pivotable rudder120(FIGS.9A and10) that is disposed behind the prop50. The pivotable rudder120is controlled by a steering actuator130connected with the controller100. In such an embodiment, the wireless remote control140has a steering control142and is adapted to send steering signals from the steering control142to the controller100to cause the controller to pivot the rudder120in accordance with the steering signals. The controller100may further include a rudder actuator driver135to power the steering actuator130. In some embodiments, the at least one electric motor40takes the form of a jet drive49(FIGS.6B and9B), and the pivotable rudder120takes the form of a steering nozzle46, as is known in the art. Such a jet drive49includes a water intake47and provides for the prop50being disposed internally within the jet drive49for safety. The steering nozzle46of such a jet drive49may be moveable for direct steering, or the controller100can modules power to the two electric motors43,44to effect steering of the tow device10, or both.

Preferably the controller100includes at least one accelerometer108and at least one orientation sensor109. In such an embodiment the controller100is adapted to slow the at least one electric motor40if the accelerometer108detects vertical position fluctuations of the towing device10of over a predetermined value. The controller100is further adapted to stop the at least one electric motor40if the at least one orientation sensor109detects that the towing device10has capsized.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the controller100further includes a location sensor143, such as a GPS module. Further, the wireless remote control140includes a rendezvous position set button or function144. A rendezvous position16(FIG.1) is saved in the volatile memory104of the controller100when the rendezvous position set button or function144is actuated. As such, if the rider20is towed into a wave, for example, and releases the tow rope115and commands the controller100to stop the at least one electric motor40, the controller100steers the towing device10back to the rendezvous position16utilizing the at least one electric motor40and its rudder120or steering nozzle46, at which point the at least one electric motor40is deactivated while the controller100awaits further commands from the wireless remote control140.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the wireless remote control140further includes a location sensor145, such as a GPS module, and a follow-me button or function146(FIG.7). When the follow-me button or function146is actuated, the wireless remote control140transmits the location of the wireless remote control140(and the rider20) to the controller100of the towing device10, whereupon the controller100of the towing device10uses the at least one electric motor40and the rudder120to maintain a predetermined safe distance, such as fifty feet for example, away from the wireless remote control140and the rider20.

The rider20may further provide the controller100with a preferred direction for the towing device10to maintain the safe distance, such as by actuating the follow-me button146twice to form a direction line160(FIG.3), the direction line160representing a direction away from the wireless remote control140for the towing device10to maintain while keeping away from the wireless remote control140by the safe distance. Optionally, the wireless remote control140may be used to indicate a surf line165that the towing device10does not cross unless directed to by the wireless remote control140. The surf line165may be defined by actuating the follow-me button146twice to form the direction line160, the surf line165being including the position of the second actuation of the follow-me button146and being tangential to the direction line160.

In embodiments of the invention that include the pivotable rudder120, preferably the wireless remote control140includes a rocker switch147wherein left and right movement of the rocker switch147results in left and right steering of the towing device10, respectively. The rocker switch147may also take the form of a joystick (not shown).

In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one additional wireless remote control150(FIG.10) is included for at least one additional rider (not shown). The controller100electrically attaches or pairs to one of the wireless remote controls140,150until a predetermined period of time has passed since a last command therefrom, such as thirty seconds for example. The controller100then engages the next wireless remote control150,140to send commands, whereby the rider20and the additional riders can alternate use of the towing device10in a common area of the body of water15. A sharing lock/enable switch149(FIG.8) may be included for locking the paring of the controller100to one of the wireless remote controls140,150, until such time as one of the riders20is no longer actively utilizing the towing device10, whereupon he can release the towing device10to another of the riders20by switching the sharing lock/enable switch149to an enable mode.

In use, the rider20grasps the handle119and uses the wireless remote control140to tow the rider20into a wave, or to another desired destination. Once the rider20releases the handle119and rides the wave, the towing device10navigates to the rendezvous location16, preferably by default. Alternately, the rider20uses the wireless remote control140to steer the towing device10back to the rider20so that the towing device10can tow the rider20back out beyond the surf line165, allowing the rider20to return to a desired location without having to paddle through breaking waves, for example. The towing device10, when the follow-me button146is engaged, may optionally navigate at the predetermined safe distance after the rider20releases the handle119, so that the towing device10is closer to the rider20when needed.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the container60may be integrated into the buoyant board30. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “Detailed Description.” While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.