Ships – Steering mechanism – Speed retarders
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-10-23
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Ships
Steering mechanism
Speed retarders
C114S055500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305307
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a braking system for applying braking force to a small jet propulsion surfboard when pulled by a traction rope.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some small surfboards are power-driven and jet-propelled as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 1-109499, entitled “Self-circling system for Surfboard”, which will be partially described with reference to FIGS.
10
(
a
) and
10
(
b
) of the accompanying drawings.
FIGS.
10
(
a
) and
10
(
b
) show an example of how power-driven surfboards operate. Referring to FIG.
10
(
a
), an engine is housed in a projecting part
151
at the rear part of a surfboard
150
. The engine is activated in order to cause jet propulsion. A rider
152
on the surfboard
150
holds a grip
155
at the upper end of a rope
154
with their left hand in order to balance and slide the surfboard
150
on the water. The rope
154
is provided with a resisting member
156
near the grip
155
.
As shown in FIG.
10
(
b
), when the rider
152
falls from the surfboard
150
into the water, the rope
154
also falls into the water, thereby allowing the resisting member
156
to open in the water, which applies braking force to the surfboard
150
, making the surfboard
150
turn in a direction shown by an arrow a. This prevents the surfboard
150
and the rider
152
from becoming separated.
There is a surfboard which is operated by jet propulsion and handled just like a motorcycle (such a boat is referred to as a “jet propulsion surfboard”). With the jet propulsion surfboard, the rider sits on a seat, grips opposite ends of a steering handlebar with both hands, advances the surfboard by operating an accelerator lever at the right end of the steering handlebar, and decelerates the surfboard or moves it backward by operating a lever at the left end of the steering handlebar. This jet propulsion surfboard is usually larger than the foregoing power-driven surfboard.
The jet propulsion surfboard may be able to efficiently decelerate or turn itself if it is provided with a component corresponding to the resisting member
156
of the cited reference No. Hei 1-109499 (hereinafter the component referred to as a “braking system”).
However, since a jet propulsion surfboard is usually larger than a power-driven surfboard, its braking system has to be large in order to allow efficient deceleration or turning, compared with the resisting member
156
of the power-driven surfboard
150
. The larger the braking system becomes, the more complicated it becomes in order to maintain the strength of the braking system. Therefore, installation of the braking system on the jet propulsion surfboard increases the number of components, weight and cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard Which is light-weight and cheaper to manufacture.
According to a first feature, there is provided a braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard, comprising: a braking unit retractably attached to a surfboard body; a locking unit for fixing the braking unit to the surfboard body; an unlocking unit for unlocking the locking part for the purpose of freeing the braking unit; and a traction rope for keeping the braking unit connected to the surfboard body. The braking unit in the water is pulled by the traction rope and applies braking force to the surfboard body.
The braking unit is freed from the surfboard body into the water, and is pulled by the traction rope in order to apply braking force to the surfboard. The braking unit can be made of a minimum number of components.
In accordance with a second feature, the braking unit includes a pair of sponsons attached to opposite sides of the surfboard body. The sponsons are short wings horizontally projecting from the surfboard body in order to stabilize the surfboard. When braking the surfboard, either the right or left sponson is unlocked from the surfboard body, and is pulled by the traction rope.
According to a third feature, the braking unit is a water-reversing cup attached to a nozzle for injecting water rearward from a bilge, and reversing injected water.
When braking the surfboard, either the right or left sponson is unlocked from the surfboard body, and is pulled by the traction rope. Alternatively, both sposons can be released to brake the surfboard while permitting it to continue to travel in a straight path.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1863944 (1932-06-01), Semmes
patent: 5813357 (1998-09-01), Watson
patent: 5970898 (1999-10-01), Pereira
patent: 5988091 (1999-11-01), Willis
patent: 6032605 (2000-03-01), Takashima
patent: 61-253296 (1986-11-01), None
patent: 1-109499 (1989-07-01), None
Avila Stephen
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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