Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6305307
-
Patent Number
6,305,307
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, March 29, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 23, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 114 145 R
- 114 145 A
- 114 555
- 114 123
- 114 311
- 440 38
- 440 40
- 440 41
- 440 42
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard can be manufactured at reduced costs. The braking system includes left and right sponsons retractably attached to a surfboard body. Left and right locking units fix the sponsons to the surfboard body. An unlocking unit unlocks the lock units in order to free the sponsons from the surfboard body. A traction rope ensures that the freed sponsons remain connected to the surfboard body. The freed sponsons are pulled by the traction rope to thereby apply braking force to the jet propulsion surfboard. In an alternative embodiment, a system with a water-reversing cup can replace the sponsons.
Description
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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a side elevation of a jet propulsion surfboard including a braking system according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a top, plan view of the braking system for the jet propulsion surfboard, according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3
is an enlarged view of the essential parts of the braking system according to the first embodiment of the invention;
FIG.
4
(
a
) is a plan view of a first operation of the braking system of the first embodiment;
FIG.
4
(
b
) is a side view of the first operation of the braking system according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 5
shows a second operation of the braking system according to the first embodiment of the surfboard of the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a side elevation of the braking system for the surfboard according to the second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7
is a top, plan view of the braking system of the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8
is a side view of the braking system of the second embodiment;
FIG. 9
shows the operation of the braking system of the second embodiment;
FIG.
10
(
a
) shows the operation of a power-driven surfboard of the background art; and
FIG.
10
(
b
) shows the background art surfboard with the rider having fallen off.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In
FIG. 1
, a side elevation of a jet propulsion surfboard
10
is shown. This surfboard has a braking system according to a first embodiment of the invention. The surfboard
10
includes an engine
15
installed substantially at the center of a surfboard body
11
and a jet propeller
20
for injecting water sucked via an opening
13
on a bilge
12
to the rear part of the surfboard body
11
in response to the operation of the engine
15
. A steering handlebar
25
for steering the surfboard body
11
, a braking system
30
and a seat
18
are also provided. The braking system
30
applies braking force to the jet propulsion surfboard
10
when a braking unit in the water is pulled by a traction rope.
The braking unit is unlocked from the surfboard body
11
into the water, and is pulled by the traction rope, thereby applying braking force to the jet propulsion surfboard
10
. The braking unit can be made of a minimum number of components, and manufactured at a reduced cost.
The jet propeller
20
has a housing
21
extending between the opening
13
on the bilge
12
and the rear part of the surfboard body
11
. The housing
21
has an impeller (not shown) rotatably housed therein, and a nozzle
22
arranged at the rear end thereof. The nozzle
22
is swingable in a turning direction of the surfboard
10
. When the engine
15
is activated to rotate the impeller, water is sucked via the opening
13
on the bilge
12
, is guided to the rear part of the surfboard body
11
, and is injected via the nozzle
22
to the rear part of the surfboard body
11
, thereby causing jet propulsion.
A steering handlebar
25
is operably installed substantially at the center of the surfboard body
11
. This handlebar
25
steers the surfboard
10
to the left or right when the left or right hand grip
26
or
27
is turned to the left or right. Both hand grips
26
,
27
are shown in FIG.
2
.
The braking system
30
includes left and right sponsons
31
and
32
retractably attached on left and right sides
1
la and
1
lb of the surfboard body
11
. Left and right locking units
50
and
51
for locking the sponsons
31
and
32
to the left and right sides
11
a
and
11
b
of the surfboard body
11
are also provided as a part of the braking system
30
. This braking system
30
also includes an unlocking unit
60
for unlocking the locking units
50
and
51
in order to free the sponsons
31
and
32
and a traction rope
80
(see
FIG. 3
) for maintaining the freed sponsons
31
and
32
connected to the surfboard body
11
. The sponsons
31
and
32
in the water are pulled by the traction rope
80
in order to brake the surfboard
10
. The sponsons
31
and
32
project from the left and right sides
11
a
and
11
b
in order to stabilize the surfboard
10
.
As described above, the sponsons
31
and
32
project from the left and right sides
11
a
and
11
b
of the surfboard body
11
, and can be easily freed from the surfboard body
11
. This means that the left and right locking units
50
and
51
can have a simple structure in order to retractably attach the sponsons
31
and
32
to the surfboard body
11
.
The sponsons
31
and
32
have the same structure, and the locking units
50
and
51
also have the same structure. Therefore, only the left sponson
31
and the left locking unit
50
will now be described hereinafter. The left sponson
31
will be detailed with reference to FIG.
3
.
In the left locking unit
50
, front and rear lock arms
52
and
53
are rotatably attached to the surfboard body
11
via front and rear pins
54
and
55
, and front ends
56
and
57
of the front and rear lock arms
52
and
53
are hooked with front and rear ends of the left sponson
31
. Therefore, the left sponson
31
is fixed to the left side
11
a
of the surfboard body
11
.
The unlocking unit
60
unlocks the left and right locking units
50
and
51
in order to free the left and right sponsons
31
and
32
. The unlocking unit
60
includes a braking button
61
attached to the steering handlebar
25
, an operating plate
62
attached on a rotary shaft
28
of the steering handlebar
25
and turn sensors
63
and
64
which come into contact with the operating plate
62
when the steering handlebar
25
is turned to the left or right for a predetermined extent. The unlocking unit also includes a controller
65
for producing an unlock signal in response to a turn signal from the turn sensor
63
or
64
and a braking signal from the braking button
61
. Left and right unlocking parts
70
and
71
for unlocking the left or right locking part
50
or
51
in response to the unlock signal from the controller
65
are also provided in the unlocking unit
60
.
Since the left and right unlocking parts
70
and
71
are identical, only the left unlocking part
70
will now be described hereinafter. The left unlocking part
70
generates oil pressure in an oil pressure generator
73
in response to the unlock signal from the controller
65
. The generated oil pressure turns a hydraulic motor
74
by a predetermined angle as shown by arrows. Rotating force of the hydraulic motor
74
is transmitted to a rotary lever
75
, front and rear rods
76
and
77
, and front and rear lock arms
52
and
53
(of the left locking unit
50
), so that the front and rear lock arms
52
and
53
are opened to free the left sponson
31
from the left side I
1
a of the surfboard body
11
.
When the braking button
61
is pressed with the steering handlebar
25
turned to the left, the left sponson
31
will be unlocked from the left side
11
a
of the surfboard body
11
. Conversely, when the braking button
61
is pressed with the handlebar
25
turned to the right, the right sponson
32
will be unlocked from the right side
11
b
of the surfboard body
11
. Therefore, if either the left or right sponson
31
or
32
is unlocked, the jet propulsion surfboard
10
will be turned to the left or right.
On the other hand, if the braking button
61
is pressed during non-turning of the steering handlebar
25
, both of the left and right sponsons
31
and
32
will be simultaneously unlocked from the left and right sides
11
a
and
11
b
of the surfboard body
11
, which enables the surfboard
10
to be braked when moving in a straight line.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the sponson
31
includes a sponson body
33
that is substantially in the shape of a boat, and is provided with front and rear recesses or dents
34
a
and
35
a
to which the front and rear lock arms
52
and
53
are hooked. These recesses
34
a
and
35
a
are positioned at the front and rear ends
34
and
35
of the sponson body
33
. Inner and outer openable plates
38
and
39
are movably attached to the rear end
35
of the sponson body
33
via inner and outer pins
36
and
37
. Torsion springs
40
and
41
for opening the plates
38
and
38
are housed in the inner and outer pins
36
and
37
. Inner and outer lock pins
42
and
43
for locking the plates
38
and
39
at a closed position are fitted into inner and outer openings
44
and
45
of the left sponson
31
. The lock pins
42
and
43
are tied to the surfboard body
11
using inner and outer ropes
46
and
47
.
A traction rope
80
includes a tip
81
which comes out of the surfboard body
11
and is tied to the front end
34
of the sponson body
33
via a pin
82
. A stop
84
and a compression spring
85
at its base end
83
. When the left sponson
31
is unlocked from the surfboard body
11
, the compression spring
85
is brought into contact with a block
86
of the surfboard body
11
in order to prevent the traction rope
80
from being disconnected from the surfboard body
11
. A pulley
87
is provided for guiding the traction rope
80
. Seals
88
a
to
88
d
are also provided.
When the left sponson
31
is freed from the surfboard body
11
, the inner and outer lock pins
42
and
43
come out of the inner and outer openings
44
and
45
, and the plates
38
and
39
are opened by force of the inner and outer springs
40
and
41
, and stopped when they come into contact with the stops
48
and
49
. Therefore, the plates
38
and
39
are opened to the positions shown by phantom lines.
Referring now to FIG.
4
(
a
), when the steering handlebar
25
is turned to the left as shown by an arrow (
1
), the operation plate
62
is turned as shown by an arrow and comes into contact with the left turn sensor
63
. A turn signal is then transmitted to the controller
65
. At the same time, the braking button
61
is pressed in order to transmit a braking signal to the control unit
65
.
The control unit
65
provides the oil pressure generator
73
with an unlock signal. Oil pressure generated by the oil pressure generator
73
turns the hydraulic motor
74
by a predetermined angle, thereby turning the rotary lever
75
as shown by arrows (
2
).
Referring to FIG.
4
(
b
), rotational force of the rotary lever
75
is transmitted to the front and rear rods
76
and
77
, and front and rear lock arms
52
and
53
(of the left locking unit
50
), thereby pivoting the front and rear lock arms
52
and
53
on the front and rear pins
54
and
55
as shown by arrows (
3
) and (
4
). Then, the left sponson
31
is unlocked from the left side
11
a
of the surfboard body
11
.
Thereafter, the traction rope
80
is pulled by the left sponson
31
unlocked from the surfboard body
11
as shown by an arrow (
5
). Then, the inner and outer lock pins
42
and
43
come out of the inner and outer openings
44
and
45
(shown in
FIG. 3
) of the left sponson
31
, so that the inner and outer plates
38
and
39
will be opened as shown by arrows (
6
).
As shown in
FIG. 5
, the left sponson
31
in the water
89
is pulled by the traction rope
80
, and applies braking force to the left side of the jet propulsion surfboard
10
. As a result, the surfboard
10
turns to the left as shown by an arrow (
7
).
Next, the invention will be described with reference to a second embodiment of FIG.
6
. Like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference numerals, and will not be described in detail.
The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except that a small jet propulsion surfboard
90
is provided with a braking system
91
in place of the braking system
30
of the first embodiment.
The braking system
91
of the second embodiment shown in
FIG. 7
includes a water-reversing cup
92
attached to a nozzle
22
of the jet propulsion surfboard
90
. A locking unit
100
for attaching the water-reversing cup
92
to the nozzle
22
is also provided. An unlocking unit
105
for unlocking the locking unit
100
in order to free the cup
92
from the surfboard body
11
and left and right traction ropes
110
and
111
for keeping the freed cup
92
connected to the surfboard body
11
are also provided. The cup
92
is pulled by the traction ropes
110
and
111
so as to brake the jet propulsion surfboard
90
.
Specifically, the braking system
91
has the water-reversing cup
92
retractably attached to the surfboard body
11
in place of the left and right sponsons of the first embodiment. The cup
92
is provided on the surfboard
90
, and is made of a reduced number of components, which is effective in reducing weight and cost of the braking system.
The water-reversing cup
92
will now be described in more detailed with reference to FIG.
8
. The nozzle
22
for injecting water rearward is exposed on the outer surface of the surfboard body
11
. Therefore, the cup
82
is retractably attached to the nozzle
22
using the locking unit
100
having a simple structure, and can be easily freed from the nozzle
22
. The lock unit
100
swingably attaches the water-reversing cup
92
to the nozzle
22
using pins lOla and
102
a projecting from left and right attaching parts
101
and
102
. The unlocking unit
105
unlocks the lock unit
100
in order to free the water-reversing cup
92
from the surfboard body
11
, and includes a braking button
106
coupled to the steering handlebar
25
, and a control unit
108
for issuing an unlock signal in response to a braking signal from the braking button
106
.
The left traction rope
110
is wound around a left winch
114
and has its tip
110
a
connected to a left pin
112
of the water-reversing cup
92
. The right traction rope
111
is wound around a right winch
116
and has its tip
111
a
connected to a right pin
113
. When the water-reversing cup
92
is freed from the nozzle
22
, the traction ropes
110
and
111
are unreeled from the winches
114
and
116
, thereby pulling the water-reversing cup
92
.
As seen in
FIG. 8
, the water-reversing cup
92
faces an outlet of the nozzle
22
and will therefore reverse a direction of injected water in order to move the jet propulsion surfboard backward or decelerate it. The reversing cup
92
is retractably attached using the lock pins
101
a
and
102
a
of the left and right lock units
101
and
102
(only the pin
101
a
is shown in FIG.
8
).
The water-reversing cup
92
is attached at its upper end to an operation plate
95
using an angle iron
93
(also shown in
FIG. 7
) fitted in a recess
96
of the operation plate
95
, so that the water-reversing cup
92
is swingable as an integral part of the operation plate
95
. Therefore, when a rod
98
is pushed in the direction of an arrow (
8
), the operation plate
95
swings on the pins
101
a
and
102
a
of the left and right attaching parts
101
and
102
, thereby enabling the water-reversing cup
92
to face the outlet
22
a
of the nozzle
22
. The water-reversing cup
92
is freed from the nozzle
22
and the operation plate
95
as the pins
101
a
and
102
a
retreat. In
FIG. 8
, reference numeral
99
denotes a return spring.
The operation of the braking system for the surfboard (in the second embodiment) will now be described. Referring to
FIG. 7
, when pushed on the steering handlebar
25
, the braking button
25
provides a braking signal to the control unit
108
, which sends an unlocking signal to the lock unit
100
. Then, the pins
101
a
and
102
a
of the attaching parts
101
and
102
retreat, freeing the water-reversing cup
92
from the nozzle
22
and the operation plate
95
, and letting it fall into the water.
Braking force is applied to the jet propulsion surfboard
90
when the water-reversing cup
92
in the water is pulled by the traction ropes
110
and
111
as indicated in FIG.
9
.
In the foregoing embodiments, the braking buttons
61
and
106
are provided on the steering handlebar
25
. Alternatively, a braking lever or pedal may be used, for example.
The foregoing braking systems are effective in the following respects. The braking unit attached to the surfboard body is freed therefrom, and is pulled by the traction ropes in order to apply braking force to the surfboard. The braking system is composed of a minimum number of components, is light in weight, and is manufactured at a reduced cost.
Also, the braking unit includes the left and right sponsons, which are retractably attached to the surfboard body using relatively simple lock units. The sponsons project from the surfboard body. This structure is effective in reducing the manufacturing cost of the braking system. When either the left or right sponson is freed, the surfboard can be turned to the left or right.
Additionally, the braking system of the present invention includes the water injecting nozzle and the water-reversing cup which are attached on the outer surface of the surfboard body. The water-reversing cup can be easily freed from the surfboard body. The locking unit for retractably attaching the water-reversing cup to the nozzle has a relatively simple structure, which enables the manufacturing cost of the braking system to be reduced.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard, comprising:a braking unit retractably attached on a surfboard body, the braking unit includes a pair of sponsons attached to opposite sides of the surfboard body; a locking unit for fixing the braking unit to the surfboard body; an unlocking unit for unlocking the locking unit for freeing the braking unit; and a traction rope for keeping the freed braking unit connected to the surfboard body, wherein the braking unit is pulled by the traction rope and applies braking force to the surfboard, the traction rope includes at least one traction rope and wherein each of the sponsons are tethered to the surfboard body by the at least one traction rope.
- 2. The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the traction rope is movable within the surfboard body when at least one of the sponsons is unlocked by the unlocking unit such that a released sponson moves away from the surfboard body while pulling the traction rope and wherein the braking system further includes a block within the surfboard body for stopping movement of the traction rope and for keeping the traction rope and sponson connected with the surfboard body.
- 3. The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sponson has at least one pivotable plate which moves to an open position when the unlocking unit unlocks the braking unit.
- 4. The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the locking unit includes a pair of lock arms for the braking unit, the pair of lock arms being movable in opposed directions to release the braking unit during unlocking.
- 5. The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the braking unit further includes a braking button on the surfboard body, at least one turn sensor and a controller, the controller receives a signal from at least one of the braking button and the at least one turn sensor in order to unlock the locking unit.
- 6. The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the surfboard body travels in a travel direction prior to braking and wherein the braking unit turns the surfboard in one of a left direction, a right direction or a straight direction upon being unlocked by the locking unit and being freed from the surfboard body, the right, left and straight directions being relative to the travel direction.
- 7. A braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard, comprising:a braking unit retractably attached on a surfboard body, the braking unit includes at least one sponson, the sponson having at least one pivotable plate which moves to an open position when the unlocking unit unlocks the braking unit; a locking unit for fixing the braking unit to the surfboard body; an unlocking unit for unlocking the locking unit for freeing the braking unit; a traction rope for keeping the freed braking unit connected to the surfboard body, wherein the braking unit is pulled by the traction rope and applies braking force to the surfboard; and a pair of plates are provided for the at least one sponson, the plates being movable away from one another when moving to the open position, the plates being held in a closed position when the at least one sponson is locked on the surfboard body.
- 8. The braking system according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of lock pins for holding the plates in the closed position, the plates being removed from the lock pins when the locking unit unlocks the at least one sponson and the at least one sponson moves away from the surfboard body.
- 9. The braking system according to claim 7, wherein the locking unit includes a pair of lock arms for the braking unit, the pair of lock arms being movable in opposed directions to release the braking unit during unlocking.
- 10. The braking system according to claim 7, wherein the braking unit further includes a braking button on the surfboard body, at least one turn sensor and a controller, the controller receives a signal from at least one of the braking button and the at least one turn sensor in order to unlock the locking unit.
- 11. The braking system according to claim 7, wherein the surfboard body travels in a travel direction prior to braking and wherein the braking unit turns the surfboard in one of a left direction, a right direction or a straight direction upon being unlocked by the locking unit and being freed from the surfboard body, the right, left and straight directions being relative to the travel direction.
- 12. A braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard, comprising:a braking unit retractably attached on a surfboard body, the braking unit includes a pair of sponsons, each of the pair of sponsons having a pair of locking arms and one of the pair of locking arms being independently movable relative to another of the pair of locking arms in opposed directions to release the braking unit during unlocking; a locking unit for fixing the braking unit to the surfboard body; an unlocking unit for unlocking the locking unit for freeing the braking unit; and a traction rope for keeping the freed braking unit connected to the surfboard body, wherein the braking unit is pulled by the traction rope and applies braking force to the surfboard.
- 13. The braking system according to claim 12, wherein the traction rope includes at least one traction rope and wherein each of the sponsons are tethered to the surfboard body by the at least one traction rope.
- 14. The braking system according to claim 12, wherein the traction rope is movable within the surfboard body when at least one of the sponsons is unlocked by the unlocking unit such that a released sponson moves away from the surfboard body while pulling the traction rope and wherein the braking system further includes a block within the surfboard body for stopping movement of the traction rope and for keeping the traction rope and sponson connected with the surfboard body.
- 15. The braking system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the sponsons has at least one pivotable plate which moves to an open position when the unlocking unit unlocks the braking unit.
- 16. The braking system according to claim 12, wherein the braking unit further includes a braking button on the surfboard body, at least one turn sensor and a controller, the controller receives a signal from at least one of the braking button and the at least one turn sensor in order to unlock the locking unit.
- 17. The braking system according to claim 12, wherein the surfboard body travels in a travel direction prior to braking and wherein the braking unit turns the surfboard in one of a left direction, a right direction or a straight direction upon being unlocked by the locking unit and being freed from the surfboard body, the right, left and straight directions being relative to the travel direction.
- 18. A braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard, comprising:a braking unit retractably attached on a surfboard body, the braking unit includes a braking button on the surfboard body, at least one turn sensor and a controller; a locking unit for fixing the braking unit to the surfboard body; an unlocking unit for unlocking the locking unit for freeing the braking unit; and a traction rope for keeping the freed braking unit connected to the surfboard body, wherein the braking unit is pulled by the traction rope and applies braking force to the surfboard, wherein the controller receives a signal from at least one of the braking button and the at least one turn sensor in order to unlock the locking unit and the at least one turn sensor includes a left and right turn sensor and wherein the braking unit includes a right and left sponson, the controller releases the left sponson in response to at least a signal from the left turn sensor, the controller releases the right sponson in response to at least a signal from the right turn sensor and the controller releases both sponsons upon receipt of a signal from the braking button and lack of receipt of a signal from the left and right turn sensor.
- 19. The braking system according to claim 18, wherein the traction rope is movable within the surfboard body when at least one of the sponsons is unlocked by the unlocking unit such that a released sponson moves away from the surfboard body while pulling the traction rope and wherein the braking system further includes a block within the surfboard body for stopping movement of the traction rope and for keeping the traction rope and sponson connected with the surfboard body.
- 20. The braking system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the sponsons has at least one pivotable plate which moves to an open position when the unlocking unit unlocks the braking unit.
- 21. The braking system according to claim 18, wherein the locking unit includes a pair of lock arms for the braking unit, the pair of lock arms being movable in opposed directions to release the braking unit during unlocking.
- 22. The braking system according to claim 18, wherein the surfboard body travels in a travel direction prior to braking and wherein the braking unit turns the surfboard in one of a left direction, a right direction or a straight direction upon being unlocked by the locking unit and being freed from the surfboard body, the right, left and straight directions being relative to the travel direction.
- 23. A braking system for a small jet propulsion surfboard, comprising:a braking unit retractably attached on a surfboard body, the braking unit includes a water-reversing cup which is attached to a nozzle for injecting water rearward from a bilge and reverses injected water; a locking unit for fixing the braking unit to the surfboard body; an unlocking unit for unlocking the locking unit for freeing the braking unit; and a traction rope for keeping the freed braking unit connected to the surfboard body, wherein the braking unit is pulled by the traction rope and applies braking force to the surfboard, the traction rope includes a pair of traction ropes attached to the water-reversing cup and wherein the braking system further comprises a pair of winches connected to respective traction ropes.
- 24. The braking system according to claim 23, wherein the locking unit includes a pair of pins adjacent an outlet nozzle of the surfboard body, the water-reversing cup being detachably mounted to the surfboard body by the pair of pins.
- 25. The braking system according to claim 23, wherein the unlocking unit includes a braking button and a control unit.
Priority Claims (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
| 11-087270 |
Mar 1999 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 61-253296 |
Nov 1986 |
JP |
| 1-109499 |
Jul 1989 |
JP |
