Patent Application
20180257773
The present invention relates to devices and systems, referred to herein as airboards and airboarding systems, which can be used to ride on air.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,792 describes a tow glider with a wing positioned above a rectangular load support and a tow connector for attachment to a tow cable. This configuration is essentially a four wheeled cart attached to a wing intended for carrying cargo. U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,275 describes an aquatic glider with a broad under surface and floats that can be towed over the surface of water by a boat until reaching a speed sufficient for glider to become airborne. The aqua glider is configured for a person to stand on the glider and glide behind a towing watercraft close to the water's surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,345 describes a “skyboard” which combines a specially designed surfboard and a parachute that is intended to allow a rider to ride the air currents of the sky. The skyboard has the general shape of a surfboard and is modified to include pairs of front and rear wings on its lateral sides. The skyboard is configured for a rider to stand on the board and maneuver it with his feet as one would manoeuvre a surfboard to cause the fins on the underside of the skyboard to catch and channel the air flow and provide lift.
As commonly practiced, skydiving and wingsuit diving are necessarily experiences of relatively short duration limited by the vertical distance between the starting and ending points. Skydiving simulation facilities have been developed to achieve longer flight duration in enclosed, controlled environments providing a vertical windstream that mimics the experience of falling through the air. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,110 describes a vertical wind tunnel amusement device with a flight chamber in which a user may experience a simulated freefall through the atmosphere in relative safety. Fans above the flight chamber are connected through a duct provide airflow supporting the user in a vertical column of upwardly moving air. U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,744 describes a vertical wind tunnel flight simulator with many duct segments having diverging walls to reduce the height required for the flight simulator. These types of facilities are limited to vertical airflow and not used suitable for simulating flight involving lifting components such as wings for horizontal or non-falling flight simulation.
U.S. 2015/0266573 A1 describes a system for airboarding behind an aircraft that allows a rider to perform stunts behind an aircraft. The system comprises a lifting board, a handle, a tow rope that connects to the lifting board and the handle, and safety features specific to flying at altitude. The '573 system provides a flying experience that may be more intense, expensive, or time consuming than is desired by some people. Flying a tow-behind flying board requires significant training and physical ability and requires a powered aircraft as well as acceptable weather conditions. The present invention overcomes these limitations with a system for tethered airboarding that does not require an aircraft and provides a wide variety of flying experiences in an environment that need not be limited by weather or extensive preparatory training and physical ability.
The present invention provides a rider (or operator or pilot) the unique experience of free flight on a flying board with a maneuverability similar to that of a wakeboard. Simulated free flight may be achieved by tethering the board to a wind generation device or to a fixed point in a natural wind stream. The invention provides for wind generation and tethering systems, including closed-circuit wind tunnels, open-circuit wind tunnels, and fan assemblies specifically for tethered wing board flight. When conducting simulated flight operations, a source of wind stream is provided allowing the rider to experience flight speeds while remain fixed relative to the ground.
The Invention also provides improvements to known lifting boards and airboarding systems that allow a rider to be towed behind a vehicle in a position that allows the rider maneuverability of the craft by means of body position and weight shift.
The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, with emphasis placed instead upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which:
The term “tow line” is used herein to refer to tow line and also as a generic term encompassing a tow line and a tether line. “Tow line” when used in the context of a tethered system is understood to refer to a tether line since towing is not involved in a tethered system.
The lifting board comprises a universal binding connector (16) that may be used to affix different rider attachments with different configurations allowing different rider attitudes for any given board configuration. This allows the same lifting board to be used for a variety of rider attachment configurations, and makes such attachment configurations easily interchangeable. As shown in
The rider may be affixed to the board via a means appropriate to the individual board specifications as determined, for example, by both board configuration and rider attachment configuration. Several examples are depicted in
All embodiments of the lifting board, regardless of board configuration, are scalable to meet the needs of a particular rider's size, physique, and/or ability level. Additionally, the size, shape, and configuration of the lifting board may optimized for different flight regimes and maneuverability. For example, smaller lifting boards may be used for higher speed flight or smaller riders. Larger lifting boards may be employed for heavier riders or slower flight. The board shape and configuration may also be modified to allow for different levels of maneuverability, with larger, more stable lifting boards being better suited for use by novices and smaller, less stable lifting boards being better suited for use by advanced riders.
A system for flying the lifting board behind a towing aircraft or flying the lifting board while tethered in a stream of moving air comprises a control bar (11), an example of which is shown in
A method for flying a lifting board according to the invention involves controlling flight through the shifting of body weight and changing the position of the body on the lifting board. A primary means of controlling flight is by body position. For instance, the rider may lean left or right for roll control and rotate the upper torso left or right for yaw control. The rider may also change the pitch angle of the board by a combination of leaning forward and/or backward and pulling in and/or extending out his or her arms and gripping the control bar. For additional control or to accommodate riders with physical limitations, control actuation may be employed in addition to or as an alternative to certain body movements. The controls may be manipulated by force and/or rotation sensors mounted on the body or in the board. One such example is a force/load sensor mounted in a binding that senses the side-to-side lean of the rider and actuates roll control devices. Control input may also be employed by the rider by means of control input device or devices such as sensors or buttons on the control bar. One such method for roll input may be by means of rotational grips on the control bar (21) that actuate the control surfaces (
The lifting board may be used for flight behind a towing aircraft or for flight while tethered in a stream of moving air similar to that produced by a wind tunnel. For flight behind a towing aircraft, the lifting board preferably comprises landing gear (37) with wheels (38) as shown in
A number of passive and active means may be used to provide stable flight for the rider of a lifting board when towed or tethered. Passive means, include the aerodynamic design of the board, which provides the primary means of stabilizing flight. The lifting board may be designed such that it remains pointed into the wind on a stable flight path, even in the absence of input by the rider. The aerodynamics also take into account the forces imparted on the board by the main tow line or tether line in order to eliminate any unstable oscillations caused by interactions between the tow line interactions and the lifting board. Tow line geometry may contribute to flight stability or instability depending on the method by which the main tow line(s) are attached to the lifting board and/or the rider. The kinematics of the tow line-board-rider system determine one or more tow line attachment points that automatically stabilize the lifting board as well as limit the lifting board's ability to reach unstable flight regimes. These attachment points can be adjusted based on rider size and ability level to achieve the desired level of stability, limit the pitch angle of the board, and/or keep the board within a desired flight envelope.
The main tow line (71) may comprise a split-rope towline system. For example, a Y-shaped attachment system may be used, wherein the top (74) and bottom (75) rope lengths are varied to adjust the effective tow or tether force location (76) relative to the rider-board system center of mass (73) and center of drag (72). Shortening the top line going to the rider results in more force being placed on the top line and thus the effective center of tow/tether force being higher on the system. By lengthening the top line, more force is placed on the tow line going to the board, effectively lowering the location upon which the tow forces are exerted on the system. By placing the effective tow location high above the drag center (72), the drag forces force the system to tend toward pitching down, resulting in stable pitch flight (
For embodiments having a single tow line attached to the lifting board, such as those shown in
In addition to providing self-stabilization with no rider input, the tow/tether line configurations can minimize external forces acting on the rider, thus easing the physical burdens on the rider and enabling riders to relax into a more natural position for any given rider attachment configuration.
Active stability may be provided to enable easier control as well as help ensure stable flight, particularly for novice riders. Stability may be computer controlled to maintain specific flight angles and rotation rates based on input from the rider and/or external observer(s). Control inputs may be provided by devices such as gyros, flow control devices, and control surfaces. For embodiments tethered within a stream of air, the controls may be used to limit the flight movements of the lifting board to a specific volume. Particularly, when flown within a facility with a limited windstream, the active controls may restrict the left/right and/or up/down extents of the flight area, keeping the rider within the wind stream. For the embodiment shown in
The lifting board may be used for and/or adapted for flight within and/or around a wind-generating device such as a wind tunnel or fan that produces wind having primarily a horizontal component. A system comprising a lifting board and wind generating device may comprise one or more tethering locations to which the main towline (tether line) may be affixed. For instance, a fixed main tow line may be mounted to the wind generating facility or the ground and/or floor of the structure. Where an adjustable main tow line is required, adjustability may be achieved using any of a number of methods, including a single rope or a fixed structure that has an attachment point that can be moved vertically via motor and/or pulley system; multiple adjustable ropes under tension that allow the attachment point to be moved vertically and/or horizontally; and/or a gantry system that moves a support vertically and/or horizontally across a wind tunnel, whereby a track moves a carriage along one axis while the attachment point may be moved along another axis. This list is not all-inclusive, as any means of tethering may be employed as required. If a wind generating means mounted to a vehicle is used to provide the airflow required for flight, the lifting board may be tethered to the vehicle directly or to structures attached to or projecting from the vehicle.
When conducting flight in a wind-generation device, various safety mechanisms may be used to maintain the rider within the wind stream and permit facility and/or equipment operator(s) to restrain board motion for training purposes, to provide additional stability, and/or to prevent injury in the event that the rider loses control. The safety features may comprise a series of safety harness lines, for example, as shown in
It is preferable that the safety tether configuration permit the rider free range of motion vertically and horizontally. This may be accomplished by using slack line(s) to provide rider freedom of motion that can be tensioned to restrict motion where and when required. One or more slack lines may be provided via an inertial brake reel, whereby fast acceleration causes the brake to lock and prevent the rider from falling. This system may be automated to maintain a minimum amount of slack during flight. A facility and/or equipment operator and/or observer may use the primary safety harness line(s) to pull the rider out of the wind stream vertically as needed or desired. Where an adjustable and/or moveable tether is required or desired, adjustability may be achieved any of a number of methods, including a single rope or a fixed structure that has an attachment point that can be moved, for example using a passive track system (83), whereby a track moves the carriage (88) along one axis (A1) while the attachment point may be moved along the other axis (A2). A relatively small amount of tension on the line permits the safety tethers to move and track the rider's movements. For more advanced configurations, a motorized system may move the attachment points in coordination with the location of the board and rider. Slack may be allowed on the tethers at all times to maintain free flight until actuated. The tethered lifting board flight system may comprise individual attachments that are moved independently or may be fixed to a moving frame (84) and/or platform (85) that follows the rider, maintaining the attachments in fixed geometry to each other but mobile relative to the facility.
The tethered lifting board flight system may comprise a bottom safety tether (86), which may be connected to the board to limit its upward vertical movement. The bottom tether's primary configuration may be a slack line that is loose to provide the rider free range of motion until a pre-defined height from the ground or floor is reached, at which point the tether goes taut and provides a small nose-down pitch correction to maintain the rider within the wind stream. In case of emergency, this tether can be used to pull the board immediately to the ground and fix it in place to prevent further flight. The bottom safety tether (86) may be attached to the ground or floor of the structure and/or facility. Where an adjustable and/or moveable tether is required or desired to permit additional maneuverability and/or to allow for more rapid engagement, adjustability may be achieved, for example, by including a single rope or a fixed structure that has an attachment point that can be moved, for example, via a passive track system whereby a track (87) moves the carriage (89). In such a case, a small amount of tension on the line permits the safety tethers to move and track the rider's movements. For more advanced configurations, a motorized system moves the attachment points in coordination with the location of the board and rider. Slack may be allowed on the tethers at all times, unless actuated, to maintain free flight. The system may comprise individual attachments that are moved independently and/or attachments fixed to a moving frame or platform that follows the rider and maintains the attachments in fixed geometry relative to each other but mobile relative to the facility.
The main tow line attachment system may be configured to accommodate a dual-board system (
To further enhance an in-flight environment or otherwise enrich the rider experience, a tethered flight system according to the invention may comprise Virtual Reality (VR) and/or Augmented Reality (AR) devices. For example, the rider may wear a helmet or similar device containing the virtual and/or augmented reality technologies to receive audio and/or visual inputs. Visual inputs may also be projected onto the surfaces of the wind tunnel or surrounding structure. In addition to simulating real-flight conditions, such audio-visual inputs may also provide simple simulations or interactive arcade-type simulations, providing a game-like experience. The VR and/or AR devices may be wireless or tethered (wired). For wireless embodiments, the associated processing computer can be located remotely from the rider and/or lifting board. Visualization can be transmitted wirelessly to a system worn by the rider, or integrated into a helmet or similar device. For tethered embodiments, a tether feeds the audio-visual inputs from an independent processor to the rider via a single wire or network of wires. For onboard embodiments, the computing system may be maintained either in the lifting board or as part of the VR and/or AR display with inputs from an associated onboard computer relayed either wirelessly or via a wire or network of wires. The position of the lifting board and/or rider may be tracked by integrated sensor technology to allow the VR and/or AR visuals to match the rider's actual position within the facility.
To allow the rider to effectively communicate in real-time with instructors, facility and/or equipment operators, and/or other persons in or around the facility or vehicle, in-helmet and/or in-suit communications devices and/or systems may be used. Such communication devices and/or systems may include, but are not limited to, microphones, headsets for verbal communication, cameras, and/or displays. Helmet mounted cameras may feed images to facility/equipment operators/observers. Displays visible to the rider, operators, and/or observers may show wind tunnel dashboard information to relay statistics useful to the rider and/or biometrics such as rider heart rate, temperature, and/or respiration rate. Power and transmission equipment may be packaged within the devices themselves or may be packaged onboard the board and connected and/or made available to the rider via a wire or network of wires.
Many variations and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments of lifting boards, towed and tethered flight systems, and methods described above without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. For example, wind for flying the lifting board may be provided by tethering the lifting board to a moving vehicle. Such a modification, however, introduces additional safety concerns and lacks advantages of a tethered system over a towed system.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62469627 | Mar 2017 | US |
