Supplementary propulsion backpack and methods of use

Abstract

The present invention provides a supplementary propulsion apparatus for imparting thrust to a person and a method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus. According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises: a supporting shell; a harness in communication with the supporting shell for attaching the apparatus to a person; an engine fixedly attached to the supporting shell; a control device in operative communication with engine; and a propulsion system with at least one fan having a diameter less than fourteen (14) inches operatively connected to the engine.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus for imparting thrust to a person, said apparatus comprising: 
 a supporting shell;    a harness in communication with said supporting shell for attaching the apparatus to said person;    an engine fixedly attached to said supporting shell;    a control device in operative communication with said engine; and    a propulsion system operatively connected to said engine, wherein said propulsion system is comprised of at least one fan with a diameter less than 14 inches.    
     
     
         2 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said harness is in communication with the upper back portion of said person and imparts thrust to the upper back portion of said person.  
     
     
         3 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a starter motor fixedly attached to said supporting shell and in operative communication with said engine.  
     
     
         4 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said supporting shell is a carbon kevlar shell, kevlar shell or plastic shell.  
     
     
         5 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said engine is selected from the group consisting of fuel cell powered engine, kinetic powered engine, human powered, solar powered, combustion engine, gasoline, propane, methane, nitro-methane, alcohol, natural gas and hydrogen or any combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of at least one variable pitched ducted fan with a diameter less than fourteen inches.  
     
     
         7 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of at least one static pitch ducted fan with a diameter less than fourteen inches.  
     
     
         8 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of at least one microturbine.  
     
     
         9 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said harness is selected from the group consisting of a harness, belt, vest, embedded article of clothing and backpack.  
     
     
         10 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said control device may be adapted to be removably attached to the handlebars of a human transporter.  
     
     
         11 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said control device may be adapted to be fixedly attached to a portion of a human transporter.  
     
     
         12 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said control device is a handheld remote control.  
     
     
         13 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said control device is integrated into said harness.  
     
     
         14 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said shell is aerodynamically shaped so as to provide a reduced drag coefficient.  
     
     
         15 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of two variable pitched ducted fans with diameters less than eight inches, wherein each said variable ducted fan is in operative communication with said engine.  
     
     
         16 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a first winged extension in fixed communication with said shell and a first said variable pitched ducted fans and a second winged extension in fixed communication with said shell and a second said variable pitched ducted fan.  
     
     
         17 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment means in communication with said propulsion system for adjusting the position of said propulsion system relative to said person.  
     
     
         18 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus for imparting thrust to a person, said thrust being transmitted to said person, said apparatus comprising: 
 a supporting shell;    a harness in communication with said supporting shell for attaching the apparatus to the upper back of said person;    an engine fixedly attached to said supporting shell;    a starter motor fixedly attached to said supporting shell and in operative communication with said engine;    a control device in operative communication with said engine and said starter motor; and    a propulsion system operatively connected to said engine, wherein said propulsion system is comprised of a first fan having a diameter less than ten inches and a second fan having a diameter less than ten inches.    
     
     
         19 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said harness is in communication with said upper back portion of said person and imparts thrust to the upper back portion of said person.  
     
     
         20 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a first winged attachment for attaching said first fan to said supporting shell; and    a second winged attachment for attaching said second fan to said supporting shell.    
     
     
         21 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said engine is selected from the group consisting of fuel cell powered engine, kinetic powered engine, human powered, solar powered, combustion engine, gasoline, propane, methane, nitro-methane, alcohol, natural gas or hydrogen.  
     
     
         22 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said first fan and said second fan are variable pitched or static pitch fans.  
     
     
         23 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said harness is selected from the group consisting of a belt, vest, and backpack.  
     
     
         24 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said control device may be adapted to be removably attached to the handlebars of a human transporter.  
     
     
         25 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said control device may be adapted to be fixedly attached to a portion of a human transporter.  
     
     
         26 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said control device is a handheld remote control.  
     
     
         27 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said control device is integrated into said harness.  
     
     
         28 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , wherein said shell is aerodynamically shaped so as to provide a reduced drag coefficient.  
     
     
         29 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , further comprising a first winged extension in fixed communication with said shell and said first fan and a second winged extension in fixed communication with said shell and said second fan.  
     
     
         30 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 18 , further comprising an adjustment means in communication with said propulsion system for adjusting the position of said propulsion system relative to said person  
     
     
         31 . A supplementary propulsion backpack apparatus to be used in conjunction with a human transportation vehicle to impart thrust to a person, said apparatus comprising: 
 a supporting shell;    a harness in communication with said supporting shell for attaching the apparatus to the upper back of said person;    an engine fixedly attached to said supporting shell;    a control device in operative communication with said engine, said control device being operatively attached to the grip of said human transportation vehicle; and    a propulsion system operatively connected to said engine, wherein said propulsion system is comprised of a first fan having a diameter less than 11 eleven inches and a second fan having a diameter less than 11 inches.    
     
     
         32 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said control device is integrated into a joystick of said human transportation vehicle.  
     
     
         33 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said control device is integrated into the control loop of said human transportation vehicles, so as to activate the propulsion means when said human transportation vehicle reaches a predetermined speed.  
     
     
         34 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said control device is integrated into the control loop of said human transportation vehicle and deactivates the propulsion means when said human transportation vehicle is traveling in a backwards direction.  
     
     
         35 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said control device is a handheld remote control.  
     
     
         36 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said control device is integrated into said harness.  
     
     
         37 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said propulsion means is controlled by a leaning means on said human transportation vehicle and activated according to the leaning of the subject.  
     
     
         38 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said harness is in communication with said upper back portion of said person and imparts thrust to the upper back portion of said person.  
     
     
         39 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , further comprising a starter motor fixedly attached to said supporting shell and in operative communication with said engine.  
     
     
         40 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said supporting shell is selected from the group consisting of Carbon kevlar, kevlar, plastic or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         41 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said engine is selected from the group consisting of fuel cell powered engine, kinetic powered engine, human powered, solar powered, combustion engine, gasoline, propane, methane, nitro-methane, alcohol, natural gas or hydrogen.  
     
     
         42 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of at least one variable pitched ducted fan with a diameter less than fourteen inches.  
     
     
         43 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of at least one static pitch ducted fan.  
     
     
         44 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of at least one microturbine.  
     
     
         45 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said shell is aerodynamically shaped so as to provide a reduced drag coefficient.  
     
     
         46 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said propulsion system is comprised of two variable pitched ducted fans with diameters less than eight inches, wherein each said variable ducted fan is in operative communication with said engine.  
     
     
         47 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , further comprising a first winged extension in fixed communication with said shell and a first said variable pitched ducted fans and a second winged extension in fixed communication with said shell and a second said variable pitched ducted fan.  
     
     
         48 . A supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 31 , further comprising an adjustment means in communication with said propulsion system for adjusting the position of said propulsion system relative to said person.  
     
     
         49 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a supporting shell;    fixedly attaching an engine to said supporting shell;    providing a control device in operative communication with said engine;    operatively attaching a propulsion system to said engine, wherein said propulsion system is comprised of a at least one fan having a diameter less than 14 inches; and    attaching a harness to said supporting shell for attaching the apparatus to said person.    
     
     
         50 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of fixedly attaching a starter motor to said supporting shell and in operative communication with said engine;  
     
     
         50 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a control device that may be easily integrated into the joystick of a human transportation vehicle.    
     
     
         51 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of: 
 integrating a control device into the control loop of a human transportation vehicle, so as to activate the propulsion means when said human transportation vehicle reaches a predetermined speed.    
     
     
         52 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of: 
 integrating a control device into the control loop of a human transportation vehicle wherein said control device deactivates the propulsion means when said human transportation vehicle is traveling in a backwards direction.    
     
     
         53 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a control device in communication with a leaning means on said human transportation vehicle and activated according to the leaning of the subject, so as to activate said propulsion means in response to leaning forward.    
     
     
         54 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of: 
 integrating said control device into said harness.    
     
     
         55 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a starter motor fixedly attached to said supporting shell and in operative communication with said engine.    
     
     
         56 . A method of manufacturing a supplementary propulsion apparatus as in  claim 49 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing an adjustment means in communication with said propulsion system for adjusting the position of said propulsion system relative to said person.