Powered surfboard for preserving energy of surfer during paddling

Abstract

An improvement to a conventional surfboard includes an impeller and an electric motor contained primarily within the body of the surfboard, whereby performance of the surfboard is substantially unaffected by the presence of the impeller and the electric motor. The electric motor is operatively connected to the impeller for providing a forward thrust of the surfboard. The improvement to the conventional surfboard also includes a throttle for selective control of the electric motor for operating the impeller to provide a forward thrust of the surfboard, the throttle being configured for use by a surfer lying in a prone position on the smooth top surface of the body of the surfboard. An extent of the surfer's energy that otherwise would be expended during paddling can be preserved for riding waves by using the impeller to provide the forward thrust during paddling.

1 . In a surfboard having a body with top and bottom surfaces, wherein the body of the surfboard is configured to support a surfer lying in a prone position on the top surface while paddling, the improvement comprising, 
 (a) an impeller and an electric motor contained primarily within the body of the surfboard, whereby performance of the surfboard is substantially unaffected by the presence of the impeller and the electric motor, the electric motor operatively connected to the impeller for providing a forward thrust of the surfboard; and    (b) a throttle for selective control of the electric motor for operating the impeller to provide a forward thrust of the surfboard, the throttle being configured for use by the surfer lying in the prone position on the top surface of the body of the surfboard,    whereby an extent of the surfer's energy that otherwise would be expended during paddling is preserved for riding waves.    
   
   
       2 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the surfboard is made from wood.  
   
   
       3 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the surfboard is made from fiberglass.  
   
   
       4 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the surfboard is made from foam board.  
   
   
       5 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller and the electric motor both are contained within a thickness of the surfboard body such that neither protrudes beyond either top and bottom surfaces of the body of the surfboard.  
   
   
       7 . In a surfboard having a body configured to support a surfer lying in a prone position while paddling, the improvement comprising, 
 (a) a radio frequency (RF) receiver contained primarily within the body of the surfboard;    (b) an impeller contained primarily within the body of the surfboard; and    (c) a remote controlled electric motor contained primarily within the body of the surfboard and operatively connected to the impeller for providing a forward thrust of the surfboard, the RF receiver operatively connected to the remote controlled electric motor for selective operation of the impeller through RF communications with the receiver for providing forward thrust of the surfboard.    
   
   
       8 . The surfboard of  claim 7 , further comprising a RF transmitter in the surfboard and configured to communicate with the RF receiver for selective operation of the impeller for providing forward thrust of the surfboard.  
   
   
       9 . The surfboard of  claim 8 , wherein the RF transmitter is disposed proximate one end of the surfboard and the impeller is disposed proximate an opposite end of the surfboard.  
   
   
       10 . A method for preserving an extent of a surfer's energy that otherwise would be expended during paddling, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) paddling while lying in a prone position on a surfboard, and    (b) actuating an impeller such that a forward thrust of the surfboard is provided during paddling by the surfer.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 ,wherein the impeller is contained primarily within the body of the surfboard.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of actuating the impeller includes controlling an electric motor, the electric motor being operatively connected to the impeller.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein contained primarily within the body of the surfboard.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein controlling of the electric motor includes transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals to a RF receiver that is contained primarily within the body of the surfboard.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the RF signals are transmitted from an RF transmitter that is contained primarily within the body of the surfboard.