# US 5,704,817 A · Water surface propulsion device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,704,817 A
- Document ID: US5704817A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/633,143
- Filed: 1996-04-16
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-16
- Inventors: Wayne P. Vaughn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704817A

## CPC

- B63H 11/117: Pivoted vane
- A63B 35/12: operated by a motor
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A motorized aquatic propulsion device of the type that will tow a swimmer across a water surface. The main housing (10) contains the battery (58), motor (60) and propeller (62). Water enters the forward water intake tube (32), is forced through the inner water intake chamber (34) by the spinning propeller (62) and is expelled through tubes connected to the left water jet spout (38) and the opposing right water jet spout (42). Two handles are gripped and twisted to control maneuverability. The pivoting speed control handle (50) regulates the velocity of water passing through the device. The pivoting direction control handle (70) is used to govern the flow of water variably channeled between two water jet spouts. As more water is directed through one of the two water jet spouts, the device will turn in the opposing direction. The flow of water is expelled down and away from either side of the swimmer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In an aquatic propulsion device of the type comprising a housing having sufficient buoyancy for enabling said housing to float across a water surface, a motor mounted in said housing for producing rotational energy, a battery mounted in said housing for storing and supplying power to said motor, a propeller coupled with said motor, a speed control handle, and a direction control handle, whereby said housing will be propelled across said surface, the improvement wherein said direction control handle has direction control means for causing water to be variably channeled between a plurality of tubes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said device has sensor means for detecting the presence of water in said housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said device has key lock means for connecting said motor to said battery.