Self-propelling hydrofoil device
View Patent ↗The present disclosure provides generally for a hydrofoil system that may allow a surfboard to glide above the water surface. According to the present disclosure, a rider may be able to manipulate a hydrofoil device attached to a surfboard with limited training and athletic ability. The present disclosure provides for a hydrofoil system that may allow riders to use a light leaning motion to adjust the angle of a front wing to create forward thrust to produce a flow for creating lift. In some aspects, the front wing may tilt to reduce downward drag force in a lifting phase while locking into place during a glide to provide a sustained lift of the paddleboard out of the water.
1. A hydrofoil device comprising:
a front wing comprising:
a convex upper surface,
a concave lower surface,
a front wing curved leading edge;
a back wing comprising:
an upper surface,
a lower surface,
a back wing curved leading edge;
a fuselage comprising:
an elongate body with a recess on a forward portion of the elongate body, wherein the front wing fits within the recess and is connected to a forward portion of the elongate body within the recess and the back wing is connected to an aft portion of the elongate body,
a front hinge connecting a portion of one or both the convex upper surface and the front wing curved leading edge to the recess, wherein the front hinge allows the front wing to pivot within a predefined range; and
a strut connected perpendicular to the elongate body, wherein the strut is connectable to a surfboard.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the back wing further comprises a back hinge.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the back hinge is manually adjustable to control an angle of the back wing to the fuselage.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the back hinge allows the back wing to fluctuate within a predefined angle range of the back wing to the fuselage depending on one or both a position or motion of the hydrofoil device within water.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the front wing comprises flexible hydrons.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrofoil device comprises a buoyant material.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fuselage comprises a carbon fiber.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or both the front wing and the back wing comprise a semi-flexible material.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the back wing comprises a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface.
10. A hydrofoil system comprising:
a surfboard;
a hydrofoil device comprising:
a front wing comprising:
a convex upper surface,
a concave lower surface,
a front wing curved leading edge;
a back wing comprising:
an upper surface,
a lower surface,
a back wing curved leading edge;
a fuselage comprising:
an elongate body with a recess on a forward portion of the elongate body, wherein the front wing fits within the recess and is connected to a forward portion of the elongate body within the recess and the back wing is connected to an aft portion of the elongate body,
a front hinge connecting a portion of one or both the convex upper surface and the front wing curved leading edge to the recess, wherein the front hinge allows the front wing to pivot within a predefined range; and
a strut connected perpendicular to the elongate body; and
a base connecting the strut to the surfboard, wherein the strut connects perpendicular to the surfboard.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the strut further comprises a strut hinge mechanism that connects the strut to the fuselage.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the base of the strut comprises a saddle shape.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the surfboard comprises a foam.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the surfboard comprises a stand-up paddleboard.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the surfboard comprises one or more channels located at a distal end of the surfboard.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the strut comprises a teardrop shape.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the back wing further comprises a back hinge.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the back hinge is manually adjustable to control an angle of the back wing to the fuselage.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the back hinge allows the back wing to fluctuate within a predefined angle range of the back wing to the fuselage depending on one or both a position or motion of the hydrofoil device within water.
20. The system of claim 10 , wherein the front hinge further comprises a reinforcement region that stabilizes and strengthens the connection between the front wing and the fuselage.