IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,345,449
Granted Patent B2
US 11,345,449 · App. 16/911,045 · Granted May 31, 2022

Hydrofoil to be fastened to a watersports board

Inventor: Joern-Ulrich Sommerlatt (Auckland, NZ)
Assignee: NORTH KITEBOARDING AUSTRALASIA, LIMITED
B63B32/66B63B1/242B63B32/40B63B34/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,345,449
App. No.
16/911,045
Filed
Jun 24, 2020
Granted
May 31, 2022
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3617
USPC
441/79
Abstract

A hydrofoil ( 1 ) includes a mast ( 2 ), with an incoming flow edge ( 3 ), a discharge edge ( 4 ), lateral surfaces ( 5 ) and an upper mast end ( 6 ) with a holder ( 7 ) to be fastened to a watersports board. A fuselage ( 8 ) has front ( 10 ) and rear wings ( 11 ) are arranged on opposite sides. The mast and the fuselage are configured as separate components and are connected to one another via a screw connection ( 12 ). An adapter ( 13 ) is connected to the mast and to the fuselage and is arranged in a recess ( 14 ) of the fuselage. A positive locking is established between an adapter outer surface ( 15 ) and the recess of the fuselage. An adapter mount ( 16 ) receives a lower mast end ( 9 ). A positive locking is formed between the mast and the adapter such that the lower mast end is arranged within the fuselage.

Claims (35)

1. A hydrofoil to be fastened to a watersports board, the hydrofoil comprising:

a mast comprising an incoming flow edge, a discharge edge, lateral surfaces connecting the incoming flow edge and a discharge edge, an upper mast end with a holder configured to be fastened at least indirectly to the watersports board, and a lower mast end;

a fuselage fastened to the lower mast end, the fuselage having a central longitudinal axis located at least nearly in a plane defined by the incoming flow edge and the discharge edge of the mast;

respective front and rear wings arranged on opposite sides of the mast at the fuselage, wherein the mast and the fuselage are configured as separate components and are connected to one another via a screw connection, the mast is configured as an extruded section and the fuselage has a recess; and

an adapter arranged in the recess of the fuselage and connected to the mast and to the fuselage, wherein:

a positive locking is established between an adapter outer surface and the recess of the fuselage; and

the adapter has an adapter mount into which the lower mast end is inserted, so that a positive locking is formed between the mast and the adapter such that the lower mast end is arranged within the fuselage.

2. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a bonded connection is provided in at least some areas between the adapter and the mast, the lower mast end being in contact with the adapter.

3. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a connection structure, which protrudes into the mast and is in contact in at least some sections with an inner wall of the mast, wherein a portion of the adapter is located between the lower end of the mast and the fuselage.

4. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 3 , wherein a bonded connection is provided in at least some areas between the connection structure and the inner wall of the mast.

5. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a plastic, the lower end of the mast being located between one portion of the adapter and another portion of the adapter.

6. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the plastic is reinforced with glass fibers and/or carbon fibers.

7. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the adapter is manufactured by plastic injection molding.

8. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the mast, the fuselage and/or the adapter comprise aluminum, manganese or carbon fibers, the lower end of the mast being located at a spaced location from the fuselage.

9. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the mast, the fuselage and/or the adapter have a protective coating in at least some areas.

10. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the protective coating is configured as an oxide coating prepared by anodic oxidation.

11. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the connection structure comprises at least one cuboid and/or cubic structural element, which is in contact with the inner wall of the mast in at least some areas within the mast.

12. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the connection structure has at least one circular cylindrical and/or oval cylindrical structural element, which is in contact with the inner wall of the mast in at least some areas within the mast.

13. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the connection structure comprises at least two structural elements, which are arranged in a row and which are in contact each with the inner wall of the mast in at least some areas within the mast.

14. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the screw connection comprises at least one flat head screw with internal hexagon and a complementary internal thread arranged in the mast, wherein a portion of the adapter extends beyond the lower end of the mast.

15. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein anti-seize paste is provided in the area of the screw connection.

16. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein an electrically non-conducting element and/or an electrically non-conducting layer is arranged between a screw of the screw connection and the fuselage.

17. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the rear wing is bent upwards in at least some areas at both of ends about a surface thereof facing the mast, the mast being located at a spaced location from the fuselage.

18. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a fin is arranged in the rear area of the fuselage.

19. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a fin, integrated into the rear wing, is arranged in the rear area of the fuselage.

20. A hydrofoil in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the fin is directed upwards and the fin projects beyond a surface of the fuselage, which surface of the fuselage faces the mast.

21. A watersports board for wakeboarding, surfing and/or kitesurfing, the watersports board comprising:

an underside; and

a hydrofoil fastened on the underside, the hydrofoil comprising:

a mast comprising an incoming flow edge, a discharge edge, lateral surfaces connecting the incoming flow edge and a discharge edge, an upper mast end with a holder configured to be fastened at least indirectly to the watersports board, and a lower mast end;

a fuselage fastened to the lower mast end, the fuselage having a central longitudinal axis located at least nearly in a plane defined by the incoming flow edge and the discharge edge of the mast;

respective front and rear wings arranged on opposite sides of the mast at the fuselage, wherein the mast and the fuselage are configured as separate components and are connected to one another via a screw connection, the mast is configured as an extruded section and the fuselage has a recess; and

an adapter arranged in the recess of the fuselage and connected to the mast and to the fuselage, wherein:

a positive locking is established between an adapter outer surface and the recess of the fuselage; and

the adapter has an adapter mount into which the lower mast end is inserted, so that a positive locking is formed between the mast and the adapter such that the lower mast end is arranged within the fuselage.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2020
From: SOMMERLATT, JOERN-ULRICH
To: NORTH KITEBOARDING AUSTRALASIA, LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053030/0236 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 20 2019 103 496.3 · Jun 25, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200407026A1 · Dec 31, 2020
Cited By (4)
US 1,147,221 US 12,263,912 US 12,552,495 US 12,691,974