US3721208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle and apparatus for moving the vehicle through a fluid
Assignee: MINIJET SPORTSCRAFTS Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-20
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1991-08-20
Abstract
Abstract The vehicle comprises a buoyant body and moving means within the body for moving the body through a fluid. The moving means includes a chamber having an intake port and an outlet port, and propelling means in the chamber for drawing the fluid into the chamber through the intake port and for propelling the fluid out of the chamber through the outlet port to propel the vehicle. A motor is provided for operating the vehicle. An air inlet passage communicates with the chamber adjacent the upstream end of the propelling means and closure means is provided which is selectively operable to open and close the air inlet passage to prevent the propelling means from drawing fluid into the chamber through the intake port when the closure means is in the open position.
Inventors
- 👤 L Lampert
- 👤 A Joyal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:07
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B35/00; A63B35/08; A63B35/12; B; B63; B63B; B63B34/00; B63B34/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for propelling a vehicle connected thereto through a fluid comprising a chamber having an intake port and an outlet port, propelling means in said chamber for drawing said fluid into said chamber through said intake port and propelling said fluid out of said chamber through said outlet port to thereby propel the vehicle connected to said apparatus, a motor in driving connection with said propelling means for operating said propelling means, an air inlet passage communicating with said chamber, and closure means connected to said air inlet passage and being selectively operable between an air inlet passage open and an air inlet passage closed position for preventing said propelling means from drawing the fluid into said chamber when in said open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for propelling a vehicle connected thereto through a fluid comprising a chamber having an intake port and an outlet port, propelling means in said chamber for drawing said fluid into said chamber through said intake port and propelling said fluid out of said chamber through said outlet port to thereby propel the vehicle connected to said apparatus, a motor in driving connection with said propelling means for operating said propelling means, an air inlet passage communicating with said chamber, and closure means connected to said air inlet passage and being selectively operable between an air inlet passage open and an air inlet passage closed position for preventing said propelling means from drawing the fluid into said chamber when in said open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, and pump means connected with said air inlet passage for pumping out fluid entrapped in said vehicle, said pump means comprising a conduit having a passage therein connected to said air inlet passage at one end and having the other end received in the interior of said vehicle, whereby said propelling means is operable to draw fluid into said chamber through said other end of said conduit when said closure means in the air inlet passage closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, in which said pump means includes sealing means intermediate the ends of said conduit for selectively sealing said passage in said conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, in which said conduit is flexible and resilient and said other end of said conduit is positioned substantially at the lowest point in the interior of said vehicle, and said sealing means includes a bracket having a portion adjacent said conduit, and a member adapted to be threadedly engaged with said vehicle and being operable to be moved between a conduit passage sealed position in which said conduit is compressed between said bracket portion and said member and a conduit passage open position in which said conduit passage is opened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said propelling means has a downstream end adjacent said outlet port and an upstream end adjacent said intake port, said air inlet passage including a transverse through bore in said chamber positioned adjacent the upstream end of said propelling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, in which said propelling means includes a shaft rotatably supported in said chamber, and an impeller mounted on said shaft for propelling the fluid through said outlet port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, in which said shaft is coaxial with said chamber, said intake port including a through bore in chamber having an axis transverse to the axis of said chamber, said outlet port being positioned in facing relationship to said impeller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, in which said shaft is received in a rear bearing support, and a plurality of radially extending vanes between said rear bearing support and the walls defining said chamber in juxtaposition to said impeller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said air inlet passage includes a transverse through bore in said chamber, a conduit extending outwardly from said through bore, and an opening in said conduit, said closure means comprising a cover adapted to seal said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as in claim 9, in which said cover comprises a flexible and resilient member connected to said conduit and having a portion normally in spaced relationShip to said opening, said member being positioned to be flexed into engagement with said conduit to close said opening and seal said air inlet passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, and a flexible and resilient member on said cover adapted to surround said opening when said closure means is moved to the air inlet passage closed position to provide a seal about said opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
146 words
A vehicle for movement through a fluid comprising a buoyant body; at least a first moving means in said body for moving said body with respect to said fluid; said moving means comprising a chamber in said body having an intake port and an outlet port, and propelling means in said chamber for drawing said fluid into said chamber through said intake port and for propelling said fluid out of said chamber through said outlet port to propel said vehicle, when operated; a motor supported by said body in driving engagement with said propelling means; an air inlet passage communicating with said chamber, and closure means connected to said air inlet passage and being selectively operable between an air inlet passage open and an air inlet passage closed position for preventing said propelling means from drawing the fluid into said chamber when in said open position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
A vehicle for movement through a fluid comprising a buoyant body; at least a first moving means in said body for moving said body with respect to said fluid; said moving means comprising a chamber in said body having an intake port and an outlet port, and propelling means in said chamber for drawing said fluid into said chamber through said intake port and for propelling said fluid out of said chamber through said outlet port to propel said vehicle, when operated; a motor supported by said body in driving engagement with said propelling means; an air inlet passage communicating with said chamber, and closure means connected to said air inlet passage and being selectively operable between an air inlet passage open and an air inlet passage closed position for preventing said propelling means from drawing the fluid into said chamber when in said open position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle as in claim 12, in which said motor includes an accelerator for varying the speed of said motor to correspondingly vary the speed of said vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle as in claim 12, and a handle on said vehicle sized and positioned to be grasped by an operator whereby said operator is towed by said vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A vehicle as in claim 14, in which said handle extends transversely across at least a portion of said vehicle adjacent the rear thereof, said air inlet passage extending through said handle, and an opening in said handle, said closure means comprising a member on said handle normally spaced from and adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with said opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A vehicle as in claim 15, in which said propelling means includes an upstream end adjacent said intake port and downstream end adjacent said outlet port, said outlet port being positioned to cause said fluid to be propelled rearwardly of said vehicle when it exits therethrough, said air inlet passage communicating with said chamber adjacent the upstream end of said propelling means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle as in claim 15, in which said first moving means is positioned at one side of said vehicle, and a second moving means positioned at the other side of said vehicle and in driving engagement with said motor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A vehicle as in claim 17, and an air inlet passage communicating with said second moving means chamber and said handle for preventing fluid from being drawn through the intake port of said second moving means when said member is spaced from said opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
A vehicle as in claim 17, and an air inlet passage communicating with the chamber in said second moving means, another handle extending transversely across at least a portion of said vehicle adjacent the rear thereof, said air inlet passage associated with said second moving means extending through said other handle, an opening in said other handle, and a member on said other handle normally spaced from and adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with the opening in said other handle, whereby when said member is spaced from said opening in said other handle the propelling means of said second moving means is rendered inoperative to draw fluid through the second moving means intake port.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle as in claim 16, in which said intake port comprises a through bore communicating with said chamber and being positioned on the underside of said vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vehicle as in claim 16, and pump means for pumping a fluid out of said buoyant body comprising a conduit having a passage therethrough and having one end connected to said air inlet passage and the other end positioned at substantially the lowest point in said vehicle, and sealing means movable between a conduit passage open posiTion to permit a fluid to be drawn therethrough when said closure means is in the air inlet passage open position, and a conduit passage closed position to seal said passage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3324822A
Cited
US3369518A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |