Shoulder pack power unit for propelling water skis or surf boards

Claim 2

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having a water containing jacket for cooling the engine; g. said propulsion means including a water intake and an impeller for drawing water into said intake; and h. at least one quick release flexible hose having one end removably connected to said propulsion means for receiving water from said impeller and having its other end removably connected to said water jacket for conveying water to said jacket, said jacket having a water outlet.

Claim 3

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. the quick release means for said power pack including a pair of arcuate-shaped articulated shoulder bars, each one including several sections pivotally connected together; and g. a coil spring enclosed in each shoulder bar and having its ends connected to near the extremities of said arcuate-shaped bar for yieldingly holding said bar against the shoulder of the operator as for snapping into a shoulder releasible position when the operator desires to free himself from the shoulder bar.

Claim 4

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. the quick release means for said power pack including a pair of arcuate-shaped articulated shoulder bars, each one including several sections pivotally connected together; and g. a coil spring enclosed in each shoulder bar and having its ends connected to near the extremities of said arcuate-shaped bar for yieldingly holding said bar against the shoulder of the operator as for snapping into a shoulder releasible position when the operator desires to free himself from the shoulder bar.

Claim 5

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having an air intake manifold mounted on the outer surface of said power pack and having an air inlet pipe communicating with the engine''s carburetor; g. said air intake manifold having at least one air inlet, each inlet having; h. a buoyant ball check valve mounted in said air inlet for automatically closing the inlet should said air intake manifold be submerged to a point where water would enter the inlet of the manifold; and i. said power pack when floating in water having a buoyancy for maintaining said air intake manifold above the level of water, said buoyant ball check valve closing said air inlet only to prevent the accidental entrance of water into said manifold.

Claim 6

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having an air intake manifold mounted on the outer surface of said power pack and having an air inlet pipe communicating with the engine''s carburetor; g. said air intake manifold having at least one air inlet, each inlet having; h. a buoyant ball check valve mounted in said air inlet for automatically closing the inlet should said air intake manifold be submerged to a point where water would enter the inlet of the manifold; and i. said power pack when floating in water having a buoyancy for maintaining said air intake manifold above the level of water, said buoyant ball check valve closing said air inlet only to prevent the accidental entrance of water into said manifold.

Claim 7

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having an air intake manifold mounted on the outer surface of said power pack and having an air inlet pipe communicating with the carburetor for the engine; g. said air intake manifold having at least one air inlet, each inlet having; h. a buoyant ball check valve mounted in said air inlet for automatically closing the inlet should said air intake manifold be submerged to a point where water would enter the inlet for the manifold; and i. a hood enclosing said air intake manifold with its air inlet and ball check valve, said hood having an edge contacting with the outer surface of said power pack and said edge having recesses for permitting air to enter the hood and flow into said air inlet.

Claim 8

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having an air intake manifold mounted on the outer surface of said power pack and having an air inlet pipe communicating with the carburetor for the engine; g. said air intake manifold having at least one air inlet, each inlet having; h. a buoyant ball check valve mounted in said air inlet for automatically closing the inlet should said air intake manifold be submerged to a point where water would enter the inlet for the manifold; and i. a hood enclosing said air intake manifold with its air inlet and ball check valve, said hood having an edge contacting with the outer surface of said power pack and said edge having recesses for permitting air to enter the hood and flow into said air inlet.

Claim 9

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having an air intake manifold mounted on the outer surface of said power pack and having an air inlet pipe communicating with the carburetor for the engine; g. said air intake manifold having at least one air inlet, each inlet having; h. a buoyant ball check valve mounted in said air inlet for automatically closing the inlet should said air intake manifold be submerged to a point where water would enter the inlet for the manifold; and i. a fuel tank mounted in said power pack for supplying fuel to said engine; j. an airline vent extending from said air inlet pipe and communicating with said fuel tank for preventing a vacuum forming in said tank; and k. a floatable ball check valve mounted in said airline vent for automatically closing the vent should the pack be tilted into a position for causing the tank to spill its fuel through the airline vent.

Claim 10

A propulsion apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having an air intake manifold mounted on the outer surface of said power pack and having an air inlet pipe communicating with the carburetor for the engine; g. said air intake manifold having at least one air inlet, each inlet having; h. a buoyant ball check valve mounted in said air inlet for automatically closing the inlet should said air intake manifold be submerged to a point where water would enter the inlet for the manifold; and i. a fuel tank mounted in said power pack for supplying fuel to said engine; j. an airline vent extending from said air inlet pipe and communicating with said fuel tank for preventing a vacuum forming in said tank; and k. a floatable ball check valve mounted in said airline vent for automatically closing the vent should the pack be tilted into a position for causing the tank to spill its fuel through the airline vent.

Claim 11

A propulsIon apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having at least one exhaust pipe whose outer end projects beyond the outer surface of said power pack; g. a spring-biased flap valve for automatically closing the outer end of said exhaust pipe when there is no exhaust issuing from said exhaust pipe so as to prevent water entering the exhaust pipe should said power pack become submerged in water; and h. a cylindrical muffler enclosing the portion of said exhaust pipe that protrudes beyond the outer surface of said pack, said cylindrical muffler having a plurality of openings therein for muffling the sound of the exhaust noise as the gasses pass through the openings.

Claim 12

A propulsIon apparatus for water skis and/or surf board comprising: a. a light weight power pack including an engine; b. quick release means for mounting said power pack on the back of an operator; c. propulsion means secured to the underside of at least one ski and/or surf board and including a propeller; d. at least one quick release flexible shaft operatively connected to said engine and said propulsion means for rotating said propeller when said engine is operating; e. a throttle for said engine adapted to be held in the operator''s hand for controlling the engine speed; f. said engine having at least one exhaust pipe whose outer end projects beyond the outer surface of said power pack; g. a spring-biased flap valve for automatically closing the outer end of said exhaust pipe when there is no exhaust issuing from said exhaust pipe so as to prevent water entering the exhaust pipe should said power pack become submerged in water; and h. a cylindrical muffler enclosing the portion of said exhaust pipe that protrudes beyond the outer surface of said pack, said cylindrical muffler having a plurality of openings therein for muffling the sound of the exhaust noise as the gasses pass through the openings.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 1 and in which a. a propeller guard is provided for said propeller.

Claim 14

The combination as set forth in claim 2 and in which a. a quick release strap is attached to said power pack and extends around the waist of the operator.