Compact electric outboard with retractable platform

Abstract

For entertainment, many people enjoy spending time participating in water-related activities. Watercraft users are using outboard engines in their watercrafts as they are easier to replace, service, and scale, and they also free up space inside the watercraft. However, these engines are generally not suitable for water activities as they get in the way which makes it dangerous for the users. The present disclosure includes disclosure of one or more compact electric outboard motors located at the back of the watercraft with a retractable, fixed, or liftable platform covering the outboard motor in order to preform various activities such as surfing, wakeboarding, fishing, and swimming.

Description

[0001] COMPACT ELECTRIC OUTBOARD WITH RETRACTABLE PLATFORM

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Water activities such as surfing, wake boarding, and fishing, are gaining popularity in recent years. Therefore, more users are looking for ways to perform these activities with their existing watercraft. Most recreational watercraft users are using an outboard motor due to its smaller footprint, simplicity, ease of maintenance, ease of replacement, and increased available cabin space making it preferable for recreational watercrafts. But an outboard engine has a few disadvantages as it is externally mounted at the back of the watercraft which takes up the usable space for sport activities such as swimming, fishing, and wakeboarding. Moreover, it produces harmful fumes, especially for the users behind it (which is the case for surfing and wakeboarding).

[0004] For swimming and fishing activities, having an outboard type of watercraft makes it dangerous to jump to the water from the rear of the watercraft. Furthermore, it is possible that the fishing line might be stuck in the propeller’ s blades when fishing on the back of outboard watercraft.

[0005] Since the outboard engine is considered a barrier in performing such activities, having a compact electric outboard drive with a retractable platform (over the outboard) would be well received in the marketplace.

[0006] BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a compact electric outboard motor located at the back of the watercraft with a retractable platform covering the outboard motor in order to preform various activities such as surfing, wakeboarding, fishing, and swimming.

[0008] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, configured to extend from a watercraft and to cover a top of a motor used to propel the watercraft. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, wherein the platform is retractable.

[0009] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, wherein the platform can extend outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

[0010] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, comprising a motorized actuator coupled thereto, the motorized actuator configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

[0011] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, comprising a hydraulic cylinder coupled thereto, the hydraulic cylinder configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

[0012] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, wherein the platform can be manually extended outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

[0013] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the platform in an extended position.

[0014] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, wherein the platform is configured to couple to the watercraft using a hinge.

[0015] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, wherein the platform can move from a position that does not cover the top of the motor to a position that covers the top of the motor.

[0016] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a motorized actuator coupled to the platform. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the platform.

[0017] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, configured to be removed from the watercraft by being lifted away from the watercraft.

[0018] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, further comprising a ski tow hook coupled thereto.

[0019] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, further comprising a fishing rod holder coupled thereto.

[0020] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a platform, forming part of a system, the system comprising the watercraft and the motor.

[0021] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the motor is an outboard motor comprises an internal combustion engine.

[0022] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the motor is an outboard electric motor.

[0023] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform is retractable.

[0024] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform can extend outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

[0025] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, comprising a motorized actuator coupled thereto, the motorized actuator configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

[0026] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, comprising a hydraulic cylinder coupled thereto, the hydraulic cylinder configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

[0027] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform can be manually extended outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

[0028] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the platform in an extended position.

[0029] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform is configured to couple to the watercraft using a hinge.

[0030] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform can move from a position that does not cover the top of the motor to a position that covers the top of the motor.

[0031] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a motorized actuator coupled to the platform.

[0032] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the platform.

[0033] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform is configured to be removed from the watercraft by being lifted away from the watercraft.

[0034] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform further comprises a ski tow hook coupled thereto.

[0035] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform further comprises a fishing rod holder coupled thereto.

[0036] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform covers the motor to allow the users to perform sport activities without putting their lives in danger from a position of the motor as well as allowing for maintenance of the motor and storage while the platform is in a retracted position.

[0037] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the motor is an electric compact outboard motor that does not produce dangerous fumes like an internal combustion engine type of outboard motor.

[0038] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the motor comprises a compact outboard motor that can be used to replace a sterndrive in sterndrive type watercraft due to a compact size of the compact outboard motor.

[0039] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a system, wherein the platform is a liftable platform covering the motor, wherein the liftable platform can be divided into two or more liftable parts so that a user of the platform can lift one side only to service the motor on that same side.

[0040] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a watercraft, comprising a watercraft structure comprising a hull, a deck, a bow, and a stern, one or more compact outboard motor installed at the back of the watercraft, and a retractable platform extended from the deck and covers the compact outboard motor, wherein the retractable platform covers the compact outboard to allow the users to perform sport activities without putting their life in danger from the position of the motor as well as allowing for the outboard motor maintenance and storage during the retracting position of the retractable platform.

[0041] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a compact outboard motor, wherein the outboard motor is an electric compact outboard that doesn’t produce dangerous fumes as is the case of internal combustion engine types of outboard.

[0042] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a retractable position, wherein the retractable platform can use different mechanisms to retract such as motorized actuators, hydraulic cylinders, or even a manual retraction with locking mechanism. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a compact outboard, wherein the compact outboard can replace the sterndrive in the sterndrive type boats due to its compact size.

[0043] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a watercraft, comprising a watercraft structure comprising a hull, a deck, a bow, and a stern, a compact outboard motor installed at the back of the watercraft, and a fixed platform extended from the deck and covers one or more compact outboard motor with a liftable hatch, wherein the fixed platform covers one or more compact outboard to allow the users to perform sport activities without putting their life in danger from the position of the motor as well as allowing for the outboard motor maintenance and storage through the liftable hatch.

[0044] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a fixed platform, wherein the liftable hatch can use different mechanisms to lift the platform such as motorized actuators, hydraulic cylinders, or even a manual hinge mechanism.

[0045] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a watercraft, comprising a watercraft structure comprising a hull, a deck, a bow, and a stern, a compact outboard motor installed at the back of the watercraft, and a liftable platform extended from the deck and covers one or more compact outboard motor, wherein the liftable platform covering one or more compact outboard motor and can be divided into two or more liftable parts so that the user can lift one side only to service the outboard on the same side.

[0046] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a retractable, fixed and liftable platform wherein the platform may include several accessories to help the user to perform sporting activities such as a ski tow hook that can be added at the end of the retractable platform or a fishing rod holder that helps the user to hold the fishing rod. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0048] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a watercraft having a compact outboard with retractable platform in the extended position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Fig. 2a illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a watercraft having a compact outboard with retractable platform in the retracted position using motorized actuators, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] Fig. 2b illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a watercraft having a compact outboard with retractable platform in the retracted position using hydraulic cylinders, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a watercraft having a compact outboard with liftable platform in the lifted position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a watercraft having a fixed platform with a liftable hinge, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] Fig. 5 illustrates a back view of an embodiment of a watercraft having two compact outboards with liftable platform, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] As such, an overview of the features, functions and / or configurations of the components depicted in the figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described and some of these non-discussed features (as well as discussed features) are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and / or configuration. Furthermore, wherever feasible and convenient, like reference numerals are used in the figures and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The figures are in a simplified form and not to precise scale.

[0055] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] For the purposes of promoting an understanding the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

[0057] For entertainment, many people enjoy spending time participating in water-related activities. In the last few years, the watercraft industry has witnessed a lot of technological advancement. Many people are using outboard engines in their watercrafts as they are easier to replace, service, and scale, and they also free up space inside the watercraft. However, these engines are generally not suitable for water activities as they get in the way which makes it dangerous for the users. In order to overcome these difficulties while enjoying the advantages that come with the outboard engine, the present disclosure includes disclosure of a compact outboard motor that can be mounted on the watercraft that does not block the back space of the watercraft. This can be done by, for example, having a compact electric outboard with a retractable or fixed platform that covers the motor. By that, the users can perform various sporting activities at the back of the watercraft without putting their life in danger as the compact outboard would be fully covered by the retractable platform. In addition, the compact outboard uses an electric motor that doesn’t produce any harmful fumes. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a watercraft 100 having a structure, one or more compact electric outboard motors 101 located at the back of the watercraft 100, with a retractable platform 102 extended from the deck of the watercraft 100 and covering the outboard motors 101 to allow for various activities such as surfing, wakeboarding, fishing, and swimming.

[0058] An exemplary boat (watercraft 100) of the present disclosure may comprise a hull 202, a deck 201, a bow 203 and a stern 204, such as one having an outboard motor 101 at the stern 204 side. The outboard motor 101 uses a compact electric motor 103 to reduce the size of the outboard 101, allowing for the retractable platform 102 to cover it as well as providing the space to perform several sport activities. When the retractable platform 102 at the stern 204 is in the extended position, it covers the outboard motor 101 and provides a clear space to perform activities such as wakeboarding and fishing, such as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, during the retracted position of the retractable platform 102, the outboard motor 101 can be tilted up for maintenance and storage, such as shown in Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b.

[0059] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the retractable platform 102 covering the compact outboard motor 101 can use different mechanisms to retract the platform such as motorized actuators 108, hydraulic cylinders 109, or even by way of manual retraction with a locking mechanism as shown in Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b.

[0060] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the compact outboard motor 101 can replace the sterndrive motors in the sterndrive type watercrafts due to the compact size of the outboard motor 101. By that, the watercraft 100 users can free up the engine space inside the watercraft 100 as it is replaced by the compact outboard motor 101.

[0061] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the platform 102 covering the compact outboard motor 101 can be a fixed platform 104 with a liftable hatch 107 that can use a hinge 105 to lift it up for accessing the compact outboard motor 101 to perform maintenance or storage, such as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. In addition, the liftable hatch 107 can use different mechanisms to lift the platform such as motorized actuators 105, or other mechanisms like hydraulic cylinders, or even a manual hinge mechanism.

[0062] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the platform 102 covering one or more compact outboard motor 101 can be divided into two or more liftable parts 106 so that the user can lift one side only to service the outboard on the same side, such as shown in Fig. 5. By that, the user can easily perform maintenance when the watercraft 100 has more than one compact outboard motor 101.

[0063] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the platform may include several accessories to help the user to perform sporting activities such as a ski tow hook 302 that can be added at the end of the retractable platform 102 or a fishing rod holder 301 that helps the user to hold the fishing rod.

[0064] While various embodiments of devices and systems and methods for using the same have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.

[0065] Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and / or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and / or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A platform configured to extend from a watercraft and to cover a top of a motor used to propel the watercraft.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the platform is retractable.

3. The platform of claim 2, wherein the platform can extend outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

4. The platform of claim 1, comprising a motorized actuator coupled thereto, the motorized actuator configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

5. The platform of claim 1 , comprising a hydraulic cylinder coupled thereto, the hydraulic cylinder configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

6. The platform of claim 1, wherein the platform can be manually extended outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

7. The platform of claim 6, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the platform in an extended position.

8. The platform of claim 1, wherein the platform is configured to couple to the watercraft using a hinge.

9. The platform of claim 8, wherein the platform can move from a position that does not cover the top of the motor to a position that covers the top of the motor.

10. The platform of claim 9, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a motorized actuator coupled to the platform.

11. The platform of claim 9, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the platform.

12. The platform of claim 1 , configured to be removed from the watercraft by being lifted away from the watercraft.

13. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a ski tow hook coupled thereto.

14. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a fishing rod holder coupled thereto.

15. The platform of claim 1, forming part of a system, the system comprising the watercraft and the motor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the motor is an outboard motor comprises an internal combustion engine.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the motor is an outboard electric motor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the platform is retractable.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the platform can extend outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

20. The system of claim 15, comprising a motorized actuator coupled thereto, the motorized actuator configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

21. The system of claim 15, comprising a hydraulic cylinder coupled thereto, the hydraulic cylinder configured to extend the platform outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor, and further configured to retract the platform back to the retracted position.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform can be manually extended outward from a retracted position to cover the top of the motor.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the platform in an extended position.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform is configured to couple to the watercraft using a hinge.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform can move from a position that does not cover the top of the motor to a position that covers the top of the motor.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a motorized actuator coupled to the platform.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the platform can move from the position that does not cover the top of the motor to the position that covers the top of the motor by way of operation of a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the platform.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform is configured to be removed from the watercraft by being lifted away from the watercraft.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform further comprises a ski tow hook coupled thereto.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform further comprises a fishing rod holder coupled thereto.

31. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform covers the motor to allow the users to perform sport activities without putting their lives in danger from a position of the motor as well as allowing for maintenance of the motor and storage while the platform is in a retracted position.

32. The system of claim 15, wherein the motor is an electric compact outboard motor that does not produce dangerous fumes like an internal combustion engine type of outboard motor.

33. The system of claim 15, wherein the motor comprises a compact outboard motor that can be used to replace a sterndrive in sterndrive type watercraft due to a compact size of the compact outboard motor.

34. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform is a liftable platform covering the motor, wherein the liftable platform can be divided into two or more liftable parts so that a user of the platform can lift one side only to service the motor on that same side.

35. A watercraft, comprising: a watercraft structure comprising a hull, a deck, a bow, and a stern; one or more compact outboard motor installed at the back of the watercraft; and a retractable platform extended from the deck and covers the compact outboard motor; wherein the retractable platform covers the compact outboard to allow the users to perform sport activities without putting their life in danger from theposition of the motor as well as allowing for the outboard motor maintenance and storage during the retracting position of the retractable platform.

36. The compact outboard motor of claim 35, wherein the outboard motor is an electric compact outboard that doesn’t produce dangerous fumes as is the case of internal combustion engine types of outboard.

37. The retractable position of claim 35, wherein: the retractable platform can use different mechanisms to retract such as motorized actuators, hydraulic cylinders, or even a manual retraction with locking mechanism.

38. The compact outboard of claim 35 or 36, wherein: the compact outboard can replace the sterndrive in the sterndrive type boats due to its compact size.

39. A watercraft, comprising: a watercraft structure comprising a hull, a deck, a bow, and a stern; a compact outboard motor installed at the back of the watercraft; and a fixed platform extended from the deck and covers one or more compact outboard motor with a liftable hatch; wherein the fixed platform covers one or more compact outboard to allow the users to perform sport activities without putting their life in danger from the position of the motor as well as allowing for the outboard motor maintenance and storage through the liftable hatch.

40. The fixed platform of claim 39, wherein: the liftable hatch can use different mechanisms to lift the platform such as motorized actuators, hydraulic cylinders, or even a manual hinge mechanism.

41. A watercraft, comprising: a watercraft structure comprising a hull, a deck, a bow, and a stern; a compact outboard motor installed at the back of the watercraft; and a liftable platform extended from the deck and covers one or more compact outboard motor; wherein the liftable platform covering one or more compact outboard motor and can be divided into two or more liftable parts so that the user can lift one side only to service the outboard on the same side.

42. The retractable, fixed and liftable platform of claim 35, 39 or 41 , wherein: the platform may include several accessories to help the user to perform sporting activities such as a ski tow hook that can be added at the end of the retractable platform or a fishing rod holder that helps the user to hold the fishing rod.

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