Aquatic play equipment

Abstract

[Problem] A paddle boat, etc. with a thruster had a problem in that there was no coordination between the paddle and the thruster, and the pleasure inherent to paddling could not be enjoyed. In addition, it was difficult for weak people to respond physically to changes in the natural environment, such as strong winds and currents. [Solution] Data of movement information of paddling detected by a dynamic state detection unit mounted on a paddle are wirelessly transmitted to a thrust control unit, and an electric thrust unit is driven according to the paddling. Thus, the pleasure inherent to a paddle boat remains, and the correspondence to the environment and the physical strength is widened.

Description

Water toys

[0001] The present invention relates to water toys that use paddles.

[0002] Among the recreational equipment that has become popular in marine resorts in recent years are paddleboards (Stand Up Paddles or SUPs), which are propelled by standing on a board floating on the water and paddling, and kayaks, which have become popular as sports equipment. Furthermore, surfboards with electric propulsion units (see Patent Documents 1 and 2) and surfboards with interchangeable electric propulsion modules (see Patent Document 3) have also been proposed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-48694 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-174209 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-16865

[0004] The outline of the present invention is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for beginners and users with less physical strength by supporting the thrust of water toys such as paddleboards and kayaks while preserving the fun of paddling through the cooperation of an electric propulsion unit and a paddle.

[0005] For recreational equipment such as paddleboards and kayaks, wind and waves have a major impact, making it difficult for beginners and those with limited physical strength to move upwind. Accidents have also occurred frequently, with people being swept out to sea when the weather worsens during use. If people get tired and take a break, they are swept downwind for that time. As a result, the natural environment limits whether they can be used and the level of proficiency required for safe use. For this reason, surfboards, paddleboards, and kayaks with electric propulsion units are sold. However, even in these cases, there is a lack of coordination between the paddle and the electric propulsion unit, making it difficult to enjoy the fun of paddling.

[0006] The water toy of the present invention comprises a dynamic status detection unit attached to the paddle, and a propulsion control unit and electric propulsion unit attached to the paddleboard that controls the propulsion force of the electric propulsion unit based on data sent from the dynamic status detection unit. This configuration detects the paddling of the user of the paddleboard, kayak, etc., and provides support via the electric propulsion unit to increase the thrust generated by the paddling. Low-power propulsion support is provided when paddling slowly, and powerful propulsion support is provided when paddling vigorously. Safety is ensured because the thrust support also stops when paddling stops. Furthermore, because a single paddle is used to alternate between left and right, unfamiliar users will inevitably stumble. However, by installing two electric propulsion unit motors on the left and right sides of the paddleboard, stumble can be reduced by appropriately controlling the output of the two motors.

[0007] The above configuration has the effect of allowing the user of the paddle board to enjoy paddling even in environments with strong winds or waves, as it is possible to obtain thrust in accordance with paddling.

[0008] Furthermore, if two motors for the electric propulsion unit are attached to the bottom of the water toy on the left and right sides, meandering caused by paddling can be corrected, making it easy for even beginners to propel the water toy in a straight line and enjoying the fun of paddling.

[0009] Furthermore, by wirelessly transmitting any drop in battery voltage from the electric propulsion unit to a dynamic status detection unit attached to the paddle, the power consumption status can be monitored through light and sound while paddling.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an image diagram of a dynamic condition detection unit of the present invention attached to a paddle shaft. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic condition detection unit of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a charging device for the built-in battery of the dynamic condition detection unit of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an image diagram of the appearance of a paddle board of the present invention seen from the obliquely rear front side. FIG. 3 is an image diagram of the appearance of a paddle board of the present invention seen from the obliquely rear rear underside. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a propulsion force control unit and an electric propulsion unit of Example 1. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a propulsion force control unit and an electric propulsion unit of Example 2. FIG. 4 is an image diagram of an electric propulsion unit of Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an image diagram of an electric propulsion unit of Example 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between thrust vector estimated from paddling and thrust generated in the electric propulsion unit. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of meandering correction during paddling.

[0011] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. The water toy according to the present invention comprises a paddle dynamics detector attached to the paddle shaft, a propulsion controller and an electric propulsion unit attached to the water toy. Hereinafter, the water toy will be described as a paddleboard, but the present invention is broadly applicable to other water toy devices that use paddles, such as kayaks.

[0012] Figure 2 shows an image of the dynamic status detector attached to the paddle shaft. The dynamic status detector is equipped with a power switch, operation buttons, and a status display.

[0013] Figure 3 shows the configuration of the dynamic status detection unit. The dynamic status detection unit is composed of a power switch, operation buttons, a status display unit (e.g., a multicolor LED), a 6-axis inertial sensor, a microcontroller, a wireless communication unit, a wireless power receiver, a charge control device, a battery (e.g., a small lithium polymer battery), and an audio notification unit (buzzer or speaker). These components are housed in a sealed container to ensure waterproofing.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a wireless inductive power transmission device for charging the battery of the sealed dynamic status detection unit of the present invention, in which the battery is charged by wireless power transmission.

[0015] Figure 5 is an image of the appearance of the paddle board of the present invention, seen from the obliquely rear front side. Figure 6 is an image of the appearance of the paddle board of the present invention, seen from the obliquely rear back side.

[0016] 7 is a block diagram of the propulsion force control unit and electric propulsion unit of the first embodiment of the present invention, which is equipped with an electric propulsion unit. It is composed of a main power switch, a status display unit (e.g., a multicolor LED), operation buttons, a wireless communication unit, a microcontroller, a motor controller, and a battery, and one electric propulsion unit (motor) is attached to the center line of the paddleboard, providing thrust in response to paddling.

[0017] Figure 8 is a configuration diagram of a propulsion force control unit and an electric propulsion unit of a second embodiment of the present invention, which is equipped with an electric propulsion unit consisting of two motors. The two motors are attached to the left and right sides of the traveling direction, and by detecting the user's paddling and providing independent thrust support to the left and right sides, it is possible to reduce meandering caused by paddling. If necessary, thrust support similar to that of the first embodiment can be achieved by simultaneously providing thrust support to the left and right electric propulsion units.

[0018] Fig. 9 is an external image diagram of an electric propulsion unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The electric propulsion unit, which is composed of a propulsion control unit and one motor, is fixed to the center line of the paddle board by a single belt. Fig. 10 is an external image diagram of an electric propulsion unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The electric propulsion unit, which is composed of a propulsion control unit and two motors, is fixed to the center line of the paddle board by a single belt.

[0019] Figure 11 shows the relationship between the thrust vector estimated from paddling and the thrust generated by the electric propulsion unit. Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram of the meandering correction function during paddling. Paddleboarding generates a torque centered on the user, generating a thrust component on the board that faces in the opposite direction to the paddle. Experienced users can reduce this by adjusting the weight applied to the paddleboard, keeping the paddleboard facing in the intended direction of propulsion. However, less experienced users will experience meandering because thrust is generated in a direction that deviates from the intended direction of propulsion with each paddle, as shown in the left diagram of Figure 12. On the other hand, if two motors are installed, as shown in the right diagram, the output of the two motors can be adjusted to generate thrust in the intended direction of propulsion while canceling out the thrust component facing in the opposite direction to the paddle. This allows even less experienced users to propel the paddleboard without meandering.

[0020] When the user turns on the main power switch of the propulsion control unit, the Bluetooth wireless communication unit of the propulsion control unit becomes able to receive wireless signals from the dynamic status detection unit. If necessary, the user can continue to press the operation button on the propulsion control unit to rotate the electric propulsion unit and propel the paddleboard even without receiving a signal from the dynamic status detection unit. To prevent the electric propulsion unit from rotating due to user error, safety is ensured by limiting the time the user must hold down the operation button to three seconds or more.

[0021] When the user holds the paddle horizontally and presses the main power switch on the dynamic status detection unit attached to the paddle, the six-axis inertial sensor is initialized, and then wireless communication is established with the propulsion control unit attached to the paddle board.

[0022] Once wireless communication is established, the paddle movement information (tilt, three-dimensional rotation information, three-dimensional movement direction, three-dimensional movement speed, three-dimensional movement acceleration, etc.) measured by the six-axis inertial sensor of the dynamic situation detection unit, as well as the status of the push button switch of the dynamic situation detection unit, are encoded and then sequentially transmitted to the propulsion control unit.

[0023] The tilt of the paddle measured by the six-axis inertial sensor in the dynamic status detection unit is also presented to the user by the display unit (multi-color LED) of the dynamic status detection unit.

[0024] On a paddleboard, paddling is done with the paddle upright. When the paddle changes from a horizontal position to an upright position, the color of the multi-colored LED on the dynamic status detection unit changes, indicating that thrust assistance is available. To activate the thrust assistance function, the user presses the push button switch on the dynamic status detection unit once, thereby activating the thrust assistance function according to the paddling. When the thrust assistance function is activated, the color of the multi-colored LED on the dynamic status detection unit changes, letting the user know that the assistance function has been activated.

[0025] After the thrust assist function is enabled, when the paddleboard is paddled, the paddle movement information is coded and sent wirelessly from the dynamic situation detection unit to the propulsion control unit.

[0026] The propulsion control unit decodes the paddle motion information data received via wireless communication. First, as shown in Figure 11, it estimates the paddle thrust vector as a reaction force from the direction and strength of the force generated by paddling. It then extracts the paddleboard's forward motion component. The direction and strength of the force can be estimated, assuming a standard paddle mass, from the three-dimensional direction of paddle movement and the time derivative of the acceleration or velocity of the movement output by the six-axis inertial sensor. The magnitude of the thrust generated by the electric propulsion unit is determined in proportion to the magnitude of the vector of this forward motion component, and the motor rotation is controlled accordingly. For example, a proportional relationship can be established so that the maximum rotation speed is achieved when a user with average physical strength paddles to their limit. The reason for generating a thrust in the electric propulsion unit proportional to the thrust generated by paddling in this way is because simply turning the electric propulsion unit on and off to provide a constant propulsion force when the paddle is operated would result in a mechanical and unnatural thrust that would hinder the user's enjoyment of paddling. 11 shows the instant at time t, and it is desirable that such paddling thrust estimation and thrust control of the electric propulsion unit be performed at intervals of about 0.1 seconds, or even shorter if possible. When the paddleboard user stops paddling, the propulsion control unit stops the electric propulsion unit.

[0027] This thrust assist function is disabled when the paddleboard user places the paddle on the paddleboard for a break, or when the paddle is held horizontally. To re-enable it, follow the same procedure as above, starting with the paddle stand operation.

[0028] Furthermore, if the battery voltage of the propulsion control unit attached to the paddle board drops during use, a signal of the voltage drop is sent from the propulsion control unit to the dynamic status detection unit attached to the paddle via Bluetooth wireless communication, and the status is communicated to the user by changing the color of the paddle's multi-colored LED.

[0029] In addition, the motion status detection unit attached to the paddle is sealed and waterproof, but if water is found to have entered the interior for some reason, the condition will be displayed by a multi-colored LED attached to the motion status detection unit.

[0030] The basic structure is the same as in Example 1, but in Example 2, the motors of the electric propulsion unit are attached to the left and right in the direction of travel. Therefore, by independently controlling the left and right motors, it becomes possible to correct the direction in which the board is traveling.

[0031] A paddleboard moves forward by alternately paddling left and right with one paddle, but this can sometimes cause the board to meander. In Example 2, meandering is suppressed by controlling two motors according to paddle motion information.

[0032] Specifically, the propulsion control unit generates a thrust in the motor opposite the paddle that offsets the torque generated by paddling, as shown in the right diagram of Figure 12, and at the same time, generates in each of the left and right motors half of the thrust generated by the paddle that is proportional to the component of the thrust generated by the paddle in the direction of travel of the paddle board, as in Example 1. In the case of Figure 12, the left motor generates a thrust that offsets the torque, as well as half of the thrust generated by the paddle that is proportional to the component of the thrust generated by the paddle in the direction of travel of the paddle board, and the right motor generates only half of the thrust generated by the paddle that is proportional to the component of the thrust generated by the paddle in the direction of travel of the paddle board. This allows users, even if they are not skilled, to enjoy paddling because meandering is suppressed and the thrust assistance function is exerted as in Example 1.

[0033] 100 Dynamic status detection unit 101 Waterproof sealed case 102 Wearing belt 103 Power switch 104 Status display unit (multi-color LED) 105 Push button switch 106 Lithium polymer battery 107 Charging control unit 108 Wireless power supply receiver 109 Microprocessor 110 Six-axis inertial sensor 111 Wireless communication device 112 Acoustic notification unit 200 Dynamic status detection unit battery charging device 201 AC adapter 202 Power switch 203 Wireless power supply transmitter 204 Status display unit 300 Propulsion control unit 301 Paddle board 302 Main power switch 303 Push button switch 304 Status display unit LED 305 Motor connector 1 306 Motor connector 2 307 Detachable battery pack 308 Fixing band 309 Motor driver (ESC) 1 310 Motor driver (ESC) 2 311 Microprocessor 312 Wireless communication unit 400 Electric propulsion unit 401 Propulsion device 1 402 Propulsion device 2 403 Motor base

Claims

1. A water toy comprising a dynamic status detection unit attached to a paddle, a dynamic status detection unit that detects and transmits paddling motion information, a propulsion control unit that receives the paddling motion information, and an electric propulsion device, wherein the propulsion control unit controls the propulsion force of the electric propulsion device in response to the paddling motion information.

2. The water toy according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic status detection unit has a built-in 6-axis inertial sensor and transmits motion information including at least the direction, speed and acceleration of the paddle movement caused by paddling to the propulsion control unit.

3. The water toy according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the propulsion control unit estimates the thrust in the propulsion direction of the water toy generated by paddling from the received paddling motion information, and generates a thrust in the electric propulsion device proportional to the estimated thrust.

4. A water toy as described in claims 1 to 3, wherein the electric propulsion device has at least two motors on the left and right sides of the bottom of the water toy, and the propulsion control unit estimates the torque caused by the thrust generated by paddling from the received paddling motion information, and generates a thrust in the electric propulsion device that offsets the torque.

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