US 11,939,031 B2
Paddleboard propulsion system and method
Howard Cohen, Indialantic, FL (US)
Filed by IMPOSSIBLE R&D, INC., Palm Bay, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/382,309.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/054,457, filed on Jul. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0024548 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B63B 32/10 (2020.01); B63B 32/40 (2020.01); B63B 32/66 (2020.01); B63B 32/77 (2020.01); B63H 1/14 (2006.01); B63H 21/17 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 32/10 (2020.02) [B63B 32/40 (2020.02); B63B 32/66 (2020.02); B63B 32/77 (2020.02); B63H 1/14 (2013.01); B63H 21/17 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A controllable apparatus for propelling a paddleboard along a surface of a body of water, comprising:
a structure adapted to be attached to a water-facing surface of a paddleboard, said structure comprising a housing having an opening therethrough allowing a fin mounted in a fin box of the paddleboard to protrude through the structure;
a controllable electric motor attached to said structure, said controllable electric motor having a rotable shaft with a propeller attached thereto, said controllable electric motor operable to rotate the propeller such that thrust is developed when the paddleboard is floating on the body of water, said thrust tending to motivate said paddleboard in a direction of travel along the surface of the body of water; and
a controller in communication with said controllable electric motor, said controller having a user interface for receiving input commands from a user for controlling a controllable electric motor shaft rotation speed; and
a battery in electrical communication with said controllable electric motor for providing electric power to said controllable electric motor;
wherein the amount of thrust produced when said propeller is rotated is controllable by a user inputting commands for controlling the controllable electric motor shaft rotation speed into the user interface; and
wherein the structure is adapted to be attached to a water-facing surface of said paddleboard without requiring said fin to be removed.