2. TABLE OF CONTENT
THE PRESENTATION 3 V. COMPETITION 21
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 VI. PRODUCT
TECHNICAL ASPECTS 25
II. MISSION STATEMENT 7
THE INVENTION
CONTACT 39
III. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 10
IV. MARKET SUMMARY 14
POTENTIAL MARKET DEMAND 16
MARKET DEMOGRAPHICS 17
PRODUCT PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS 20
3. THE PRESENTATION
This presentation has the purpose to give a short and brief
description of the P.U.V. personal underwater vehicle
AQUABUDDY.
More details and specs could be request in a future contact.
I. THE PRESENTATION
5. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Personal Underwater Vehicle (PUV) have been used by
military, scientific research and recreational divers for a few
decades. The main advantages for utilizing a PUV are to cover
larger areas underwater with minimum effort from the diver.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
6. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Data show that there is significant growth in the dive industry, specifically
diver certifications. According to the 2001 PADI Certification History
Report1, there are more than 11 million Cumulative Certifications
documented in the US, with a growth percentage of 6.33 percent
per year.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
8. THE INVENTION
PROTOTYPE ALREADY
TESTED UNDERWATER
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
9. MISSION STATEMENT
To design and market efficient and effective transportation devices for
recreational and scientific research purposes. Our research
department knows that several designs for personal underwater
vehicles are in the market now. None of them, however includes,
among other features, a dual, 14 counter rotating motor that pulls
from near the center of mass while towing a diver from behind the
center of mass and an adjustable ballast system and propeller-wash
avoidance features combined into a sleek self contained long range
capable device.
At this time, the goal is too sell the patent or to find investors to take
this personal underwater vehicle (PUV) to market.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
11. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Our company has been able to design a personal underwater vehicle
(PUV) that not only fulfill industry safety standards, but it is among the
most efficient in terms of performance due to its dual propulsion
system. The following considerations were taking into account when
evaluating our PUV:
• Water properties and hydrodynamics • Ergonomics/human factors
• Vehicle propulsion, with a direct reference to • Materials and waterproofing
free energy sources and self powering motion • Lighting
• Breathing apparatus • Water pressure, and its effect towards the
• Buoyancy product and humans
• Safety and environmental considerations • Existing product distance range
• Noise and vibration
• Mechanical and electrical engineering
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
12. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Another objects of the present invention is to provide:
• A device that can be used with a single hand, either for
the handicapped or allowing the operator to have a hand
freely available for other uses such as photography, spear
fishing, navigation or to allow the operator diver to hold
their nose for clearing sinuses and equalizing pressure.
• An underwater vehicle that has an adaptable ballast
system to accommodate varying power supplies and the
mass of other onboard systems.
• An underwater vehicle that is both thrust balanced and
rider balanced so that the vehicle is easily steerable and
controllable.
• A device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain
while retaining its effectiveness.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
13. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Another objects of the present invention is to provide:
Additionally, our PUV An underwater personal
vehicle that as twin battery powered motors
affixed to a central body. The propellers
preferably counter-rotate and are in shrouds to
allow true tracking without stabilizing fins. The
operator holds onto the device and controls it
from handles on the aft end of the central
body. A light and supplemental ballast tubes are
available. The thrust produced by the motors is
at approximately the center of mass of the
vehicle to further stabilize it during motion
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
15. MARKET SUMMARY
General Market and Demographic Data *
• Estimated number of certified divers in the US - 6 million
• Data show the total U.S. scuba sales in 2001 to be $812.8 million *
• Estimated number of active divers in the US - 2.5 million
• Estimated number of new divers certified each year - 250,000
• Estimated number of retail dive operations in the US - 2000
• Average gross revenue per store - $475,000
• Average revenue generated by dive operations rentals - $700 million
• Estimated revenue generated by dive travel sales - $1.7 billion
• Estimated number of dives by US divers per year - $20 million
Data supplied by PADI and DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association)
III. Market Summary
16. POTENTIAL MARKET
DEMAND
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that there are currently 5,674 taxable and 749 exempt sports and
recreation instruction establishments in the US, with more than $1.4 billion in sales per year.
III. Market Summary
17. MARKET DEMOGRAPHICS
Marketing efforts should be focused on two types of target consumers: Dive
operations and the consumer market (certified scuba divers)
Survey results show the following prominent information:
• The US states California, Hawaii, Washington, New Jersey, and Florida have the
strongest demand for DPVs. Surveys show that areas with bad diving conditions do
not have a strong demand for PUVs.
• The rental market is prominent in resort areas with good dive conditions.
• Data show that the majority of dive operations based in Hawaii do not allow PUV
dives to be unaccompanied by an instructor. This is due to liability reasons.
III. Market Summary
18. MARKET DEMOGRAPHICS
Survey results show the following prominent information:
• Surveys conducted show that younger males use PUVs mainly for the thrill of riding
underwater, and older males use s mainly to reduce air consumption.
• Surveys show among female PUV certified divers, size and weight are the most
important features in the purchase of a PUV.
• 98 percent of the 60 PUV certified divers surveyed do not own a DPV, and 63
percent would like to own one.
III. Market Summary
19. MARKET DEMOGRAPHICS
Survey results show the following prominent information:
• 80 percent of PUV certified divers and 80 percent of dive operations believe that
cost is a large factor in the purchase of a PUV.
• 70 percent of PUV certified divers surveyed chose battery life as the PUV feature
that is most important.
• 54 percent of dive operations surveyed do not currently sell PUVs, with 65 percent
answering that the reason why is that there is no demand.
• 53 percent of PUV certified divers surveyed became interested in PUVs from a
dive store, and 35 percent became interested in PUVs from a friend.
III. Market Summary
22. COMPETITION
Several designs for personal underwater vehicles have been
designed in the past. None of them, however includes, among
other features, a dual, counter rotating motor that pulls from near
the center of mass while towing a diver from behind the center
of mass and an adjustable ballast system and propeller-wash
avoidance features combined into a sleek self contained long
range capable device.
IV. Competition
24. COMPETITION
Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. patent No. 4,996,938 issued
to Cameron. However, it differs from the present invention because the Cameron device
requires the operator of the device to grasp the device near the center of thrust, requires
two-handed operation and requires the operator to expose their face, and necessarily their
face mask, to the full force of the hydrodynamic water resistance during travel.
IV. Competition
26. 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Furthermore, the present device
includes features including an
electronic display, accessory
mounting rack, integrated light and
is balanced to tow more than one
person.
Other patents describing the
closest subject matter provide for
a number of more or less
complicated features that fail to
solve the problem in an efficient
and economical way. None of
these patents suggest the novel
features of the present invention.
III. Product Technical Aspects
27. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
Keeping the previous related objects in mind, the
invention consists in the details of construction and
combination of parts as will be more fully understood
from the following short descriptions. Any further details
can be arrange by request.
III. Product Technical Aspects
28. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
This unit is unique in many ways.
First, the dual propeller thrust comes from either side of the
diver and thus is not directly in her face mask. Also, the low
profile of the unit allows it to be operated on the surface or
beneath the water. The unit has been designed and
engineered to speeds up to and beyond three miles per
hour, depending on the diver and the charge of the battery.
III. Product Technical Aspects
29. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
Another feature is the speed control throttle 40. By
depressing the throttle 40 button half way, the
vehicle operates at half-speed which is an
economical cruising rate. This propels the unit at
approximately twelve pounds of thrust at which
speed it can operate up to three hours of
continuous use.
Depressing the accelerator button all the way puts the
unit into high speed at maximum thrust which
allows operation up to one hour of continuous
use. Typically each motor will produce at maximum
power 23 about twenty-four to one-hundred-one
pounds of thrust or more.
III. Product Technical Aspects
30. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
body
Safety and Optionals
The device runs 1 smoothly and quietly in the water. The
headlight is designed with a particular safety feature. For
example, if one is night diving and the light should burn out,
the operator can simply move the switch to the opposite
position and the second beam will be in operation. This
prevents one from being "left in the dark".
The device can optionally include a eyebolt attached to the
body or control assembly, which is ideally located for towing a
vehicle or another diver. It can also be used as a tether to the
operator's belt to prevent the unit from floating to the surface
because of it's positive buoyancy. Buoyancy of the unit can be
control assembly
varied by adding ballast weight inside the body or inside a tube
under the body to the desired buoyancy.
inside tube
Of course, any of the specifications in the above embodiment
may be amended or modified as necessary for the particular
application. For example, different batteries, lights or switches
may be better adapted to specific situations.
III. Product Technical Aspects
31. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
The control assembly 16 is shown to include, inter alia, a hatch 34, a handle 36, a handle 37, a
switch 38, a display 39 and a throttle 40. The body assembly 12 is the central structure and
largest part of the device. The body 18 is generally a hollow cylinder that contains the several
internal components and provides the structure onto which the other necessary and optional
components are affixed. The handle 22 is provided on most variations to more easily transport
the device while not in the water.
III. Product Technical Aspects
32. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
To each side of the body assembly 12 is affixed a motor 28. The motor 28 connects to
the body 18 via a strut 42. The strut 42 is generally a tube that holds the motor 28 the
proper distance away from the body assembly 12 to prevent the propeller 30 that is
powered by the motor 28 from hitting the body assembly 12. The strut 42 also acts as a
conduit for wiring that supplies power to the motors 28.
III. Product Technical Aspects
33. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
The strut 42 and support 44 may be cylindrical in cross-section or may also take the
form of a hydrodynamic foil to track truer while the vehicle is in motion. The
hydrodynamic cross-section can act similar to an aircraft wing to provide lift and tracking.
The hydrodynamic shape of the cross-section can also have neutral lift if shaped similar
to a symmetrical tear drop. The cross-section shape can reduce the fluid resistance
experienced by the strut 42 and support 44 thereby allowing the device to move easier
through the water resulting in faster speeds and/or reduced battery usage.
III. Product Technical Aspects
34. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
The shrouds 32 are affixed, 1 one each, to the left and right side of the body 18. The
shrouds 32 each house a propeller 30 that is connected to a motor 28. The shrouds 32
aid in preventing any foreign object, or an operator of the vehicle, from contacting the
propeller 30. This protects both the propeller 30 and the operator from injury.
III. Product Technical Aspects
35. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
The shrouds 32 also act to direct the flow of
water that the propellers 30 push when in
operation. This feature avoids the otherwise
necessary stabilizing fins or struts. In typical use,
water is drawn into the front of the shroud 32 by
the propeller 30 and forced out of the back of the
shroud 32 in a directed flow of water. The shroud
32 acts to expel that flow of water in the most
efficient way behind the device. In this way the
prop-wash behind the vehicle avoids interacting
with the user of the device.
III. Product Technical Aspects
36. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
It is important for an operator of the device to
not be directly in the prop-wash, flow of water
ejected by the propellers 30. The efficiency of the
vehicle is potentially adversely affected if the
force of water flow created by the propellers 30
strikes or is obstructed by the operator. It is
important to have a free path of fluid travel
behind the propeller or efficiency can be severely
compromised.
Besides efficiency, the operator coming into contact
with the prop wash can make it more difficult to hold
on to the device. This can prematurely fatigue the
operator resulting in a dangerous condition made
worse by being underwater. Further, the prop-wash
can blow off the operator’s dive mask 1 or breathing
regulator, also a very dangerous condition for the
operator.
Now referring to beside drawing where an alternate
solution to the prop wash issue is demonstrated to
include, inter alia, a body, 92, handles 94, a fairing 96, a
handle 98 and a nosecone 100.
III. Product Technical Aspects
37. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 4, a front perspective view of the device is shown. The nosecone 20 is generally a dome that
encloses the fore end of the body assembly. In a preferred version, the nosecone 20 is made a clear, rigid material
such as glass, acrylic or other plastic. Under the nosecone 20 is a light 46. The nosecone 20 is preferably permanently
affixed to the fore end of the body assembly 12. Access to the light 46 for service and maintenance purposes may be
had through the hatch 34 on the aft end of the body assembly 12.
In other versions the light 46 may be absent from the device and the nosecone 20 may then be absent or constructed of
a rigid, opaque material. Without a light 46 the nosecone 20 may be integral to the construction of the body 18 of the
body assembly 12. Whether a light 46 is present or not, the nosecone 20 preferably is formed of a hydrodynamic shape so
that the energy required to propel the vehicle through the water is minimized, speed is optimized and the required
battery weight to complete a particular application is minimized.
III. Product Technical Aspects
38. THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION
The light 46 may be controlled by switch 38.
The switch 38 can simply be comprised of
an on-off switch or may index through
incremental intensities of the light.
For example, when the light 46 is off a single 38
push of switch 38 turns the light 46 on to a low
intensity, a second push turns it to a medium
intensity, a third turns the light 46 on high
intensity and a subsequent push turns the light
46 off. Alternatively, a half-press of switch 38 may
result in a low light 46 intensity and a full press
of switch 38 results in full light 46 intensity.
III. Product Technical Aspects
