Wearable diving and swimming propulsion apparatus

Abstract

A wearable diving and swimming propulsion apparatus, constituted of: an underwater unit; and a securing member, wherein the underwater unit comprises: at least one fin; at least one motor; and at least one thruster configured to generate underwater thrust responsive to the at least one motor, wherein each of the at least one thruster comprises a propellor, and wherein the securing member is configured to secure the underwater unit to a diver.

1 . A wearable diving and swimming propulsion apparatus, comprising:
 an underwater unit; and   a securing member,   wherein the underwater unit comprises:
 at least one fin; 
 at least one motor; and 
 at least one thruster configured to generate underwater thrust responsive to the at least one motor, wherein each of the at least one thruster comprises a propellor, and 
   wherein the securing member is configured to secure the underwater unit to a diver.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the securing member comprises a strap. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the securing member is configured to secure the underwater unit to a torso of the diver. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the securing member is configured to secure the underwater unit to a torso of the diver. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the securing member is configured to secure the underwater unit to a back of the diver. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fin comprises a plurality of fins secured to the securing member, each of the plurality of fins extending from the securing member along a respective vector. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one thruster comprises a plurality of thrusters, each of the plurality of thrusters juxtaposed with a respective one of the plurality of fins. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the base exhibits a central axis extending therethrough,
 wherein each of the plurality of thrusters exhibits a respective longitudinal axis, the propeller of the respective thruster configured to rotate about the respective longitudinal axis, and   wherein the central axis is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of thrusters.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the central axis of the base is between the longitudinal axis of a first of the plurality of thrusters and the longitudinal axis of a second of the plurality of thruster. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a distance between the longitudinal axis of the first of the plurality of thrusters and the central axis of the base is substantially equal to a distance between the longitudinal axis of the second of the plurality of thrusters and the central axis of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises two fins, an angle between the vectors of the two fins being about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises two fins, and
 wherein the securing member defines a plane, the vectors of the two fins being parallel to the plane.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fins further comprises a third fin, an angle between the vector of the third fin and the vectors of each of the two fins being about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises four fins, an angle between the vector of each of the four fins and the vector of an adjacent one of the four fins being about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises four fins, a first of the four fins facing a second of the four fins and a third of the four fins facing a fourth of the four fins,
 wherein the direction of the vector of the first of the four fins is generally equal to the direction of the vector of the second of the four fins, and   wherein the direction of the vector of the third of the four fins is generally equal to the direction of the vector of the fourth of the four fins.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a rotation mechanism; and   a control circuitry,   wherein the rotation mechanism is configured, responsive to the control circuitry to rotate one or more of the plurality of fins about one or more respective rotation axes.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the securing member defines a plane, and
 wherein for each of the plurality of fins, the respective rotation axes comprise:
 a longitudinal axis of the base extending within the plane; 
 an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base and extending within the plane; and 
 an axis generally perpendicular to the plane. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the rotation mechanism is configured, responsive to the control circuitry to rotate one or more of the plurality of fins about two or more of the respective rotation axes. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the rotation mechanism is configured, responsive to the control circuitry to rotate one or more of the plurality of fins about three or more of the respective rotation axes. 
     
     
         20 . A method of diving and/or swimming comprising:
 securing an underwater unit to a diver, the underwater unit comprising: a fin, a motor, and a thruster configured to generate underwater thrust responsive to the motor, wherein the thruster comprises a propellor; and   operating the at least one motor.