Abstract: Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. The collapsible wheels can each comprise a plurality of wheel sections, a plurality of rims, and spokes connecting the plurality of wheel sections to the plurality of rim portions. The plurality of rim portions are positioned along a perimeter of a circle that defines a central plane of the wheel. Each wheel section supports one or more spokes that connect to one or more of the rim portions. The wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other around an axis from a collapsed configuration to an expanded position. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Steering apparatus having variable steering ratios are disclosed herein. An apparatus disclosed herein includes a steering drum having an oblong shaped cross section and a cable wrapped around an outer surface of the steering drum.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides differential drive assemblies and methods of making and operating differential drive assemblies. The differential drive assembly includes a rotor having a rotor axis about which the rotor is configured to rotate. The rotor has a peripheral wall portion encircling the rotor axis that is positioned a varying distance radially outward from the rotor axis. The differential drive assembly also includes a base coupled to the rotor. That includes a first plurality of pulleys and a carriage movably coupled to the base that includes a second plurality of pulleys and is movable with respect to the base. The differential drive assembly includes a rope wound about the rotor. The rope extends from the peripheral wall portion of the rotor to the second plurality of pulleys. The rope extends from the second plurality of pulleys to the first plurality of pulleys to form a continuous rope circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hands-free balancing scooter steered twistedly with feet that includes: a housing; a controller mounted on the upper portion of the housing to control driving and direction changes of the balancing scooter; motors mounted on both sides of the housing and having wheels mounted on the shafts thereof; a battery mounting portion formed on the bottom surface of the housing so as to mount a battery therein; a foothold located on top of the housing to allow a rider's both feet to be stepped thereon and having a handle formed on one side thereof and two through holes formed thereon to allow manipulating rods of rotary motion sensors embedded into the housing to protrude therefrom; and turntables mounted on the foothold in such a manner as to be assembled to the manipulating rods of the rotary motion sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mounting and controlling a motor on a kayak are disclosed. A motor may be mounted to a kayak by a single interface on the kayak and rotated using foot pegs. The control system provides for responsive input and automatic directional stabilization of the motor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides differential drive assemblies and methods of making and operating differential drive assemblies. The differential drive assembly includes a rotor having a rotor axis about which the rotor is configured to rotate. The rotor has a peripheral wall portion encircling the rotor axis that is positioned a varying distance radially outward from the rotor axis. The differential drive assembly also includes a base coupled to the rotor. That includes a first plurality of pulleys and a carriage movably coupled to the base that includes a second plurality of pulleys and is movable with respect to the base. The differential drive assembly includes a rope wound about the rotor. The rope extends from the peripheral wall portion of the rotor to the second plurality of pulleys. The rope extends from the second plurality of pulleys to the first plurality of pulleys to form a continuous rope circuit.

Abstract: Steering apparatus having variable steering ratios are disclosed herein. An apparatus disclosed herein includes a steering drum to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction. The steering drum has a shape to provide a varying steering ratio when the steering drum is rotated.

Abstract: A folding tiller for boats including a central fixed part and two essentially-symmetrical, opposing lateral segments which are articulated to the central part by respective hinges which are provided on two diametrically-opposed spokes of the tiller. The two lateral segments are folded down and stacked on top of the fixed part, in order to pass from an open extended position to a folded or retracted position. Moreover, respective longitudinally-opposing spoke segments are held in position by locking elements, at least while the tiller is to be maintained in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: A steerage wheel for a vessel such as a sailing yacht is disclosed. A rim member is attached to a hub member by a series of spokes. The rim member includes pivot mechanisms to allow sector portions of the rim member to be folded over to reduce the effective width of the steerage wheel. The spokes connecting the hub to the sector portions have releasable securing means to allow the connection between the rim member and the hub to be severed to permit folding of the steerage wheel without interference from the spokes. The releasable seeming means is a screw threaded sleeve that allows connection and detachment of the free ends of two lengths of the spoke.

Abstract: A steering system (10) of a boat (25) has a steering column (12), a dashboard mounting structure (18), a cable housing (20), and a cable (22). Parts within the cable housing (20) transfer rotation of the steering column (12) to a push-pull movement of the cable (22), causing a rudder or the like (62) to be pivoted to steer the boat (25). The cable housing (20) has a cable access door (70) to enable convenient replacement of the cable (22) as needed. The dashboard mounting structure (18) includes first and second nuts (90, 92) and a lockwasher (94) to attach the steering system (10) to the dashboard (98). The lockwasher (94) has vertical walls (106) that prevent rotation of the first nut (90) and a tab (108) that fits into a hole (104) in the dashboard (98) when the second nut (92) is tightened to prevent rotation of the lockwasher and the steering system.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for controlling the steering of an outboard motor (e.g., a trolling motor) on a marine craft. The apparatus includes a frame for attachment to a mounting surface for the motor, a D.C. motor which can be driven in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, a capstan, a flexible cable extending between the ends of the frame and being connected to the capstan and the outboard motor, and switches for actuating the D.C. motor and controlling direction of rotation. The apparatus causes the outboard motor to be pivoted in the desired direction to steer the marine craft. The D.C. motor can be controlled from a remote location on the marine craft.

Abstract: A boat steering assembly (10) including a pedestal steering actuator (11) in a column (12) mounted on a boat sole (16). A pair of steering cables (18,20) lead from the actuator through a substantially vertical orientation and then through a universal self-adjusting pulley (26) and then in substantially horizontal orientation to a rudder assembly (24). A depending bracket assembly (22) is mounted under the boat sole (16). The universal self-adjusting idler pulley (26) is mounted under the pedestal column (12) below the boat sole (16) by the depending bracket assembly (22). The steering cables (18,20) extend down from the steering actuator (11) and about the pulley assembly (26) with the bracket assembly (22) disposed on the outside of the turn of the cables (18,20) through the pulley (26) to suspend the pulley (26) in tension from the bracket assembly (22). The pulley assembly (26) is adjustable to accommodate various positions of the rudder assembly ( 24) relative to the pedestal column (12).

Abstract: A boat steering assembly including a pedestal steering actuator for actuating steering movement, a rudder having a steering axis, and cables for transmitting steering movement from the pedestal steering actuator to the rudder. The assembly further includes an idler plate sheave assembly for guiding the cables from the pedestal steering actuator in a substantially vertical orientation to the rudder in a substantially horizontal orientation. The idler sheave assembly is mounted on bolts by adjustable nuts for adjustingly angulating the idler sheave assembly in relation to the rudder to guide the cables leading from the idler sheave assembly in a plane perpendicular to the steering axis of the rudder.

Abstract: A wheel steering apparatus for a boat. A pedestal housing is mounted onto a cockpit sole or other support member. The housing supports a shaft and sprocket that are rotated by a wheel. A sheave is mounted onto the rudder post that extends from the rudder. A chain and cable linkage couples the sprocket and the sheave to pivot the sheave as the wheel rotates the sprocket. The pedestal housing encloses the entire assembly. The apparatus is particularly suited to convert boats steered by a tiller normally attached to the rudder post to wheel steering.

Abstract: The steering system includes a rotatable steering control member located remotely from a steerable dirigible wheel unit, a drive sprocket mounted for common rotation with the steering control member, a short length of roller or sprocket chain trained about the drive sprocket, a driven sprocket mounted for common rotation with the dirigible wheel unit, a short length of roller or sprocket chain trained about the driven sprocket, and flexible members, such as wire cables, interconnecting the chains so that the driven sprocket is rotated in response to rotation of the drive sprocket. Two sets of coaxially aligned pairs of pulley are located between the drive and driven sprockets and the cables are trained over the same sides of the pulleys in each set and thereby are guided through a circuitous route between the sprockets. One set of pulleys is adjustably mounted relative to the cables for adjusting the tension applied on the cables to remove slack therefrom.

Abstract: A stationary base plate having an attached pivotable plate, and a cable secured around a circular flange depending from the pivotable plate has its extending ends lengthened or shortened on pivoting the pivotable plate. With the cable ends secured to opposite sides of a pivoted lever device, it may be pivoted by turning the pivotable plate.

Abstract: A steering unit comprised of a housing which has a disc rotatably mounted therein. The disc has a grooved outer peripheral surface and has a push-pull control cable attached thereto. The push-pull control cable is attached to the disc via an inner cable. The improvement comprises a concave portion formed in the outer peripheral surface of the disc. This concave portion extends into the outer peripheral surface of the disc to a greater degree than the groove which is in the peripheral surface of the disc. The inner cable is attached to the disc at the low point of this concave indentation in the periphery of the disc. The inner cable and the concave portion of the disc are connected by means of an end fitting extending between the end of the cable and the concave portion. The end fitting is generally inclined from the groove in the disc into the concave portion whereat a head portion secures the head fitting to the concave portion of the disc.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine installation including a marine propulsion device including a transom bracket adapted to be fixed relative to a boat hull, a swivel bracket including spaced parallel apertures and mounted on the transom bracket for tilting movement about a tilt axis extending parallel to the apertures, a propulsion unit mounted from the swivel bracket for common tilting movement and for propulsion unit steering movement about a steering axis perpendicular to the tilt axis, a steering helm comprising a housing adapted to be fixed relative to the boat hull and a steering shaft mounted on the housing for rotation upon a fixed axis, a pair of flexible push-pull cables each including an outer casing having spaced first and second ends, and an inner core having a first end and a spaced second end portion extending through the respective apertures, first connections fixedly joining the outer casing first ends to the housing, second connections fixedly joining the inner core first ends to the steering sha

Abstract: A boat steering system has a rudder post actuator, a steering actuator, a pair of operating strands trained therebetween and an adjustable strand directing mechanism positioned between the rudder post actuator and the steering actuator for changing the direction of the operating strands. Such mechanism comprises a base plate defining a mounting plane and having an aperture for the operating strands and a strand directing pulley cooperating with the aperture for changing the direction of the strand passing therethrough. Both pulleys are mounted for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the mounting plate plane and have adjustable mounting means, including a link mounted for arcuate movement for arcuate adjustment of the pulley in the mounting plane while maintaining the rim of the pulley adjacent the aperture.

Abstract: A ship's steering unit comprising a housing, a cable wheel mounted within the housing, a shaft with a pinion thereon in driving engagement with the cable wheel, and a one-piece body which serves as a bearing support for the shaft, the shaft having a shroud portion providing a member for mounting the unit to a support surface, which when the unit is orientated with its housing lowermost is spaced below the upper region of the shaft and the bearing support therefor.