Watercycle for wet rider

Abstract

A watercycle having generally do-nut shape float mounted onto a frame or chassis member, and a rider's seat situated within the hollow of the float, and which can be adjusted vertically and horizontally. Adjusting the seat to its highest level will cause the seated rider to submerge up to the hip, and adjusting it to its lowest level will cause the rider to submerge up to about the chest. The seat is likewise adjustable forward and backward for convenient foot-reach to the pedals.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to small watersports equipment and more particularly to a watercycle wherein portion of the body of a rider, below the head, is underwater. The novel watercycle includes propellers or paddle wheels for propulsion and is moved by working pedals. It is steered by a rudder in communication with a handlebar through a train of steering column, plurality of pulleys and actuating cord hitched onto the pulleys.

THE PRIOR ART

[0002] The background art seems to have a distant relevance to the present invention. In fact there's no known prior art watercycle that includes a seat that's adjustable horizontally in order for riders of different sizes to conveniently reach the pedals with the feet. Also, there's no prior art watercycle with a seat that's adjustable vertically to make it possible for a rider to obtain a desired submergence when the watercycle is floated in the water.

[0003] Prior art watercycle assemblies including float, seat, pedals and propeller are disclosed by Helm, U.S. Pat. No. 1,610,778; Fowler, U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,617 and Ambrose, U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,245 are all meant for a rider to get wet while having leisure in the water. Although, these watercycles don't have adjustable seat for desired submergence in the water, and for the right distance to the pedals. No runners is provided to give protection of the equipment on the ground or on the beach. Holden, U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,947 disclosed a boat assembly with “dry seat”, no runners nor sort of protection for the propeller and rudder is provided while on the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a watercycle that will keep a rider in wet condition.

[0005] Another object is to provide a rider the choice of how much of the lower body is submerged, by adjusting the seat closer to or further below the water surface when the watercycle is floated.

[0006] Yet another object is to provide a safety vehicle for a non-swimmer who desires to cool off in deeper water.

[0007] Still another object is to provide bathers with relatively slow-moving fun ride watercraft suitable for a tight and crowded environment.

[0008] The present invention is directed to small watercraft and more particularly to a watercycle wherein a seated rider is within the hold of a substantially do-nut shape float, and wherein lower portion of the body is underwater. The watercycle includes an adjustable seat so it can be moved closer to or further below the waterline. Submergence is selective between the hip and chest areas of a rider. The seat is also adjustable forward and backward for convenient reach of the feet to the pedals.

[0009] The basic concept of the invention is to provide bathers, especially youth and children, with slow-moving fun ride. The watercycle is best used in calm and protected waters like for example, in a swimming pool, beach resort and water park.

[0010] In accordance with the primary aspect of the invention, a watercycle of the type includes a modified do-nut shape float mounted and secured onto a chassis or frame having a pair of runners for resting on the ground, and an elevated portion for attaching the float. Located about centrally parallel between the runners and the elevated portions is a twin beam for supporting the seat and steering and rudder mechanisms.

[0011] In one embodiment, the propeller are located between the runner and the elevated portion in the proximity of the downwardly bent rear end of the elevated portion. The propeller is linked with the pedal unit by gear box and propeller shaft. In another embodiment, paddle wheels with sprocket are mounted rearwards of the float and operatively linked by endless chain to a driving sprocket in the pedal unit.

THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective, in exploded view, of the chassis or frame and the float of the watercycle.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment, having propellers for propulsion.

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the watercycle shown in FIG. 2.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment, having paddle wheels for propulsion.

[0016] FIG. 5 shows the side elevational view of the watercycle shown in FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic of the steering mechanism, for translating rotation from handlebar to the rudder.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a seat adjusting mechanism, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

[0019] FIG. 8 shows a rear view of a pair of paddle wheel, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

[0020] FIG. 9 shows the inside of a gearbox which maybe employed with the present invention, numeral “9” of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows, in exploded view, a chassis or frame 12 and a float 14 employed in the preferred embodiments of the novel watercycle. The float is generally do-nut shape, made of expanded or cellular plastic and provided with protective skin to shield from damage which may be caused by weather, rough handling and impact with hard objects. Inflatable rubber or plastic or any other selected from highly buoyant material may also be used. Underneath the front end of the float 14 is concaved (not shown) to provide sufficient room for the knees of a pedalling rider 16 like for example when the seat 17 is at higher and/or forward adjustments.

[0022] An underside bulge 18 rearward of the float (FIGS. 1 and 3) is provided. The bulge is adapted to displace additional volume of water in the rear portion and thereby will become a buoyant boaster for that portion of the watercycle. It will be apparent that most of the weight of a rider is concentrated in this said portion.

[0023] In both embodiments (FIGS. 3 and 5) in the region of the underside bulge 18 are channels 20 (not shown) for accommodating the elevated members 22 of the frame when mounting the float. In the embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, another added and deeper channel 24 is provided to accommodate the endless driving chain 26.

[0024] The frame 12, shown best in FIG. 1, includes two generally parallel runners 28 with front ends bent diagonally upwardly and joined together by a transverse member 30, for resting the watercycle on solid surface. Two generally parallel elevated members 22 are provided for suitably mounting the float thereto. The front ends 34 are bent downwardly, each connecting a respective runner 28 immediately after the upwardly bent portion. The rear ends 36 of the of the elevated members 22 are likewise bent downwardly and each connecting a respective rear end of the runners. The frame is preferably of metal tubing, closed-end in order to provide strength and added buoyancy.

[0025] A horizontal twin beam 38 is provided about midway between the runners 28 and the elevated portion 22 for supporting the steering mechanism 40 on the front end, rudder unit 42 on the rear end, a rider's seat in-between, and plurality of pulleys 44, 46 and 48 therealong underneath, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

[0026] A lower front arch 50 and a higher rear arch 52 are welded transversely apart at their ends along the length of the runners 28. The rear portion of the twin beam 38 is welded crosswise underneath the upper portion of the rear arch 52. The lower front arch 50, with an upstanding riser 54 welded on top, supports the twin beam on its forward end thereof.

[0027] Upper and lower plates 56 and 58 respectively are fixedly attached opposed the front end of the twin beam 38 for supporting the steering column 60. A bushing 62 is affixed tight-fit through the holes (not shown) on the plates 56 and 58, for rotatably mounting the steering column. A retainer collar 64 is secured to the column immediately above the bushing to keep the column from sliding down. At a convenient distance above the collar 64 is a loose sleeve 66 with support braces 68 as shown, provide strength to the steering column. On the rear end of the twin beam is welded with another set of opposed plates 70 and 72. A bushing 74 is likewise affixed tight-fit through holes 76 (not shown) on the plates 70 and 72 for rotatably mounting a pintle 78 for a rudder 80.

[0028] Attached to the bottom end of the handlebar column 60 (FIG. 5) is a front or first pulley 44, and the lower portion of the pintle 78 is also attached with a rear or second pulley 46. A center or third pulley 48 is rotatably mounted underside a plate 82 welded underneath the twin beam. The rudder 80, for steering the craft, is firmly gripped about its leading edge by the slotted top and bottom portions of the pintle 78. The rudder is preferably of fiberglass material.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows in schematic an operative hitching of an actuating cord 84 onto the pulleys 44, 46 and 48, for translating angular movement from handlebar to the rudder 80. The cord's front portion 86 between the front or first pulley 44 and the center or third pulley 48 are hitched in parallel, while the cord's rear portion 88 between the second 46 and third 48 pulleys are crossed in figure “8” pattern. Thus, when the handlebar 90 (and hence the first pulley 44) is rotated in one direction for example, the rear or second pulley 46 (and hence the rudder 80) will rotate in the opposite direction to effectuate a desired heading for the craft. The above hitching arrangement is necessary so that the seat sliding base plate 92 can be moved forward or backward with ease, as needed.

[0030] A riders seat 17 is rigidly affixed atop a threaded seat post 94 and is adjustable vertically for desired submergence depth of a rider, and likewise adjustable horizontally for convenient foot-reach to the pedals 96. A mechanism for adjusting the seat is shown in FIG. 7, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5. The seat post 94 is threadably mounted to cooperating nut 96 connected fixed to a slidable base plate 92 that loosely straddle the twin beam 38. A clamping plate 102 with large center opening is loosely positioned below the twin beam and being supported by a horizontal flange 104 of a downwardly bent portion 106 of the base plate 92. A spacer 108 with large center opening is welded beneath the clamping plate 102. A wing nut 110 is threadably connected to the lower portion of the threaded seat post 94 and positioned below the spacer 108.

[0031] To adjust the seat 17 vertically or horizontally or both, is to first loosen the wing nut 110 until the clamping plate 102 drop down fully to about one-eighth inch and thereby loosen its grip against the underside of the twin beam 38. The slidable base plate 92 (and thus the seat post 94) is then moved forward or backward for convenient pedaling distance to the pedals 96. And, to adjust the seat vertically, the seat 17, and thus the seat post, is aptly rotated until the right height for desired submergence of the rider is obtained. Finally, the wing nut 110 is tightened to secure the seat from wobbling.

[0032] In FIG. 1 is shown a pedal unit 112 which includes a crank with extended shaft 114 on either ends, and having a common axis, is utilized with this new concept. Each shaft 114 is rotatably supported by bushing 116 contained in a housing 118 and mounted crosswise to the intermediate of the downwardly bent front ends 34 of the elevated members 22 of the frame.

[0033] In one embodiment, conventional design propeller 120 is employed to propel the watercycle, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and connected to the rear portion of the propeller shaft 122. Plurarity of propellers 120, arranged in tandem is illustrated, although one propeller for each shaft, or any other arrangement may be used. The propeller shaft is rotatably supported by rear bushing 124 and center bushing 126 with respective housing 128 and 130 suitably bracketed or braced to the frame 36 and arch 52. The shaft is preferably of rigid plastic or fiberglass rod.

[0034] A gearbox 132, disposed adjacently outboard the bushing housing 118, connected intermediate the front end 34 of the elevated member 22 is adapted to transform a relatively low rpm input from the pedal unit into a higher rpm output for the propellers is shown sectioned in FIG. 9. It includes a gear train utilizing a pair of spur gears 134 and 136 and a pair of bevel gears 138 and 140, both with respective ratios. Other combinations familiar in the art of gearbox design may also be used.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 9, the larger spur gear 134 is keyed to journaled input shaft 142; smaller spur gear 136 and larger bevel gear 138 are both keyed to a journaled common shaft 144, and small bevel gear 140 is keyed to journaled output shaft 146. The input shaft 142 has coupling jaws 148 for communication with a comparable coupling jaws 150 at the outboard end of the pedal unit shaft 114. The output shaft 146 likewise include coupling jaws 152 for connection with coupling jaws 154 on the forward end of the propeller shaft 122.

[0036] In another embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), paddle wheels 156 are used to propel the watercycle. The paddle wheel 156 is formed of multiple, generally rectangular paddle blades 158 attached in radial orientation to a rotatable shaft 160. Two pairs of paddle wheels are installed immediately behind the float 14. Each pair of side-by-side paddle wheels connected to a common journaled shaft 160 as shown in FIG. 8. A relatively small diameter driven sprocket 162 is also connected to shaft 160. The shaft is rotatably mounted on two bushing 164 each secured into an opening 166 on a pair of legs 168 of upstanding frame 170. Through slots 172 of convenient length are disposed on the lower portion of the legs 168 so that the paddle wheels may be raised or lowered as necessary.

[0037] Diagonal, parallel support arms 176 are affixed on their lower ends to a plate 178 welded to the downwardly bent rear ends 36 of the elevated members 22. Close to the free end of the support arms 176 is an opening 180 for accommodating a threaded bolt 182. A hole in an arm 180 and a slot 172 in a leg 174 are correspondingly aligned close together and are clamped tight each with bolt 182 and wing nut 184, seen in FIGS. 5 and 8.

[0038] Anticipated riders of the watercycle are of varying weights and therefore it is sometimes necessary to adjust the paddle wheel to a position where it is most effective in moving the craft across the water. It has been found that about 40% of the length of the bottom blade 186, when the watercycle is floated, is ideal depth as shown in FIG. 5. To lower or raise the paddle wheel is to first loosen the wing nut 184 then move the paddle wheel with its mounting frame to desired level, and to the correct strain of the driving chain 26. Finally, the wing nut is securely tightened.

[0039] On the outboard end of the shaft 114 of the pedal unit (FIGS. 1 and 4), is suitably rigidly attached a relatively large diameter driving sprocket 190. As seen in FIG. 5, an endless drive chain 26 operatively connect the large diameter sprocket 190, attached to the pedal unit shaft 114, with the small diameter sprocket 162 attached to the paddle wheel shaft 160. Thus, when the pedal unit is manipulated for movement of the watercycle, increased rpm is translated to the paddle wheel.

[0040] The preferred embodiments having been described, changes in shape and form may be incorporated by those skilled in the art and such may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claim herein appended:

Claims

1. A watercycle wherein portion of the body of a rider, below the head, is underwater comprising:

(a) a frame including a pair of substantially parallel runners for resting said watercycle on a solid surface and having on the front ends thereof upwardly bent portion and being connected together by a transverse member, and a pair of elevated, substantially parallel portions with front ends bent downwardly and connecting said runners immediately behind said upwardly bent portions, and the rear ends of said elevated portions bent downwardly and connecting the rear ends of said runners;

(b) a generally do-nut shape, highly buoyant float member suitably mounted onto said elevated portions of said frame, for floating said watercycle and said rider thereof;

(c) twin beam disposed longitudinally horizontally between said pair of runners and pair of elevated portions, said twin beam for supporting a rider's seat, steering column and rudder thereof;

(d) plurality of arches connected transversely apart along the intermediate portion of said pair of runners, for supporting said twin beam;

(e) steering means including first and second pulleys fixedly attached respectively to the lower portions of said column and rudder pintle, and further including a third pulley disposed rotatably underneath said twin beam between said first and second pulleys;

(f) means translating rotation from handlebar to rudder, said means including hitching an actuating cord having its front portion between said first and third pulleys hitched in parallel pattern, and the rear portion of said cord between said second and third pulleys hitched in figure “8” pattern, whereby when the handlebar is rotated in one direction, the rudder will rotate in opposite direction and thereby provide the desired heading of the watercraft;

(g) a seat, supported by said twin beam, adjustable vertically for desired submergence depth of a rider in the water, and horizontally by suitably sliding said seat along said twin beam for convenient foot-reach to the pedals, said seat adjustable vertically by aptly rotating thereof;

(h) a pedal unit having shaft on either side extended outwardly and rotatably supported intermediate the downwardly bent front ends of said elevated portion, said pedal unit adapted to communicate with means to transform a relatively low rpm pedal input into higher rpm propulsion output;

2. The float recited in claim 1 further include a concave portion underside the front end thereof, to provide sufficient room for the knees of a pedaling rider, and a channel about the underside bulge on the rear end adapted to accommodate the rear of said elevated portion of the frame when the float is mounted onto said frame;

3. The seat recited in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a threaded seat post rotatably connected to a cooperating nut affixed to a base plate, said base plate being supported slidably by said twin beam;

(b) spacer means rigidly attached underneath a clamping plate, said clamping plate for clamping against the underside of said twin beam;

(c) a wing nut threadably connected to the lower portion of said seat post underneath said spacer means, whereby, when said wing nut is rotated in one direction, it will cause the clamping plate to ease off its grip against said twin beam, and when, said wing nut is rotated in the other direction, it will cause said clamping plate to apply its grip against said twin beam and thus prevent said seat from wobbling;

4. The combination defined in claim 1-3 wherein said means to transform a relatively low rpm pedal input into higher rpm propulsion output includes:

(a) a gearbox having an input shaft in communication with said pedal unit shaft, and an output shaft in communication with a propeller shaft having at least one propeller means coupled to the rear portion thereof;

(b) gear train within said gearbox having a pair of ratio spur gear and a pair of ratio bevel gear arranged to transform a relatively low rpm input into higher rpm output, whereby, when said pedal unit is manipulated for movement of the watercycle, said propeller will rotate at comparatively higher rpm thereof;

5. The combination defined in claims 1-3 wherein said means to transform a relatively low rpm pedal input into a higher rpm propulsion output includes:

(a) a relatively large-diameter drive sprocket connected to said pedal unit shaft;

(b) a relatively small diameter driven sprocket connected to a rotatable shaft, said shaft having at least one paddle wheel connected thereto and being mounted immediately behind said float;

(c) a drive chain operatively connecting said large diameter drive sprocket with said small diameter driven sprocket, whereby, when the pedal unit is manipulated for movement of the watercycle, the paddle wheel will rotate at a comparatively higher rpm thereof;

6. The combination of claims 1-3 and 5 wherein said paddle wheel is vertically adjustable for ideal depth in the water, for maximizing movement of the craft thereof;

7. The combination defined in claims 1-3 and 5-6 wherein the float further include a second set of deeper channel about the underside bulge region on the rear portion for accommodating said endless drive chain.