WATERCRAFT WITH SELECTIVELY RETRACTABLE AND STOWABLE PROPULSION DEVICE
A watercraft includes a hull having a hull bottom with an opening and a trunk surrounding the opening. The watercraft also includes a propulsion device pivotally mounted to a portion of the hull other than the trunk. The propulsion device can include a transmission and a propeller on an end of the transmission, and can be movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position. In the deployed position, the transmission extends through the trunk and through the opening such that the propeller is positioned below the hull bottom. In the onboard stowed position, no portion of the transmission or the propeller is located within the trunk or below the hull bottom.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Design patent application 29/289,992, filed Aug. 9, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to watercraft, and more particularly relates to a personal watercraft that includes a selectively retractable and stowable propulsion device.
BACKGROUNDPeople use personal watercraft such as kayaks and canoes for recreational activities. Modern versions of such watercraft often include hulls constructed of plastics or composite materials that are relatively strong, tough, and lightweight. When constructed of a plastic material such as polyethylene, the hulls of such watercraft can be formed using modern molding processes, including rotational molding. Such molding processes can yield a plastic hull having a relatively complex shape in a single piece.
Because modern kayaks and canoes are relatively inexpensive, environmentally inert, and relatively easy to operate and maneuver, such watercraft can be useful for fishing, bird-watching, sight seeing, and the like. A traditional kayak or canoe, however, must be manually propelled using a paddle or oars. When a person is fishing in a kayak or canoe, handling a paddle or oars can prevent a person from simultaneously handling a fishing rod or other fishing gear. Similarly, when a person is bird-watching or sight seeing in a kayak or canoe, handling paddles or oars can prevent a person from simultaneously handling binoculars, maps, guidebooks, and the like. In addition, even when a paddle or oars are not being used by a paddler, having a paddle or oars onboard can sometimes interfere with the person's non-paddling activities.
Accordingly, there is a need for a recreational watercraft that is easy to operate and maneuver, and that does not require a paddle or oars. Preferably, such a watercraft can be operated by a person in a manner that permits the person to safely perform another activity with one or both hands. Accordingly, there is a need for a watercraft with an alternative propulsion device that can be operated with one hand or no hands. Such a propulsion device should be easy to operate, and should be selectively removable from a watercraft. Preferably, such a propulsion device should be capable of being stored onboard a watercraft when not in use such that the device does not interfere with a person's onboard activities, such as fishing, or the like.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention includes a watercraft with a hull having a hull bottom with an opening therethrough, and a trunk surrounding the opening. The watercraft also includes a propulsion device pivotally mounted to a portion of the hull other than the trunk. The propulsion device can include a transmission and a propeller on an end of the transmission, and can be movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position. In the deployed position, the transmission extends through the trunk and through the opening such that the propeller is positioned below the hull bottom. In the onboard stowed position, no portion of the transmission or the propeller is located within the trunk or below the hull bottom.
In another embodiment of the invention, a watercraft includes a hull including a bottom, a first side wall, and an opposed second side wall, the bottom and first and second sidewalls defining an occupant compartment. The watercraft also includes an upright trunk surrounding an opening in the hull bottom, the trunk being located within the occupant compartment and including an open top. The watercraft further includes a propulsion device having an elongated transmission with a propeller proximate to a first end and a support arm proximate to an opposed second end, and a pivot shaft connected to the support arm. The pivot arm can be pivotally disposed between the first and second sidewalls such that the propulsion device is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. In the deployed position, the transmission downwardly extends through the trunk and through the opening in the hull bottom such that the propeller is positioned beneath the hull bottom. In the stowed position, the propulsion device is located forward of the trunk and substantially within the occupant compartment.
In another embodiment, a watercraft includes a hull having a bottom with an opening and an upright trunk surrounding the opening. A propulsion device having a transmission and a propeller operably connected to an end of the transmission, can be removably connected to the hull such that the motor propulsion device is movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position. The transmission can downwardly extend through the trunk and through the hull opening and the propeller can be located below the hull bottom when the propulsion device is in the deployed position, and no portion of the propulsion device is within the trunk when the propulsion device is in the onboard stowed position. The propulsion device is operable to be selectively moved between the deployed position and the onboard stowed position without disconnecting the propulsion device from the hull.
One embodiment of a pedal-powered watercraft 10 according to the invention is shown in
As shown in
As described in detail below, rotation of the pedals 24 in a first direction causes the propeller 27 to rotate in a first direction and to drive the watercraft 10 in a forward direction. Conversely, rotation of the pedals 24 in an opposite second direction causes the propeller 27 to rotate in an opposite second direction, and to drive the watercraft 10 in an aft or reverse direction. A person can steer the watercraft 10 while pedaling by selectively adjusting the angle of a steerable rudder 40 of a type known in the art like that shown in
Retraction and onboard stowage of the pedal propulsion device 20 is described with reference to
A second onboard stowed position is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Details of one embodiment of a pedal propulsion device 20 are shown in
A second embodiment of a watercraft 100 according to the invention is shown in
A motor propulsion device 120 includes a motor 129, a control handle 124, a transmission 121, and a propeller 127. Preferably, the motor 129 is an electric motor, though the motor can also be a gasoline engine or another type of engine or motor. When the motor 129 is an electric motor, a battery 201 can be stowed behind the seat 130 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As can be seen by comparing the pedal propulsion device 20 and the motor propulsion device 120 described above, the two devices 20, 120 can be configured to be used interchangeably in the same watercraft hull 12, 112. For example, the trunks 50, 150 of the hulls 12, 112 can be sized to removably receive either the pedal propulsion device 20 or the motor propulsion device 120. In addition, the portions of the propulsion devices 20, 120 that directly interface with the hull 12, 112 can be sized and configured to permit installation in either hull 12 or hull 112, and/or the hulls 12, 112 can be identically constructed, if desired.
The watercraft 10, 100 described above can be used for fishing, bird-watching, and other watercraft activities, and are especially suited for activities that require use of one or both hands. The hulls 12, 112 can be highly maneuverable and can have shallow drafts like conventional paddled kayaks and canoes, but the centrally-mounted propulsion devices 20, 120 eliminate the need for sometimes cumbersome paddles or oars. In addition, the propulsion devices 20, 120 free an occupant's hand or hands for use even as the watercraft 10, 100 are being propelled, turned or repositioned. Also, the propulsion devices 20, 120 can be quickly and easily stowed out of the way in a remote portion of the watercraft 10, 100 when onboard activities require additional space or increased freedom of movement, such as when an occupant prefers to paddle the watercraft 10, 100, for example.
The above descriptions of various embodiments of the invention are intended to highlight and illustrate various features and aspects of the invention, and not to limit the invention thereto. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that certain changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. All such changes and modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A watercraft comprising:
- (a) a hull having a hull bottom with an opening therethrough and a trunk surrounding the opening; and
- (b) a propulsion device pivotally mounted to a portion of the hull other than the trunk, the propulsion device comprising a transmission and a propeller on an end of the transmission, the propulsion device being movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position;
- (c) wherein in the deployed position, the transmission extends through the trunk and through the opening such that the propeller is positioned below the hull bottom; and
- (d) wherein in the onboard stowed position, no portion of the transmission or the propeller is located within the trunk or below the hull bottom.
2. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the propulsion device includes foot pedals operably connected to the transmission and the propeller.
3. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the propulsion device includes a motor operably connected to the transmission and the propeller.
4. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein all portions of the propulsion device are located forward of the trunk when the propulsion device is in the onboard stowed position.
5. A watercraft according to claim 1 and further comprising a seat proximate to the trunk.
6. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the hull further comprises opposed first and second side walls, and wherein the propulsion device is pivotally connected to the opposed first and second side walls.
7. A watercraft according to claim 6 wherein the propulsion device further comprises an arm and a shaft connected to the arm, the shaft being pivotally connected between the first and second side walls.
8. A watercraft comprising:
- (a) a hull comprising a bottom, a first side wall, and an opposed second side wall, the bottom and first and second sidewalls defining an occupant compartment;
- (b) an upright trunk surrounding an opening in the hull bottom, the trunk being located within the occupant compartment and including an open top; and
- (c) a propulsion device comprising an elongated transmission having a propeller proximate to a first end and a support arm proximate to an opposed second end, and a pivot shaft connected to the support arm, wherein the pivot arm is pivotally disposed between the first and second sidewalls such that the propulsion device is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position;
- (d) wherein in the deployed position, the transmission downwardly extends through the trunk and through the opening in the hull bottom such that the propeller is positioned beneath the hull bottom; and
- (e) wherein in the stowed position, the propulsion device is located forward of the trunk and substantially within the occupant compartment.
9. A watercraft according to claim 8 and further comprising a seat in the occupant compartment aft of the trunk, the propulsion device being configured to be operated by a person seated in the seat.
10. A watercraft according to claim 8 wherein the propulsion device includes foot pedals operably connected to the transmission and the propeller.
11. A watercraft according to claim 8 wherein the propulsion device includes a motor operably connected to the transmission and the propeller.
12. A watercraft according to claim 8 and further comprising a rudder.
13. A watercraft according to claim 8 wherein the propulsion device further comprises a deflector plate, the deflector plate being at least partially disposed within the trunk when the propulsion device is in the deployed position.
14. A watercraft according to claim 8 wherein the propulsion device is selectively operable to propel the watercraft in a forward direction and in a reverse direction.
15. A watercraft according to claim 8 further comprising a cap removably covering the open top of the trunk.
16. A watercraft according to claim 15 wherein the propulsion device is movable to a service position wherein the propeller end of the transmission rests atop the cap when the cap covers the open top of the trunk, and the propeller is positioned proximate to the trunk.
17. A watercraft comprising:
- (a) a hull having a bottom with an opening and an upright trunk surrounding the opening;
- (b) a propulsion device having a transmission and a propeller operably connected to an end of the transmission, the motor propulsion device being removably connected to the hull such that the motor propulsion device is movable between a deployed position and an onboard stowed position, wherein the transmission downwardly extends through the trunk and through the hull opening and the propeller is located below the hull bottom when the propulsion device is in the deployed position, and wherein no portion of the propulsion device is within the trunk when the propulsion device is in the onboard stowed position;
- (c) wherein the motor propulsion device is operable to be selectively moved between the deployed position and the onboard stowed position without disconnecting the propulsion device from the hull.
18. A watercraft according to claim 17 wherein the all portions of the propulsion device are located forward of the trunk when the propulsion device is in the onboard stowed position.
19. A watercraft according to claim 17 further comprising a seat positioned aft of the trunk.
20. A watercraft according to claim 17 further comprising foot pedals operably connected to the transmission and the propeller.
21. A watercraft according to claim 17 further comprising a motor operably connected to the transmission and the propeller.
22. A watercraft according to claim 21 wherein the motor comprises an electric motor.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2009
Applicant: Legacy Paddlesports, LLC (Greensboro, NC)
Inventor: Joseph Walton (Trinity, NC)
Application Number: 12/188,725
International Classification: B63H 16/20 (20060101); B63B 3/00 (20060101); B63H 21/17 (20060101); B63H 1/14 (20060101); B63B 35/71 (20060101); B63H 1/12 (20060101);