Patent Application
20050106954
The present invention relates to an accessory system simulating the biomechanical motion of manual paddling such as with a canoe or small boat. The system comprises: a watercraft attaching frame having a width-adjustable joining portion, an array of levers and members, paddle attaching members, a pedal system, and linkage therebetween, all forming a mechanical structure adapted to simulate the biomechanical motion commonly used by operators paddling a small watercraft.
For illustration purposes, the applicant will illustrate the use of the present invention as used on a conventional canoe. However, it will be understood that the invention, as described, is equally effective on small boats and similar watercrafts, which can commonly be propelled by use of conventional paddles.
The inventor sought to provide canoe operators with a system for not only propelling a canoe using pedal power from one's legs, but also with the ability to easily disable said system when not required, and particularly, simulate the biomechanical motion of canoe paddling thus optimizing water displacement, making the effort of paddling optimally efficient. Furthermore the present invention provides improvement in the art of pedal-propulsion systems designed for small watercraft. Most pedal propulsion systems aim to eliminate the need of manually paddling the watercraft by hand, or to replace electric or gas powered motors, which in turn drive propeller drives or paddle wheel assemblies. Existing pedal powered propulsion devices for small watercraft are usually attached to the watercraft in a fashion so that it could be removed at a later time. However, during the period of use, afloat in the water, the device is always attached in a way that in turn may limit the flexibility of travel for the watercraft. One such case is where the watercraft is required to traverse a narrow waterway or fixed obstacles in its path.
There are three basic categories of human-powered propulsion systems for small watercrafts, they are:
Devices falling into categories (i) and (ii) develop problems with tangling of aquatic plants, damage to aquatic plants and to equipment. Devices falling into categories (ii) and (iii) are usually of a bulky nature and cumbersome, which take up space outside of the watercraft, in turn limiting the maneuverability of said watercraft.
In summary devices of category (i), propeller driven, have the following problems;
Category (ii) devices, paddle wheels, have the following problems;
Category (iii) devices, rowing-style driving devices, have the following problems;
Therefore, the applicant intends to overcome a majority of the problems associated with prior art human-powered propulsion system by providing a new improved biomechanically correct pedal powered paddling system for small watercrafts.
The applicant is aware of attempts in prior art to provide means of propelling small watercrafts using mechanically powered apparatuses.
An example of prior art may be had when referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,732 of Owen, issued Dec. 17, 1996 depicting a part paddle attached to a mechanical linkage device powered by foot pedals. However, the device fails to compare with the present invention in that it propels the watercraft using a fish-tail motion know to be inefficient when adapted to a rigid body since it exerts a large portion of its force in a side to side motion.
Another example may be had in referring to U.S. Pat. No. 1,532,990 of Csengery, issued Apr. 7, 1925, which teaches of a boat having a rotary paddle apparatus adapted to propel said boat by hand power. This device fails to compare with the present invention in that it does not simulate the biomechanical motion of human paddling, as does the present invention.
Another example may be had in referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,991 of Schinkel, issued Oct. 5, 1993, which depicts a manually operated propulsion device for a canoe comprising generally of a rotary paddle arrangement power by hand, again failing in that it does not simulate the biomechanical motion of human paddling.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide canoe operators with a system for not only propelling a canoe using pedal power from one's legs, but also with the ability to easily disable said system when not required, and particularly, simulate the biomechanical motion of canoe paddling thus optimizing water displacement and efficiency.
In one aspect of the invention, the system synthesizes the natural manual paddle motion commonly used when paddling by hand.
In another aspect of the invention, the system's biomechanically correct simulation enhances the efficiency in power transfer by reducing drag while increasing paddle alignment.
In another aspect of the invention, the system of the present invention can easily collapse when use thereof is not desired.
In another aspect of the invention, the system can be quickly installed and removed from the watercraft in a matter of minutes without making alterations or modifications to said watercraft.
Accordingly, the system of the present invention provides canoe operators with a system for propelling a canoe using pedal power from one's legs, the ability to easily disable said system when not required, and particularly, simulates the biomechanical motion of canoe paddling thus optimizing water displacement a paddling efficiency.
These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following brief description and upon referring to the drawings in which:—
While the invention is described in conjunction with preferred illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.
Turning to the drawings, in particular,
A paddle crank having a non-rotational female end adapted to receive the male end of a drive shaft, and a rotational end adapted to secure to a linkage attaching portion of the above paddle receiving portion rotates at a drive axis 11, and a swing lever rotates at a lever axis 10.
Upon following the path as illustrated in this Figure, one can comprehend the compound motion generated by this dual axis-dual pivot method of obtaining the biomechanically correct simulation of natural paddling motion. The system of the present invention therefore promotes optimal paddle entry to and exit from the water body 14 on which a canoe 16 is traveling.
Turning now to
In reference now to
Two frame extension portions 21 extending rearwardly from each upper outermost portion of said frame 20 integrally include a front bracket 31 and a rear bracket 30 wherein the front bracket 31 serves to rotationally attach the lower portion of a diagonal support 24, and the rear bracket 30 serves to also rotationally attach the lower portion of a vertical arm 22 on which the upper portion of the diagonal support 24 in turn rotationally attaches to a perforation in the upper-mid section of the vertical member 22 thereby resulting is a triangular structure formed between the frame extension 21, the vertical member 22 and the diagonal support 24. Pedal drive extensions 36 having deep female end and a male end wherein the female end having a generally square inner form is adapted to slidably but non-rotationally engage with the outer surface of the pedal drive 37, and the male end of the pedal drive extension is partly threaded to accept a nut after traversing the crank arm 26 thus preventing rotational freedom of crank arm with pedal drive extension 36.
A swing lever 23 having a perforation near each end, rotationally attaches at one end of said lever 23 to the uppermost perforation of the vertical member 22, and the opposing end of said lever 23 securedly attached to pivoting member of the upper paddle clamp 28.
The upper paddle clamp 28 and lower paddle clamp 27 frictionally attach to a conventional paddle and said paddle clamps 28 and 27 comprise: a paddle receiving portion, a locking member, an axle member and a linkage attaching portion.
Turning now to
Two frame extension portions 21 extending rearwardly from each upper outermost portion of said frame 20 integrally include a front bracket 31 and a rear bracket wherein the front bracket 31 serves to rotationally attach the lower portion of a diagonal support 24, and the rear bracket serves to also rotationally attach the lower portion of a vertical arm 22 on which the upper portion of the diagonal support 24 in turn rotationally attaches to a perforation in the upper-mid section of the vertical member 22 thereby resulting is a triangular structure formed between the frame extension 21, the vertical member 22 and the diagonal support 24.
A drive crank 26 is non-rotationally engage to the outermost end of the pedal drive assembly, and its other end pivotally engaged to the lower paddle clamp 27 thus, when rotational force is created by a paddler, the pedal assembly thereby rotates the drive crank 26, which in turn exerts a rotational force at an arm motion on upper paddle clamps 28 rotationally attached to the ends of the drive crank 26. Said paddle clamps 27, when frictionally attached to the lower mid portion of a conventional paddle 25, form a basis of the compound motion of the system of the present invention, which synthesizes to natural motion of arm-powered paddling.
The upper paddle clamp 28 and lower paddle clamp 27 frictionally attach to a conventional paddle and said paddle clamps 28 and 27 comprise: a paddle receiving portion, a locking member, an axle member and a linkage attaching portion. The pedal drive extensions 36 having deep female end and a male end wherein the female end having a generally square inner form is adapted to slidably but non-rotationally engage with the outer surface of the pedal drive 37, and the male end of the pedal drive extension 36 is partly threaded to accept a nut after traversing the crank arm 26 thus preventing rotational freedom of crank arm with pedal drive extension 36.
Therefore, it can be understood that a paddler, seated (55) within the watercraft 16, places his feet one on each pedal 34 at the pedal drive assembly 37, and supports himself by holding the gunwales 17 of said watercraft 16, pedals as he would a bicycle to drive the attached crank arm 26, which is rotably engaged to the lower mid section of a conventional canoe paddle 25 by means of a pivotal lower paddle clamps 27, and said canoe paddle 25 is pivotally engaged to a swing lever 23 by means of a pivotal upper paddle clamp 28, which said upper paddle clamp 28 being attached to said swing lever 23 and said swing lever 23 opposing end being pivotally attached to a vertical arm 22 supported by a diagonal support 24 thereby, when the drive crank 26 is rotated, the lower paddle clamp 27 simply moves in a continually rotational movement equal in radius to the center to center of both perforations in the drive crank 26, and the upper paddle clamp 28 movement is thereby limited to an arc of a tangent generally equal to twice the radius of the crank arm 26. Therefore, the combination of these movements for a compound action at the tip of a paddle 25 closely synthesizes the natural motion of conventional arm-powered paddling but is powered by the user's legs.
A pedal drive assembly 37 having two foot pedals 34 both offset on the same plane and integrally attached to a drive member, which rotates on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the canoe's 16 length, a bearing portion 39 at each end distal from the foot pedals 34, drive extension members 36 having deep female end and a male end wherein the female end having a generally square inner form is adapted to slidably but non-rotationally engage with the outer surface of the pedal drive 37, and the male end of the pedal drive extension 36 is partly threaded to accept a nut after traversing the crank arm 26 thus preventing rotational freedom of crank arm with pedal drive extension 36. Two frame extension portions 21 extending rearwardly from each upper outermost portion of said frame 20 integrally include a front bracket 31 and a rear bracket wherein the front bracket 31 serves to rotationally attach the lower portion of a diagonal support 24, and the rear bracket serves to also rotationally attach the lower portion of a vertical arm 22 on which the upper portion of the diagonal support 24 in turn rotationally attaches to a perforation in the upper-mid section of the vertical member 22 thereby resulting is a triangular structure formed between the frame extension 21, the vertical member 22 and the diagonal support 24.
A drive crank 26 is non-rotationally engage to the outermost end of the pedal drive assembly, and its other end pivotally engaged to the lower paddle clamp 27 thus, when rotational force is created by a paddler, the pedal assembly thereby rotates the drive crank 26, which in turn exerts a rotational force at a circumferential motion on paddle clamps 28 rotationally attached to the ends of the drive crank 26. Said paddle clamps 28, are frictionally attached to the lower mid portion of a conventional paddle 25.
Turning now to
In its opened position, the paddle clamp 27 or 28 is poised to receive a paddle 25 handle between its inner paddle cradles 63 and 64. Once the paddle 25 is in place, the two-axis hinge 62 is pulled over the body portion 60 and the locking lever's 61 knuckle placed into the outer clamp cradle 65, the locking lever 61 is then turned over the body 60 wherein the off-center hinge axis portion 70 applies compression to the paddle handle 25. The axle 66, being rotationally engaged within the body portion 60 and fixedly attached to a corresponding swing lever or crank arm allows free rotational motion of the clamps 27 or 28 from the axle 66 and its attached members.
Turning to
Turning to
Therefore in resolution of the above specification of the present invention, anyone with a small watercraft such as a canoe with two paddles can quickly and easily adapt said watercraft and benefit from the features and utility of the present invention.
