Watercycle for wet rider

Abstract

A watercycle having substantially do-nut shape float mounted onto a frame or chassis member, and a rider's seat adjustable vertically and horizontally. Adjusting the seat to its highest level will cause a seated rider to submerge up to the hip, and adjusting it to its lowest level will cause said rider to submerge up to 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 water-borne craft and more particularly to a watercycle wherein portion of the body of a rider, below the head, is underwater. The new watercycle is moved by working pedals and propellers, and steered by a rudder in communication with a handlebar through a train of steering column, plurality of pulleys, and actuating cord hitched onto said 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 involving a watercycle that includes a seat that's vertically adjustable and which make it possible for a rider to obtain a desired submergence when the watercycle is floated in the water.

[0003] Prior art watercycles are available although they are meant for a rider to remain completely dry while cruising leisurely or productively in the water. One example of a prior art watercycle is a two-seater ride-on “tricycle” with large wheels adapted to buoy the watercycle including the riders, and also as paddlewheels. It is moved by manipulating the pedals, and they are common rent-out in luxury beach resorts. Another prior art is a twin hull small boat. It includes pedal mechanism within the hull and a paddlewheel underneath between the front portion of the twin hull, common also in beaches and lakes for fishing and leisure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a rider the choice of how much of the lower body is submerged when cooling off in the water.

[0005] Another object is to provide a watercycle with a seat that is adjustable closer or further below the waterline when the watercycle is floated in the water.

[0006] Yet another object is to provide a safety vehicle for a non-swimmer who desires to leisurely traverse a somewhat deeper water.

[0007] Still another object of the invention is to provide bathers with slow fun-ride watercraft adaptable in a tight and crowded environment.

[0008] The present invention is directed to small watercrafts and more particularly to a watercycle wherein portion of the lower body of a rider is underwater. The watercycle includes a seat that is adjustable closer or further below the waterline. Submergence is anywhere 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 children, with relatively slow moving fun ride. The watercycle is best used in calm and protected waters like for example in the 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 frame or chassis having a pair of runners for resting on the ground and an elevated portion for attaching the float. Located centrally parallel between the runners and the elevated portions in a twin beam for supporting the seat and steering and rudder mechanism. Propellers, in communication with the pedal unit, provides propulsion for the watercraft. In a preferred embodiment, the propellers are directly coupled to the pedal unit. In another embodiment, the propellers are linked with the pedal unit by flexible shafts.

THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a watercycle of the present invention. The seat is not shown to avoid crowding of the drawing.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows substantially the left half of the watercycle shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The propellers are directly coupled to the pedal shafts.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a steering mechanism for translating rotation from handlebar to the rudder, utilizing plurality of pulleys and actuating cord.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention. It includes propellers located about the sides mid-rear portion and provided with wire mesh netting covers for protection. Flexible shafts is utilized to connect the pedal unit with the propellers.

[0016] FIG. 6 shows substantially the left half of the watercycle of FIG. 5, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 7.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

[0018] FIG. 8 shows an installed set of jaw coupling utilized to link the pedal unit with the front end of the flexible shaft, with the protective steel tubing and other parts being sectioned. (This portion is indicated by numeral “8” with arrow, in FIG. 7.)

[0019] FIG. 9 is a lower portion of a mechanism for adjusting a rider's seat vertically and horizontally, taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

[0020] FIG. 10 shows a torque limiting clutch connecting the rear end of the flexible shaft and the front end of the rigid propeller shaft. (This portion is indicated by numeral “10” with arrow, in FIG. 5.)

[0021] FIG. 11 is a simplified representation of the front end of the rigid propeller shaft.

[0022] FIG. 12 is a sectioned view of the torque limiting clutch, taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

[0023] FIG. 13 shows one of the mating jaws used in the second or other embodiment, seen in FIG. 8.

[0024] FIG. 14 shows a cylindrical insert for coupling the flexible shaft in the front end and the rigid propeller shaft in the rear end.

[0025] FIG. 15 is a sectioned view of the front end of the propeller shaft, taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows in exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a novel watercycle. It includes mainly of a generally do-nut shape float 14 and a frame or chassis 16 for mounting the float and other components thereto. Broken lines BL shows the float when mounted onto the chassis 16. The bottomless float is made of cellular polystyrene 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 others selected from highly buoyant material may also be used.

[0027] Underneath the front end of the float is concaved 18 to ensure sufficient room for the knees of a rider 20 like for example when the seat 22 is at higher and forward adjustments. Another concaved 24 portion is underneath the rear end, designed to give enough ceiling for the rudder 26. The deducted buoyant force caused by the provision of the concaved portions 18 and 24 are compensated respectively by providing integral buoyant compensators 28 and 30 located adjacently outboard said concave. The front compensators are generally quadrant-shaped while the rear compensators are elongated thick fins.

[0028] The frame or chassis 16 includes two generally parallel runners 34 with front ends bent upwardly and joined together by a transverse member 36, said runners for resting the watercycle on solid surface. Two generally parallel elevated members 38 are provided for mounting the float 14 onto. The front ends 40 are bent downwardly each connecting the runners 34 immediately after the upwardly bent portion. The rear ends 42 of the elevated members are likewise bent downwardly and each connecting the rear ends of the runners. The frame and other parts are of metal tubing, closed-end in order to give strength and added buoyancy.

[0029] Plurality of attaching means 44 are utilized to secure the float 14 to the chassis 16. Each attaching means includes two elongated bolts 46 welded parallel apart underneath a circular plate 48. The bolts are made to penetrate the float with the bottom ends 50 astriding past the elevated portion 38 of the chassis. A tubing clamp 52 with holes to receive the bolts 46 is capped from underneath the elevated portions to engage the bolts and secured with nuts in a manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

[0030] A front arch 54 and a rear arch 56 are welded transversely apart at the ends along the length of the runners 34 with elevation about halfway between the runners and elevated portions. Underneath the arches 54 and 56 is suitably attached a longitudinal twin beam 58 adapted to support the steering mechanism 60 on the front end, rudder unit 62 on the rear end, and a rider's seat 22 therebetween, as can be seen better in FIGS. 2,3 and 6.

[0031] Upper plate 64 and lower plate 66 are welded opposed the front end of the twin beam 58 for supporting the steering column 68. A bushing 70 is affixed tight-fit through the holes on plates 64 and 66 for rotatably mounting the steering column 68. A retainer collar 72 is securely attached to the column immediately above the bushing to keep said column from sliding down. A convenient distance above the collar is a loose sleeve 74, with brace 76, welded to the front arch to provide rigidity to the steering column. On the rear end of the twin beam is welded another set of opposed plates 78 and 80. A bushing 82 is likewise affixed tight-fit through the holes on the plates for rotatably mounting the rudder pintle 84.

[0032] On the bottom end of the handlebar column 68 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) is fixedly attached with a front or first pulley 86, and on the lower portion of the pintle 84 is also attached with a rear or second pulley 88. A center or third pulley 90 is rotatably mounted on a plate 92 underneath the twin beam. A rudder 26 for steering the watercraft is firmly attached on its leading edge to the slotted top and bottom portions of the pintle 84.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows in schematic an arrangement of hitching an actuating cord 94 to enable to transmit steering movement from the handlebar 96 to the rudder 26. The cord's front portion 98 between the front or first pulley 86 and the center or third pulley 90 are hitched parallel, while the cord's portion 100 between the second 88 and the third 90 pulleys are crossed in figure “8” pattern. Thus, when the handlebar 96 is rotated in one direction and hence the first pulley 86, the rear or second pulley 88 will rotate in the opposite direction and provide the desired heading for the moving watercraft. The described cord arrangement is necessary so that the seat base 102 can be slided forward or backward as needed.

[0034] A mechanism for adjusting the seat 22 is shown in FIG. 9, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 2. The seat can be adjusted higher or lower for desired submergence depth. It can be adjusted likewise forward and backward for convenient foot reach to the pedals 104. A large nut 106 is welded to a slider plate 108 with a hole 110 and laid over the distanced members of the twin beam 58, as shown. Underneath the twin beam is a holed clamping plate 112 with a spacer 114 welded to it. The seat post 116 is threaded to the nut 106. At the lower end of the seat post is a large wing nut 116 for loosening and tightening the seat base 102.

[0035] To adjust the seat 22 either vertically or horizontally or both is to loosen first the wing nut 118 in order for the clamping plate 112 to drop down to about one-eight inch to loosen its grip against the underside of the twin beam 58. The slider plate 108 can then be moved forward or backboard and/or the seat can be aptly rotated for desired height. Finally, the wing nut is tightened to keep the seat from wobbling.

[0036] A pedal unit 120 with shafts 122 on either sides and overly extended outwardly is utilized with this new concept, and is rotatably mounted on a bushing or pillow block 124 positioned about halfway of the downwardly bent front portion of the elevated member of the chassis 16. In a preferred embodiment, each shaft is directly coupled with a propeller 126 as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. In another embodiment, each shaft (see FIGS. 7 and 8) has an integral coupling jaw 130 for mating with a comparable coupling jaw 132 on one end of an adapter 134 on the front end 136 of a flexible shaft 138.

[0037] An L-shape duct or channel 140 for accelerated water passage (FIGS. 1,2 and 3) for the preferred embodiment is suitably mounted and positioned such that the propeller is within the periphery of the intake or first port 142. The discharge or second port 144 is directed towards the rear, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The propeller blades are so arranged such that when the pedals 104 are manipulated for forward movement, water enters the first port 142 and exits the second port 144 and thus the water stream produced propels the watercycle forward.

[0038] A torque limiting clutch (FIG. 10), for the other embodiment (see FIGS. 5,6 and 7), joining the flexible 138 and the rigid shaft 146 is provided to protect the flexible shaft from getting mangled up when an applied torque exceeds a preset valve. The mechanism involves a bore 148 in the front portion of the rigid shaft 146 wherein an insert block 150 (FIG. 14) is loosely lodged into. Opposing parallel cuts 152 (FIGS. 11 and 15) are made at the front portion of the rigid shaft 146, and a small portion is removed from the uncut portion 156. The insert block 150 includes circumferential grooves 158 and are so located such that they align with said cuts 152 when the insert block 150 is lodged into the bore 148. Plurality of substantially “U” springs 160 are installed astride of the uncut portion 156 (FIGS. 10 and 12) and thus the legs of the spring will cause to frictionally grip the neck or groove 158 of the insert block.

[0039] Under normal condition, when the pedal unit 120 is manipulated, the flexible shaft 138 and hence the insert block 150 also rotated. With the springs 160 retained by the uncut portion 156 of the rigid shaft 146 and holding a “grip” onto the insert block, it is apparent that the rigid shaft will also rotate. However, if the rigid shaft 146 gets tight for any reason, or sudden pedalling speed is applied and torsion gets beyond the capability of the flexible shaft, the spring grip is defeated and will cause to slip.

[0040] The embodiment just described is equipped with steel, hollow coil flexible shaft 138, although other types may be used. The front end 136 of the flexible shaft is inserted tight with a reduced end of an adapter 134. The other and larger end of the adapter has jaws 132 for connection with comparable jaws 130 at the end of the extended shaft 122 of the pedal unit 120 (FIG. 8). The rear end 162 (FIG. 10) of the flexible shaft is inserted tight with the reduced end of the insert block 164, previously described. The flexible shaft is guided and protected from damage by steel tube casing 166 with flanges 168 and 170 in the front and in the rear ends for connection to any suitable rigid member.

[0041] The propellers 172 have shafts 146 made of rigid plastic or fiberglass rods and are rotatably supported on either ends by bushing or pillow blocks (not shown) or any other means familiar in the art. The propeller blades are so arranged such that during normal forward pedaling, both propellers tend to propel the watercraft forward. The propellers are enclosed with wire mesh 176 for protection and from getting entangled with foreign objects and maybe long hair of swimmers close by.

[0042] The pedal unit 120 used with the present invention require shafts 122 on either ends outboard the pedals 104. These shafts 122 are extended so as to provide sufficient length for direct connection with the propellers 126 as can be seen better in FIGS. 1 and 3, for one embodiment. And, for the other embodiment, extended shaft is likewise necessary so as to provide sufficient space for the jaws 130 as seen in FIG. 8. These extended shafts are rotatably supported by bushing or pillow blocks mounted intermediate the downwardly bent portion on the front end of the elevated portion of the chassis member.

[0043] 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 of the type described wherein portion of the body of a rider, below the head, is underwater comprising: (a) a chassis member 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 chassis member; (c) Plurality of arches connected transversely apart along the intermediate portion of said pair of runners; (d) 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 pintle thereof; (e) steering means including first and second pulleys fixedly attached respectively to the lower portions of said steering column and said rudder pintle, and further including a third pulley disposed rotatably underneath said twin beam between said first and second pulleys; (f) means to translate rotation from handlebar to rudder, said means including hitching an actuating cord having its front portion between the first and third pulleys hitched in parallel pattern, and the rear portion of said cord between the second and third pulleys hitched in figure “8” pattern, whereby, when the handlebar is rotated in one direction, the rudder will rotate in the opposite direction and thus provide the desired heading for the watercraft; (g) propulsion means including plurality of propellers, and a pedal unit having shafts on either sides, extended outwardly and rotatably supported intermediate said downwardly bent front ends of said pair of elevated portion of the chassis member;

2. The watercycle of claim 1 wherein the propellers are each connected directly to said outwardly extended shafts of said pedal unit.

3. The watercycle of claim 2 including an L-shape channel having first and second ports defining a water stream passage therewithin, said L-shape channel being positioned such that said propeller is within the periphery of said first port and the second port directed towards the rear of the watercycle whereby, when the pedal unit is manipulated for forward movement, water enters the first port and exits on the second port and thus the water stream produced effectuates a forward movement of the watercycle.

4. The watercycle of claim 1 further including propeller means having rigid shaft mounted suitably rotatably about the sides rear portion of the watercycle at an elevation intermediate said runners and said elevated members, said propeller means include: (a) integral coupling jaws at the outboard end of said extended shaft of said pedal unit; (b) flexible shaft means having an adapter connected on its front end, said adapter having jaws comparable to and adapted to mate with said jaws at the end of said extended shaft, and the rear end of the flexible shaft being connected to an insert block portion of a torque limiting clutch, said torque limiting clutch adapted to slip when torque beyond the capability of said flexible shaft is applied.

5. The watercycle of claims 1 and 4 wherein said flexible shaft is encased with steel tubing.

6. The watercycle of claims 1 and 5 wherein the propellers are enclosed with wire mesh, for protection of said propellers and safety of personnel.

7. The watercycle of claims 3 and 6 wherein the rider's seat is adjustable vertically for desired submergence of a rider, and horizontally for convenient foot-reach to the pedals.

8. The watercycle of claim 7 wherein the float includes a first concave portion underneath the front end and a second concave portion underneath the rear end.

9. The watercycle of claim 8 wherein the float includes integral buoyant compensators underneath outboard said front and rear concaves.