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US 11,958,572 B2Granted
Paddle wheel apparatus and method of use thereof
OwnerMerton W. Pekrulinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention comprises a paddle board apparatus and method of use thereof, comprising: a manual crank connected to a drive shaft, a rotatable housing, and a set of paddle wheels connected to an outer surface of the rotatable housing, where a child manually turning the crank simultaneously propels the paddle board forward in water through use of the paddle wheels and drives an air pump in the rotatable housing to blow bubbles about the paddle board for enjoyment of the child riding the paddle board.
Claims11
An apparatus for use by a user in water, comprising:
- a hand powered paddle board, comprising:
- a pair of manual crank pedals connected to a drive shaft;
- a rotatable housing, said rotatable housing connected to said drive shaft, said rotatable housing comprising an outer surface circumferentially surrounding said drive shaft, said set of foldable paddle wheel blades connected to said outer surface of said rotatable housing;
- and
- a first paddle wheel blade, of said set of paddle wheels, affixed to a hinged connector, said hinged connector affixed to said outer surface of said rotatable housing, said set of paddle wheels positioned radially outward from a center position between said pair of manual crank pedals,
- said rotatable housing encompassing an air pump, said air pump comprising:
- a set of vanes separating a set of expansion chambers between said drive shaft and said rotatable housing, said set of vanes positioned between a first end plate and a second endplate;
- an air inlet port through said first end plate;
- an air outlet port through at least one of said first end plate and said second end plate;
- and
- a snorkel, said snorkel connected to said air inlet port.
8 more elements
A method for use of a paddle board by a user in water, comprising the steps of:
- manually turning a pair of crank pedals connected to a drive shaft of said paddle board;
- rotation of said crank rotating a rotatable housing, said rotatable housing connected to said drive shaft, said rotatable housing comprising an outer surface circumferentially surrounding said drive shaft;
- rotation of said rotatable housing driving a set of paddle wheel blades connected to said outer surface of said rotatable housing;
- a first paddle wheel blade, of said set of paddle wheel blades, pivoting on a hinged connector, said hinged connector affixed to said outer surface of said rotatable housing, said set of paddle wheels positioned radially outward from a center position between said pair of crank pedals;
- rotation of said first paddle wheel, indirectly powered by said step of manually turning said crank, propelling said paddle board forward;
- and
- pivoting said first paddle wheel blade about said hinged connector, said step of pivoting alternatingly folding a radially outer edge of said first paddle wheel blade inward to a first radial distance from said drive shaft and unfolding said radially outer edge of said first paddle wheel blade outward to a second radial distance from said drive shaft, said second radial distance at least five percent greater than said first radial distance.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.