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US 4,376,420 AGranted
Inflatable boat including a mechanical propulsion assembly for operation by a user
OwnerBruno Fracarossiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable boat includes a mechanical propulsion assembly operable by the legs of the user. The inflatable boat has three independent air chambers inflatable to give the boat an operative fork shape. A throw-like shaft mounted in bushes on the branches of the fork shape receives propulsive force from the user's feet. A pair of paddles keyed to the throw-like shaft propel the boat. Shoe-like sheaths may be included on the throw-like shaft for resting the user's feet. When dismantled, the boat does not occupy much space, is easily transportable and is inexpensive.
Claims10
An inflatable boat comprising:
- a unitary inflatable structure including a base air chamber and first and second branch air chambers;
- said inflatable base air chamber having a central member and first and second branches forming a fork shape;
- said first inflatable branch air chamber being overlaid at least on said first branch;
- said second inflatable branch air chamber being overlaid at least on said second branch;
- said inflatable base air chamber, and first and second inflatable branch air chambers being flexible, independently inflatable, and being effective when inflated to impart said fork shape and a semi rigidity to said boat and being deflatable to permit folding of the inflatable air chambers into a substantially reduced space;
- first and second mutually aligned bushes integrally disposed at corresponding first positions on said first and second branches, respectively;
- third and fourth mutually aligned bushes integrally disposed at corresponding second positions on said first and second branches, respectively;
- a throw-type shaft selectively fittable into said first and second bushes or into said third and forth bushes spanning ends of said fork shape and having a length exceeding a distance between outsides of said first and second bushes and said third and fourth bushes whereby ends of said throw-type shaft project beyond said bushes;
- removable means in said ends for blocking removal of said ends from said first and second bushes or said third and fourth bushes;
- at least one paddle wheel on said throw-type shaft within said fork shape;
- means for keying said at least one paddle wheel to said throw-type shaft;
- a spacing between said first and second branches being effective to permit legs of a user whose torso is supported on said central member to project downward therethrough while feet of the user rotate said throw-type shaft;
- and said first and second positions being at different longitudinal distances from said central member whereby different leg lengths of the user are accommodated.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.