US 5,308,268 A · Humanly operable, recreational, readily disassemblable water cycle

Abstract

To permit rapid assembly and disassembly of the water cycle so that, when disassembled, it can be stored or transported in minimum space. The cycle, which has at least three flotation bodies (2a, 2b, 2c), which are elongated or torpedo shaped, is formed of tubular frame elements which are coupled together by push-in connectors with spring-loaded pin locks (9, 30, 30', 33, 41) so that individual frame elements (6,7,8; 12,13,14; 24,25) of the cycle can be disassembled into the frame elements, or, selectively, snapped together. The flotation bodies are preferably inflatable and formed with a keel. A pedal and crank arrangement is coupled to a transmission which can drive a propeller or, directly via a chain, a paddle wheel. To prevent damage to the propeller if it meets an obstruction, a propeller attachment and a housing therefor is releasably mounted on a frame for pivoting movement upwardly and downwardly, with various positions of the propellers selectable by a spring loaded engagement hook engaging in recesses in a positioning disk; and, to permit lateral deflection, the housing is rotatable about an axis transverse to the direction of movement (A) of the cycle, and positioned in predetermined location by a spring-loaded claw clutch to permit release, in the lateral direction, if an obstruction is encountered.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Recreational, readily assemblable and disassemblable water cycle having

at least three flotation bodies (2a, 2b, 2c);
a plurality of frame elements;
a plurality of severable coupling means for severably coupling said elements together, and thus forming a frame (3);
said frame (3) being secured to the flotation bodies and extending upwardly therefrom, at least one of said flotation bodies being deflectable transversely with respect to said frame to provide for steering of the cycle;
a seat (5) secured to an upper portion of the frame;
and
wherein, in accordance with the invention,
the flotation bodies (2a, 2b, 2c) are elongated;
the frame (3) comprises a plurality of essentially triangular frame portions (6, 7, 8;
6, 12, 13;
7, 12, 14;
8, 13, 14),
said coupling means coupling said frame elements together to form said essentially triangular frame portions;
said frame portions forming a first triangular frame portion (6, 7, 8) which is in an essentially horizontal plane, when the cycle is in use, and further essentially triangular frame portion (6, 12, 13;
7, 12, 14;
8, 13, 14) located in planes inclined with respect to the horizontal plane,
said further essentially triangular frame portions converging at a junction (15) to which said seat (5) is secured;
and further severable coupling means are provided, severably coupling the flotation bodies (2a, 2b, 2c) to the frame (3).

15 more elements

Recreational, readily assemblable and disassemblable water cycle having

at least three flotation bodies (2a, 2b, 2c);
a frame (23) secured to the flotation bodies and extending upwardly therefrom, at least one of said flotation bodies being deflectable transversely with respect to said frame to provide for steering of the cycle;
a seat (5) secured to an upper portion of the frame;
severable coupling means (9, 38, 10, 11;
9a, 10a, 11a) severably coupling the flotation bodies to the frame,
said frame comprising a plurality of releasable frame elements (6, 7, 8;
12, 13, 14, 24, 25) and frame coupling means (9, 10, 11, 30, 30', 33, 41) for releasably coupling the frame elements together;
a crank drive (16);
a transmission (17) coupled with the crank drive;
a transmission housing (50) retaining the transmission;
a propeller shaft (80) and a propeller (23) coupled with the propeller shaft;
means for retaining the housing, including the propeller shaft and the propeller on said frame, and permitting pivotable movement of the housing (50) including the propeller and propeller shaft about an essentially horizontal axis (120) which extends generally transversely to the intended direction of movement (A) of the cycle;
a positioning element (122) formed with positioning marks (124, 125, 126) coupled to the housing;
a spring-loaded engagement lever (128) engageable with selected ones of said positioning marks;
and
adjustment means to control the positioning force of the engagement leer (128),
wherein the essentially horizontal pivoting axis (120) of the housing (50) is vertically spaced from the axis of rotation of the crank drive.

14 more elements

Recreational, readily assemblable and disassemblable water cycle having

at least three flotation bodies (2a, 2b, 2c);
a frame (3) secured to the flotation bodies and extending upwardly therefrom, at least one of said flotation bodies being deflectable transversely with respect to said frame to provide for steering of the cycle;
a seat (5) secured to an upper portion of the frame;
severable coupling means (9, 38, 10, 11;
9a, 10a, 11a) severably coupling the flotation bodies to the frame,
said frame comprising a plurality of releasable frame elements (6, 7, 8;
12, 13, 14, 24, 25) and frame coupling means (9, 10, 11, 30, 30', 33, 41) for releasably coupling the frame elements together;
a crank drive (16);
a transmission (17) coupled with the crank drive;
a transmission housing (50) retaining the transmission;
a propeller shaft (80) and a propeller (23) coupled with the propeller shaft;
means for retaining the housing, including the propeller shaft and the propeller on said frame, and permitting pivotable movement of the housing (50) including the propeller and propeller shaft about an essentially horizontal axis (120) which extends generally transversely to the intended direction of movement (A) of the cycle;
means for permitting rotation of the housing (50) about an axis (140) transversely to the essentially horizontal pivoting axis (120) of the housing, including spring-loaded means to permit deflection of the housing laterally of the cycle if an obstruction is encountered,
said lateral deflection means comprising
an arm (1440 rigidly coupled to the housing (50) and having a spring-loaded positioning arrangement at an end thereof remote from the housing, said positioning arrangement (145) including a rotatable coupling (146, 148) nd a spring-loaded claw or jaw clutch (151), operatively associated with the rotatable coupling, including a setting spring (164) and adjustment means (166) to adjust tension of the setting spring, the rotatable coupling element controlling the engagement and disengagement force of the rotatable coupling.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Humanly operable, recreational, readily disassemblable water cycle

Life of this patent

Humanly operable, recreational, readily disassemblable water cycle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20