Pontoon water bike

An improved pontoon water bike, having a vertical frame rotatably coupled to a single front pontoon and extending rearwardly along a longitudinal axis to a transverse truss having left and right ends each rigidly coupled to a rear pontoon, the frame further bearing a seat for a driver, the improvement comprising

• quick release joints coupling the frame to the transverse truss;
• quick release locks coupling the frame to the front pontoon and the rear pontoons to the truss;
• a slidable seat mount releasably coupling the seat to the frame;
• a transverse axle releasably coupled to the frame;
• paddle assembly means carried on said axle and adapted to engage the water for providing paddle thrust to the water bike;
• and
• sprocket drive means coupled between the transverse axle and pedals positioned on the frame in front of the seat,
• whereby the water bike may be quickly disassembled into component parts for storage and transportation and storage.

An improved pontoon water bike, having a vertical frame rotatably coupled to a single front pontoon and extending rearwardly along a longitudinal axis to a transverse truss having left and right ends each rigidly coupled to a rear pontoon, the frame further bearing a seat for a driver, the improvement comprising

• a cylindrical housing coupled to the front of the frame, the housing being tilted rearwardly at its upper end toward the seat;
• a steering shaft having a proximate end received within the housing and a distal end coupled to the front pontoon a select distance rearward a transverse centerline of the front pontoon;
• and
• a handle coupled to the proximate end of the shaft and extending upward and rearward toward the seat;
• whereby the driver's turning of the steering shaft with the handle forces the front end of the front pontoon slightly downward into the water, causing pontoon buoyancy to realign the front pontoon with the longitudinal axis when the handle is released by the driver.

An improved method of quickly transporting and redeploying a water craft comprising the steps of

• providing a pontoon water bike having
• a vertical frame extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a driver's seat releasably coupled to the frame along the axis;
• a front pontoon releasably coupled to the frame by a quick release lock;
• a transverse truss releasably coupled to the frame opposite the front pontoon by a plurality of quick release joints;
• two rear pontoons releasably coupled one to each end of the truss by a quick release lock;
• a transverse axle releasably coupled to the frame beneath the seat, the axle carrying a paddle assembly adapted to engage the water and provide thrust to the water bike, the paddle assembly being held in place by the axle;
• then
• carrying out the disassembly steps in of
• a. removing the driver's seat
• b. releasing the transverse axle and removing the paddle assembly and the axle from the frame;
• c. operating the quick release locks to decouple the pontoons from the frame and the truss;
• then
• d. operating the quick release joints to decouple the truss from the frame;
• then
• transporting the disassembled water bike to a new location;
• then
• operating steps a through d in reverse order to reassemble the water bike.

A pontoon water bike symmetric about a longitudinal axis and comprising

• a front pontoon centered on the axis;
• a vertical frame coupled to the front pontoon and extending rearward along the axis and bearing a seat for a driver;
• a transverse truss means coupled to the rear of the frame opposite the front pontoon;
• two rear pontoons, one coupled to each end of the truss means;
• steering means for steering the water bike;
• positive steering means for positively aligning the front pontoon with the axis when the handle means is released by the driver;
• and
• propulsion means for propelling the water bike through water.

A pontoon water bike symmetric about a longitudinal axis and comprising

• a front pontoon centered on the axis;
• a vertical frame coupled to the front pontoon and extending rearward along the axis and bearing a seat for a driver;
• a transverse truss coupled to the rear of the frame opposite the front pontoon;
• two rear pontoons, one coupled to each end of the truss means;
• steering means for steering the water bike;
• propulsion means for propelling the water bike through water;
• and
• at least one quick release means coupling the truss to the frame and having
• a first inner collar coupled to the truss and bearing an annular groove;
• a second inner collar coupled to the frame and adapted to receive the first inner collar, the second inner collar having a plurality of radial holes disposed about its circumference, each of the holes having a conical shape and adapted to receive a sphere and permit the sphere to extend radially inward and engages the annular groove;
• an outer collar concentric the first inner collar and adapted to translate longitudinally relative thereto, whereby at its rearward position the outer collar retains the spheres within the holes;
• and
• spring means for biasing the outer collar rearward relative to the first inner collar.

A improved pontoon water bike, having a vertical frame rotatably coupled to a single front pontoon and extending rearwardly along a longitudinal axis to a transverse truss having left and right ends each rigidly coupled to a rear pontoon, the frame further bearing a seat for a driver, the improvement comprising

• quick release joints coupling the frame to the transverse truss;
• quick release locks coupling the frame to the front pontoon and the rear pontoons to the truss;
• a slidable seat mount releasably coupling the seat to the frame;
• releasable transverse axle assembly adapted to rotate relative the frame;
• paddle assembly means carried on said axle assembly and adapted to engage the water for providing paddle thrust to the water bike, said paddle assembly means being easily disassembled by removal of the transverse axle;
• and
• sprocket drive means coupling the transverse axle to pedals positioned on the frame in front of the seat;
• whereby the water bike may be quickly assembled for use and disassembled into component parts for transportation and storage.