Patent ID: 9457884
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: B63H,F04D

Claim Text:
1. A portable propulsion system for a watercraft, comprising: a shaft having a prop end section, a drive end section, and a rotational axis extending from the prop end section to the drive end section; a driver; a propeller coupled to the driver, the propeller being associated with the shaft and connected to the prop end section, and wherein the drive end section is configured for removable connection to the driver to facilitate rotation of the propeller via rotation of the shaft about the rotational axis to propel the watercraft; an outer casing disposed around the shaft; a flexible strap having a first end section and a second end section, the first end section being connectable to the outer casing in a first region distal the drive end section of the shaft, the second end section being coupled to the outer casing in a second region proximal the drive end section of the shaft; wherein the first end section of the strap is operable between a connected position and a towing position, the connected position corresponding to the first end section of the strap being connected to the outer casing in the first region to form a circuit in the portable propulsion system, the towing position corresponding to the first end section being disconnected from the outer casing in the first region for connection to the watercraft; wherein the first end section of the strap includes an adjustable first loop; wherein the first loop surrounds the outer casing in the first region when the first end section is in the connected position; wherein moving the first end section of the strap from the connected position to the towing position involves loosening the first loop, and sliding it from the first region to the second region and over the drive end section of the shaft; wherein the second end section of the strap is coupled to the outer casing in the second region when the first end section of the strap is in at least one of the connected and towing positions; further comprising foam disposed around the outer casing, the foam extending between the first and second regions; and wherein the second loop is sandwiched between the outer casing and the foam.