Patent ID: 7314395
Filing Date: 2008-01-01
Classification: B60F,B63B,B63C

Abstract:
1. An amphibious vehicle comprising: (a) a hull extending in an aft direction from a bow to a stern; (b) a leg assembly coupled to the bow, the leg assembly including: (i) a wheel assembly having a wheel for engaging and rolling upon a surface; and (ii) an actuator located inside of the hull so as not to be exposed to the water supporting the vehicle during use, the actuator adapted for automatically rotating the leg assembly in a clockwise direction when viewing a starboard side of the hull to transition the wheel from a stowed position in which at least a portion of the wheel is disposed below a height of a top of the bow and in which at least a majority of the wheel is above a waterline of the hull to an extended position in which at least a portion of the wheel is disposed aft of a forward tip of the bow and in which at least a majority of the wheel is below the waterline of the hull to at least partially support the bow above the surface, and wherein when the wheel is rotated from the stowed position to the extended position, the wheel does not pass through an opening in the hull located below the waterline; and (c) a steering system connected to the wheel assembly and adapted to selectively turn the wheel to provide controlled steerage to the hull while the hull moves upon the surface.