Abstract:
The canard balanced marine bicycle is an aquatic vehicle having a long and very narrow hull which depends, for its stability, on the dynamic forces generated by its movement through the water acting on the canard. The canard depends from the bottom of the hull and is movable about its axis by handlebars controlled by the rider. The vehicle is powered by the rider through the manipulation of pedals which drive a propulsion system. The vehicle is guided by a steerable rudder operated by controls located on the handlebars.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to human powered water craft. More particularly, the invention relates to a vessel propelled by the muscle power of the rider through manipulation of pedals. The pedals are interconnected with a mechanism which reacts with the water within which the craft is immersed to provide locomotion for the vessel. The water craft is provided with a stabilizing element which obtains its function through dynamic reaction with the water through which it moves. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Pedal driven water craft tend to be heavy, unwieldy and unseaworthy. This is primarily due to the major problem of pedal boat design which is the conflict between seaworthiness and weight. The craft should be seaworthy to prevent capsizing, broaching or submerging thereby maintaining the rider out of the water. The conventional pedal boat designs attempt to provide seaworthiness by using size and weight to provide stability. However, the craft should also be light enough to be capable of movement through the water by the use of the muscle power of the rider. Therefore, the result of the conflict is prior art craft marginally seaworthy in order to save weight and only capable of relatively slow movement through the efforts of the rider. In addition to being slow, the prior art pedal boats lack precise maneuverability. Because of these limitations, prior art pedal boats are normally operated close to shore in well protected bodies of water. 
     The prior art reveals three solutions to the seaworthiness problem. The first is a single hull with a weighted keel. The second is a multiple hull or float system. The third is a flat self balancing hull. All have serious drawbacks. 
     For the single hull with a weighted keel the keel must equal the weight of the rider and machinery. Although this system has the performance characteristics of a mono-hull, the weight involved works against the limited power a human can generate. 
     The multiple hull system tends to be lighter and therefore, faster, than the heavy keel craft. However, multiple hulls present a wide profile in the water which hinders maneuverability and adds drag requiring more effort by the rider. The multiple hull is usually of much shallower draft than the keel boat resulting in instability in anything but the calmest of waters. 
     The flat hull shares the disadvantages created by the width and draft of the multi-hull system. The unitary hull has more wetted surface than the multiple-hull and this produces more weight and drag. Because of these features, the flat hull tends to be even slower and less manuerverable than the others. 
     None of the prior art pedal boats have a system for providing seaworthiness, maneuverability and speed by dynamic balance of the forces operating upon the craft as it moves through the water. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Instead of the weighted keel, flat hull or multi-hull system, the present invention is directed to a canard balance system. The canard is located near the middle of the craft and is operated by the rider to balance the boat. This allows the pedal boat to be built top heavy, light and thin. These qualities allow dramatically increased performance in speed, seaworthiness and maneuverability. The single narrow hull is inherently seaworthy because it can &#34;cut through&#34; waves when necessary. There is no problem of tipping caused by a shifting water plane operating against a flat surface or multiple hulls. The reduced size and width of the hull result in sharply reduced drag and weight which are critical factors in pedal boat design because of the limitations of human-generated power. 
     The canard balance system coupled with a single narrow hull produces a craft which mimics the riding characteristics of a land bicycle, e.g. the rider can turn sharply, lean the boat into turns, and rock the boat in high energy efforts. 
     The craft of this invention may be operated in large unprotected bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers and the ocean. The craft can travel substantial distances for exercise, pleasure and exploring. The craft may be used as a trig device for developing muscular and cardiovascular endurance, as well as defining balance at slow and substantial speed. The craft can be operated continuously for substantial lengths of time, e.g. two hours or more. It can travel approximately sixteen miles in five hours. The craft may be used for competition with other similar craft. 
     Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the boat; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the boat; and 
     FIG. 3 is an overhead view of the boat. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the marine bicycle 19 has a long narrow boat hull 7 with a sharp bow 16 at the front end, a broad stern 18 at the rear end, an upper surface deck 21, and a bottom 22. Depending from the bottom 22 is a canard fin 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The canard is mounted on the hull 7 near the center of the boat. The canard 1 rotates about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hull 7. However, the plan form of the canard may depend from the hull with the leading edge at a greater or lesser angle than 90 degrees. The canard fin has a canard weight 6 mounted on the bottom. A steering rudder 2 is movably mounted on the stern 18 of the boat hull to provide directional control The hull 7 may be of any shape commensurate with hull design. The hull provides positive buoyancy for the craft allowing the craft to float in the water. As shown, the hull 7 is tubular. This form lends itself to construction from prefabricated tubing. 
     A support frame 10 is mounted on the deck 21 near the boat&#39;s center. The support frame has several elements which provide support for the rider, propulsion for the boat and control of the canard and rudder. The support frame is connected to the deck by a rear frame jig 13 located toward the stern and the canard tube 9 located toward the bow. As shown in FIG. 2, the support frame is similar to a bicycle frame with integral rigid frame members formed to spatially fix the saddle seat 23 for support of the rider, the crank 11 with the pedals 25 for generating propulsion, and the handlebars 8 to control the canard. The canard tube 9 carries the control member for rotating the canard. The control member and the canard are rotated by moving the handlebars to the port or starboard in a plane parallel to the deck. The support frame may be made in other shapes and designs differing from the bicycle frame. It is only necessary that there be a support for the rider with the crank and the directional and balance controls placed within reach of the rider&#39;s limbs. 
     The rear frame jig also carries the transmission 5. The transmission 5 is connected to the crank by a chain 12 or any other flexible drive. The transmission contains a set of gears which translates the input from the flexible drive through 90 degrees to provide an output rotating the propeller shaft 14. The transmission converts the force generated by the rider moving the crank into rotary motion turning the propeller shaft 14 and thus the propeller 15. The propeller shaft passes through the hull in a propeller shaft housing 24. 
     The rudder 2 is controlled by the steering cables 3, one each on the port and starboard sides of the rudder. The steering cables are manipulated by the respective cable levers 4 located on the handlebars. To move the rudder from amidship, the rider actuates either the port or starboard cable lever which foreshortens the respective steering cable displacing the rudder. 
     As shown, the boat disassembles into the following six parts; the bow section 16, the midsection 17, the stern section 18, the support frame 10, the rudder 2, and the canard fin 1. This disassembly allows for easy transportation and storage. Each hull section is provided with a plug 20 for access to the interior of the hull. By way of example and not restriction, the boat may be 26 feet in length, with a hull diameter of 8 inches, and with a 10 inches long canard depending from the bottom about 22 inches. The length of the hull may vary between approximately 12 feet and 30 feet. The beam or diameter of the hull may vary between 6 inches and 12 inches. The plan form of the canard may take many shapes. The canard weight 6 counterbalances the weight of the support frame and other structure above the deck to prevent the craft from completely capsizing or turning turtle. The untended craft would tend to float on it&#39;s side. 
     In operation, the addition of the rider&#39;s weight makes the boat extremely top heavy. This results in an unstable condition in which the boat will tend to rollabout it&#39;s longitudinal axis. To balance the boat at a standstill, the rider, in addition to shifting body weight in the direction opposite the direction of the roll, rotates the canard fin by turning the handlebars 8 into the direction of the roll. The combination of the resistance of the canard fin and the canard weight 6 will tend to overcome the rolling force until forward motion is developed. To balance the boat underway, the rider does the same as above. However, the forward motion of the canard through the water produces lift which operates to counter the rolling force. 
     Under way, the canard balanced marine bicycle is a light, fast and maneuverable craft. It possesses a balance dynamic similar to a road bicycle, yet the dynamic also has unique qualities. The extreme lift forces produced by the canard allow for tremendous balance capabilities and rider error. With exceptional balance control and the nimble performance characteristics of a slim monohull, this boat can be operated at relatively high speeds and in a variety of water conditions. 
     Although the detailed description relates to the drawings shown, this description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but, rather, as providing explanation of the present embodiment of a canard balanced marine bicycle. Many other variations are possible, e. g. the canard balance effect could be achieved by using more than one canard rotated by the handlebars. The placement of the canard could be moved from the center of the boat to alter the steering and balance dynamics of the boat. The canard could be made to turn on only one side of the turning axis of the canard tube rather than the center-balanced canard shown. The canard could be mounted on a stationary fin. The canard weight could be eliminated in embodiments for more advanced riders. Similarly, steering could be accomplished by a front fin, a back fin, or both. The steering action of the rudder or steering fin or fins could be mechanically linked to the rotation of the handlebars to even further mimic the riding dynamic of the road bicycle. The length of the hull could be increased to achieve greater hull speed or decreased to achieve greater maneuverability and superior portability. The hull could be designed so as to encase many moving parts or the craft could be designed as a single unit with no separable frame. The materials from which the craft is made should be light, strong and remain rust and corrosion free, e.g. fiberglass, plastics, aluminum, etc. The boat could be propelled by different impelling systems, such as, a paddle wheel, turbine or other marine impelling mechanism. A &#34;kick stand&#34; type mechanism employing floats or other means could be added to the craft to provide stability while the rider is at rest.