Float apparatus for bicycle

A float apparatus for attachment to a conventional bicycle comprising a pair of frame members, each having an elongated pontoon extending from the front of the bicycle to the rear of the bicycle mounted thereon. Each frame member has a support rod extending from the frame to the rear wheel axle, a pivotal support rod extending from the frame to the front wheel axle and an upper elongated horizontal bar. The frame members are attached to opposite sides of the bicycle and are coupled to each other by fastening means coupled to the horizontal bars of the frame. The front wheel of the bicycle is provided with a rudder coupled thereto and the pedals are provided with paddle means coupled thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a float apparatus for a bicycle and more 
particularly for a float apparatus including propelling means and steering 
means actuated by the bicycle. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The prior art discloses bicycle-like structures supported on a float 
apparatus and having water motive means driven by pedaling action of the 
operator. Examples of such art can be found with reference to U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 1,578,395 issued to G. E. Chapin and 1,920,391 issued to E. C. L. 
Herwig. These structures, however, do not make use of a conventional 
bicycle. 
Also disclosed in the prior art are structures which employ conventional 
bicycles wherein pedaling action indirectly drives a propeller or paddle 
(U.S. Pat. Nos. 643,678; 799,667; 1,034,278; 2,304,430; 2,757,631 and 
3,640,239). 
Accordingly, I have invented a float apparatus which has a novel structure 
enabling it to be attached to a conventional bicycle whereby the bicycle 
is easily changed for aquatic use. The novel structure of my invention 
allows for direct drive of paddles with pedaling action and direct 
steering by a rudder directly coupled to the front wheel of the bicycle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A float apparatus for a conventional bicycle comprises in combination, a 
rudder under the front tire of the bicycle and coupled directly to the 
front wheel assembly at the front fork whereby movement of the handlebars 
causes movement of the rudder, a paddle attached directly to each bicycle 
pedal and a left and right pontoon frame assembly including a pontoon and 
a frame for securing each pontoon to the bicycle at the front and rear 
forks thereof and means for coupling the left and right pontoon frame 
assemblies to each other securing the assemblies to the upper portion of 
the bicycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional bicycle 10, having front 
and rear wheels 12 and 14, respectively, and a bicycle frame 16. The frame 
16 comprises a front fork assembly 18 terminating in front forks 20 to 
which the front wheel 12 is mounted and a handlebar 22 which controls the 
turning of the front wheel 12. The bicycle frame 16 also includes a rear 
fork 24 for mounting the rear wheel 14; a vertical support member 26 to 
which a seat 28 is mounted; and a transverse member 30 extending from the 
top portion of the front fork assembly 18 to the bottom of the vertical 
support member 26 where they meet in a hub for the pedals 32. 
The novel float apparatus consists of a rudder 34, the top surface 36 of 
which is formed in an arc having a curvature so as to conform to the shape 
of the front wheel 12. The rudder 34, shown more clearly with reference to 
FIG. 3, is a relatively thin, flat member having straight vertical sides 
and a straight bottom. It should be understood, however, that the general 
configuration of the rudder need not be limited to that shown in the FIG. 
1 and other shapes are also suitable. The rudder 34 is attached to the 
front wheel forks 20 by the rudder mounting means 38. This means 38 
consists of a set of four transverse, upwardly extending support rods 40 
bolted in pairs to the left and right corners of both sides of the rudder 
34. The rods 40 on the same side of the rudder 34 meet at and are 
connected to a bracket 42 having a notch which fits around the wheel 
mounting bolt at the front forks 20 and are secured thereto. 
A paddle 44, shown in FIG. 4, is coupled to each pedal 32 by paddle 
mounting means 46. The paddle mounting means consists of a paddle mounting 
bracket 48 and bracket locking means 50 which locks the bracket to the 
pedal 32. The bracket 48 includes a downwardly extending, slightly arcuate 
shaped portion 51 having an elongated notch 52 therein. The paddle 44 is a 
rectangular, slightly arcuate member, the arc of which conforms to that of 
the notched section of the bracket 48. The paddle 44 is adjustably mounted 
to the bracket by means of nuts and bolts 53 which pass through the notch 
52 of the bracket 48 and holes provided in the paddle 44. Adjustment of 
the paddle-bracket assembly allows for selection of the desired depth of 
the paddle in the water. 
Pontoon assemblies 60 and 62, which are mirror images of each other, are 
mounted to the right and left sides of the bicycle 10 and are coupled to 
each other. These assemblies consist of an elongated pontoon 64 or float 
extending from the rear to the front of the bicycle 10 having spaced and 
substantially parallel arcuate support bars 66 and 68 extending upwardly 
toward the top portion of the bicycle frame. The support bars 66 and 68 
are preferably spaced so that they extend behind the seat and in front of 
the front fork assembly, respectively, and are of a length that causes the 
longitudinal axis of the pontoon to be at or below the level of the bottom 
of the wheels 12 and 14. The support bars 66 and 68 are mounted to the 
pontoon by means of mounting brackets 70 and 72, respectively. The upper 
end of the support rods are mounted to a horizontal member 74 by means of 
mounting brackets 75 and 76. The horizontal members 74 of each pontoon 
assembly are coupled to each other by means of nuts and bolts. The pontoon 
assemblies 60 and 62 are given added support by way of front and back fork 
coupling rods 78 and 80. These rods 78 and 80 are mounted to the bicycle 
10 by coupling to the bolts which extend through the forks to hold the 
bicycle wheels 12 and 14 and to the pontoon support bars 66 and 68 by 
means of mounting brackets 82 and 84. Since the front wheel 12 must be 
capable of turning so as to move the rudder 34, the front fork coupling 
rod 80 should be pivotably mounted. This can be accomplished by providing 
a bracket 82 which is secured to the support bar 68 and has a horizontally 
extending portion 86 provided with a hole. The ends 88 and 90 of the rod 
80 are also flat and are provided with a hole. The flat end surfaces of 
the rod 80 and bracket 82 are juxtaposed and the holes aligned one over 
the other. A pivot pin 92 is provided securing the rod to the bracket. A 
similar provision is made at the other end of the rod 80 which is 
pivotably coupled to the bracket 84 which is mounted at the front fork 20.