Abstract:
A steering and control system which utilizes simple movement of an operator&#39;s feet to independently vary thrust from a pair of propulsion units, each mounted on opposite sides of a centerline of a watercraft. By varying an amount and direction of thrust, the watercraft may be steered in a multitude of directions, propelled at varying speeds, and turned completely around in a short distance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    This invention is generally directed to steering and control devices for watercraft and, more specifically, to such devices which utilize a movement of an operator&#39;s feet to independently vary an amount and direction of thrust from a pair of propulsion units, each mounted on opposite sides of the watercraft&#39;s centerline, for the purpose of controlling the forward/rearward direction, speed, and steering of the watercraft. 
         [0003]    2. History of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Over the years there have been a number of innovations directed to enabling watercraft to be powered and steered by a propulsion system. Many of these systems are specifically designed to facilitate the use of watercraft for sport fishing and thus utilize controls which are manipulated by an operator&#39;s feet so that the operator&#39;s hands remain free for the use of fishing or other equipment. 
         [0005]    Among others, U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,838 to Moser and U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,705 to Bechtel disclose systems utilizing a foot control but are limited to a single propulsion unit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,144 to Horton describes a propelled watercraft using two trolling motors and on-off pressure switches mounted on a portable support, but not foot controlled. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,213,520 to Gentry discloses a foot control system which incorporates two separate electrical motors which are mounted to the two opposite sides of a boat or watercraft. Wherein, it is possible to use reverse propulsion of one motor relative to the other in order to assist in turning the boat about itself. Unfortunately, only the direction, not the speed, may be controlled. Therefore, precise control is limited. 
         [0007]    Yet another device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,579 to Childre, discloses a pair of reversible electric motors mounted in a fixed angle relationship to each other on a single shaft. Unfortunately, the foot plate is operated by one foot and rockers to each of four corners to actuate forward right motor, reverse right motor, forward left motor, or reverse left motor. To change speed, the foot must be lifted from the plate and moved to the speed control wheel. Again, precise control is limited. 
         [0008]    In 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,033 to Meene describes the early standard trolling motor foot control whose rocker pedal controls the rotation of the shaft of a single trolling motor and thus the steering of the boat. This invention is not intuitive and controls only one motor. A separate toe wheel controls speed. 
         [0009]    In 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,713 to Bruce Lee recognized that a commonly available foot pedal could be mounted on a plate that slides on a track to keep the pedal in proximity with an operator&#39;s foot when the operator is swiveling in a chair. It did not address multiple pedals or multiple motors. 
         [0010]    In 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,706 to Young revealed that Bruce Lee&#39;s sliding plate could be put on wheels to function better, but still did not address multiple controls or motors. 
         [0011]    In 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,187 to Smith used a motor and screw to rotate the shaft on a single trolling motor. Again this did not use foot controls to differentially steer multiple motors. 
         [0012]    More relative, U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,875 to Lee discloses a propulsion and steering system for dual motors mounted to a boat, especially of the trolling motor type, which incorporates a pair of foot pedals which are electrically connected between a battery and the motors and which are operable to independently control the direction of thrust and speed of the motors so that the motors are used to both propel and steer the boat. Lee&#39;s foot control means includes a foot pedal that has toe and heel portions and pivots about a single axis generally perpendicular to the elongated axis extending between said toe and heel portions(under the foot). Lee limits his invention with initial switch and potentiometer wiring that is not conducive to modern-day trolling motors with fixed speeds. Lee missed the opportunity to pivot the pedal about an axis closer to an operator&#39;s ankle for a more ergonomic control and longer sweep for more precise control. Lee also missed the opportunity to use a forward and rearward movement of the foot for a longer travel resulting in a more precise speed control. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    This invention is directed to a steering and control system for a variety of watercraft utilizing a power source and two propulsion units, each attached in varying ways on opposite sides of the centerline of a watercraft. Control units, operated by movement of an operator&#39;s feet, independently vary forward/rearward direction of thrust and amount of thrust delivered from each propulsion unit. At rest, with operator&#39;s legs and feet relaxed, the controls are in neutral position and no thrust is delivered from the propulsion units. As one of the operator&#39;s feet is moved or pivoted progressively forward, the corresponding control unit varies power from the source to the corresponding left or right propulsion unit which delivers increasing thrust in the proper direction, resulting in a corresponding side of the watercraft being propelled forward with increasing speed. Applying approximately equal forward distance or pivotation with both feet will keep the watercraft on a fairly straight course at a fairly constant speed. Varying the distance or pivotation will steer the watercraft. Progressively pulling or pivoting backward on one of the operator&#39;s feet operates the control unit which varies power from the source to the corresponding propulsion unit resulting in an increasingly rearward motion of the corresponding side of the craft. Again, by varying the rearward distance or pivotation between the feet, speed and steering may be achieved in a rearward direction. Depending on the location of the propulsion units, pulling or pivoting backward on one foot while pushing or pivoting forward on the other will turn the watercraft around in a very short distance. 
         [0014]    Each control may include switches, resistance wiring, potentiometers, and/or readily available electronic speed control components to vary direction and speed of the propulsion units depending on the positions of an operator&#39;s feet. 
         [0015]    It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a steering and control system utilizing the simple movement of an operator&#39;s feet to independently vary thrust from a pair of propulsion units, each mounted on opposite sides of the centerline of a watercraft. By varying the direction and amount of thrust, the watercraft may be steered in a multitude of directions, propelled at varying speeds, and turned completely around in a short distance. 
         [0016]    It is also an embodiment of the present invention to provide an electrical control system for watercraft wherein a pair of motors is controlled through foot positioning with the speed of the motors being related to the independent amount of pivotable or longitudinal movement of the operator&#39;s feet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a typical watercraft with dual propulsion units having the steering and control units of the present invention mounted thereto. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the typical watercraft of  FIG. 1  showing the steering and control units of the present invention mounted thereto. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a means of converting a forward/rearward motion to a rotary motion required to operate a typical control unit which is in motion with foot position device. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a means of converting a forward/rearward motion to a rotary motion required to operate a typical control unit which is mounted in a fixed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a means of converting a forward/rearward motion to the required connection of power from the source to a propulsion unit wired for fixed forward and reverse speeds. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a means (not claimed) of converting a pivotable movement of the operator&#39;s foot to a rotary motion required to operate a typical control unit mounted in a fixed position. This method is similar to Lee&#39;s design and inferior to this invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows the uncomfortable movement of an operator&#39;s foot using the foot pedal claimed in Lee&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,875. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows the (claimed) ergonomically preferred pivot near the operator&#39;s ankle which is superior to Lee&#39;s design in both comfort and range of motion and is included in this patent. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]    With continued reference to the drawings, the steering and control system of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  as being utilized with a small boat or watercraft  101  which is shown as, but not limited to, a one person watercraft. Also shown are control units  105 , tracks  104 , propulsion units  102 , and power source  120 . Propulsion units  105  include a motor and a propulsion means. 
         [0026]    The basic operation of the steering and control system is shown in  FIG. 2 . At rest, an operator&#39;s leg is relaxed and his foot rests in a foot receptacle  206 , which is in a neutral position  208 . At this position  208 , no power is transmitted from the power source  120  through the control unit  105  to the propulsion unit  102 , shown in  FIG. 1 . As the operator pushes a left or right foot forward to position  209  and beyond, the corresponding control unit  105  progressively delivers power from the source  120  to the corresponding propulsion unit  102 . The propulsion unit delivers force in the proper direction  203  to move the corresponding side of the watercraft  101  forward at a progressive rate. A similar process takes place when the operator pulls back on foot receptacle  206  with the operator&#39;s heel. As the receptacle  206  progressively moves rearward, the control unit  105  receives power from the source  120  and progressively delivers the power to the corresponding propulsion unit  102  which directs progressively more force in direction  204  which moves and increases speed of the corresponding side of the watercraft  101  in a rearward motion. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 3 , the steering and control system of the present invention includes left and right foot receptacles  206 , which when fastened to brackets  306  &amp;  302  and surface  303  may also be considered a variation of a foot receptacle. These foot receptacles  206  glide forward and rearward along individual tracks  104 . Track  104  is fastened to a floor or deck of the watercraft  101 . Also attached to bracket  302  is a common rotary operated control unit  105  available from the manufacturer of a currently available propulsion unit  102  such as, but not limited to, a trolling motor, electrically driven pump, or screw drive. To convert the forward/rearward motion of the operator&#39;s foot to the rotary motion required of the common control unit  105 , a pulley  305  is attached to a shaft of the control unit  105  and a cable  306  is wrapped around pulley  305  and anchored near the ends of track  104  as shown in  FIG. 3  when it is desirable that the control unit  105  move with the foot receptacle  206 . 
         [0028]    Alternately,  FIG. 4  shows a spur gear  405  attached to the shaft of the common control unit  105  which is fastened to the floor or deck of watercraft  101 . A multi-toothed rack  407  is attached to the surface  303  which glides along track  104 . As the operator&#39;s foot, resting in the foot receptacle  206 , moves forward or rearward, the rack  407  rotates spur gear  405  which alters control unit  105 . 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 5 , an alternate foot receptacle  506  with multiple heel pockets is shown with contacts  510  fastened underneath. Leads from the power source are attached separately to contacts  510 . Contacts  520  are attached to a track  504 . Foot receptacle  506  slides along track  504  while contacts  510  transfer electrical current from the power source  120  proper contacts  520  to vary speed and direction as required by a multiple fixed speed motor contained within a propulsion unit  102 , shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 6 , a foot pedal  601  is supported by brackets  602  and pivots about an axis  605  generally close to the floor of the pedal where an operators foot rests. The shaft of a control unit  105  is rotated when the operator&#39;s foot rocks the foot pedal. Though simple to manufacture and utilized in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,875, this pedal assembly is not recommended. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 7 , An operator&#39;s foot  701  and foot pedal  601  from  FIG. 6  are shown in solid line form to indicate the forward-most achievable pivotation from an operator&#39;s foot. The foot  701  and foot pedal  601  are shown in broken line form to indicate the rearward-most achievable pivotation from an operator&#39;s foot. Note the uncomfortable travel of the operator&#39;s ankle  702  and the limited rotation  705  resulting about axis  605 . 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 8 , the operator&#39;s foot  701  rests on a more ergonomically designed foot pedal  802  which pivots about the more logical axis  801  which is generally aligned with operator&#39;s ankle  702 . This arrangement provides approximately 60% more rotation  805  than the arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 ; is significantly more comfortable for the operator; and demonstrates sufficient difference from previous patents. 
         [0033]    It should be noted that commonly available trolling motors come in a variety of voltages, multiple fixed speeds, variable speeds, and controls. Trolling motors with rotating tiller handles adapt well to this invention when the manufacturer&#39;s rotary control unit  105  behind the tiller handle is used and the invention system converts its forward/rearward motion to the rotary motion required. 
         [0034]    It should also be noted that this steering and control system could be utilized on a variety of watercraft equipped with at least two propulsion units, each located on either side of the watercraft&#39;s centerline. The system is compatible with, but not limited to, propulsion units such as electrically powered trolling motors, ducted propellers, impellers, centrifugal and axial pumps, paddlewheels, and surface propellers. The system also functions equally well with potentiometers and other metering means attached to the foot control units for input to electronic variable speed controllers which vary the power from a power source  120  to the motors within the propulsion units  102 .