Abstract:
A watercycle having substantially do-nut shape float mounted onto a frame or chassis member, and a rider&#39;s seat adjustable vertically and horizontally. Adjusting the seat to its highest level will cause a seated rider to submerge up to the hip, and adjusting it to its lowest level will cause said rider to submerge up to the chest. The seat is likewise adjustable forward and backward for convenient foot-reach to the pedals.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to small water-borne craft and more particularly to a watercycle wherein portion of the body of a rider, below the head, is underwater. The new watercycle is moved by working pedals and propellers, and steered by a rudder in communication with a handlebar through a train of steering column, plurality of pulleys, and actuating cord hitched onto said pulleys.  
         THE PRIOR ART  
         [0002]    The background art seems to have a distant relevance to the present invention. In fact there&#39;s no known prior art involving a watercycle that includes a seat that&#39;s vertically adjustable and which make it possible for a rider to obtain a desired submergence when the watercycle is floated in the water.  
           [0003]    Prior art watercycles are available although they are meant for a rider to remain completely dry while cruising leisurely or productively in the water. One example of a prior art watercycle is a two-seater ride-on “tricycle” with large wheels adapted to buoy the watercycle including the riders, and also as paddlewheels. It is moved by manipulating the pedals, and they are common rent-out in luxury beach resorts. Another prior art is a twin hull small boat. It includes pedal mechanism within the hull and a paddlewheel underneath between the front portion of the twin hull, common also in beaches and lakes for fishing and leisure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a rider the choice of how much of the lower body is submerged when cooling off in the water.  
           [0005]    Another object is to provide a watercycle with a seat that is adjustable closer or further below the waterline when the watercycle is floated in the water.  
           [0006]    Yet another object is to provide a safety vehicle for a non-swimmer who desires to leisurely traverse a somewhat deeper water.  
           [0007]    Still another object of the invention is to provide bathers with slow fun-ride watercraft adaptable in a tight and crowded environment.  
           [0008]    The present invention is directed to small watercrafts and more particularly to a watercycle wherein portion of the lower body of a rider is underwater. The watercycle includes a seat that is adjustable closer or further below the waterline. Submergence is anywhere between the hip and chest areas of a rider. The seat is also adjustable forward and backward for convenient reach of the feet to the pedals.  
           [0009]    The basic concept of the invention is to provide bathers, especially children, with relatively slow moving fun ride. The watercycle is best used in calm and protected waters like for example in the swimming pool, beach resort and water park.  
           [0010]    In accordance with the primary aspect of the invention, a watercycle of the type includes a modified do-nut shape float mounted and secured onto a frame or chassis having a pair of runners for resting on the ground and an elevated portion for attaching the float. Located centrally parallel between the runners and the elevated portions in a twin beam for supporting the seat and steering and rudder mechanism. Propellers, in communication with the pedal unit, provides propulsion for the watercraft. In a preferred embodiment, the propellers are directly coupled to the pedal unit. In another embodiment, the propellers are linked with the pedal unit by flexible shafts.  
       
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a watercycle of the present invention. The seat is not shown to avoid crowding of the drawing.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows substantially the left half of the watercycle shown in FIG. 1, taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 3.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The propellers are directly coupled to the pedal shafts.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic of a steering mechanism for translating rotation from handlebar to the rudder, utilizing plurality of pulleys and actuating cord.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention. It includes propellers located about the sides mid-rear portion and provided with wire mesh netting covers for protection. Flexible shafts is utilized to connect the pedal unit with the propellers.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 shows substantially the left half of the watercycle of FIG. 5, taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 7.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 shows an installed set of jaw coupling utilized to link the pedal unit with the front end of the flexible shaft, with the protective steel tubing and other parts being sectioned. (This portion is indicated by numeral “8” with arrow, in FIG. 7.)  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a lower portion of a mechanism for adjusting a rider&#39;s seat vertically and horizontally, taken substantially along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 2.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 shows a torque limiting clutch connecting the rear end of the flexible shaft and the front end of the rigid propeller shaft. (This portion is indicated by numeral “10” with arrow, in FIG. 5.)  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a simplified representation of the front end of the rigid propeller shaft.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a sectioned view of the torque limiting clutch, taken along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 10.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 shows one of the mating jaws used in the second or other embodiment, seen in FIG. 8.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 shows a cylindrical insert for coupling the flexible shaft in the front end and the rigid propeller shaft in the rear end.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is a sectioned view of the front end of the propeller shaft, taken along line  15 - 15  of FIG. 11. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows in exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a novel watercycle. It includes mainly of a generally do-nut shape float  14  and a frame or chassis  16  for mounting the float and other components thereto. Broken lines BL shows the float when mounted onto the chassis  16 . The bottomless float is made of cellular polystyrene and provided with protective skin to shield from damage which may be caused by weather, rough handling and impact with hard objects. Inflatable rubber or plastic or any others selected from highly buoyant material may also be used.  
         [0027]    Underneath the front end of the float is concaved  18  to ensure sufficient room for the knees of a rider  20  like for example when the seat  22  is at higher and forward adjustments. Another concaved  24  portion is underneath the rear end, designed to give enough ceiling for the rudder  26 . The deducted buoyant force caused by the provision of the concaved portions  18  and  24  are compensated respectively by providing integral buoyant compensators  28  and  30  located adjacently outboard said concave. The front compensators are generally quadrant-shaped while the rear compensators are elongated thick fins.  
         [0028]    The frame or chassis  16  includes two generally parallel runners  34  with front ends bent upwardly and joined together by a transverse member  36 , said runners for resting the watercycle on solid surface. Two generally parallel elevated members  38  are provided for mounting the float  14  onto. The front ends  40  are bent downwardly each connecting the runners  34  immediately after the upwardly bent portion. The rear ends  42  of the elevated members are likewise bent downwardly and each connecting the rear ends of the runners. The frame and other parts are of metal tubing, closed-end in order to give strength and added buoyancy.  
         [0029]    Plurality of attaching means  44  are utilized to secure the float  14  to the chassis  16 . Each attaching means includes two elongated bolts  46  welded parallel apart underneath a circular plate  48 . The bolts are made to penetrate the float with the bottom ends  50  astriding past the elevated portion  38  of the chassis. A tubing clamp  52  with holes to receive the bolts  46  is capped from underneath the elevated portions to engage the bolts and secured with nuts in a manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.  
         [0030]    A front arch  54  and a rear arch  56  are welded transversely apart at the ends along the length of the runners  34  with elevation about halfway between the runners and elevated portions. Underneath the arches  54  and  56  is suitably attached a longitudinal twin beam  58  adapted to support the steering mechanism  60  on the front end, rudder unit  62  on the rear end, and a rider&#39;s seat  22  therebetween, as can be seen better in FIGS. 2,3 and  6 .  
         [0031]    Upper plate  64  and lower plate  66  are welded opposed the front end of the twin beam  58  for supporting the steering column  68 . A bushing  70  is affixed tight-fit through the holes on plates  64  and  66  for rotatably mounting the steering column  68 . A retainer collar  72  is securely attached to the column immediately above the bushing to keep said column from sliding down. A convenient distance above the collar is a loose sleeve  74 , with brace  76 , welded to the front arch to provide rigidity to the steering column. On the rear end of the twin beam is welded another set of opposed plates  78  and  80 . A bushing  82  is likewise affixed tight-fit through the holes on the plates for rotatably mounting the rudder pintle  84 .  
         [0032]    On the bottom end of the handlebar column  68  (see FIGS. 2 and 6) is fixedly attached with a front or first pulley  86 , and on the lower portion of the pintle  84  is also attached with a rear or second pulley  88 . A center or third pulley  90  is rotatably mounted on a plate  92  underneath the twin beam. A rudder  26  for steering the watercraft is firmly attached on its leading edge to the slotted top and bottom portions of the pintle  84 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 shows in schematic an arrangement of hitching an actuating cord  94  to enable to transmit steering movement from the handlebar  96  to the rudder  26 . The cord&#39;s front portion  98  between the front or first pulley  86  and the center or third pulley  90  are hitched parallel, while the cord&#39;s portion  100  between the second  88  and the third  90  pulleys are crossed in figure “8” pattern. Thus, when the handlebar  96  is rotated in one direction and hence the first pulley  86 , the rear or second pulley  88  will rotate in the opposite direction and provide the desired heading for the moving watercraft. The described cord arrangement is necessary so that the seat base  102  can be slided forward or backward as needed.  
         [0034]    A mechanism for adjusting the seat  22  is shown in FIG. 9, taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 2. The seat can be adjusted higher or lower for desired submergence depth. It can be adjusted likewise forward and backward for convenient foot reach to the pedals  104 . A large nut  106  is welded to a slider plate  108  with a hole  110  and laid over the distanced members of the twin beam  58 , as shown. Underneath the twin beam is a holed clamping plate  112  with a spacer  114  welded to it. The seat post  116  is threaded to the nut  106 . At the lower end of the seat post is a large wing nut  116  for loosening and tightening the seat base  102 .  
         [0035]    To adjust the seat  22  either vertically or horizontally or both is to loosen first the wing nut  118  in order for the clamping plate  112  to drop down to about one-eight inch to loosen its grip against the underside of the twin beam  58 . The slider plate  108  can then be moved forward or backboard and/or the seat can be aptly rotated for desired height. Finally, the wing nut is tightened to keep the seat from wobbling.  
         [0036]    A pedal unit  120  with shafts  122  on either sides and overly extended outwardly is utilized with this new concept, and is rotatably mounted on a bushing or pillow block  124  positioned about halfway of the downwardly bent front portion of the elevated member of the chassis  16 . In a preferred embodiment, each shaft is directly coupled with a propeller  126  as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. In another embodiment, each shaft (see FIGS. 7 and 8) has an integral coupling jaw  130  for mating with a comparable coupling jaw  132  on one end of an adapter  134  on the front end  136  of a flexible shaft  138 .  
         [0037]    An L-shape duct or channel  140  for accelerated water passage (FIGS. 1,2 and  3 ) for the preferred embodiment is suitably mounted and positioned such that the propeller is within the periphery of the intake or first port  142 . The discharge or second port  144  is directed towards the rear, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The propeller blades are so arranged such that when the pedals  104  are manipulated for forward movement, water enters the first port  142  and exits the second port  144  and thus the water stream produced propels the watercycle forward.  
         [0038]    A torque limiting clutch (FIG. 10), for the other embodiment (see FIGS. 5,6 and  7 ), joining the flexible  138  and the rigid shaft  146  is provided to protect the flexible shaft from getting mangled up when an applied torque exceeds a preset valve. The mechanism involves a bore  148  in the front portion of the rigid shaft  146  wherein an insert block  150  (FIG. 14) is loosely lodged into. Opposing parallel cuts  152  (FIGS. 11 and 15) are made at the front portion of the rigid shaft  146 , and a small portion is removed from the uncut portion  156 . The insert block  150  includes circumferential grooves  158  and are so located such that they align with said cuts  152  when the insert block  150  is lodged into the bore  148 . Plurality of substantially “U” springs  160  are installed astride of the uncut portion  156  (FIGS. 10 and 12) and thus the legs of the spring will cause to frictionally grip the neck or groove  158  of the insert block.  
         [0039]    Under normal condition, when the pedal unit  120  is manipulated, the flexible shaft  138  and hence the insert block  150  also rotated. With the springs  160  retained by the uncut portion  156  of the rigid shaft  146  and holding a “grip” onto the insert block, it is apparent that the rigid shaft will also rotate. However, if the rigid shaft  146  gets tight for any reason, or sudden pedalling speed is applied and torsion gets beyond the capability of the flexible shaft, the spring grip is defeated and will cause to slip.  
         [0040]    The embodiment just described is equipped with steel, hollow coil flexible shaft  138 , although other types may be used. The front end  136  of the flexible shaft is inserted tight with a reduced end of an adapter  134 . The other and larger end of the adapter has jaws  132  for connection with comparable jaws  130  at the end of the extended shaft  122  of the pedal unit  120  (FIG. 8). The rear end  162  (FIG. 10) of the flexible shaft is inserted tight with the reduced end of the insert block  164 , previously described. The flexible shaft is guided and protected from damage by steel tube casing  166  with flanges  168  and  170  in the front and in the rear ends for connection to any suitable rigid member.  
         [0041]    The propellers  172  have shafts  146  made of rigid plastic or fiberglass rods and are rotatably supported on either ends by bushing or pillow blocks (not shown) or any other means familiar in the art. The propeller blades are so arranged such that during normal forward pedaling, both propellers tend to propel the watercraft forward. The propellers are enclosed with wire mesh  176  for protection and from getting entangled with foreign objects and maybe long hair of swimmers close by.  
         [0042]    The pedal unit  120  used with the present invention require shafts  122  on either ends outboard the pedals  104 . These shafts  122  are extended so as to provide sufficient length for direct connection with the propellers  126  as can be seen better in FIGS. 1 and 3, for one embodiment. And, for the other embodiment, extended shaft is likewise necessary so as to provide sufficient space for the jaws  130  as seen in FIG. 8. These extended shafts are rotatably supported by bushing or pillow blocks mounted intermediate the downwardly bent portion on the front end of the elevated portion of the chassis member.  
         [0043]    The preferred embodiments having been described, changes in shape and form may be incorporated by those skilled in the art and such may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claim herein appended: