Patent Publication Number: US-4318700-A

Title: Paddle wheel operated watercraft

Description:
BACKGROUND REFERENCES 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,691,396 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,036,185 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,299,737 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,692 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,045,636 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,306 
     U.S. Pat No. 3,410,244 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For many years, watercraft have been proposed that utilized manually operated paddle wheels. 
     One type of such watercraft had two pontoons interconnected in a spaced, side-by-side relationship. In some watercraft of this type, the use of two paddle wheels was proposed, each on the outside of the appropriate one of the pontoons while in others, a single, pedal-operated paddle wheel was located between the pontoons adjacent the stern ends thereof. 
     The last named, single paddle wheel type has many potential advantages for warm weather use because of the ease with which such watercraft may be propelled and because of their typical shallow draft. 
     THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The general objective of the present invention is to provide watercraft of the single, pedal operated type adapted for a wide range of uses. 
     In accordance with the invention, this general objective is attained with a watercraft having a light weight frame consisting of two spaced parallel lengthwise members and a plurality of transverse members provided with anchors at their ends embedded in the appropriate ones of the two pontoons while molded from an expanding plastic material that provides both adequate flotation and a hard outer shell or skin. 
     A propelling unit is secured to the lengthwise frame members adjacent the bow end of the watercraft. The unit consists of a housed paddle wheel having laterally exposed pedals with the paddle wheel preferably supported by the housing or shield. A rudder is mounted on the rear end of the frame and seating means are attached to an intermediate portion thereof, with a manually operated rudder control adjacent the seating means. 
     Another objective of the invention is to enable the watercraft to be used by two people, an objective attained with the seating means including back-to-back seats. 
     Yet another objective of the invention is to enable the watercraft to be propelled by an outboard motor, in practice, because of its relatively light weight, one that is electrically operated, an objective attained by providing the stern end of the frame with a motor mount. 
     Another objective of the invention is to ensure the easy and convenient operation of the watercraft, whether propelled by its paddle wheel or by a motor, an objective attained with the seating means adjustable lengthwise of the lengthwise frame members. 
     These and other objectives of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, the drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watercraft in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of components of the propelling unit; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the support of the shaft of the propelling means by the housing; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing or shield by itself; 
     FIG. 5 is a section, on a substantial increase in scale, taken approximately along the indicated line 5--5 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the seating means; 
     FIG. 7 is a section, on a substantial increase in scale, taken approximately along the indicated line 7--7 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the frame with the rudder and its operating means attached thereto; 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view thereof with the pontoons shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view thereof; 
     FIG. 11 is a stern view thereof; and 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rudder and the operating means therefor. 
    
    
     THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     The watercraft illustrated by the drawings has a light weight metal frame, see FIGS. 8-11, consisting of two lengthwise members 10 interconnected in parallel, spaced apart relationship by transverse members 11 the ends of which and lengthwise anchor members 12 are molded in the pontoons 13. The members 10, 11, and 12 are formed of channel stock of aluminum, magnesium or alloys thereof. 
     The pontoons 13 are preferably polystyrene as ensuring adequate flotation and a skin or shell and are molded to provide each with similar bow and stern ends 14 and 15, respectively, a lengthwise bottom rib 16, and a lengthwise upper recess 17 which open along its inner edge and closed by the appropriate one of the lengthwise members 10 to provide a convenient place where equipment can be safely stored. 
     A semi-circular housing or shield, generally indicated at 18, has a flange 19 extending along the bottom of each side wall 20 detachably attached to a frame member 10 by screws 21, see FIG. 5. Attached to the inner surface of each side wall 20 is a support 22 for a bearing 23. A bushing 24 within the bearing 23 supports the shaft 25 of a paddle wheel generally indicated at 26 with each end of the shaft 25 extending through the adjacent support 22 and side wall 20 as an exposed crank and provided with a pedal 27. Each recess 17 is formed with a pocket 28 so dimensioned as to accommodate the pedal 27 at that side of the shield 18 as the paddle wheel 26 is turned by the operator when in position so to do. 
     The watercraft has a seating unit generally indicated at 29 and consisting of framework and a base having two side members 30, each of right angular section with a framework in support of a rearwardly inclined back rest 31 for a person seated on the flotation cushion 32 resting on the lengthwise members 10 and a forwardly inclined back rest 33 for a person seated on a like and similarly supported cushion 32. As may best be seen in FIG. 7, the members 30 protrude beyond the inner edges of the lengthwise members 10 with thumb screws 34 threaded through their margins and through a clamping plate 35 which is dimensioned to underlie the side members 10 of the framework thus enabling the seating unit 29 to be clamped thereto or released so that it may be slid forwardly or rearwardly and resecured in a selected position. 
     Centrally of the rearmost frame member 11, see FIGS. 8-12, there is pivoted an arm 36 having at one end a rudder 37. Pivotally connected to the other end of the arm 36 is a forwardly extending rod 38 slidable in a guide 39 attached to the next adjacent transverse member 11 forwardly of which it has a laterally disposed portion 40 entrant of a pocket 41 in the recess 17 of the port pontoon 13. The rod 39 there includes an upwardly bent portion 42 placing its forwardly disposed handle 43 in a position to be easily engaged by the operator and pulled forwardly or pushed rearwardly depending on whether the watercraft is to be turned to the left or the right. 
     The front and rear ends of the lengthwise members 10 are closed by plates 44. The rear plate 44 serves as a mount to which a light weight outboard motor, not shown, may be secured with its control effected by one occupying the rear seat. It will be appreciated that the seating unit may be moved forwardly or rearwardly as required to enable one to be so seated that the watercraft may be comfortably pedaled and similarly adjusted when an outboard motor is attached if there is to be but one occupant. 
     Watercraft in accordance with the invention are light in weight and both the propelling unit and the seating unit may be easily removed for convenience in transportation or storage.