Abstract:
A watercycle having generally do-nut shape float mounted onto a frame or chassis member, and a rider&#39;s seat situated within the hollow of the float, and which can be adjusted vertically and horizontally. Adjusting the seat to its highest level will cause the seated rider to submerge up to the hip, and adjusting it to its lowest level will cause the rider to submerge up to about 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 watersports equipment and more particularly to a watercycle wherein portion of the body of a rider, below the head, is underwater. The novel watercycle includes propellers or paddle wheels for propulsion and is moved by working pedals. It is steered by a rudder in communication with a handlebar through a train of steering column, plurality of pulleys and actuating cord hitched onto the 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 watercycle that includes a seat that&#39;s adjustable horizontally in order for riders of different sizes to conveniently reach the pedals with the feet. Also, there&#39;s no prior art watercycle with a seat that&#39;s adjustable vertically to make it possible for a rider to obtain a desired submergence when the watercycle is floated in the water.  
           [0003]    Prior art watercycle assemblies including float, seat, pedals and propeller are disclosed by Helm, U.S. Pat. No. 1,610,778; Fowler, U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,617 and Ambrose, U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,245 are all meant for a rider to get wet while having leisure in the water. Although, these watercycles don&#39;t have adjustable seat for desired submergence in the water, and for the right distance to the pedals. No runners is provided to give protection of the equipment on the ground or on the beach. Holden, U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,947 disclosed a boat assembly with “dry seat”, no runners nor sort of protection for the propeller and rudder is provided while on the ground.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a watercycle that will keep a rider in wet condition.  
           [0005]    Another object is to provide a rider the choice of how much of the lower body is submerged, by adjusting the seat closer to or further below the water surface when the watercycle is floated.  
           [0006]    Yet another object is to provide a safety vehicle for a non-swimmer who desires to cool off in deeper water.  
           [0007]    Still another object is to provide bathers with relatively slow-moving fun ride watercraft suitable for a tight and crowded environment.  
           [0008]    The present invention is directed to small watercraft and more particularly to a watercycle wherein a seated rider is within the hold of a substantially do-nut shape float, and wherein lower portion of the body is underwater. The watercycle includes an adjustable seat so it can be moved closer to or further below the waterline. Submergence is selective 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 youth and children, with slow-moving fun ride. The watercycle is best used in calm and protected waters like for example, in a 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 chassis or frame having a pair of runners for resting on the ground, and an elevated portion for attaching the float. Located about centrally parallel between the runners and the elevated portions is a twin beam for supporting the seat and steering and rudder mechanisms.  
           [0011]    In one embodiment, the propeller are located between the runner and the elevated portion in the proximity of the downwardly bent rear end of the elevated portion. The propeller is linked with the pedal unit by gear box and propeller shaft. In another embodiment, paddle wheels with sprocket are mounted rearwards of the float and operatively linked by endless chain to a driving sprocket in the pedal unit.  
       
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective, in exploded view, of the chassis or frame and the float of the watercycle.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment, having propellers for propulsion.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the watercycle shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment, having paddle wheels for propulsion.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 shows the side elevational view of the watercycle shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a schematic of the steering mechanism, for translating rotation from handlebar to the rudder.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a seat adjusting mechanism, taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 5.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 shows a rear view of a pair of paddle wheel, taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 4.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 shows the inside of a gearbox which maybe employed with the present invention, numeral “9” of FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows, in exploded view, a chassis or frame  12  and a float  14  employed in the preferred embodiments of the novel watercycle. The float is generally do-nut shape, made of expanded or cellular plastic 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 other selected from highly buoyant material may also be used. Underneath the front end of the float  14  is concaved (not shown) to provide sufficient room for the knees of a pedalling rider  16  like for example when the seat  17  is at higher and/or forward adjustments.  
         [0022]    An underside bulge  18  rearward of the float (FIGS. 1 and 3) is provided. The bulge is adapted to displace additional volume of water in the rear portion and thereby will become a buoyant boaster for that portion of the watercycle. It will be apparent that most of the weight of a rider is concentrated in this said portion.  
         [0023]    In both embodiments (FIGS. 3 and 5) in the region of the underside bulge  18  are channels  20  (not shown) for accommodating the elevated members  22  of the frame when mounting the float. In the embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, another added and deeper channel  24  is provided to accommodate the endless driving chain  26 .  
         [0024]    The frame  12 , shown best in FIG. 1, includes two generally parallel runners  28  with front ends bent diagonally upwardly and joined together by a transverse member  30 , for resting the watercycle on solid surface. Two generally parallel elevated members  22  are provided for suitably mounting the float thereto. The front ends  34  are bent downwardly, each connecting a respective runner  28  immediately after the upwardly bent portion. The rear ends  36  of the of the elevated members  22  are likewise bent downwardly and each connecting a respective rear end of the runners. The frame is preferably of metal tubing, closed-end in order to provide strength and added buoyancy.  
         [0025]    A horizontal twin beam  38  is provided about midway between the runners  28  and the elevated portion  22  for supporting the steering mechanism  40  on the front end, rudder unit  42  on the rear end, a rider&#39;s seat in-between, and plurality of pulleys  44 ,  46  and  48  therealong underneath, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and  5 .  
         [0026]    A lower front arch  50  and a higher rear arch  52  are welded transversely apart at their ends along the length of the runners  28 . The rear portion of the twin beam  38  is welded crosswise underneath the upper portion of the rear arch  52 . The lower front arch  50 , with an upstanding riser  54  welded on top, supports the twin beam on its forward end thereof.  
         [0027]    Upper and lower plates  56  and  58  respectively are fixedly attached opposed the front end of the twin beam  38  for supporting the steering column  60 . A bushing  62  is affixed tight-fit through the holes (not shown) on the plates  56  and  58 , for rotatably mounting the steering column. A retainer collar  64  is secured to the column immediately above the bushing to keep the column from sliding down. At a convenient distance above the collar  64  is a loose sleeve  66  with support braces  68  as shown, provide strength to the steering column. On the rear end of the twin beam is welded with another set of opposed plates  70  and  72 . A bushing  74  is likewise affixed tight-fit through holes  76  (not shown) on the plates  70  and  72  for rotatably mounting a pintle  78  for a rudder  80 .  
         [0028]    Attached to the bottom end of the handlebar column  60  (FIG. 5) is a front or first pulley  44 , and the lower portion of the pintle  78  is also attached with a rear or second pulley  46 . A center or third pulley  48  is rotatably mounted underside a plate  82  welded underneath the twin beam. The rudder  80 , for steering the craft, is firmly gripped about its leading edge by the slotted top and bottom portions of the pintle  78 . The rudder is preferably of fiberglass material.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 shows in schematic an operative hitching of an actuating cord  84  onto the pulleys  44 ,  46  and  48 , for translating angular movement from handlebar to the rudder  80 . The cord&#39;s front portion  86  between the front or first pulley  44  and the center or third pulley  48  are hitched in parallel, while the cord&#39;s rear portion  88  between the second  46  and third  48  pulleys are crossed in figure “8” pattern. Thus, when the handlebar  90  (and hence the first pulley  44 ) is rotated in one direction for example, the rear or second pulley  46  (and hence the rudder  80 ) will rotate in the opposite direction to effectuate a desired heading for the craft. The above hitching arrangement is necessary so that the seat sliding base plate  92  can be moved forward or backward with ease, as needed.  
         [0030]    A riders seat  17  is rigidly affixed atop a threaded seat post  94  and is adjustable vertically for desired submergence depth of a rider, and likewise adjustable horizontally for convenient foot-reach to the pedals  96 . A mechanism for adjusting the seat is shown in FIG. 7, taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 5. The seat post  94  is threadably mounted to cooperating nut  96  connected fixed to a slidable base plate  92  that loosely straddle the twin beam  38 . A clamping plate  102  with large center opening is loosely positioned below the twin beam and being supported by a horizontal flange  104  of a downwardly bent portion  106  of the base plate  92 . A spacer  108  with large center opening is welded beneath the clamping plate  102 . A wing nut  110  is threadably connected to the lower portion of the threaded seat post  94  and positioned below the spacer  108 .  
         [0031]    To adjust the seat  17  vertically or horizontally or both, is to first loosen the wing nut  110  until the clamping plate  102  drop down fully to about one-eighth inch and thereby loosen its grip against the underside of the twin beam  38 . The slidable base plate  92  (and thus the seat post  94 ) is then moved forward or backward for convenient pedaling distance to the pedals  96 . And, to adjust the seat vertically, the seat  17 , and thus the seat post, is aptly rotated until the right height for desired submergence of the rider is obtained. Finally, the wing nut  110  is tightened to secure the seat from wobbling.  
         [0032]    In FIG. 1 is shown a pedal unit  112  which includes a crank with extended shaft  114  on either ends, and having a common axis, is utilized with this new concept. Each shaft  114  is rotatably supported by bushing  116  contained in a housing  118  and mounted crosswise to the intermediate of the downwardly bent front ends  34  of the elevated members  22  of the frame.  
         [0033]    In one embodiment, conventional design propeller  120  is employed to propel the watercycle, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and connected to the rear portion of the propeller shaft  122 . Plurarity of propellers  120 , arranged in tandem is illustrated, although one propeller for each shaft, or any other arrangement may be used. The propeller shaft is rotatably supported by rear bushing  124  and center bushing  126  with respective housing  128  and  130  suitably bracketed or braced to the frame  36  and arch  52 . The shaft is preferably of rigid plastic or fiberglass rod.  
         [0034]    A gearbox  132 , disposed adjacently outboard the bushing housing  118 , connected intermediate the front end  34  of the elevated member  22  is adapted to transform a relatively low rpm input from the pedal unit into a higher rpm output for the propellers is shown sectioned in FIG. 9. It includes a gear train utilizing a pair of spur gears  134  and  136  and a pair of bevel gears  138  and  140 , both with respective ratios. Other combinations familiar in the art of gearbox design may also be used.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 9, the larger spur gear  134  is keyed to journaled input shaft  142 ; smaller spur gear  136  and larger bevel gear  138  are both keyed to a journaled common shaft  144 , and small bevel gear  140  is keyed to journaled output shaft  146 . The input shaft  142  has coupling jaws  148  for communication with a comparable coupling jaws  150  at the outboard end of the pedal unit shaft  114 . The output shaft  146  likewise include coupling jaws  152  for connection with coupling jaws  154  on the forward end of the propeller shaft  122 .  
         [0036]    In another embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), paddle wheels  156  are used to propel the watercycle. The paddle wheel  156  is formed of multiple, generally rectangular paddle blades  158  attached in radial orientation to a rotatable shaft  160 . Two pairs of paddle wheels are installed immediately behind the float  14 . Each pair of side-by-side paddle wheels connected to a common journaled shaft  160  as shown in FIG. 8. A relatively small diameter driven sprocket  162  is also connected to shaft  160 . The shaft is rotatably mounted on two bushing  164  each secured into an opening  166  on a pair of legs  168  of upstanding frame  170 . Through slots  172  of convenient length are disposed on the lower portion of the legs  168  so that the paddle wheels may be raised or lowered as necessary.  
         [0037]    Diagonal, parallel support arms  176  are affixed on their lower ends to a plate  178  welded to the downwardly bent rear ends  36  of the elevated members  22 . Close to the free end of the support arms  176  is an opening  180  for accommodating a threaded bolt  182 . A hole in an arm  180  and a slot  172  in a leg  174  are correspondingly aligned close together and are clamped tight each with bolt  182  and wing nut  184 , seen in FIGS. 5 and 8.  
         [0038]    Anticipated riders of the watercycle are of varying weights and therefore it is sometimes necessary to adjust the paddle wheel to a position where it is most effective in moving the craft across the water. It has been found that about 40% of the length of the bottom blade  186 , when the watercycle is floated, is ideal depth as shown in FIG. 5. To lower or raise the paddle wheel is to first loosen the wing nut  184  then move the paddle wheel with its mounting frame to desired level, and to the correct strain of the driving chain  26 . Finally, the wing nut is securely tightened.  
         [0039]    On the outboard end of the shaft  114  of the pedal unit (FIGS. 1 and 4), is suitably rigidly attached a relatively large diameter driving sprocket  190 . As seen in FIG. 5, an endless drive chain  26  operatively connect the large diameter sprocket  190 , attached to the pedal unit shaft  114 , with the small diameter sprocket  162  attached to the paddle wheel shaft  160 . Thus, when the pedal unit is manipulated for movement of the watercycle, increased rpm is translated to the paddle wheel.  
         [0040]    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: