Patent ID: 7264521

Claim:
A biomechanically correct pedal powered paddling system for small watercrafts comprising: a. a watercraft attaching frame having: i. a central width-adjustable joining portion, ii. two opposing watercraft-clamping members for attaching said frame to watercraft gunwale, iii. two opposing pedal-assembly receiving portions, iv. two opposing primary linkage pivoting collapsible members, v. a diagonal support member forming a rigid, generally-triangular structure, vi. frame extension extending perpendicularly from each end portion of said frame, vii. two opposing secondary linkage folding members, and viii. a plurality of pivotal axle members, b. a pedal drive assembly having; i. a primary pedal drive shaft having extension receiving female members at each end, ii. two drive shaft extensions having non-rotatable male ends longitudinally adjustably mating with female drive shaft members and paddle drive members distal from the primary drive shaft, and iii. two foot pedals rotably attached to offset member integral with a pedal drive shaft forming the crank member, c. an upper and lower paddle-attaching portion each having: i. a paddle receiving portion, ii. a linkage attaching portion having single axis rotational freedom from paddle receiving portion, and iii. releasable paddle locking member, d. a linkage array having: i. a paddle crank arm having a non-rotational female end adapted to receive the male end of the drive shaft extensions, and a rotational end adapted to secure to the linkage attaching portion of the above paddle receiving portion, ii. a swing lever, iii. a vertical member, and iv. a plurality of pivotal axle members, e. the paddling system thus allows simulation of the biomechanical motion of conventional arm powered paddling by mechanically duplicating the ideal geometry and moments generated by the human act of paddling a canoe-like watercraft.