Marine propulsion – Operator powered drive for propelling means
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-03
2001-06-05
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Operator powered drive for propelling means
C440S025000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241565
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to human powered boats, and in particular to a boat which is powered by a helical drive mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional human powered row boat includes two oars which extend from the sides of the boat. The user lowers the oars into and drives the oars against the water to propel the boat during a power stroke. On the return stroke, the user raises the oars out of the water and moves the oars back to a position so that a power stroke can be re-initiated.
Therefore, the ends of the oars travel into and out of the water in an oval-shaped path. Thus, the user is forced to perform a rather awkward motion to move the oars. Furthermore, the user is forced to exert energy to the lift the oars out of the water on the return stroke.
A conventional human powered paddle boat includes two pedals which extend in front of and/or below the user's seat. The user drives the pedals in a rotary motion similar to driving a conventional bicycle. The motion of the pedals provides a force to a power transmission mechanism for propelling the boat.
Inherent in the rotary motion of each pedal are dead spots. Such dead spots occur when the pedal is closest and furthest from the main body of the user. When each pedal is in either of these two dead spots, a constant torque cannot be maintained, and therefore, a constant force cannot be provided to the power transmission mechanism from each pedal.
As disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/711,982 (the '982 application), a helical drive mechanism allows the user to drive the pedals in a rectilinear fashion, and thus, provides a constant torque to the power transmission mechanism. Therefore, the helical drive mechanism enables the force input onto the pedals to be transferred more efficiently. Other structure, applications, functions, and advantages are discussed in detail in the '982 application and the above-identified U.S. provisional applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a human powered boat having a helical drive mechanism. Thus, the force that is input by the user can be transferred in an efficient manner.
It is another object of the present invention to arrange the helical drive mechanism within the boat so that a user can propel the boat using a motion which approximately simulates the motion used to propel a conventional row boat. However, unlike the conventional row boat, the user will not be forced to awkwardly move oars in an oval-shaped path, thereby increasing his/her comfort level. Furthermore, the user will not have to exert any extra energy to lift the oars out of the water during the return stroke.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a helical drive mechanism and a power transmission mechanism which allows the boat to be propelled without the use of oars. Thus, the boat requires a smaller amount of space while being propelled to the extent that the oars do not extend beyond the sides of the boat.
It is another object of this invention to arrange two helical drive mechanisms within a boat, wherein each of the two helical drive mechanisms is attached to a foot pedal. Thus, the user can use his/her relatively stronger leg muscles to drive the helical drive mechanisms. Furthermore, since the helical drive mechanisms are driven in a rectilinear fashion, the dead spots inherent in a rotary motion are eliminated and a constant torque can be provided to the power transmission mechanism.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures.
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Avila Stephen
Helixsphere Technologies, Inc.
Moy Jeffrey D.
Weiss Jeffrey
Weiss & Moy P.C.
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