Marine propulsion – Operator powered drive for propelling means – Rotary cranking arm
Patent
1997-04-30
1998-09-15
Swinehart, Ed L.
Marine propulsion
Operator powered drive for propelling means
Rotary cranking arm
440 30, B63H 21175
Patent
active
058071482
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns amphibious means for making vehicles waterborne.
More particularly, the present invention consists of an apparatus made up of various parts which,assembled, form a floating framework onto which a bicycle can be mounted to become a waterborne vehicle, easy to move and direct even in the presence of currents.
It is a well-known fact that, over time, bicycles have undergone considerable evolution and are available today in a wide variety of types for different purposes. Recently the bicycle has become a favorite means for practicing sport in non-competitive recreational activities. The mountain bike, for example is now highly popular for off-the-road use where conventional models cannot go.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Purpose of the invention is to make available an apparatus of the kind referred to above, quick and easy to assemble and to mount the bicycle without any changes being necessary in the actual structure of the bicycle. Not least among the purposes of the invention is that of providing an apparatus which, should it not be needed, is light and compact and therefore easy to carry. Yet another purpose is to realize an apparatus that needs no complex technology for its production and so can be made inexpensively.
Subject of the invention is a portable apparatus to make a bicycle waterborne, comprising two oblong inflatable floats of a size sufficient to enable the bicycle, with its supporting apparatus and rider, to keep afloat,means for parallel connection of the pair of floats, means for quickly mounting the bicycle on said means of connection between the floats and means for moving the craft thus created by a propeller-type propulsion unit worked by turning the pedals.
The means for connecting the pair of floats and for quickly mounting the bicycle comprise a device at the back for joining the rear parts of the floats to the upper, lower and rear forks of the bicycle and a device at the front for connection between the forward parts of the floats and the lower bar of the bicycle frame. The rear device for connection comprises a pair of T-shaped joints.
The horizontal sections of said T-joints form two arms with ends so curved as to embrace the upper surface of the floats.
The vertical sections of the T-joints form two parallel columns, standing upright in relation to the floats, at whose upper ends are locking heads with rotatable clamps suitable for rapid attachment to the rear forks of the bicycle.
The front connecting device consists of a T-joint. The horizontal sections of this T as well form two arms also with curved ends to embrace the upper surfaces of the floats.
The vertical arm of the T consists of a central upright standing substantially orthogonal to the floats with an upper clamp for quick attachment to the lower bar of the bicycle frame.
Therefore, having placed the curved ends of the horizontal arms of the rear and front T-joint devices in position on the inflated floats, laid parallel, the bicycle can be mounted on said floats so that, by tightening the rear forks of the bicycle frame in the clamps at the upper ends of the vertical uprights forming part of the back joint device and by tightening the lower inclined bar of the bicycle frame in the clamp at the top of the substantially vertical column in the substantially vertical section of the front T-joint device, a type of watercraft is created. Approximately in the centre of the front T-joint, a horizontal directional bar is fixed by means of a joint with a vertical axis.
At the end of the directional arm is a second joint of rotation whose axis of rotation is orthogonal to said arm, there being at the top of said second joint a clamp made to grip the rim and tyre of the front bicycle wheel,there being fixed to said clamp a means for attachment to pro-peller-type propulsion unit.
The means for moving the propeller-type propulsion unit by rotation of the pedals consists of a clutch that picks up tyre motion off the rear wheel fixed to a quick-coupling clamp that can be sec
REFERENCES:
patent: 4789365 (1988-12-01), Jones
patent: 4936801 (1990-06-01), Herrit
patent: 5443405 (1995-08-01), Zeyger
Striker Michael J.
Swinehart Ed L.
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