US2990804A - Collapsible water cycle - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1961 Filed June 8, 1959 J. W. GAREHIME COLLAFSIBLE WATER CYCLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jacob W. Gorehime Agenr y 4;" J. w. GAREHIME COLLAPSIBLE WATER CYCLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed' June a, 1959 INVENTOR. Jacob W Gurehime Agent July 1961 J. w. GAREHIME 2,990,804

COLLAPSIBLE WATER CYCLE Filed June 8, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Jacob W. Gurehime United States Patet 2,990,804 COLLAPSTBLE WATER CYCLE Jacob W. Garehime, 1700 Griflith St., Las Vegas, Nev. Filed June 8, 1959, Ser. No. 818,940 6 Claims. (Cl. 115-26) This invention relates to a water cycle and more particularly to a collapsible water cycle which may be folded into a small package for ready and convenient transporta tion.

Previously proposed and used water cycles have been bulky and heavy. Relatively large floats or boat-like structures, and fixed interconnecting members, have rendered them unsuitable for easy carriage overland and have much restricted their usefulness.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide an improved, water cycle. Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible water cycle which can be collapsed into a compact, small package for ready and convenient transportation. A further object of this invention is to provide a safe and stable water cycle which can be collapsed to form a compact, small package. These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof and from the annexed drawings in which:

FIG.' 1 shows "a general top view of a water cycle embodying features of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of the water cycle of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2.

FIG. 3 shows a detail view, relatively enlarged, of the bracket member and associated structures comprising the seat stand of the water cycle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a detail view of the handle bar post mounting assembly of the water cycle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a detail view of the handle bar post mounting assembly of FIG. 4 with the post in collapsed position.

FIG. 6 shows a detail view of the rudder assembly of the water cycle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows the rudder locking device in more detail.

FIG. 8 shows a general perspective view of the water cycle of FIG. 1 as collapsed to form a compact, portable package.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the water cycle comprises an elongated drive support member 10 on which is adjustably connected to bracket member 12. This specific organization will be more readily apparent from FIG. 3 in which it is seen that the connection, in the illustrated embodiment, is accomplished through yoke 14 which is fixedly attached to bracket member 12 as by welding at 16. Disposed between the upstanding perforated arms of yoke 14 is split block 18 having a bore through which body 10 passes substantially as shown. Block :18 may be temporarily firmly tightened and fixed on drive support member 10 by tightening thumbscrew 20 which forces the split portions of block 18 toward each other to bind block 18 on member 10. Upstanding, spaced apart cars 22 are attached to or formed as part of block 18 and between them is disposed the flat and perforated lower end 24 of seat post 26. Pivot bolt 28 passes through the perforations in the arms of-yoke 14, the ears 22 and the end 24 of post 26 as shown. Removable latch pin 30 is inserted through mating holes in the arms of yoke 14, in cars 22 and the end 24 of seat post 26 to temporarily lock seat post 26 in upright position as shown. In addition, latch pin 30, which transfixes the arms of yoke 14 and cars 22 of block 18, thus temporarily locks block 18 and drive support member 10 in a predetermined angular relation- 5 hingedly attached as by bolt 32 to seat mount 34 which is in turn fixedly attached to, or made as part of, bicycle type seat 36. The seat assembly which includes post 26, mount 34 and seat 36, is therefore folda-bly mounted on bracket member 12, mount 34 being temporarily locked in upright aligned relationship on seat post 26 by latch pin 38 which transfixes these elements through corresponding holes therein.

Hingedly attached to the underside of bracket mem ber 12, as by bolts 40, are radially extending arms 42, which are temporarily maintained in their extended positions by removable latch pins 44, which are placed through corresponding holes in the bracket member 12 and arms 42. One of either the forward or rearward pair of arms 42 is spaced apart at their hinge bolts 40 a greater distance than the other pair of said arms so that with latch pins 44 removed, the arms 42 may be folded into essentially parallel relationship with drive support member 10, as will be more clearly seen in FIG. 8.

At the outer ends of arms 42 are attached flotation means, such as deflatable floats 46, and the method of attachment thereof will be described hereinafter in more detail. Floats 46 are formed of impermeable, flexible fabric, plastic, rubber, or other suitable material in the shape of hollow balls as shown.

At the forward end of drive support member 10, are mounted pedals 48 rotatably attached to hangers 50 whose connecting across shaft 52 passes through gear box 54 and is connected inside to spur gear 56. Meshing with spur gear 56 is smaller diameter spur gear 58 which is in turn mounted on, or attached to, concentric bevel gear 60.

At the after end of drive support member 10 is provided propulsion means, such as propeller 62, having attached propeller shaft 64 journalled through drive support member 10 by provision of bushings 66 and 68.

At its forward end, propeller shaft 64 is provided with bevel pinion 70 which meshes with bevel gear 60. Thus, pedals 48 at the forward end of drive support member 10, working through hangers 50, cross shaft 52, gears 56, 58, 60, and 70, and through propellar shaft 64 actuate and rotate propeller 62. Tubular construction of drive support member 10 provides convenient accommodation and protection for propeller shaft 64.

Thus it will be seen that bracket 12 and its associated structures form a seat stand on which is mounted seat 36, and that drive support member 10 is connected to the seat stand through split block 18. Drive support member 10 carries propulsion means, propeller 62, at

bracket 72 fixedly attached to gear box 54, and through which is slidably journalled handle bar post 74 whose lower end portion 76 is hingedly attached thereto as by' bolt 78. Fixedly attached to lower end portion 76 is extending arm 80, and at the top of post 74 is fixedly attached handle bar 82. As seen more clearly in FIG.

4 the bottom of post lower end portion 76 normallybears for support against the upper surface of drive support member 10, with the joint 'at bolt 78 within the tu-I bular portion of bracket 72 thereby maintaining post 74 and its lower end portion 76 in rotatable alignment. When it is desired to fold down post 74, as seen in FIG.

In addition, when floats 5, this member with its lower end portion 76 is lifted vertically until the joint at bolt 78 is above the top of bracket 72, and extendingarm 80 fits into its locking slot 83 in the tubular part of bracket 72'. Post 74 may then be folded in horizontal relative position essentially as shown. The slot 83 in bracket 72 locks the handle bar post 76 and the rudder assembly when in folded position as will be explained hereinafter.

Attached to drive support member at its rearward end as by struts 84, is propeller shroud 86. Rudder post 88, to which is attached rudder 90, is hingedly mounted at the rear of propeller shroud 86 as by bearing holes 92 therein, and is provided at its top with crank arm 94. Link 96 is pivotably attached at one end to crank arm 94 as at 98 and at the other end to arm 80 as at 100 so that the rudder steering means may be suitably actuated by the handle bar assembly previously described mounted at the forward end of drive support member 10.

In order to obtain utmost compactness in the collapsed water cycle it is advantageous to arrange that the rudder may be folded flat with the aft end of propeller shroud 86. This is accomplished in the embodiment illustrated, as will be seen more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, by attaching rudder 90 to rudder post 88 by means of sleeve member 102 through which rudder post 88 is slidably and rotatably disposed. Projecting radially from rudder post 88 and fixedly attached thereto is pin 104 which, when rudder 90 is in extended working position, engages notch 106 in the upper face 108 of sleeve member 102. Spring 110 bearing against the upper surface of the bottom of shroud 86 and against the lower face 112 of sleeve 102 urges sleeve 102 upward to maintain pin 104 in locking engagement with notch 106 so that steering movement of arm 94 will be effectively transferred into appropriate corresponding motion of rudder 90, rudder post 88 being maintained in its position vertically by exterior end nut 114. To fold the rudder 90 into shroud 86, sleeve 102 is depressed against the urging of spring 110 so as to free pin '104 from notch 106. Rudder 90 and attached sleeve 102 are then rotated on rudder post 88 until rudder 90 lies flat with respect to the end of and inside shroud 86. Sleeve 102 is then allowed to be lifted again by the urging of spring 110 which places another notch 116, also in the upper face 108 of sleeve 102 and which radiates at an angle of about 90 to notch 106, now into engagement with pin 104. Thus, the rudder 90 is locked in folded position. To place the rudder 90 in operating position, sleeve 102 is again depressed, rudder 90 and sleeve 102 are rotated to swing the rudder out, pin 104 engaged in notch 106, and sleeve 102 allowed to rise to lock the assembly in this position.

Floats 46 are cenveniently fabricated with central open tubes 118 through which the ends of arms 42 pass. Inner fixed washers 120 maintain the floats 46 in desired position and outer washers 122 held in place by nuts 124 threaded on the extremity of arms 42, restrain them at their outer ends. Thus, the floats 46 may readily be removed and replaced if damaged or punctured. Suitable and conventional valves 126 are provided in the surfaces of floats 46 to provide for inflation and deflation thereof.

In operation the water cycle is prepared for use by tightening bracket 12 on drive support member 10 in convenient position spaced from the ends thereof, by tightening thumbscrew 20. Block 18 and drive support member 10 and lower end 24 of seat post 26 are then locked to provide the desired angular relationship with bracket member 12 by insertion of latch pin 30 in its holes in ears 22 of block 18, yoke 14, and seat post end 24. This locates drive support member 10 at an acute angle to bracket member 12 and the plane of attached arms 42 and floats 46, so that the propulsion assembly at the rear end of drive support member 10 will be submerged, and the pedals 48 will remain above the waters surface. In addition, seat post 26 will be temporarily fixed in upright position. Latch pin 38 is similarly 4 placed in its holes in post 26 and seat mount 34, to lock these elements in working location, with seat 36 horizontal. Rudder is swung out and locked in operating position by manipulation of sleeve 102 as described. Handle bar post 74 is then moved to vertical position and the joint at bolt '78 slipped down into the tubular portion of bracket 72 with the bottom of post end section 76 hearing against drive support member 10, and the handle bar assembly thus locked in erect position. Float arms 42 are extended radiating from bracket member 12 and locked in extended position by latch pins 44. Floats 46 are inflated through valves 126 as by blowing or employment of a suitable and conventional pump. A rider supported on seat 36 propels the water cycle by actuating pedals 48 and steers by means of handle bar 82.

When it is desired to collapse the water cycle, thumbscrew 20 is loosened and bracket member 12 moved to the end of the drive support member 10. Latch pins 30 and 38 are removed and the seat post and seat folded flat as shown. Handle bar 82 is lifted so that the joint at bolt 78 is above the tubular part of bracket 72, and handle bar post 74 is folded flat with handle bar 82 conveniently lying on seat 36. Floats 46 are deflated through valves 126 and latch pins 44 removed, and arms 42 with deflated floats 46 are folded into essentially parallel relationship with drive support member 10. Rudder 90 is folded and temporarily locked flat inside shroud 86 as described above. The whole water cycle has now been collapsed to form a compact package as shown in FIG. 8.

Provision of plurality of floats at the ends of radiating arms provides separated points of floatation resulting in a safe and stable water cycle. At the same time the unique arrangement described produces a device which, while providing spread floats for stability, can be folded into an extremely compact package for ready portability. The described organization also provides adequate buoyancy and stability in a collapsible water cycle which, when collapsed, is light, compact, and easy to carry.

I claim:

1. A collapsible water cycle comprising; a seat stand, a seat mounted on said seat stand, a drive support member connected to said seat stand, propulsion means mounted at one end of said drive support member, means for actuating said propulsion means, a plurality of radiating arms hingedly attached to said seat stand, and deflatable flotation means attached to and enveloping outer end portions of said arms, said arms being foldable into essentially parallel relationship with said drive support member when said flotation means are deflated.

2. A collapsible water cycle comprising; a seat stand, a seat mounted on said seat stand, a drive support member connected to said seat stand, propulsion means mounted at one end of said drive support member, means for actuating said propulsion means, a rudder attached to the after end of said drive support member, actuating means for said rudder, a plurality of radiating arms hingedly attached to said seat stand, and deflatable ball shaped flotation means attached to and enveloping outer end portions of said arms, said arms being foldable into essentially parallel relationship with said drive support member when said flotation means are deflated.

3. A collapsible water cycle comprising; a seat stand, a seat mounted on said seat stand, a drive support member connected to said seat stand, propulsion means mounted at one end of said drive support member, means for actuating said propulsion means, a collapsible handle bar assembly rotatably mounted on said drive support member operatively connected to a rudder at the after end of said drive support member, a plurality of radiating arms hingedly attached to said seat stand, and deflatable flotation means attached to the outer ends of said arms, said arms being foldable into essentially parallel relationship with said drive support member when said flotation means are deflated.

4. A collapsible water cycle comprising; a seat stand, a

seat mounted on said seat stand, a drive support member connected to said seat stand, propulsion means mounted at one end of said drive support member, means for actuating said propulsion means, a shroud surrounding said propulsion means, a rudder hingedly attached to said shroud, means for actuating said rudder mounted on said drive support member, a plurality of radiating arms hingedly attached to said seat stand, and deflatable flotation means attached to the outer ends of said arms, said arms being toldable into essentially parallel relationship with said drive support member when said flotation means are deflated.

5. A collapsible water cycle comprising; a seat stand, a seat mounted on said seat stand, a drive support member connected to said seat stand, propulsion means mounted at one end of said drive support member, means for actuating said propulsion means, a shroud attached to the after end of said drive support member, a rudder hingedly attached to said shroud and foldable in said shroud fiat with respect to the end thereof, collapsible means for operating said rudder mounted on said drive support member, a plurality of radiating arms hingedly attached to said seat stand, and deflatable flotation means attached to the outer ends of said arms, said arms being 'foldable into essentially parallel relationship with said drive support member when said flotation means are deflated.

6. A collapsible water cycle comprising; a seat stand including a collapsible seat post, a seat mounted on said seat post, a drive support member connected to said seat stand, propulsion means mounted at the after end of said drive support member, means for actuating said propuls'ion means mounted at the forward end of said drive support member, a rudder mounted at the after end of said drive support member, a collapsible handle bar assembly mounted on said drive support member and operatively connected to said rudder, a plurality of radiating arms hingedly attached to said seat stand, and deflatable flotation means attached to the otuer ends of said arms, said seat post, handle bar assembly and arms being collapsible and rfoldable into essentially parallel relationship with said drive support member when said flotation means are deflated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,761,884 Gorski June 3, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 103,808 Switzerland Mar. 24, 1923 809,918 France Dec. 19, 1936

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