US3585961A

US3585961A - Marine pedomotor

Info

Publication number: US3585961A
Application number: US753495A
Authority: US
Inventors: Guy Alan Glover
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-08-23
Filing date: 1968-08-19
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22
Also published as: GB1169646A

Abstract

A water ski consisting of a board for supporting a prostrate person on the water surface and a pedal-operated propulsion means mounted beneath the board and adjustable in position according to the height of the person.

Description

United States Patent Guy Alan Glover Cummins Farm Stockland, Honiton, Devon, England Aug. 19,1968

June 22, 1971 Aug. 23, 1967 Great Britain Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Priority MARINE PEDOMOIOR 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

03. Cl 1l5/26.3 Int. Cl B63h 16/12 Field of Search 9/310;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Church 1,030,525 6/1912 Myers 115/21 UX 2,379,526 7/1945 Horton 115/25 2,990,805 7/1961 .Iacus l15/26.3

3,185,125 5/1965 Haman... 115/26.3

918,029 4/1909 Ferrari 1l5/26.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 414,490 8/1946 Italy 115/26.3

Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney-Norris and Bateman ABSTRACT: A water ski consisting of a board for supporting a prostrate person on the water surface and a pedal-operated propulsion means mounted beneath the board and adjustable in position according to the height of the person.

According to the invention an appliance for the purpose mentioned consists basically of a ski of a size sufficient to support a person in a prostrate or reclining position and fitted with pedal operated propulsion means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a water ski according to the invention and,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ski shown in FIG. 1.

The ski shown in the drawings comprises a separately moulded and bonded hull 1 and deck 2 of polyester resin and/or glass fiber or of any other suitable material or combination of materials. This hull 1 has a broad portion 3 for supporting a rider in a prostrate position and having two rearwardly projecting fingers 4 and 5 for supporting a slidable deck 6 bearing a propulsion unit whilst allowing the legs of the rider to pass therebetween.

The leading edge portion 7 of the hull is curved upwards to facilitate passage of the ski along the surface of the water and the length of the ski from the leading edge to the tips of the fingers is about seven feet. Hand grips 8 are provided at the edge of the deck. A window 9 extending vertically through the deck and hull is provided for subsurface observation by the rider. The window is provided by an unbreakable plate of glass 10 in the hull moulding, a funnel 11 which is integral with the hull moulding and a snorkelling mask 12 (with the glass removed) cemented to the deck 2.

The slidable deck 6 is preferably constructed of marineplywood and can be adjusted in position on shoulders on the fingers 4 and 5 of the hull according to the height of the rider. Slots 13 of the rear of the deck provide hand grips.

The slidable deck 6 carries two vertical plates 14 and 15 supporting a rudder l6 and a propulsion unit 17. The rudder 16 is controlled from handles 18 near the handgrips 8 by nylon lines 19 passing through tubes 20 bonded into the hull. As shown a wooden bridge 21 may extend between the plates below the rudder to provide rigidity. The rudder is held in position by two trunnion-type hinges (not shown).

The propulsion unit comprises submerged pedals 22 beneath the deck for driving a propeller 23 through a gear box 24. The pedals are conveniently of the standard form constructed as bicycle equipment with straps 25 provided to prevent slipping of the feet. The gear box is conveniently a modified two-speed hand drill providing an output speed ratio of 8:1. The propeller is four-bladed having 5 inches wide blades with a pitch of 30.

It will be understood that, in use, the rider lies face downwards on the ski and propels himself by a simple pedalling action and that the ski must be balanced so that with the rider in position the propeller is at an adequate depth below the water surface.

Iclaim:

l. A water ski of a size sufficient to support a person in a prostrate or reclining position comprising a hull having a forward fixed deck portion extending transversely of the ski adapted to underlie the upper part of the persons body and opposite side members extending rearwardly from the fixed deck in sufficient laterally spaced relation to enable the person's legs to extend therebetween, a rearwardly disposed longitudinally slidable transverse deck portion bridging the rear ends of said side members with its opposite side edges mounted on slide guide means on said side members for selective longitudinal displacement along the ski to suit the height of the person on the ski, support means including a pair of spaced apart plates depending downwardly from said slidable deck, pedals mounted on said plates and submerged below said slidable deck accessible to the feet of said person, gearing supported between said plates and connected to said pedals, a

propeller supported from said plates and operable connected 0 said gearing, a rudder supported by said plates, and a flexible operating cable extending from a point near the forward end of said fixed deck portion to said rudder so that said rudder may be operated by hand by said person.

Claims

1. A water ski of a size sufficient to support a peRson in a prostrate or reclining position comprising a hull having a forward fixed deck portion extending transversely of the ski adapted to underlie the upper part of the person''s body and opposite side members extending rearwardly from the fixed deck in sufficient laterally spaced relation to enable the person''s legs to extend therebetween, a rearwardly disposed longitudinally slidable transverse deck portion bridging the rear ends of said side members with its opposite side edges mounted on slide guide means on said side members for selective longitudinal displacement along the ski to suit the height of the person on the ski, support means including a pair of spaced apart plates depending downwardly from said slidable deck, pedals mounted on said plates and submerged below said slidable deck accessible to the feet of said person, gearing supported between said plates and connected to said pedals, a propeller supported from said plates and operable connected to said gearing, a rudder supported by said plates, and a flexible operating cable extending from a point near the forward end of said fixed deck portion to said rudder so that said rudder may be operated by hand by said person.