US2990805A - Aquatic device - Google Patents

Description

J. JACUS AQUATIC DEVICE July 4, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 INVENTOR. JOSEPH JACUS BY m 7 July 4, 1961 J. JACUS 2,990,805

AQUATIC DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEL7 INVENTOR. JOSE PH JACLUS July 4, 1961 J- JACUS 2,990,805

AQUATIC DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 m V 3] LL ('1 w INVENTOR. JOSEPH JACUS BY United States Patent 2,990,805 AQUATIC DEVICE Joseph Jacus, 3095 NW. 90th St., Miami, Fla.

Filed Dec. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 783,636

1 Claim. (Cl. 115-263) This invention relates generally to aquatic devices and is more particularly directed to a floating device adapted primarily to be propelled by the feet of an operator thereof. 1

A principal object of the presentinvention is to pro vide a floating aquatic device which is novel in construction and permits a person to propel same by feet while in a prone position so that the operator may observe acquatic and marine life below the surface of the water, or if desired, the operator may propel himself while in a seated position thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a foot propelled aquatic device which is so designed to provide the operator thereof with complete comfort of operation whether lying prone or seated upright.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an aquatic device described as above wherein the propelling mechanism is adjustable to fit persons of different heights and may be removed from the device to convert the latter to a floating raft and the like.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an aquatic device which is simple in construction, economical in cost and most effective in the operation of the foot propelling mechanism.

With these and other objects in view,.the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view'of a foot propelled aquatic device constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are rear and front elevational views, respectively.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 3 shown with the propelling mechanism removed.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the stern of the device showing the bracket for the propelling mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the foot propelling mechanism as seen removed from the aquatic device. I

FIGURE 10 is a bottom plan view of the aquatic device with the foot propelling mechanism shown removed.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, there is shown my aquatic device which consists of a raft portion 10 and a foot operated propelling mechanism 11 removably mounted on the lower surface of the raft 10 as is explained in detail hereinafter.

The raft or float portion 10 is preferably constructed of a porous plastic material such as expanded polystyrene and the like, though any appropriate materials may be used.

The raft portion 10 which is streamline in construction so as to offer as little resistance as possible to its forward motion through water is provided with a prow *14 and main longitudinal members 15 extending rearwardly on each side of the center line of the raft 10 to a cross member 1 6 that forms the stern. At the forward part-of the raft 10, a second cross member 17 extends between the longitudinal members 15 to strengthen the raft 10 and forming a support for one end of the longitudinal member 18 which extends along the centerline of the raft 10 to the stern member 16. The longitudinal member '18 forms a support for the propelling mechanism 11 as is explained in detail hereinafter. The upper surface of the longitudinal member 18 is inclined down- Wardlyas at 22 in the direction of the stern of the raft 10 in order to accommodate and support a persons body who will normally be lying on the longitudinal member 18 with his legs astride same and extending through openings 19 formed between the longitudinal members 15 and 18. The cross member 17 supports the persons chest whose head will be above the position of an opening 20 formed by the longitudinal members 15, 15' as the latter extend from the prow 14 to the cross member 17. The inclined surface 22 terminates in an upwardly extending surface 23 which acts as a backrest for a person who may sit upright while propelling the aquatic device 10.

Means are provided for removably and adjustably mounting the propelling mechanism 11 comprising a pair of angle bars 24 secured in parallel and space apart relation on the lower surface of the longitudinal member 18 at the stern portion thereof. The angle bars 24 form a bracket for a propeller carriage or support 25. The carriage 25 is provided with outwardly extending flanges 21 which are slidably supported on the horizontal leg portions of the angle bars 24. A locking device for securing the carriage 25 on the bracket 24 consists of a lock pin 26 slidably mounted in a bore formed on one of the angle brackets 24 and a bridge 27. (See FIGURE 8 Secured to the lock pin 26 is a disk 28 which acts as a shoulder for limiting the inward sliding movement of the pin 26 and against which one end a coil spring 29 engages, the other end engaging the bridge 27 whereby the lock pin 26 is yieldingly urged inwardly to its locked position. The shoulder 21 is provided with a plurality of bores 42 along its length so that the lock pin 26 may be received by one of these bores '42 so as to position the propelling mechanism 11 at any desired position along the bracket 24.

At the mid-portion of the propeller support 25 is a gear housing or cover 30 mounted by bolts on each side of the support 25 wherein there is contained conventional gearing mechanism (not shown) connecting a pedal turning shaft 31 and a propeller 32. To each of the ends of the shaft 31 is secured a crank 33 on which is mounted a pedal 34. The pedals 34 are provided with a foot engaging strap 35 to prevent ones feet from slipping from the pedals 34.

The propeller 32 is positioned in a cavity 38 formed by rearwardly extending and spaced apart arms 36 and 37 of the propeller support 25, the arms 36 and 37 supporting a rudder 39. The rudder 39 extends between the arms 36 and 37 and is provided with pivot pins 40 which are pivotally mounted on the arms 36 and 37 for swinging movement of the rudder 39.

The rudder 39 is provided with means for steering same comprising a tab 41 mounted on the rudder at one end in alignment with the pivot pins 40 and at the upper portion of the rudder 39. The tab 41 extends at right angle to the rudder 39 where it is pivotally secured to a rod 43 as at 44, which rod 43 is provided with a plurality of bores 45 for adjustment purposes.

The rod 43 is received by a tubular member 46 which Patented July 4, 1961 is slidably mounted along the lower surface of the longit-udinal member 18 by means of a bracket 47 secured to the raft 10. The tubular member 46 and rod 43 are caused to be operated in unison by a lock pin 48 extending through a bore in the tubular member 46 and one of the bores 45 in the rudder rod 43. The lock pin 48 is held in position by a leaf spring member 49, one end of which is secured to the tubular member 46 and the other to the lock pin 48.

The forward end of the tubular member 46 is pivotally secured to a connecting link 50 whose other end extends forwardly to the right side of the float at the lower surface of the longitudinal member where it is pivotally connected to an arm 51 and a further link 150 as at 52.

The other end of the arm 51 is secured to a shaft 53 which is fitted through a bore 54 in the longitudinal member 15. The rod 53 terminates in a cavity 55 formed in the top portion of the longitudinal member 15 and is secured to a handle 56 so that rotation of the handle 55 will effect a swinging movement of the rudder 39.

There is a second rudder steering handle 156 similar to the handle 56 for steering the rudder 39, positioned adjacent the cross member 17 for operating the rudder 39 when the operator is in a seated position on the float 10. The handle 156 is positioned in a cavity 155 and secured to a shaft 153 which extends downwardly through a bore in the float 10 and whose lower end is secured to an end of an arm 151. The other end of the arm 151 is pivoted as at 152 to the rearward end of the link 150.

It is to be noted that upon actuation of either of the handles 56 or 156, the link 50, the tubular member 46 and rudder rod 43 will slide in an approximate longitudinal direction to cause the rudder tab 41 and the rudder to swing about the rudder pins or posts 40 and thereby steer the raft 10. Also, as described above, the position of the propeller mechanism 11 can be adjusted along the track 24 without aflFecting the steering of the rudder 39. For example, if a tall person wishes to operate the device in a prone position, he can lift the pin 48 to disengage the shaft 43 from the tubular member 46 at the same time pull the lock pin 26 outwardly to disengage the carriage from the bracket 24. Now, the propeller mechanism 11 can be slid rearwardly along the track or bracket 24 to the nearest bore 45 on the rudder shaft 43 at which position of the carriage 25 a bore 42 will receive the lock pin 26 and consequently secure the carriage 25 to the float 10.

On the left side of the float 10 are a further pair of cavities 255 symmetrically disposed with relation to the cavities 55 and 155. There is positioned in each of the cavities a fixed handle 256 in order that an operator may have a grip for his left hand whether he is in a prone position or a seated position on the float 10.

From the above description it can be noted that my aquatic device can be used and propelled by feet by persons of any height or size either in a prone or sitting position by a simple adjustment of the propeller mechanism 11. Also, if desired the propelling mechanism 11 can be removed and a person using the float 10 may propel himself by the use of his hands, flippers on his feet or by rowing with an car or paddle as in a small boat.

That which I claim as new and to be secured by Letters Patent is:

An aquatic device comprising a body portion having a longitudinal axis, an opening on each side of said axis, an elongated member extending along said axis between said openings for supporting an individual, said openings adapted to receive the legs of said individual, said elongated member having an inclined surface extending downwardly in the direction of a rear portion thereof and an upwarding extending portion at said rear portion of said inclined surface forming a backrest, a longitudinally disposed track mounted on a lower surface of said body portion at said rear portion, a propeller carriage slidably mounted on said track, locking means ad- 'justably securing said carriage to said track, a rudder pivotally mounted on said carriage, a steering tab secured at one end to said rudder, a rod, pivot means securing one end of said rod to the free end of said steering tab, a bracket secured to a lower surface of said longitudinal member, a tubular member slidably mounted in said bracket, a link, pivot means securing one end of said tubular member to said link, the other end of said tubular member receiving the free end of said rod, locking means securing said rod and said tubular member and a steering handle rotatably mounted on said body portion and connected to the free end of said link for actuating said rudder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,650,497 Dayde Nov. 22, 1927

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