EP0287526A1

EP0287526A1 - Watercraft with propelling devices for propelling it

Info

Publication number: EP0287526A1
Application number: EP88830147A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enzo Sigismondi; Giorgio Botti Caffoni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-14
Filing date: 1988-04-01
Publication date: 1988-10-19
Also published as: IT8720116A0; IT1203897B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watercraft comprising a submersible frame (1) at the ends of which there are coupled floating elements (10, 11).

The frame is provided, at its front portion, with gripping means (15) to be gripped by the user and, at its central portion, with a saddle (20), arranged at a lower level than the mentioned floating elements (10, 11) in order to hold the watercraft center of gravity under the water surface.

Propelling devices (30, 31, 40, 41) are moreover provided for propelling the watercraft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a watercraft provided with propelling devices for propelling it in water.
As is known, watercrafts are already commercially available which consist of a floating body thereon a frame is supported adapted to receive the user and provided with pedals or the like elements which drive a propelling element, such as a propeller.
These known watercrafts are affected by several use drawbacks the main of which is that the stability of these watercrafts is very poor since the center of gravity of said watercraftsis generally arranged at a higher level than the water surface ;thus even a slight movement of the user may cause the watercraft to be tilted.
Another drawback is that the floating body of known watercrafts has a great size and, consequently, a rather great weight.
Moreover the propelling characteristics of these known watercrafts are greatly limited and affected by the wind, since a great mass of the craft generally projects from the water surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a novel watercraft including propelling elements for propelling it on water which is very stable and which, moreover, is able of advantageously hydromassaging the user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a watercraft which has very reduced size and weight, while providing very good floating characteristics.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft which is very reliable in operation and which, moreover, can be constructed starting from easily available materials and has a very reduced cost.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a watercraft provided with propelling elements, characterized in that it comprises a submersible frame to the top ends of which there are coupled floating elements, said submersible frame including, at the front portion thereof, gripping means to be gripped by the user and, at the central portion thereof, a saddle arranged at a lower level than said floating elements in order to hold the center of gravity of said watercraft under the water surface, propelling devices being moreover provided for propelling said watercraft on water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the watercraft according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated, by way of an example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view illustrating a watercraft according to the present invention provided with hull shaped floating elements;
figure 2 is another side elevation view illustrating a watercraft according to the present invention provided with ball shaped floating elements;
figure 3 illustrates a watercraft according to the invention provided with hydrojet propelling elements;
and
figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating a watercraft according to the present invention during its use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the figures, the watercraft provided with propelling devices for propelling it on water according to the present invention comprises a submersible frame, indicated overally at the reference number 1, which has a substantially V-shape, like a bicycle frame.
To the top end of the front upright 2 and rear upright 3 of said frame there are coupled floating elements, which may be formed as hulls, indicated at 10 in figure 2, or as balls, indicated at 11 in figure 2, or in any other suitable ways.
More specifically, the mentioned floating elements can be affixed to the top ends of the frame 1 so as to cause said frame to be completely submerged as the watercraft is used.
This characteristic, in particular, is very important since it provides the watercraft according to the invention with a great stability.
At the front floating element, which may be provided with a bottom sponson 16, the frame 1 is provided with gripping means 15 to be gripped by the user and, at the middle region of said frame 1, there is provided a saddle 20 which is arranged at a lower level than the floating elements so as the center of gravity of said watercraft will be held under the water surface, thereby further improving the use stability of said watercraft.
The watercraft frame 1 is moreover provided with propelling devices which, according to a preferred embodiment, may consist of conventional pedals adapted to drive a paddle, or propeller, 31 arranged at the rear of the frame and rotatable by the pedals in order to cause the watercraft to be displaced.
In this connection it should be pointed out that the propeller 31 may be replaced by a hydrojet type of driving assembly including, as shown in fig. 3, an internal combustion engine 40 arranged in the inside of one of the floating elements, or suitably submerged, said engine driving a hydrojet impeller indicated at 41 for propelling the watercraft.
In both the embodiments disclosed the watercraft will provide further advantages :in fact , in the first embodiment, with the user pedalling a hydromassage effect will be obtained due to the relative movement of the user legs pedalling in water, in combination with the displacement of the craft.
A like advantage will be obtained with the motorized embodiment, the hydromassage effect being in this case mainly provided by a continuous impact of water on the user body.
While the invention has been disclosed with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A watercraft provided with propelling elements, characterized in that is comprises a submersible frame (1) to the top ends of which there are coupled floating element (10, 11), said submersible frame including, at the front portion thereof, gripping means (15) to be gripped by the user and, at the central portion thereof, a saddle (20) arranged at a lower level than said floating elements (10, 11) in order to hold the center of gravity of said watercraft under the water surface, propelling devices (30, 31, 40, 41) being moreover provided for propelling said watercraft on water.

2. A watercraft according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said frame (1) has a substantially V shape, with a front upright and a rear upright (2, 3), to the top ends of which there are coupled said floating elements (10, 11).

3. A watercraft according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said floating elements (10) have a substantially hull shape.

4. A watercraft according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said floating elements (11) have a substantially ball shape.

5. A watercraft according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a bottom sponson (16) preferably arranged at the front floating element (10, 11).

6. A watercraft according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said propelling devices (30, 31) consist of a pedal pair (30) rotatably coupled to the bottom of said frame and driving a rear propeller (31).

7. A watercraft according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said propelling devices (40, 41) comprise a hydrojet assembly including an internal combustion engine (40) driving an impeller (41).