JPH11115426A - Portable device for using bicycle as a kind of water vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable device for using a bicycle as a kind of water vessel. SOLUTION: This portable device consists of a pair of thin, long, and freely inflatable floats 12, a fixing means for fixing a bicycle 16 on a pair of floats arranged in parallel speedily, and a means for connecting a clutch unit 20 in contact with a rear wheel 18 of the bicycle with a propulsion unit 22 with a propeller 134 fixed on a front wheel 19 of the bicycle by a rotary joint through a flexible shaft. Consequently, it is possible to advance a water vessel formed in this way by stepping on an ordinary pedal 27 of the bicycle and change the direction of the water vessel obtained by using a handle of the bicycle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an amphibious means for causing a vehicle to float on water, and more particularly, to a bicycle which can be easily moved and steered even in the presence of water current by making the bicycle a water vehicle. The present invention relates to an assemblable device that constitutes a floating frame on which a bicycle can be placed.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known, bicycles have been improved over the years and a wide variety of types are now commercially available for various purposes. In recent years, bicycles have
It is gaining in popularity as a means of practicing sports as a recreational activity that is not a competitive purpose.
For example, mountain bikes have gained high popularity as off-road applications that cannot be run with conventional models.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable and easily assemblable portable bicycle which allows the bicycle to be floated on water without having to make any changes to the structure of the bicycle. It is to provide a device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above type which is lightweight, compact and therefore can be easily carried when not needed. Yet another object of the present invention is that it does not require complicated manufacturing techniques,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above type that can be manufactured at low cost.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a portable device for allowing a bicycle to float on water.
Together with the device itself and the rider, a pair of elongate inflatable floats of sufficient size to float on the water, connecting means for connecting the pair of floats in parallel, and connecting the bicycle to the pair of floats Between the fastening means for fast fastening to said coupling means between them, and the means for operating the propelled propulsion unit by stepping on the bicycle for driving the floated bicycle obtained thereby. A portable device comprising:

The connecting means for connecting the pair of floats in parallel and the fixing means for quickly fixing the bicycle to the connecting means comprise a rear upper fork and a rear lower fork of a rear part of the float. And a front connector for connecting the front of the float to the lower bar of the bicycle.

[0007] The rear coupler includes a pair of T-shaped joints. The horizontal portions of the T-joints constitute two arms, each having an end that is curved to embrace the upper surface of the corresponding float. The vertical portions of the T-joints constitute two parallel struts that stand upright with respect to the float. At the upper ends of these posts are provided lock heads with rotatable clamps suitable for quick mounting on the rear upper and lower forks of the bicycle.

[0008] The front coupler includes a T-joint. The horizontal portion of the T-joint again comprises two arms, each having a curved end to embrace the upper surface of the corresponding float. The vertical arms of the T-joint constitute a central upright or upright substantially upright with respect to the float. The upper end of the upright is provided with an upper clamp suitable for quick attachment to the lower bar of the bicycle frame.

With the above arrangement, if the curved ends of the horizontal arms of the T-shaped joints of the rear and front couplers are attached to predetermined positions of the inflated floats arranged in parallel, the bicycle is moved. It can be placed on those floats. Then, the rear upper and lower forks of the bicycle frame are sandwiched between the clamps at the upper ends of the vertical upright members forming a part of the rear coupler, and the lower oblique bar of the bicycle frame is connected to the T-shaped joint of the front coupler. A kind of watercraft or ship is obtained by clamping it on the clamp at the upper end of the vertical strut.

A horizontal directional control (steering) bar or arm is fixed by a joint having a vertical axis approximately at the center of the front T-shaped joint. At the end of the directional control arm, a second rotary joint having an axis perpendicular to the arm is attached, and a clamp for gripping the rim and tire of the front wheel of the bicycle is provided at the upper end of the second rotary joint. An attachment means for attaching the propulsion unit with a propeller to the clamp is fixed.

The means for actuating the propulsion unit with a propellor by stepping on a bicycle pedal comprises rotating a rear wheel tire secured to a quick connect clamp which can be secured to a saddle bar of a bicycle frame. It consists of a clutch that draws power from motion and a flexible shaft with two heads at both ends for quick connection to the clutch and a propulsion unit with a propellor.

According to this configuration, by stepping on the pedal and thus rotating the rear wheel of the bicycle,
The rotational movement of the tire is transmitted to the propulsion unit with the propellor via the flexible shaft. Also, if the axle of the front fork supporting the front wheel is rotated by using the handle of the bicycle, the joint between the directional control arm and the front coupler, and the directional control arm and the front wheel of the bicycle can be rotated. A rotation about the vertical axis of the propelled propulsion unit is created via a joint between the clamp and the propulsion unit, thereby turning the "ship".

The clutch includes a short shaft and a notched roller fixed to the short shaft and protruding so as to come into contact with the tire of the rear wheel of the bicycle. A second short axis that is perpendicular to the short axis is connected to the short axis via a bevel gear, and the second short axis can be connected to the flexible shaft.

[0014] The propulsion unit with a propellor comprises an elongated body fixed to a clamp of a rotary joint supported in a downward vertical position by an end of the directional control arm, and a horizontal propeller connected to a lower end of the main body. Consists of a shaft. The propeller shaft is connected to an inner shaft coaxial with the main body via a bevel gear. At the upper end of the inner shaft, means for attaching to the flexible shaft is provided. At both ends of the flexible shaft, a short-coupling coupling for coupling to the short shaft end of the clutch and the short shaft of the propulsion unit are provided, respectively.

The curved ends of the horizontal arms of the T-joints of the rear and front couplers are secured to the floats by small welding clamps made of rubber, plastic or other material.

All parts constituting the device of the present invention are:
Since it can be assembled into a few small and compact units with a simple design, it can be stored in a shoulder bag or the like and carried by bicycle or hand.

At the end of the flexible shaft to be attached to the propulsion unit, a socket for an air pump for inflating (inflating with air) a float can be removably fitted, and the air pressure inlet of the pump is flexibly connected. A tube can be connected to the float. When the bicycle is on the ground, the two upright members of the T-joint of the rear coupler connected to the rear upper and lower forks of the bicycle can be used as a stand to hold the rear wheel of the bicycle in an elevated state. In this state, a pedal can be depressed to operate the pump to inflate the float, and conversely, if the flexible tube is connected to the suction port of the pump, the float can be quickly squeezed. .

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the accompanying drawings, the apparatus of the present invention basically comprises, as shown in FIGS.
Two inflatable floats 12,14, two couplings 30,80 for connecting them to the bicycle 16, and a propulsion unit 22 with a propeller arranged below the rear wheel 18 to the front wheel 19 of the bicycle 16 And a clutch 20 for transmitting motion to the clutch. The floats 12, 14 are made of plastic material, are generally cylindrical bodies slightly tapered at the front and rear ends, and are provided with valves 24 for introducing air to these floats to expand them.

As shown in FIGS.
2 and 14, two pairs of plastic or rubber arc-shaped (semi-circular ring) clamps 2 are provided in the longitudinal direction.
6, 28 are fixed by welding (heat sealing) or other suitable methods. These clamps 26, 2
Numeral 8 constitutes a receptacle for receiving the ends of the cylindrical metal arms 34, 36, 86, 88 and locking them in place. The metal arms 34, 36, 86, 88 are formed of aluminum, stainless steel or other suitable material.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the front coupler 30 has a T-shaped joint 32 and the above-mentioned cylindrical metal arm press-fitted to both horizontal ends of the T-shaped joint and fixed by claws 40. 34 and 36. Cylindrical metal arm 3
The outer ends 42 of the floats 4 and 36 are inserted into and fixed to the pair of arc-shaped clamps 26 and 28, respectively.
Is formed in an arc shape that matches the curved surface of.

The lower end of an upright member 48 is press fitted into the vertical portion 46 of the T-shaped joint 32. Upright member 48
A clamp 50 is attached to the upper end of the horn. The clamp 50 is connected to the frame 1 of the bicycle 16 by the lever 54.
5 is fastened to the lower oblique bar 52.

At approximately the center of the T-shaped joint 32, a directional control arm 56 is fixed by a rotary joint 33 having a vertical axis and extends toward the front of the swellable floats 12,14. The arm 56 is provided with a number of holes 56 ′ for receiving a joint 35 having a vertical axis, and the joint 35 is provided with a clamp 58 for locking to the front wheel 19 of the bicycle 16. . Clamp 58
(FIG. 10) shows the pivot 6 on the plate 64 at the lower end.
It consists of a pair of jaws 60 pivotally connected by two, with an adjustable locking rod 66 mounted on the upper ends of the jaws. Jaw 6 of clamp 58
A deformed pad 68 made of a synthetic resin foam is mounted on the opposed inner walls 0,60. The modified pad 68 grips the rim 70 of the tire 72 of the front wheel 19 of the bicycle 16. A pin 74 constituting the above-described joint 35 is fixed to the plate 64 of the clamp 58, inserted into one of the holes 56 'of the direction control arm 56 and protruded downward, and
6 and the like so as to be rotatable.

A rear connector 80 for connecting the rear portions of the inflatable floats 12, 14 to the bicycle 16 is shown in FIGS.
, A pair of T-shaped joints 82, a central tubular portion 84, and the arms 34, 3 of the front coupler 30 described above.
6 comprising two cylindrical metal arms 86, 88 having a curved outer end 42 similar to that of FIG. The outer ends 42 of the metal arms 86 and 88 are formed in an arc shape that matches the curved surfaces of the floats 12 and 14 that are inserted into and fixed to the pair of arc-shaped clamps 26 and 28, respectively. Metal arms 86, 88
Are connected by elastic claws to the horizontal outer end of the respective T-shaped joint 82, and the central tubular portion 84 is press-fitted to the horizontal inner end of the T-shaped joint 82, and the opening formed in the inner end and It is fastened by a bolt 90 inserted through a small hole.

The vertical portion 92 of each T-shaped joint 82 defines a receptacle for receiving the lower ends of the tubular uprights 94,96.
At the upper ends of the uprights 94, 96, a lock head 98 with clamps 103, 105 is mounted, as is clearly shown in FIGS. Clamp 103, 1
05 is fastened to the rear upper fork 23 and the rear lower fork 25 of the bicycle 16 by well-known means, respectively. The clamps 103 and 105 are fixed to the respective lock heads 98 by headed pins 165.

Each clamp 103, 105 comprises a pair of jaws 161, 163 pivotally connected to each other by a pivot pin 164. The jaws can be locked in place by bolts 166.
The headed pin 165 allows the clamps 103, 105 to rotate freely to accommodate the tilt angles of the rear forks 23, 25 of the bicycle 16. Lower end portion 10 of lock head 98
0 has a hole into which the cylindrical upright members 94 and 96 can be press-fitted. Each lockhead 98 has two opposing fins 10 with transversely aligned screw holes.
2 (FIG. 4) and their fins 102, 10
2 is tightened by a screw 104 with a grip handle inserted into the screw hole.

The clutch 20 (FIG. 8) comprises a metal case 106 having a short shaft 108 and a notched roller 110 fitted on the short shaft 108. Notched roller 110
Project from the rear portion of the metal case 106 of the clutch 20 so as to contact the tire of the rear wheel 18 (FIGS. 7 and 11).
), Via a bevel gear 112 to another shaft 114 perpendicular to the shaft 108. Secured to the front of the clutch 20 is a clamp having jaws 118, 118 (quick connection clamps) pivotally connected to each other by pivot pins 118 '. This clamp connects the clutch 20 to the bar 120 of the bicycle saddle 122.
It is for fixing to. The clutch 20 is provided with the notched roller 110 as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
Can be pivoted down about the pivot pin 118 'to pull it away from it.

As shown in FIG. 7, a flexible shaft or one end of a flexible joint 124 can be fitted to the end of the shaft 114 of the clutch 20. One end of the flexible shaft or flexible joint 124 has a cap or head 12 that fits over the end of the shaft 114.
6 are provided. End collar 12 of cap 126
8, an L-shaped notch 130 (FIG. 9) is formed. The other end of the flexible shaft 124 extends toward the front wheel of the bicycle and is fitted to the propeller-equipped propulsion unit 22 by a cap or head 126 '. The upper end of the propulsion unit 22 has a receptacle 142 for receiving a cap 126 'at the other end of the flexible shaft 124. The propeller-equipped propulsion unit 22 includes a propeller 134 at a lower end thereof.

As shown in FIG. 7, the propulsion unit with propeller 22 has two short axes 138, 1 orthogonal to each other.
A short shaft 140 is a horizontal propeller shaft protruding to the outside for attaching a propeller 134 thereto. Propulsion unit 22
Can be inserted into a U-shaped member fixed to one side of a clamp 58 that grips the front wheel 19 of the bicycle, and projects below the floats 12 and 14 at right angles to the floats. The propeller 134 of the propulsion unit 22 has a short axis 1
The driving force is transmitted via a quick coupling 140 'consisting of 40 extensions.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment in which the device of the present invention is mounted on a bicycle. In particular, an embodiment in which the floats 12 and 14 are inflated by using the flexible shaft 124 is shown. Rear coupler 80
Are fastened to the rear upper and lower forks 23, 25 of the bicycle 16. A portion of the rear coupler 80, the T-shaped joint 82, the central tubular section (tube) 84 and the clamps 103, 105 constitute a stable stand for the bicycle 16, and the rear wheel 19 of the bicycle 16 is grounded. Can be slightly lifted and supported. The flexible shaft 124
At one end the clutch 20 and at the other end the pump 15
8, the pump 158 is connected to the short flexible tube 16
0 connects to one of the floats 12,14.

The rider can easily operate the pump 158 by pedaling the bicycle pedal 27,
The floats 12, 14 can be quickly inflated. Of course, the pumps 158 have the floats 12, 14
A suction duct for connecting to the tube 160 can be additionally provided so that air can be sucked out from the tube and quickly compressed.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides the following advantages. The device according to the invention is very easy to assemble and disassemble, and to carry around, and allows complete control of the bicycle while it is on the device. Of particular advantage is the ability to transmit the driving force of the pump from the bicycle to inflate or completely deflate the float. Each float is
It can be composed of two or more compartments, each with a separate air valve, or one or more directional control fins can be attached to the underside of the front of the float, or the side of the float can be protected Means can also be provided. Further, a handle for holding the float and other desired mechanisms can be provided.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the structures and shapes of the embodiments illustrated here, but departs from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Rather, it should be understood that various embodiments are possible and that various changes and modifications can be made. For example, the position of each component constituting the device of the present invention can be changed, or the structure can be reversed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device of the present invention applied to a bicycle.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view with a partial cross section showing details of a mounting portion of the device of FIG. 1 to each fork of a bicycle.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a mounting portion of the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows details of a clutch unit for extracting the movement of the rear wheel of the bicycle, and details of a propulsion unit with a propeller connected to a front wheel of the bicycle via a flexible joint or a flexible shaft. It is a side view.

FIG. 8 is a front view of details of the clutch unit of FIG. 7 and details of a propulsion unit with a propellor connected to a front wheel of a bicycle via a flexible joint.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an end of the flexible shaft of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a detailed sectional view of a clamp for locking a front wheel.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a bicycle supported on the ground with the rear wheel lifted off the ground by a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and a pump for inflating the float; Is connected between the clutch applied to the rear wheel and the pump.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a shoulder bag for storing the device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 12, 14: Inflatable float 15: Bicycle frame 16: Bicycle 18: Rear wheel 19: Front wheel 20: Clutch unit 22: Propulsion unit 23: Rear upper fork 25: Rear lower fork 26, 28: Arc clamp 27: Pedal 29: front fork 30: front coupler 32: T-shaped joint 33, 35: rotary joint 34, 36: cylindrical metal arm 42: curved end 46: vertical part 48: upright member 50: clamp 52: Lower bar 56: Direction control arm 58: Clamp 70: Rim 72: Tire 80: Rear coupler 82: T-shaped joint 84: Central cylindrical portion 86, 88: Cylindrical metal arm 92: Vertical portion 94, 96: Tube Upright member 98: lock head 103, 105: clamp 106: metal case 108, 114: short axis 110: notched slot LA 118: Jaw (rapid connection clamp) 120: Bar 122: Saddle 124: Flexible shaft or flexible joint 126, 126 ': Cap or head 134: Propeller 136: Metal case (body) 138: Shaft 140: Horizontal Propeller shaft 144: Connecting means (U-shaped part) 148: Handle 155: Shoulder bag 158: Pump 160: Flexible tube

Continuation of front page (71) Applicant 597152788 VIA CAPRERA 11, 27029 V IGEVANO (PAVIA), ITAL Y

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A portable device for using a bicycle as a kind of water vehicle, comprising: a pair of elongated devices sized at least sufficient to float the bicycle (16) with the device itself and the rider on water. Inflatable floats (12, 14), connecting means for connecting the pair of floats in parallel, and
Fixing means for quickly fixing said coupling means between the pair of floats and the propeller (134) by depressing the bicycle pedal (27) for driving the resulting floated bicycle Propulsion unit (2
Means for operating 2). 2. The connecting means for connecting a pair of floats (12, 14) and the fixing means for quickly fixing a bicycle to the connecting means, comprising: (25) and a rear coupler (80) for coupling to the rear lower fork (23) and a front coupler (30) for coupling the front of the float to the lower bar (52) of the bicycle. The portable device according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The rear coupler (80) includes a pair of tees (82), the horizontal portion of each tee being:
The two arms (86, 88) have arcuate ends curved to match the upper surface of the corresponding float, the vertical portion (92) of the T-shaped joint being upright with respect to the float. Two parallel upright members (94, 96)
And a rotatable clamp (103, 105) at the upper end of the upright member, suitable for quick attachment to the rear upper and lower forks (25, 23) of the bicycle (16).
A lock head (98) is provided, the front coupling (30) comprising one T-joint (32), the horizontal part of each T-joint being associated with the corresponding float ( 12, 14) comprising two arms (34, 36) having curved ends (42) to match the upper surface of the T-joint, wherein the vertical portion (46) of the T-joint is substantially Central upright member (4)
8), and the bicycle (16) is provided at the upper end of the upright member.
Lever (5) on the lower bar (52) of the frame (15).
4) An upper clamp (50) is provided which is suitable for quick mounting with the aid of said curved end (50) of said arm of the T-joint of said rear and front coupling (80, 30). 42) is connected to the floats (12, 14) arranged in parallel, and the rear coupler (8) is connected to the floats (12, 14).
0) The clamp (103, 105) at the upper end of the upright member (94, 96) is attached to the rear upper and lower forks (25, 2) of the frame (15) of the bicycle (16).
3) and clamp the clamp (50) at the upper end of the central upright member (48) of the T-joint of the front coupler (30) to the lower bar (52) of the bicycle frame. This allows the bicycle to be floated (12,
The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the portable device can be fixed to (14). 4. A horizontal directional control arm (56) is fixed to said T-shaped joint (32) of said front coupler (30) by a rotary joint (33) having a vertical axis.
At the end of the directional control arm, a second rotary joint (35) having an axis perpendicular to the arm is attached, and a tire (72) of the front wheel (19) of the bicycle is mounted on an upper end of the second rotary joint. ) Is provided with a clamp (58) formed so as to be fitted to the rim (70), and a connecting means (144) for fixing the propulsion unit (22) with the propeller (134) is fixed to the clamp. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is a portable device. 5. Said means for activating the propulsion unit (22) with the propeller (134) by depressing the bicycle pedal (27) comprises a bicycle frame (15).
A clutch unit (22) for extracting power from the rotational movement of the tire of the rear wheel (18) fixed to a quick connection clamp (118) which can be fixed to a bar (120) of the saddle; Flexible shaft (12) provided at both ends with two heads (126, 126 ') for quick connection to a propulsion unit (20) with a roller.
4), the pedal (27) is rowed to rotate the rear wheel (18) of the bicycle, so that the rotational motion of the rear wheel is propelled by the propeller through the flexible shaft (124). When the axle of the front fork (29) supporting the front wheel (19) is transmitted to the unit (22) and the handle (148) of the bicycle is used,
The directional control arm (56) and the front coupler (30)
And the clamp (5) for the revolving joint (33) between the directional control arm and the front wheel (19) of the bicycle.
8) a rotation about the vertical axis of the propulsion unit with propeller (22) is created via the rotary joint (35) between them, and the direction of the watercraft can be changed. A portable device according to claim 1 or claim 4. 6. The clutch unit (22) is fixed to the short shaft (108) and is connected to the rear wheel (1) of the bicycle.
8) a notched roller (110) protruding so as to come into contact with the tire, and a second short axis (114) perpendicular to the short axis is connected to the short axis via a bevel gear. The second minor axis is adapted to be coupled to the flexible axis (124).
A portable device according to claim 1. 7. A propulsion unit with a propeller (22).
Has an elongated body (136) that can be secured in a downward vertical position to a U-shaped part (144) secured to the clamp (58) on the rotary joint (35) and connected to the lower end of the body. It comprises a horizontal propeller shaft (140) of a propeller (134), which is connected via a bevel gear to a shaft (138) coaxial with the body, and the upper end of the shaft (138). 5. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the device is provided with means for attaching to the flexible shaft. 8. The second short shaft (1) of the clutch unit (20) is provided at both ends of the flexible shaft (124).
A quick-fit coupling (128) for coupling to the end of (14) and to the end of said shaft (138) of said propulsion unit (22). A portable device according to claim 1. 9. The rear and front coupler (80, 30).
The curved ends (42) of the arms (34, 36, 86, 88) of each of the floats (12, 14) are formed by welding clamp pairs (26, 28) formed of rubber, plastic or other material. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is fixed to a portable device. 10. A simple design with a small number of small components so that the entire device can be compactly stored in the bicycle (16) itself or in a shoulder bag (155) for carrying by hand. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device is a portable device. 11. The propulsion unit (2) of the flexible shaft.
The end to be connected to 2) is the float (12, 14)
A replaceable fitting for a pump (158) for inflating the pump is provided, the pneumatic inlet of the pump being provided with a flexible tube (160).
And can be connected to the floats (12, 14) by the rear upper and lower forks (25, 23) of the bicycle.
The upright members (94, 96) of the rear coupler (80) connected to the bicycle include a stand for holding the rear wheel (18) of the bicycle in an elevated state when the bicycle is placed on the ground. The float (12,
14) a pedal (27) can be depressed to operate said pump (158) to inflate 14);
6. The portable device according to claim 5, wherein the float can be rapidly reduced by connecting the flexible tube (160) to the suction port of the pump.