US2317905A

US2317905A - Water cycle

Info

Publication number: US2317905A
Application number: US414175A
Authority: US
Inventors: Galkin Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-10-08
Filing date: 1941-10-08
Publication date: 1943-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1960-04-27

Description

Apr-i127, 1943.

J. GALKIN I WATER CYCLE S Sheets-Sheet JOSEPH GALK IN I, INVENTOR ATTORNEY Filed 001;. 8, 1941 April 27, 1943.

' J. GALKIN' WATER CYCLE" v Filed Oct. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i1 11m! 13 '1 Jv JO SEPH GA LKIN INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. GALKIN WATER CYCLE April 27, 1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1941 JOSEPH GALKIN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER CYCLE Joseph Galkin, New York, N. Y.

Application October 8, 1941, Serial No. 414,175

4 Claims.

This invention relates to water vehicles, and particularly to the type adapted to support and float the occupant and to be propelled with the feet and steered with the hands by the occupant in the manner of a bicycle.

An object of this invention is to provide a water vehicle comprising a pair of spaced-apart Water buoyant members such as boards, and a seat carried thereby at a considerably lower elevation, whereby the occupant is submerged up to the chest, in combination with mean whereby the occupant may simultaneously propel and steer the water vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water vehicle having means for driving the vehicle forward or backward or to cause it to turn as upon a pivot for controlling the direction of travel with ease.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paddle wheel having its upper half covered by a casing, and only the lower half of the paddle wheel will actuate the water and move the water vehicle or water cycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide water buoyant members designed so that their center of buoyancy is close to the center of load distribution as defined by the body of the occupant.

Another object of this invention is to provide sideways foldable water buoyant members so that the water cycle may be folded into compact form for carrying it to and from the water.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a water cycle constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the water cycle, showing the manner of propelling the device.

Figure 3 is a front view of the device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, the section being taken as on line 4--4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified water cycle, showing sideways foldable water buoyant members.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the foldable water cycle shown in Figure 5.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 indicates a water cycle comprising two water buoyant members [I which are preferably made of wood and are positioned in considerably spaced-apart relation.

At the forward part Of the water buoyant members H is a channel-shaped member l2 which interconnects the said water buoyant members I l in unitary relation. At the rearward part of the members H is a deep channel-shaped member [3 which interconnects the said water buoyant members in unitary relation.

A brace It integral with the rear interconnecting member i 3 carries a seat l5 which is suspended below the Water buoyant members. As best shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that thecenter of buoyancy of the water buoyant members H is positioned close to the seat i5 or center of load distribution as defined by the body of the occupant of the water cycle so as to maintain the water buoyant members in horizontal position.

A paddle wheel I6 is rotatably mounted on a shaft ll passing through side plates ill of a circular casing H9. The upper portion of the casing l9 has an integral semi-circular cover '20 which is closely spaced from the periphery of the upper half of the paddle wheel.

The cover 20 is secured at its upper face to a post 2| disposed within a bearing 22 fixed to the brace I4 and a bearing 23 fixed to the interconnecting member l2.

Handle bars 25 fixed to the upper end of the post 2| serve for pivoting the paddle wheel Hi to the right or left. Paddle cranks 26 secured to the shaft I! serve for actuating the paddle wheel and propelling the water cycle. The occupant may thus use the padle bars 25 and the paddle cranks 26 to simultaneously steer and propel the water vehicle in the manner of a bicycle.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modified water cycle 30 in which the water buoyant members II are pivotally mounted on hinges 3| having their pintles positioned at the level of the web plate of the forward interconnecting member 12, which is I-shaped.

In Figures 5 and 6, the buoyant members II are swung downwardly into inoperative position. In this position, the water cycle is of small overall width which permits its being carried under the arm of the user for transportationto and from the water.

The rearward portion of the buoyant members II is interconnected by a deep and substantially U-shaped member 32 which extends down to the lowest level of the paddle wheel casing l9 to permit the user to step into the water cycle 30 directly to the seat l and without raising his feet above the usual walking position.

The buoyant members shown in Figures 5 and 6, have stud bolts 33 projecting therefrom and positioned in alinement with open recesses 34 in the interconnecting members l2 and 32. When the buoyant members I l are raised to horizontal operative position, the stud bolts 33 become engaged in the recesses 34, and wing nuts 35 serve to look the buoyant members in horizontal position.

As best shown in Figure 6, a post 35 interposed between the seat l5 and the bottom of the interconnecting member 32 transmits the load of the occupant to the member 32 and through this member to the water buoyant members I I without straining the brace M.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a water cycle of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart buoyant members, means for interconnecting said buoyant members, a seat carried by said interconnecting means and suspended below said buoyant members, a paddle wheel suspended from said interconnecting means and being submerged, a casing covering the upper half of said paddle wheel, and means for pivoting said paddle wheel to simultaneously propel and steer said water cycle.

2. In a water cycle of the class described, a

pair of spaced-apart Water buoyant members,

the upper half of said paddle wheel, and means for pivoting said paddle wheel to simultaneously propel and steer said water cycle.

3. In a water cycle of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart water buoyant members, means for interconnecting said water buoyant members, a seat carried by said interconnecting means and suspended below said water buoyant members, the center of buoyancy of said water buoyant members being positioned close to the center of load distribution as defined by the body of the occupant of said water cycle, a paddle wheel suspended from said interconnecting means and being submerged, a semi-circular ing said paddle wheel to simultaneously propel members, a seat carried by said interconnecting means and suspended below said water buoyant members, the center of buoyancy of said water buoyant members being positioned close to the center of load distribution as defined by the body of the occupant of said water cycle, a paddle wheel suspended from said interconnecting means and being submerged, a casing covering and steer said water cycle, said water buoyant members being horizontally mounted in hinged relation with said interconnetcing members to permit folding said water buoyant members from operative horizontal position to vertical inoperative position.

4. In a water cycle having submerged means for sitting in an upright position, a pair of spaced-apart foldable water buoyant members, means for interconnecting said buoyant members substantially intermediate their ends, one of said interconnecting means extending considerably downwardly and having a seat secured thereto, a vertically positioned post having handle bars at its upper end and being pivotally mounted in the other of said interconnecting means, a foot operated propelling mechanism secured to the lower end portion of said pivotal post, whereby said post is adapted for swinging said propelling mechanism to cause said mechanism to simultaneously propel and steer said water cycle, said buoyant members being mounted in hinged relation with said interconnecting means to permit folding said buoyant members from operative horizontal position to vertical inoperative position, said buoyant members being in unitary relation with said water cycle in either of said positions.

JOSEPH GALKIN.