COLLAPSIBLE PEDAL BOAT

Abstract

A pontoon pedal boat includes a multi-piece frame, removable outriggers, inflatable pontoons, and a multi-section pedal drivetrain. The boat may be disassembled and placed into a small suitcase sized storage case to allow for easy transport of the boat. The boat and storage case are lightweight and the boat may be easily transported to many locations for use.

Claims

1. A collapsible pontoon boat comprising: a center frame section; a seat attached to the center frame configured to carry an adult human; a left outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame; a left inflatable pontoon attached to the left outrigger frame; a right outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame; a right inflatable pontoon attached to the right outrigger frame; a drivetrain comprising: a gearbox; crank arms and pedals attached to the gearbox; a driveshaft having a front end attached to an output of the gearbox such that rotation of the pedals actuates the gearbox and rotates the driveshaft; a propeller attached to a rear end of the driveshaft; wherein the drivetrain comprises a front joint that may be disassembled to separate a front section of the drivetrain from a middle section of the drivetrain; wherein the drivetrain comprises a rear joint that may be disassembled to separate a rear section of the drivetrain from a middle section of the drivetrain.

2. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein the pontoon boat may be disassembled for storage by: deflating the left pontoon and the right pontoon; removing the left pontoon from the left outrigger frame; removing the left outrigger frame from the center frame; removing the right pontoon from the right outrigger frame; removing the right outrigger frame from the center frame; removing the front drivetrain section from the middle drivetrain section; and removing the rear drivetrain section from the middle drivetrain section.

3. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein the drivetrain comprises: a torque tube surrounding the driveshaft and supporting the driveshaft within the torque tube, the torque tube having a front end attached to the gearbox; and a rudder mounted to a rear end of the torque tube.

4. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 3, further comprising a left steering handle connected to a left side of the center frame and a right steering handle connected to a right side of the center frame, and wherein the left steering handle and the right steering handle are operatively connected to the rudder with cables, and wherein the left and right steering handles are movable laterally to thereby cause movement of the rudder to steer the pontoon boat.

5. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 3, wherein the front joint separates a front section of the torque tube and a front section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft; and wherein the rear joint separates a rear section of the torque tube and a rear section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft.

6. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 5, wherein the middle section of the torque tube is pivotably attached to the center frame so that the drivetrain can be pivoted to raise or lower the propeller and rudder.

7. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 6, further comprising a control handle connected to the center frame and to the center drivetrain member and operable to pivot the drivetrain vertically and thereby raise or lower the propeller and rudder.

8. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 1, further comprising a suitcase sized carrying case; wherein the case comprises two halves that attach together as a case; wherein the two halves are separable from each other, and wherein a left case half is attachable to the left outrigger frame and wherein a right case half is attachable to the right outrigger frame.

9. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 8, wherein the left case half is attachable to a top of the left outrigger frame and wherein the right case half is attachable to a top of the right outrigger frame, and wherein the left case half and the right case half comprise storage compartments when attached to the respective left and right outrigger frames.

10. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 8, wherein the left pontoon comprises an attachment strap, and wherein the left pontoon is attached to the left outrigger frame by passing a left outrigger frame member through the attachment strap and attaching the left outrigger frame member to the left case half by attachment brackets such that the strap is held between the left outrigger frame member and the left case half.

11. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 8, wherein, when the pontoon boat is disassembled, the left pontoon, right pontoon, left outrigger frame, right outrigger frame, center frame, front drivetrain section, center drivetrain section, and right drivetrain section are stored inside of the suitcase sized carrying case with the carrying case closed.

12. A collapsible human carrying pontoon boat comprising: a center frame section; a seat attached to the center frame configured to carry a human; a left outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame; a left inflatable pontoon attached to the left outrigger frame; a right outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame; a right inflatable pontoon attached to the right outrigger frame; a drivetrain comprising: a gearbox; crank arms and pedals attached to the gearbox; a driveshaft having a front end attached to an output of the gearbox such that rotation of the pedals actuates the gearbox and rotates the driveshaft; a propeller attached to a rear end of the driveshaft; a joint positioned between the front end of the driveshaft and the rear end of the driveshaft, wherein the joint may be disassembled to separate the drivetrain into a front drivetrain section and a rear drivetrain section; and wherein the pontoon boat may be disassembled for storage by: deflating the left pontoon; deflating the right pontoon; removing the left pontoon from the left outrigger frame; removing the left outrigger frame from the center frame; removing the right pontoon from the right outrigger frame; removing the right outrigger frame from the center frame; removing the front drivetrain section from the rear drivetrain section.

13. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 12, wherein: said drivetrain joint is a front joint; wherein the front joint may be disassembled to separate the front drivetrain section from a middle drivetrain section; the drivetrain further comprises a rear joint; and wherein the rear joint may be disassembled to separate a rear drivetrain section from a middle drivetrain section.

14. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 12, wherein the drivetrain comprises: a torque tube surrounding the driveshaft and supporting the driveshaft within the torque tube, the torque tube having a front end attached to the gearbox; and wherein the joint is disassembled to separate a front torque tube section from a rear torque tube section and to separate a front driveshaft section from a rear driveshaft section.

15. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 13, wherein the drivetrain comprises a torque tube surrounding the driveshaft and supporting the driveshaft within the torque tube, the torque tube having a front end attached to the gearbox, wherein the front joint separates a front section of the torque tube and a front section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft; and wherein the rear joint separates a rear section of the torque tube and a rear section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft.

16. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 15, wherein the middle section of the torque tube is pivotably attached to the center frame so that the drivetrain can be pivoted to raise or lower the propeller and rudder.

17. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 12, further comprising a suitcase sized carrying case; wherein the case comprises two halves that attach together as a case; wherein the two halves are separable from each other, and wherein a left case half is attachable to the left outrigger frame and wherein a right case half is attachable to the right outrigger frame.

18. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 17, wherein the left case half is attachable to a top of the left outrigger frame and wherein the right case half is attachable to a top of the right outrigger frame, and wherein the left case half and the right case half comprise storage compartments when attached to the respective left and right outrigger frames.

19. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 17, wherein the left pontoon comprises an attachment strap, and wherein the left pontoon is attached to the left outrigger frame by passing a left outrigger frame member through the attachment strap and attaching the left outrigger frame member to the left case half by attachment brackets such that the strap is held between the left outrigger frame member and the left case half.

20. The collapsible pontoon boat of claim 17, wherein, when the pontoon boat is disassembled, the left pontoon, right pontoon, left outrigger frame, right outrigger frame, center frame, front drivetrain section, center drivetrain section, and right drivetrain section are stored inside of the suitcase sized carrying case with the carrying case closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a pedal boat according to the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective drawing of the pedal boat.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective drawing of the pedal boat inflation system.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective drawing of the pedal boat frame.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective drawing of the pedal boat outrigger frame.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective drawing of the pedal boat frame.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a drawing of an example pedal boat drivetrain joint for a front joint or a rear joint.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a drawing of another example pedal boat drivetrain joint for a front joint or a rear joint.

[0013] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, the drawings have been drawn to scale. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various examples of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

[0014] It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The examples shown each accomplish various different advantages. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element or advantage in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the examples in greater clarity. Similarly, not every example need accomplish all advantages of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

[0016] In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific implementations in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, an example embodiment, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, such feature, structure, or characteristic may be used in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. The particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combination and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. It is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art.

[0017] As used herein, adjacent refers to near or close sufficient to achieve a desired effect. Although direct contact is common, adjacent can broadly allow for spaced apart features. As used herein, the singular forms a, and, the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0018] As used herein, the term substantially refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is substantially enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be such as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of substantially is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is substantially free of particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is substantially free of an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.

[0019] As used herein, the term about is used to provide flexibility to a number or numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be one or two significant digits above or one or two significant digits below the number or endpoint.

[0020] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

[0021] Dimensions, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view drawing of a collapsible pedal boat 10 is shown. FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view drawing of the pedal boat 10. The pedal boat 10 may be easily disassembled into a number of small pieces that all fit inside of a storage case the size of a suitcase which is about 30 inches by about 19 inches by about 12 inches. The pedal boat 10 weighs about 50 pounds, allowing the pedal boat to be easily transported in a collapsed form including bringing the boat 10 on an airplane as luggage. The pedal boat 10 may be removed from the storage case and assembled in about 10 minutes. Once a person has finished using the pedal boat 10, it may be disassembled and returned to the storage case in about 10 minutes. The pedal boat 10 includes a frame and a drivetrain that may be disassembled into sections that are light weight, small size when disassembled, and that use a convenient storage case size and shape that allows the pedal boat 10 to be taken to many locations that are not easily accessible to available personal watercraft. The assembled pedal boat 10 is sufficiently large to provide stable and safe operation for adults. As currently designed, the pedal boat 10 allows a person to cruise at about 3 miles per hour with relative ease and allows the person to maintain this speed for several hours. The pedal boat 10 may be operated at about 6 miles per hour with increased effort. This allows the pedal boat 10 to be used to travel for relatively long distances and for long periods of time. Equipment and personal items may be carried on the pedal boat 10, allowing the pedal boat 10 to be used for many recreational activities including camping and fishing.

[0023] The pedal boat 10 includes a center frame 14 which supports an occupant and includes attachment points to receive various removable parts of the pedal boat 10. The center frame 14 supports a seat 18 that allows a person to ride the pedal boat 10. The pedal boat 10 includes a left outrigger frame 22 and a right outrigger frame 26 that are attached to the center frame 14. The example left and right outrigger frames 22, 26 are each attached to the center frame 14 with spring loaded push button telescoping tube locks. The tube ends of the outrigger frame tubes engage sockets in the center frame 14 and push button locks engage holes in the center frame sockets and retain the outrigger frame tubes in the center frame sockets. The respective outrigger frames 22, 26 support a left case half 30 and a right case half 34. The left case half 30 and right case half 34 attach to each other and form a storage case to store all components of the disassembled pedal boat 10. When the pedal boat 10 is assembled, the case halves 30, 34 are attached to the outrigger frames 22, 26 and help to support the respective left pontoon 38 and right pontoon 42. The left case half 30 and right case halve 34 also form open storage compartments on the assembled pedal boat 10 that can be used to carry a user's equipment, allowing a user to bring lunch, recreational equipment, or other personal items with them while boating.

[0024] The left and right pontoons 38, 42 are approximately one foot in diameter and approximately 13 feet long. The pontoons 38, 42 are soft sided inflatable pontoons. The example pontoons 38, 42 are made from a woven synthetic material with a polyurethane coating that makes the material air and water tight. The pontoons 38, 42 are assembled with the polyurethane coating on the inside of the pontoon and an uncoated side of the woven fabric facing outwards. The pontoons 38, 42 are placed underneath the outrigger frames 22, 26 and contact the undersides of the outrigger frames 22, 26 and the case halves 30, 34. FIG. 2 shows how each pontoon 38, 42 includes attachment straps 50. Each attachment strap 50 is attached to the pontoon 38, 42 at both ends so as to form a loop with the center of the attachment strap 50 used to attach the pontoon to the frame. An outrigger frame bar is passed through the attachment strap loop 50 and the frame bar is then attached to the bottom of the case half 30, 34 so that the attachment strap 50 is captured around the outrigger frame bar to secure the pontoon 38, 42 to the boat 10. The pontoons 38, 42 are quite light with each pontoon weighting approximately 3.5 pounds. Each pontoon 38, 42 includes a pressure monitoring gauge 46 and a fill port 54. Typically, the fill port 54 and pump system first fills the pontoons with a high volume and low pressure pump and then finishes filling the pontoons with a lower volume and higher pressure pump. The pressure gauge 46 includes a solar powered pressure gauge to monitor the pressure in the pontoons 38, 42 and help prevent overpressure of the pontoons 38, 42 as may occur when the pontoon temperature rises. The example pressure monitoring gauge 46 include a small solar cell that powers a digital pressure transducer and an LCD pressure display. The pontoon boat 10 may be used with a fill fitting (72, FIG. 3) that includes a pressure relief valve that opens when pressure is above a predetermined value to vent air from the pontoons until the pontoon air pressure falls below the predetermined value.

[0025] The pedal boat 10 includes a drivetrain 114 including pedals 118 that a user operates to drive a propeller 122. Pedals 118 are attached to the input shaft of a gearbox 126 via crank arms 120. The gearbox 126 and pedals 118 are positioned in front of the seat 18 and the drivetrain 114 is attached to the center frame 14 beneath the center frame 14. The gearbox 126 is attached to the front of a torque tube 130 that carries a drive shaft connecting the gearbox output to the propeller 122. The rear of the torque tube 130 supports the propeller 122 and a rudder 134. A driveshaft extends through the center of the torque tube 130 and connects the gearbox 126 to the propeller 122 such that moving the pedals 118 rotates the propeller 122. The rudder 134 is connected to a pair of control sticks 138 by cables 186.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic drawing of the pontoon inflation/fill port system. Both the left pontoon 38 and the right pontoon 42 include a fill port 54 which is attached to the top of the pontoon, typically in front of the seat 18 where a boat user can visually observe the fill port 54 and pressure monitoring gauge 46. The fill port 54 may be a quick release fill valve that allows an air inlet fitting to be inserted into the fill port opening and attached with a quarter turn. The fill port 54 may include a spring loaded check valve and a check valve release button 58 for deflating the pontoon. In use, the pontoons 38, 42 are inflated to a higher pressure (usually between about 2.5 and about 3.5 psi). The pedal boat 10 may include a two stage high pressure pump that first operates a blower fan to quickly inflate the pontoons 38, 42 to a low pressure and then operates a piston pump to fill the pontoons 38, 42 to the desired higher pressure. Such dual stage pumps may connect directly to the fill port 54. Alternatively, the pedal boat 10 may include separate low pressure and high pressure pumps. A high volume low pressure pump 62 includes a hose 66 and quick release fitting 70 that attach to the fill port 54 to quickly fill the pontoon 38, 42 to a low pressure. The quick release fitting 70 has lower fingers 68 that engage a cross bar 102 in the fill port 54 as the fitting 70 is inserted into the fill port 54 and rotated by about 90 degrees. Once the pontoon 38, 42 has been filled to a low pressure, the low pressure pump hose fitting 70 is removed from the fill port 54 and a high pressure fill fitting 72 is attached to the fill port 54. The example fill fitting 72 includes a valve stem 74 that may be attached to a higher pressure pump 78 via a hose 82 and pump fitting 86. In one example the valve stem 74 is a Schraeder stem and the pump 78 includes a corresponding pump fitting 86. The fill fitting 72 may include a pressure gauge 90 to allow a user to observe the pontoon air pressure while filling the pontoons 38, 42 with air to ensure that the pontoons 38, 42 are properly inflated. The fill fitting 72 may also include a pressure relief valve 94 that releases pressure from the pontoons 38, 42 in an overpressure situation or when the user desires to empty the pontoons. The fill fitting may have lower locking fingers/arms 98 that engage a cross bar 102 in the fill port 54 to connect the fill fitting 72 to the fill port 54. If a single dual stage fill pump is used, A fill fitting 72 may not be necessary. Instead, a pressure relief fitting 72 that attaches to the fill port 54 and includes a pressure relief valve 94 may be provided. A user may inflate the pontoon 38, 42 to about 3 psi with a dual stage pump, remove the pump, and then attach a pressure relief fitting 72 with a pressure gauge 90 and/or a pressure relief valve 94 to provide protection against overpressure of the pontoons 38, 42.

[0027] The pontoons 38, 42 are typically filled to a pressure between about 2.5 psi and about 3.5 psi for normal operation. The pressure relief valve 94 is configured to release air from the pontoons 38, 42 if their internal pressure exceeds the design pressure. This may occur if the pontoons remain in the sun and increase in temperature. Similarly, the pontoons may decrease in temperature and pressure when introduced to the water and some additional air may be necessary. A pump 78 may include a battery 106 and may be used to power the other pump to save weight and cost. In the example boat 10, the high pressure pump 78 includes a battery 106 and the low pressure pump 62 may be connected to the high pressure pump with an electrical cable 110.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a bottom perspective drawing of the pedal boat 10 without the pontoons 38, 42. FIG. 5 shows a perspective drawing of an outrigger frame 26 and case half 34. Each outrigger frame 22, 26 includes two laterally extending outrigger frame tubes 142. The inside ends of the outrigger frame tubes 142 fit into sockets 146 on the center frame 14 with a telescope fit. The inner ends of the outrigger frame tubes 142 include spring loaded buttons 150 that extend from the tubing wall and engage corresponding holes in the sockets 146 to attach the outrigger frame tubes 142 to the center frame 14. Brackets 154 are attached to the outrigger frame tubes 142. The brackets 154 snap into corresponding recesses 158 in the case half 34 to secure the frame tubes 142 to the case half 34. In assembling the pedal boat 10, the outrigger frame tubes 142 are passed through the pontoon attachment straps 50 and the outrigger frame tubes 142 are then attached to the case halves 30, 34 via brackets 154; thereby capturing the attachment straps 50 between the outrigger frame tubes 142 and the case halves 30, 34 and attaching the pontoons 38, 42 to the outrigger frames 22, 26. The pontoons 38, 42 are then inflated. Each case half 30, 34 includes a side/section of a separable hinge 160. In particular, each case half 30, 34 includes half of two separable hinges. The separable hinges 160 allow the case halves 30, 34 to be attached to each other by sliding a hinge pin into a hinge body to create a storage box from the case halves 30, 34. The case halves 30, 34 are used to store the boat 10 when the pedal boat 10 is disassembled. The separable hinges 160 allow the halves of the hinges to be separated from each other by removing the hinge pin from a hinge half, allowing the case halves 30, 34 to be used as structural parts of the pedal boat 10 when assembling the boat 10. The case halves 30, 34 are used to secure the pontoons 38, 42 to the outrigger frames 22, 26 and also provide storage on the pedal boat 10 for personal items. The case halves 30, 34 are the size of common luggage when assembled together, allowing the stored pedal boat 10 to be taken on an airplane to a desired location.

[0029] FIG. 4 also shows how the drivetrain 114 is formed of 3 pieces that are attached together to assemble the boat 10. The torque tube 130 as well as the driveshaft inside of the torque tube 130 separate at a front joint 162 and a rear joint 166. The drivetrain joints 162, 166 separate the drivetrain 114 into a forward section 170, a middle section 174, and a rear section 178. The driveshaft extends from the gearbox 126 to the propeller 134 and rotates the propeller 134 as the pedals 118 are moved. The driveshaft is separated into a forward section, middle section, and rear section at the front joint 162 and rear joint 166 respectively. Adjacent sections of the driveshaft are connected to each other with splined joints at the front joint 162 and rear joint 166. The forward joint 162 and rear joint 166 use a V-type band clamp that clamps around front and rear flanges on the torque tube 130 at the forward joint 162 and rear joint 166. In some embodiments, either of the front joint 162 or rear joint 166 may use a split socket and quick release clamp attached to one section of the torque tube 130 to hold the sections of the drivetrain together. The clamp tightens the split socket joint around the adjacent section of the torque tube 130 when the torque tube section is placed into the socket. The forward drivetrain section 170 includes the pedals 118, crank arms 120, gearbox 126, and a forward section of the torque tube 130 and drive shaft. The middle drivetrain section 174 includes a middle section of the torque tube 130 and driveshaft. The middle section of the drivetrain 174 is attached to the pedal boat center frame 14. The middle section of the drivetrain 174 supports the drivetrain front (pedal and gearbox) section 170 and rear section 178 as the front section 170 and rear section 178 are cantilevered out from the drivetrain middle section 174. The drivetrain rear section 178 includes a rear section of the torque tube 130 and drive shaft, the propeller 122, and rudder 134. The rudder 134 is mounted to the rear torque tube 130 by a fixed fin/keel 182. Two control sticks 138 are mounted to the center frame 14 on either side of the seat 18. The rudder 134 is controlled by cables 186 that run from the control sticks 138, beneath the base of the seat 18, and back to the rudder 134. The control sticks 138 are tilted left or right to move the rudder 134 left or right using either hand.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a top perspective view of a portion of the boat 10. The middle section 174 of the drivetrain 114 is attached to the front of the center frame 14 at a pivoting joint 190. A hand operated mechanism such as a lever 194 with control arm is attached to the center frame 14 and is connected to the center section of the drivetrain 174 such that operating the lever 194 raises and lowers the rear of the drivetrain 114 as the center section of the drivetrain 174 pivots about the joint 190. When the boat 10 is in the water, rear of the drivetrain is pivoted downwardly to place the propeller 122 and rudder 134 in the water. When the boat 10 approaches a beach or is taken out of the water, the rear of the drivetrain 114 is pivoted upwardly to keep the propeller 122 and rudder 134 away from objects that could damage them.

[0031] The back of the seat 18 can fold forward and downward onto the seat base to make the seat more compact. In one example, the seat 18 may also be removed from the center frame 14. The seat 18 may be attached to the center frame 14 by front seat pins 202 and a spring loaded rear seat pin 206 that engage corresponding holes in frame mounting tabs to secure the base of the seat 18 to the center frame 14. The rudder control sticks 138 may also be attached to a steering frame 210 that may be removably attached to the center frame 14. A removable seat 18 and steering frame 210 make the center portion of the boat 10 smaller when disassembled and make the boat 10 fit into a smaller case.

[0032] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show example front and rear joints 162, 166. Example front and rear joints 162, 166 may include a socket joint as shown in FIG. 7 or a V-band type joint as shown in FIG. 8. The example pedal boat 10 includes V-band joints at the front joint 162 and the rear joint 166. In discussing the front joint 162 and the rear joint 166, the figures refer to only one joint for simplicity in naming components such as the front torque tube section 170, center torque section 174, and rear torque tube section 178 as well as the drive shaft sections, etc.

[0033] FIG. 7 shows an example rear joint 166 with a socket style joint. The center section 174 of the torque tube 130 houses a center section 218 of the drive shaft 214. The section of the driveshaft 214 is supported in the torque tube 130 by bearings 222. A slotted/castellated drive fitting 226 is attached to the end of the driveshaft 214 adjacent the open end of the torque tube 130. The castellated drive fitting 226 is used to connect the section of the driveshaft 218 to the mating section of driveshaft. The example castellated drive fitting 226 includes six slots 230 in its end face. The end of the torque tube 130 includes a hole 234. The rear section 178 of the torque tube 130 houses a rear section 238 of the driveshaft 214. A transverse drive pin 242 extends through the rear driveshaft 238 adjacent the end of the driveshaft. When the rear section 178 of the drivetrain 114 is connected to the center section 174 of the drivetrain 114, the drive pin 242 nests into one of the slots 230 in the castellated drive fitting 226 to operatively connect the rear driveshaft section 238 to the center driveshaft section 218. The rear driveshaft section 238 is supported within the torque tube 130 by bearings 246. The rear section of the torque tube 130 has a socket 250 attached to the end that receives the mating end of the center section of the torque tube 130. The socket 250 is slotted and includes clamp ears 154 and a quick release cam clamp 258 that tighten the socket around the torque tube 130 to secure them together. The socket 250 also includes a spring loaded pin 262 that engages hole 234 in the center section 174 of the torque tube 130 to secure the rear section 178 of the drivetrain to the center section of the drivetrain. The front joint 162 could be similarly built with a clamp and socket style front joint 162 between a front section of the drivetrain 170 and the center section 174 of the drivetrain 214. The front joint 162 is similar in having bearings to support the driveshaft within the torque tube 130.

[0034] FIG. 8 shows an example front joint 162 with a V-band clamp style joint. The front section 170 of the torque tube 130 houses a front section 240 of the drive shaft 214. The front section 240 of the driveshaft 214 is supported in the torque tube 130 by bearings 248. A slotted/castellated drive fitting 226 is attached to the end of the driveshaft 214 adjacent the open end of the torque tube 130. The castellated drive fitting 226 is used to connect the section of the driveshaft 218 to the mating section of driveshaft. The example castellated drive fitting 226 includes six slots 230 in its end face. The end of the torque tube 130 includes a flange 266 that extends radially outward from the torque tube 130 at the end face of the torque tube 130. The flange 266 may include an alignment notch 270 that rotationally aligns the front section 170 of the torque tube 130 with the middle section 174 of the torque tube 130. The center section 174 of the torque tube 130 houses the center section 218 of the driveshaft 214. A transverse drive pin 242 extends through the center driveshaft 218 adjacent the end of the driveshaft. When the center section 174 of the drivetrain 114 is connected to the front section 170 of the drivetrain 114, the drive pin 242 nests into one of the slots 230 in the castellated drive fitting 226 to operatively connect the front driveshaft section 240 to the center driveshaft section 218. The center driveshaft section 218 is supported within the torque tube 130 by bearings 222. The center section 174 of the torque tube 130 has a flange 274 that extends radially outward from the torque tube 130 at the end face of the torque tube 130. The flange 274 may include an alignment post 178 that engages the alignment notch 270 to rotationally align the front section 170 of the torque tube 130 with the middle section 174 of the torque tube 130 when the face of the center flange 266 is places against the face of the front flange 174 to assemble the front joint 162. The front joint 162 includes a V-band clamp 282 that is tightened around the assembled flanges 266, 274 to secure the flanges 266, 274 together and hold the front joint 162 in an assembled configuration. The V-band clamp 282 includes a first clamp half 286 and a second clamp half 290 that are attached to each other at a pivot joint 294. The first clamp half 286 and the second clamp half 190 have generally V or C-shaped cross sections that, when assembled, extend around the adjacent front flange 266 and center flange 274 to clamp the flanges and thus the torque tube sections 170, 174 together. The first clamp half 286 includes a first mounting boss 298 that attaches a clamp screw 302. The clamp screw 302 includes a tightening nut 306 and is received in a clamping boss 310 on the second clamp half 290. The clamp screw 302 and tightening nut 306 are used to pull the clamp halves 286, 290 tightly around the flanges 266, 274.

[0035] The example pedal boat 10 includes two V-band clamps at both the drivetrain front joint 162 and rear joint 166. Alternatively, the pedal boat 10 may include socket joints at one or both of the front joint 162 and rear joint 166.

[0036] The pedal boat 10 is easily transported to many locations that are difficult to access with a watercraft such as a canoe or kayak as the disassembled pedal boat 10 is significantly smaller than a canoe or kayak. The pedal boat 10 is quickly assembled without requiring tools and is quickly disassembled for storage or transport. The pedal boat 10 fits within a small suitcase sized case that is small and light enough for transport on an airplane as a piece of luggage. The case may be equipped with backpack straps or wheels and a person can carry or pull the disassembled boat on trails to reach a desired destination. The pedal boat 10 allows a person to visit many bodies of water that would otherwise be difficult to access with a boat for recreation.

[0037] The above description of illustrated examples of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limiting to the precise forms disclosed. While specific examples of the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible without departing from the broader scope of the present claims. Indeed, it is appreciated that specific example dimensions, materials, speeds, times, etc., are provided for explanation purposes and that other values may also be employed in other examples in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.