US4376420A — Inflatable boat including a mechanical propulsion…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 319 words

An inflatable boat comprising: a unitary inflatable structure including a base air chamber and first and second branch air chambers; said inflatable base air chamber having a central member and first and second branches forming a fork shape; said first inflatable branch air chamber being overlaid at least on said first branch; said second inflatable branch air chamber being overlaid at least on said second branch; said inflatable base air chamber, and first and second inflatable branch air chambers being flexible, independently inflatable, and being effective when inflated to impart said fork shape and a semi rigidity to said boat and being deflatable to permit folding of the inflatable air chambers into a substantially reduced space; first and second mutually aligned bushes integrally disposed at corresponding first positions on said first and second branches, respectively; third and fourth mutually aligned bushes integrally disposed at corresponding second positions on said first and second branches, respectively; a throw-type shaft selectively fittable into said first and second bushes or into said third and forth bushes spanning ends of said fork shape and having a length exceeding a distance between outsides of said first and second bushes and said third and fourth bushes whereby ends of said throw-type shaft project beyond said bushes; removable means in said ends for blocking removal of said ends from said first and second bushes or said third and fourth bushes; at least one paddle wheel on said throw-type shaft within said fork shape; means for keying said at least one paddle wheel to said throw-type shaft; a spacing between said first and second branches being effective to permit legs of a user whose torso is supported on said central member to project downward therethrough while feet of the user rotate said throw-type shaft; and said first and second positions being at different longitudinal distances from said central member whereby different leg lengths of the user are accommodated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 319 words

An inflatable boat comprising: a unitary inflatable structure including a base air chamber and first and second branch air chambers; said inflatable base air chamber having a central member and first and second branches forming a fork shape; said first inflatable branch air chamber being overlaid at least on said first branch; said second inflatable branch air chamber being overlaid at least on said second branch; said inflatable base air chamber, and first and second inflatable branch air chambers being flexible, independently inflatable, and being effective when inflated to impart said fork shape and a semi rigidity to said boat and being deflatable to permit folding of the inflatable air chambers into a substantially reduced space; first and second mutually aligned bushes integrally disposed at corresponding first positions on said first and second branches, respectively; third and fourth mutually aligned bushes integrally disposed at corresponding second positions on said first and second branches, respectively; a throw-type shaft selectively fittable into said first and second bushes or into said third and forth bushes spanning ends of said fork shape and having a length exceeding a distance between outsides of said first and second bushes and said third and fourth bushes whereby ends of said throw-type shaft project beyond said bushes; removable means in said ends for blocking removal of said ends from said first and second bushes or said third and fourth bushes; at least one paddle wheel on said throw-type shaft within said fork shape; means for keying said at least one paddle wheel to said throw-type shaft; a spacing between said first and second branches being effective to permit legs of a user whose torso is supported on said central member to project downward therethrough while feet of the user rotate said throw-type shaft; and said first and second positions being at different longitudinal distances from said central member whereby different leg lengths of the user are accommodated.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein said unitary inflatable structure is polyvinyl chloride film.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein each of said inflatable base air chamber, and first and second branch air chambers include air inlets.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein said first, second, third and fourth bushes are of thermoplastic material and include therein a tubular sleeve of self-lubricating material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 4, wherein said self-lubricating material is plastic.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 79 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein said means for keying includes a central hole in said at least one paddle wheel, a tubular sleeve non-rotatably affixed in said central hole, said sleeve fitting over said throw-type shaft, matching holes in said sleeve and said throw-type shaft, and a pin fitting through said matching holes for preventing relative rotation between said sleeve and said throw-type shaft whereby rotation of said throw-type produces corresponding rotation of said paddle wheel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 69 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein said at least one paddle wheel includes first and second paddle wheels, each of said paddle wheels including a plurality of equally angularly spaced paddles, said means for keying being effective to angularly displace corresponding paddles of said first and second paddle wheels an angular amount equal to half the equal angular spacing between adjacent paddles on the same paddle wheel.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein said throw shaft includes first and second shoe-like sheaths for actuation by the user's feet.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 86 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein said means for keying includes a portion of said at least one paddle wheel having an opening at an edge thereof, said opening being displaced from an axis of said at least one paddle wheel and having a size substantially equal to size of said throw-type shaft, and means for snap fitting said opening over a throw portion of said throw-type shaft whereby rotation of said throw-type shaft produces corresponding rotation of said at least one paddle wheel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 97 words

An inflatable boat according to claim 1, wherein said removable means include a semicircular retaining split ring, said split ring including an inner diameter substantially matching an outer diameter of said ends of said throw-type shaft, said split ring being substantially flexible and effective to snap over said throw-type shaft and thereafter to grasp and tend to hold itself in place on said throw-type shaft, an inwardly directed tang inside said split ring, said tang being effective to enter a hole in said throw-type shaft and to resist motion of said split ring on said throw-type shaft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-03-14	1986-09-13	1987-03-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-03-14	1990-09-13	1991-03-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-03-14	1994-09-13	1995-03-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Inflatable boat including a mechanical propulsion assembly for operation by a user

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