The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 08, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1996
Orville J Birkestrand, Davenport, IA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A non sinkable, easily re-rightable aquatic vehicle has a lightweight body with a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and contains a seat for supporting a pilot. A pair of front sheaves are rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body and a pair of rear sheaves are rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear thereof. A first flotation track is engaged around and extends between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body and a second flotation track is engaged around and extends between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body. Each said flotation track includes an endless band engaged around a front and rear sheave and a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads connected to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves. A pedal drive is mounted to the body for producing an output torque which is coupled to at least one of the sheaves on each side of said body so as to advance the tracks in order to propel the vehicle and brakes are provided to steer and stop the vehicle. A mast and sail may also be mounted to the body in such a way that the mast can be tilted in any direction and rotated about its axis to operate the vehicle under sail with maximum ease and efficiency.