ARC crank
An apparatus for adjusting a human propelled watercraft having a pair of flexible fins extending into the water. The invention allows the user to easily adjust the propulsion device to match the user's leg length. The invention consists of a push button mechanism that converts a vertical motion into a horizontal motion allowing a locking pin to retract and the propulsion device to be adjusted. Once an adjustment position is selected, the user releases the button and a spring reverses the motion of the pin, locking the mechanism into position.
1. An apparatus adapted to be placed in a watercraft extending through an opening in the bottom of the watercraft, said apparatus comprising:
a propulsion means comprising a pair of flexible fins extending below the waterline adapted to oscillate through an arcuate path about a horizontal axis to propel said watercraft;
means operatively associated with said propulsion means for applying input force including a pair of flexible drive members running from said propulsion means to rotatable supports having a plurality of spaced apart adjustment holes therein;
flexible drive members being coupled to each of said rotatable supports;
a pair of elongated members each carrying a pedal;
each said elongated member having a locking means therein slidably engageable and disengageable with said adjustment holes;
said locking means being operatively coupled to manually operable means at the distal end of said elongated member whereby when said manually operable means is depressed, said locking means is withdrawn from said adjustment holes and said elongated member can be rotated relative to said rotatable support and when said elongated member is rotated so that said locking means is aligned with another adjustment hole and said manually operable means is released, said elongated member is locked to said rotatable support by said locking means and said pedal is positioned according to the leg length of the user and when input force is applied to said pedals, said flexible fins oscillate through an arcuate path.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said elongated member is hollow and wherein when said manually operated means is depressed, the vertical motion thereof is operatively coupled to means to convert said vertical motion to horizontal motion allowing said locking means to retract and upon release of said manually operated means to reverse the motion of the locking means to lock said elongated member to said rotatable support.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible drive members are cables.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated members are pedal cranks.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said manually operable means is a push button.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said watercraft is a kayak.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a slidable pin.
8. A watercraft comprising:
an apparatus extending through an opening in the bottom of said watercraft;
said device comprising a propulsion means comprising a pair of flexible fins extending below the waterline adapted to oscillate through an arcuate path about a horizontal axis to propel said watercraft;
means operatively associated with said propulsion means for applying input force include a pair of flexible drive members running from said propulsion means to rotatable supports having a plurality of spaced apart adjustment holes therein;
said supports carrying said flexible drive members being coupled to each of said rotatable supports;
a pair of elongated members each carrying a pedal;
each said elongated member having a locking means therein slidably engageable and disengageable with said adjustment holes;
said locking means being operatively coupled to manually operable means at the distal end of each said elongated member, whereby when said manually operable means is depressed, said locking means is withdrawn from said adjustment holes and said elongated member can be rotated relative to said rotatable support and when said elongated member is rotated so that said locking means is aligned with another adjustment hole and said manually operable means is released, said elongated member is locked to said rotatable support by said locking means and said pedal is positioned according to the leg length of the user and when input force is applied to said pedals, said flexible fins oscillate through an arcuate path.
9. The watercraft of claim 8 wherein each said elongated member is hollow and wherein when said manually operated means is depressed, the vertical motion thereof is operatively coupled to means to convert said vertical motion to horizontal motion allowing said locking means to retract and upon release of said manually operated means to reverse the motion of the locking means to lock said elongated member to said rotatable support.
10. The watercraft of claim 8 wherein said flexible drive members are cables.
11. The watercraft of claim 8 wherein said elongated members are pedal cranks.
12. The watercraft of claim 8 having wherein said manually operable means is a push button.
13. The watercraft of claim 8 wherein said watercraft is a kayak.
14. The watercraft of claim 8 wherein said locking means includes a pin.