US2918891A - Boat reciprocating paddle device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1959 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 -5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

0660 Elabw zde,

- Dec. 29, 1959 Q. KLABUNDE BOAT RECIPROCATING PADDLE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 INVENTOR, 0X10 ffla aarzde, BY Ljfl Dec. 29, 1959 KLABUNDE 2,918,891

BOAT RECIPROCATING PADDLE DEVICE Filed Nov. 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet i5 United States Patent 2,918,891 BOAT RECIPROCATING PADDLE DEVICE Otto Klabunde, Chicago, 111.

Application November 15, 1957, Serial No. 696,700 15 Claims. 01. 115-31 The present invention relates to boat propelling devices of the paddle type.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a pair of rods supported within a boat in a spaced relation on horizontal plane with the gunwales, for longitudinal and rotary movements, and including paddle supporting arms which by their inner ends are rigidly aflixed to the rods, and with their outer ends extending beyond the sides of the boat and to which latter ends paddles are afiixed in a pivotal relation, and provided with means for imparting a rotary movement to said rods for alternately immersing the paddles in the water or lifting the same therefrom, which said means is capable of imparting longitudinal shifting movement to the rods in order to cause the paddles to bear against the water when the paddles are immersed and thereby to propel the boat.

Another object of the present invention is the provision, in a boat propelling device of the type hereinabove indicated, of tensioning means counteracting the weight of the paddles, for aiding the lifting of the paddles from water.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a mechanism whereby the paddle may be lifted to its maximum inoperative position, beyond the vertical plane coincidental with the side of a boat, and towards the longitudinal center of the boat, in order that the paddle may clear the side of the boat so that the boat may be able to clear any obstruction along the side of the boat or to permit docking without the interference from the paddle.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision in association with the paddle-supporting arm, of a swivel connection causing the paddle to assume a vertical inoperative position from its horizontal, immersed and intermediate positions, thereby permitting the paddle to clear the side of the boat and its gunwale as the paddle is shifted from one to the other of the said positions.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of suitable means for supporting the paddle supporting arms upon the gunwales and for guiding the same therealong in their longitudinal shifting movement.

A still further object of the present invention is, the provision of a suitable locking device, in association with the rods aforesaid, for preventing the paddles from falling into water due to'their weight, when the paddles have been lifted from water and when it is desired to maintain the paddles in a lifted inoperative position.

A still further object of the present invention is to generally improve a boat propelling device of a paddle pusher type.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to correspond ing parts throughout the several views;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the present invention, adjacent one side of a boat;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view through a boat, showing a pair of boat propelling devices, one adjacent each side of a boat;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view, transversely of a boat, of the means for supporting the pusher rod upon the gunwale for guiding it therealong when the pusher rod is longitudinally shifted, illustrating the inoperative dotted line position of said means when the pusher rod has been rotated in order to elevate the paddles, the view having been taken along the plane indicated by line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the said means, the view having been taken upon a plane substantially degrees from the plane of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a top elevational view, partly in section of the locking device, for locking the pusher rod to the pusher rod supporting arm for maintaining the pusher rod rigid when the same has been rotatably shifted for lifting the paddles from water, for maintaining the latter in their inoperative lifted position;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view, transversely of the pusher rod, showing a locking drum in elevation, the view having been taken upon a plane indicated by line 66 of Fig. 5; v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional jview through a boat, illustrating the position of one boat propelling paddle when brought to its vertical, inoperative position, disposed above the boat, from its horizontal lifted or immersed positions illustrated in Fig. 2; i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged edge view, partly in section, of a swivel connection mechanism for aiding bringing the paddle from its immersed operative position, shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, to its raised inoperative position, shown in Fig. 7, the'view having been takenon planes indicated by lines 88 in Figs. 2 and 9; and

Fig. 9 is a face elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8, the view having been taken substantially at an angle of 90 degrees from that of Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the present drawings, there is shown therein boat 10, including sides 11 thereof, and gunwales 12. Aflixed to the inner faces of gunwales 12 on each side of the boat is a plurality of downwardly tapered stays 13 for insertion therewithin from upward direction of cleats 14. Rigidly aflixed to said cleats 14 and extending inwardly ot' the boat substantially in a horizontal direction, are arms 15.

Inner ends of said armslS terminate in eyes 16, within which sleeves 17 are positioned. Extended through said sleeves 17, on each side of the boat, is a pusher rod 18. Said eyes 16 and sleeves 17 define bearings for supporting pusher rods 18, oneon each side of the boat. Adjacent the rear end of each pusher rod 1 8 is block 19. rigidly affixed thereto, supporting in a rigid relation handle 2%, whereby either rotary or longitudinal shifting movement to each pusher rod 18 may be imparted when grasped by the operators hand. 7

Each of .said pusher rods 18 may be made of any suitable material, including hard wood. If wood is employed, in that event it is preferable to make the rod in sections, with the ends of adjacent sections connected by tubular members 21, which by their ends may be con nected with the adjacent ends of the wooden sections by means of pins and bayonet slot connections 22. Said tubular members 21 would coincide with points to which the remaining parts of the mechanism are connected, because at those points it is preferable that the mechanical parts of the device be connected at and with the metallic tubular portions of the pusher rod. In the alteresteem 3 native, the entire rod 18 may be made .of metallic tubular material.

Rigidly clamped to the pusher rod 18, or more specifically to its metallic tubular portion 21 is block 23, from which paddle supporting arm 24 extends above gunwale 12 and outwardly of boat 10. The outer end of each of said paddle supporting arms 24 has a pivotal swivel connection which is generally indicated by 25 in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, and which is shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. Rod 26 by its free end is engaged by said swivel connection 25, in a manner which will be hereinafter described. Affixed to the opposite end of each rod as is paddle 27, preferably made out of metallic rigid sheet and has a substantially rectangular formation, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 7.

Clamped to each arm 24, adjacent its end which is in proximity ofsaid block 23, is block 28, to which bar 29 is alfixcd by means of screw 30 (Fig. 4). Carried by said bar 29 and entering corresponding bore or bores made in said block 28 is one or more pins 31, for the purpose of rigidly connecting said bar 29 with block 28 and for preventing pivotal shifting movement of said bar 29 upon screw 34) with relation to said block 28.

.For the sake of clarity said block 23 and bar 29, including the appurtenances of the latter, are not shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

Loosely positioned upon rod 18, or upon the tubular portion 21 thereof, and forwardly of block 23 is collar 32, with which rod 33 is connected, and from which the latter extends in a horizontal direction above gunwale 12.

Adjacent each end of collar 32, stop 34 engages the tubular portion 21 for causing collar 32, with rod 33, to shift bodily with the pusher rod 18 when the latter is longitudinally shifted to one or the opposite direction, but for permitting rod 18 or its tubular portion 21 to freely rotate within said collar 32.

Journalled at the free end of each rod 33, for a rotary movement, is a rubber anti-friction roller 35 which rests upon gunwale 12 when the paddle supporting arm 24 remains in its lowered, paddle-immersed operative position, for riding upon the upper edge of gunwale 12 when pusher rod 18 is longitudinally shifted to one or the opposite direction, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

Encompassing pusher rod 13, or more specifically its tubular metallic portion 21 is coil spring 36, which is normally under a contracted tension. One end of said coil spring 36 is engaged with collar 37. Screw 38 passed through said collar 37 engages said tubular metallic portion 21, for maintaining said coil spring 36 in its adjusted tensioned position. The degree of tension of coil spring 36 may be regulated by rotating said collar 37 on loosening screw 38, to one or the opposite direction, and when the required degree of tension to spring 36 has been imparted screw 38 is again engaged with the tubular portion 21 for maintaining said spring 36 in its adjusted degree of tension.

The opposite end of said spring 36 is directed away from the pusher rod, substantially in parallelism with rod 33, and is terminated in loop 39 which engages said rod 33, at a point adjacent the inner end of bumper roller 40. Said bumper roller 40 is mounted upon said gosd 33 in a spaced relation with said anti-friction roller By virtue of the connection of said spring 36 with said rod 33, said spring 36 exerts a pressure upon said rod 33 for urging said rod 33 in an upward direction for facilitating lifting of paddle 27 out of water, by counterbalancing the weight thereof, as will be later apparent.

'It is noted that the connection of bar 29 with block 28, through the medium of screw 30 and pin 31, is adjacent the upper end of said bar 29, as is seen in Fig. 4.

Afiixed to the forward face of bar 29, and adjacent each end of bar 29, by means of screw 41 is stop 42, which may be made of hard rubber and of cylindrical formation. Said stops 412 are in the path of said bumper roller 40.

When paddle 27 is immersed in water, as is shown in the left hand position of Fig. 2, roller 35 remains in contact with the upper edge of gunwale 12, with the upper stop 42 in contact with bumper roller 40 at an upper point of the periphery of the latter, as seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. While in that position of the said parts, paddle 27 is immersed, with handle 20 in a vertical position. When said handle 20 remains in a vertical position and is manually grasped and pulled towards the rear end of the boat, paddle 27 will be caused to shift in the same direction, to bear against water rearwardly of paddle 27, for propelling the boat forwardly.

On completion of the rearward stroke of paddle 27, the latter is lifted from the water upon angularly shifting of handle 24 toward the center of the boat. This operation of handle 2% will impart a rotary movement to pusher rod 18 for the purpose of angularly shifting arm 24 and elevating the same above gunwale 12, position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, for lifting paddle 27 out of water. At the inception of the angular shifting movement of handle 2%, from vertical to angular, anti-friction roller 35 comes out of engagement with the upper edge of gunwale 12, due to the action of spring 36 upon said rod 33. Upper stop 42 continues to remain in contact with bumper roller iii at the inception of the angular shifting movement of handle 20, by virtue of the action of spring 36 upon said rod 33.

At the inception of the angular shifting movement of handle 20, from vertical to angular, spring 36 causes bumper roller 40 to exert pressure upon the upper stop 42 in an upward direction, the force of said spring 36, added to the manual force exerted at handle 20, facilitating angular shifting movement of arm 24 in an upward direction, for shifting paddle 27 in an upward direction from its immersed position to its intermediate position, illustrated at the right hand showing in Fig. 2. During the inception of a later stage of the angular shifting movement of said handle 23, in order to bring the latter from its upward angular position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2 to its downwardly shifted position, illustrated in Fig. 7, lower stop 42 comes in contact with said bumper roller 40 at the lowermost point of the periphery of the latter, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, with the upper stop 42 disengaged from said bumper roller 40 and in a spaced relation therewith.

During the final stage of the angular shifting movement of said handle 20-, from its intermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, to its ultimate downwardly disposed position, shown in Fig. 7, the lower stop 42 hearing against bumper 40 from below, will cause rod 33 to angularly shift to almost, but not quite, vertical position, a position which is beyond that illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

To summarize, during the shifting movement of paddle 27 from its immersed position, shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, to its intermediate position, illustrated at the right hand of Fig. 2, rod 33 with the anti-friction roller 35 and bumper 40 angularly shifts to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3, being aided in that shifting movement both by spring 36 and by the manual pressure exerted at handle 20. During the later stage of the shifting movement of said paddle 27 to its intermediate lifted position lower stop 42 comes in contact with bumper 46, as is shown in dotted lines of Fig. 3. During the shift ing movement of said paddle 27 from its said intermediate position to its completely vertical lifted position, shown in Fig. 7, bar 29 is bodily shifted due 'to the continued angular shifting movement of arm 24, and by virtue of the connection between said bar 29 and said arm 24 through block 28, to cause said rod 33 to assume almost a vertical position due to the bearing of the lower stop 42 at the lowermost point of bumper 49. The various angular shifted positions that rod 33 assumes is by virtue ases;

of actuation thereof by spring 36 and lower stop 42, and not due to the rotary shifting movement of pusher rod 18 or its tubular portion 22., bearing in mind that said rod 33 is loosely connected with said pusher rod 18 through the loosely positioned collar 32 thereon.

It is noted that bar 29 remains at an angle relative to rod 33 so that both stops 42 remain upon an arc, whose radius is the distance from the longitudinal center of pusher rod 18 to the axial center of either of said stops 42. By virtue of this arrangement the contact point of the upper stop 42 with bumper roller 40, when paddle 27 is immersed in water or approaches its intermediate position aforesaid, is at a diametrically opposite point at which the lower stop 42 contacts said bumper roller 40 when said paddle approaches the said intermediate position or when the latter is in its vertical inoperative position shown in Fig. 7. While manually maintaining said handle 20 in its angular intermediate position, illustrated at the right hand of Fig. 2, with paddle 27 in the position disposed above the water, said handle 20 is manually pressed forwardly to shift pusher rod 18 in a forward direction for thereby shifting forwardly and bodily said arm 24 and paddle 27, while the latter still remains in its said intermediate position. When the boat has moved forwardly and as far as desired by virtue of the preceding paddle pushing operation, handle 20 is again brought to a vertical position for immersing paddle 27, the position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2. This having been done handle 20 is again manually pulled to the rearward direction of theboat to repeat the propelling operation.

There may be one, two or more of paddle supporting arms 24, with a paddle 27 connected with each, and with said paddle supporting arms 24 connected to a single pusher rod 18, on each side of the boat.

The locking device, best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, has for its object the provision of means whereby pusher rod 18 may be rigidly connected with the boat, or more specifically with arm 15, preferably when paddles 27 remain in their inoperative lifted position. Said locking device includes a clamping block 43 engaged with arm 15. Laterally projecting from said block 43 is casing 44, open at its outer end from which a pair of rollers 45 project. The inner ends of said rollers 45 have reduced studs 46 by means of which said rollers 45 are journalled within casing 44. Preferably said rollers 45 are made of hard rubber. Optionally the centers of said rollers 45, including said studs 46 may be made of metal, with a rubber sheath enveloping each metallic center.

Afiixed to pusher rod 18 is clamp block 47 from which stud 48 laterally projects. Block 49' is rigidly affixed to said stud 48 in a clamped relation. Extending laterally from said block 49 is a reduced lug 50'. Drum, generally indicated by 5-1, is provided with a central opening 52 at its bottom 53. Said drum 51 is insertable upon said pusher rod 18 by passing the same through said opening 52. Adjacent its rim 54 the bottom 53 of drum51 is provided with a cup-shaped, inwardly directed depression 55 within which lug 50 enters. Screw 56 passed through the bottom portion of said cup-like depression 55 engages the bottom of drum 51 with said lug 50 and block 49. Stud 48 may be either an independent part carried by said pusher rod 18, or it may be one of the said paddle supporting arms 24. In either event said casing 44 should be distanced from drum 51 so that the two may not interfere with the normal pushing operation of the pusher rod 18 hereinabove described for propelling the boat.

When the propelling operation has ended, and paddles 27 have been lifted to their inoperative raised position, as shown in Fig. 7, it is then, and only then when it is desirable to interlock pusher rods 18 with arms 15. To

do this pusher rods '18 are shifted forwardly, and beyond the normal shifting range required for boat propelling operation, until the rim portion 54 has entered the armate slot 57 made in casing 44, said arcuateslot 57 being on a plane coincidental with the space defined by two rollers 45. When within said slot 57 and said space defined by said rollers 45, said rim 54 is frictionally engaged by the peripheries of the two rollers 45, thereby preventing rotary shifting movement of said drum 51 or the rotary movement of said pusher rods 18, it being noted that each pusher rod 18 is in engagement 'with drum 51 through the medium of screw 56, rendering said drum 51 incapable of independent rotary movement with relation to pusher rod 18.

Obviously rollers 45 are capable of engaging rim 54 at any point of the periphery of the latter, and therefore without regard to any particular angle of elevation of paddle suppotring arms 24 or of the position of paddles 27 with relation to the water surface.

Since stays 13 have downwardly convering walls and cleats 14 have downwardly converging faces, when said stays 13 remain within cleats 14 the entire boat propelling device, including pusher rod 18, arm 24 and paddle 27 and their appurtenances will be firmly and rigidly supported within the boat. Obviously, on shifting cleats 14 in an upward direction within stays 13 the entire propelling device may be disconnected from the boat.

When the upper stop 42 is in contact with bumper 40, the same supports the weight of arm 24 and of paddle 27 upon rod 33, and prevents any further downward shifting movement of said arm 24, thereby maintaining said arm 24 in a spaced relation with gunwale 12 when said arm remains in its horizontal operative position, as is seen in Figs. 2 and 4. By virtue of this arrangement arm 24 is prevented to contact with gunwale 12, obviating any dragging of the former upon the latter. Thus, when said arm 24 remains in its horizontal operative position, with paddle 27 immersed in water anti-friction roller 35 alone is in contact with gunwale 12 for guiding the shifting movement of pusher rod 18, arm 24 and paddle 27 in a longitudinal direction with relation to the boat. i

It is further observed that spring 36 at all times urges rod 33 to an upward angular position, irrespective whether said rod 33 is in a horizontal or almost vertical position. When in a horizontal position, seen in Fig. 3, the weight of arm 24 and paddle 27 is supported upon said rod 33 by virtue of'the contact of upper stop 42 with bumper roller 40, thereby overcoming the action of spring 36 upon said rod 33. Once the manual pressure is applied to handle 20 in orderto shift the latter from its vertical position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2 to the downwardly shifted position shown in Fig. 7, the weight of arm 24 and paddle 27 will be removed from said rod 33, due to the removal of the contactual pressure thereagainst by the upper stop 42, permitting full play of spring 36 upon said rod 33 in order to bring the latter to an almost vertical position as will be apparent on reference to Fig. 7. It is further noted that when paddle 27 is in its inoperative raised position shown'in Fig. 7, the weight thereof alone. will not overcome the action of spring 36 upon said rod 33 in view'of the fact that the center of gravity of ports20, 24, 26 and 27 is disposed towards the longitudinal center of the boat and past the vertical plane extended in a longitudinal relation through the fulcrum defined by pusher rod 18. By virtue of this arrangement the weight of paddle 27 when the latter remains in the position shown in Fig. 7 will be wholly inoperative in orderto overcome the action of said spring 36 in order to bring said paddle27 to its operative immersed position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2. In that inoperative raised position of paddle 27 shown in Fig. 7 said paddle 27 will continue to remain in its inoperative raised position until manual pressure at handle 20 is applied in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 for angularly shifting said arm 24 away from the longitudinal center of the boat. During this shifting movement, once fulcrum 25 passes the vertical plane of fulcrum 18, and in the direction outwardly of side 11 of the boat, the weight of arm 24 and paddle 27 will be sufficient tobring said arm 24 and paddle 27 to their operative positions shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, in order to overcome the action of said spring 36 upon rod 33, without any aid from the manual pressure at handle 20 to bring the latter to its vertical position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, except a degree of manual hold at said handle 20 for easing said arm 24 and paddle 27 to their operative position and thereby preventing sudden drop and jarring of the mechanism.

Once the upper stop 42 has come in contact with bumper roller 40, the weight of said arm 24 and paddle 27 is imparted to bumper 40 by the upper stop 42, shifts said rod 33 and the anti-friction roller 35 downwardly against the action of spring 36 for the purpose of bringing an operative contactual engagement of said anti-friction roller 35 with gunwale 12. It is clear that the angular shifting movement of rod 33 in an upward direction from the horizontal position is not by virtue of the rotary shifting movement of pusher rod 18, bearing in mind the loose connection of the former with the latter through the medium of collar 32, but solely by virtue of the action of coil spring 36 upon said rod 33, once the weight of arm 24 and paddle 27 is removed from said rod 33, that is upon the upward shifting of said upper stop 42 and away from its contact with bumper 46, which of course is accomplished by the manual angular shifting of handle 20 from the vertical, as at the left hand side of Fig. 2, towards the longitudinal center of the boat, as

at the right hand side of Fig. 2 and in Fig. 7.

Obviously, when the boat is brought to a dock it is required that paddle 27 should be moved from its operative horizontal position shown in Fig. 2 to a raised inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 7. This could not be practically accomplished unless swivel connection 25 were rendered inoperative, or more specifically, unless during some point of an angular shifting movement of arm 24 from horizontal to vertical, rod 26 became interlocked with said arm 24. The mechanism to accomplish 58 has an integrally formed lug 60. Said latter end of said cylindrical member 58 and said lug 66 are provided with a threaded bore which is in a co-axial relation with said cylindrical member 58, for receiving therewithin clamping screw 61, the free outer end of which is provided with an integrally formed head 62. Passed through said head 62, in a transverse relation, is pin 63, which may be manually grasped for selectively turning said screw 61 in either direction. Normally said screw 61 engages and bears against said rod 26 for clamping the same in a rigid adjusted relation with said cylindrical member 58.

Arm 24 may be tubular for receiving within its outer free end cylindrical plug 64, which is maintained rigid within said arm 24 by means of a transverse pin 65 passed through said arm 24 and said plug 64. Rigidly formed with, and depending from, the outer end of said plug 64 is a flat head 66.

Contacting with one face of said head 66 is plate 67.

Rigidly formed with and extending from the opposite end of said cylindrical member 58 is screw bolt 68, which is in a threaded engagement with sleeve 69 in a longitudinal relation. Said sleeve 69 is positioned within the alined bores made transversely of said head 66 and plate 67, wherein said sleeve 69 remains in a frictional engagement with both said head 66 and said plate 67.

8 The friction therebetween may be overcome, however, by the weight of arm 24 and paddle 27 so as to permit pivotal shifting movement of said head 66 and said plate 67 either in unison or independently of each other, upon said sleeve 69.

Thus said screw bolt 68 and sleeve 69 define a pivot upon which said rod 26 and arm 24 make an angular shifting movement relative to each other. Said screw bolt 68 and sleeve 69 will be thereafter collectively referred to as pivot 68.

Rigidly afiixed to said plate 67 and extending in a lateral direction from the exposed face thereof is stop pin 70 which is in the path of the end portion of said rod 26 disposed above the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member 58 and pivot 68. Said pin 70 is radially distanced from the axial center of said pivot 68.

Made in said plate 67 in a radial relation with the axial center of said pivot 68 is an arcuate slot 71 through which the shank of screw 72 is freely passed. The threaded end of screw 72 is driven into bore 73 for threadedly engaging head 66. The head of screw 72 contacts with and bears against the body portion of said plate 67 adjacent said slot 71 for clamping said plate 67 to said head 66, for maintaining said plate 67 in a rotatably adjusted relation with pivot 68 for bringing said stop pin 76 towards or away from rod 26. The adjustment of said stop pin 70 with relation to rod 26 is accomplished by loosening screw 72 and thereupon rotatably shifting plate 67 upon sleeve 69 to one or the opposite direction. This shifting movement of plate 67 is permitted due to the arcuate slot 71 when screw 72 is loosened and thereby the clamping action of the screw head upon plate 67 is removed.

From the hereinabove description of the said swivel connection 25, shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9; it will be apparent that when paddle 27 remains immersed, position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, rod 26 will remain in a spaced relation with pin 70. In that position of paddle 27, the outer end of arm 24 will remain at an angle with relation to said rod 26, as seen in Fig. 9. It is further noted that with the respect of each paddle 27 pin 70, in each of the two swivel connections 25, will be disposed on the far side of rod 26, that is farthest removed from side 11 of the boat.

The spaced relation of pin 70 with the coacting rod 26 on each side of the boat will be maintained even when arm 24 is angularly shifted in an upward direction for bringing paddle 27 to its intermediate lifted position above water, shown at the right hand of Fig. 2. When however, handle 20 is further angularly shifted in a downward direction in order to bring paddle 27 to its ultimately inoperative raised position shown in Fig. 7, the outer end of arm 24 will assume a substantially horizontal position, with the upper edge of paddle 27 assuming a position on a plane above the horizontal plane of the upper edge of gunwale 12. At that very instant, due to the angular shifting movement of the outer end of arm 24 in an upward direction, aided by the gravity of paddle 27, and the consequent urge of the latter upon rod 26 to maintain said rod 26 in its vertical position, pin 70 will be shifted toward rod 26 to bear thereagainst. Once said pin 70 having come in contact with rod 26, further angular shifting movement of arm 24 in an upward direction, and beyond its intermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, will continue to maintain the contactual relation of pin 70 with rod 26. By virtue of the continuing engagement of said pin 70 with rod 26, as said arm 24 angularly shifts in an upward direction from its intermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, to its inoperative raised position shown in Fig. 7, rod 26 will become interengaged with arm 24 through and by virtue of the action thereon by pivot 68 and pin 70, with the result of bodily shifting of rod 26 and paddle 27 upon an arc and unaffected by the gravitational urge of paddle 27 to remain in its horizontal position and the consequent urge at said rod 26 to remain in a vertical position shown at either hand of Fig. 2. By virtue of the interconnection of rod 26 with arm 24 through pivot 68 and pin 70 as arm 24 angularly shifts from its intermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2 to its vertical position shown in Fig. 7, paddle 27 at all times will not be permitted to bump at or come in contact with side 11 or gunwale 12 of the boat as said paddle 27 is shifted from its intermediate to its inoperative raised positions.

Due to the interconnection aforesaid between rod 26 and arm 24 as the latter is angularly shifted from its said intermediate position to its vertical inoperative raised position shown in Fig. 7, rod !26 will ultimately assume a horizontal position and paddle 27 will ultimately assume a vertical position, as seen in Fig. 7, with no portions of the latter extending beyond the confines of the boat as delineated by the vertical plane extended upwardly from the adjacent side of boat 10.

When handle 20 is manually pressed toward the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7, arm 24 will be angularly shifted to the opposite direction. When said arm 24 comes to its intermediate position, or approximately to it, as viewed at the right hand of Fig. 2, pin 70' will commence to shift away from its contactual position with rod 26, permitting rod 26 to assume a vertical position, with paddle 27 assuming a horizontal positionillustrated in Fig. 2. From then on due to gravity said paddle 27 will continue to maintain the horizontal position, with said rod 26 maintaining a vertical'position as shown in'Fig. 2, until said paddle 27 assumes 'an immersed position shown at the left hand of'Fig'. 2.

From'the hereinabove description it will be apparent that when paddle 27 remains in its in-operative raised position shown in Fig. 7, the boat will be capable to approach by its side and clear any obstruction laterally thereof such as embankment, pier, dock, wall or the like.

From the hereinabove description it will be apparent that upon loosening screw 72 plate 67 is capable of a rotatableadjustment upon pivot 68 for adjusting the distance of pin 70 from rod 26 in order that the former may come in contact with and bear against the latter at the very instant when paddle 27 commences to shift in an upward direction from its intermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2 towards its inoperative raised position illustrated in Fig. 7. Thereby the adjacent 'end of paddle 27 is prevented from hitting the side of the boat and is made to clear the latter as said paddle 27 shifts in an upward direction from its said intermediate position. Thus, said pin 70 acts as means for interlocking the adjacent ends of arm 24 and rod 26 as said arm 24 shifts from its intermediate position to its vertical position shown in Fig. 7, for thereby bodily shifting said rod 26 and paddle 27 in an upward direction and for preventing angular shifting movement of said rod 26 with relation to said arm 24 as the latter is angularly shifted from its said intermediate position to the inoperative vertical position illustrated in Fig. 7. The ultimate result of the said interlocking of the adjacent ends of arm 24 and rod 26 as said arm 24 shifts .from' its said intermediate to vertical positions, will be complete clearance of the adjacent end of paddle 27, past the side of the boat, preventing hitting of the side of the boat by said adjacent end'of paddle 27 and consequent damage to the boat or to said paddle 27, which otherwise might ensue were said paddle 27 loosely connected with arm 24 during angular shifting movement of the latter from its said intermediate position to its vertical; inoperative, raised position.

While 'there are described herein preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

' What I claim as new is: v t

1. In a boat, including a gunwale, a boat propelling device comprising a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, an arm substantially in a perpendicular relation with said pusher rod, said arm being rigidly aflixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said arm extending outwardly of the boat and beyond the gunwale thereof, a paddle affixed to said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting a rotary shifting movement to said pusher rod in either direction transverse of the longitudinal axis thereof, means for imparting a longitudinal shifting movement to said pusher rod, said arm ,being adapted for selectively assuming a substantially horizontal operative position or an angular elevated inoperative position when a rotary movement has been imparted to said pusher rod to one or the opposite direction on operation of said second named means, said paddle being adapted for selectively assuming an operative immersed position when said arm remains in a horizontal position or an inoperative lifted position when said arm remains in its angular elevated position, said paddle being adapted to push against water for propelling the boat when a longitudinal shifting movement has been imparted to said pusher rod on operation of said third named means when said paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position by the operation of said second named means, a rod in a free pivotal relation by one of its ends with said pusher rod, an anti-friction roller carried by theopposite end of said rod, said anti-friction roller resting upon the gunwale for guiding said pusher rod in its longitudinal shifting movement, and connecting means between said arm and said rod for maintaining said arm in a spaced relation and out of contact with the gunwale when said arrn remains in a horizontal operative position.

2. In a boat, including a gunwale, a boat propelling device comprising a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, an arm substantially in a perpendicular relation with said pusher rod, said arm being rigidly affixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said arm extending outwardly of the boat and beyond the gunwale thereof, a paddle aflixed to said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting a rotary shifting movement to said pusher rod in either direction transverse of the longitudinal axis thereof, means for imparting a longitudinal shifting movement to said pusher rod, said arm being adapted for selectively assuming a substantially horizontal operative position or an angular elevated inoperative position when a rotary movement has been imparted to said pusher rod to one or the opposite direction on operation of said second named means, said paddle being adapted for selectively assuming an operative immersed position when said arm remains in a horizontal position or an inoperative lifted position when said arm remains in its angular elevated position, said paddle being adapted to push against water for propelling the boat when a longitudinal shifting movement has been imparted to said pusher rod on operation of said third namedmeans when said paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position by the operation of said second named means, a rod in a free pivotal relation by one of its ends with said pusher rod, an anti-friction roller carried by the opposite end of said rod, said anti-friction roller resting upon the gunwale for guiding said pusher rod in its longitudinal shifting movement'when said arm remains in its horizontal operative position, connecting means between said arm and said rod for maintaining said arm in a spaced relation and out of contact with the gunwale when said arm remains inits horizontal operative position, and a tensioning means connecting said pusher lit rod with said rod for normally urging said arm to assume "an angular elevated inoperative position.

3. In a boat, including a gunwale, a boat propelling device comprising a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith; an arm substantially in a perpendicular relation with said pusher rod, said arm being rigidly affixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said arm extending outwardly of the boat and beyond the gunwale thereof, a paddle aflixed to said opposite end of said arm, a handle mounted upon said pusher rod substantially in a transverse relation with the longitudinal axis thereof, said handle being capable of angular shifting movement in either direction for imparting to said pusher rod a rotary shifting movement transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof for selectively bringing said arm to a substantially horizontal operative position or an angular elevated inoperative position for thereby bringing said paddle to an operative immersed position or an inoperative lifted position, said handle being capable of shifting in a longitudinal direction with relation to the boat for imparting a longitudinal shifting movement to said pusher rod for thereby causing said paddle to push against the water for propelling the boat when said paddle remains in its operative immersed position, a rod, a collar carried by one end of said rod, said pusher rod extending freely through said collar for a free rotary movement therewithin, an anti-friction roller carried by the opposite end of said rod, said anti-friction roller resting upon the gunwale for guiding said pusher rod in its longitudinal shifting movement when said arm remains in its horizontal operative position. connecting means between said arm and said rod for maintaining said arm in a spaced relation and out of contact with the gunwale when said arm remains in its horizontal operative position, and a tensioned coil spring encompassing said pusher rod, one end of said coil spring being ri idly atfixed to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said coil spring being in engagement with said rod for normally urging the latter to an angular elevated inoperative position for aiding lifting of said paddle on angular shifting of said handle in one direction.

4. In a boat, including a side, a plurality of stays mounted upon the inner face of the side of the boat, each of said stays including a pair of downwardly converging walls, a plurality of cleats, each of said cleats including a pair of downwardly converging faces, a plurality of arms, one end of each of said arms being rigidly connected to each of said cleats, an eye formed at the opposite end of each of said arms, a pusher rod positioned within said eyes for a longitudinal shifting movement in a longitudinal relation with the boat, a boat propelling device carried by said pusher rod, normally said boat propelling device extending beyond the side of the boat, and means for imparting a longitudinal shifting movement to said rod for imparting a shifting movement to said boat propelling device for propelling the boat, said cleats being adapted for an upward shifting movement within said stays for disconnecting the former from the latter and thereby for disconnecting said arms, said pusher rod and said boat propelling device from the boat.

5. In a boat, including a side, an arm rigidly connected with the side and extended inwardly of the boat, a pusher rod supported by said arm in a longitudinal relation with the boat for a free longitudinal shifting movement, a boat propelling device carried by said pusher rod, normally said boat propelling device extending beyond the side of the boat, means carried by said pusher rod for selectively immersing said boat propelling device in water or for lifting the same therefrom, means for longitudinally shifting said pusher rod for imparting to said boat propelling device a pushing action against water for propelling the boat, and means for locking said pusher rod with the boat when said boat propelling device has been brought to its lifted position on operation of said first named means.

aslaset 6. In a boat, including a side, an arm rigidly connected with the side and extended inwardly of the boat, a pusher rod supported by said arm in a longitudinal relation with the boat for a free longitudinal shifting movement, a boat propelling device carried by said pusher rod, normally said boat propelling device extending beyond the side of the boat, means carried by said pusher rod for selectively immersing said boat propelling device in water or for lifting the same therefrom, means for longitudinally shifting said pusher rod for imparting to said boat propelling device a pushing action against water for propelling the boat, a drum, said drum including bottom and rim portions, said pusher rod being extended through the center of said bottom portion, means for rigidly connecting said drum with said pusher rod, a pair of spaced friction elements, and means for supporting said friction elements within the boat in a rigid relation therewith, the space defined by said friction elements being in alinement with the rim portion of said drum, when said pusher rod has been longitudinally shifted on operation of said second named means beyond the range required for actuating said boat propelling device the rim portion of said drum being capable of shifting within the space defined by said friction elements to be engaged by the latter for maintaining said pusher rod in a locked engagement with the boat and for thereby maintaining said boat propelling device in any selected position effected by said first named means.

7. In a boat, including a side, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, an arm, one end of said arm being connected with said pusher rod, a paddle, a pivotal connection between said paddle and the opposite end of said arm, normally said arm remaining in a horizontal position with said opposite end thereof extending beyond the side of the boat for supporting said paddle in an immersed position, means for rotatably shifting said pusher rod in a transverse relation with the longitudinal axis thereof for angularly shifting said arm for selectively bringing the latter to an angular intermediate lifted position or to a vertical raised position, when said arm has been brought to its angular lifted position on operation of said means said paddle being capable of assuming a position lifted out of water and substantially in alinement with the upper end of the boat, and means coacting with said pivotal connection for interlocking said paddle with said arm when said arm continues to angularly shift from its intermediate angular position to its vertical raised position on operation of said first named means for causing bodily shifting of said paddle upon an arc and thereby for preventing contact of said paddle with the side of the boat, when said arm has assumed a vertical raised position said paddle being capable of assuming a position within the confines of the boat as delineated by a vertical plane extended in an upward direction from the side of the boat, said first named means being alternately capable of imparting a longitudinal shifting movement to said pusher rod for thereby causing said paddle to shift against water while said paddle remains in an immersed position for thereby propelling the boat.

8. In a boat, including a side, an arm supportable by one of its ends within the boat, a paddle, a pivotal connection between said paddle and the opposite end of said arm, normally said arm remaining in a horizontal position with said opposite end thereof extending beyond the side of the boat for supporting said paddle in an immersed position, means supportable within the boat for angularly shifting said arm for selectively bringing the latter to an angular intermediate lifted position or to a vertical raised position, when said arm has been brought to its angular intermediate lifted position said paddle being capable of assuming a position lifted out of water and substantially in horizontal alinement with the upper end of the boat, and means coacting with said pivotal connection for interlocking said paddle with said arm when said arm continues to angularly shift from its angular intermediate lifted position to its vertical raised position on operation of said first named means for causing bodily shifting of said paddle upon an arc and thereby preventing contact of said paddle with the side of the boat, when said arm has assumed a vertical raised position said paddle being capable of assuming -a posit-ion within the confines of the boat as delineated by a vertical plane extended in an upward direction from the side of the boat, said first named means being alternately capable of imparting a shifting movement to said arm and said paddle in a longitudinal direction with relation to the boat While said paddle re mains in an immersed position for causing said paddle to bear against Water for thereby propelling the boat.

9. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod upon the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, said means permitting said pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary and longitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidly affixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith, a propulsion paddle affixed to the opposite end of said arm,-and means for imparting to said pusher rod alternate rotary and longitudinal shifting movements.

10. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pushed rod upon the boat in a longitudinal relation there with, said means permitting said pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary and longitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidly affixed by one of its end to said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith, a propulsion paddle affixed to the opposite end of said arm, and means for imparting rotary and longitudinal shifting movements to said pusher rod, said last named means being capable of alternate operation for imparting a rotary movement to said pusher rod in both directions for imparting to said arm angular shifting movement for thereby selectively bringing said propulsion paddle to its operative immersed position or to its inoperative raised position, and for imparting a longitudinal shifting movement to said pusher rod for thereby causing said propulsion paddle to push against water for propelling the boat when said propulsion paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position.

11. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod upon the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, said means permitting said pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary and longitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidly aflixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith, a propulsion paddle afiixed to the opposite end of said arm, and a handle rigidly affixed to said pusher rod in a transverse relation, said handle being capable of imparting to said pusher rod alternate rotary and longitudinal shifting movements.

12. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod upon the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, said means permitting said pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary and longitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidly affixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith, a propulsion paddle aflixed to the opposite end of said arm, and a handle rigidly afiixed to said pusher rod in a transverse relation, said handle being capable of imparting to said pusher rod a rotary shifting movement in both directions for selectively causing said propulsion paddle to assume an operative immersed position and an inoperative raised position, said handle being further capable of imparting to said pusher rod a longitudinal shifting movement when said propulsion paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position for thereby causing'said propulsion paddle to push against water for propelling the boat.

13. In a boat, including a gunwale, a pusher rod in a longitudinal relation with the boat, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat for rotary and longitudinal shifting movements with relation to the longitudinal axis thereof, an arm rigidly connected by one of its ends with said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith,'the opposite end of said arm normally extending beyond the gunwale, a propulsion paddle aifixed to said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting a rotary shifting movement to said pusher rod in both directions for selectively shifting said arm to a substantially horizontal position or to an angular elevated position for thereby bringing said propulsion paddle respectively to an operative immersed position or an inoperativeraised position, a rod freely pivoted by one of its ends upon said pusher rod, said rod being capable of selectively assuming horizontal and angular elevated positions, a tensioning means connecting said pusher rod with said rod, said' tensioning means normally urging said rod from its horizontal position to its angular elevated position, and'a stop carried by said arm, said stop being capable of engaging said rod and bearing thereagainst from above when said arm remains in a horizontal position for counteracting said tensioning means-due to the weight of said propulsion paddle and said arm upon said stop,

on actuating said second named means for bringing said propulsion paddle to its inoperative raised position said rod due to the action of said tensioning means being capable of exerting pressure upon said stop from below for aiding said second named means for bringing said propulsion paddle to its inoperative raised position, when said propulsion paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position said second named means being capable of imparting to said pusher rod a longitudinal shifting movement for thereby causing said propulsion paddle to push against Water for propelling the boat.

14. In a boat, including a gunwale, a pusher rod in a longitudinal relation with the boat, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat for rotary and longitudinal shifting movements with relation to the longitudinal axis thereof, an arm rigidly connected by one of its ends with said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith, the opposite end of said arm normally extending beyond the gunwale, a propulsion paddle aflixed to said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting a rotary shifting movement to said pusher rod in both directions for selectively shifting said arm to a substantially horizontal position or to an angular elevated position for thereby bringing said'propulsion paddle respectively to an operative immersed position or an inoperative raised position, a rod, a collar carried by one end of said rod, said pusher rod extending freely through said collar for a free rotary movement therewithin, an anti-friction roller carried by the opposite end of said rod, said rod being capable of selectively assuming horizontal and angular elevated positions, a tensioning means connecting said pusher rod with said rod, said tensioning means normally urging said rod from its horizontal position to its angular elevated position, and a stop carried by said arm, said stop being capable of engaging said rod and bearing thereagainst from above when said arm remains in a horizontal position, the weight of said propulsion paddle and said arm transmitted to said rod through said stop being sufiicient to counteract the action of said tensioning means for maintaining said rod in its horizontal position, when said rod remains in its horizontal position said anti-friction roller being adapted to rest upon and contact with the gunwale, on operation of said second named means for bringing said propulsion paddle to its inoperative raised position said rod due to the action of said tensioning means being capable of exerting pressure upon said stop from below for aiding said second named means for bringing said propulsion paddle to said last named position, when said propulsion paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position said second named means being capable of imparting to said pusher rod a longitudinal shifting movement for thereby causing said propulsion paddle to push against water for propelling the boat, during said last named operation of said second named means said anti-friction roller being capable of guiding said rod, said arm and said propulsion paddle in their longitudinal shifting movement with relation to said pusher rod.

15. In a boat, including a side, an arm, means for supporting one end of said arm within the boat, a rod, a paddle, said paddle being of a substantially rectangular formation and being rigidly aflixed at its center to one end of said rod, a pivot pin connecting the opposite end of said arm with the end of said rod opposite to that to which said paddle is affixed, normally said arm remaining in a horizontal position with the said opposite end thereof extending beyond the side of the boat for sup porting said paddle in an immersed position, means Within the boat for angularly shifting said arm from its horizontal position to a substanitally vertical raised position, when in said immersed position said paddle being capable of assuming a horizontal position due to the gravity of said paddle and the action of said pivot pin, a head plate in a rigid relation with the said opposite end of said arm, a stop pin carried by said head plate, said stop pin being in a spaced relation with said pivot pin, during the angular shifting movement of said arm from its horizontal position to its vertical raised position said stop pin being adapted to come in a lateral contactual relation with said rod for interlocking said rod with said arm so as to cause bodily shifting movement of said paddle upon an are unaffected by its gravitational force and for thereby preventing contact of said paddle with the side of the boat, when said arm has been brought to a vertical raised position said paddle being capable of assuming a vertical position and within the confines of the boat as delineated by a vertical plane extended in an upward direction from the side of a boat, and means for imparting a shifting movement to said arm and said paddle in a longitudinal direction with relation to the boat while said paddle remains in an immersed position for causing said paddle to bear against water for thereby propelling the boat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,693 Sheen July 24, 1906 1,162,549 Barnes Nov, 30, 1915 2,599,791 Swenson June 10, 1952

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