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CA-3035190-C - INTERFACE FOR MOUNTING A PROPULSION MECHANISM TO A WATERCRAFT

CA3035190CCA 3035190 CCA3035190 CCA 3035190CCA-3035190-C

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to a watercraft such as a fishing kayak, and to a watercraft comprising such an interface. The interface comprises a first portion including a first plate with a hole sized and shaped for receiving therethrough a portion of the propulsion mechanism, a second portion including a second plate and one channel extending from the second plate, the channel being in registry with the hole of the first portion for therein a portion of the propulsion mechanism. The interface also comprises fastening assemblies for removably fastening the second portion to the first portion of the interface, and a guiding assembly for maintaining the channel of the second portion in registry with the hole of the first portion.

Inventors

  • Rejean Boyer
  • Vincent Drouin

Assignees

  • PELICAN INTERNATIONAL INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20190227

Claims (20)

  1. PPH CLAIMS 1. An interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to a watercraft including a rigid body having a deck portion, a hull portion and a well extending between the deck portion and the hull portion, the interface comprising: a first portion including a first plate positionable adjacent to one of the hull portion and the deck portion of the watercraft, about a periphery of the well, and at least one channel extending from the first plate, the channel being positionable in the well, the channel being sized and shaped for receiving therein a portion of the propulsion mechanism and for mounting the propulsion mechanism to the interface; and at least one fastening assembly for removably fastening the first portion to the rigid body of the watercraft.
  2. 2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a second portion including a second plate positionable adjacent to the other of the hull portion and the deck portion of the watercraft, about the periphery of the well, the second plate comprising a hole sized and shaped for receiving therethrough a portion of the propulsion mechanism, the hole being positionable in registry with the well, and wherein the at least one fastening assembly is further configured for removably fastening the second portion of the interface to the body of the watercraft.
  3. 3. The interface of claim 2, wherein the at least one fastening assembly is configured for removably fastening the first portion to the second portion of the interface.
  4. 4. The interface of claim 3, wherein the at least one fastening assembly includes a first segment engaging the first portion of the interface and a second segment engaging the second portion of the interface, the first and second segments of the at least one fastening assembly collaborating to force the first and second portions of the interface toward one another to sandwich the body of the watercraft between the first and second plates. PPH
  5. 5. The interface of claim 4, wherein the first segment of the at least one fastening assembly comprises a threaded fastener engaging the first plate of the first portion and the second segment of the at least one fastening assembly comprises a fastening projection provided with a threaded hole, the threaded fastener being engageable in the threaded hole of the fastening projection to force the first and second portions of the interface toward one another.
  6. 6. The interface of claim 4, wherein the at least one fastening assembly is further configured for maintaining the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion when the at least one fastening assembly is fastened and the channel is spaced-apart from the second plate.
  7. 7. The interface of any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising at least one guiding assembly for maintaining the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion when the at least one fastening assembly is fastened and the channel is spaced-apart from the second plate.
  8. 8. The interface of claim 7, wherein the at least one guiding assembly comprises a plurality of fins extending upwardly from the second plate of the second portion, about the periphery of the hole, the fins being configured for positioning the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion as the first and second portions of the interface are forced toward one another.
  9. 9. The interface of claim 7, wherein the at least one guiding assembly comprises a guiding assembly mounted to the at least one fastening assembly.
  10. 10. The interface of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the propulsion mechanism is a foot propulsion mechanism or a motorised propulsion mechanism.
  11. 11. The interface of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the watercraft is one of a kayak or a small boat. PPH
  12. 12. The interface of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a lock mechanism for removably securing the propulsion mechanism to the interface, wherein the lock mechanism is mounted in the channel of the first portion of the interface.
  13. 13. The interface of claim 12, wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises a shaft including at least projection on one side of the propulsion mechanism, and wherein the channel comprises at least one recess for slidably receiving therein the at least one shaft projection, the lock mechanism being positioned in the channel adjacent to the recess and being movable between a lock position and an unlock position, the lock mechanism in lock position engaging the shaft projection received in the recess to prevent vertical movement of the propulsion mechanism relative to the channel.
  14. 14. A watercraft comprising: a rigid body having a deck portion, a hull portion and a well extending between the deck portion and the hull portion, an interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to the body of the watercraft, the interface including: a first portion including a first plate positionable adjacent to one of the hull portion and the deck portion of the watercraft, about the periphery of the well, and at least one channel extending from the first plate, the channel being positionable in the well, the channel being sized and shaped for receiving therein a portion of the propulsion mechanism and for mounting the propulsion mechanism to the interface; and at least one fastening assembly for removably fastening the first portion to the body of the watercraft.
  15. 15. The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the interface further comprises a second portion including a second plate positionable adjacent to the other of the hull portion and the deck PPH portion of the watercraft, about the periphery of the well, the second plate comprising a hole sized and shaped for receiving therethrough a portion of the propulsion mechanism, the hole being positionable in registry with the well and with the channel of the first portion, and wherein the at least one fastening assembly is further configured for removably fastening the second portion of the interface to the body of the watercraft.
  16. 16. The watercraft of claim 15, wherein the at least one fastening assembly is configured for removably fastening the first portion to the second portion of the interface.
  17. 17. The watercraft of claim 16, wherein the at least one fastening assembly includes a first segment engaging the first portion of the interface and a second segment engaging the second portion of the interface, the first and second segments of the at least one fastening assembly collaborating to force the first and second portions of the interface toward one another to sandwich the body of the watercraft between the first and second plates.
  18. 18. The watercraft of claim 17, wherein the first segment of the at least one fastening assembly comprises a threaded fastener engaging the first plate of the first portion and the second segment of the at least one fastening assembly comprises a fastening projection provided with a threaded hole, the threaded fastener being engageable in the threaded hole of the fastening projection to force the first and second portions of the interface toward one another.
  19. 19. The watercraft of any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the at least one fastening assembly is further configured for maintaining the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion when the at least one fastening assembly is fastened and the channel is spaced-apart from the second plate.
  20. 20. The watercraft of any one of claims 15 to 19, further comprising at least one guiding assembly for maintaining the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion when the at least one fastening assembly is fastened and the channel is spaced-apart from the second plate. PPH

Description

INTERFACE FOR MOUNTING A PROPULSION MECHANISM TO A WATERCRAFT TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The invention relates to an interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to a 5 watercraft, and to a watercraft comprising such an interface. BACKGROUND OF THE ART [0002] Various pedal operated means for propelling watercrafts such as kayaks have been proposed in the past. Such foot propulsion mechanisms are becoming increasingly popular in fishing kayaks since the user can propel its watercraft using feet while the hands remain 10 available for holding fishing rods and the like. [0003] For instance, US Patent No. 6,022,249 discloses a rigid watercraft made of polyethylene and including a foot propulsion mechanism. The propulsion mechanism comprises a pair of flappers adapted to oscillate through arcuate paths in a generally transverse direction with respect to the central longitudinal dimension of the watercraft. Pedals 15 are operatively associated with the propulsion means for applying input force to the propulsion means, and the propulsion mechanism is mounted to a receptacle defined in the hull or body of the kayak. As such, the propulsion mechanism is directly supported by the hull of the kayak. While this configuration may be suitable in many instances, the reciprocating movement induced on the pedals tends to urge slight movement of the foot propulsion 20 mechanism relative to the hull of the kayak, which may cause damages to the hull over time. Since the hull itself defines the support for the foot propulsion mechanism, the entire hull must be replaced when such damages occur. Furthermore, the manufacturing of such hull by thermoforming may prove onerous since the crafting of the receptacle for the propulsion mechanism typically requires a worker to carefully cut out the opening for receiving the foot 25 propulsion mechanism, which tends to slow down the manufacturing process. [0004] In other instances, the rigidity of the hull is not sufficient to support such a foot propulsion mechanism. In such instances, a rigid interface between the hull and the foot propulsion mechanism can be provided. For instance, US Patent No. 8,082,871 describes an interface for an inflatable watercraft, where the inflatable watercraft comprises an opening defined in the center and extending through the bottom or floor of an air chamber. The opening is adapted for receiving an oval interface, which is itself adapted to receive a foot 5 operated propulsion mechanism. The interface is a unitary component of generally oval shape having generally vertical side walls running completely around the oval, the top and bottom of the oval being open. The upper and lower extremities of the walls terminate in upper and lower outwardly projecting flanges, and the space between the flanges receives and abuts the oval opening, the oval opening and interface being complementary sized and shaped. The 10 interface is normally fairly rigid and is made of an injection moldable plastic. [0005] While such interface may be suitable with inflatable watercrafts, its unitary structure renders it difficult to use with watercrafts comprising rigid bodies. Rigid watercrafts such as kayaks may be manufactured by molding two sheets of extrudable material using a thermoforming process to shape the two manufactured sheets into a kayak shape, one sheet 15 being used for the top side (i.e. the deck) and the other for the bottom side (i.e. the hull) of the kayak. Manufacturing the body using such a process may lead to slight inherent manufacturing variation of the thickness of the body, which thickness variation may represent a challenge for manufacturing and assembling components having a single size and shape, such as the interface for propulsion mechanisms disclosed in US Patent No. 8,082,871. 20 [0006] Therefore, it would be desirable to be provided with an interface for a watercraft that alleviates at least some of the above-identified drawbacks. SUMMARY [0007] According to a broad aspect, there is provided an interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to a watercraft including a rigid body having a deck portion, a hull 25 portion and a well extending between the deck portion and the hull portion. In this broad aspect, the interface comprises: - a first portion including a first plate positionable adjacent to one of the hull portion and the deck portion of the watercraft, about the periphery of the well, and at least one channel extending from the second plate, the channel being positionable in the well, in registry with the hole of the first portion, the channel being sized and shaped for receiving therein a portion of the propulsion mechanism and for mounting the propulsion mechanism to the interface; and - At least one fastening assembly for removably fastening the first portion to the body of the watercraft. 10 [0008] In one feature, the interface further comprises a second portion including a second plate positionable adjacent to the other of the hull portion