Pedal drive and steering assembly for inflatable watercraft and watercraft combined with same

Abstract

A pedal assembly and steering assembly are disclosed for converting an inflatable, drop stitch paddle watercraft into a pedal watercraft. The pedal assembly includes a mounting plate and mounting bracket for supporting a geared drive shaft in an opening extending through the floor of the watercraft. The steering assembly includes a rudder connected to a tiller through push pull cables.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steering assembly for an inflatable watercraft, comprising:
 a rudder mounted on a stern of the inflatable watercraft powered by a pedal drive assembly detachably connected to a floor of the watercraft;   a tiller mounted near a sitting position of a user; and   a cable connecting the tiller to the rudder, the cable translating movement of the tiller to movement of the rudder.   
     
     
         2 . The steering assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rudder is detachable mounted to the watercraft. 
     
     
         3 . The steering assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a detachable mounting assembly includes a first mounting bracket, a first vertical pivot pin connecting the rudder to the mounting bracket for pivoting the rudder about a range of motion, and a second horizontal pin connecting the mounting bracket to a the stern of the watercraft for pivoting the rudder about a range of motion vertically between a vertical operative position and a horizontal inoperative position. 
     
     
         4 . The steering assembly according to  claim 3 , the detachable mounting assembly further including a second mounting bracket for connecting the first mounting bracket and rudder to the stern of the watercraft. 
     
     
         5 . The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable means includes a push pull cable connecting the tiller to the rudder. 
     
     
         6 . The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tiller is hand operated and can be operated with no body movement except at a hand of the user 
     
     
         7 . An inflatable watercraft, comprising:
 a bottom panel made of inflatable drop stitch material and having a pedal port formed approximately midship through the bottom panel;   a starboard side panel made of inflatable drop stitch material and extending substantially vertically upwardly from the starboard side of the bottom panel;   a port side panel made of inflatable drop stitch material and extending substantially vertically upwardly from the port side of the bottom panel;   the bottom, starboard and port side panels forming a floor, a bow and a stern;   a pedal drive assembly detachably connected to the floor of the watercraft and operable to being inserted into the pedal port during operation of the pedal drive assembly; and   a steering assembly detachably connected to the stern of the watercraft.   
     
     
         8 . The inflatable watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein the pedal drive assembly includes:
 a drive shaft having first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, and an axle extending through the drive shaft from the first axial end to the second axial end;   first and second pedals mounted, wherein the first and second pedal support arms are rotatably and coaxially interconnected to the first axial end of the drive shaft and to the axle;   first and second pedals, wherein each of the first and second pedals is rotatably mounted to the first and second pedal support arms;   a propeller rotatably interconnected to the second axial end of the drive shaft and to the axle, wherein rotation of the first and second pedal support arms imparts rotation to the axle and to the propeller;   a base comprising a collar adapted to extend into the opening and a flange adapted to extend circumferentially around an upper perimeter of the pedal port; and   a mounting plate interconnected to a medial portion of the drive shaft and extending substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft, wherein the mounting plate is adapted to sealingly engage the base portion.   
     
     
         9 . The inflatable watercraft of  claim 7 , further comprising an inflatable deck panel made of drop stitch material and being detachably connected to upper edges of the port side panel and starboard side panel along upper edges of the port side panel. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein the steering assembly includes a rudder detachably connected to the stern of the watercraft, a tiller detachably connected to one of the upper edges of the port and starboard side panels, and push pull cables connecting the rudder to the tiller. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the tiller is hand operated and can be operated with no body movement except at a hand of a user. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable watercraft of  claim 10 , further comprising a mounting bracket for mounting the rudder to the stern of the watercraft, the mounting bracket having a first part permanently connected to the floor of the bottom panel at the stern, and a second part detachably connected to the first part. 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein the second part further includes a first pin for pivoting movement of the rudder from side to side, and a second pin for pivoting movement of the rudder upwards and downwards.