Foot-operated steering and control system for a variety of watercraft with dual propulsion units.

Abstract

A steering and control system which utilizes simple movement of an operator's feet to independently vary thrust from a pair of propulsion units, each mounted on opposite sides of a centerline of a watercraft. By varying an amount and direction of thrust, the watercraft may be steered in a multitude of directions, propelled at varying speeds, and turned completely around in a short distance.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . In a steering and control system for watercraft which includes a pair of electrically operated motors for driving propulsion means and wherein separate mounting means are provided in a spaced relationship to one another for suspending the motors from opposite sides of a centerline of the watercraft and wherein a source of electrical power is provided for energizing the motors the improvement comprising, a pair of foot control means, first means for electrically connecting said source of electrical power energy to one of said foot control means and a first of said motors and second means for electrically connecting said source of electrical power to the other of said foot control means and the second of said motors, each of said foot control means including a pedal having toe and heel portions, means for pivotally supporting each of said pedals so that each pedal is pivotable about a single axis taken generally perpendicular to an elongated axis extending between toe and heel portions of each pedal and significantly offset to be closer to an operator's ankle joint, said pedals being movable from a neutral position wherein neither of said toe or heel portions are depressed to a forward position wherein said toe position is depressed and a reverse position wherein said heel portion is depressed, each of said foot control means including a forward switch means for activating said motors for operating in a forward direction when said toe portion of said pedal is depressed, each of said foot control means having a reverse switch means for activating said motors in a reverse direction when said heel portion of said pedal is depressed, each of said foot control means including power regulating means operable in response to the further depression of said toe or heel portions of said pedals to alter the power being supplied through said forward or reverse switch means to thereby regulate the speed of said motors in a forward or reverse direction when activated by said forward or reverse switch means whereby each of said foot control means controls a separate one of said motors so that the direction of thrust of each said motors as well as the speed of each said motors is separately controlled. 
   
   
       16 . The steering and control system of  claim 15  in which each of said foot control means includes resilient means for biasing said pedals to said neutral position. 
   
   
       17 . The steering and control system of  claim 15  in which said switch means accomplishes proper electrical connections between said power source and said motors for each fixed forward and reverse speeds on typically available multiple fixed speed motors. 
   
   
       18 . The steering and control system of  claim 15  in which said switch means includes a potentiometer or other metering means to supply input to a commonly available electronic variable speed controller which will alter the power from the power source to the propulsion units in order to vary the direction and speed of said motors. 
   
   
       19 . In a steering and control system for watercraft which includes a pair of electrically operated motors for driving propulsion means and wherein separate mounting means are provided in a spaced relationship to one another for suspending the motors from opposite sides of a centerline of the watercraft and wherein a source of electrical power is provided for energizing the motors the improvement comprising, a pair of foot control means, first means for electrically connecting said source of electrical power energy to one of said foot control means and a first of said motors and second means for electrically connecting said source of electrical power to the other of said foot control means and the second of said motors, each of said foot control means including a foot receptacle, said foot receptacle being movable along a track from a neutral position wherein an operator's foot should reside in a fairly relaxed position, neither engaging the foot receptacle to a forward position wherein said foot receptacle is moved forward of the neutral position nor rearward of the neutral position to a reverse position, each of said foot control means including a forward switch means for activating said motors for operating in a forward direction when said foot receptacle is moved forward of the neutral position, each of said foot control means having a reverse switch means for activating said motors in a reverse direction when said foot receptacle is moved rearward of the neutral position, each of said foot control means including power regulating means operable in response to the further forward or rearward movement of said foot receptacles to alter the power being supplied through said forward or reverse switch means to thereby regulate the speed of said motors in a forward or reverse direction when activated by said forward or reverse switch means whereby each of said foot control means controls a separate one of said motors so that the direction of thrust of each said motors as well as the speed of each said motors is separately controlled. 
   
   
       20 . The steering and control system of  claim 19  in which each of said foot control means includes resilient means for biasing said foot receptacles to said neutral position. 
   
   
       21 . The steering and control system of  claim 19  in which said switch means accomplishes proper electrical connections between said power source and said motors for each fixed forward and reverse speeds of typically available multiple fixed speed motors. 
   
   
       22 . The steering and control system of  claim 19  in which said switch means includes a potentiometer or other metering means to supply input to a commonly available electronic variable speed controller which will alter the power from the power source to vary the direction and speed of said motors. 
   
   
       23 . The steering and control system of  claim 19  in which said foot receptacle pivots slightly forward and rearward. 
   
   
       24 . In a steering and control system for watercraft which includes a pair of power driven propulsion units and wherein separate mounting means are provided in a spaced relationship to one another for suspending the propulsion units from opposite sides of a centerline of the watercraft and wherein a source of power is provided for energizing the propulsion units the improvement comprising, a pair of foot control means, first means for connecting said source of power to one of said foot control means and a first of said propulsion units and second means for connecting said source of power to the other of said foot control means and the second of said propulsion units, each of said foot control means including a pedal having toe and heel portions, means for pivotally supporting each of said pedals so that each pedal is pivotable about a single axis taken generally perpendicular to an elongated axis extending between toe and heel portions of each pedal and significantly offset to be closer to an operator's ankle joint, said pedals being movable from a neutral position wherein neither of said toe or heel portions are depressed to a forward position wherein said toe position is depressed and a reverse position wherein said heel portion is depressed, each of said foot control means including a forward power regulating means for activating said propulsion units for operating in a forward direction when said toe portion of said pedal is depressed, each of said foot control means having a reverse power regulating means for activating said propulsion units in a reverse direction when said heel portion of said pedal is depressed, each of said foot control means including power regulating means operable in response to the further depression of said toe or heel portions of said pedals to alter the power being supplied through said forward or reverse power regulating means to thereby regulate the speed of said propulsion units in a forward or reverse direction when activated by said forward or reverse power regulating means whereby each of said foot control means controls a separate one of said propulsion units so that the direction of thrust of each said propulsion units as well as the speed of each said propulsion units is separately controlled. 
   
   
       25 . In a steering and control system for watercraft which includes a pair of power driven propulsion units and wherein separate mounting means are provided in a spaced relationship to one another for suspending the propulsion units from opposite sides of a centerline of the watercraft and wherein a source of power is provided for energizing the propulsion units the improvement comprising, a pair of foot control means, first means for connecting said source of power energy to one of said foot control means and a first of said propulsion units and second means for connecting said source of power to the other of said foot control means and the second of said propulsion units, each of said foot control means including a foot receptacle, said foot receptacle being movable along a track from a neutral position wherein an operator's foot should reside in a fairly relaxed position, neither engaging the foot receptacle to a forward position wherein said foot receptacle is moved forward of the neutral position nor rearward of the neutral position to a reverse position, each of said foot control means including a forward power regulating means for activating said propulsion units for operating in a forward direction when said foot receptacle is moved forward of the neutral position, each of said foot control means having a reverse power regulating means for activating said propulsion units in a reverse direction when said foot receptacle is moved rearward of the neutral position, each of said foot control means including power regulating means operable in response to the further forward or rearward movement of said foot receptacles to alter the power being supplied through said forward or reverse switch means to thereby regulate the speed of said propulsion units in a forward or reverse direction when activated by said forward or reverse power regulating means whereby each of said foot control means controls a separate one of propulsion units so that the direction of thrust of each said propulsion units as well as the speed of each said propulsion units is separately controlled.