Air-thrust vehicle

Abstract

An air-thrust marine vehicle has a hull with upwardly extending hull sides. An air-thrusting propulsion unit is configured for detachable mounting on the gunwales of various width hulls. The propulsion unit has a base assembly configured to move between a retracted position and plurality of expanded width positions for accommodating various width hulls, while being configured to hingedly engage the gunwales. The propulsion unit can be removed from the vehicle and positioned on another vehicle, such as a boat, an ice- or snow-traversing vehicle.

1 . An air-thrusted vehicle, comprising:
 a hull having upwardly extending hull sides;   an air-thrusting propulsion unit configured for detachable mounting on the hull sides, said propulsion unit comprising a base assembly configured to move between a retracted position and plurality of expanded width positions for accommodating various width hulls, said base assembly comprising a base frame having telescopically movable hull mount members configured to rest on and hingedly engage the hull sides.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said propulsion unit further comprises a cage enclosing said air-thrusting propulsion unit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said base frame comprises elongated tubular side members secured in a substantially parallel relationship to each other and hull mount members telescopically engageable with said side members. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of said hull mount members comprises a generally U-shaped body having a pair of parallel slide members, a cross bar secured between the slide members and a hull mount bracket hingedly secured to the cross bar. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said base assembly further comprises an arched leg secured to and extending upwardly from, each of said side members, and a base plate positioned on arched legs. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said propulsion unit comprises an engine, a propeller operationally connected to the engine, a drive unit mounted between the engine and the propeller, and a muffler operationally connected to the engine. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an engine mount plate for supporting the engine on the base plate. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said engine mount plate is provided with a means for absorbing vibration of the engine. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a means for mounting the drive unit on said base plate. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said propulsion unit further comprises a steering assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said steering assembly comprises a tiller arm mounted forward of the engine and rudders operationally connected to the tiller arm. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An air-thrusted marine vehicle, comprising:
 a hull having upwardly extending hull sides with gunwales;   an air-thrusting propulsion unit configured for detachable mounting on the gunwales, said propulsion unit comprising a base assembly configured to move between a retracted position and plurality of expanded width positions for accommodating various width hulls, while being configured to hingedly move while engaging the gunwales.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said base assembly comprises a substantially rectangular base frame having elongated tubular side members and perpendicularly secured cross members for retaining the side members in a generally parallel relationship to each other, said base frame further comprising a pair of oppositely positioned hull mount members configured to slidably telescopically engage with the side members, said hull mount members each carrying a hinge assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said propulsion unit further comprises a cage enclosing said air-thrusting propulsion unit. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  19 , wherein said base assembly further comprises an arched leg secured to and extending upwardly from, each of said tubular side members, and a base plate positioned on the arched legs. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said propulsion unit comprises an engine, a propeller operationally connected to the engine, a drive unit mounted between the engine and the propeller, and a muffler operationally connected to the engine. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising an engine mount plate for supporting the engine on the base plate. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said propulsion unit further comprises a steering assembly comprised of a tiller arm mounted forward of the engine and rudders operationally connected to the tiller arm. 
     
     
         29 . A propulsion unit for an air-thrust vehicle having upwardly extending spaced-apart vehicle sides, the propulsion unit comprising a base assembly configured to detachable mounting on the vehicle sides, said base assembly being configured to move between a retracted position and plurality of expanded width positions for accommodating various width vehicles, while being configured to hingedly move while engaging the vehicle sides. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said base assembly comprises a substantially rectangular base frame having elongated tubular side members and perpendicularly secured cross members for retaining the side members in a generally parallel relationship to each other, said base frame further comprising a pair of oppositely positioned vehicle mount members configured to slidably telescopically engage with the side members, said vehicle mount members each carrying a hinge assembly. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said propulsion unit further comprises a cage enclosing said air-thrusting propulsion unit. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  29 , wherein said base assembly further comprises an arched leg secured to and extending upwardly from, each of said tubular side members, and a base plate positioned on the arched legs. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said propulsion unit comprises an engine, a propeller operationally connected to the engine, a drive unit mounted between the engine and the propeller, and a muffler operationally connected to the engine. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising an engine mount plate for supporting the engine on the base plate. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein said propulsion unit further comprises a steering assembly comprised of a tiller arm mounted forward of the engine and rudders operationally connected to the tiller arm.