Collapsible pedal boat

Abstract

A pontoon pedal boat includes a multi-piece frame, removable outriggers, inflatable pontoons, and a multi-section pedal drivetrain. The boat may be disassembled and placed into a small suitcase sized storage case to allow for easy transport of the boat. The boat and storage case are lightweight and the boat may be easily transported to many locations for use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible pontoon boat comprising:
 a center frame section;   a seat attached to the center frame configured to carry an adult human;   a left outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame;   a left inflatable pontoon attached to the left outrigger frame;   a right outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame;   a right inflatable pontoon attached to the right outrigger frame;   a drivetrain comprising:
 a gearbox; 
 crank arms and pedals attached to the gearbox; 
 a driveshaft having a front end attached to an output of the gearbox such that rotation of the pedals actuates the gearbox and rotates the driveshaft; 
 a propeller attached to a rear end of the driveshaft; 
 wherein the drivetrain comprises a front joint that may be disassembled to separate a front section of the drivetrain from a middle section of the drivetrain; 
 wherein the drivetrain comprises a rear joint that may be disassembled to separate a rear section of the drivetrain from a middle section of the drivetrain. 
   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the pontoon boat may be disassembled for storage by:
 deflating the left pontoon and the right pontoon;   removing the left pontoon from the left outrigger frame;   removing the left outrigger frame from the center frame;   removing the right pontoon from the right outrigger frame;   removing the right outrigger frame from the center frame;   removing the front drivetrain section from the middle drivetrain section; and   removing the rear drivetrain section from the middle drivetrain section.   
     
     
         3 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the drivetrain comprises:
 a torque tube surrounding the driveshaft and supporting the driveshaft within the torque tube, the torque tube having a front end attached to the gearbox; and   a rudder mounted to a rear end of the torque tube.   
     
     
         4 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 3 , further comprising a left steering handle connected to a left side of the center frame and a right steering handle connected to a right side of the center frame, and wherein the left steering handle and the right steering handle are operatively connected to the rudder with cables, and wherein the left and right steering handles are movable laterally to thereby cause movement of the rudder to steer the pontoon boat. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 3 , wherein the front joint separates a front section of the torque tube and a front section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft; and wherein the rear joint separates a rear section of the torque tube and a rear section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 5 , wherein the middle section of the torque tube is pivotably attached to the center frame so that the drivetrain can be pivoted to raise or lower the propeller and rudder. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 6 , further comprising a control handle connected to the center frame and to the center drivetrain member and operable to pivot the drivetrain vertically and thereby raise or lower the propeller and rudder. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 1 , further comprising a suitcase sized carrying case; wherein the case comprises two halves that attach together as a case; wherein the two halves are separable from each other, and wherein a left case half is attachable to the left outrigger frame and wherein a right case half is attachable to the right outrigger frame. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the left case half is attachable to a top of the left outrigger frame and wherein the right case half is attachable to a top of the right outrigger frame, and wherein the left case half and the right case half comprise storage compartments when attached to the respective left and right outrigger frames. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein the left pontoon comprises an attachment strap, and wherein the left pontoon is attached to the left outrigger frame by passing a left outrigger frame member through the attachment strap and attaching the left outrigger frame member to the left case half by attachment brackets such that the strap is held between the left outrigger frame member and the left case half. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 8 , wherein, when the pontoon boat is disassembled, the left pontoon, right pontoon, left outrigger frame, right outrigger frame, center frame, front drivetrain section, center drivetrain section, and right drivetrain section are stored inside of the suitcase sized carrying case with the carrying case closed. 
     
     
         12 . A collapsible human carrying pontoon boat comprising:
 a center frame section;   a seat attached to the center frame configured to carry a human;   a left outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame;   a left inflatable pontoon attached to the left outrigger frame;   a right outrigger frame removably attached to the center frame;   a right inflatable pontoon attached to the right outrigger frame;   a drivetrain comprising:
 a gearbox; 
 crank arms and pedals attached to the gearbox; 
 a driveshaft having a front end attached to an output of the gearbox such that rotation of the pedals actuates the gearbox and rotates the driveshaft; 
 a propeller attached to a rear end of the driveshaft; 
 a joint positioned between the front end of the driveshaft and the rear end of the driveshaft, wherein the joint may be disassembled to separate the drivetrain into a front drivetrain section and a rear drivetrain section; and 
   wherein the pontoon boat may be disassembled for storage by:
 deflating the left pontoon; 
 deflating the right pontoon; 
 removing the left pontoon from the left outrigger frame; 
 removing the left outrigger frame from the center frame; 
 removing the right pontoon from the right outrigger frame; 
 removing the right outrigger frame from the center frame; 
 removing the front drivetrain section from the rear drivetrain section. 
   
     
     
         13 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said drivetrain joint is a front joint;   wherein the front joint may be disassembled to separate the front drivetrain section from a middle drivetrain section;   the drivetrain further comprises a rear joint; and   wherein the rear joint may be disassembled to separate a rear drivetrain section from a middle drivetrain section.   
     
     
         14 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 12 , wherein the drivetrain comprises:
 a torque tube surrounding the driveshaft and supporting the driveshaft within the torque tube, the torque tube having a front end attached to the gearbox; and   wherein the joint is disassembled to separate a front torque tube section from a rear torque tube section and to separate a front driveshaft section from a rear driveshaft section.   
     
     
         15 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 13 , wherein the drivetrain comprises a torque tube surrounding the driveshaft and supporting the driveshaft within the torque tube, the torque tube having a front end attached to the gearbox, wherein the front joint separates a front section of the torque tube and a front section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft; and wherein the rear joint separates a rear section of the torque tube and a rear section of the driveshaft from a middle section of the torque tube and a middle section of the driveshaft. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein the middle section of the torque tube is pivotably attached to the center frame so that the drivetrain can be pivoted to raise or lower the propeller and rudder. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 12 , further comprising a suitcase sized carrying case; wherein the case comprises two halves that attach together as a case; wherein the two halves are separable from each other, and wherein a left case half is attachable to the left outrigger frame and wherein a right case half is attachable to the right outrigger frame. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 17 , wherein the left case half is attachable to a top of the left outrigger frame and wherein the right case half is attachable to a top of the right outrigger frame, and wherein the left case half and the right case half comprise storage compartments when attached to the respective left and right outrigger frames. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 17 , wherein the left pontoon comprises an attachment strap, and wherein the left pontoon is attached to the left outrigger frame by passing a left outrigger frame member through the attachment strap and attaching the left outrigger frame member to the left case half by attachment brackets such that the strap is held between the left outrigger frame member and the left case half. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible pontoon boat of  claim 17 , wherein, when the pontoon boat is disassembled, the left pontoon, right pontoon, left outrigger frame, right outrigger frame, center frame, front drivetrain section, center drivetrain section, and right drivetrain section are stored inside of the suitcase sized carrying case with the carrying case closed.