Control lever for human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means

Abstract

A control lever assembly for human powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means having a housing bracket, a control lever, a cable spool and an indexing means that may be engaged and disengaged at the will of the operator. The control lever assembly is rigedly affixed to the hull of a watercraft and operably connected to the steerable propulsion means of a pedal driven drive mechanism by cables. The operator may direct thrust in a range of 180 degrees in either direction from a 0 degree heading and lock in a heading by releasing the lever to rest in a detent. This allows for full azimuth thrusting and eliminates the need for reversible gearing and a rudder.

1 . What is claimed is: A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means, the control lever assembly comprising:
 a housing bracket;   a cable spool;   a control lever; and   an indexing means that may be engaged and disengaged at the will of the operator.   
     
     
         2 . A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cable spool includes provision for two counter wound cables. 
     
     
         3 . A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cable spool includes provision for a single cable secured to the cable spool at an intermediate point along the length of said cable. 
     
     
         4 . A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing bracket includes detents to engage said control lever. 
     
     
         5 . A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing bracket includes detents to engage said cable spool. 
     
     
         6 . A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said control lever is biased to engage said detents. 
     
     
         7 . A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said housing bracket includes mounting interfaces for two cable housing adjusting barrels for fine adjustment of cable length. 
     
     
         8 . A control lever assembly for a human-powered watercraft with steerable propulsion means as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said housing bracket includes mounting interfaces for two cable housing adjusting barrels for fine adjustment of cable length.