Water vessel using self-propelled water wheel

Abstract

A water toy includes a pair of floatable hulls arranged in spaced apart orientation in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the toy. A water wheel support is coupled to the hulls and has inner sides positioned on either side of the water wheel. A water wheel axel spans laterally between the inner sides and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of which the hulls are oriented. A water wheel is mounted on the axel and rotates forwardly about a rotating axis such that lower paddles of the water wheel dip into the body of water forwardly of the axel and push rearwardly as the water wheel rotates to thereby propel the water toy forwardly through the water. A water container is mounted above the water wheel and provides fluid through an aperture to the water wheel to thereby drive the paddles of the water wheel about the rotating axis.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to a toy, and more particularly to a water wheel-based toy that moves along the water surface by action of a self-contained water supply falling against and turning a water wheel.[0002]Self-propelled water toys typically include some type of mechanism to propel the toy through or under the water. Some use chemical agents, some electrical propulsion such as with batteries, and some convert potential energy to mechanical energy such as a wound rubber-band turning a propeller or impeller. Some examples of underwater toys include U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,023 to Warner titled “Hand Launchable Hydrodynamic Recreational Vehicle,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,577 to Thorne, III titled “Underwater Device and Method of Play,” (hereinafter Thorne). Such devices have drawbacks such as increased weight due to neutral buoyancy, thus increasing shipping costs, or decreased ability to remain upright within the water so that the device moves un...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the foll

Problems solved by technology

Such devices have drawbacks such as increased weight due to neutral buoyancy, thus increasing shipping costs, or decreased ability to remain upright within the water so that the device moves unrealistically compared to underwater sea creatures and submarines.

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