US 12,151,795 B2
Watercraft and associated pedal drive system
Blaine G. Kuehmichel, Wausau, WI (US)
Assigned to Johnson Outdoors Inc., Racine, WI (US)
Filed by Johnson Outdoors Inc., Racine, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,621.
Application 17/499,621 is a continuation of application No. 16/552,848, filed on Aug. 27, 2019, granted, now 11,148,775.
Prior Publication US 2022/0033045 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63H 16/20 (2006.01); B60L 50/20 (2019.01); B63B 34/20 (2020.01); B63B 34/26 (2020.01); B63H 5/125 (2006.01); B63H 21/17 (2006.01); B63H 23/04 (2006.01); B63H 23/30 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 16/20 (2013.01) [B60L 50/20 (2019.02); B63B 34/20 (2020.02); B63B 34/26 (2020.02); B63H 5/125 (2013.01); B63H 21/17 (2013.01); B63H 23/04 (2013.01); B63H 23/30 (2013.01); B60L 2200/32 (2013.01); B63H 2016/202 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A watercraft, comprising:
a hull;
a drive system mounted to the hull, the drive system comprising:
a manual drive train including a pair of pedals;
a lower unit configured to output thrust, the lower unit coupled to the pedals such that a manual pedaling force input to the pedals is converted to thrust by the lower unit;
an assist drive train having an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein in the engaged configuration, a torque from a motor of the assist drive train is transferred to the lower unit to generate thrust with the lower unit, and wherein in the disengaged configuration, the motor is decoupled from the lower unit;
a sensor arrangement for monitoring at least one operational parameter of the drive system;
a controller in operable communication with the sensor arrangement to interpret information from the sensor arrangement regarding the at least one operational parameter; and
wherein the controller is operably connected to the assist drive train to selectively transition the assist drive train from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration and from the engaged configuration to the disengaged configuration based upon a pedal state change indicated by a change in the at least one operational parameter.