CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/287,989, filed Feb. 27, 2019, entitled “INTERFACE FOR MOUNTING A PROPULSION MECHANISM TO A WATERCRAFT,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to a watercraft, and to a watercraft comprising such an interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Various pedal operated means for propelling watercrafts such as kayaks have been proposed in the past. Such foot propulsion mechanisms are becoming increasingly popular in fishing kayaks since the user can propel its watercraft using feet while the hands remain available for holding fishing rods and the like.

For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,249 discloses a rigid watercraft made of polyethylene and including a foot propulsion mechanism. The propulsion mechanism comprises a pair of flappers adapted to oscillate through arcuate paths in a generally transverse direction with respect to the central longitudinal dimension of the watercraft. Pedals are operatively associated with the propulsion means for applying input force to the propulsion means, and the propulsion mechanism is mounted to a receptacle defined in the hull or body of the kayak. As such, the propulsion mechanism is directly supported by the hull of the kayak. While this configuration may be suitable in many instances, the reciprocating movement induced on the pedals tends to urge slight movement of the foot propulsion mechanism relative to the hull of the kayak, which may cause damages to the hull over time. Since the hull itself defines the support for the foot propulsion mechanism, the entire hull must be replaced when such damages occur. Furthermore, the manufacturing of such hull by thermoforming may prove onerous since the crafting of the receptacle for the propulsion mechanism typically requires a worker to carefully cut out the opening for receiving the foot propulsion mechanism, which tends to slow down the manufacturing process.

In other instances, the rigidity of the hull is not sufficient to support such a foot propulsion mechanism. In such instances, a rigid interface between the hull and the foot propulsion mechanism can be provided. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 8,082,871 describes an interface for an inflatable watercraft, where the inflatable watercraft comprises an opening defined in the center and extending through the bottom or floor of an air chamber. The opening is adapted for receiving an oval interface, which is itself adapted to receive a foot operated propulsion mechanism. The interface is a unitary component of generally oval shape having generally vertical side walls running completely around the oval, the top and bottom of the oval being open. The upper and lower extremities of the walls terminate in upper and lower outwardly projecting flanges, and the space between the flanges receives and abuts the oval opening, the oval opening and interface being complementary sized and shaped. The interface is normally fairly rigid and is made of an injection moldable plastic.

While such interface may be suitable with inflatable watercrafts, its unitary structure renders it difficult to use with watercrafts comprising rigid bodies. Rigid watercrafts such as kayaks may be manufactured by molding two sheets of extrudable material using a thermoforming process to shape the two manufactured sheets into a kayak shape, one sheet being used for the top side (i.e. the deck) and the other for the bottom side (i.e. the hull) of the kayak. Manufacturing the body using such a process may lead to slight inherent manufacturing variation of the thickness of the body, which thickness variation may represent a challenge for manufacturing and assembling components having a single size and shape, such as the interface for propulsion mechanisms disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,082,871.

Therefore, it would be desirable to be provided with an interface for a watercraft that alleviates at least some of the above-identified drawbacks.

SUMMARY

According to a broad aspect, there is provided an interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to a watercraft including a rigid body having a deck portion, a hull portion and a well extending between the deck portion and the hull portion. In this broad aspect, the interface comprises:

- a first portion including a first plate positionable adjacent to one of the hull portion and the deck portion of the watercraft, about the periphery of the well, and at least one channel extending from the second plate, the channel being positionable in the well, in registry with the hole of the first portion, the channel being sized and shaped for receiving therein a portion of the propulsion mechanism and for mounting the propulsion mechanism to the interface; and
- at least one fastening assembly for removably fastening the first portion to the body of the watercraft.

In one feature, the interface further comprises a second portion including a second plate positionable adjacent to the other of the hull portion and the deck portion of the watercraft, about the periphery of the well, the second plate comprising a hole sized and shaped for receiving therethrough a portion of the propulsion mechanism. In this feature, the hole is positionable in registry with the well, and the at least one fastening assembly is further configured for removably fastening the second portion of the interface to the body of the watercraft.

In another feature, the first portion is a top portion and the first plate is a top plate, and wherein the second portion is a bottom portion and the second plate is a bottom plate.

In yet another feature, the channel is adapted for removably securing the propulsion mechanism to the interface.

In still another feature, the at least one fastening assembly is configured for removably fastening the first portion to the second portion of the interface. Preferably, the at least one fastening assembly includes a first segment engaging the first portion of the interface and a second segment engaging the second portion of the interface. The first and second segments of the at least one fastening assembly collaborate to force the first and second portions of the interface toward one another to sandwich the body of the watercraft between the first and second plates.

In a further feature, the first segment of the at least one fastening assembly comprises a threaded fastener engaging the first plate of the first portion and the second segment of the at least one fastening assembly comprises a fastening projection provided with a threaded hole, the threaded fastener being engageable in the threaded hole of the fastening projection to force the first and second portions of the interface toward one another.

In yet a further feature, the at least one fastening assembly is further configured for maintaining the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion when the at least one fastening assembly is fastened and the channel is spaced-apart from the second plate.

In still a further feature, the at least one fastening assembly comprises four fastening assemblies.

In one feature, the interface further comprises at least one guiding assembly for maintaining the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion when the at least one fastening assembly is fastened and the channel is spaced-apart from the second plate. Preferably, the at least one guiding assembly comprises a plurality of fins extending upwardly from the second plate of the second portion, about the periphery of the hole, the fins being configured for positioning the channel of the first portion in registry with the hole of the second portion as the first and second portions of the interface are forced toward one another.

In one feature, the fins extend from at least one of a ridge extending upwardly from the second plate of the second portion, a female portion of a guide assembly and the second segment of the second portion.

In another feature, the at least one guiding assembly comprises a guiding assembly mounted to the at least one fastening assembly.

In still another feature, the propulsion mechanism is a foot propulsion mechanism.

In yet another feature, the propulsion mechanism is an oscillating flapper propulsion mechanism.

In a further feature, the propulsion mechanism is a motorised propulsion mechanism.

In still a further feature, the watercraft is a kayak, and preferably a fishing kayak.

In another feature, the watercraft is a small boat.

In a further feature, the interface further comprises a lock mechanism for removably securing the propulsion mechanism to the interface. Preferably, the lock mechanism is mounted in the channel of the first portion of the interface. More preferably, the propulsion mechanism comprises a shaft including at least projection on one side of the propulsion mechanism, and the channel comprises at least one recess for slidably receiving therein the at least one shaft projection. The lock mechanism is positioned in the channel adjacent to the recess and being movable between a lock position and an unlock position, the lock mechanism in lock position engaging the shaft projection received in the recess to prevent vertical movement of the propulsion mechanism relative to the channel.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a watercraft comprising:

- rigid body having a deck portion, a hull portion and a well extending between the deck portion and the hull portion,
- an interface for mounting a propulsion mechanism to the body of the watercraft, the interface including:
- a first portion including a first plate positionable adjacent to one of the hull portion and the deck portion of the watercraft, about the periphery of the well, and at least one channel extending from the first plate, the channel being positionable in the well, the channel being sized and shaped for receiving therein a portion of the propulsion mechanism and for mounting the propulsion mechanism to the interface; and
- at least one fastening assembly for removably fastening the first portion to the body of the watercraft.