1. A kayak comprising:
a single hull extending longitudinally between a bow and a stern and having a longitudinal axis extending from bow to stern, wherein the hull has a curved or rounded bottom defining a lower most hull portion along the longitudinal axis and wherein the hull includes a port portion and a starboard portion;
a first keel protruding from the port portion of the hull, the first keel positioned between the bow and the stern and sized and positioned to at least partially receive a heel andor a foot of a paddler, the first keel having an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hull and is essentially symmetrical on said transverse axis and the first keel being positioned at the lower most hull portion adjacent to the longitudinal axis; and
a second keel protruding from the starboard portion of the hull and essentially parallel to the first keel, the second keel sized to at least partially receive a heel andor a foot of the paddler, the second keel having an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hull and is essentially symmetrical on said transverse axis and the second keel being positioned at the lower most hull portion at the longitudinal axis.
2. The kayak of claim 1, further comprising a deck extending from the hull, the deck and the hull together defining an interior volume of the kayak.
3. The kayak of claim 2, further comprising at least one cockpit defined in the deck.
4. The kayak of claim 1, further comprising at least one footrest positioned in each of the first keel and the second keel.
5. The kayak of claim 4, wherein the at least one footrest is repositionable within each of the first keel and the second keel.
6. The kayak of claim 1, further comprising a seat positioned aft of at least a portion of the first and second keels.
7. The kayak of claim 6, wherein the seat is repositionable relative to the first and second keels.
8. The kayak of claim 2, further comprising two or more seats, wherein each of the first and second keels is positioned to simultaneously receive a heel andor foot of a paddler seated in each seat.
9. The kayak of claim 1, further comprising:
a first seat positioned aft of at least a portion of the first and second keels;
a third keel protruding from the port portion of the hull, the third keel positioned aft of the first keel and sized to at least partially receive a heel andor a foot of the paddler;
a fourth keel protruding from the starboard portion of the hull and parallel to the third keel, the fourth keel sized to at least partially receive a heel andor a foot of the paddler;
and a second seat positioned aft of at least a portion of the third and fourth keels.
10. The kayak of claim 1, wherein a length of the first keel and a length the second keel are each less than a length of the hull and a width of the first keel combined with a width of the second keel is less than a width of the hull.
11. The kayak of claim 1, wherein the hull further comprises a hull beam profile, the first keel further comprises a first keel beam profile, and the second keel further comprises a second keel beam profile.
12. The kayak of claim 11, wherein the hull beam profile is different than the first keel beam profile and the second keel beam profile.
13. The kayak of claim 12, wherein the first keel beam profile and the second keel beam profile are essentially the same.
14. The kayak of claim 1, wherein the first keel and the second keel extend away from the hull into a body of water when the kayak is deployed in the body of water.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A limb support system, comprising:
at least one joint configured to rotate about at least two axes that are orthogonal to each other, the at least one joint, comprising:
a first electromagnet and a biasing device positioned generally opposite to each other with at least one first locking member positioned in between the first electromagnet and the biasing device, wherein the at least one first locking member is movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position that enables rotation about a first axis; and
a second locking member in mechanical connection with the first locking member, wherein the second locking member is positioned proximal to the first electromagnet and opposite to the first locking member, wherein the second locking member is configured to control rotation about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis; and
at least one support arm extending from the joint and coupled to a support structure to support the at least one joint.
2. The limb support system of claim 1, wherein the biasing device is a second electromagnet.
3. The limb support system of claim 1, wherein the biasing device is a spring configured to bias the at least one first locking member towards biasing device.
4. The limb support system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first locking member is comprised of a rotation control plate and a stationary locking ring with internal teeth that mesh with teeth of the rotation control plate.
5. The limb support system of claim 4, wherein the stationary locking ring is coupled to a lower housing.
6. The limb support system of claim 1, wherein the second locking member is formed from at least one pad having teeth configured to engage teeth extending from a rotating gear coupled to a locking rod that is concentric with the second axis and wherein the at least one pad is movable between a locked position in which the at least one pad is in contact with the rotating gear and an unlocked position in which the at least one pad is not in contact with the rotating gear.
7. The limb support system of claim 6, wherein the at least one pad is positioned generally tangential to an outer tip of a tooth extending from the rotating gear.
8. The limb support system of claim 1, wherein the joint further comprises a housing formed from first and second subhousings, wherein the first subhousing encases the first locking member and is rotatable about the first axis and relative to the second subhousing, and the second subhousing encases the second locking member and is rotatable about the second axis such that the first and second subhousings rotate together about the second axis.
9. The limb support system of claim 8, wherein the first and second subhousings are generally cylindrical.
10. The limb support system of claim 9, wherein first subhousing is formed from a lower housing and a stationary locking ring of the first locking member, wherein the outer surfaces of the lower housing and the stationary locking ring are flush with each other.
11. A limb support system, comprising:
at least one joint configured to rotate about at least two axes that are orthogonal to each other, the at least one joint, comprising:
first and second electromagnets positioned generally opposite to each other with at least one first locking member positioned in between the first and second electromagnets, wherein the at least one first locking member is movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position that enables rotation about a first axis; and
a second locking member in mechanical connection with the first locking member, wherein the second locking member is positioned proximal to the first electromagnet and opposite to the first locking member, wherein the second locking member is configured to control rotation about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;
at least one support arm extending from the joint and coupled to a support structure to support the at least one joint; and
wherein the joint further comprises a housing formed from first and second subhousings, wherein the first subhousing encases the first locking member and is rotatable about the first axis and relative to the second subhousing, and the second subhousing encases the second locking member and is rotatable about the second axis such that the first and second subhousings rotate together about the second axis.
12. The limb support system of claim 11, wherein the at least one first locking member is comprised of a rotation control plate and a stationary locking ring with internal teeth that mesh with teeth of the rotation control plate.
13. The limb support system of claim 12, wherein the stationary locking ring is coupled to a lower housing.
14. The limb support system of claim 11, wherein the second locking member is formed from at least one pad having teeth configured to engage teeth extending from a rotating gear coupled to a locking rod that is concentric with the second axis and wherein the at least one pad is movable between a locked position in which the at least one pad is in contact with the rotating gear and an unlocked position in which the at least one pad is not in contact with the rotating gear.
15. The limb support system of claim 14, wherein the at least one pad is positioned generally tangential to an outer tip of a tooth extending from the rotating gear.
16. The limb support system of claim 15, wherein the first and second subhousings are generally cylindrical.
17. The limb support system of claim 16, wherein first subhousing is formed from a lower housing and a stationary locking ring of the first locking member, wherein the outer surfaces of the lower housing and the stationary locking ring are flush with each other.
18. A limb support system, comprising:
at least one joint configured to rotate about at least two axes that are orthogonal to each other, the at least one joint, comprising:
first and second electromagnets positioned generally opposite to each other with at least one first locking member positioned in between the first and second electromagnets, wherein the at least one first locking member is movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position that enables rotation about a first axis; and
a second locking member in mechanical connection with the first locking member, wherein the second locking member is positioned proximal to the first electromagnet and opposite to the first locking member, wherein the second locking member is configured to control rotation about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;
at least one support arm extending from the joint and coupled to a support structure to support the at least one joint;
wherein the joint further comprises a housing formed from first and second subhousings, wherein the first subhousing encases the first locking member and is rotatable about the first axis and relative to the second subhousing, and the second subhousing encases the second locking member and is rotatable about the second axis such that the first and second subhousings rotate together about the second axis;
wherein the at least one first locking member is comprised of a rotation control plate and a stationary locking ring with internal teeth that mesh with teeth of the rotation control plate; and
wherein the second locking member is formed from at least one pad having teeth configured to engage teeth extending from a rotating gear coupled to a locking rod that is concentric with the second axis and wherein the at least one pad is movable between a locked position in which the at least one pad is in contact with the rotating gear and an unlocked position in which the at least one pad is not in contact with the rotating gear.
19. The limb support system of claim 18, wherein the at least one pad is positioned generally tangential to an outer tip of a tooth extending from the rotating gear.
20. The limb support system of claim 18, wherein the first and second subhousings are generally cylindrical, wherein first subhousing is formed from a lower housing and a stationary locking ring of the first locking member, and wherein the outer surfaces of the lower housing and the stationary locking ring are flush with each other.