Abstract:
A paddle for a waterdraft or flotation device has a pair of shaft mounted blades connected by a core member. A right hand drive grip and a left hand drive grip are secured in spaced relation to opposite ends of the core. A right hand offset is mounted adjacent the right hand drive grip and a left hand offset is mounted adjacent the left hand drive grip for providing hand clearance for a user. The core is telescopically expandable and accommodates various size paddle shifts for propelling different watercraft.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/929,243 filed Jan. 20, 2014, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There has been provided a paddle and improved grip for propelling a user on a flotation device. The paddle is adapted for use with a watercraft or flotation device such as a stand up paddleboard (SUP), a canoe, a kayak or the like. 
         [0003]    In the sport of stand up paddleboarding, participants stand up on a surfboard like flotation device and propel themselves with a long handled single bladed paddle. When canoeing, users sit or kneel upright and use a traditional single bladed canoe paddle. In the sport of kayaking, users sit low in a boat and propel themselves using a double bladed paddle. 
         [0004]    Two bladed paddles have been popular in kayaking for some time, because users can paddle on both sides of the boat. In the sport of stand up paddle boarding two bladed paddles have become popular as well. Two sided paddles allow a shorter cadence and more balanced paddle motion relative to a traditional one bladed paddle. This results in greater direction control and improved efficiency. Single side paddling results in a powerful concentrated stroke. 
         [0005]    The exemplary embodiments feature a two bladed paddle which permits a participant in any of the aforementioned water sports to take advantage of the improved cadence and balanced paddle motion of a two bladed paddle while retaining the advantage of the powerful locomotive stroke which mimics the mechanics of a traditional single bladed paddle. The exemplary embodiments result in an arrangement where the positionment and orientation of the hands and paddle grips result in more consistent, efficient and powerful locomotive strokes with reduced wrist fatigue. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    There has been provided a paddle for a standup flotation device or board having a starboard side blade at one end and a port side blade at the other end. The blades are each mounted on a corresponding shaft, which are joined together by a core located between the blades. The core, adapted for use with various blade arrangements, is formed with a right hand drive grip and a left hand drive grip disposed in spaced relation along a central axis. The right hand drive grip is associated with the port blade and the left hand drive grip is associated with the starboard blade. A right hand offset is located on the core adjacent to the right hand drive grip and is offset from the central axis, and a left hand offset is located on the core adjacent to the left hand drive grip and is likewise offset from the central axis. The right hand offset has an inboard end extending from a point inboard of the right hand drive grip towards the starboard side paddle blade shaft stem at the right end of the core, and left hand offset extends from a point inboard of the left hand drive grip towards the port side paddle blade shaft stem at the left end of the core. The offsets provide hand clearance, and may take various forms such as a continuous semicircular tubular connection from the hand grip to the blade shaft, a segmented connection or an elongated connection. The offsets, hand grips and blades are mounted on the axis of the blade shaft. The hand grips and blades are disposed transverse to the blade shaft axis. The offsets are generally perpendicular to the parallel hand grips. 
         [0007]    The user may use only the grips for propulsion, or if desired may also employ a pivot grip located in inboard of the hand grip along the central axis. 
         [0008]    In exemplary embodiments, the various paddle components may be arranged in fixed positions relative to each other. The drive grips and blades may lie in non skewed parallel planes and the offsets may be perpendicular to the hand grips. In other embodiments the components may lie in various skew planes or surfaces having a common line including, for example, the paddle axis. The components, may be positioned relative to each other in fixed or adjustable positions. For example, the paddle may be arranged with the various components being adjustable so that the components may be easily assembled or disassembled for convenient transport and where the paddle length, the relative angular positioning of the handles and blades may be adjustably positioned with respect to each other to allow for changes depending on the particular application. Alternatively, the paddle may be a single unitary or integral structure with a fixed length, fixed handles and fixed paddle blades in a custom arrangement. 
         [0009]    In exemplary embodiments, a common core member may be employed with blades mounted on shaft members of various lengths, each length being selectable for a particular application. For example, a blade on a relatively long shaft may be mounted on the core for propelling a watercraft or flotation devise such an SUP, while a shorter shaft may be useful for a kayak paddle application. A canoe or other flotation device may likewise employ a paddle shaft having a length tailored for such application. Thus, a common core member may be used with interchangeable paddle shafts and blades for different water sports. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a two bladed paddle depicted in use during respective port side and starboard side strokes performed by a user on a watercraft such as a standup paddleboard (SUP). 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of the paddle illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the core employing continuous semicircular offsets and drive grips. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are illustrations of optional offsets including an elongated continuous offset and a segmented offset. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary sectional drawing of the connection between the paddle blade shaft and the paddle blade shaft stem at a free end of the core. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are fragmentary rear and side sectional views showing details of the drive grip. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary sectional illustration of a telescopic portion of the core. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    An exemplary embodiment of a hand held two bladed paddle  10  for propelling a stand up paddleboard (SUP) is depicted in  FIGS. 1-5 . In  FIG. 1 , the SUP is shown as viewed from the aft end towards the fore end. The starboard and port sides of the SUP are respectively designated by the legends shown. The depiction of the paddle  10  shown in use on the starboard side, has the starboard paddle blade  16 R immersed in the water; and the paddle shown in use on the port side, has the port paddle blade  16 L immersed in the water. It should be understood that the terms right R and left L as used herein are for reference only, and where convenient, the terms and designations R and L may be deleted when reference to direction is not necessary. The terms starboard and port are nautical terms for right and left respectively. 
         [0018]    The two bladed paddle  10  has right hand blade  16 R located at an outboard end  18 R of a hollow right hand paddle shaft  20 R; left hand blade  16 L is located at an outboard end  18 L of hollow left hand paddle shaft  20 L; and a core  12  connects the right hand paddle shaft  20 R and left hand paddle shaft. The blades, paddle shafts and core are aligned on a central axis A. 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the core  12  is formed with a right hand outboard blade stem  32  R and a left hand outboard blade stem  32 L; a right hand offset  30 R and a left hand offset  30 L connected to the respective blade stems, and a central portion  34  located inboard of each offset. The offsets  30 R- 30 L each have an open side  31 , and are formed of a continuous semicircular portion  36  extending from blade shaft stem  32  to the end  41  of the central portion  34  as shown. 
         [0020]    The blades  16 R- 16 L may lie in a common plane perpendicular to the offsets  30 . The blades may have a curved portion causing the end of each blade to lie in a plane parallel to and spaced from the axis. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A , both the offsets  30 R- 30 L may lie in the same plane. The blades  16 R- 16 L may lie in the same or parallel planes perpendicular to the plane of the offsets. However, it should be understood that other skew orientations may be possible if desired. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in use, the paddle is preferably held such that the offsets  30 R- 30 L are oriented so that they extend away from the user in the fore direction of the board. The offsets  30 R- 30 L may lie in a common plane and extend radially from the corresponding paddle shaft  20 , generally perpendicular to back side  43  of the blade  16 . Such an arrangement seems to provide a stabilized transfer of driving forces imparted to the blades. It should be understood that, if desired, it is possible to orient or skew the offsets so that they extend at a different angle relative to the plane of the blades. 
         [0022]    Normally the offsets are open towards the user so that when paddling on the starboard side of the flotation device or SUP, the offsets  30  may be oriented so that their open sides  31  face the port side; and when paddling on the port side, the offsets  30  are oriented so that their open sides  31  face the starboard side. However, it is also possible to orient the offsets and blades differently if desired. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  show alternative exemplary embodiments of the offsets. In  FIG. 2A  the offset  30   a  is a continuous elongated tube  36   a  having an mitered outboard right angle elbow  34   a,  a straight portion  35   a  parallel with the axis A, and mitered inboard right angle elbow  37   a  joined to a second right angle elbow  39   a  at the inboard end  41   a  of the offset. Instead of miters connecting the elbow portions to the core, the offsets may be connected to the core by curved elbow end portions. In use, the offsets project in the fore direction away from the drive grips. 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 2B , offset  30   b  is formed of a segmented pipe  36   b  formed of interconnected straight portions  63  as shown. The segments form a continuous offset with appropriate hand clearance. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the right hand paddle shaft  20 R has an inboard end  22 R formed with a radial aperture  24 . A right hand distal end  21 R of the core  12  is formed with a reduced diameter portion  23 R and has a spring loaded radially extending detent  26 R which engages aperture  27 . The reduced diameter portion  23 R is sleeved into the inboard end  22 R of the right hand paddle shaft  20 R so that the apertures  24  and  27  are aligned. When so aligned, the spring loaded detent  26 R slides into the apertures  24 - 27  to lock the right hand paddle shaft  20 R securely to the core  12 . In a similar way, the left hand blade and left hand paddle shaft are secured to the left hand distal end of the core  12 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , the paddle  10  has a right hand drive grip  36  R formed with an end  44  attached to inboard end  41  of right hand offset  30 R. Left hand drive grip  36 L is similarly secured at the in board end of left hand offset  30 L. The right hand drive grip  36 R has flattened opposite sides  40 A- 40 B joined by a rounded top portion  42 . The drive grip  36  has an inside curved edges  45 A,  45 B. The flattened sides  40 A of the drive grips  36  are oriented on an axis B perpendicular to the plane in which the offsets lie and parallel to the plane or planes in which the blades  16  lie. The left hand drive grip  30 L is similarly shaped. If desired, the orientation of the drive grips may lie skewed with respect to the offsets  30  or the blades  16 . The offsets provide hand clearance for the user. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the central region  34  of the core  12  may be formed of hollow tubing and is divided into right and left hand sections  52 R and  52 L as shown. Right and left hand sections  52 R- 52 L have respective mating end portions  56 R and  56 L. The right end portion  56 R is a section of hollow tubing formed with three radial apertures  58   a - c  spaced apart along the tubing wall. The left end portion  56 L is formed with an aperture  59  receiving a spring loaded radial detent  60  which selectively engages one of the radial apertures  58   a - c . The basic length of the paddle is at its minimum when the detent  60  is located in aperture  58   c.  The length of the paddle may be increased in increments as the sections  52 R- 52 L are moved axially with respect to each other. 
         [0028]    In the exemplary embodiment of a paddle for an SUP, the spacing of the apertures  58   a - c  is 2″. Accordingly, the paddle length and thus the overall length of the paddle can be extended by 4″ in 2″ increments. In use the basic length of the paddle  10  is selected by the user to be about the height of the user plus 4″. Accordingly, a six foot person, i.e., a person 6 feet (72″) tall would select a paddle with a basic length of 78″. Such a user would then have the option of extending the paddle length by 4″ in 2″ increments. This flexibility allows the user to change the paddle length for different applications or events. For example, the basic length might be suitable for rough waters, while a longer paddle may be suitable for calm or less active waters, or if a sporting event required a longer paddle. It should be understood that the basic length of the paddle  10  may be longer or shorter as desired, and the suggested increments or separation of the detents  58   a - c  may be longer or shorter as desired. 
         [0029]    The user may engage the drive grips  36 R and  36 L with the corresponding right and left hand so that the palms of the user face each other. The drive or locomotive stroke on the port side comprises using the right hand to grip the right hand drive grip to drive the port side blade while pivoting the paddle with the left hand which holds the left hand drive grip. The drive stroke on the starboard side of the board uses the left hand drive grip to drive the right paddle blade while pivoting with the right hand. 
         [0030]    If desired the user may optionally choose to grip the central portion of the core inboard of the offsets  30 A,  30 B along the axis A at pivot grips  72 A,  72 B respectively. With such gripping action, if the user chooses to do so, the paddle may be pivoted about the wrist of the user as the other hand pushes the drive grip during the locomotive stroke. 
         [0031]    It should also be understood that when a paddle for a kayak or canoe is required, shorter paddle shafts may be employed having lengths designed to optimize paddling at different heights above the water level. For example, the shaft length for a canoe paddle may be shortened to make the paddling stroke more comfortable and efficient for a user in the sitting or kneeling position. Likewise, a kayak paddle may use paddle shafts further shortened for such application for a user sitting at the waterline. 
         [0032]    According to an exemplary arrangement, the user may employ only the drive grips to produce a locomotive force to drive the flotation device. In such an arrangement, the user grips the left hand drive grip with one hand and the right hand drive grip with the other. Paddling is accomplished using an outstretched motion where the right hand drives the port side blade in the water as the left hand pulls the left hand drive grip. The user then rotates the paddle to the starboard side holding the left hand drive grip to drive the starboard side blade. 
         [0033]    The alternative arrangements allow the user to paddle different flotation devices using a single core as the support for different paddle blade arrangements. This permits the user to select the correct paddle shaft length to propel the watercraft optimally from whatever height is appropriate for the craft, i.e. longer for an SUP and shorter for a kayak or canoe. 
         [0034]    Also, depending on the application, the relative angle between the drive grips and the paddle blades, or skew, may be adjusted. The drive grips may be skewed relative to the blades or the offsets or both. Skew may be controlled or adjusted using splined connections between the core and the paddle shafts. 
         [0035]    The paddle is adapted to optimize the paddling force exerted by the user. The paddle has fixed grips which allow the user to predictively control the strokes at will. In this connection the efficiency and handling of the paddle may be adjusted by lengthening the paddle from the basic length to the longer length as desired. It can also be seen that the paddle  10  combines the advantage of a two bladed paddle with the power achievable with a traditional single bladed paddle. 
         [0036]    The materials used to form the paddle may be light weight extruded aircraft aluminum tubes or carbon fiber composite materials to reduce swing weight.