Abstract:
A paddle support having a storage device assists in rowing a vessel. The paddle is retained in the upper portion of a support that has a base section that may be connected to the storage device or a support strap. The storage device may rest directly on the floor of the vessel, or may be suspended over the opening of a vessel by a support strap. The storage device may be a backpack, bag, box or insulated cooler. The use of the support strap allows the storage device and support to be used with a watertight skirt or covering stretched over the opening of the vessel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/934,677 filed Aug. 23, 2001. The entire disclosure of the prior application is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a paddle support for a vessel having a storage device that provides a place for storing items while also allowing a rower to rest a paddle, while rowing a vessel or while the vessel is at rest.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    The use of paddle supports and oar locks to assist in rowing a vessel is well-known in the prior art. Typically these devices provide support for an oar or paddle and may also provide leverage to the rower during operation. These devices may be attached to the outer hull of a vessel, or they may be mounted on the floor of the vessel with a post that extends upward, to engage a paddle or an oar at a height which facilitates the individual rower. Stand-alone storage devices, such as backpacks and drink coolers, are also well-known to the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Paddle supports can be removably or permanently attached to a vessel during operation. This requires the paddle to be fixed in a position prior to operation. While this may provide the rower with both leverage and support, it also restricts his range of motion when manipulating the paddle. If a rower accidentally removes a paddle from the support, he must direct his time and attention to returning the paddle to an operating position within the support. Thus, these devices require the rower to make a conscious effort to return the paddle to the support before rowing may continue. In addition, these devices do not allow the rower to reposition the support laterally without either removing and reattaching the support, or making some other type of adjustment. Further, a rower may find it necessary from time to time to push the vessel away from fixed objects, such as rocks or piers, or to push debris away from the vessel itself. In these situations, the necessity to remove and replace the paddle in the support may become problematic. This may be especially so when the vessel is moving rapidly through areas with many fixed objects, i.e., areas of rivers and streams containing rapids. In these situations, the ability of the rower to quickly and freely manipulate the paddle may be crucial in preventing injury to the rower, as well as damage to the vessel.  
           [0007]    The efficient use of space in a small vessel such as a kayak or canoe, can also be of concern. For example, the cockpit area of a kayak can be very constraining and the space available for storage is limited or non-existent. While storage devices such as backpacks and coolers may be attached directly to the hull of the kayak the rower&#39;s access to these devices may be limited while the vessel is underway. Moreover, the possibility exists that these devices could become unattached while the vessel is underway, for instance when a kayak or canoe tips or rolls upside down.  
           [0008]    This invention provides an apparatus for supporting a paddle during the operation of a vessel that also has a secure storage device. The storage device is easily accessible by the rower during operation of the vessel. The paddle support of this invention utilizes a freestanding support section that is removably attached to the paddle. The paddle support need not be and is preferably not attached to the vessel. In one embodiment, the storage device is attached to the bottom of the paddle support. The storage device then rests freely on the bottom of the vessel. The rower may manipulate the paddle freely with the top portion of the support attached to the paddle and the bottom portion of the support attached to the storage device. In this embodiment, the paddle support is made up of a retainer at the top portion for retaining the paddle, an upright support section that may be adjusted or set to a proper height suitable for the rower, and a base section that is connected to a storage device and rests freely on the floor of the vessel. This arrangement allows the support to be manipulated laterally to facilitate the comfort of the rower and allows the paddle to be lifted vertically by the rower. This is especially advantageous in situations involving fast moving water, such as rapids, in that the rower can quickly manipulate the paddle to push off rocks and obstructions, returning just as quickly to rowing the vessel. While the storage device is attached to the bottom of the paddle support, the rower is still able to manipulate the paddle laterally and to lift the entire device including the storage device vertically.  
           [0009]    The paddle support of this invention may be adjusted in height to facilitate the comfort of the individual rower. This aids in reducing arm fatigue, by allowing the rower to operate the paddle in a range of motion which is most comfortable. It also allows the rower to rest the weight of the paddle and the rower&#39;s arms on the support during periods when the vessel is not being actively rowed.  
           [0010]    In vessels such as canoes and kayaks, a rower may use a skirt to prevent water from entering the vessel. Typically, the skirt would cover the area between the rower&#39;s body and the edge of the inside of the vessel; for example, the exposed cockpit area of a kayak. The paddle supports of the prior art are not particularly conducive for use with a skirt, because a support must either be attached a considerable distance away from the rower&#39;s body, or must penetrate the skirt itself, creating a point where water may enter the vessel. In addition, because the supports of the prior art are in a fixed position and attached to the vessel itself there is a greater possibility of injury to the rower when operating in rough water conditions. One embodiment of the current invention alleviates this condition, allowing for use of the paddle support and storage device with a skirt.  
           [0011]    In this embodiment, a piece of webbing or support strap is removably attached to the outer hull of the vessel extending across the opening covered by the skirt in front of the rower. The upright support portion of the paddle support is then attached to the support strap at the center portion of the vessel opening. One or more storage devices may then be attached to the webbing. The webbing is maintained in tension over the opening by the weight of the rower&#39;s arms, paddle, storage device and support itself bearing down on the center of the webbing. In this way the support may be maintained close to the rower&#39;s body without interfering with the watertight skirt. The height of the support may be varied by manipulating the upright support section itself or by adjusting the overall length of the webbing suspended over the opening.  
           [0012]    In another embodiment, the storage device itself may have support straps extending from the bottom of the storage device across the vessel opening and connecting to the rim of the kayak. Lastly, the apparatus of this invention allows for easy removal and storage of the paddle support. This in turn facilitates the easy handling and transporting of the vessel, in that the entire paddle support apparatus with storage device is removed from the vessel leaving no outward projections which could hinder mounting and transporting on a vehicle.  
           [0013]    These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like elements are labeled with like numbers in and which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a vessel, paddle and paddle support of this invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a paddle support and storage device of this invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is another exemplary embodiment of a paddle support, paddle and storage device of this invention located in a kayak;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is another exemplary embodiment of the paddle support of this invention having a storage device with an extendable support strap;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of the paddle support of this invention having a storage device with support strap mounted in a kayak;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the paddle support of this invention having a storage device frame portion and paddle support;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is another exemplary embodiment of the support strap for the paddle support of this invention having storage devices attached to the support strap;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is an exemplary embodiment of the paddle support of this invention mounted on the support strap having storage devices also mounted to the support straps;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the paddle support of this invention mounted on a cooler; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 9 having the lid removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of a typical vessel  140  with paddle support  160  shown in place. A paddle  130  is mounted to the top of the paddle support  160  by a retainer  150  at the upper portion of the support  160 . The support  160  has a base member  110  that rests freely on the bottom  120  of the vessel  140 . In this embodiment the paddle support  160  is not attached to the vessel in any way. This allows the rower the freedom to manipulate the paddle  130  with paddle support  160  connected without the encumbrance of having the paddle  130  physically attached to the vessel  140 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the support  160  may be used with a wide variety of vessels and is not limited to the vessels shown.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of the paddle support of this invention having a storage device  210  attached to the bottom of a paddle support  220 . The storage device  210  rests freely on the bottom of the vessel and may be attached to the paddle support  220  by a threaded male connection extending through the storage device  210  and secured on the inside of the storage device  210  by a nut (not shown). The storage device  210  may also rest freely on a skirt or other such similar device intended to prevent water from entering the opening of a vessel. The paddle support  220  is movable in a lateral direction due to the flexible nature of the storage device  210 . The paddle section  130  is attached to the paddle support  220  by means of a retainer  250  at the top portion of the paddle support  220 . The paddle  130  is prevented from moving longitudinally within the retainer  250  by retainer clamps  240 . The retainer clamps  240  may be of a rigid or flexible material and held in place with the use of screws or clips, or they may be permanently affixed to the paddle  130  by an adhesive. In this embodiment, the storage device  210  has been illustrated as having the form of a backpack or similar such device. One skilled in the art will recognize that the storage device could take various forms, such as boxes, bags, cases and other such devices that house one or more items.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 shows the paddle support and storage device of FIG. 2 in a kayak  310 . A rower may be seated in seat  360  within kayak  310  and place the paddle support  220  with storage device  210  directly in front of the rower in the available space in the forward portion of the kayak cockpit  350 . The paddle  130  is then fixed in the center portion to the support by means of retainer  250 . In this embodiment, the paddle  130 , paddle support  220  and storage device  210  may be lifted as a unit. The weight of the paddle  130  and paddle support  220 , as well as the weight of the rower&#39;s arms are supported by the storage device  210  itself. The storage device  210  rests freely on the bottom of the kayak  310 . In this way, the rower may position the entire device including the paddle  130  in a position that the rower finds most comfortable.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is another exemplary embodiment of the paddle support  220  and storage device  210  of this invention having support straps  490  with hooks  470  for suspending the device over the cockpit of a kayak. In this embodiment, the paddle  130  is retained on the top of the paddle support  220  by the retainer  250 . As discussed previously, the paddle is prevented from moving longitudinally by the retaining clamps  240 . Paddle support  220  is mounted directly to the storage device  210  through a hole  425  in the top of the storage device. Paddle support  220  may be connected to the storage device by various means, for example a threaded male connection that passes through hole  425  and a nut (not shown) threaded onto the male connection from the inside of the storage device  210 . Support straps  490  extend through holes  495  in the storage device  210 . The support straps  490  are connected to retaining hooks  470  having contact portions  480  for holding the hooks  470  to the sides of a vessel. The support straps may also be connected to the side of a vessel by a hook and loop fastener system. The support straps  490  may be of an elastic material or may be adjustable to a proper length. The paddle support  220  and storage device  210  of this embodiment are particularly adapted for use in a kayak having a skirt covering the cockpit portion of the kayak. In this embodiment, the storage device  210  may be in contact with the top portion of the skirt. However, the load of the storage device  210 , paddle support  220  and paddle  130  would be transferred to the rim of the kayak by support straps  490  and hooks  470 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 illustrates the paddle support and storage device of FIG. 4 as installed in a kayak  310 . Paddle  130 , paddle support  220  and storage device  210  are suspended over the cockpit  350  of the kayak  310  by support straps  490 . The support straps  490  are in turn connected to the rim of the cockpit  580  by retaining hooks  470 . As discussed previously, this embodiment may be used when a skirt is extended over the opening of the cockpit  350  because the paddle support  220  need not extend through the skirt, thus creating a point where water could enter the vessel. The paddle support  220  and storage device  210  of this embodiment may also be used in the situation where no skirt has been placed over the kayak cockpit  350 . In this arrangement, the storage device does not rest directly on the bottom of the kayak  310  and there is room for the rower&#39;s legs to extend below the storage device  210  and support straps  490 . A further advantage of this embodiment is that the storage device  210 , paddle support  220  and paddle  130  are physically connected to the kayak  310  in the event that the vessel rolls or the rower is unable to grip the paddle  130 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the paddle support  220  and storage device  210  of FIGS.  2 - 5 . As illustrated, a frame  650  fits inside the storage device  210 . The frame  650  may be of a rigid material, such as plastic or metal, capable of supporting the weight of the paddle support  220 , paddle, and rower&#39;s arms. Paddle support  220  is secured to the storage device  210  and frame  650  by a threaded connection  675  having a nut  670 . The threaded portion  675  may be inserted into hole  645  in the storage device  210  and hole  655  in the frame  650  and then secured in place by nut  670 . While the frame  650  may be of a generally rigid material, the material should be slightly flexible to allow lateral movement of the support  220 . In this way, the rower is provided with a greater range of motion while manipulating the paddle.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 illustrates a support strap  700  according to another embodiment of this invention having storage devices  730  mounted directly on flexible plates  720 . In this embodiment, the support strap  700  is made up of two individual flexible plates  720  having holes  740  for connecting the plates  720  together. The plates  720  have hooked ends  710  that curve inward for connecting to the rim of a vessel. The plates  720  may be of a rigid or flexible material and are held together by inserting a threaded portion of a paddle support (not shown) through corresponding holes  740  to adjust the entire support  700  to the proper length. The paddle support may be as in previous embodiments. The storage devices  730  are then connected directly to the flexible plates  720 . The storage devices  730  may be any number of devices capable of storing items, such as backpacks, boxes, bags and similar such containment type device that house one or more elements. Such elements may be electronics, such as fish-finder electronics.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 illustrates the support strap  700  of FIG. 7 as installed on a kayak  310 . The support strap  700  is made up of individual flexible plates  720  connected together by a threaded portion (not shown) of paddle support  220 . The threaded portion is inserted through holes  740  of flexible plates  720  and secured by a nut (not shown) on the bottom side of the support strap  700 . The paddle  130  is supported by paddle support  220  and may be manipulated laterally due to the flexible nature of individual plates  720 . The storage devices  730  are mounted to flexible plates  720 . One skilled in the art will recognize that any number of storage devices may be mounted to the support strap  700 . The rower, seated in seat  360  may position the support strap  700 , paddle support  220  and paddle  130  in a location that is most comfortable to the rower.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of a paddle support  220  of this invention having a cooler  910  as a storage device. The cooler  910  may be of a plastic, rubber or Styrofoam type material having thermodynamically insulating properties. The cooler  910  may be held or supported on a vessel by recessed portions  930 . The recessed portions  930  may be individually located to fit the opening of a vessel. The cooler  910  has a lid  940  having hole  970  for mounting the paddle support  220 . The weight of the rower&#39;s arms, paddle  130  and paddle support  220  are supported by the lid  940 , which is in turn supported by the cooler  910 . In this embodiment, the paddle support  220  may be loosely connected to the lid  940  to allow the rower to move the paddle  130  laterally. As previously discussed, the paddle is held at the top of the support  220  by retainers  250  and is prevented from moving longitudinally by retaining clamps  240 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is an illustration of the cooler  910  having the lid (not shown) removed. In this embodiment the inside of the cooler is partitioned into individual compartments  1060 . The compartments  1060  are filled with ice  1040  for cooling the drink containers  1020 . The cooler  910  has recesses  1030  that allow the cooler to be mounted on a vessel. One skilled in the art will recognize that the cooler  910  may be used for storing many items and is not limited to storing food or beverages. Additionally, the cooler may have any volume and may have any number of sub-compartments or no sub-compartments at all.  
         [0035]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.