Abstract:
A pliable tubular paddle hand grip sleeve that reduces friction, motion, chaffing, wear and ultimately blisters to the hand during the normal paddling motion by isolating the motion to the surfaces between the paddle shaft and hand grip sleeve. The sleeve is slipped on to any paddle shaft without any effect to paddle. The sleeve maintains the cross sectional size and all radial and axial contours of any paddle shaft.

Description:
[0001]    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS 
         [0002]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, COMPUTER PROGRAM, COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates to kayak paddles, canoe paddles, rowing oars, hand blistering, hand grips, and moveable hand grips. The invention is not limited to these classifications and particulars. For brevity and ease of understanding the descriptions herein refers to kayak paddles and paddling methods because they are thought to represent the most extreme case for paddle movement but the descriptions pertain to all types of paddles and paddling methods. The invention&#39;s use and affectivity is uneffected by paddle type or paddling method. 
         [0006]    When paddling a kayak, the paddle shaft is gripped with both hands, one at each end of the shaft. One hand maintains it&#39;s grip throughout both the left side and right side paddle strokes while the other hand grips the paddle shaft loosely to allow the shaft to be radially twisted approximately 35 degrees either way and then gripped tightly just prior to each stroke. The purpose of this twisting motion is to turn the paddle blade flat to the wind while it is up in the air and then twist the blade&#39;s flat surface perpendicular to the direction of pull when it is in the water. This twisting motion between each stroke causes friction, motion, chaffing and wear to the skin of each hand. Over time, for the frequent kayaker, calluses form on the hand and there is no blistering of the hand. The occasional or recreational kayaker however does not build up and maintain such calluses so they are prone to blisters each time they go kayaking. 
         [0007]    The usual method of protecting against blisters is to wear gloves of various types. The unsolved problem however is that the occasional kayaker does not foresee the need for gloves or incorrectly decides they are not going to be paddling enough to warrant gloves. Even when gloves are worn, through splashing or perspiration, they become wet which in time softens the skin and actually increases the potential for blisters. On sunny days gloves cause undesirable tan lines on the back of the hands. 
         [0008]    Other methods of dealing with blisters are paddle shaft pads as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,352 Paddle Hand Grips And Method For Making And Using Same. However these only pad the paddle shaft for comfort and provide a non-slip gripping surface. They do nothing to eliminate the friction, motion, chaffing, wear and ultimately blisters on each hand. 
         [0009]    There are also anti-fatigue and pain reducing ergonomically shaped paddle shafts and grips. They do not address the blister generating relative motion between the hand and paddle shaft. Additionally, they usually cannot be added to an existing paddle but rather require the kayaker to purchase a new paddle. 
         [0010]    Generally these afore mentioned concepts require proper orientation and alignment of either the hand or paddle shaft or both. This is troublesome because these proper orientations and alignments differ from user to user and may even change from stroke to stroke depending on paddling conditions. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    This invention is a pliable sleeve that slips over the paddle shaft and stays positioned under the paddler&#39;s hand regardless of the hand placement or position. No specific orientation or alignment is required, therefore they work equally well for all paddles, paddlers and paddling conditions. Typically, but not exclusively, two identical sleeves are used, one for each hand. During the paddle stroke the inner surface of the sleeve slides about the paddle shaft while eliminating relative motion between the outer surface of the sleeve and the paddlers hand thus eliminating the friction, motion, chaffing, wear and subsequent blistering of the hand. This invention therefore eliminates the need for the usual hand protection typically worn such as, but not limited to, gloves. Because the sleeves are positioned under the hand and do not cover the back of the hand, as gloves do, no tan lines are created. Because the sleeve is very thin and pliable it maintains the cross sectional size and all radial and axial contours of the paddle shaft as designed by the paddle manufacturer. The sleeve can be slipped onto any existing paddle without modification or damage to the paddle thus allowing the kayaker any paddle of their choice. Once slipped on, they are entrapped by the paddle blades so the paddler does not need to foresee the need for hand protection but rather they stay with the paddle readily available for use whenever the paddle is used. When the sleeves are made of a wicking type material, blistering due to moisture softened hands is minimized because water from splashing or perspiration quickly evaporates keeping the hands dry. The sleeves can be numerously transferred between various paddles without any effect to the paddles or sleeves. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a single sleeve of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a single sleeve of the present invention positioned on a paddle shaft section with a hand placed on the sleeve. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a two-piece paddle with two sleeves of the present invention and hands in their normal position gripping the sleeves. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sleeve of the present invention positioned to be slid onto the unfastened end of a two-piece paddle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a section of an axially contoured paddle shaft as designed by a paddle manufacturer. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of a radial contour in the paddle shaft as designed by a paddle manufacturer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Before one or more embodiments of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in it&#39;s application to the details of construction described herein or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various other ways. Further, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For brevity and ease of understanding the descriptions herein refer to kayak paddles and paddling because it is thought to represent the most extreme case for paddle motion but the descriptions should be considered to pertain to any type of paddles and paddling methods. The invention&#39;s affectivness is uneffected by paddle type or paddling style. The disclosure refers interchangeably to one or two identical present invention sleeves. One for each hand. This is done for clarity of understanding in the context of the particular description. The invention description herein is for the sleeve and is not dependant on the paddle type, paddling style or number of sleeves used by the paddler. For purposes of this patent the term, in any form:
       “sleeve” refers to the physical embodiment of the invention but not restricted to any one of the specific descriptions;   “friction” refers to kinetic friction between two moving surfaces;   “grip” refers to the act of wrapping one&#39;s hand and fingers around a paddle shaft and exerting a squeezing force with or without this invention in place;   “hand” refers to the palm of the hand;   “paddle” refers to the entire paddle assembly which may include the blade or blades, shaft, hand grips or joint;   “sense” refers to the sensation one has of motion along the outer surface of the hand;   “shaft” refers to anywhere on the shaft of the paddle unless a position is specifically referred to in the sentence;   “slide” or “slip” refers to moving over the surface of the paddle shaft while maintaining a smooth, continuous, low resistance motion;   “normal” refers to any motion the paddler goes through while paddling. While there is a similarity of motion for paddlers, each paddler will exhibit slight variations to that similar motion. These slight variations are also considered normal.       
 
         [0028]    (See  FIG. 1 ,  2 ) The invention consists of a pliable cylindrical sleeve  1  that encircles the paddle shaft  2  and is slideably moveable both radially  3  and axially  4  about that paddle shaft  2 . No specific alignment to the paddler&#39;s hand  5  is required nor is any specific placement on the paddle shaft  2  required. The sleeve  1  has an inner diameter  6  just large enough to allow for the sliding motion about the paddle shaft  2  without bunching up under the paddler&#39;s hand  5 . Each sleeve  1  is sufficiently long enough that a short portion  8  extends beyond both sides of the hand  7  such that the hand  5  does not make contact with the paddle shaft  2  as the paddler grips the paddle shaft  2  with the sleeve  1  sandwiched between the hand  5  and paddle shaft  2 . 
         [0029]    (See  FIG. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  6 ) Each sleeve  1  is made of a material thin enough  9  that once slipped on the paddle shaft  2  it does not significantly change the paddle shaft&#39;s cross sectional size  10  or any radial  19  or axial  18  contours in the paddle shaft  2 , nor does it compress a detectable amount when gripped by the hand  5 . 
         [0030]    (See  FIG. 1 ,  2 ) Each sleeve  1  is made of a material with a frictional coefficient on the inner surface  11  such that the resistance to sliding along the paddle shaft  2  is negligible to the paddler when they grip lightly and yet the sleeve  1  will exhibit a high resistance to sliding so that the paddle position is controlled by the paddler when the paddler grips tightly against the sleeve  1  and shaft  2 . 
         [0031]    (See  FIG. 1 ,  2 ) Each sleeve  1  is made of a material with an outer surface  12  that will not allow movement between that outer surface  12  and hand  5  so that there is no friction, motion, chaffing or wear to the skin of each hand. 
         [0032]    (See  FIG. 1 ) Each sleeve  1  is made of a wicking or quick drying material to minimize softening of the skin from moisture caused by perspiration or splashing water. 
         [0033]    (See  FIG. 2 ) Each sleeve  1  is best constructed as a seamless cylinder such that there are no joinment protuberances under the paddlers hand  5  to cause high pressure wear points to the hand or fingers or for the paddler to have to position relative to their hand or fingers. If a seamless cylinder cannot be practically fabricated, any type of joinment may be constructed such as, but not limited to, stitching, zipper, hook &amp; loop closure, etc. These joinments should be as minimal as possible for the afore mentioned reasons. The adjoinment would be made on the sleeve  1  to best suit the desired fabrication process. 
         [0034]    (See  FIG. 3 ,  4 ) The sleeve  1  is not a permanent part of the paddle  16  but rather each sleeve  1  can be slipped on to any two-piece paddle shaft  17  by unfastening the two paddle shaft sections  17  and sliding the sleeve  1  over the paddle shaft  17  at it&#39;s unfastened end  15 . The paddle shafts  17  are then fastened back together and the sleeves  1  are slid into place where the hand  5  normally grips the paddle shaft  17 . In the case of a one piece paddle (not shown because of it&#39;s similarity to a two-piece paddle shaft  17  except for the lack of a center joint  15 ) one of the afore mentioned sleeve  1  joinment methods would become practical so the sleeve could be opened up along the joinment to allow for placement over the paddle shaft  17 . In the same manner of sliding a sleeve  1  on, as described above, the sleeve may be transferred limitlessly between various different paddles  16  of the paddlers choosing. 
         [0035]    (See  FIG. 1 ,  3 ) When in use, the sleeves  1  are positioned and centered under the hands  5  with a short portion  8  protruding sufficiently enough beyond each side of the hand  7  to assure no contact is made between the hand  5  and paddle shaft  2 . The paddler makes no change to their normal paddling motion, technique, hand position or gripping. As they loosen their grip to allow the paddle shaft  2  to twist or slide, all the motion is isolated between the interior surface  11  of the sleeve  1  and paddle shaft  2 . The paddler senses the motion of the shaft  2  moving under the sleeve  1  but there is no actual motion between the exterior surface  12  of the sleeve  1  and the hand  5 . As the paddler grips the paddle shaft  2  tightly for the paddle stroke, that gripping force is transferred through the sleeve  1  onto the paddle shaft  2 . If the paddler chooses to not utilize a sleeve  1  before, during or after a stroke for any reason they may slide the sleeve  1  away from it&#39;s normal location. They may similarly choose to reposition the sleeve  1  under their hand  5  after temporarily sliding it out of the way.