Abstract:
A device to hold a canoe paddle in vertical position at either end of a canoe and having its blade submerged to serve as a keel to stabilize the otherwise tipsy craft and to greatly facilitate maneuverability by maintaining direction specially under windy conditions. The holder includes a bridge-like support bracket supporting an axially-rotatable transverse shaft extending outwardly over one side of the canoe. The outer end of the shaft carries a clamp to hold the upper shaft portion of the paddle. A resilient rotation stop is provided with the support bracket, so that the paddle blade rotatably yields when it strikes an under-water obstacle. Also, the paddle may be releasably locked in a non-use position parallel to the canoe gunwale.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to oarlocks for small water craft, more specifically to a device adapted to yieldably hold a canoe paddle in vertical stabilizing position specially when a canoeist is alone in the canoe. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When at least two people are in a canoe, for example one person paddling in the bow and a helmsman paddling at the rear, it is easy to steer the canoe. However, when only one person is using the canoe, maneuvering is then more of a problem. Till now, as is known by canoeists, the maneuvering of a canoe on water by a single person is best performed by positioning the latter at mid-length of the canoe. The canoeist kneels on the bottom surface of the canoe, sits on his/her heels, about the inner side wall of the canoe, so that the canoe be inclined about 30 degrees sideways relative to its longitudinal axis. This position ensures the best possible control of the canoe, but has some disadvantages: 
     1. the keel, if any, tends to be slightly out of the water, which reduces its directional effectiveness and, thus, the straightforwardness of the path of the canoe; 
     2. the canoe is more sensitive to air drafts, because of the increased surface thereof being exposed out of the water; 
     3. the above canoeing position is more tiring for the canoeist; 
     4. the strenuous Delta stroke that must be used in this position requires an experienced canoeist, and remains a less efficient stroke than the known J-stroke used astern, wherein with the Delta stroke, a zigzaging path results; and 
     5. this is a very unstable position, which only an expert canoeist would feel comfortable with for any length of time. 
     The most comfortable position for an unexperienced single canoeist is to sit on the bench astern, where the canoeist may propel the canoe by effecting the simple J-stroke. However, it is almost impossible to control the canoe when a helmsman is absent from the bow in side wind conditions; and this control is still more difficult with white water canoes, since they lack a keel. 
     It is believed that there would be a large demand for an improvement in the field directed to canoeists operating alone a canoe. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a paddle holder at one end of the canoe which rigidly supports a paddle substantially vertically with the blade being in the water to facilitate maneuvering. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a paddle holder, the use of which with a paddle greatly increases safety by stabilizing the craft. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a paddle holder of the above type, wherein the paddle can be rotated about a transverse axis to yield against an underwater obstacle or to be stored substantially parallel to the gunwale of the canoe. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a paddle holder of the above type, which is simple in design and attachable to any canoe make. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are realized according to a preferred embodiment comprising a support bracket having lateral attachment means by which it can be attached, preferably detachably so, to one end of any standard canoe. The support bracket is adapted to support a rigid transverse shaft having one end portion extending horizontally outwardly. The outer end of the shaft carries a clamp means to which can be detachably secured the handle of a canoe paddle, the blade of the latter being held in generally vertical operative position and submerged. 
     Within the scope of the invention, the shaft is mounted for rotation about its axis, so that the clamp means, and hence the paddle, can be swung from its operative position through a quarter-circle to a storage position wherein the paddle extends parallel to the gunwale of the canoe. Resilient indexing means are further provided inside the bracket to act on the shaft, so as to yieldingly retain the shaft in either one of two rotated positions about 90° apart. This also allows the paddle blade to rotatably yield and then come back to its generally vertical position when any obstacle impinges on the submerged blade portion of the paddle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above will be more clearly understood by having referral to the preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a canoe afloat and provided with the invention, to which is secured a paddle in canoe direction stabilizing position; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation of the canoe in a first position in dotted lines and in a second advanced position in full lines and showing how the paddle blade can yield to a submerged stone; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, also showing in dashed outline the bow of a canoe and paddle. 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing an alternate embodiment of the attachment means for the support bracket; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the invention according to the embodiment of FIG. 2, also showing in dashed outline the bow portion of a canoe and a paddle shaft in the clamp means; 
     FIG. 6 is a rear end elevation view of the support bracket and the attachment means of FIG. 3, also showing in dashed outline the gunwales of a canoe; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing how the rotation stop means yields; 
     FIG. 9 is a lateral elevation of the clamp means, also showing in dashed outline a canoe paddle upper portion; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the clamp means and also showing in dashed outline the paddle handle therein; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 11--11 of FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9, showing the clamp means in tilted position relative to the support bracket, also showing in dashed outline the side of the canoe and the shaft of the paddle. 
     Like reference characters indicate like elements throughout the drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the paddle holder 1 installed at the bow portion 2&#39; of a standard canoe 2 and clasping the handle 3&#34; of a paddle 3, the blade 3&#39; of which is submerged in water 4 and is generally parallel to the canoe direction of travel. A helmsman 5 is shown seated astern of canoe 2. 
     Paddle 3 therefore acts as a direction stabilizer, so that helsman 5 can paddle alone in the canoe and will maintain the intended canoe direction even under a strong side wind. Yet steering can still be effected but with a greater steering radius. 
     As stated above, the paddle holder 1 is adapted to allow paddle 3 to rotatably yield and come back to its generally vertical position if any part of the submerged portion of the paddle strikes an underwater obstacle, such as a stone 6 (cf. FIG. 2). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5 to 8, the paddle holder includes, firstly, a support bracket indicated generally at 7. Bracket 7 is of rigid material, having the general form of a bridge long enough to span the end portion 2&#39; of canoe 2. Thus, bracket 7 includes a top portion 8, preferably slightly thicker in its central area, and slightly downwardly concave. Both lateral edges 9 of top portion 8 merge into outwardly-bulging perpendicular side wall 10, in turn having a lower edge 11 merging with an angularly-outwardly-projecting flat portion 12. Finally, the latter merges at its outer edge with a flat triangular horizontal flange 15 which is adapted to receive the attachment means. 
     Both side walls 10 are formed with a central hole through which rotatably extends a rigid transverse shaft 13. As illustrated, shaft 13 projects transversely outwardly from the right side of bracket 7, although, clearly, it could also be made to project out of the left side. 
     Shown specifically in FIG. 6, the interior construction of bracket 7 includes a first lower laterally-extending protuberance 14 at the inside surface of each lower edge 11 forming a first lower shoulder 16; and a second upper laterally-extending shoulder 17 formed by the greater thickness of top portion 8 relative to side walls 10 at edges 9. 
     First shoulder 16 is adapted to hold the end edges of a lower leaf spring 18. Similarly, second or upper shoulder 17 holds the end edges of an upper leaf spring 19. 
     The portion of rod 13 extending inside bracket 7 between side walls 10 is provided with a central block member 20, which is of square configuration in an axial perspective. A setscrew 21 or other means holds block 20 rigidly in place around rod 13. As clearly shown in FIG. 6, block 20 is of sufficient dimensions to deflect leaf springs 18,19 slightly away from shaft 13. Block member 20 and leaf springs 18, 19 constitute the above-mentioned resilient indexing means. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 9 to 12, there is depicted the clamp means for a paddle 3. The clamp means comprises a clamp bracket 22 formed of an inner wall 22&#39;, a rear windowed wall 22&#34; having window 22a and an angular front wall 22&#34;&#39; having a forwardly-facing apex 23 which is rounded. Walls 22&#34; and 22&#34;&#39; are transverse to inner wall 22&#39;. The outer side of bracket 22 is open, thereby defining a large space through which the handle 3&#34; of paddle 3 may be inserted into bracket 22. Preferably, the inner surface of front wall 22&#34;&#39; is provided with suitable padding 24 to prevent the handle 3&#39; from being marred, and to insure only a three-point contact with the paddle. 
     The outer end of shaft 13 is rigidly secured to the inner wall 22&#39; of bracket 22. 
     The clamp means further comprises a releasable cam member 25 which is transversely pivotable about a rod 26. The latter is journalled at either end in a pair of rearwardly-extending flanges 27 secured to inner wall 22&#39;. Cam 25 is provided with a rigid tab 28 by which it may be manually moved to occupy a first downward release position and a second upper locking position, such that the cam surface 25&#39; presses against the handle 3&#34; of paddle 3. 
     Cam 25 also includes a biasing means to maintain it in upper position. This biasing means consists of: a vertically-depending rod 29 having a bent lower end 29&#39;; a coil tension spring 30 having one end attached to lower end 29&#39; and its opposite end attached to a pin 31 extending through cam 25. The central portion of the latter is formed with a cross-sectionally semi-circular groove 32 which extends from roughly the mid-point of the cam surface 25&#39; to the mid-point of the rear surface of the cam 25, where it curves upwardly rearwardly, then frontwardly to merge with the tab 28. Spring 30 extends in groove 32. 
     FIG. 10 clearly indicates that cam surface 25&#39; is concavely recessed along a major part of its length to precisely hold the handle 3&#34; in cooperation with front wall 22&#39;&#34;. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown the attachment means for support bracket 7. The means is simple, consisting of a cross-sectionally L-shaped fastening member 33 provided with a longitudinal slot in its horizontal flange 33&#39; adapted to receive the outer edge of each triangular flange 15, the latter held in place by screws 37. The vertical flange 33&#34; of member 33 projects downwardly exteriorly of gunwale 34 of the canoe and is fastened thereto by screws 35 and nuts 36. FIG. 4 illustrates the alternate embodiment of the attachment means wherein flange 15 is directly fastened to a modified gunwale 34&#39; by screws 38. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates canoe 2 moving towards an underwater obstacle, such as a stone 6. As the blade 3&#39; strikes stone 6 (in FIG. 2), bracket 22 will begin to rotate bodily with shaft 13. As seen in FIG. 8, the rotation of shaft 13 causes block 20 to rotate against the retaining bias of leaf springs 18 and 19 until the canoe paddle 3 gives way enough to pass over stone 6. The resilient nature of leaf springs 18 and 19 will then force shaft 13 and hence bracket 22 into its original position, so that paddle 3 once again assumes a vertical orientation in the water, provided, of course, that the paddle will have rotated through less than about 40° to clear the obstacle. 
     Alternatively, the rotation stop means described will allow the paddle 3 to be rotated manually through a quarter-circle to assume a storage position parallel to the gunwales 34 or 34&#39;. In this case, block 20 will have its originally free faces 20&#39; moved into resilient contact with leaf springs 18 and 19. 
     Normally, leaf springs 18, 19 should keep block 20 centered relative to bracket 7 in order to prevent axial movement of shaft 13 in bracket 7. However, if such is found insufficient, removable rigid sleeves 39 can surround shaft 13 on each side of block 20 and each spanning the distance between the block 20 and side wall 10, as shown in section in FIG. 6. By unscrewing setscrew 21, shaft 13 can be removed from bracket 7 and reinserted into the opposite side of said bracket.