CA2172851A1 - Wave paddle - Google Patents

Abstract

A more efficient paddle construction having a blade and a stem extending there from and wherein the blade has a rippled like surface which are latitudinally running wave like curled fins. This arrangement is such that there is a greater resistance to the flow of water up and around the blade when the paddle is being drawn in a scooping propelling stroke.

Description

SPECIFICATION

"WAVE PADDLE"

The above disadvantages and drawhAck.s of a stAn~A~d paddle is largely corrected by this invention which has a novel and improved blade which is both simple in construction and characterized by a much higher thrust efficency than conventional paddles.
This is accomplished by the provision of a paddle construction comprising of a blade and a manipulator stem ext~n~i ng from the blade, said blade having a rippled like surface which are generally latit~ nAlly r~lnning curled fins in a wave like formation which directs the flow of water downward and inward by said curled fins. This impedes the flow of water up or around the hl A~ when the paddle is being drawn in a scooping propelling stroke.
A significantly higher thrust efficiency is achived in comparision to a conventional paddle with the same blade size.
The disclosed construction has special applicability to the field of boating, as for example such as prop~lling a canoe or other craft in comparision to other blades. A wider blade than a conventional paddle which increases the thrust has to be held farther out from the boat's side when it is used. This creates a greater strain on the paddlers shoulders because the center of hAlAnce is more off set. A longer blade than the conventional paddle which also increases the thrust has to be lifted higher out of the water and is more difficult to use in shallow water.
The invention is explained below with reference to an illustrative ~mhodiment represented in the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top view plan of the paddle of this invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the paddle of Fig. 1.

21728~1 Fig. 3 is a cross section of the paddle of Fig. 1. taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a end elevation of the paddle of Fig. 1 Fig. 5 is a cross section of the paddle of Fig. 1 taken along the line of 3-3.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified paddle of this invention Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the paddle of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a cross section of the paddle of Fig. 6 taken along the line 4-4 of Fig 6.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of the paddle of Fig. 6 taken along the line 5-5.
Fig. 10 is a top view of another modification of the paddle of this invention.
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the paddle of Fig. 10 Fig. 12 is a cross section of the paddle of Fig. 10 taken along the line 6-6 of Fig 10.
Fig. 13 is a cross section of the paddle of Fig. 10 taken along the line 7-7.
By way of example, referring first to fig. 1 through 5 and in accordance with the present invention, there is illustrated a novel and improved paddle inten~ for the use in propelling a watercraft such as a canoe, this device being referred by the numeral 10, and comprising a handle 12 and a blade 14. There are two SUbSt~An~i A 1 1 y flat body portions on the blade 14 herein called blade side 16 and 26 which is shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4.
In accordance with the present invention for the purpose of improving the efficency of the paddle 10 there are latitll~inAlly rllnni ng curled fins 18 molded onto the blade side 16. The curled fins 18 are in a wave like formation which is longitll~inAlly placed down the blade side 26 of the blade from the blade top 28 to the blade end 30 this is shown in Fig. 1 and cross section Fig. 3. The opposite hl~Ad~ side 26 of the blade 14 is unmodified. The curled fins 18 protruding from the surface of the blade side 16 points away from the longit~ nAl centerline of the paddle 10 which is shown in cross section Fig. 3.
The curled fins 18 extend to the longitl~A; n~l blade edges 20 and 22 of the blade 14. Dep~n~i ng upon the structural integrity of the blade 14 the curled fins 18 extend the complete latitll~;nAl length of the blade side 16 or stops short of the longitll~;n~Al blade edges 20 and 22 of the blade 14 allowing for edge reinforcement of the blade 14 which is shown in Fig. 1 and cross section Fig. 5.
The scooping action of the pull stroke creates a cyclone effect in the curled fins 18 redirecting the fluid back down into the water stream as shown with arrows in cross section Fig. 3.
This provision of the curled fins 18 retards the amount of fluid which passes over and around the blade 14 improving the thrust efficency of the paddle 10. Another embodiment variation of the invention is shown in Fig. 6 through 9 wherein like reference numerals having a suffix "a" has been assigned to simular parts.
By the invention the paddle lOa has two modifications, one of which is that the blade 14a is curved toward the longitll~i n~ 1 axis of the paddle lOa, blade side 16a is concave and hlA~ side 26a is convex which is shown in cross section Fig. 9. The other variation in this modification is there are generally latitu~inAlly rllnn;ng curled fins 18a in a wave like formation molded onto the blade side 16a as discribed previously in the first embodiment. However starting at the longitll~inAl axis of the blade side 16a the curled fins 18a fan out at a downward angle, away from the longitll~;nAl centerline of the paddle lOa.
Thus creating an inverted u as shown in Fig. 6, the angle of the curled fins 18a from the longitu~; nAl centerline of the paddle lOa varies 0 degrees to 90 degrees.
This cupped blade 14a with angled curled fins 18a directs the flow of the water back toward the longitl~inAl axis of the blade side 16a during a scooping pull stroke thus inhancing the impedement of water around the blade 14a.
Another embodiment modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 10 through 13 wherein like reference numerals having a suffix "b" has been assigned to simular parts.
By the invention there is a modified paddle lOb inwhich there are curled fins 18b molded onto both blade sides 16b and 26b as shown in cross section Fig. 12. All aspects of the first embodiments and the inverted U shaped curled fins 18a can be incorporated into this modification.
A related object of the invention is to provide an improved paddle as above set forth wherein part of all of the device can -be just as readily molded of plastic or cast as made from conventional wooded material.
The disclosed embodiment has found to be more efficient as determined in comparable tests performed with working models, as such it is to represent an advance improvement in the field of paddles.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to fA 1 1 i ng within the scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. A paddle for propelling a water craft, this paddle comprising of a blade, a straight shaft connected to the blade, a handle connected to the shaft at the opposite end from the blade, the paddle has curled fins protruding from at least one side of the blade, the curled fins are placed generally latitudinally across to the edge of said blade.

2. A paddle according to claim 1, where the curled fins are curved generally latitudinally across to the edge of the blade.

3. A paddle according to claim 1 and 2, where the curled fins are placed in a longitudinal formation down the blade.