CA2317917A1 - Canoe carrying pad - Google Patents
Canoe carrying pad Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2317917A1 CA2317917A1 CA002317917A CA2317917A CA2317917A1 CA 2317917 A1 CA2317917 A1 CA 2317917A1 CA 002317917 A CA002317917 A CA 002317917A CA 2317917 A CA2317917 A CA 2317917A CA 2317917 A1 CA2317917 A1 CA 2317917A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pad
- carrying
- padding
- canoe
- user
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/14—Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/12—Shoulder-pads
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
- B63C13/00—Equipment forming part of or attachable to vessels facilitating transport over land
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/14—Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
- A45F3/15—Harnesses specially adapted for carrying small boats
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
Abstract
A canoe carrying pad is disclosed for use in the carrying (portaging) of a canoe by a single person.
Canoes are normally turned upside down for carrying and placed and the user's shoulders by way of the carrying thwart (yoke) of the canoe. In doing such, the weight of the canoe is transferred onto the shoulder and neck area of the user. The resulting pressure on the user's body creates various levels of discomfort caused by the weight of the canoe, and a lack of fit of the thwart with the user's neck and shoulder area. The pad of this invention helps to essentially eliminate the discomfort to the user in the shoulder and neck area. The pad includes a pre-shaped padding material which is enwrapped in fabric material and has attachment straps which permit the ease of installation and removal of the portage pad to and from the carrying thwart (yoke). The portage pad is shaped and constructed such that when attached to the thwart (yoke) it will provide maximum contact with the user's neck and shoulder area to reduce localized pressure points. The padding is composed of material that will conform to the anatomical contours of the shoulder and neck area.
Canoes are normally turned upside down for carrying and placed and the user's shoulders by way of the carrying thwart (yoke) of the canoe. In doing such, the weight of the canoe is transferred onto the shoulder and neck area of the user. The resulting pressure on the user's body creates various levels of discomfort caused by the weight of the canoe, and a lack of fit of the thwart with the user's neck and shoulder area. The pad of this invention helps to essentially eliminate the discomfort to the user in the shoulder and neck area. The pad includes a pre-shaped padding material which is enwrapped in fabric material and has attachment straps which permit the ease of installation and removal of the portage pad to and from the carrying thwart (yoke). The portage pad is shaped and constructed such that when attached to the thwart (yoke) it will provide maximum contact with the user's neck and shoulder area to reduce localized pressure points. The padding is composed of material that will conform to the anatomical contours of the shoulder and neck area.
Description
CANOE CARRYING PAD
Field Of The Invention The invention relates to a canoeing equipment, in particular to a padding device for a canoe carrying yoke.
Background Of The Invention It is common in the construction of every canoe to include a centre yoke that reinforces the canoe's structure and will also permit the carrying (portaging) of a canoe by a single person. The weight of the canoe and the design of the yoke have a significant impact on the comfort level of the user in the shoulder and neck area during the carrying of the canoe. In order to render the structure of the canoe practical for carrying (portaging), the yoke is usually made of a hard material such as wood or metal. Given that people have different anatomical shapes and measurements in the shoulder and neck area, a generic rigid structure such as a wooden or metal yoke or a fixed non conforming padding device are limited in the amount of comfort they can offer to the user.
Numerous attempts have been made previously to alleviate the user's discomfort during portaging of a canoe. Poitras, in Canadian Patent No. 1,197,733, describes a combination of two narrow shoulder pads that protrude from a custom designed yoke. The pads lift the canoe and yoke off of the shoulders of the user carrying the canoe. Miller in US Patent No. 5,495,968 provides a portaging thwart that rotates.
Slanker / Gillis in US Patent 4,850,296 and Lewis et al. in US Patent No.
4,236,267, provide a two pad system that facilitates the support of the paddles as well as providing cushioning for the person carrying the canoe. Main, in US Patent No. 4,016,615, provides for a formed pad to be used in conjunction with two telescopic rods that are used as hand supports. However, these require the replacement of the existing yoke, or the inclusion of paddles or rods in order to be properly applied. The two pad systems create two specific, locally defined pressure points at which the weight of the canoe is concentrated on the shoulders. Furthermore, these designs tend to be cumbersome in appearance and for storage when not in use.
Thus, a canoe carrying padding is desired which provides for easy application and use and an even pressure distribution to avoid the generation of pressure points in the user's shoulders and neck area.
Summary Of The Invention It is now an object of the invention to provide a canoe carrying pad which adapts to the user's anatomical parameters, and provides a padding which substantially avoids the generation of localized pressure points. This object is achieved by providing a padding with a layer of pressure absorbing padding for placement between the carrying yoke and the entire weight bearing portion of the shoulder and neck area of the user. The padding is preferably shaped to maximize the area of contact between the yoke and the shoulder and neck area of the user. The padding is preferably composed of a material that will continuously shape itself to conform to any anatomical characteristics of an average person's neck and shoulder area and to shifting load conditions during the carrying of a canoe.
The pad in accordance with the invention preferably includes attachment straps for easy and secure installation and removal of the pad to and from the centre yoke .
Brief Description Of The Drawings In the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a top view of a preferred portage pad in accordance with the invention shaped for use with a simple straight yoke;
Figure 2 is a top view of a portage pad in accordance with the invention designed for use with a custom shaped yoke;
Figure 3 illustrates by way of a cross sectional view how the portage pad appears when installed on a yoke;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a portage pad in accordance with the invention demonstrating the shape of the padding material itself along the longitudinal axis of the pad;
and Figure 5 is a top plan view of a conventional canoe showing the location of the yoke.
Field Of The Invention The invention relates to a canoeing equipment, in particular to a padding device for a canoe carrying yoke.
Background Of The Invention It is common in the construction of every canoe to include a centre yoke that reinforces the canoe's structure and will also permit the carrying (portaging) of a canoe by a single person. The weight of the canoe and the design of the yoke have a significant impact on the comfort level of the user in the shoulder and neck area during the carrying of the canoe. In order to render the structure of the canoe practical for carrying (portaging), the yoke is usually made of a hard material such as wood or metal. Given that people have different anatomical shapes and measurements in the shoulder and neck area, a generic rigid structure such as a wooden or metal yoke or a fixed non conforming padding device are limited in the amount of comfort they can offer to the user.
Numerous attempts have been made previously to alleviate the user's discomfort during portaging of a canoe. Poitras, in Canadian Patent No. 1,197,733, describes a combination of two narrow shoulder pads that protrude from a custom designed yoke. The pads lift the canoe and yoke off of the shoulders of the user carrying the canoe. Miller in US Patent No. 5,495,968 provides a portaging thwart that rotates.
Slanker / Gillis in US Patent 4,850,296 and Lewis et al. in US Patent No.
4,236,267, provide a two pad system that facilitates the support of the paddles as well as providing cushioning for the person carrying the canoe. Main, in US Patent No. 4,016,615, provides for a formed pad to be used in conjunction with two telescopic rods that are used as hand supports. However, these require the replacement of the existing yoke, or the inclusion of paddles or rods in order to be properly applied. The two pad systems create two specific, locally defined pressure points at which the weight of the canoe is concentrated on the shoulders. Furthermore, these designs tend to be cumbersome in appearance and for storage when not in use.
Thus, a canoe carrying padding is desired which provides for easy application and use and an even pressure distribution to avoid the generation of pressure points in the user's shoulders and neck area.
Summary Of The Invention It is now an object of the invention to provide a canoe carrying pad which adapts to the user's anatomical parameters, and provides a padding which substantially avoids the generation of localized pressure points. This object is achieved by providing a padding with a layer of pressure absorbing padding for placement between the carrying yoke and the entire weight bearing portion of the shoulder and neck area of the user. The padding is preferably shaped to maximize the area of contact between the yoke and the shoulder and neck area of the user. The padding is preferably composed of a material that will continuously shape itself to conform to any anatomical characteristics of an average person's neck and shoulder area and to shifting load conditions during the carrying of a canoe.
The pad in accordance with the invention preferably includes attachment straps for easy and secure installation and removal of the pad to and from the centre yoke .
Brief Description Of The Drawings In the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a top view of a preferred portage pad in accordance with the invention shaped for use with a simple straight yoke;
Figure 2 is a top view of a portage pad in accordance with the invention designed for use with a custom shaped yoke;
Figure 3 illustrates by way of a cross sectional view how the portage pad appears when installed on a yoke;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a portage pad in accordance with the invention demonstrating the shape of the padding material itself along the longitudinal axis of the pad;
and Figure 5 is a top plan view of a conventional canoe showing the location of the yoke.
Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments The carrying pad 10 in accordance with the invention as illustrated in the attached drawings is intended for use in connection with a canoe 7 (see Fig. 5) and in particular to provide padding between the carrying yoke 14 of the canoe 17 and the shoulders of a person carrying the canoe. The pad 10 preferably includes a pliable padding material 11, which is encased in a fabric cover 12, whereby the shape and size of the padding material are selected to maximize the area of contact between the pad 11 and a user's shoulders during the carrying of the canoe. For this purpose, the pad 10 has a generally elongated shape and has sufficient width to cover at least the whole width of the yoke 14.
Although the pad 10 can be made of sufficient length to cover the whole length of the yoke 14, for reasons of economy the pad is preferably made shorter than the length of the yoke, but sufficiently long to cover both shoulders of an average user.
The pliable padding material is preferably a pliable gel material, for example the product commercially available from Velo Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Ta Chia, Taichung Hsien,Taiwan),.
The cover 2 is preferably made of a non-slip material which is soft to the touch for increased user comfort, for example the commercially available NEOPRENE or rubberized NYLON fabrics. The cover 12 preferably completely and permanently encases the padding material 11 (see Fig. 4). However, if the cover is made of a washable fabric, the cover is preferably provided with an opening (not shown) along one edge thereof for removal of the padding material 11, which opening is preferably reversibly closed by a closure structure such as a sliding closure (zipper), a mechanical fastener arrangement, and the like.
The carrying pad 10 is preferably removably attached to the yoke 14 of a canoe by way of attachment straps 13, in this embodiment composed of mechanical fastener material, for example VELCRO fastener material. The attachment fasteners are preferably positioned along the longitudinal edges 18 of the portage pad 10 (see Figs 1 and 2) to allow for easy, secure attachment to and removal from the yoke 14.
The attachment fasteners are most preferably fastened to and integrated into a seam of the cover 12, but can also be attached to the outer surface of the cover. Most preferably, the carrying pad 10 includes two pairs of fasteners 13 an end standing pair of fasteners 13a respectively positioned at the longitudinal ends 19 of the pad 10 and a central pair of fasteners 13b positioned at intermediate, spaced apart locations along the longitudinal edges of the pad 10. This will substantially prevent the pad 10 sliding off the yoke 14 during use under the load of the canoe 17. Moreover, the attachment straps 13 in the preferred embodiment completely wrap around the yoke 14 to reliably secure the portage pad to the yoke and to reduce the chance of the pad sliding on the yoke during use. In the most preferred embodiment, the central fasteners 13b are affixed to the cover 12 in an orientation essentially perpendicular to the front edge of the pad 10 (see Fig. 2) in order to minimize the possible deformation of the pad 10 in longitudinal direction upon tightening of the fasteners. Although mechanical fastener based attachment straps are preferred, other permanent or non-permanent types of attachment can be used such as glue, elastic, tape, straps, buckles, etc.
In Figure 3, the preferred embodiment of the carrying pad 10 of the invention is shown wherein the padding material 1 as well as the cover 2 are sized to wrap around the longitudinal edges of the yoke 14.
The pad 10 is preferably of sufficient width so that one longitudinal portion of the portage pad wraps around a front edge 19 of the yoke which is engaged by the neck of the user during carrying of the canoe 17. Moreover, most canoe carrying yokes 14 are provided with an indentation 20 along their front edge 19 in the central region where they are engaged by the user's neck. The carrying pad 10 in the preferred embodiment is shaped to follow the contours of the yoke 14 and, thus, also includes an indentation 20 to provide space for the user's neck and to prevent pressure points in the neck region of the user caused by the front edge of the pad 10. Thus, the preferred portage pad 10 is shaped and sized to extend sufficiently laterally and longitudinally along the yoke 14 to maximize comfort to the user and to essentially avoid the generation of pressure areas in the edge regions of the yoke which will rest on the shoulders of the user.
In the simplest embodiment of the carrying pad 10 of the invention, the shape and thickness of the pad 10 is constant along its longitudinal axis A (see Fig. 1). However, in the preferred embodiment, the pad 10 is shaped to the user's anatomy, similar to the yoke 14 (see Fig. 2) and the thickness of the padding material 11 varies in longitudinal direction to more closely follow the anatomy of the user's shoulder and neck regions (see Fig. 4). In the preferred embodiment as illustrated in Figure 4, the padding material 11 is pre-shaped and the shape in longitudinal cross-section is apparent from this drawing. In order to allow for a close fit of the pad 10 to the user's body, despite the usual anatomical variation in the shoulder and neck area of the human body, a central portion 16 of the pad 10 intended to engage the neck area of the user during carrying of the canoe is thinner than end portions 15 of the pad 10, which end portions will engage the user's shoulders. This shaping enhances the ability of the pliable material 11 within the pad 10 to reach a shape complementary to the user's anatomy, thereby reducing the possibility of generating localized pressure points.
Although the pad 10 can be made of sufficient length to cover the whole length of the yoke 14, for reasons of economy the pad is preferably made shorter than the length of the yoke, but sufficiently long to cover both shoulders of an average user.
The pliable padding material is preferably a pliable gel material, for example the product commercially available from Velo Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Ta Chia, Taichung Hsien,Taiwan),.
The cover 2 is preferably made of a non-slip material which is soft to the touch for increased user comfort, for example the commercially available NEOPRENE or rubberized NYLON fabrics. The cover 12 preferably completely and permanently encases the padding material 11 (see Fig. 4). However, if the cover is made of a washable fabric, the cover is preferably provided with an opening (not shown) along one edge thereof for removal of the padding material 11, which opening is preferably reversibly closed by a closure structure such as a sliding closure (zipper), a mechanical fastener arrangement, and the like.
The carrying pad 10 is preferably removably attached to the yoke 14 of a canoe by way of attachment straps 13, in this embodiment composed of mechanical fastener material, for example VELCRO fastener material. The attachment fasteners are preferably positioned along the longitudinal edges 18 of the portage pad 10 (see Figs 1 and 2) to allow for easy, secure attachment to and removal from the yoke 14.
The attachment fasteners are most preferably fastened to and integrated into a seam of the cover 12, but can also be attached to the outer surface of the cover. Most preferably, the carrying pad 10 includes two pairs of fasteners 13 an end standing pair of fasteners 13a respectively positioned at the longitudinal ends 19 of the pad 10 and a central pair of fasteners 13b positioned at intermediate, spaced apart locations along the longitudinal edges of the pad 10. This will substantially prevent the pad 10 sliding off the yoke 14 during use under the load of the canoe 17. Moreover, the attachment straps 13 in the preferred embodiment completely wrap around the yoke 14 to reliably secure the portage pad to the yoke and to reduce the chance of the pad sliding on the yoke during use. In the most preferred embodiment, the central fasteners 13b are affixed to the cover 12 in an orientation essentially perpendicular to the front edge of the pad 10 (see Fig. 2) in order to minimize the possible deformation of the pad 10 in longitudinal direction upon tightening of the fasteners. Although mechanical fastener based attachment straps are preferred, other permanent or non-permanent types of attachment can be used such as glue, elastic, tape, straps, buckles, etc.
In Figure 3, the preferred embodiment of the carrying pad 10 of the invention is shown wherein the padding material 1 as well as the cover 2 are sized to wrap around the longitudinal edges of the yoke 14.
The pad 10 is preferably of sufficient width so that one longitudinal portion of the portage pad wraps around a front edge 19 of the yoke which is engaged by the neck of the user during carrying of the canoe 17. Moreover, most canoe carrying yokes 14 are provided with an indentation 20 along their front edge 19 in the central region where they are engaged by the user's neck. The carrying pad 10 in the preferred embodiment is shaped to follow the contours of the yoke 14 and, thus, also includes an indentation 20 to provide space for the user's neck and to prevent pressure points in the neck region of the user caused by the front edge of the pad 10. Thus, the preferred portage pad 10 is shaped and sized to extend sufficiently laterally and longitudinally along the yoke 14 to maximize comfort to the user and to essentially avoid the generation of pressure areas in the edge regions of the yoke which will rest on the shoulders of the user.
In the simplest embodiment of the carrying pad 10 of the invention, the shape and thickness of the pad 10 is constant along its longitudinal axis A (see Fig. 1). However, in the preferred embodiment, the pad 10 is shaped to the user's anatomy, similar to the yoke 14 (see Fig. 2) and the thickness of the padding material 11 varies in longitudinal direction to more closely follow the anatomy of the user's shoulder and neck regions (see Fig. 4). In the preferred embodiment as illustrated in Figure 4, the padding material 11 is pre-shaped and the shape in longitudinal cross-section is apparent from this drawing. In order to allow for a close fit of the pad 10 to the user's body, despite the usual anatomical variation in the shoulder and neck area of the human body, a central portion 16 of the pad 10 intended to engage the neck area of the user during carrying of the canoe is thinner than end portions 15 of the pad 10, which end portions will engage the user's shoulders. This shaping enhances the ability of the pliable material 11 within the pad 10 to reach a shape complementary to the user's anatomy, thereby reducing the possibility of generating localized pressure points.
Claims (10)
1. A portage padding for use in carrying a canoe by a carrying yoke, comprising a cushioning pad for placement between the carrying yoke and the shoulders of a user carrying the canoe;
and an attachment structure for fastening the cushioning pad to the carrying yoke;
whereby the cushioning pad is shaped and constructed to automatically adjust to the anatomy of the person to prevent the generation of pressure points on the person's neck and shoulders, while permitting comfortable and controlled carrying of the canoe.
and an attachment structure for fastening the cushioning pad to the carrying yoke;
whereby the cushioning pad is shaped and constructed to automatically adjust to the anatomy of the person to prevent the generation of pressure points on the person's neck and shoulders, while permitting comfortable and controlled carrying of the canoe.
2. A padding as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushioning material is shaped to provide a maximum contact area with the shoulders and neck area of the user.
3. A padding as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushioning pad includes a gel type material which will automatically conform to the anatomical shape of the user's shoulder and neck area upon application of a load.
4. A padding as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushioning pad extends over a major portion of the shoulder and neck area of the user.
5. A padding as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushioning pad is shaped to fit various designs of canoe carrying yokes.
6. A padding as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment structure includes re-closeable straps for removably attaching the cushioning pad to the yoke.
7. A padding as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushioning pad is made of a gel material which automatically adjust to the contour of a shape placed thereon under pressure.
8. A padding as defined in claim 7, wherein the gel material is completely encased in a cover material for improved user comfort.
9. A padding as defined in claim 6, wherein the attachment structure includes two pairs of re-closeable straps affixed along longitudinal edges of the pad, a pair of end standing straps being respectively positioned at longitudinal ends of the pad and a pair of central fasteners positioned at intermediate, spaced apart locations along the longitudinal edges of the pad, the fasteners being affixed to the cover in an orientation essentially perpendicular a front edge of the pad in order to minimize possible deformation of the pad longitudinal direction upon tightening of the fasteners.
10. A padding as defined in claim 9, wherein the fasteners completely wrap around the yoke in the installed condition of the pad.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002317917A CA2317917A1 (en) | 2000-08-25 | 2000-08-25 | Canoe carrying pad |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002317917A CA2317917A1 (en) | 2000-08-25 | 2000-08-25 | Canoe carrying pad |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2317917A1 true CA2317917A1 (en) | 2002-02-25 |
Family
ID=4167066
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002317917A Abandoned CA2317917A1 (en) | 2000-08-25 | 2000-08-25 | Canoe carrying pad |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2317917A1 (en) |
-
2000
- 2000-08-25 CA CA002317917A patent/CA2317917A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |