GB2553816A

GB2553816A - Hand paddle

Info

Publication number: GB2553816A
Application number: GB1615713.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Nugent Oconnor Alexander
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-09-15
Filing date: 2016-09-15
Publication date: 2018-03-21
Also published as: GB201615713D0

Abstract

A paddle 10 to be worn on an arm 18 of a user comprising a blade 12, a fastener 14 for fastening the paddle to a user's forearm, a spacer member 22 and a flexible handhold member 24, the spacer 22, blade 12 and handhold 24 being arranged to form an open loop to receive the user's hand. Preferably the blade can transition from a stowed position (figure 1a-b) to a deployed position (figure 2, 3b) and further preferably is biased in order to return to the stowed position when the hand is not holding the hand-hold. Preferably the spacer is L-shaped and the spacer and hand-hold together go diagonally across the blade (figure 2). Preferably the spacer is pivotally attached to the blade in order to adjust the position of the hand-hold. The device allows a surfer to paddle out into the sea but to then have their hands free whilst surfing a wave.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Hand paddle

Abstract Title: Retractable paddle for surfers (57) A paddle 10 to be worn on an arm 18 of a user comprising a blade 12, a fastener 14 for fastening the paddle to a user's forearm, a spacer member 22 and a flexible handhold member 24, the spacer 22, blade 12 and handhold 24 being arranged to form an open loop to receive the user's hand. Preferably the blade can transition from a stowed position (figure 1a-b) to a deployed position (figure 2, 3b) and further preferably is biased in order to return to the stowed position when the hand is not holding the hand-hold. Preferably the spacer is L-shaped and the spacer and hand-hold together go diagonally across the blade (figure 2). Preferably the spacer is pivotally attached to the blade in order to adjust the position of the hand-hold. The device allows a surfer to paddle out into the sea but to then have their hands free whilst surfing a wave.

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HAND PADDLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hand paddle for use in water sports, for example surfing or bodyboarding.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In water-based board sports, for example surfing, and body-boarding, participants often lay or kneel on the board and use their hands as paddles to pull the board through the water towards a wave. Often this action can be done for long periods of time for example when paddling out from the shore, past the breakers, before reaching a ridable wave. The speed of the board can be an important factor as to how the surfer and board are received by the wave. Paddling to reach the rideable waves can be strenuous and very tiring

Sometimes a user may propel themselves with a paddle, for example as in the sport of kayaking. However, a paddle will then interfere with their ability to use their arms and hands to balance during the wave-riding experience. PCT patent application WO 2015/110824 alleviates some of these problems by providing an example of a retractable paddle, which includes a gripping member as part of the blade such that the blade can be held in the deployed position to paddle out to the waves and can be retracted away from the hands such that the user can enjoy an unhindered ride.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a paddle to be worn on an arm of a user, the paddle comprises a blade, a fastener for fastening the paddle to a user's forearm, a spacer member and a flexible handhold member, wherein the spacer member is attached to the blade and is attached to the flexible handhold member and the flexible handhold member is also attached to the blade, wherein the arrangement of the blade, the spacer member and the flexible handhold provides an open loop to receive the user’s hand in the deployed position.

The invention relates to an improved device to enable water sports participants, for example surfers and bodyboarders, to propel themselves through water, whilst allowing unhindered movement of the blade from a stowed position to a deployed position such that in the stowed position and in the deployed position the participant can enjoy the sport as if not using the device, and with less fatigue than if not using the device.

Attachment of the spacer member and the flexible handhold member to the blade may provide a substantially diagonally disposed gripping member across the blade, wherein a first attachment point to the blade is high and a second attachment point to the blade is low, such that an entrance is defined at one side of the blade proximate the first attachment point and a stop is defined at the second attachment point.

The spacer member may be attached to the blade at the first attachment point and the flexible handhold member may be attached to the blade at the second attachment point, such that flexible handhold member defines the stop.

The spacer member may be L-shaped, wherein an end of a first leg is attached to the blade and an end of the second leg is elevated from the blade and is attached to the flexible handhold member such that the open loop is defined.

The arrangement of the spacer member and the flexible handhold member may be such that the user can apply a natural grip to the flexible handhold member.

The spacer member may be pivotally attached to the blade, such that adjustment of the positioning of the flexible handhold member is adjustable relative to the blade.

Adjustability makes a single blade suitable for multiple users having different sized hands, for example male and female users.

The flexible handhold member may be webbing material. The flexible handhold material may comprise a resilient material.

Using flexible material as the gripping means or handhold for the blade allows the user to hold the blade in the deployed position, but also allows the user to grip the edge of a surfboard or body board when the blade is in the deployed position, because the flexibility of the handhold member allows the handhold member to rest against the webbing area (thenar space) between the thumb and first finger whilst the user grips the edge of the board with his/her fingers.

The paddle may further comprise a resilient mechanism between the fastener and the blade, wherein the resilient mechanism is operable to bias the blade to the stowed position and is operable to allow movement to the deployed position and automatic return to the stowed position upon release of the flexible handhold member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1a illustrates a hand paddle according to an embodiment of the present invention in a stowed position looking from the inside of a user’s forearm;

Figure 1b illustrates the hand paddle of figure 1a viewed from the side of the forearm;

Figure 2 illustrates the hand paddle of figures 1a and 1b in the deployed position;

and

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a perspective view of deployment of the hand paddle of figures 1a, 1b and 2.

DESCRIPTION

Figures 1a, 1b, 2, 3a and 3b illustrate a hand paddle 10 suitable for use with, for example a body board or surf board. The hand paddle 10 includes a blade 12 and an arm strap 14, where the arm strap 14 is used to attach the hand paddle 10 to a user’s forearm 16 and wrist 18.

Figures 1a and 1b illustrates the hand paddle 10 in a stowed or retracted position, where the blade 12 is located adjacent the outside of a user’s forearm 18. The illustrated example, shows the hand paddle 10 on a user’s left arm. It will be appreciated that a hand paddle 10 as illustrated can be adapted for use with the right arm also, such that a user can use a hand paddle 10 with each arm.

Figures 2, 3a and 3b show the progression of movement of the hand paddle 10 between the stowed position and the deployed position (see figure 5). In the deployed position the blade 12 is located adjacent the back of the user’s hand 20.

In the deployed position, as illustrated in figure 2, the blade 12 increases the contact surface area of the hand 20 to which it is attached such that the action of deep long strokes through the water builds momentum to more effectively propel a board, such as a surf board to catch a wave. A hand paddle 10 as illustrated allows the user to use their hands when required, for example in the stowed position, whilst riding the wave; as such the hand paddle 10 will not hinder performance or balance due to the orientation of the blade 12 in the stowed position as illustrated in figure 1.

To facilitate ease of movement between the stowed position (figures 1a and 1b) to the deployed position (figures 2, 3a and 3b) the blade 12 includes a spacer element

22 and a flexible hand strap 24, where, in the illustrated example, the spacer element 22 is located to the thumb side of the blade 12. The spacer element 22 is substantially L-shaped and is attached at the end of the first leg 26 to a first attachment point 25 on the blade 12 and at the end of the second leg 28 to one end 30 of the flexible hand strap 24. The second end of the flexible hand strap 24 is connected to the blade member 12 at a second attachment point 33 towards the side where the little finger and outer edge of the hand 20 will come to rest in the deployed position.

The second leg 28 of the spacer element 22 is elevated from the blade 12 such that the arrangement of the spacer element 22 and the flexible hand strap 24 creates a raised open hoop area 34 between the blade 12 and the surfaces of the spacer element 22 and the flexible hand strap 24 facing the blade 12. This open hoop area creates a clear access zone for the user’s hand 20 to slide between the blade 12 and the flexible hand strap 24 as the blade 12 moves from the stowed position to the deployed position.

In the illustrated example, the first attachment point 25 is located at a point on the blade 12 that is higher than the middle finger of a user’s hand and towards edge of the blade. The flexible hand strap 24 is attached to the blade 12 at the second attachment point 33, which is lower than, and substantially diagonally across the blade 12, from the first attachment point 25. The connection of the flexible hand strap 24 to the blade 12 at the second attachment point 33 creates a stop against the outside edge of the hand 20. When the strap 24 touches the outside edge of the hand 20 this represents the hand paddle 10 is in the fully deployed position. In this position the fingers can grip the flexible hand strap 24 to hold the blade member 12 in the deployed position.

As the blade 12 moves from the stowed position to the deployed position the users hand is substantially outstretched, as shown in figures 2, 3a and 3b, such that the hand and fingers enter the hoop area 34 unhindered. When the blade 12 is in the deployed position, the hand 20 can grasp the flexible hand strap 24 such that the hand paddle 10 remains in the deployed position until the hand 20 releases the flexible hand strap 24.

The hand paddle 10 includes a mechanism (not illustrated) between the blade 12 and the arm strap area such that the blade 12 moves, by rotation, between the deployed position and the stowed position substantially automatically, i.e. the hand paddle 10 is configured to be biased to the stowed position.

Movement of the blade 12, from the stowed position to the deployed position may be by contacting an edge of the blade 12 with the surface of the surf board and moving the arm backwards to cause a clockwise rotation of the blade 12 until the hand 20 contacts the flexible hand strap 24 located towards the outer edge of the blade 12.

Upon release of the flexible hand strap 24 the blade 12 returns to the stowed position.

The blade 12 may Include a coating around the edge to ensure sufficient resistance to sliding between the edge of the blade 12 and the surface of the board, for example at least the edge of the blade may include, for example a rubber insert or a rubber coating.

Holding the blade 12 in the deployed position via the flexible hand strap 24 also allows the user to grip other members at the same time, for example the side of a surf board or body board if required. In the illustrated example, the flexible hand strap 24 is provided by fabric webbing material, which means that in the deployed position the flexible hand strap can rest against the fleshy webbing area between the thumb and the first finger whilst allowing the fingers to grip something else, for example the side of a surf board or body board.

The blade 12 may be connected through a hinged or pivot joint (not illustrated) to a stem which may extend, for example from the user’s wrist area to mid-forearm area. The hinged joint facilitates movement of the blade between the stowed position and the deployed position and vice versa.

The blade 12 is operable to move by rotating about the hinged or pivot joint between a stowed position as illustrated in figures 1a and 1b and a deployed position as illustrated in figures 2, 3a and 3b, where the blade extends away from the wrist and is located adjacent to the user’s hand 20. The hinged or pivot joint allows movement of the blade 12 in the plane of the blade 12 but prevents movement out of that plane such that the blade 12 movement is controlled relative to the arm and the hand 20.

In use, the hand paddle 10 is secured to a forearm of the user, for example from the wrist to mid-forearm of the user) such that the blade 12 is clear of the hand 20 in the stowed position and therefore the hand 20 has full range of movement in the stowed position.

In the deployed position the hinged or pivot joint will be locked in the direction of applied force. Therefore, the blade 12 acts to support the wrist of the user against over extension whilst aiding the user to apply greater leverage to the blade12 as the blade 12 is driven through the water.

As described above the blade 12 is biased to a stowed position. Accordingly, the hand paddle 10 may include a biasing element, for example an elasticated rope, where the biasing element extends from the arm strap 14 to the blade 12. The biasing element is operable to keep the blade 12 in the stowed position in the absence of any force being applied to it.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A paddle to be worn on an arm of a user, the paddle comprises a blade, a fastener for fastening the paddle to a user's forearm, a spacer member and a flexible handhold member, wherein the spacer member is attached to the blade and is

5 attached to the flexible handhold member and the flexible handhold member is attached to the blade, wherein the arrangement of the blade, the spacer member and the flexible handhold member provides an open loop to receive the user’s hand substantially unhindered in transition from the stowed position to the deployed position and in the deployed position.

10

2. A paddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein attachment of the spacer member and the flexible handhold member to the blade provides a substantially diagonally disposed gripping member across the blade, wherein a first attachment point to the blade is high and a second attachment point to the blade is low, such that an entrance is defined at one side of the blade proximate the first attachment point and

15 a stop is defined at the second attachment point.

3. A paddle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacer member is attached to the blade at the first attachment point and the flexible handhold member is attached to the blade at the second attachment point, wherein the flexible handhold member at the second attachment point defines the stop.

20

4. A paddle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spacer member is substantially L-shaped, wherein an end of a first leg is attached to the blade and an end of the second leg is elevated from the blade and is attached to the flexible handhold member such that the open loop is defined.

5. A paddle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spacer member and the flexible handhold member are arranged relative to the blade and relative to each other such that the user can apply a natural grip to the flexible handhold member.

6. A paddle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spacer member is pivotally 5 attached to the blade, such that adjustment of the position of the flexible handhold member is adjustable relative to the blade.

7. A paddle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible handhold member comprises webbing material.

8. A paddle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible handhold 10 material comprises a resilient material.

9. A paddle as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a resilient mechanism between the fastener and the blade, wherein the resilient mechanism is operable to bias the blade to the stowed position and is operable to allow movement to the deployed position and automatic return to the stowed position upon release of

15 the flexible handhold member.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1615713.3 Examiner: Mr Chris Morris