Nonblistering paddle sleeve
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.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, COMPUTER PROGRAM, COMPACT DISCNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis 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's use and affectivity is uneffected by paddle type or paddling method.
When paddling a kayak, the paddle shaft is gripped with both hands, one at each end of the shaft. One hand maintains it'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'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.
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.
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.
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.
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 INVENTIONThis invention is a pliable sleeve that slips over the paddle shaft and stays positioned under the paddler'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.
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'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'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:
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- “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'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.
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Claims
1. A hand grip for a paddle comprising:
- a pliable cylindrical sleeve capable of encircling the paddle shaft and is slideably moveable about that shaft;
- wherein the sleeve is of a length sufficiently long enough to extend beyond both sides of a paddlers hand such that the hand does not make contact with the paddle shaft as the paddler holds the paddle;
- wherein the sleeve has an inner diameter sufficiently large enough to allow for the slideable motion about the paddle shaft without bunching up under the paddler's hand;
- wherein the sleeve has an interior surface contacting the paddle shaft that allows slippage between the cylindrical sleeve and the paddle shaft;
- wherein the sleeve has an exterior surface contacting the hand that minimizes motion between the paddlers hand and cylindrical sleeve.
2. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material with a sufficiently low coefficient of friction that the relative normal motion between the hand and paddle shaft is isolated between the slideable hand grip and the paddle shaft, thus eliminating hand blisters due to friction, motion, chaffing and wear between the hand and paddle shaft.
3. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is slideable loose about the paddle shaft and does not require any positioning, holding, alignment or clamping devices such that it may be repositioned anywhere on the shaft by the paddler before, during or after the paddle stroke without affecting the normal paddling motion or timing.
4. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently thin that it does not affect the paddler's normal paddling motion during the paddle stroke.
5. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is slid over the paddle shaft and therefore does not require any modification to the paddle to be slid onto the paddle shaft.
6. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently soft that it does not mar the surface of the paddle shaft while slipping it on, using it or removing it.
7. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently thin that it that does not significantly change the cross sectional size or any radial or axial contours of the paddle shaft.
8. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently thin that it allows the paddler to sense the motion of the paddle shaft as it is twisted and moved under the paddler's hand.
9. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is slid over the paddle shaft and therefore may be slipped on or removed from any paddle shaft without damage to either the paddle or hand grip.
10. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is slideable loose about the paddle shaft and therefore does not require any specific placement on the paddle shaft or alignment to the paddlers hand other than being directly under the paddler's hand.
11. A slideable hand placement sock for gripping a paddle comprising:
- a flexible tubular sock capable of slipping over the paddle shaft and is slideably moveable about that shaft;
- wherein the sock is of a length sufficiently long enough to extend beyond both sides of a paddlers hand such that the hand does not make contact with the paddle shaft as the paddler holds the paddle;
- wherein the sock is of a diameter sufficiently large enough to allow for the slideable motion about the paddle shaft without bunching up under the paddler's hand;
- wherein the sock has an interior surface contacting the paddle shaft that allows slippage between the cylindrical sleeve and the paddle shaft and an exterior surface contacting the hand that minimizes motion between the paddlers hand and cylindrical sleeve.
12. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material with a sufficiently low coefficient of friction that the relative normal motion between the hand and paddle shaft is isolated between the slideable hand grip and the paddle shaft, thus eliminating hand blisters due to friction, motion, chaffing and wear between the hand and paddle shaft.
13. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is slideable loose about the paddle shaft and does not require any positioning holding, alignment or clamping such that it may be repositioned anywhere on the shaft by the paddler before, during or after the paddle stroke without affecting the normal paddling motion or timing.
14. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently thin that it does not affect the paddler's normal paddling motion during the paddle stroke.
15. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is slid over the paddle shaft and therefore does not require any modification to the paddle to be slid onto the paddle shaft.
16. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently soft that it does not mar the surface of the paddle shaft while slipping it on, using it or removing it.
17. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently thin that it does not significantly change the cross sectional size or any radial or axial contours of the paddle shaft.
18. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material sufficiently thin that it allows the paddler to sense the motion of the paddle shaft as it is twisted and moved under the paddler's hand.
19. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is slid over the paddle shaft and therefore may be slipped on or removed from any paddle shaft without damage to either the paddle or hand grip.
20. The sock of claim 11, wherein the sleeve is slideable loose about the paddle shaft and therefore does not require any specific placement on the paddle shaft or alignment to the paddlers hand other than being directly under the paddler's hand.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2013
Inventor: Paul D. Johnson (Knightdale, NC)
Application Number: 13/200,501
International Classification: B63H 16/04 (20060101);