Convertible Trekking Paddle
A trekking pole is convertible into a two handed double bladed kayaking paddle and into a single bladed paddle. In another embodiment, two trekking poles are convertible into a single double bladed kayaking paddle.
This invention is in the field of paddles convertible to other diverse uses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONKayak paddles are well known as comprising a pole supporting on each end a paddle. The paddles may be aligned with each other or rotated to be at a relative non parallel angle, for example perpendicular angles. However, a paddle is a single use device, for example, in the sport of kayaking it is not adaptable for other activities. Currently, most existing paddles fall into one of two categories, either they are durable but are quite heavy and bulky, or they are lightweight but compromise ease of use, durability, and function. The paddle, when not in use, must be carried and the trekking pole, when not in use, must be stored.
Over recent years there has also been a dramatic increase in people carrying collapsible kayaks or lightweight rafts in their backpacks (called pack rafting). These users are very weight conscience, since they frequently travel many miles with all their equipment on their backs.
Many of them are carrying both a paddle and a trekking pole.
Trekking poles are widely known and used by the outdoor community as useful walking tool to reduce fatigue and increase stability of the user.
While the advantage of using a trekking pole is widely recognized, a pack rafter, considering the amount of weight and the distance the pack rafter may be required to haul that weight, choices will be forced on the pack rafter, and a comprise will be made between one or more necessary hiking tools. As a result, the pack rafter may necessarily be prevented from taking a trekking pole and could experience fatigue or be forced into trekking distances made shorter by the lack of a trekking pole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe Trekking Paddle is primarily used for activities where a user will hike for a certain distance and then inflate or assemble a watercraft that requires a paddle for propulsion. The Trekking Paddle saves weight and space by combing two frequently used devices for such activities: a trekking pole and a paddle. This product appeals especially to the growing number of pack rafters, backcountry kayakers, and portaging canoeists who go on treks where travel alternates between land and water.
The invention, as shown and described according to a disclosed preferred embodiment, offers the pack rafter the advantage of kayak paddle which is convertible into a trekking pole. When converted, the paddle and its weight virtually disappear, becoming a trekking pole, useful in making the journey more comfortable and less fatiguing.
When the pack rafter is ready to reenter the watercraft, the trekking pole converts to a paddle, and the trekking pole virtually disappears, and at the same time, leaving storage space in the kayak, where the trekking pole would have otherwise been placed.
As disclosed in a preferred embodiment, the trekking pole sections may be rearranged, removing certain parts useful only in a trekking pole and adding paddle blades. By converting the paddle into a trekking pole and the trekking pole back to a paddle, the necessity for carrying two separate devices, each useful for a respective and disparate purpose, is eliminated.
As shown in a preferred embodiment, according to the disclosed inventive principles, a kayak paddle is made of 3 pole sections and 2 paddle blades. In the paddle mode, a middle pole No. 2, is axially interlocked and axially coupled to two outer poles Nos. 1 and 3, respectively. The two outer poles Nos. 1 and 3 each have a hand grip, respectively, as would be known to those skilled in the art. The outer ends of pole Nos. 1 and 3, are each interlocked and axially coupled to a paddle, completing the paddle assembly,
In converting the kayak paddle to a single paddle, pole No. 1 is detached and a handle is interlocked and axially coupled to its open end, opposite the paddle.
In converting the kayak paddle or the single paddle, to a trekking pole, pole No. 3 is removed and a cap is axially joined to the end closest to the grip. Pole No. 1 is interlocked and axially coupled to the open end of pole No. 3, with the grip on pole No. 1 arranged closer to pole No. 3. Pole No. 2 is interlocked and axially coupled to the open end of pole No. 1 and a tip is inserted into the open end of pole No. 2 to complete the trekking pole. Tip 26 is interlocked and axially coupled to pole No. 2.
In a preferred embodiment, the poles may be interlocked and axially coupled by threaded joints, twist locks, or by spring locks, for example, spring loaded studs on one pole, interlocking with matching holes on a coupling joint, used on an adjoining pole.
As shown and disclosed in a preferred embodiment in
The assembly of the two bladed kayak paddle is shown in exploded view in
According to the inventive principles, the kayak two bladed paddle, shown in
In converting the kayak paddle into the single bladed paddle generally shown by numeral 30, in
To convert the two bladed kayak paddle shown by numeral 10 in
Pole No. 3, numeral 20, is interlocked and axially coupled with pole No. 1, with grip 18b, arranged at the relatively greater distance from pole No. 1, numeral 22, and closest to cap 25, joined axially at end 32 of pole No. 3, numeral 20, as shown in
As shown for a preferred embodiment, the grips 18a and 18b, are off centered on the respective poles Nos. 1 and 3, numerals 22 and 20, respectively. As shown, the grips 18a and 18b, are positioned closer to one end of the respective pole No 1, numeral 22 and pole No. 3, numeral 20, than to the opposed end of the respective poles Nos. 1 and 3.
As shown, the trekking pole, shown generally by numeral 40 in
As would be known to those skilled in the art, the poles may be made from aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber tubing. Poles are aligned and may be joined with ferruled ends or by concentric telescoping poles, or by threaded joints, twist locks, or by spring locking joints and may be round, oblong, or in a variety of cross sectional shapes.
As shown for a preferred embodiment in
Interlock locking joint 45, dampening washers 42, drip rings 50, and other details, shown in
As shown in
As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the same numerals are used to identify the same or similarly operating parts.
Interlocks for axially coupling pole 22 to pole 24 and for axially coupling pole 24 to pole 20 and for axially coupling the paddle blades 12 and 14 to pole 22 and pole 20 when the convertible paddle trekking pole is used as a paddle, as shown in
The interlock coupling and locking configuration of
As shown for a preferred embodiment receiving hole 46b in paddle 12 interlock locking joint 45 fits axially over, and mates with interlock spring loaded lock 48b in pole 22. Interlock spring loaded lock 48a is arranged to extend axially from the longitudinal axis 53 of poles 20, 22, 24.
Numeral 46a, as shown in interlock
In a preferred embodiment, pole No. 2, numeral 24, is shown as having two different interlocks for axial coupling. Interlock 54 on one end of pole No. 2, numeral 24, is as shown in
As shown in a preferred embodiment interlock 52b at the opposed end of pole No. 2, numeral 24, is as shown in
As would be understood by those skilled in the art, this arrangement for example, of a male interlock 54b on one end of pole No. 2, numeral 24, with a spring loaded lock 48a, as shown in
As shown in a preferred embodiment according to the disclosed inventive principles, for example, pole No. 1 numeral 22, is shown with a male interlock 52a and a female interlock 58a on its opposite end and pole No. 3, numeral 22, is shown with a female interlock 54a, and a male interlock 58b on its opposite end.
As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the placement of the male and female interlocks may be changed without departing from the disclosed inventive principles. As would be known to those skilled in the art, other suitable interlocks may be used without departing from the disclosed inventive principles.
As disclosed in a preferred embodiment, pole No. 1, numeral 22 is shown with a made interlock 52a at a first end and a male interlock 58a at a second end. Pole No. 2, numeral 24 is shown in a preferred embodiment with a female interlock 52b at a first end and a male interlock 54b at a second end. In a preferred embodiment, a third pole 20 is shown with a female interlock 54a at a first end and a male interlock 58b at a second end.
Interlock
In the same manner, as shown in Interlock
As shown for poles 22, 24, in interlock
Referring to interlock
In the process of locking the poles, a compression ring or dampening washer, shown by numeral 42 in
The kayak paddle configuration user holds the kayak paddle, as shown in
While walking using the trekking pole configuration of
In the trekking pole configuration, as shown in
In using the trekking pole,
As shown in interlock
As disclosed in
As shown in
As disclosed for a preferred embodiment, in
Although the circumferentially displaced interlock receiving holes 46a and 46c are shown with reference to the assembled trekking pole in
As shown in a preferred embodiment in
As shown in
Each of the first poles 66, 68 include an interlock 82, 84 at a first end and an interlock 86, 88 on a second end. The interlocks 82, 84, on the first end of first poles 66, 68, are the same as interlock 54a shown on pole No. 3, numeral 20, in
Second poles 106, 108 are shown for poles 62 and 64, in
A tip 26 is shown with interlocks 102, 104, inserted into second pole 106 and 108 at interlocks 96, 98, respectively. Interlocks 102, 104 are the same as interlock 60a and interlocks 96, 98, are the same as interlock 52b, as shown in
The double trekking poles 62, 64, shown in
The two handled paddle shown generally by numeral 110, uses as a center pole, trekking second poles 106 or 108. Paddle blades 12 and 14 are connected to the respective ends of trekking first poles 66, 68, at interlocks 84, 86, respectively by paddle blade interlocks 56a and 56b, as shown in
The first poles 66 and 68 are shown connected at respective ends of the center pole 110, at interlocks 82, 84, for first poles 66 and 68, respectively and interlocks 94, 92, respectively, for the respective opposed ends of center pole 110.
As shown in a preferred embodiment, the two trekking poles may be disassembled into a single two handled paddle and then reassembled into two trekking poles.
As shown in a preferred embodiment according to the disclosed inventive principles, in
The second pole 24 and the third pole 20, is shown including interlocks at a first end of the third pole 20, interlock 54a, and at a second end of the second pole 24, interlock 54b, for axially coupling the second pole 24 to the third pole 20.
The first paddle blade 12 is shown including an interlock and the first pole 22 is shown including an interlock at a second end, for axially connecting the first pole 22 to the first paddle blade 12.
The second paddle blade 14 is shown including an interlock and the third pole 20 is shown including an interlock at a second end, for axially connecting the third pole 20 to the second paddle blade.
Wherein is shown, the axially connected first pole 22, to the second pole 24, and to the third pole 20, and to the first paddle blade 12 and to the second paddle blade 14, is a two handed paddle.
As shown in
The interlock 52a at a first end of the first pole 22 and the interlock 58b, at the second end of the third pole 20 is shown for axially connecting the first pole 22 to the third pole 20.
A tip 26 is shown including an interlock 60a. The interlock at the tip 26 and the interlock 52b at the first end of the second pole 24 is shown for axially connecting the tip 26 to the second pole 24.
Wherein is shown, the axially connected tip to the second pole 24, the second pole 24 to the first pole 22, and the first pole 22 to the third pole 20, is a trekking pole.
The convertible shaft for a paddle and a trekking pole, is shown as a first pole 22, a second pole 24, a third pole 20. The first pole 22 and the second pole 24, is shown including interlocks at a first end of the first pole 22, 52a and at a first end of the second pole 24, interlock 52b, axially coupling the first pole 22 to the second pole 24.
The second pole 24 and the third pole 20, is shown including interlocks at a first end of the third pole 20 and at a second end of the second pole 24, for axially coupling the second pole 24 to the third pole 20. Wherein is shown the axially connected first end of the first pole to the first end of the second pole, the second end of the second pole 24 to the first end of the third pole, is a shaft for a two handled paddle.
For a convertible trekking pole shaft the interlock 54b at the second end of the second pole 24 and the interlock 58a at a second end of the first pole is shown for axially connecting the second pole 24 to the first pole 22. The interlock at a first end of the first pole 22 and the interlock at the second end of the third pole is shown for axially connecting the first pole to the third pole. Wherein is shown, the axially connected second end of the second pole 24 to the second end of the first pole 22, and said first end of the first pole 22 to the second end of the third pole, is a shaft for a trekking pole.
For a single handle paddle shaft, the interlock 54a at the first end of the third pole 20 and the interlock 54b at the second end of the second pole 24, is shown for axially connecting the first end of the third pole 20 to the second end of the second pole 24. and wherein is shown the first end of the third pole axially connected to the second end of the second pole, is a shaft for a single handled paddle.
Paddle blade 14 is shown including an interlock. The third pole 20 is shown including an interlock 58b at a second end of the third pole 20 for axially connecting the third pole 20 to the paddle blade 14. and wherein is shown is shown the axially connected paddle blade 14, to the second end of the third pole 20 and the first end of the third pole axially connected to the second end of the second pole 24, is a single handled paddle.
A first paddle blade 12 is shown including an interlock 56a. A second paddle blade 14 is shown including an interlock 56b. The interlock 58a at the second end of the first pole 22 is shown for axially connecting the first pole 22 to the first paddle blade 12 interlock 56a and the interlock 58b at the second end of the third pole 20 is shown for axially connecting the third pole 20 to the second paddle blade 14 interlock 56b. Wherein is shown the axially connected first paddle blade 12 to the second end of the first pole 22 and the axially connected first end of the first pole to the first end of the second pole, the second end of the second pole 24 to the first end of the third pole and the second paddle blade 14 axially connected to the third pole 20, is a two handled paddle.
A tip 26 is shown including an interlock for axially connecting the tip 26 to the first end of the second pole 24 and wherein is shown is shown the axially connected tip 26 to the first end of the second pole 24 and the second end of the second pole 24 connected to the second end of the first pole and the first end of the first pole 22 connected to the second end of the third pole 20, is a trekking pole.
As shown for the convertible paddle trekking pole, the first pole 22 includes a first grip 18a and the third pole 20 includes a second grip 18 band wherein is shown the first grip 18a is closer to the first end of the first pole than the second end of the first pole and the second grip 18b is closer to the first end of the third pole 20 than the second end of the first pole.
As shown for the convertible paddle trekking pole, the second grip 18b is opposed to the handle 25 and the first grip 18a is displaced closer to the second grip 18b than from the tip 26. As shown, the second grip 18b over laps the third pole interlock at the first end of the third pole.
A convertible paddle trekking pole, is shown with a first pole 22, a second pole 24 and a third pole 20. A first interlock on the second pole 24 is shown removeably axially coupling the second pole 24 to a first interlock on the first pole, a second interlock on second pole removeably axially coupling the second pole to a first interlock on the third pole 20, to form the shaft of a paddle.
A convertible paddle trekking pole, is shown with a second interlock 58a on the first pole 22 removeably axially coupling the first pole 22 to a second interlock 54b on the second pole 24, a first interlock 52a on the first pole 22 removeably axially coupling the first pole 22 to a second interlock 58b on the third pole 20, to form the shaft of a trekking pole.
The convertible paddle trekking pole is shown with a first paddle 12 and a second paddle 14. As disclosed an interlock 56a on the first paddle 12, is shown for removeably axially coupling the first paddle 12 to a second interlock 56a on the first pole 22, and an interlock 56b on the second paddle 14, removeably axially connecting the second paddle 14 to a second interlock 58b the first pole 22. Wherein is shown the removeably axially connected first interlock 52b on the second pole 24 removeably axially coupling the second pole 24 to a first interlock 52a on the first pole 22, the second interlock 54b on second pole 24 removeably axially coupling the second pole 24 to the first interlock 54a on the third pole 20, and the first paddle 12 removeably axially connected to the second interlock 58a on the first pole 22 and the second paddle 14 removeably axially connect to the second interlock 58b on the third pole 20, to form a two handled paddle.
The convertible paddle trekking pole is shown is shown including a first interlock on the third poles removeably axially connected to the second interlock on the second pole, to form the shaft of a single handled paddle and a paddle 14 is shown including an interlock for removeably connecting the paddle 14 to the second end of the third pole 22 to form a single handled paddle.
The convertible paddle trekking pole is shown including a tip 26. The tip 26 is shown including an interlock 60a for removable axially connecting the tip 26 to the first interlock 52b on the second pole 24. Wherein is shown the second interlock 58a on the first pole 22 removeably axially coupling the first pole 22 to a second interlock 54b on the second pole 24, the first interlock 52a on the first pole 22 removeably axially coupling the first pole 22 to a second interlock 58b on the third pole 20, and the tip 26 removeably axially connected to the first interlock 52b on the second pole 24, to form a trekking pole.
What is disclosed in a preferred embodiment are trekking poles convertible into a two handled paddle. A first trekking pole 62 and a second trekking pole 64 is disclosed. The first trekking pole 62 includes a first pole 66 and a second pole 106. The second trekking pole 68 includes a first pole 68 and a second pole 108.
The first trekking pole first pole 66 including interlocks 86, 82, on a first and second end of said first pole 66 respectively. The second trekking pole first pole 68 including interlocks 88, 84, on a first and second end of said first pole 68, respectively.
The first trekking pole second pole 68 including interlocks 92, 96, on a first and second end of said second pole 106, respectively;
The second trekking pole second pole 108, including interlocks 94, 98, on a first and second end of the second pole 108, respectively. The first interlock 86 on said first trekking pole first pole 66 and a first interlock 92 on the first trekking pole second pole, axially coupling said first pole 66 to the second pole 106. A first interlock 88 on the second trekking pole first pole 68 and a first interlock 94 on the second trekking pole second pole 108, axially coupling said first pole 68 to said second pole 108.
What is shown and described in trekking poles convertible into a two handled paddle is a second interlock 82 on the first trekking pole first pole 66 axially coupling the first pole 66 to said first interlock 92 on said first trekking pole second pole 106 and a second interlock 84 on said second trekking pole first pole 68 axially coupling said second trekking pole first pole 68 to a second interlock 96 on said first trekking pole second pole 106.
What is shown in trekking poles convertible into a two handled paddle are a first paddle blade 12 and a second paddle blade 14.
The first paddle blade is shown including a first paddle blade interlock 56a and the second paddle blade 14 is shown including a second paddle blade interlock 56b.
The first paddle blade interlock 56a and said first trekking pole first pole second interlock 86 axially couples the first paddle blade 12 to the first trekking pole first pole 66 second interlock 86 and the second paddle blade interlock 56b axially couples the second paddle blade 14 to the second trekking pole first pole 68 second interlock 88.
As would be known and understood by those skilled in the art, variations in the arrangement of the interlocks on the ends of the poles and in the type of interlocks, may be made without departing from the disclosed inventive principles
Claims
1. A convertible shaft for a paddle and a trekking pole, comprising, a first pole, a second pole, a third pole;
- said first pole and said second pole, including interlocks at a first end of said first pole and at a first end of said second pole, axially coupling said first pole to said second pole;
- said second pole and said third pole, including interlocks at a first end of said third pole and at a second end of said second pole, for axially coupling said second pole to said third pole; and wherein said axially connected first end of said first pole to said first end of said second pole, said second end of said second pole to said first end of said third pole, is a shaft for a two handled paddle; and
- said interlock at said second end of said second pole and said interlock at a second end of said first pole for axially connecting said second pole to said first pole;
- said interlock at a first end of said first pole and said interlock at said second end of said third pole for axially connecting said first pole to said third pole;
- wherein, said axially connected said second end of said second pole 24 to said second end of said first pole, and said first end of said first pole to said second end of said third pole, is a shaft for a trekking pole.
2. The convertible shaft for a paddle and trekking pole, of claim 1, wherein,
- said interlock at said first end of said third pole and said interlock at said second end of said second pole, for axially connecting said first end of said third pole to said second end of said second pole; and wherein said first end of said third pole axially connected to said second end of said second pole, is a shaft for a single handled paddle.
3. The convertible shaft for a paddle and trekking pole, of claim 2, including a paddle blade; said paddle blade including an interlock; said third pole including an interlock at said second end of said third pole for axially connecting said third pole to said paddle blade; and wherein said axially connected paddle blade, to said second end of said third pole and said first end of said third pole axially connected to said second end of said second pole, is a single handled paddle.
4. The convertible shaft for a paddle and trekking pole, of claim 1, including a first paddle blade; said first paddle blade including an interlock; a second paddle blade; said second paddle blade including an interlock; said interlock at said second end of said first pole for axially connecting said first pole to said first paddle blade interlock; and said interlock at said second end of said third pole for axially connecting said third pole to said second paddle blade interlock; and wherein said axially connected first paddle blade to said second end of said first pole, said axially connected first end of said first pole to said first end of said second pole, said second end of said second pole axially connected to said first end of said third pole and said second paddle blade axially connected to said third pole, is a two handled paddle.
5. The convertible shaft for a paddle or trekking pole of claim 1, including, a tip; said tip including an interlock for axially connecting said tip to said first end of said second pole and wherein said axially connected tip to said first end of said second pole and said second end of said second pole axially connected to said second end of said first pole and said first end of said first pole axially connected to said second end of said third pole 20, is a trekking pole.
6. The convertible paddle trekking pole of claim 1, wherein,
- said first pole includes a first grip and said third pole includes a second grip;
- wherein, said first grip is closer to said first end of said first pole than said second end of said first pole;
- wherein said second grip is closer to said first end of said third pole than said second end of said first pole.
7. The convertible paddle trekking pole of claim 6, wherein said second grip over laps said third pole interlock at said first end of said third pole.
8. A convertible paddle trekking pole, comprising,
- a first pole, a second pole and a third pole;
- a first interlock on said second pole removeably axially coupling said second pole to a first interlock on said first pole, a second interlock on second pole removeably axially coupling said second pole to to a first interlock on said third pole, to form the shaft of a paddle; and
- a second interlock on said first pole removeably axially coupling said first pole to a second interlock on said second pole, a first interlock on said first pole removeably axially coupling said first pole to a second interlock on said third pole, to form the shaft of a trekking pole.
9. The convertible paddle trekking pole of claim 8, including,
- a first paddle and a second paddle;
- an interlock on said first paddle, removeably axially coupling said first paddle to a second interlock on said first pole, and an interlock on said second paddle, removeably axially coupling said second paddle to a second interlock said first pole; and wherein said removeably axially coupled said first interlock on said second pole removeably axially coupling said second pole to a first interlock on said first pole, said second interlock on second pole removeably axially coupling said second pole to said first interlock on said third pole, and said first paddle removeably axially coupled to said second interlock on said first pole and said second paddle removeably axially coupling said second interlock on said third pole, to form a two handled paddle.
10. The convertible paddle trekking pole of claim 8, wherein said first interlock on said third pole is removably axially coupled to said second interlock on said second pole, to form the shaft of a single handled paddle and a paddle; said first paddle including an interlock for removeably coupling said paddle to an interlock at said second end of said third pole, to form a single handled paddle.
11. The convertible paddle trekking pole of claim 8, including a tip; said tip including an interlock for removably axially coupling said tip to said first interlock on said second pole; and wherein said second interlock on said first pole removeably axially coupling said first pole to said second interlock on said second pole, said first interlock on said first pole removeably axially coupling said first pole to said second interlock on said third pole, to form said trekking pole.
12. The convertible paddle trekking pole of claim 8, including a tip, said tip including an interlock and said tip is removably axially coupled to said first interlock on said first end of said second pole to form the tip of said shaft of said trekking pole.
13. The convertible paddle trekking pole of claim 9, wherein said first interlock on said second pole includes at least two circumferentially displaced interlocks for offsetting the angle between said first and second paddles or for arranging said paddles parallel to each other.
14. A trekking poles convertible into a two handled paddle, comprising,
- a first trekking pole and a second trekking pole;
- said first trekking pole, including a first pole and a second pole;
- said second trekking pole including a first pole and a second pole;
- said first trekking pole first pole including first and second interlocks on a first and second end of said first pole, respectively;
- said second trekking pole first pole including first and second interlocks on a first and second end of said first pole, respectively;
- said first trekking pole second pole including first and second interlocks on a first and second end of said first trekking pole second pole, respectively;
- said second trekking pole second pole including interlocks on a first and second end of said second pole, respectively;
- said first interlock on said first trekking pole first pole and said first interlock on said first trekking pole second pole, axially coupling said first trekking pole first pole to said first trekking pole second pole;
- said first interlock on said second trekking pole first pole and said first interlock on said second trekking pole second pole, axially coupling said second trekking pole first pole to said second trekking pole second pole.
15. The trekking poles convertible into a two handled paddle of claim 14, wherein,
- said second interlock on said first trekking pole first pole axially coupling said first trekking pole first pole to said first interlock on said first trekking pole second pole and said second interlock on said second trekking pole first pole axially coupling said second trekking pole first pole to said second interlock on said first trekking pole second pole, to form a two handled paddle shaft.
16. The Trekking poles convertible into a two handled paddle of claim 15, including a first paddle blade and a second paddle blade;
- said first paddle blade including a first paddle blade interlock and said second paddle blade including a second paddle blade interlock;
- said first paddle blade interlock and said first trekking pole first pole first interlock axially coupling said first paddle blade to said two handled paddle and said second paddle blade interlock and said first trekking pole first pole second interlock axially coupling said second paddle blade to said first trekking pole second interlock, to form a two handled paddle.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 16, 2009
Publication Date: Jan 20, 2011
Inventors: David J. Yakos (Bozeman, MT), Stephen M. Sanford (Bozeman, MT)
Application Number: 12/504,256
International Classification: A45B 3/00 (20060101); A45B 9/04 (20060101); A45B 5/00 (20060101);