Paddle shaft flotation device

Abstract

Paddle floatation apparatus that fits over a kayak or other shallow draft watercraft paddle shaft so that the entire length of the paddle becomes significantly buoyant. Paddle may then be better equipped to assist the user in self rescue, executing a roll to right an inverted boat, a brace, and generally keeping one's head out of the water so that one can breath between roll attempts—and thereby avoid wet exits. With or without skilled form and technique, a user can apply force onto the paddle shaft to rotate the kayak and paddler to an upright position. The shape of the float when inflated is substantially tubular.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus that facilitates the use of a paddle, by increasing its buoyancy, as a means of self rescue, executing a roll to right an inverted kayak, bracing, and generally keeping one's head out of the water so that one can breath between roll attempts—and thereby avoid wet exits.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Kayaking and canoeing in rough waters carries with it the risk of losing one's balance and falling toward one side or another due to the lack of lateral stability in the design of these vessels. After loss of balance, one must learn to snap ones hips while smacking or stroking the surface of the water with one's paddle in order to create the necessary force to regain balance. This bracing skill takes practice and is something that takes time and effort to learn. In cases of violent waves or rapids, the brace must be strong enough to match the force created by the lateral push of the water and the resulting force and momentum of the fall, which can be too much for a paddler to manage due to lack of preparation, lack of proper technique, lack of paying attention, insufficient strength, lack of practice, etc. Therefore, more difficult water conditions often require more bracing force than people are ready or able to create. In the event of insufficient bracing force, a capsize results, which is typically undesirable.

One device that can be used to address the difficulty of bracing is an outrigger, which is a buoyant floatation device that can be fastened to the side of a boat that offers assistance in providing additional bracing force and lateral stability. Although it can aide a canoeist or kayaker in creating a bracing force beyond that which can be created by the paddle blade's contact with the water, it has the downside of bringing with it a much more limited ability to make sharp turns which require the paddler to lean the boat into the turn, often at extreme angles. This then would limit maneuverability of a kayak or canoe. Another problem with an outrigger is it takes away the ability to squeeze through narrow creeks and slots between rocks in rivers due to the increase in overall width of the vessel.

Another device that could somewhat addresses the issue of bracing difficulties is a paddle float, a device that is placed over one of the kayak paddle blades that supplies enough buoyancy to enable the paddle to be deployed as an outrigger. Beginning paddlers often use this device to practice bracing and rolling as it offers enough buoyancy to the paddle blade to facilitate bracing and rolling. However, the float is taken off during normal use of the paddle which limits its utility to a post event of capsize usage or a brace and roll training usage. It is not used as a semi-permanent paddle attachment because, due to it being attached to the paddle blade, during normal paddle stroke usage of the blade, it would interfere with the design of the paddle blade by disrupting the intended flow of the water across the face of the blade.

In the event of a capsize, a kayaker or canoeist places oneself in a situation where one cannot breathe and may be at risk of colliding with underwater obstructions. There are several rolling techniques that can be used to utilize the paddle in creating enough force to roll the kayak back to an upright position. However, rough water, lack of skill, panic due to inability to breathe, lack of physical strength, and inflexibility can all make it difficult to impossible to roll a kayak upright after capsizing. Gaining the ability to roll often requires multiple lessons from instructors or substantial time spent practicing. This skill needed and time needed to attain the skill is a prohibitive factor for those who are unable or unwilling to invest the time or pay the money to be taught how to roll. This can cause those with a casual interest in trying the sport to be turned off to it, perhaps turning to the use of rafts or other vessels that require less skill and training to master. Also, lack of one's confidence in one's roll will often limit where they are comfortable kayaking or canoeing. For example, a beginning whitewater kayaker with very little confidence in his/her rolling ability would not be able to take on rivers or situations that would require a dependable roll to safely or comfortably traverse. This could discourage said kayaker from continuing with the sport or delay advancement into waters said kayaker wishes to be on for the added excitement that more turbulent waters could offer.

There are several devices to assist kayakers and canoeists in righting capsized kayaks. Among such devices, U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,248 describes a device whose handle can be grasped after capsizing and the device rapidly inflated, and then used to provide enough opposing force to grasp and pull on it to rotate the kayak to an upright position. Another well-known art is to use a paddle float to assist in self-rescue or solo reentry into a capsized kayak. This device is placed over one of the kayak paddle blades and supplies enough buoyancy to enable the paddle to be deployed as an outrigger to assist in the self-rescue effort.

Neither of these methods provide an immediate and readily available way to use the paddle to perform a roll or aide in the prevention of capsize during normal use of the paddle. Neither technique enables one to maintain a two handed grasp on the paddle during a loss of balance or capsize and provide immediate assistance in using the paddle to restore an upright position. No method has been available by which one might preemptively prepare oneself for loss of balance or capsize, aside from learning the skill of rolling beforehand or utilizing a contraption to assist in uprighting the kayak after having capsized.

Another problem in the current art is that after a roll attempt has been made, if the attempt failed, the paddler returns to being fully submerged in water and unable to breath. This can cause panic, rush, frustration, and embarrassment, which can result in increasingly deteriorating confidence, loss of proper technique, and loss of focus. This then often leads to a resignation of rolling attempts once getting to breathe becomes more of a priority than staying in the boat, and ultimately leads to a wet exit. In many cases, a wet exit is highly undesirable and could put the paddler at risk of hypothermia, drowning, and generally being in water the paddler does not wish to be in. There does not exist any commonly used method by which a paddler can breath between roll attempts, let alone keep one's head above the water which keeps the water from the eyes and enables one to stay calm and feel more in control of the situation.

Thus, there exists a need for a device that can attach to a paddle that can serve as an in demand outrigger for bracing and rolling which provides the necessary buoyancy to assist the paddler in generating more force in their roll attempts and brace attempts without a tremendous amount of skill or learning required to gain proficiency. Said device would also need to be able to remain attached as a safety precaution or a regular helping hand without severely interfering with the range of motion of the paddle stroke or the paddle blade's ability to pass through the water according to its intended design. Such device would also enable the paddler to keep their head above water and breath between roll attempts as well as maintain a brace for an extended period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is an improved paddle floatation device that provides a solution to the disadvantages of the prior art and shortcomings of past devices relating to creating or maintaining lateral stability and uprightness of a kayak and canoe. When the float is installed on the paddle shaft, the entire shaft can be placed either parallel or perpendicular to the boat in water and form a outrigger to assist the user in self rescue, executing a roll to right an inverted kayak, a brace, and generally keeping one's head out of the water so that one can breath between roll attempts—and thereby avoid wet exits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the paddle shaft floatation device of the present invention, showing the float attached to the paddle shaft;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the paddle shaft floatation device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one side of the float, inflated and installed on a paddle; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one side of the float, inflated and opened up to reveal the insides of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the paddle shaft floatation device 1 of the present invention, showing the float attached to the paddle shaft 2 of a double bladed kayak paddle.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the paddle shaft floatation device 1 of the present invention, showing the float attached to a paddle shaft 2. The dotted lines indicate the point of attachment 3 for the two ends of the wrapping floatation device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the paddle shaft floatation device 1 of the present invention, showing the float attached to a paddle shaft 2. This view shows that the inflated float has a generally cylindrical shape and comprises a unitary inflatable sleeve split down one side for easy attachment and whose ends meet together forming a tight crease 4 which is secured by a Velcro attached flap running lengthwise over the crease.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the paddle shaft floatation device 1 of the present invention, showing the float's flap 9 opened up and its ends parted to reveal the Velcro strip 7 that fastens down the flap when closed. Also shown is a flexible tubing 5 and twist valve 6 whose function is for blowing up the floatation device by mouth. The inner lining 8 of the float tightly fits around the paddle shaft when inflated and should be lined with a tacky rubber material in order to provide sufficient friction with the surface of the paddle shaft to prevent the float from sliding along the length of the shaft.

CONCLUSIONS

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described as the preferred method thereof, they are not limited to the details shown, it is obvious that modifications and changes might be made by those skilled in the art concerning which it pertains without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A paddle floatation apparatus for connection to a kayak paddle shaft that assists a user in self rescue, executing a roll to right an inverted kayak, bracing, and generally keeping one's head out of the water so that one can breath between roll attempts—and thereby avoid wet exits.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said body is inflatable and has a valve for the on-site introduction and release of air from said inflatable.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said body floatation is derived from foam.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said body forms a sleeve, the internal slot of which fits over the paddle shaft.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said body has straps that wrap around paddle shaft to secure said body onto paddle shaft.