Manual Oar Propulsion Systems for Standup Paddle Boards
An oar propulsion system having an oarlock attached to the rear of a standup paddle board (SUP) is used for manual propulsion of the board. The oarlock is structurally attached to the paddle board in a first embodiment, or remains removable in a second embodiment as a conversion kit. The oar shaft has a blade on one end and an exchangeable handle on the other end; the exchangeable handle may be replaced by a waist strap that is tied the paddler’s body for better stability and for steering while paddling.
The present invention generally relates to a man-powered rowing system for standup paddle boards (SUP) and other watercrafts such as canoes and kayaks for steering and propulsion on calm and gentle waterways.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRowing in a canoe and paddling in a kayak or surfboard are popular water sports. Standup paddle boarding (SUP) is one of such water sports in which a paddler uses a paddle on a side to steer and propel the board. A paddler typically operates the paddle while standing up and transmits the propulsion force from the stroke of paddle blade through the paddler’s arm, body, and feet to the board beneath to propel the board forward. After each stroke, the paddle is lifted out of the water before the next stroke; the paddle also needs to be switched from side to side alternatively to maintain a straight forward movement. Although this is a good physical excise, such paddling motions could become quite strenuous over a long period of time. As a result, the paddler’s arms, legs, and body could get tired or even injured if not handled properly. Because the paddle must be lifted out of the water for each stroke and shifted from one side of the board to the other side, paddling motions are not very energy-efficient. Single oar systems, on the other hand, have been used for thousands of years for moving watercrafts as a man-powered propulsion. The present invention describes a more energy-efficient, one-hand operated single oar propulsion system for propelling a SUP board. Less energy consumption can mean a longer and more relaxed cruising; and enabling persons who are physically challenged, such as youngsters and elderly people, to enjoy the SUP sport without easily getting exhausted or risking injuries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA single oar and its oarlock attached to the rear of a standup paddle board (SUP) is used for manual propulsion of the board instead of a side paddle. In a first embodiment, the oarlock is permanently attached to the rear of a board. In a second embodiment, the oarlock is detachable from the board so that most SUP boards can be converted into an oar-propelled board. When the oar and its oarlock are removed, the board reverts back to a regular SUP board. Even in the first embodiment where the oarlock is attached permanently to the SUP board, the board can still be operated as a regular side-paddled SUP board if desired.
The oar shaft that goes into an oarlock can be either straight or curved downwards to reduce the tilting angle of the shaft and allow the entire blade to be immersed in the water. The blade can be either a Macon blade or a hatchet-shape blade. The other end of the oar shaft is connected to an exchangeable handle for size and length adjustment. Using a universal-joint connector, the exchangeable handle can be tilted at an angle for more comfortable holding during rowing and steering. Because the oar blade is always immersed in the water, to propel the board, the paddler needs only to swing the oar shaft handle sideways in an easy, slow motion, like a fish swinging its tail back and forth in the water. To change the direction of the board such as turning around, the oar blade may be tilted by simply rotating the shaft body.
In the second embodiment where the oarlock is removable, the oarlock is integrated to a clamping device that can be tightened to the rear of a SUP surfboard. As an example, a single C-clamp having an oarlock on top may be used, or a frame structure having one or more clamps may be used. The frame can have different shapes and adjustable openings for mounting onto the rear section of a SUP board, with the oarlock on top center of the frame.
In yet a third embodiment, the oar shaft removable handle is replaced with a detachable waist strap attached to the u-joint at the end of the shaft. This waist strap is either a U-shaped flexible belt or a semi-rigid or rigid saddle that can be mounted to the standup paddler’s waist. The paddler can then use the waist strap as an additional back support for better stability while standing on the surfboard, or move his/her body to change the oar blade angle for steering. Moreover, the paddler now can use his free hands to operate a regular SUP paddle on the side. For safety precaution, the detachable strap has a quick-release for demounting from the paddler in case of an accidental fall into the water.
The present invention may further be adopted for use in other types of narrow watercrafts such as a kayak or a canoe.
The drawings are simple illustrations to show a straight-shaft oar system with its oarlock mounted to the rear of a standup paddle board. These drawings are examples of the present invention that are not limiting the scope of the present invention.
In
In
While fastened to the paddler’s waist, strap 26 may be used for several different functions simultaneously: support the standup paddler’s back for more stability and steadiness, use as a backrest while standing up, propel and steer the board, and allow the free hands of the paddler to do other activities such as SUP paddling or taking pictures and selfies.
The cross-sectional view of an example of a detachable, rectangular oarlock frame 60 is shown in
Even when an oarlock is attached permanently to a SUP board, the board may still be operated in the SUP paddling mode by simply using a straight-shaft oar paddle as the side paddle. To convert to the oar-rowing mode, the same paddle can be placed back into the oarlock, or other designated oar paddle may be used.
Claims
1. An oar propulsion system for standup paddle boards (SUP), comprising:
- an oarlock mounted onto the rear of a paddle board;
- an oar paddle having a blade on one end of the shaft and an interconnecting rotary joint on the other end of the shaft; and
- a detachable hand handle connected to the interconnecting rotary joint on the oar shaft.
2. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 1, wherein the oar paddle has a straight shaft for dual use as an oar on the oarlock or as a SUP paddle without the oarlock.
3. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 1, wherein the oar paddle has a shaft curved or angled downwards near the blade.
4. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 1, wherein the detachable hand handle has a concentric, free-rotating shell or wrap on the outside.
5. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 1, wherein a detachable waist strap is connected to the rotary joint on the oar shaft.
6. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 5, wherein the detachable waist strap is soft, semi-rigid, or rigid for supporting the back of the standup paddler.
7. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 6, wherein the detachable waist strap has a flexible belt for tying to paddler’s body and quick-release from paddler’s body.
8. An oar propulsion system for standup paddle board (SUP), comprising:
- a removable oarlock mounted to the rear of the SUP board;
- an oar paddle having a blade on one end of the shaft and an interconnecting rotary joint on the other end of the shaft; and
- a detachable hand handle connected to the interconnecting rotary joint on the oar shaft.
9. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 8, wherein the oar paddle has a straight shaft for dual use as an oar on the oarlock or as a SUP paddle without the oarlock.
10. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 8, wherein the oar paddle has a shaft curved or angled downwards near the blade.
11. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 8, wherein the detachable hand handle has a concentric, free-rotating shell or wrap on the outside.
12. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 8, wherein a detachable waist strap is connected to the oar shaft through the rotary joint.
13. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 12, wherein the detachable waist strap is soft, semi-rigid, or rigid for supporting the back of the standup paddler.
14. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 13, wherein the detachable waist strap has a flexible belt for tying to paddler’s body and quick-release from paddler’s body.
15. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 8, wherein the removable oarlock is integrated to at least one clamp for mounting onto the rear of a paddle board.
16. The oar propulsion system for SUP according to claim 8, wherein the removable oarlock is integrated to a frame structure adjustable in size for mounting onto the rear of different sized paddle boards.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 31, 2021
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2023
Inventor: Wei Hu Koh (Irvine, CA)
Application Number: 17/567,057