FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE,

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of paddles and oars and similar de vices used to propel watercraft.

BACKGROUND

[0002] De vices for propelling floating watercraft, such as paddies or oars, generally include an elongated shaft and a blade with opposed surfaces attached to one or both ends of the shaft with at least one of said opposed surfaces being a pressure surface (or water impingement surface). Such devices have taken the form of both single and double bladed paddles, as used with canoes and kayaks, as well as oars, as commonly used in row boats and rowing sculls. A paddle is typically operated with two hands, with the user grasping the elongated shaft with one hand at a handle at one end of the shaft and grasping the shaft near the blade with the other hand, as with a canoe paddle, or grasping the shaft near each blade disposed at opposed ends of the shaft, as with a kayak paddle. An oar is typically operated with one or two hands, with the user grasping an end of the elongated shaft opposite the blade and an intermediate portion of the shaft supported in an oar lock fix to a side of the boat.

[0003] In either case, during a rowing stroke, the blade of the device (paddle or oar) is submerged, and the handle is pushed or pulled a direction opposite the intended direction of travel of the watercraft. Contact between the pressure surface, or water impingement surface, of the blade and the water as the device is pushed or pulled causes the water to exert an opposing force on the blade, thus propelling the watercraft.

[0004] Paddles may come m various shapes in sizes. Paddies used for kayaking, for example, can have a shaft that is bent or straight. A bent shaft has a kinked section where the user’s hands grasp the paddle. This more ergonomic design allows the user to grasp the paddle at more comfortable angles while paddling.

[0005] Blades may be symmetrical and asymmetrical with respect to a center line of the blade. A symmetrical blade is symmetric about the shaft, or centerline, so that both sides of the blade have the same shape or profile. An asymmetrical blade is not symmetrical about the shaft. Typically, one portion of the blade will feature one edge that is longer and has a more narrow slanted edge. This edge is better able to penetrate the surface of the water allowing for more comfortable paddling.

[0006] The two blades of a kayak paddle can also be either feathered or matched. For matched blades, the blades on opposite ends of the shaft are parallel and in the same plane. For feathered blades, each opposite blade is at a slightly different angle with respect to the shaft so that neither blade is in the same plane. The offset angle in feathered blades helps prevent unwanted wind resistance from against the blades.

[0007] The propelling force that can be generated by a paddle or oar is proportional to the surface area of the blade. Blades with larger contact area generally allow for greater force to be transferred from the user to the water, often allowing the user to reach greater speeds, traverse stronger currents, etc. As the submerged blade is pushed or pulled, however, a portion of the propelling energy is lost as water impinging on the pressure surface of the blade passes, or spills, around the edges of the submerged blade (spillover effect). The greater force that applied to the submerged device, the greater the spillover effect.

SUMMARY

[0008] The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the claimed subject matter. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the claimed subject matter nor delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0009] The disclosed device achieves greater energy efficiency in paddling or rowing by- generating more propelling force with each stroke of the device than conventional oars or paddles. A lip, or flange, projects from the perimeter (or near the perimeter) of the blade transversely to the pressure surface to reduce or delay water spilling around the edge of the blade, thereby increasing the propelling force that is generated with each stroke of the device. The flange may extend continuously around the entire perimeter of the blade, or the flange may be discontinuous and extend along one or more portions of the perimeter. The height of the flange - i.e., the distance from a base of the flange at the surface of the blade to a distal tip of the flange - may be constant along the entire length of the flange or flange portion, or the height of the flange may vary along its length and/or from portion to portion for discontinuous flanges extending along less than the entire perimeter of the blade. The flange may be perpendicular to the surface of the blade, it may be oriented at an angle (acute or obtuse) with respect to the surface of the blade, or the blade may have a curved shape. The fiange(s) may project from only one surface of the blade, or the flange(s) may project in opposite directions from both surfaces of the blade.

[0010] Compared to a traditional blade, a blade with a transverse flange will catch more of the water, reducing or delaying spillage around the edge of the blade, which allows the pressure surface of th e blade to be in contact with the water for a greater period of time thus allowing greater force to be exerted. The decreased spillage reduces the loss of energy that occurs during paddling. The user is thus able to generate the same amount of propulsive force with less effort, or is able to exert greater force at higher speeds than the user would be able to exert with a conventional blade, as the spillover effect is lessened. Thus the user should be able to reach even greater speeds in their respective watercraft. The user is also able to generate the same or greater propulsive force with a blade that has lessor square area than a traditional blade.

[0011] Other features and characteristics of the subject matter of this disclosure, as w'ell as the methods of operation, functions of related elements of structure and the combination of parts, and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form apart of tins specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the subject matter of this disclosure, in the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

[0013] FIG. 1A is a front isometric view of the device disclosed herein;

[0014] FIG. 1B is a front view of the device;

[0015] FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the device along the line 1C-1C in FIG. 1B; and [0016] FIG. 1D is an end view of an alternate embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] While aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be embodied in a variety of forms, the following description and accompanying drawings are merely intended to disclose some of these forms as specific examples of the subject matter. Accordingly, the subject matter of this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the forms or embodiments so described and illustrated.

[0018] FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a device 1 for propelling a watercraft, and FIG.

1B is a front view' of the device 1. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, device 1 comprises a paddle, such as a paddle that would be used to propel a canoe. Although all types of paddles and/or oars are contemplated, device 1 will be referred to in this disclosure as a “paddle.” Paddle 1 comprises an elongated shaft 3 optionally including a handle, or grip, 2 on one end of the shaft 3 and including a blade 4 on an opposite end of the shaft 3. Blade 4 includes a firs t surface 14 and a second surface 15 (see FIG. 1C). First surface 14 is intended to be tire pressure surface (or water impingement surface) in the disclosed embodiment, but in other embodiments the second surface 15 might act as the pressure surface, or both the first surface 14 and the second surface IS may act as pressure surfaces, as the pressure surface is whichever surface impinges against the water during a rowing or paddling stroke.

[0019] Various embodiments of the paddle could have a blade 4 on each end of shaft 3

(e.g., as in a two-bladed paddle for propelling a kayak) and/or a bent elongated shaft (e.g., as in bent paddles used in kayaking for a shaft that is more ergonomic while being held, allowing greater comfort w hile paddling). Embodiments of the paddle with two-blades may have said blades that are either matched or feathered (e.g., in kayaking matched blades are parallel and in the same plane but feathered blades connect to the shaft at different angles helping reduce wind resistance against the blades).

[0020] The blade 4 connects to the shaft 3 at connection point 5, typically referred to as the throat of the paddle. Inboard peripheral portions of the perimeter of the blade 4, as indicated by section 8 and section 12 may slant inwards, meeting at the shaft 3 at connection point S (sections 8 and 12 are commonly referred to as the shoulders of the blade). The shaft 3 may optionally include a root portion 6 extending from the connection point 5 into the blade 4 for securing the blade 4 to tire shaft 3 to add strength to the shaft-blade connection. [0021] Blade 4 has a lip, or flange, 7 projecting from the blade 4 around the surface 14 of the blade 4 and located at or near the perimeter of the blade. In the illustrated embodiment, flange 7 is situated at the perimeter, or peripheral edge of the surface 14. In other embodiments, some or all portions of the flange 7, may be spaced from the outer peripheral edge of the surface 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 7 extends continuously about the entire perimeter of the surface 14 in discrete sections, including a first shoulder section 8, a first longitudinal section 9, an outboard tip section 10, a second longitudinal section 11, and a second shoulder section 12. Corner transitions between sections 8 and 9, sections 9 and 10, sections 10 and 11, and sections 11 and 12 may be rounded as shown.

[0022] Blade 4 is shown with generally straight edges 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, but edges of the blade and the entire blade itself may have other shapes, including non-straight edges, such that the blade may be circular, elliptical, or oval in shape, or the blade may have a combination of straight and curved edges.

[0023] The lip, or flange, of each section 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 extends transversely from the pressure surface 14. That is, each lip section 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 is not coplanar with the pressure surface 14 and, in various embodiments, may be perpendicular to the pressure surface, oriented at an acute or obtuse angle with respect to the pressure surface, or may he curved, with a concave curvature facing the surface 14. Each section may be oriented at the same angle with respect to the surface 14, or the sections may be oriented at different angles. The transverse lip 7 may extend to a uniform height from the perimeter of the first pressure surface 14 to a distal, free end of the lip, or the transverse lip 7 may have a non-uniform height around the pressure first pressure surface 14 of the blade 4. in yet another embodiment, transverse lip 7 may comprise discontinuous, discrete sections disposed at different positions around the perimeter of the blade 4.

[0024] To limit the splash or water disruption of dipping the flanged blade into the water at the beginning of each paddling or rowing stroke of the device, one or more of the flange sections may have an outer edge (a leading edge) shaped to provide a smooth entry into the water. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1C and ID, the transverse flange of first longitudinal section 9 may have an inner surface 18 which faces toward the pressure surface 14 and an outer surface 13 which faces away from the first pressure surface 14. Inner surface 18 is perpendicular to surface 14 (but could be oriented in a non-perpendicular manner) and outer surface 13 may be angled (be veled) (see also FIG. 1D) to provide a smooth water entry as first longitudinal section 9 is plunged into the water at the beginning of each rowing stroke (tor example, as compared to plunging the blunt outer surface of second longitudinal section 11, where the trans verse lip 7 is shown to extend perpendicularly from the first surface 14 at the second longitudinal section 11.

[0025] lire outboard tip section 10 of the blade 4 may be straight, as illustrated in FIG.

IB, or section 10 may be rounded. As also shown in FIG. 1B, angled outer surface 13 of first longitudinal section 9 may extend along first shoulder section 8 and through a transition 16 between the first longitudinal 9 and the outboard tip section 10.

[0026] in an alternate embodiment, outer surface 13 may include two fiat surfaces meeting at a peak or it may comprise a convex, curved surface, or any other, non-blunt shape that provides a smooth penetration into the water surface. In another embodiment, second longitudinal section 11 - and optionally second shoulder section 12 - may include an outer surface with a non-blunt shape that provides a smooth penetration into the water surface so that either side of the blade 4 may be plunged into the water surface at the beginning of each rowing stroke.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, surfaces 14 and 15 are shown as flat.

Alternatively, one of the first and second surface 14, 15 could be concave and tire other convex.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral, transverse lip 7 projects proud of surface 14 only, in other embodiments, the peripheral, transverse lip 7 could project bidirectionally, proud of the first surface 14 and the second surface IS, or both. In other words, such other embodiment, the device could be used with either surface 14 or surface 15 as the water impingement surface with a transverse lip or flange partially or completing surrounding the surface.

[0029] in an embodiment shown in FIG. 1D, transverse lip 7 may have one or more openings 17 formed through the lip 7. Such openings 17 could be formed in the end section 10 as shown in FIG. 1D or could be formed in any or all section(s) of the lip 7. Openings 17 may have circular, oval, slit (rectangular), or similar shapes. Such openings 17 can lower the overall contact between the blade 4 and the water allowing the user to more easily control the paddle 1 in adverse water conditions such as while cannoning through whitewater rapids. Additionally , the openings can prevent water from being held in between the transverse lip 7 and the first or second surface 14, 15 of the blade 4 as the user lifts the paddle 1 out of the water. This can prevent unnecessary weight and keep water from spilling from the paddle 1 into the watercraft. Definitions

[0030] Unless defined otherwise, all terms of art, notations and other technical terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. All patents, applications, published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents, applications, published applications, and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference.

[0031] Unless otherwise indicated or the context suggests otherwise, as used herein, “a” or " an" means" "at least one" or " one or more."

[0032] This description may use various terms describing relative spatial arrangements and/or orientations or directions in describing the position and/or orientation of a component, apparatus, location, feature, or a portion thereof or direction of movement, force, or other dynamic action. Unless specifically stated, or otherwise dictated by the context of the description, such terms, including, without limitation, top, bottom, above, below, under, on top of, upper, lower, left, right, in front of, behind, beneath, next to, adjacent, between, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, longitudinal, transverse, radial, axial, clockwise, counter-clockwise, etc., are used for convenience in referring to such component, apparatus, location, feature, or a portion thereof or movement, force, or other dynamic action in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting.

[0033] Unless otherwise indicated, or the context suggests otherwise, terms used herein to describe a physical and/or spatial relationship between a first component, structure, or portion thereof and a second component, structure, or portion thereof, such as, attached, connected, fixed, joined, linked, coupled, or similar terms or variations of such tenns, shall encompass both a direct relationship in which the first component, structure, or portion thereof is in direct contact with the second component, structure, or portion thereof or there are one or more intervening components, structures, or portions thereof between the first component, structure, or portion thereof and the second component, structure, or portion thereof.

[0034] Unless otherwise stated, any specific dimensions mentioned in this description are merely representative of an exemplar)? implementation of a device embodying aspects of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting. [0035] In this disclosure, the term “outboard" refers to a direction away from the user of the device described herein, an inboard refers to a direction toward the user.

[0036] All possible combinations of elements and components described in the specification or recited in the claims are contemplated and considered to be part of this disclosure. It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein.

[0037] While the subject matter of this disclosure has been described and shown in considerable detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, including various combinations and sub-combinations of features, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments and variations and modifications thereof as encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the descriptions of such embodiments, combinations, and sub- combinations are not intended to convey that the claimed subject matter requires features or combinations of features other than those expressly recited in the claims. Accordingly, the scope of this disclosure is intended to include all modifications and variations encompassed within the scope of the following appended claims.