초록 ▼

A kayak paddle with a generally straight shaft that is preferably about 0.7 inches in diameter, the shaft is also conically tapered at either end. A left hand grip and a right hand grip are mounted on the shaft, and there is a blade at either end of the shaft. The blades each have a conically tapere

A kayak paddle with a generally straight shaft that is preferably about 0.7 inches in diameter, the shaft is also conically tapered at either end. A left hand grip and a right hand grip are mounted on the shaft, and there is a blade at either end of the shaft. The blades each have a conically tapered socket to accept the tapered ends of the shaft. A portion of the socket remains vacant when the shaft is fully inserted, the vacant portion of the socket serves to trap sufficient air to ensure that the paddle will float. The mechanical connections thus formed prevent the shaft from rotating in the blade sockets and also minimize the amount of stress placed on the adhesive used to fix the shaft in the sockets. The grips ensure that the user's hands can be consistently placed and oriented on the shaft; because of the small diameter of the shaft, the user's hands can easily encircle the grips, and the user is thereby afforded a high degree of control over the paddle. Further, the grips are contoured so as to more ergonomically position the user's hands at natural gripping angles, with respect to the horizontal axis of the shaft; the natural gripping angles serve to minimize stresses on the user's wrists, hands, and arms. Additionally, the contours of the grips substantially prevent the user's hands from sliding along the shaft, and prevent the shaft from rotating in the user's hands. Finally, the grips have knuckle guards, preferably integrally formed with the grips, which serve to protect the user's hands in the event of an impact with obstructions such as rocks or trees.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:] [14.]14. A kayak paddle, having an ergonomic grip to ensure consistent location and orientation of a user's hands, said kayak paddle comprising:(a) an elongate straight shaft having a longitudinal axis and first and sec

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:] [14.]14. A kayak paddle, having an ergonomic grip to ensure consistent location and orientation of a user's hands, said kayak paddle comprising:(a) an elongate straight shaft having a longitudinal axis and first and second opposed ends;(b) a pair of blades, each of said pair of blades being fixedly attached to each of said first and second opposed ends of said elongate straight shaft;(c) a means for fixedly attaching said pair of blades to said first and second opposed ends of said elongate straight shaft; wherein said means for fixedly attaching said first blade to said first opposed end of said elongate straight shaft and said second blade to said second opposed end of said elongate straight shaft comprises:a first and second socket, said first socket receiving said first opposed end of said elongate straight shaft and said second socket receiving said second opposed end of said elongate straight shaft, said first and second sockets being substantially circular and said first socket being formed inside said first blade and said second socket being formed inside said second blade, said first and second sockets each terminating in a conical taper; a conical taper at each of said first and second opposed ends of said elongate straight shaft; means for securely fixing said first opposed end of said elongate straight shaft in said first socket and said second opposed end of said elongate straight shaft in said second socket; andd) an ergonomic grip arrangement having a left hand grip element and a right hand grip element, said ergonomic grip arrangement being mounted about said elongate straight shaft, wherein said left hand grip element and said right hand grip element are contoured to position said user's right and left hands, respectively, along axes oblique to said longitudinal axis of said elongate straight shaft.