Means and Apparatus for Ergonomic Water Paddle with Dynamic Rotating Grip

Abstract

An improved paddle apparatus for kayaks, canoes, or like water craft having a plurality of hand grips mounted to allow dynamic rotation relative to the paddle shaft to allow the wrist to remain in a natural position while paddling and still allow full power to be transferred from the blade into the water. Also a means of paddling whereby the operator can paddle with greater power and control on either side of the watercraft without breaking either handgrip. A further improvement includes using the handgrip in the position perpendicular to the paddle shaft to determine the blade position by feel and steer with greater torque. An alternative embodiment includes rotation of the grip itself, further reducing the twisting of the wrists and other joints.

1 . A rotating grip propulsion apparatus for use in human propulsion of small water crafts such as kayaks and canoes which adjusts dynamically to a paddler's motions providing a full complement of arm and wrist movements, said rotating grip propulsion device comprising: 
 a shaft having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate region;    said first end having a blade portion for executing a paddle stroke which comprises propulsion through the water by means of inserting a blade into water and pushing or pulling through said water in a motion which is perpendicular to the plane of the blade said second end having a blade portion for propulsion through water being substantially equal to said first end    said intermediate region of said device including a center point, a first grip housing, and a second grip housing:    said first and said second grip housing being equidistant from said center point, said first and said second grip housings for manipulating said propulsion device through water, and said first and said second grip housings each including a circularly rotating grip handle of each first and second handle comprising: an upper race, a lower race, a grip member rotatable between said first race and second race, a plurality of fasteners securing said upper race to said lower race,    (iii) whereby an ergonomic paddling device is made.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said upper race combined with said lower race comprising a race well    said grip handle having a first end and a second end and a gripping region:    said first end and said second end containing a rotation guide to stabilize said grip handle into said race well.    
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said race well contains a locking stop to limit the range of motion of said grip handle between approximately parallel and perpendicular to said shaft    said locking stop contains a locking daddo to further secure said grip handle in a locked position.    
     
     
         4 . A rotating grip propulsion apparatus of use in human propulsion with said rotating grips comprising: 
 a continuous shaft comprising a first end an intermediate region and a second end;    said first end having a blade portion for executing a paddle stroke which comprises propulsion through the water by means of inserting a blade into water and pushing or pulling through said water in a motion which is perpendicular to the plane of the blade    said second end having a blade portion for propulsion through water being substantially equal to said first end    said intermediate region of said device including a center point externally mounted a first sleeve attachment and a second sleeve attachment    said first and second sleeve attachments being equidistant form said center point and said first and said second sleeve attachments containing a mounting block    said first and said mounting blocks each including a circularly rotating grip handle comprising, a grip member an attachment yoke which is rotatably mounted to said mounting block a fastener securing said grip handle to said mounting block, whereby an ergonomic paddling device is made.    
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said yoke is permanently attached to said continuous shaft.    
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 said intermediate region is recessed such that said grip handle is collinear with the continuation of said intermediate region.  
 
     
     
         7 . A means of propulsion for kayaks, canoes, or like water craft by means of an improved paddle method comprising: 
 an operator with a plurality of hands comprising a left hand and a right hand    said operator using said plurality of hands to grip said plurality of grip handles which are rotatably mounted relative to said paddle shaft    said operator executing a starboard (right) side paddle stroke which comprises said operator inserting said blade into water on said starboard side of said craft and executing said paddling motion to propel said craft    said left hand of said operator, which is farthest from water, having naturally rotated said grip handle to a position perpendicular to said shaft and said right hand of said operator, which is closest to water, having naturally rotated to a position parallel to said shaft    said operator retrieving said blade from water and returning to a neutral position where said blade one and said blade two are equal distance from water    said operator executing a port (left) side paddle stroke which comprises    said operator inserting said blade into water on said port side of said craft and executing said paddling motion to propel said craft    said right hand of said operator, which is farthest from water, having naturally rotated said grip handle to a position perpendicular to said shaft and said left hand of said operator, which is closest to water, having naturally rotated to a position parallel to said shaft    said operator retrieving said blade from water and returning to said neutral position where said blade one and said blade two are equal distance from water    whereby said operator can paddle with the same power and control as a single bladed paddle from either side of said watercraft without breaking the paddler's hand grip.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein: 
 Other maneuvers such as righting the watercraft deploy said grip.