Combination hand-held multi-directional propulsion device and powered oar/paddle for rowboat, canoe, kayak, and the like

Abstract

A multi-functional modular device comprises: a shaft; electric motor(s); battery(s); thrust producing fan(s); and blade(s) being removably attachable to the shaft for levering of a paddlesports boat. With the blade(s) attached to the shaft and the motor(s) off, the device is usable for manual levering, and with the motor(s) on, the fan blade thrust may selectively assist in levering to propel the paddlesports boat. Fan thrust may be usable in a direction opposite to a propulsive direction of levering to reduce work required per stroke, which reduces power per stroke, or may alternatively be usable in the same direction as propulsive levering to increase total propulsive power per stroke, which requires greater strength/work output by the rower/paddler. Various sized blades may be interchangeable therein to adjust the work output. Removing the blade(s) permits the fan to be statically submerged and clocked to propel the boat in a desired direction.

1 . A modular combination device for use in a first role to provide for pure manual levering or power-assisted manual levering of a paddlesports boat, with said device being transformable for use in a second role as a statically-held multi-directional propulsion device, said modular combination device comprising:
 a hand-graspable portion;   at least one electric motor;   one or more sources of electric power; said one or more sources of electric power being electrically coupled to said at least one motor;   at least one fan, said at least one fan being mechanically coupled to said at least one motor, said motor being capable of driving said fan to rotate and produce thrust;   at least one blade, said at least one blade being removably attachable to said hand-graspable portion; and   said modular combination device providing selective propulsion capabilities.   
     
     
         2 . The combination device according to  claim 1 , wherein said selective propulsion capabilities comprise said at least one blade being removably attached to a hand-graspable shaft and said at least one motor being off; said combination device being usable for pure manual levering. 
     
     
         3 . The combination device according to  claim 2 , wherein said selective propulsion capabilities comprise said at least one blade being removably attached to said hand-graspable shaft and said at least one motor being on, with said fan blades being rotated by said motor to produce thrust; said thrust of said combination device being usable for power-assisted manual levering. 
     
     
         4 . The combination device according to  claim 3 , wherein said selective propulsion capabilities comprise transforming said combination device by removing said at least one blade from said hand-graspable shaft, and with said at least one motor being on, statically holding said device submerged and clocked to provide propulsion in a desired compass direction. 
     
     
         5 . The combination device according to  claim 4 , wherein said one or more sources of electric power comprise one or more batteries, said one or more batteries comprising one or more of a disposable battery; a rechargeable battery; and a marine battery. 
     
     
         6 . The combination device according to  claim 5 , wherein said marine battery is coupled to said device using an electrical cable and a quick connect plug. 
     
     
         7 . The combination device according to  claim 6 , wherein said marine battery comprises a lead acid battery from the group of marine lead acid batteries consisting of: a flooded acid battery, a gelled acid battery, or an advanced absorbed glass mat battery. 
     
     
         8 . The combination device according to  claim 5 , wherein said one or more batteries is disposed in one or more of: a bottom of said paddlesports boat; or within said hand-graspable shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The combination device according to  claim 8 , wherein said fan comprises: a fan shaft and one or more fan blades, said one or more fan blades being attached to said fan shaft, 
     
     
         10 . The combination device according to  claim 9 , wherein said fan shaft is rotatably attached to a fan housing; and wherein said fan housing is attached to said hand-graspable shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The combination device according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one fan being mechanically coupled to said at least one motor comprises a coupling arrangement from the group consisting of: said motor being directly connected to said fan shaft; or said motor being disposed within said hand-graspable shaft and driving said fan shaft by a gearing arrangement comprising first and second bevel gears. 
     
     
         12 . The combination device according to  claim 11 , wherein said motor is a type of motor from the group of motors consisting of: brushed motors; or brushless motors. 
     
     
         13 . The combination device according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one motor is water submersible; and wherein said water submersible motor comprises a motor with speeds from the group of motors consisting of: a single speed motor, a two-speed motor; or a variable speed motor. 
     
     
         14 . The combination device according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one blade comprises a quick-release latch to permit easy attachment and removal of said at least one blade to and from said hand-graspable shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The combination device according to  claim 14  further comprising a switch, said switch being capable of turning said motor on and off. 
     
     
         16 . The combination device according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one fan comprises a fan being attached to a first end of said hand-graspable shaft; and wherein said at least one blade comprises a blade being removably attached to said shaft in proximity to said fan, and extending axially from said first end of said shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The combination device according to  claim 16 , wherein said hand-graspable shaft of said device is mountable in an oar-lock, with said combination device being usable as an oar. 
     
     
         18 . The combination device according to  claim 16  further comprising a handle, said handle being mountable to a second end of said hand-graspable shaft; said combination device with said handle being usable as a canoe paddle. 
     
     
         19 . The combination device according to  claim 16  further comprising a second fan being attached to a second end of said hand-graspable shaft, and a second blade being removably attached to said second end of said hand-graspable shaft in proximity to said second fan to extend axially from said second end of said shaft, said two-bladed combination device being usable as a kayak paddle. 
     
     
         20 . The combination device according to  claim 17 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force being in a direction opposite to a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to reduce work required per stroke. 
     
     
         21 . The combination device according to  claim 18 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force being in a direction opposite to a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to reduce work required per stroke. 
     
     
         22 . The combination device according to  claim 19 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force being in a direction opposite to a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to reduce work required per stroke. 
     
     
         23 . The combination device according to  claim 17 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force in a direction being the same as a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to increase total propulsive power per stroke. 
     
     
         24 . The combination device according to  claim 18 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force in a direction being the same as a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to increase total propulsive power per stroke. 
     
     
         25 . The combination device according to  claim 19 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force in a direction being the same as a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to increase total propulsive power per stroke. 
     
     
         26 . The combination device according to  claim 17 , wherein said blade is removed and replaced with a different sized blade. 
     
     
         27 . The combination device according to  claim 18 , wherein said blade is removed and replaced with a different sized blade. 
     
     
         28 . The combination device according to  claim 19 , wherein said blade is removed and replaced with a different sized blade. 
     
     
         29 . A modular device for use in provide for manual levering or power-assisted levering of a boat, said modular device also being transformable for use as a hand-held trolling device, said modular device comprising:
 a hand-graspable shaft;   at least one electric motor;   one or more batteries; said one or more batteries being electrically coupled to said at least one motor;   at least one fan, said at least one fan being coupled to said at least one motor, said motor being capable of driving said fan to rotate and produce thrust;   at least one blade, said at least one blade being removably attachable to said shaft; and   said modular device providing selective propulsion capabilities.   
     
     
         30 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said selective propulsion capabilities comprise said at least one blade being removably attached to said hand-graspable shaft and said at least one motor being off; said combination device being usable for pure manual levering. 
     
     
         31 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said selective propulsion capabilities comprise said at least one blade being removably attached to said hand-graspable shaft and said at least one motor being on, with said fan blades being rotated by said motor to produce thrust; said thrust of said combination device being usable for power-assisted manual levering. 
     
     
         32 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said selective propulsion capabilities comprise transforming said combination device by removing said at least one blade from said hand-graspable shaft, and with said at least one motor being on, statically holding said device submerged and clocked to provide propulsion in a desired compass direction. 
     
     
         33 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said one or more batteries is disposed in one or more of: a bottom of said boat; or within said hand-graspable shaft. 
     
     
         34 . The modular device according to  claim 33 , wherein said one or more batteries comprises one or more of: a disposable battery; a rechargeable battery; and a marine battery; and wherein said marine battery is coupled to said device using an electrical cable and a quick connect plug. 
     
     
         35 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said fan comprises: a fan shaft and one or more fan blades, said one or more fan blades being attached to said fan shaft; and wherein said fan shaft is rotatably attached to a fan housing, and said fan housing is attached to said hand-graspable shaft. 
     
     
         36 . The modular device according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one fan being mechanically coupled to said at least one motor comprises a coupling arrangement from the group consisting of: said motor being directly connected to said fan shaft; or said motor being disposed within said hand-graspable shaft and driving said fan shaft by a gearing arrangement comprising first and second bevel gears. 
     
     
         37 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said at least one motor is water submersible; and wherein said water submersible motor is a motor from the group of motors consisting of: a single speed motor, a two-speed motor; or a variable speed motor. 
     
     
         38 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said at least one blade comprises a quick-release latch to permit easy attachment and removal of said at least one blade to and from said hand-graspable shaft. 
     
     
         39 . The modular device according to  claim 29  further comprising a switch, said switch being capable of turning said motor on and off. 
     
     
         40 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said at least one fan comprises a fan being attached to a first end of said hand-graspable shaft; and wherein said at least one blade comprises a blade being removably attached to said shaft in proximity to said fan, and extending axially from said first end of said shaft. 
     
     
         41 . The modular device according to  claim 29 , wherein said hand-graspable shaft of said device is mountable in an oar-lock, with said combination device being usable as an oar. 
     
     
         42 . The modular device according to  claim 29  further comprising a handle, said handle being mountable to a second end of said hand-graspable shaft; said combination device with said handle being usable as a canoe paddle. 
     
     
         43 . The modular device according to  claim 40  further comprising a second fan being attached to a second end of said hand-graspable shaft, and a second blade being removably attached to said second end of said hand-graspable shaft in proximity to said second fan to extend axially from said second end of said shaft, said two-bladed combination device being usable as a kayak paddle. 
     
     
         44 . The modular device according to  claim 41 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force being in a direction opposite to a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to reduce work required per stroke. 
     
     
         45 . The modular device according to  claim 42 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force being in a direction opposite to a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to reduce work required per stroke. 
     
     
         46 . The modular device according to  claim 43 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force being in a direction opposite to a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to reduce work required per stroke. 
     
     
         47 . The modular device according to  claim 41 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force in a direction being the same as a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to increase total propulsive power per stroke. 
     
     
         48 . The modular device according to  claim 42 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force in a direction being the same as a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to increase total propulsive power per stroke. 
     
     
         49 . The modular device according to  claim 43 , wherein said power-assisted manual levering comprises orienting said paddle with said thrust resulting in a reaction force in a direction being the same as a propulsive direction of said levering, said reaction force thereby serving to increase total propulsive power per stroke. 
     
     
         50 . The modular device according to  claim 41 , wherein said blade is removed and replaced with a different sized blade. 
     
     
         51 . The modular device according to  claim 42 , wherein said blade is removed and replaced with a different sized blade. 
     
     
         52 . The modular device according to  claim 43 , wherein said blade is removed and replaced with a different sized blade. 
     
     
         53 . A combination device for use in a first role to provide for manual levering or power-assisted manual levering of a boat, with said device being quickly transformable for use in a second role as a statically-held multi-directional propulsion device, said combination device comprising:
 a hand-graspable shaft;   at least one electric motor;   one or more sources of electric power; said one or more sources of electric power being electrically coupled to said at least one motor;   at least one fan, said at least one fan being mechanically coupled to said at least one motor, said motor being capable of driving said fan to rotate and produce thrust;   at least one blade, said at least one blade being pivotally attached to said hand-graspable shaft; and   said modular combination device providing selective propulsion capabilities.   
     
     
         54 . A combination device according to  claim 53 , wherein said pivotal means comprises a detent for maintaining said blade in a first position, and in a 90 degree rotated position. 
     
     
         55 . A combination device according to  claim 54 , wherein said one or more sources of electric power comprise one or more batteries, said one or more batteries comprising one or more of: a disposable battery; a rechargeable battery; and a marine battery.