Paddle floatation assembly

Abstract

An improved paddle assembly is provided for use in operating a small watercraft. A paddle is comprised of a shaft and at least one blade attached to one end of the shaft. A floatation device has a hole therethrough to slidably engage the shaft of the paddle. During normal operation of the watercraft, the floatation device is positioned and stored adjacent the hands of the operator of the watercraft so as not to impede normal paddling of the watercraft; when the watercraft capsizes, the floatation device is slid along the shaft of the paddle to a position adjacent the blade to facilitate the return of the watercraft to the upright position by the performance of an Eskimo roll by the operator.

1 . An improved paddle assembly for use in operating a small watercraft comprising: a paddle further comprising at least one blade and a shaft having one end thereof attached to said one blade; and at least one floatation device slidably attached to said shaft. 
     
     
         2 . An improved paddle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the small watercraft is a kayak, and said paddle includes a second blade attached to another end of said shaft. 
     
     
         3 . An improved paddle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein during normal operation of the kayak, said one floatation device is positioned on said shaft adjacent the hands of an operator of the kayak so as not to impede normal paddling of the kayak, and upon capsizing of the kayak, said one floatation device is positioned adjacent said one blade to facilitate the performance of an Eskimo roll by the operator, which enables the return of the kayak to the upright position. 
     
     
         4 . An improved paddle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein another floatation device is slidably attached to said shaft. 
     
     
         5 . An improved paddle assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said one and said other floatation devices are positioned adjacent the middle of the shaft during normal small watercraft operating conditions, and said one and said other floatation devices being positioned adjacent said one and said second blades respectively to stabilize the operation of the kayak in turbulent small watercraft operating conditions. 
     
     
         6 . An improved paddle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said one floatation device has a hole therethrough to slidably engage said shaft. 
     
     
         7 . An improved paddle assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said one floatation device has an outer surface, and said hole is bounded by an inner wall. 
     
     
         8 . An improved paddle assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said one floatation device further includes a lengthwise slit extending from the outer surface to the inner wall thereof to enable said one floatation device to be stretched apart and mounted onto said shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A floatation device having a hole therethrough to slidably engage a shaft of a paddle used to operate a small watercraft. 
     
     
         10 . A floatation device according to  claim 9 , further having an outer surface and an inner wall bounding the hole. 
     
     
         11 . A floatation device according to  claim 10 , further including a lengthwise slit extending from the outer surface to the inner wall to enable said floatation device to be stretched apart and mounted onto the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating an apparatus comprising a small watercraft, a paddle having at least one blade and a shaft having one end thereof attached to said one blade, and at least one floatation device slidably mounted to said shaft, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) sliding said one floatation device on said shaft away from said one blade to store said floatation device on said shaft during normal operation of said small watercraft;   b) sliding said one floatation device on said shaft to a position adjacent said one blade in the event that said watercraft capsizes; and   c) performing an Eskimo roll to return said small watercraft to an upright position, the performance of which is enhanced by the position of said one floatation device on said shaft and adjacent said one blade.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein said small watercraft is a kayak, and said paddle has another blade attached to an opposite end of said shaft. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein an additional floatation device is mounted on said shaft, and further comprising the steps of:
 a) sliding both said one and said other floatation devices toward the center of the shaft and adjacent the hands of an operator of the kayak to store said one and said other floatation devices during normal operation of the kayak; and 
 b) sliding both said one and said other floatation devices on said shaft toward said one and said other blades respectively to form an outrigger configuration to stabilize the operation of said kayak in turbulent small watercraft operating conditions. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said one floatation device having an outer surface, an inner wall bounding a hole therethrough to slidably engage said shaft, and a lengthwise slit extending from the outer surface to the inner wall further comprising the step of: stretching the slit apart to enable said floatation device to be mounted onto said shaft.