Paddle with attached sail for propelling watercraft

Abstract

A paddle with attached sail, whereby a small personal watercraft can be propelled either by conventional paddling or by wind power. In one aspect of the invention, the sail has two ends which can be either both attached to the handle of the paddle, or both attached to the user's hands or wrists. In either case, the user holds the paddle generally upright against the side of the watercraft with the blade of the paddle in the water in order to resist downwind drift. In another aspect of the invention, the sail is connected along the length of one of its edges to the handle of the paddle, which thereby functions as a mast for the sail. In this case a boom means may be provided for holding the sail open and for operator control of the sail.

1 . A paddle for propelling a small personal watercraft, comprising:
 a handle;   at least one blade; and   a sail, having a leading edge facing windward, a trailing edge facing leeward, and two ends which are attached to said handle at a distance apart;   
       whereby a user gripping said paddle can manipulate said sail; 
       wherein propulsion can be achieved by conventional paddling, and can also alternatively be achieved using said sail; and 
       wherein said sail can be folded, crumpled, or otherwise collapsed into a stowed state in which said paddle can be used for conventional paddling. 
     
     
         2 . The paddle of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for securing or containing said sail in its collapsed form to said paddle. 
     
     
         3 . Method of using the paddle of  claim 1  when said sail is in use, wherein said paddle is held with said at least one blade against the side of said watercraft, said blade being at least partially submerged in the water, whereby said blade can resist downwind drifting. 
     
     
         4 . A slippage-preventing means used in conjunction with the method of  claim 3 , for providing friction between said paddle and said watercraft in order to stabilize said paddle. 
     
     
         5 . A paddle for propelling a small personal watercraft, comprising:
 a handle;   at least one blade; and   a sail, having a leading edge facing windward and a trailing edge facing leeward, said sail being attached to said handle such that said paddle may function as a mast for said sail;   
       wherein propulsion can be achieved by conventional paddling, and can also alternatively be achieved using said sail; and 
       wherein said sail can be folded, crumpled, or otherwise collapsed into a stowed state in which said paddle can be used for conventional paddling. 
     
     
         6 . The paddle of  claim 5 , wherein said sail in said stowed state is rolled around the exterior of said handle. 
     
     
         7 . The paddle of  claim 6 , further comprising an elongated securing member attached along its length to an edge of said sail, said securing member being made from a hard but slightly flexible material and curved along its own axis with a radius comparable to that of said handle, such that when said sail is rolled around said handle, said securing member fits around said sail and prevents it from unrolling. 
     
     
         8 . The paddle of  claim 5 , further comprising a boom means which is coupled to said handle and to the side of said sail opposite from the side attached to said paddle, and extends generally horizontally in order to hold the sail open; and which provides a means by which a user gripping said boom means can control said sail. 
     
     
         9 . Method of using the paddle of  claim 1  when said sail is in use, wherein said paddle is held with said at least one blade against the side of said watercraft, said blade being at least partially submerged in the water, whereby said blade can resist downwind drifting. 
     
     
         10 . A slippage-preventing means used in conjunction with the method of  claim 3 , for providing friction between said paddle and said watercraft in order to stabilize said paddle. 
     
     
         11 . A personal sail device comprising:
 a straight elongated shaft;   a sail attached to said shaft such that said shaft can function as a mast for said sail; and   an elongated securing member attached along its length to an edge of said sail, said securing member being made from a hard but slightly flexible material and curved about its own longitudinal axis with a radius comparable to that of said shaft;   
       wherein said sail can be wrapped around the exterior of said shaft into a rolled state for stowing; 
       and wherein said securing member fits around said sail in said rolled state and prevents it from unrolling.