Whitewater Hand Paddles

Abstract

A hand paddle having a handle (hand grip) attached to the hand paddle blade allows the user to grip the hand paddle intuitively and ergonomically for use in whitewater with kayaks or boats. The paddle blade has a contoured hand well, which allows the handle to be positioned closer to the hand paddle blade substantially reducing the rotating force (torque) to the user's hands. The handle configuration allows user to quickly release the paddle in order to use hands in case of an emergency. The hand paddle further comprises a hand strap to prevent the paddle from rotating/pivoting in the user's hands. The hand paddle further comprises a lanyard, designed to break away under the weight of the user, securing the hand paddle to the user's wrist or forearm.

1 . A hand paddle comprising: a paddle blade; an ergonomic handle attached to the paddle blade; a hand strap having two ends, one end is integrated into the paddle blade, the other end is integrated into the handle; and a lanyard of which both ends are integrated into the paddle blade. 
     
     
         2 . The hand paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle blade may be of various shapes, and preferably of quadrilateral shape. 
     
     
         3 . The hand paddle of  claim 2 , wherein the paddle blade may be about 12 inches in width and about 10.75 inches in length. 
     
     
         4 . The hand paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle blade may be constructed from rigid material. 
     
     
         5 . The hand paddle of  claim 4 , wherein the paddle blade may be constructed from one of plastics, nylon, carbon-reinforced nylon, or carbon fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The hand paddle of  claim 4 , wherein the paddle blade may be constructed using injection molding manufacturing process. 
     
     
         7 . The hand paddle of  claim 1 , wherein a hand well is contoured in the paddle blade, which allows the handle to be positioned closer to the hand paddle blade substantially reducing the rotating force (torque) to the user's hands. 
     
     
         8 . The hand paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle being positioned and contoured so as to position the user's hand at natural gripping angles. 
     
     
         9 . The hand paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the contours of the handle substantially prevent the hand paddle from rotating in the user's hands. 
     
     
         10 . The hand paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the handle configuration allows user to quickly release the paddle in order to use hands in case of an emergency. 
     
     
         11 . The hand paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the hand strap is adjustable and able to prevent the paddle blade from rotating/pivoting in the user's hands. 
     
     
         12 . The hand paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the lanyard, designed to break away under the weight of the user, secures the hand paddle to the user's wrist or forearm. 
     
     
         13 . A hand paddle comprising:
 a paddle blade having a contoured hand well;   an ergonomic handle transversely attached to the paddle blade wherein the contoured hand well underneath the handle allows the handle to be positioned closer to the hand paddle blade thus substantially reducing the rotating force (torque) to the user's hands, the handle configuration allows quick release of hand paddle in case of an emergency;   an adjustable hand strap having two ends, one end is integrated into the paddle blade, the other end is integrated into the handle, the adjustable hand strap is able to prevent the paddle blade from rotating/pivoting in the user's hands; and   a lanyard of which both ends are integrated into the paddle blade for securing the hand paddle to the user's wrist or forearm.   
     
     
         14 . The hand paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the paddle blade is constructed from rigid material such as plastics, nylon, carbon-reinforced nylon, or carbon fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The hand paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the paddle blade is of various shape, preferably a quadrilateral shape with about 12 inches in width and about 10.75 inches in length. 
     
     
         16 . A hand paddle comprising:
 a paddle blade constructed from rigid material such as plastics, nylon, carbon-reinforced nylon, or carbon fiber, being in a quadrilateral shapes, having a contoured hand well.   an ergonomic handle transversely attached to the paddle blade wherein the contoured hand well underneath the handle allows the handle to be positioned closer to the hand paddle blade thus substantially reducing the rotating force (torque) to the user's hands, the handle configuration allows quick release of hand paddle in case of an emergency;   an adjustable hand strap having two ends, one end is integrated into the paddle blade, the other end is integrated into the handle, the adjustable hand strap is able to prevent the paddle blade from rotating/pivoting in the user's hands; and   a lanyard of which both ends are integrated into the paddle blade for securing the hand paddle to the user's wrist or forearm.