Handle-Actuated Aquatic Device

Abstract

A handle-actuated aquatic device comprising a paddlewheel and a body board, wherein the body board is buoyant in water and configured to engage a portion of a user's body, and a first handle and a second handle are operatively connected to the paddlewheel, wherein each handle is configured to rotate the paddle wheel, and wherein the paddlewheel is attached to a body board frame, the body board frame also being configured to receive at least a portion of the body board.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle-actuated aquatic device comprising:
 a paddlewheel;   a first handle operatively connected to the paddlewheel;   a second handle operatively connected to the paddlewheel;   a housing that encapsulates the paddlewheel; and   a body board frame that couples the housing to a buoyant body board.   
     
     
         2 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         3 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle has an inner end operatively connected to the paddlewheel and an outer end opposite the inner end, wherein the outer end is configured as a grip for a user and is at least partially offset from the inner end; and
 the second handle has an inner end operatively connected to the paddlewheel and an outer end opposite the inner end, wherein the outer end is configured as a grip for a user and is at least partially offset from the inner end.   
     
     
         4 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 3 , wherein the inner end of the first handle and the inner end of the second handle share a common axis, and the outer end of the second handle is offset in a different direction than the outer end of the first handle. 
     
     
         5 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant body board has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the body board frame couples the housing to the bottom surface of the buoyant body board. 
     
     
         6 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 5 , wherein the housing is coupled to the bottom surface of the body board by an elongated rod. 
     
     
         7 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 6 , wherein the rod is configured such that the housing is rotatable relative to the body board frame. 
     
     
         8 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the paddlewheel comprises at least two blades. 
     
     
         9 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 8 , wherein the blades are convex in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle and second handle are operatively connected to the paddlewheel through a gearbox, wherein the gearbox transmits torque from the first handle and second handle to the paddlewheel such that the first handle and second handle rotate at a different rate than the paddlewheel. 
     
     
         11 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 1 , wherein the body board frame comprises a loop to allow the body board frame to be tied to a stationary object. 
     
     
         12 . A handle-actuated aquatic device comprising:
 an axle;   a hub placed circumferentially around and operatively coupled to the axle;   a plurality of blades attached to and extending radially outward from the hub;   a first handle operatively connected to the axle;   a second handle operatively connected to the axle; and   a buoyant body board, wherein the buoyant body board has a top surface configured to engage a portion of a user's body, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface; and   a body board frame, wherein the body board frame couples the axle, hub, and plurality of blades to the bottom surface of the buoyant body board.   
     
     
         13 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 12 , wherein a housing encapsulates the axle, hub, and the plurality of blades. 
     
     
         14 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         15 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first handle has an inner end operatively connected to the axle and an outer end opposite the inner end, wherein the outer end is configured as a grip for a user and is at least partially offset from the inner end; and the second handle has an inner end operatively connected to the axle and an outer end opposite the inner end, wherein the outer end is configured as a grip for a user and is at least partially offset from the inner end. 
     
     
         16 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 15 , wherein the inner end of the first handle and the inner end of the second handle share a common axis, and the outer end of the second handle is offset in a different direction than the outer end of the first handle. 
     
     
         17 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blades are convex in shape. 
     
     
         18 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first handle and second handle are operatively connected to the axle through a gearbox, wherein the gearbox transmits torque from the first handle and second handle to the axle such that the first handle and second handle rotate at a different rate than the axle. 
     
     
         19 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is coupled to the body board frame by an elongated rod. 
     
     
         20 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 19 , wherein the rod is configured such that the housing is rotatable relative to the body board frame. 
     
     
         21 . The handle-actuated aquatic device of  claim 12 , wherein the body board frame comprises a loop to allow the body board frame to be tied to a stationary object.