Paddle Clip

Abstract

A paddle clip for securing a paddle to a user and thus allowing the user to free his hands for other tasks. The paddle clip has an elongated back plate and a flexible resilient rounded bottom section with a trough configured to accommodate a cylindrical shaft of a paddle. The shaft of the paddle can be squeezed into the clip with one hand. In addition, using only one hand, the fingers can lift open the clip to release the paddle. A flat front section of the clip has a thumb opening large enough for a thumb or a finger to pass through to press downward and thus release paddle shaft onto the other fingers of the same hand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paddle clip formed from a sheet of resilient material, the paddle clip comprising:
 a) a flat back plate;   b) a rounded top section extending from the flat back plate;   c) a front section that extends from the rounded top section; and   d) rounded bottom section extending from the front section and forming a trough, the trough having a distal end and the rounded bottom section forming an opening between the distal end of the rounded bottom section and the flat back plate, the trough having a radius of curvature that is substantially similar to the radius of a paddle to be held by the paddle clip;    wherein the resilient material allows the rounded bottom section to move laterally away from the flat back plate to let a shaft of a paddle slip through the opening past the distal end of the round bottom section, the resilience of the resilient material being such that clip is urged back into its original shape to close the opening sufficiently to capture the shaft of the paddle within the trough.   
     
     
         2 . The paddle clip of Clam  1 , wherein the front section has a thumb opening. 
     
     
         3 . The paddle clip of  claim 1 , further including a flap which protrudes from the back plate to capture a piece of a paddler's apparel. 
     
     
         4 . The paddle clip of  claim 2 , wherein the back plate is attached to a belt. 
     
     
         5 . The paddle clip Padd of  claim 2 , wherein the back plate has at least one slot for mounting the clip to a belt. 
     
     
         6 . The paddle clip of  claim 4 , wherein the back plate is attached to the belt by sewing the back plate to the belt. 
     
     
         7 . The paddle clip of  claim 4 , wherein the back plate is attached to the belt by gluing the back plate to the belt. 
     
     
         8 . The paddle clip of  claim 4 , wherein the back plate is attached to the belt by riveting the back plate to the belt. 
     
     
         9 . The paddle clip of  claim 4 , wherein the back plate is attached to the belt by sewing the back plate to the belt. 
     
     
         10 . The paddle clip of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is covered with a decorative material. 
     
     
         11 . The paddle clip of  claim 10 , wherein the decorative material is cloth. 
     
     
         12 . The paddle clip of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is made from a single sheet of material bent to form the back plate, rounded top section, front section and rounded bottom section. 
     
     
         13 . The paddle clip of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is made from a single sheet of material molded to form the back plate, rounded top section, front section and rounded bottom section.