Ergonomic Water Paddle for Watercraft

Abstract

An ergonomic water paddle for a watercraft includes left-hand and right-hand arms, a cross piece, and left and right paddle bodies. The left-hand arm extends lengthwise to terminate at left front and rear ends. The right-hand arm extends lengthwise to terminate at right front and rear ends. The left paddle body is connected to the left rear end. The right paddle body is connected to the right rear end. The cross piece is disposed to connect the left front end to the right front end to permit the left and right paddle bodies to be moved synchronously with each other in each paddling stroke.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ergonomic water paddle for a watercraft, comprising:
 a left-hand arm extending lengthwise to terminate at left front and rear ends;   a right-hand arm extending lengthwise to terminate at right front and rear ends;   a left paddle body connected to said left rear end;   a right paddle body connected to said right rear end; and   a cross piece connecting said left front end and said right front end to permit said left and right paddle bodies to be moved synchronously with each other in each paddling stroke.   
     
     
         2 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein said left-hand arm has a left intermediate segment between said left front and rear ends, and said right-hand arm has a right intermediate segment between said right front and rear ends, said left and right intermediate segments being spaced apart from each other in a left-and-right direction so as to permit said left and right intermediate segments to be gripped ergonomically. 
     
     
         3 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein said cross piece has a central region which is curved forwardly. 
     
     
         4 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 2 , wherein said left and right intermediate segments are convergent toward cross piece. 
     
     
         5 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein said left and right paddle bodies are detachably connected to said left and right rear ends, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said left and right rear ends has a socket cavity extending lengthwise, and each of said left and right paddle bodies has a blade and a shaft extending from said blade to terminate at a plug end which is configured to be fitted in said socket cavity of a corresponding one of said left and right rear ends. 
     
     
         7 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said left and right rear ends has an outer end surface and a retaining hole which extends radially from said outer end surface to said socket cavity, and each of said left and right paddle bodies further has a spring-loaded pin disposed in said plug end and configured to be snapped into said retaining hole of the corresponding one of said left and right rear ends once said plug end is fitted into said socket cavity of the corresponding one of said left and right rear ends. 
     
     
         8 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 6 , wherein said shaft has front and rear segments which are telescopically connected to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 8 , wherein said rear segment has a tubular end region distal from said blade, and said front segment has a connected end region which is distal from said plug end, and which is slidably fitted into said tubular end region so as to permit telescopic connection between said connected end region and said tubular end region. 
     
     
         10 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 9 , wherein said tubular end region has a plurality of through holes that are linearly displaced from each other, and said connected end region has a spring-loaded ball configured to be snapped into a selected one of said through holes so as to adjust the length of said shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 2 , further comprising a reinforcement member having
 a bracing segment extending in the left-and-right direction to terminate at left and right connecting ends which are respectively connected to said left and right front ends so as to maintain a predetermined distance between said left and right front ends, and   left and right holding rod segments which extend respectively from said left and right connecting ends to said left and right rear ends, respectively, and which are disposed outwardly of said left and right intermediate segments.   
     
     
         12 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said left and right paddle bodies further has an extension extending from said shaft, and said blade includes two blade halves hingedly mounted to said extension so as to be displaceable between an unfolded position, where said two blade halves have a maximized propelling force, and a folded position, where said two blade halves have a minimized propelling force. 
     
     
         13 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said left and right paddle bodies further has an adjustable spacer which is disposed to be swivelable relative to said extension and between an engageable position where said adjustable spacer limits extent of movement of said two blade halves toward the folded position, and a disengageable position. 
     
     
         14 . The ergonomic water paddle according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said left and right intermediate segments has an arcuate shape.