GB2201389A - Collapsible paddle - Google Patents

Abstract

A paddle comprising a handle 4 and a paddle blade 1, in which the blade 1 is capable of being folded such that it can be completely stored in the handle. The blade 1 is made with longitudinal ribs 9, 11 which are joined together by a web 13 of plastics material. The paddle in its folded form can be stored on a dingy or sail board for emergency use, for example in case of a damaged sail. <IMAGE>

Description

COLLAPSABLE PADDLE This invention relates to a collapsable paddle.

It relates particularly to a paddle that can be stowed conveniently on a water craft such as a canoe, dingy or sail board, and which can be brought quickly into use should an emergency means of propulsion be required.

With the increasing public interest in water sports, one frequently hears of incidents where a paddle or oar has been swept overboard or a sail has been damaged and the boat user is thus left suddenly without any means for propulsion of the craft. When such an incident happens a mile or two from the shore, there is the further risk that the boat user will be unable by his own efforts to return'to land.

The present invention was devised to provide an emergency means of propulsion that would be capable of being stored compactly on a water craft and yet was able to be deployed quickly if required.

According to the invention, there is provided a paddle comprising a handle and a paddle blade, in which the blade is capable of being folded such that it can be completely stored in the handle. The blade may be made of a number of longitudinal ribs which are joined together by an intervening web. At an end of the blade remote from the handle, the ribs may be held apart from one another by an end spar.

The ribs may be supported on a main block which is slidable in a tube. The tube may form the handle of the paddle. Preferably, one end of the tube is provided with a main block lock which serves to prevent the main block from being pulled out of the tube. The main block may be provided with catch means by which it may be secured át the tube end. The catch means may comprise a hook which can be secured to the tube end. The said hook may be formed as an integral part of the main block.

By way of example, a particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view giving the general outline of the paddle when made ready for use, Figure 2 is a similar view on a larger scale and partly cut-away, Figure 3 is a view from the side of Figure 2, and, Figure 4 is an exploded view showing some of the blade parts extended from the handle.

As depicted in Figure 1, the paddle comprises a blade -l which extends from a handle 2 which is provided with an end cap 3. When the paddle is arranged in its initial condition for storage, the blade 1 is completely accommodated in the handle 2 which is in the form of a tube. The left hand end of the handle will then be closed with a second end cap (not shown).

In this collapsed condition, the paddle forms a robust storage container which is unlikely to be damaged by salt water. To make the paddle ready for use, the left hand end cap is removed and the folded paddle blade 1 is pulled out from the handle 2. A stop is provided to prevent the blade 1 from becoming detached from the handle 2. The folded blade is then opened out and secured in the open position.

Figures 2 and 3 are partly cut away views showing the paddle construction in greater detail. The handle 2 is a tube 4 which at a right hand end accommodates a main tube divider 6 which separates the part of the handle enclosing the folded blade from a storage compartment 7 which is closed by the end cap 3. The storage compartment 7 may be used to hold items such as a flare, knife or line.

The paddle blade 1 is supported on a main block 8 which is slidable within the part of the tube 4 to the left of the tube divider 6. The main block 8 supports a centre strut 9 and two outside struts 11 which are located on either side of the centre strut. One of the outside struts 11 is provided at its outer end with an end spar 12 which is capable of being hinged outwards and then being clipped across the centre strut 9 and the opposite outside strut 11 so as to hold the outside struts in a bowed outwards condition to act as a basic support for the blade. The struts 9 and 11 are connected together by a web 13 of flexible plastics material which thus forms the main part of the blade area.

The web 13 is approximately of a triangular shape and it includes tunnel portions through which the struts 9 and 11 pass.

The main-parts of the blade can be seen more clearly in the exploded view of Figure 4. The main block 8 is slidable within the tube 4. The centre strut 9 which is of hollow construction passes through a large central hole in the main block 8 and is secured therein by a pin 14.

The outside struts 11 pass through smaller holes in the block 8 and are secured within by the same pin 14. A main block lock 16 fixed internally on the main tube 4 end serves to prevent the main block 8 from being withdrawn completely from the tube 4.

The main block 8 also carries a spring arm 17 which when the block is adjacent the lock 16 can be hooked over the end of the main tube 4 in order to prevent any tendency for the blade 1 to be pushed inadvertently back into the tube 4. When the main block 8 is appropriately orientated, the arm 17 is able to pass through a circumferential gap in the main block lock 16.

The outer end of the centre strut 9 carries an end block 18 which is capable of being engaged by the end spar 12 (Figure 2) when this spar is clipped across between the struts 9 and 11.

In operation of the collapsable paddle, this is taken when wanted from its storage position and the left hand end cap is removed from the tube 4. A cord loop (not shown) attached to the end block 18 is then pulled to withdraw the struts 9 and 11. As the main block 8 approaches the block lock 16, the strut structure may be rotated sltghtly to allow the spring arm 17 to pass through the gap in the block lock 16. When the struts 9 and 11 are fully extended, the spring arm 17 will lock automatically at the end of the tube 4. The end spar 12 is then folded outwards from one of the outside struts 11 and clipped across the end block 18 to the opposite outside strut 11. This action will bend the outside struts 11 outwards to tighten the web 13 across the blade of the paddle. The paddle is then in- condition for use.

To replace the paddle blade in the tube, the reverse movements are followed and the main block 8 may be pushed down the tube again after the spring arm 17 has been manually released. The material of the web 13 may be folded together when the end spar 12 is relocated alongside its supporting outside strut 11.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, instead of being made in a single bladed form, the collapsable paddle could be constructed with a blade at both ends of the tube 4 to make a twin bladed paddle. If a more compact construction was required, the handle could be made in two portions which telescope together. The end cap 3 may accommodate a magnetic compass.

To aid the passage of the arm 17 through the gap in the blade lock 16, the tube 4 may carry a guide mark to assist the correct orientation of the struts relative to the tube. In an alternative arrangement, the blade lock 16 could be replaced by two or three studs which would occupy only a relatively small part of the tube internal circumference and thus avoid the need for accurate orientation. In yet a further embodiment, the lock 16 may be replaced by a spring-loaded plunger in the main block 8 which plunger would be capable of entering a suitably positioned hole in the tube 4 wall.

Such a plunger could be depressed from outside the tube when it was required to collapse the paddle.

The collapsable paddle of the invention has been found to be particularly suitable for use on a sail board since in the stand-by condition the paddle can be stored in a recess formed in the board deck or in a cylindrical passage which has been moulded in the material of the board. It is thus suitable for being built into the board construction and it can beneficially form part of the original equipment of the board in order to promote the safe use thereof.

A further means of mounting would be by attachment to the mast or sail by means of clips or 'end socks'.

Claims (8)

1 A paddle comprising a handle and a paddle bladed, in which the blade is capable of being folded such that it can be completely stored in the handle.

2 A- paddle -as claimed in Claim 1, in which the 'blade is made of a number of longitudinal ribs which are joined together by an intervening web.

3 A paddle as claimed in Claim 2, in which at an end of the blade remote from the handle, the ribs may be held apart from one another by an end spar.

4 A paddle as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, in which the ribs are supported on a main block which is slidable in a tube.

5 A paddle as claimed in Claim 4, in which the said main block includes catch means by which it may be secured at the tube end.

6 A paddle as claimed in Claim 5, in which the catch means comprises a hook which can be secured to the tube end.

7 A paddle as claimed in Claim 6, in which the said hook is formed as an integral part of the main block.

8 A paddle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.