Aquatic propulsion device

• US 6,709,306 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Blake Brown
• Original Assignee: William Blake Brown
• Inventors: Brown, William Blake
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vasudeva, Ajay
• Application Number:
  US10/121,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 441/55-59, 440/101-104, D21/806, D21/807, D21/678, 416/63, 416/69, 416/70.R
• US Class Current: 441/56
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 31/04 with arrangements for enlarging the propulsive surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 31/12 held by, or attachable to, the arms or legs

Abstract

An aquatic propulsion device includes an elongate member, a forearm support secured to the elongate member, a grip secured to the elongate member, and a paddle secured to the grip. The grip is positioned such that a person may place their forearm in the forearm support and reach and hold onto the grip. While wearing the aquatic propulsion device, the person may perform power and/or return strokes using their forearm and hand, such that the forearm support, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the forearm and hand. The aquatic propulsion device is characterized by a center of water displacement that extends beyond the hand, away from the forearm.

Claims

1. An aquatic propulsion device comprising:

an elongate member;

a forearm support to be worn on a forearm of a person, the forearm support secured to a first portion of the elongate member, the forearm support including a first portion having a curved generally c-shaped profile;

a grip secured to a second portion of the elongate member; and

a paddle secured to the grip,

wherein a person can place a forearm in the forearm support and can reach and hold onto the grip with a hand and move the grip with the hand such that the forearm support, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the hand and the forearm,

wherein a combination of the forearm support, the elongate member, the grip, and the paddle is characterized by a center of water displacement extending beyond the hand away from the forearm in a direction generally indicated by a line from a portion of the forearm support toward a portion of the grip, the center of water displacement offset relative to a midpoint of the grip in a direction generally indicated by a line from a thumb-side of the hand toward a fourth-finger-side of the hand.

2. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the forearm support is slidably adjustable to accommodate a variety of forearm widths.

3. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the grip is secured to the elongate member in a slidably adjustable manner to accommodate a variety of forearm lengths.

4. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the paddle is secured to the grip in a removable manner.

5. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the paddle is flexible.

6. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the forearm support includes a second portion having a shape that is different than the first portion of the forearm support.

7. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein the grip and the elongate member are formed from a single piece of material.

8. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm on a thumb-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the grip.

9. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm opposite a thumb-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the grip.

10. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm on a palm-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the grip.

11. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm opposite a palm-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the grip.

12. An aquatic propulsion device comprising:

an elongate member;

a forearm support to be worn on a forearm of a person, the forearm support secured to a first portion of the elongate member, the forearm support including a first portion having a curved generally c-shaped profile and a second portion having a generally straight profile;

a grip secured to a second portion of the elongate member; and

a paddle secured to the grip,

wherein a person can place a forearm in the forearm support and can reach and hold onto the grip with a hand and move the grip with the hand such that the forearm support, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the hand and the forearm,

wherein a combination of the forearm support, the elongate member, the grip, and the paddle is characterized by a center of water displacement extending beyond the hand away from the forearm in a direction generally indicated by a line from a portion of the forearm support toward a portion of the grip, the center of water displacement offset relative to a midpoint of the grip in a direction generally indicated by a line from a thumb-side of the hand toward a fourth-finger-side of the hand.

13. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein the forearm support is slidably adjustable to accommodate a variety of forearm widths.

14. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein the grip is secured to the elongate member in a slidably adjustable manner to accommodate a variety of forearm lengths.

15. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein the paddle is secured to the grip in a removable manner.

16. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein the paddle is flexible.

17. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein the grip and the elongate member are formed from a single piece of material.

18. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm on a thumb-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the grip.

19. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm opposite a thumb-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the grip.

20. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm on a palm-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the grip.

21. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 12, wherein a portion of the elongate member runs along a portion of the forearm opposite a palm-side of the hand when the forearm is placed in the forearm support and the hand holds onto the prig.

22. An aquatic propulsion device comprising:

an elongate member;

a forearm support to be worn on a forearm of a person, the forearm support secured to a first portion of the elongate member in a slidably adjustable manner to accommodate a variety of forearm lengths;

a grip secured to a second portion of the elongate member; and

a paddle secured to the grip,

wherein a person can place a forearm in the forearm support and can reach and hold onto the grip with a hand and move the grip with the hand such that the forearm support, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the hand and the forearm,

wherein a combination of the forearm support, the elongate member, the grip, and the paddle is characterized by a center of water displacement extending beyond the hand away from the forearm in a direction generally indicated by a line from a portion of the forearm support toward a portion of the grip, the center of water displacement offset relative to a midpoint of the grip in a direction generally indicated by a line from a thumb-side of the hand toward a fourth-finger-side of the hand.

23. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 22, wherein the forearm support includes a portion having a curved generally c-shaped profile.

24. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 22, wherein the forearm support is slidably adjustable to accommodate a variety of forearm widths.

25. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 24, further comprising an adjustable securing device that maintains a forearm support position with respect to the elongate member and maintains a forearm support width.

26. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 25, wherein the securing device comprises a single shaft.

27. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 22, wherein the grip is secured to the elongate member in a selectably rotatable manner.

28. An aquatic propulsion device comprising:

an elongate member;

a first forearm support to be worn on a forearm of a person, the first forearm support secured to a first portion of the elongate member;

a grip secured to a second portion of the elongate member;

a second forearm support to be worn on the forearm of the person, the second forearm support secured to at least one from the group of the grip and a third portion of the elongate member;

a paddle secured to the grip,

wherein a person can place a forearm in the first and second forearm supports and can reach and hold onto the grip with a hand and move the grip with the hand such that the first and second forearm supports, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the hand and the forearm.

29. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 28, wherein the first forearm support and the second forearm support have different shapes.

30. An aquatic propulsion device comprising:

an elongate member;

a forearm support to be worn on a forearm of a person, the forearm support secured to a first portion of the elongate member;

a grip secured to a second portion of the elongate member;

a wrist support to be worn on a wrist of the person, the wrist support secured to at least one from the group of the grip and a third portion of the elongate member;

a paddle secured to the grip,

wherein a person can place a wrist in the wrist support and place a forearm in the forearm support, and can reach and hold onto the grip with a hand and move the grip with the hand such that the wrist support, the forearm support, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the hand and the forearm.

31. An aquatic propulsion device comprising:

an elongate member having a length;

a forearm support to be worn on a forearm of a person, the forearm support having at least one side secured along a majority of the elongate member'"'"'s length;

a grip secured to the elongate member; and

a paddle secured to the grip,

wherein a person can place a forearm in the forearm support and can reach and hold onto the grip with a hand and move the grip with the hand such that the forearm support, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the hand and the forearm

wherein a combination of the forearm support, the elongate member, the grip, and the paddle is characterized by a center of water displacement extending beyond the hand away from the forearm in a direction generally indicated by a line from a portion of the forearm support toward a portion of the grip, the center of water displacement offset relative to a midpoint of the grip in a direction generally indicated by a line from a thumb-side of the hand toward a fourth-finger-side of the hand.

32. The aquatic propulsion device of claim 31, wherein the forearm support forms a cuff.

33. An aquatic propulsion device comprising:

an elongate member;

a forearm support to be worn on a forearm of a person, the forearm support secured to a first portion of the elongate member;

a grip secured to a second portion of the elongate member; and

a paddle secured to the grip,

wherein a person can place a forearm in the forearm support and can reach and hold onto the grip with a hand and move the grip with the hand such that the forearm support, the elongate member, and the paddle move in tandem with the hand and the forearm,

wherein a combination of the forearm support, the elongate member, the grip, and the paddle is characterized by a center of water displacement extending beyond the hand away from the forearm in a direction generally indicated by a line from a portion of the forearm support toward a portion of the grip, the center of water displacement offset relative to a midpoint of the grip in a direction generally indicatd by a line from a thumb-side of the hand toward a fourth-finger-side of the hand.