Shaft coupler with positive angular and axial locking features for coupling paddle sections together and angularly positioning the sections relative to each other

• US 20040023570A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Werner Paddles
• Original Assignee: Werner Paddles
• Inventors: Stamm, Joe W., Bridge, Andrew Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,881,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/101
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 16/04 Oars; Sculls; Paddles; Poles
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0413 for tubes using the innerside thereof F16B7/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7018 including separably interposed key

Abstract

The present invention provides a coupler for rotationally and/or axially securing two shafts together while permitting rapid angular adjustment between the shafts. The coupler includes a first component mountable to a first section of the paddle and a second component mountable to a second section of the paddle. The first component includes a receptacle, and the second component includes a protrusion operable to extend into the receptacle to position the first component relative to the second component and to prevent the first component from turning relative to the second component. To turn and reposition one of the components relative to the other component, the second component is axially movable relative to the first component. The coupler may also include a retainer to prevent the first component from inadvertently being repositioned relative to the second component.

Claims

1. A coupler for coupling sections of a paddle together and angularly positioning the sections relative to each other about a paddle axis, the coupler comprising:

a first component mountable to a first section of the paddle and including a receptacle; and

a second component mountable to a second section of the paddle and including a protrusion operable to extend into the receptacle of the first component to position the first component relative to the second component and to prevent the first component from turning relative to the second component, wherein the second component is movable relative to the first component along the paddle axis to turn and reposition the first component relative to the second component.

2. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the first component includes more than one receptacle each operable to receive the protrusion of the second component to position the first component in different angular positions relative to the second component.

3. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the second component includes more than one protrusion each-operable to extend into the receptacle of the first component to position the first component in different angular positions relative to the second component.

4. The coupler of claim 1 wherein:

the first component includes more than one receptacle, and

the second component includes more than one protrusion each operable to extend into each receptacle to position the first component relative to the second component in different angular positions.

5. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the second component is movable relative to the first component along the paddle axis to withdraw the protrusion of the second component from the receptacle of the first component.

6. The coupler of claim 1 wherein:

the protrusion includes a rectangular key, and

the receptacle includes a keyway sized to receive the key.

7. The coupler of claim 1 wherein:

the second component includes 24 protrusions, each including a rectangular key, and

the first component includes 24 receptacles, each including a keyway sized to receive each key.

8. The coupler of claim 7 wherein:

each protrusion is equally, angularly spaced around a perimeter of the second component, and

each receptacle receives a protrusion when the first component is positioned relative to the second component.

9. The coupler of claim 1 further comprising a retainer operable to releasably lock the position of the first component relative to the second component.

10. The coupler of claim 9 wherein:

the second component includes a lip, and

the retainer includes a hook operable to releasably lock the lip with the first component.

11. The coupler of claim 10 wherein the retainer includes a spring to bias the hook toward the lip when the protrusion of the second component extends into the receptacle of the first component.

12. A paddle comprising:

a first section;

a second section angularly positionable relative to the first section about a paddle axis; and

a coupler operable to couple the first section with the second section, wherein the coupler comprises;

a first component included in the first section of the paddle and including a receptacle, and

a second component included in the second section of the paddle and including a protrusion operable to extend into the receptacle of the first component to position the second section relative to the first section and to prevent the second section from turning relative to the first section, wherein the second component is movable relative to the first component along the paddle axis to turn and reposition the second section relative to the first section.

13. The paddle of claim 12 wherein the first component is mounted to the first section, and the second component is mounted to the second section.

14. The paddle of claim 12 wherein the paddle is a double-bladed paddle and the first section includes a first blade and the second section includes a second blade.

15. The paddle of claim 12 wherein the first section includes a handle and the second section includes a blade.

16. The paddle of claim 12 wherein:

the first section includes a body, and

the first component of the coupler is releasably mounted to the body.

17. The paddle of claim 16 wherein a pin releasably mounts the first component to the body.

18. The paddle of claim 12 wherein:

the second component of the coupler includes 24 protrusions, each equally, angularly spaced around a perimeter and each including a rectangular key; and

the first component of the coupler includes 24 receptacles, each including a keyway sized to receive each key to position the second component relative to the first component in 24 different angular positions.

19. The paddle of claim 12 wherein the coupler includes a retainer operable to releasably couple the first component with the second component to lock the position of the first component relative to the second component.

20. A method for coupling sections of a paddle together and positioning the sections relative to each other about a paddle axis, the method comprising:

inserting a protrusion of a second component of a coupler of a paddle into a receptacle of a first component of the coupler to position the first component relative to the second component and to prevent the first component from turning relative to the second component; and

locking the position of the first component relative to the second component with a retainer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein inserting the protrusion into the receptacle includes inserting a rectangular key of the second component into a keyway of the first component.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein locking the position of the first component relative to the second component includes retaining a lip of the second component with a hook of the retainer.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

moving the first component relative to the second component along the paddle axis to withdraw the protrusion from the receptacle; and

turning the first component relative to the second component about the paddle axis to reposition the first component relative to the second component.