This invention turns a single or double bladed kayak or canoe paddle into a highly buoyant rescue aid. Manual triggers inflate one or both paddle blades with compressed gas or explosive gas.
After inflation, blades can be collapsed for continued paddling. Paddle must be serviced before another emergency inflation can be initiated by the paddler.
Kayak or Canoe paddlers can inadvertently become capsized in rough water. Some paddlers can execute a roll back to upright by a series of moves sometimes referred to as an Eskimo roll, a C-C roll or others. The maneuvers require the paddler to position the paddle blade at the proper angle to the water surface while sweeping the paddle in order to get leverage to roll themselves and the boat back to an upright position.
A paddler may make several attempts to roll upright before succeeding and sometimes is unsuccessful. If unsuccessful the paddler remains upside down with their head below the surface of the water, vulnerable to underwater obstructions (rocks, reefs) and unable to make maneuvers required for continued safe paddling. At this point the paddler must make a “wet exit” which the paddler separates himself from the kayak or canoe and swims to the surface of the water. The paddler is now out of the boat and floating down river or adrift at sea with no control. This is an unsafe time subjecting the paddler to the elements of his surroundings.
A Kayak or Canoe paddler capsizes in a river, ocean, or lake.
The paddler attempts several roll maneuvers and fails to return to the upright position.
The upside down paddler is faced with underwater obstructions (rocks, reefs), or exiting the kayak or canoe and losing control of direction.
The paddler manually triggers the inflation of one or both blades with trigger mechanisms on the paddle shaft, and or “T” handle. Compressed gas, or explosive gas (automotive SRS technology) inflates the blade(s).
Then regardless of blade angle or water density (foamy) the paddler uses the inflated paddle to lever or pull oneself to the upright position. This is similar to a paddler who has manually installed an inflation bag on his paddle as done in training to learn to roll upright.
The blade is then deflated with the triggers and the paddle can be used to paddle to shore.
If this still fails to aid the paddler in regaining the upright position, the paddler will exit his kayak or canoe. At this point the inflated paddle is ready to be used to allow the paddler to climb back in his kayak or canoe.