FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to aquatic sporting goods and more particularly, to a sail for use with a paddle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Paddles of different types are used in various freshwater and saltwater aquatic activities, such as paddle boarding and canoeing. While aquatic activities involving paddles typically require manual exertion as the primary mode of propulsion, this can be physically demanding and is slow for all but the most robust individuals.
Since antiquity it has been known that it is advantageous to use other means of propulsion, such as sails, when possible. Sails are traditionally used with fixed masts and a boom, which keep the sail spread. Also, watercrafts have traditionally been too large and heavy to be propelled by wind if the sail is not rigidly affixed to the vessel. However, the advent of small, lightweight watercraft made from materials such as plastic, including canoes, kayaks, long boards, and paddleboards, has made it possible to use small sails that are held by individuals and not affixed to the vessel. However, individuals only have two hands and it is generally necessary to secure at least three points of a sail to effectively capture the wind. It is desirable in the art to have a sail configured for convenient and effective use with a standard paddle and paddle board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention permits the use of a portable sail in connection with lightweight watercraft (e.g., paddle board) that use a paddle by employing the paddle in a manner somewhat analogous to a traditional mast. In one embodiment, the sail is attached to the paddle by a hook and loop fastener running along one edge of the sail. The sail may have three or four sides and optionally include a transparent section or window. The sail is affixed to the paddle by mating the hook/loop strip around the paddle to its corresponding hook/loop strip on the other side of the sail. The paddle itself is not affixed to the vessel but is held upright by the user and rests on the surface of the paddle board. The paddle stays in contact with the board due to its own weight and that of the user's arm, along with the friction between the paddle and the board surface (which may be increased by applying a coating or wax to the board surface). The user holds the paddle upright with one hand and the other hand is used to hold the distant end of the sail via a cord or handle affixed thereto. This arrangement permits sufficient sail spread to propel small watercraft downwind in light to moderate wind conditions. If less sail is desired, all or part of the sail can be conveniently wrapped around the paddle to avoid exposure to the wind and allow the paddle to be used in its traditional manner. When the user desires to transition from manual paddling back to wind sailing, the sail can be unwrapped from the paddle. In one embodiment, the sail includes an optional batten for greater rigidity. The batten is affixed to a swivel rivet that allows it to be moved from a stowed, vertical position to a working position where it is secured in place by a batten pocket or fastener.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete and thorough understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top view of one side of a triangular sail according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the reverse side of a triangular sail according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a top view of one side of a quadrilateral sail according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the reverse side of a quadrilateral sail according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view of an individual using the sail of the present invention with a paddleboard.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the sail of the present invention in a fully wrapped configuration with a paddle.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a triangular sail of the present invention with clear window and wrap-strap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements, processes or techniques have been briefly mentioned and not elaborated on in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail and description. Moreover, specific details and the like may have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not deemed necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the invention, and are considered to be within the understanding of persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a sail that is triangular in shape is provided. By way of example, the sail can be made from 1.5-ounce ripstop spinnaker cloth or other light, flexible material that is tear-resistant and water-resistant. FIG. 1 shows a top view of one side of the sail 110, with a loop strip 100 that is coextensive with the length of the sail, and a grommet 101 coinciding with the distant end (i.e. corner) of the sail. The loop strip 100 extends inward from the terminal vertical edge of the sail, and is configured to reversibly attach to the hook strip 102 (shown with dashed lines to denote its position on the reverse side of the sail 110) to form a hook-and-loop bond (e.g., Velcro®). As with the loop strip 100, the hook strip 102 is an integrated strip of material that extends along the length of the sail parallel to the loop strip 100, offset a short distance inward from the terminal vertical edge of the sail. The offset, i.e. distance between loop strip 100 and hook strip 102, is configured to correspond to the circumference of a standard paddle shaft such that a tight fit can be achieved by the sail around the paddle. Moreover, the thickness of the loop strip 100 and the hook strip 102 provide for flexibility in the circumference formed by the bonding of the loop strip 100 and hook strip 102, so that the tightness around the paddle can be adjusted and as such it can be fastened around a paddle having a non-standard shaft circumference. Further, the effective size of the sail (i.e. the sail area exposed to the wind) can be reduced by wrapping or winding the sail around paddle, wherein each winding of the sail around the paddle reduces the effective area of the sail.
In an exemplary embodiment, this offset (including the width of the hook strip 102) defines the fastening portion 109 of the sail 110. The sail is fastened onto a paddle by wrapping the fastening portion 109 around the paddle (it's vertical axis coinciding with the straight vertical edge of the sail 110), so that loop strip 100 makes contact with hook strip 102, and the portion of the sail beyond the fastening portion 109 (i.e., the portion of the sail to the left of the hook strip 102) remains free to catch the wind while standing on a paddleboard. In an alternate embodiment, the fastening portion can utilize a zipper or snap fasteners instead of hook and loop materials. The grommet 101, through which a control cord is affixed, provides control over the sail. Thus, beyond wrapping/fastening the fastening portion 109, the sail can be partially or fully wrapped around a paddle, the latter option enabling manual propulsion via paddling. These adjustments can be made in real time during usage, allowing for substantial flexibility and convenience for the user.
The reverse side of the sail depicted in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The hook strip 202 extends along the length of the sail 210 offset a short distance from, and parallel to, the loop strip 200 running along the terminal vertical edge of the sail, in a manner that permits the two strips to be mated around the circumference of a paddle. The rectangular fastening portion 209 is defined by the area of the straight vertical edge and a perpendicular straight edge extending from it. The surface of the fastening region 209 makes contact with the paddle as a result of the aforementioned mating of the strips. In an exemplary embodiment, both the soft-textured loop strip 200 and the rough-textured hook strip 202 have widths of approximately 1.5″ each. The hook and loop fastening material (i.e. loop strip 200 and hook strip 202) need not be continuous and may be broken up into two or more sections along the length of the vertical edge of the sail 210.
The design permits one side of the sail to be attached to a paddle, a rigid body that functions in many respects like a mast. In particular, the design ensures that two of the three ends of the sail are kept apart and fixed. The distant corner of the sail, with grommet 201, can be manipulated by the user with the aid of a control cord and handle (as shown in FIG. 5) to capture more or less wind according to the prevailing conditions and personal preference. An exemplary sail may consist of 1.5 oz. nylon ripstop spinnaker cloth, interwoven at regular intervals with a crosshatch method that offers substantial immunity to tearing and ripping. By way of example, the two diagonal edges of an exemplary sail have a 1.25″ wide hem with two rows of topstitching and a size #2 nickel grommet 201 may be utilized. The light yet durable sail compliments its versatility, being highly suited for rapid and safe interchangeability from a sailing to paddling mode. The need for cumbersome adjustments (which may require returning to land) is eliminated, as an individual can easily switch between propulsion methods (i.e. sailing or paddling) while floating on their paddleboard.
An additional embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In this embodiment the sail 310 is in the shape of a quadrilateral rather than a triangle. Other than this difference, the identified portions of the sail 300-302 are similar. Again, these elements include loop strip 300, hook strip 302, and grommet 301. This configuration permits the sail to have a greater surface area. A rotatable batten 311 (shown with dotted lines to indicate its position on the reverse side of the sail) may optionally be inserted into the sail to promote rigidity. The batten system further comprises a swivel rivet 312, batten hook strip 313, and batten pocket 314 (the latter two elements also shown with dotted lines, as they are on the reverse side of the sail). The batten system will be further discussed with the following figure.
FIG. 4 shows the reverse side of the sail depicted in FIG. 3. The sail 410 comprises loop strip 400, hook strip 402, grommet 401, and batten 411. The batten is ideally a fiberglass rod encased in nylon ripstop material. It fastens to the body of the sail 410 via a swivel rivet 412. The batten 411 swivels from its stowed position (vertical and parallel to the hook strip 402) into its working position, which is at an angle from the vertical in the direction of the grommet 401. This rotational movement is indicated by motion arrow 415. In the working position, the tip of the batten 411 fits into a batten pocket 414 found on the body of the sail 410. The batten 411 is further stabilized by a batten fastener 413 found on the body of the sail 410 which may comprise a hook and loop strap or other fastening means found on the encased batten 411.
FIG. 5 depicts the invention being used in connection with a paddle board 530. A paddle sail system 525 includes a sail 510 that is fastened on a standard paddle 507. In connection with the discussion of the fastening of the sail onto the paddle, the terms “paddle” and “paddle shaft” may be used interchangeably herein. The paddle further comprises a grip 506, shaft 504, and blade 505. The paddle is held in an upright, substantially vertical position and rests on the surface of the paddle board 530. In the embodiment shown, a control cord 503 is tied to the grommet 501 at one end and to a control handle 508 at the other end. The control handle 508 allows the user 590 to more effectively and conveniently manipulate the sail 510 in the desired manner and direction. In an exemplary embodiment, a 0.25″ thick, 26″ long nylon control cord 503 is knotted onto the grommet. Controlling the control handle 508 with one hand, the user 590 grasps the shaft 504 of the paddle 507 with the other hand to hold it upright. The interface between the paddle and the board 530 is such that, in moderate wind conditions, the user is able to maintain upright control of the sail 510 even though the force of the wind is lateral to the sail, due to the weight of the paddle and force exerted by the user's arms onto the paddle shaft and control handle/cord. Thus, no specialized equipment is needed with respect to the paddle or the paddleboard, and the sail of the present invention can be used with any paddle or paddleboard. This provides versatility and eliminates the need for paddles or paddle boards with specialized equipment. The stability of the system can be enhanced by a coating on the board, such as wax or neoprene grip pad, which increases the friction or resistance between the blade 505 of the paddle 507 and the board 530. This type of wax (or grip pad) is commonly used on paddleboards in order to provide traction for the user's feet.
If the sail 510 is not fastened to the center of the paddle shaft (as shown in FIG. 5), then the user can simply rotate the paddle 180 degrees, so that the grip 506 rests upon the paddle board 530 surface. This puts the sail 510 at a different height, in this case a lower height, since the sail 510 is fastened to the top of the paddle shaft in FIG. 5 (as opposed to the center or bottom of the paddle shaft). The result is a quick yet drastic structural alteration that can provide different sailing conditions on the fly and allow the user to keep their sail control arm in a lower, more relaxed position. The user can optionally wrap the control cord 503 around the control handle 508, to reduce the effective length of the control cord 503 to optimally control the sail 510 as desired. The free, unattached paddle affords the user greater freedom, not only in the range of movements made possible by dual hand control, but also in choosing gear. The user is not tied to a particular paddle or board type. Instead, an individual can use pre-existing gear, or mix and match with new gear, offering a substantially more cost-effective solution to the activity of sail-enhanced paddle boarding. Moreover, because no anchoring or attachment components are involved, the user can move the paddle (and thereby the sail) to different points on the paddle board as desired.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the sail of the present invention in a fully wrapped configuration around a paddle. The entire body of the sail 610 is wrapped or fastened around the paddle shaft 604 of the paddle 607. The paddle further comprises an end-grip 606 and blade 605. An attached wrap-strap 640 (or “fastening strap”) assures a secure and tight wrapped configuration by means of a hook-and-loop (e.g., Velcro®) or other fastening method to prevent unraveling of the sail from the paddle. The wrap-strap extends from and is securely attached to the grommet (see FIG. 7). Wrapping the sail around the paddle 607 allows the the paddle 607 to be used in the normal manner (i.e., held by the user and used to displace water to effect propulsion) as the wrapped sail does not obstruct the use of the paddle. The wrapped sail/shaft combination can be safely and securely grasped and manipulated with one or both hands. A user can switch from the sailing configuration (shown in FIG. 5) to the wrapped configuration shown here while riding the paddle board, and vice versus, providing convenient versatility between the two modes of propulsion. No specialized gear or equipment is required, and the sail of the present invention can be used with any paddle or paddleboard.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a triangular sail in accordance with the present invention having a clear window 750 and attached wrap-strap 740. Both the triangular-shaped and quadrilateral-shaped sail embodiments of the invention can be integrated with a clear window 750. An exemplary window is composed of 16-gauge clear vinyl, sewn into the body of the sail 710 and positioned for optimum viewing. It is positioned outside of the fastening portion 709 and toward the top or upper portion of the sail (to the right in FIG. 7) so that it aligns with the user's eyes and line of vision. The window allows the user to view objects and landscapes that would be otherwise obstructed by the sail 710, thus providing enhanced safety and navigational ability. The wrap-strap 740, used for securing a fully wrapped sail/paddle configuration, is attached at the far end of the sail—at the point of the grommet 701. An exemplary wrap-strap is approximately 8″ long, riveted onto the grommet between a washer and stud, and utilizes hook-and-loop materials (e.g., Velcro®) as a fastening method. The control cord 703, preferably having a synthetic composition (e.g., nylon), is threaded through and knotted onto the grommet 701. It extends away from the sail 710 and terminates in the control handle 708 (see FIG. 5 for usage). The combination of control handle and clear window promote enhance visibility, enjoyment, and safety while paddle sailing.
While there have been described herein what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. It is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20170283022
