Hand Paddle Grip Elements Eliminate Strap Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand paddles for swimming require adjustable straps for a secure fit, which can be cumbersome to adjust and may lead to incorrect hand positioning and fatigue, and are inconvenient to attach and detach during training with alternating regimes.
Innovation Solution
A hand paddle design featuring grip elements, including finger and thumb grips that allow secure holding without straps, accommodating different hand sizes and promoting correct hand positioning, with optional rigid and movable elements for customization and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adjustable straps are used to secure the paddle, then the paddle can be retained in position, but the straps must be tight which causes hand fatigue and requires time-consuming adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the strap attachment system entirely and replaces it with grip elements that extend from the blade surface. This extraction eliminates the harmful tight straps while maintaining paddle retention through alternative means (grip elements that engage with the hand).
Solution Approach 2:
The grip elements are designed to be automatically adjusted by the user's natural hand grip. When the user closes their hand around the grip elements, the system self-adjusts to the correct tightness without requiring separate adjustment actions or complex strap mechanisms.
2Reliability
If straps are used to attach the paddle, then the paddle can be secured, but attaching and removing the paddle becomes inconvenient during training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex strap attachment and detachment process, replacing it with simple grip elements that require no assembly or disassembly. The paddle is secured through the natural gripping action, and removal is equally simple by releasing the grip.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using straps that must be fastened and unfastened, the patent inverts the approach by using elements that are naturally engaged through the gripping motion itself. The attachment and detachment actions are reversed - rather than securing something external, the hand naturally closes around the grip elements.
3Reliability
If tight straps are used to prevent paddle movement, then the paddle stays in position, but the swimmer must brace their hand which causes fatigue and trains incorrect hand positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful tight straps that forced the hand into an incorrect braced position. The grip elements are designed to work with the natural swimming hand position, eliminating the need for unnatural bracing while maintaining paddle stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip elements provide localized engagement points that distribute the retention force across specific areas of the hand (fingers and palm), rather than requiring uniform tightness across the entire hand as with straps. This localised approach maintains stability without causing fatigue.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand paddle for use in swimming comprises a blade (4) having first and second faces (12,14), wherein the first face (12) is a palmar face and the second face (14) is a power face. A plurality of grip elements (6) extend outwards from the first face (12). The grip elements include one or more finger grips (10) configured to be gripped between the fingers of a user.