Hinged Oar Assembly for Paddleboard Reverse Propulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stand-up paddle boards with single paddles are difficult to maneuver due to unbalanced body positioning, and those with two paddles face challenges in propelling in reverse directions, limiting user convenience and balance.
Innovation Solution
An oar assembly with a shaft, geared couplers, and hinged joints allows for hingeable movement, enabling the oar blade to move in opposite directions for efficient forward and reverse propulsion, facilitated by a lock bolt mechanism that adjusts the oar assembly's configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single paddle is used to propel the paddleboard, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in maneuvering and maintaining body balance
Solution Approach 1:
The single paddle is divided into two separate paddles, each attached to opposite sides of the paddleboard. This segmentation allows independent operation of each paddle, improving maneuverability and balance control without requiring complex body adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The paddle system is merged with the paddleboard structure through attachment mechanisms. The paddles are combined with the board to form an integrated system, eliminating the need for separate handheld paddles and improving operational ease.
2Ease of operation
If two paddles are attached to the paddleboard on each side, then the ease of operation improves by eliminating the need to shift body weight, but the adaptability deteriorates due to limited range of movement for reverse propulsion
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle attachment system incorporates dynamic elements that allow the paddles to move relative to the board. This dynamic configuration enables the paddles to achieve greater range of motion for reverse propulsion while maintaining stable attachment during forward movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism allows changes in the operational parameters of the paddles, including angle and position. This parameter variability enables the system to adapt between forward and reverse propulsion modes, improving versatility.
3Device complexity
If the paddles are fixed to the paddleboard, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates due to limited range of movement for reverse direction propulsion
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism transitions from a fixed to a dynamic system, allowing the paddles to move relative to the board. This dynamic attachment provides greater range of motion for reverse propulsion while maintaining relatively simple construction.
Data Source
AI summary
An oar assembly for a paddleboard is disclosed herein. The oar assembly according to one embodiment, allows the user to propel in a forward as well as a reverse direction. The oar assembly comprises a shaft having a top end and a bottom end. A first geared coupler having a first toothed surface extends from the bottom end of the shaft. A second geared coupler having a second toothed surface is configured to couple to the first geared coupler. An oar blade extends from the second geared coupler. A pair of brackets is configured for assembly on the shaft, the first geared coupler, and the second geared coupler. According to one aspect, a meshing of the first toothed surface with the second toothed surface facilitates hingeable movement between the first geared coupler and the second geared coupler, and thereby between the shaft and the oar blade.