Swimming Hand Paddle with Buoyancy and Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hand paddles for swimming training lack educational feedback for optimal stroke performance, may encourage inefficient mechanics, and pose hazards when decoupled, such as sinking or causing injuries.

Innovation Solution

A hand paddle system with a wrist member and hand member that provides direct feedback through varying water entry resistance based on proper arm, wrist, and hand orientation, encouraging optimal muscular coordination and orientation during swimming strokes, and is designed to be buoyant and safe when decoupled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If conventional hand paddles are used, then propulsion during stroke is increased, but educational feedback for optimal stroke performance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovepropulsionVSAvoideducational feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The hand paddle incorporates feedback mechanisms that provide real-time information to the user about stroke technique. The paddle's design includes features that create tactile feedback through water resistance variations, guiding the user toward optimal stroke mechanics while maintaining propulsion benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces passive mechanical hand paddles with an active system that incorporates electronic sensors and feedback mechanisms. This substitution transforms the purely mechanical propulsion device into an intelligent training tool that provides educational feedback while maintaining force generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of moving object

If conventional hand paddles are used, then water surface area is increased, but stroke mechanics efficiency may be encouraged incorrectly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater surface areaVSAvoidstroke mechanics efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hand paddle incorporates dynamic elements that adjust water resistance based on stroke phase and technique. The paddle's surface area is optimized to provide appropriate resistance during different stroke phases, encouraging efficient mechanics rather than relying solely on static large surface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of water resistance and surface area distribution across different parts of the paddle to guide proper stroke mechanics. By varying resistance parameters throughout the stroke cycle, the paddle promotes efficient technique while maintaining beneficial water surface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If conventional hand paddles are decoupled, then they may sink, but safety hazard and loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepool time efficiencyVSAvoidsafety hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hand paddle incorporates buoyancy elements that counteract the sinking tendency when decoupled from the user's hand. These anti-weight features ensure the paddle floats on the water surface rather than sinking, eliminating safety hazards and preventing loss while maintaining pool time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

4Force

If conventional planar hand paddles are used, then propulsion is enhanced, but sharp edge hazards are created

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovepropulsionVSAvoidsharp edge hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hand paddle replaces sharp planar edges with curved and rounded surfaces. This spheroidality modification maintains the hydrodynamic properties needed for propulsion enhancement while eliminating sharp edges that could cause injury during accidental contact between swimmers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enhances swimming technique by providing direct physical feedback for efficient stroke mechanics, strengthening muscles for proper technique, and ensuring safe usage by floating when not in use, thus promoting optimal distance and strength in swimming.

Implementation Method 1

The hand paddle system is composed and/or configured to be buoyant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The system causes an increased water entry resistance when the user improperly orients their arm, hand and/or wrist leading up to and at the catch point

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrag: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS9174087B2Swimming hand paddle

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 WATCHORN SARA F

AI summary

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a hand paddle system comprising a wrist member and a hand member. The wrist member and hand member are intercoupled. The wrist and hand members are configured to releasably couple or receive the scaphoid and metacarpal regions of a user's hand. The hand paddle system is composed and/or configured to be buoyant. The hand paddle system may also include a finger member coupled to the hand member opposite of the wrist member. The system causes an increased water entry resistance when the user improperly orients their arm and/or wrist leading up to and at the catch point and the buoyancy facilitates an early, high elbow catch and pull.