US20100009580A1

US20100009580A1 - Flexible oar

Info

Publication number: US20100009580A1
Application number: US12/441,125
Authority: US
Inventors: Luis Guillermo Gomez Escobar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2006-09-12
Publication date: 2010-01-14
Also published as: WO2008032142A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible oar in which the spoon that contacts with the water has a hard edge made from a conventional material and a soft, resilient, flexible core which is stretched upon impact with the water, thereby increasing the pressure applied by the crew and improving the performance of the vessel.

Description

Currently, the oars used both in nautical sports and navigation that are available on the market, are mainly made up of two key elements; that is, the handle, which is used to hold the oar in order to exert force against the water, and the paddle, which is the flat surface that, when in contact with water, produces the necessary impulse to make the boat move. Normally, oars are made out of some sturdy material with a flat surface, in order to achieve greater contact with the water.
The FLEXIBLE OAR increases the size of the surface in contact with the water without altering the area of the paddle in order to obtain a greater performance and enhanced speed from the boat due to its passenger's effort.
The FLEXIBLE OAR can be manufactured in any one of the materials used to make regular oars, but it provides an advantage over them because it has an elastic or flexible surface in the paddle which allows it to inflate when pressed against the water in order to move the boat; this way, the area in contact with the water is greatly increased.
When the FLEXIBLE OAR finds its support and impulse point in the water, the flexible material placed in the paddle stretches so the support point is very much increased, producing a global increase on the boat's performance.
The physical principle by which the FLEXIBLE OAR works can be used in other objects that need to be in contact with water to produce energy or movement, such as helixes, rotors, pedals, wheels, etc.
Its special design allows the rowing effort to be reduced, increases the travel speed and substantially improves the braking of the boat.
For a greater understanding of the invention, next is a description of it and of its parts.
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a conventional oar, as seen from the front.
FIG. 2 shows a FLEXIBLE OAR at rest, i.e, without being pushed in the water.
FIG. 3 shows a FLEXIBLE OAR in action, when the stretching of the flexible material is caused by the pressure of the water.
FIG. 4 shows:
1. The water's resistance in order to generate impulse.
2. The effort being made by the person propelling the boat with the oar.
3. The elongation of the elastic material

Claims

1. The FLEXIBLE OAR is characterized by a conventional oar design made up of a handle, which is used to hold the oar in order to exert force against the water, and the paddle, which is a flat surface of considerable size that enhances the boat's performance.

2. The FLEXIBLE OAR, according to claim No. 1, is characterized by having two types of materials in the paddle: a rim, made out of any sturdy material common to this kind of objects, and a flexible material that covers the paddle's central part.

3. The FLEXIBLE OAR, according to claims No. 1 and 2, is characterized by the elastic material that forms the center of the paddle, which has a determined flexibility that allows it to elongate to a certain point whenever it's in contact with water; giving the security that it does not weaken, rip or tear due to the force imprinted on it by the passengers of the boat.

4. The FLEXIBLE OAR, according to claims No. 1, 2 and 3, is characterized by the fact that the elastic material is completely fixed to the rigid material of the rim in a way that it will not come off at any time and that it will not allow the passage of water through the joint of both elements.