Paddle weight systems

Abstract

A paddle includes a body portion and a weight coupled to the body portion. The weight is coupled to an edge of the body portion. The weight includes a bridge portion configured to span a thickness of a body portion of a paddle, a first arm extending from a first end of the bridge portion to interface with an edge of the paddle, and a second arm extending from a second end of the bridge portion to interface with the edge of the paddle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paddle comprising:
 a body portion; and   a weight coupled to the body portion,   wherein the weight is coupled to an edge of the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the weight is coupled to the edge of the body portion via an engineering fit. 
     
     
         3 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the weight is coupled to the edge of the body portion via an adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The paddle of  claim 1 , further comprising an edge guard coupled to the body portion at the edge of the body portion, wherein the weight is coupled to the edge guard via an engineering fit, an adhesive, a mechanical device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The paddle of  claim 4 , wherein the weight comprises an internal shape configured to match an exterior shape of the edge guard. 
     
     
         6 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the weight comprises:
 a bridge portion configured to span a thickness of the body portion of the paddle;   a first arm extending from a first end of the bridge portion to interface with the edge of the paddle; and   a second arm extending from a second end of the bridge portion to interface with the edge of the paddle.   
     
     
         7 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the weight comprises:
 a first weight coupled to a first edge of the paddle; and   a second weight coupled to a second edge of the paddle opposite the first edge,   wherein the first weight and the second weight are coupled to the first edge and the second edge about a sweet spot of the paddle to effectively create an enlarged sweet spot, increase a twist weight of the paddle, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The paddle of  claim 1 , further comprising indicia located on the edge of the body portion defining a position on the edge at where the weight is placed, wherein the indicia comprises images, text, embossing, debossing, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the weight is monolithically formed with an edge guard coupled to the edge of the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The paddle of  claim 9 , wherein the weight is monolithically formed with the edge guard via an overmolding process. 
     
     
         11 . The paddle of  claim 10 , wherein the weight is monolithically formed with the edge guard to form a flared portion of the edge guard. 
     
     
         12 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the weight is a magnet. 
     
     
         13 . The paddle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an aperture defined in the edge of the body portion,   wherein the weight is configured to engage with the paddle via the aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The paddle of  claim 13 , further comprising a fastener to couple the weight to the paddle via the aperture, wherein the fastener is a rotational lock, a locking tab, a quick release skewer, a set screw, a channel nut, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A weight system for a paddle comprising:
 a first weight coupled to a first edge of the paddle; and   a second weight coupled to a second edge of the paddle opposite the first edge,   wherein the first weight and the second weight comprise:
 a bridge portion configured to span a thickness of a body portion of the paddle; 
 a first arm extending from a first end of the bridge portion to interface with an edge of the paddle; and 
 a second arm extending from a second end of the bridge portion to interface with the edge of the paddle. 
   
     
     
         16 . The weight system of  claim 15 , wherein the first weight and the second weight are made of metal, metal alloys, plastics, natural materials, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A weight comprising:
 a bridge portion configured to span a thickness of a body portion of a paddle;   a first arm extending from a first end of the bridge portion to interface with an edge of the paddle; and   a second arm extending from a second end of the bridge portion to interface with the edge of the paddle.   
     
     
         18 . The weight of  claim 17 , wherein the bridge portion, the first arm, and the second arm are configured to couple to an edge guard coupled to an edge of the body portion of the paddle. 
     
     
         19 . A weight comprising:
 an overlay; and   an underlay coupled to the overlay,   wherein the overlay and the underlay are configured to couple to an edge of a paddle.   
     
     
         20 . The weight of  claim 19 , further comprising an underlay recess defined in the overlay, wherein the underlay is coupled to the overlay by nesting with the overlay and within the underlay recess,
 wherein:
 the overlay has a first mass; and 
 the underlay has a second mass, 
 wherein the first mass and the second mass define a total mass of the weight.