ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,304,604, issued on May 20.
"Stiff hollow rod for use to propel watercraft" was invented by Eugene Guyton (Aberdeen, Wash.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Hollow rod for propelling a watercraft, such as a stand-up paddleboard, comprising: a rigid hollow rod comprising a center section of reduced diameter cross-section suitable for gripping and manipulating by a user's hands; and two, preferably symmetrical, ends of larger diameter suitable for alternating insertion into the water, allowing the water and air to free-flow through the hollow rod, thus providing a means of propulsion as the user pulls on the inserted portion of the rod along t...