GB2213119A

GB2213119A - A rowing aid for bow-facing rowing

Info

Publication number: GB2213119A
Application number: GB8816650A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Clemens Deutschmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-07
Filing date: 1988-07-13
Publication date: 1989-08-09
Also published as: GB8816650D0

Abstract

A rowing aid 10 for bow-facing rowing includes a first hand-manipulative component 28, as well as a second oar component 30 to which is attachable an oar blade. The components are connected to transmission means 24, 26, 32 and 34 which are adapted, on movement of the first component in a first direction, to urge the second component in the same direction. The transmission means is mounted or mountable to a boat. <IMAGE>

Description

A ROWING AID THIS INVENTION relates to a rowing aid. It relates also to a boat assembly.

According to the invention there is provided a rowing aid, which includes a first hand-manipulative component; a second oar component which incorporates, or to which is attachable, an oar blade; and transmission means to which the first and second components are connected, the transmission means being adapted, on movement of the first component in a first direction, to urge the second component in the same direction, with at least one of the components and/or the transmission means being mounted or mountable to a boat.

The rowing aid may include a base to which the first and second components are pivotally mounted, and mounting means for mounting the base to the boat. The mounting means may include at least one clamp for clamping the base to a side of the boat.

The first and second components may be of elongate form, and may protrude from opposite sides of the transmission means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the transmission means may comprise a gear set. The rowing aid may include a pair of spaced pivot members protruding from and pivotally mounted to the base, with one of the components being fast with one of the pivot member and the other being fast with the other pivot -member, and with the gear set comprising a toothed gear or cog wheel mounted on each pivot member, and the teeth or cogs of thewheels intermeshing.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first and second components may be pivotally mounted to the base by means of pivot members, with the transmission means comprising a lever interconnecting the components and being connected to the the first and second components intermediate the protruding ends of the components and the pivot members.

A pair of the clamps, aligned with each other, may be provided.

The clamps may be pivotally attached to the base so that the base can pivot relative to the clamps about a pivotal axis extending transversely to the rotational axes of the pivot pins.

In other embodiments of the invention, any other suitable mounting means can instead be used, such as mounting pins or blocks, mounted pivotally to the base and adapted to be secured to a boat side eg by being in the form of pins which can fit spigot/socket fashion in openings or passageways in the boat side, mounting blocks fastenable to the boat side by means of bolts, or the like.

The invention extends also to a boat assembly which includes a boat hull; and a rowing aid as hereinbefore described, mounted to, or incorporated into, the hull.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a rowing aid according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows, in part, a sectional view through Il-Il in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a rowing aid according to a second embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 5 shows, in part, a three-dimensional view of the rowing aid of Figure 1, with a different molting means.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a rowing aid according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The rowing aid 10 includes a base, generally indicated by reference numeral 12.

The base 12 comprises a base plate 14, a pair of spaced end plates 16, 18 protruding orthogonally and upwardly from the base plate 14, and a cover plate 20, spanning the gap between the end plates 16, 18, so that a compartment 22 is defined between the base plate 14, the end plate 16, 18 and the cover plate 20. In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the components 14, 16, 18 and 20 of the base 12 can be in the form of a suitably shaped enclosed housing, eg two complementary housing or cover portions.

A pair of spaced pivot pins 24, 26 are pivotally mounted in the base plate 14 and the cover plate 20, to span the distance between the base plate and the cover plate. From the pivot pin 26 protrudes radially outwardly a first component 28. From the second pivot pin 24 protrudes radially outwardly a second component 30. The first and second components protrude from opposite sides of the compartment 22. On the pivot pin 26 is mounted a toothed gear or cog wheel 32, while a toothed gear or cog wheel 4 is mounted to the pivot pin 24. The teeth of the gears 32, 34 mesh. In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the components 28, 30 can be located externally of the housing 12, eg on extensions or protruding portions of the pivot pins 26, 24 respectively.

The first component 28 is of sufficient length to constitute a hand holdable and manipulative lever. Instead, it may be such that a hand holdable and manipulative lever or elongate member can be attached thereto, eg located spigot/socket fashion therein or thereover and attached thereto, eg by means of grub screws or other fixing device.

An oar blade (not shown) is integral with the component 30.

Instead, the component 30 can be such that an oar blade can be attached thereto, eg located spigot and socket fashion therein or thereover and attached thereto, eg by means of grub screws, or the like.

The rowing aid 10 also includes a pair of clamps, each generally indicated by reference numeral 35. Each of the clamps 35 comprises a pair of limbs 36, spaced bridging members 38 extending between the limbs 36, and clamping members 40. Each clamping member 40 comprises a screw-threaded shank which co-operate with threads of a nut 42 secured to a limb 36. The one bridging member 38 of each of the clamps 35 is provided with an eye 44 which fits rotatably over a pin 46 protruding from the base plate 14. Hence, the base plate 14 can pivot relative to the clamp members 35 along a pivotal axis provided by the aligned pins 46.

In use, the aid 10 will be clamped to the side of a rowing boat hull (not shown) by means of the clamps 35, so that the component 28 protrudes into the boat, while the component 30 protrudes over the edge of the boat. A hand holdable extension will then be attached to the component 28, as hereinbefore described. An oar blade will be attached to the component 30 as hereinbefore described.

On a rower (not shown) urging the component 28 in the direction indicated by arrow 48 in Figure 2, the component 30, and hence the oar blade, will also be urged, due to the intermeshing of the gears 32, 34 in the direction of arrow 48. Hence, the rower will be able to row in the direction in which he faces.

Due to the pivotability of the base 12 relative to the clamps 35, the inclination of the components 28, 30, relative to the horizontal, can be varied as desired as the rower rows.

Referring to Figure 3, reference numeral 50 generally indicates a rowing aid according to a second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

Parts of the aid 50 which are the same or similar to those of the aid 10, are indicated with the same reference numerals.

The aid 50 also includes a base plate 14, pivot pins 24, 26 protruding upwardly from the base plate, and clamps 35 for clamping the aid to a boat component.

The aid 50 further includes a first component 28 and a second component 30.

A lever 52 is pivotally attached to the first component 28 by means of a pivot pin 54, located between the pivot pin 26 and the other or free end of the component 28. The lever 62 is also pivotally attached to the second component 30 by means of a pivot pin 56, located between the pivot pin 24 and the other or free end of the component 30.

By a rower urging the component 28 in the direction of arrow 48, an oar blade (not shown), attached to the component 30, will also be urged in the direction of the arrow 48, by means of the lever 52.

Referring to Figure 4, reference numeral 60 generally indicates a different torn of mounting means for the aid 10 of Figure 1.

The mounting means 60 hence is used instead of the clamp 35 and comprises a mounting plate 62 attachable by means of bolts 64 to the side of a boat, a component or block66 protruding from the plate, and a pin 68 pivotally mounted on the component 66, the pin being fast with the base plate 14. The pin 68 can be mounted in an anti-friction bearing in the component 66. Hence, a pair of the mounting means 60 will be provided, one located at either end of the base plate, with the base plate being pivotal about the axis of the pins 68 of the mounting means. Instead, the components 66 can be mounted to a mounting plate (not shown), which can then be attached, eg bolted, to the boat side.

The Applicant believes that the rowing aids 10, 50 provide a simple yet effective means for overcoming the problem which a rower rowing a conventional row boat experiences, viz the rowlock of such a boat forms a fulcrum for an oar blade manipulated by the rower, so that the rower then normally does not face in the direction in which he rows. With the aids 10, 50 the rower will face in the direction in which he rows.

In other embodiments of the invention, instead of the clamps 35 and mounting means 60, any other suitable mounting means may be provided, eg the base 12 can be bolted to the side of the boat; one or more of the components can be formed integrally with the side of the boat, or located in a recess therein; a pair of mounting pins pivotally mounted to the base 12 and slidable spigot/socket fashion into recesses or passageways in the boat side; or the like.

Claims

1. A rowing aid, which includes a first hand-manipulative component; a second oar component which incorporates, or to which is attachable, an oar blade; and transmission means to which the first and second components are connected, the transmission means being adapted, on movement of the first component in a first direction, to urge the second component in the same direction, with at least one of the components and/or the transmission means being mounted or mowntabie to a boat.

2. A rowing aid according to Claim 1, which includes a base to which the first and second components are pivotally amounted, and mounting means for mounting the base to the boat.

3. A rowing aid according to Claim 2, wherein the first arid second components are of elongate form and protrudes from opposite sides of the transmission means.

4. A rowing aid according to Claim 3, wherein the transmission means comprises a gear set.

5. A rowing aid according to Claim 4, which includes a pair of spaced pivot members protruding from and pivotally mounted to the base, with one of the components being fast with one of the pivot member and the other being fast with the other pivot member, and wherein the gear set comprises a toothed gear or cog wheel mounted on each pivot member, with the teeth or cogs of the wheels intermeshing.

6. A rowing aid according to Claim , wherein the first and second components are pivotally mounted to the base by means of pivot members, the transmission means comprising a lever interconnecting the components and being connected to the the first and second components intermediate the protruding ends of the components and the pivot members.

7. A rowing aid according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 inclusive, wherein the mounting means includes at least one clamp for clamping the base to a side of the boat.

8. A rowing aid according to Claim 7, wherein a pair of the clamps, aligned with each other, are provided, with the clamps being pivotally attached to the base so that the base can pivot relative to the clamps about a pivotal axis extending transversely to the rotational axes of the pivot pins.

9. A boat assembly which includes a boat hull; and a rowing aid as claimed in oily one of Claims 1 to 8 inclusive, mounted to, or incorporated into, the hull.

10. A rowing aid, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

11. A boat assembly, substantially as described and illustrated herein.