US2252252A - Rowlock for rowing and sculling boats - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1941. 1.... H. cRoss 2,252,252

ROWLOCK FOR ROWING AND SCULLING BOATS Filed 001:. 29, 1940 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 ROWLOCK FOR ROWING AND SCULLING BOATS Louis Hepburn Cross, Rochester, England Application October 29, 1940, Serial No. 363,349

In Great Britain June 16, 1939 4 Claims.

This invention relates to rowlocks for rowing and sculling boats of the kind embodying an oarengaging element which is capable of assuming a position for use in which it upstands from the gunwale and an alternative out-of-use position in which said element is lowered and projects into the boat.

Objects of the invention are to so form the oar-engaging element that when lowered to its out-of-use position it carries the oar with it and then retains it in a position stowed inboard, and to obviate the possibility of the oar-engaging element becoming accidentally detached in either of its positions or during its movement. A further object is to ensure that when the rowlock is in use there will be no risk of same jumping out of position, nor risk of the car jumping out of the rowlock. In an embodiment of the invention providing the combination of an oar and a rowlock having the above characteristics, an object of the invention is to provide means incorporated with the car for constraining same against outward sliding movement when in use, thereby ensuring absolute retention of the car.

According to the invention there is provided a rowlock for rowing or sculling boats, comprising a base member fitted or adapted to be fitted to the gunwale of a boat and a pivotal oar-engaging element which is adapted to so embrace the stem of the car as to imprison same, the oar-engaging element being slidably displaceable from its normal position across the base member and towards the inner side of the gunwale and being adapted when thus displaced to be lowered for the purpose of stowing the oar inboard, the engagement of the oar-engagement element with the base member being such as to prevent lifting of the said element when in normal position.

Conveniently in carrying out the invention the base member is arranged to lie over the top of the gunwale and a guide means is provided on said base member, which extends transversely thereof, the oar-engaging element being engaged with and free to move along said guide means. A side plate is provided which is adapted to lie against the inside face of the gunwale and which is preferably separate from the base member, said side plate being formed to provide a downward extension of the guide means provided on the base member. The movement permitted by the said guide means in the base member and side plate enables the oar-engaging element to take up either of the positions aforesaid. The construction of the base member is such that when the oar-engaging element projects into the boat with consequent stowing of the oar inboard, the said oar-engaging element is held fast by the base member, but if the side plate is removable then detachment thereof will permit the said oar-engaging element (along with the oar) to be then disengaged from the base member.

A rowlock of preferred form in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rowlock shown fitted to the gunwale of a boat and looking from the interior of the boat, the oar-engaging element being shown in position for use, and

Figure 2 is a similar view looking from the outside of the boat and showing the position taken up by the oar-engaging element when the oar is stowed inboard.

Referring to the drawing, the rowlock comprises a metal base plate of right angular shape in cross section which is fitted to the gunwale 3 of a boat in such a manner that the cheek 4 of the plate lies over the top of the gunwale whilst the depending cheek 4a lies against the outer face of said gunwale.

In the upper cheek 4 of the base plate is formed a transverse slot 6 which continues down into a separate outer side plate 5, and at each end said slot merges into circular openings 1 and 8. A circular-section transverse groove 9 is cut in the top of the gunwale before fitting the base plate in position, and if desired, the base plate maybe furnished behind the slot 6 with a tube adapted to form a line to said groove.

The oar-engaging element comprises an eye I0 adapted to encircle the stem of an oar or alternatively a cradle adapted to embrace the oar stem to such an extent as to imprison same whilst permitting necessary angular movement thereof. At the bottom of said eye is a flange I I which is formed with a convex underface, and below said flange is a shank portion l2 which terminates in a spherical foot l3. The shank portion 12 is a sliding fit in the slot 6 and the spherical foot I3 is a free fit in the groove 9.

When the oar-engaging element is in position for use (Figure 1) it is disposed at the extremity of that portion of the slot 6 contained in cheek 4. The convex underface of flange ll then seats in the opening I and this ensures that the carengaging element maintains the required position and that an ample bearing surface is provided for said element during its angular movements when rowing, since the effect of a ball and socket joint is obtained.

When it is required for the oar to be shipped inboard, said oar is swung round to take up a position parallel to the gunwale of the boat, the oar-engaging element is slightly raised to dislodge the flange II from the opening 1, and said oar-engaging element is slid along the slot 6 towards the remote end thereof. When such remote end is reached, the said oar-engaging element will swing down by gravity to the position shown in Figure 2, the oar being then stowed alongside the gunwale 3. During such downward swinging movement the shank l2 of the oar-engaging element passes down into the portion of the slot 6 contained in the side plate 5. The weight of the oar now maintains the foot 13 seated in the opening 8 of the slot.

The replacement of the oar-engaging member to position for use (along with the oar) can be performed with equal ease by simply lifting the oar, swinging the oar-engaging member upwardly and then sliding same along the slot to the remote end thereof.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For instance, the guide means in the base member may take the form of opposed grooves or any other equivalent for the slot 6.

Preferably the oar employed in conjunction with the rowlock has a strengthening and protecting sleeve [4 on its stem, and said sleeve may have a projection for correctly locating the oar in the rowlock by abutment with the eye ill thereof. By reason of the said projection I5 abutting the eye Hi the car is prevented from slipping out of the rowlock in outward direction. Thus when bringing a boat alongside a landing stage or mooring buoy the car can be released at any moment without risk of same drifting away with the current, the projection l5 forming a positive stop to prevent this. The provision to enable the oars to be shipped inboard whilst still held fast to the rowlock, obviates possible loss of the oars should the boat be adrift, since the oars, when shipped, cannot possibly become washed out.

If the construction of the parts is such as to position the fulcrum of the oar engaging element, i. e. shank l2 of eye Ill near the extreme outside of the gunwale as shown, this being preferred, appreciably greater leverage is obtained than when the'said fulcrum is in the usual position central in the width of the gunwale.

I claim:

1. A rowlock for rowing boats comprising a base member adapted to be fitted to the gunwale of a boat to lie over the top of the gunwale, a guide means on said base member which extends transversely thereof, a side plate adapted to lie against the inside face of the gunwale and which is formed to provide a downward extension of the guide means provided on the base member, and an oar-engaging element adapted to so embrace the oar as to imprison same and which is engaged with and free to move along said guide means so as to be retained against accidental detachment and to be capable of assuming a position for use in which it upstands from the gunwale and an out-of-use position in which it causes the oar to become stowed inboard.

2. A rowlock for rowing boats comprising a base plate adapted to be fitted to the gunwale of a boat to lie over the top of said gunwale, a side plate adapted to lie against the inside face of the gunwale, a transverse slot formed in said base plate and extending from a point intermediate in the width thereof to and through the inner edge of said base plate, a gap formed in the upper part of the side plate and adapted to constitute an extension of the slot in the base plate, an oar-engaging element adapted to so embrace an oar as to imprison same, a shank to said oar-engaging element which is adapted to travel along the slot of the base plate and into the gap of the side plate, and a foot to said shank having a diameter greater than the width of the slot in the base plate .and the gap in the side plate, the oar-engaging element being capable of movement along the slot to assume a position for use in which it upstands from the gunwale and an out-of-use position in which it projects from the side plate and stows the oar inboard.

3. A rowlock according to claim 2, wherein the said foot of the oar-engaging element is of spherical form.

4. A rowlock according to claim 2, wherein the oar-engaging element has a flange with a convex underface, andthe slot in the base plate termimates in a circular opening, the diameter of which exceeds the width of the slot but is less than the diameter of the foot of the oar-engaging element, said opening constituting a seating for the convex flange of the oar-engaging element when the latter is in its upstanding position for use.

LOUIS HEPBURN CROSS.

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