GB2372973A

GB2372973A - Apparatus for forward facing rowing

Info

Publication number: GB2372973A
Application number: GB0205696A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Richard Clutterbuck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-09
Filing date: 2002-03-11
Publication date: 2002-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-11
Also published as: GB2372973B; GB0205696D0; GB0105913D0

Abstract

A means of propulsion 2 for forward rowing of a boat or craft 1 comprises at least two oars 7 attached pivotably to a central support means. Each oar is supported by a tensioning or supporting arrangement which may comprise a flexible rubber band 12 or a spring. The tensioning arrangement may be attached between the oar and an upwardly extending portion 8 of the support means, while the supporting arrangement may be attached between the oar and a portion of the support means below the pivotal attachment of the oar. The support means may be attached to the hull of the craft or to seat slide rails 4 fitted to the craft.

Description

Improvements in and relating to rowing equipment The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to rowing equipment, in particular concerning a means of propulsion for bow faced or forward rowing boats or craft.

Conventional rowing boats require the rower to face backwards, which means the rower cannot see where he is going without looking over his shoulder or using mirrors. The paddle used in conventional canoes, both the kayak and Canadian type, allows the user to face in the direction of travel. However, a canoe is less powerful, slower and more tiring than a rowing boat as it uses only arm power, while rowing of a conventional rowing boat uses the whole body, including arms, legs and torso.

Forward rowing boats are known, for example, as disclosed in FR 2 723 563-Al which uses a paddle system with a sliding mechanism. Also, GB 2 209 723 A in which a central coupling is used and the oars are angled to facilitate feathering on the return stroke, as it is normally intended that the oars will rest on the gunwales of the boat during use and DE 3802238 Al in which the oars are attached to a central supporting pillar.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of propulsion for forward rowing of a boat or craft which is easy to use and reduces arm strain while rowing.

According to the present invention there is provided a means of propulsion for forward rowing of a boat or craft comprising at least two oars attached pivotably to a central support means, characterised in that each of the the oars are supported by a tensioning or supporting arrangement.

Preferably the tensioning arrangement comprises a flexible band, preferably of rubber, attached between the oar and an upwardly extending portion of the support means.

Alternatively, the supporting means, preferably comprising a spring, is attached to The oar from below. The tensioning or supporting arrangement being arranged to support the oar to which it is attached so that the oar is neutrally weighted. Alternative means of tensioning or supporting includes springs, other elastic materials, or hydraulic mechanisms.

The central support may be fixed or fitted to the hull of the boat or craft.

Alternatively, the central support may be attached to seat slide rails or other removable structure in the boat or craft.

Advantageously, when using the means of propulsion according to the present invention, as the arm movement is along the gunwales rather than the centre of the boat or craft, the system is easier to use and more space is available for passengers in the boat. Further, shorter and lighter oars may be used as the effective sweep length is the whole length of the oar, rather than the distance from rowlock to oar end. Ease of using reverse oar thrust allows improved maneuverability, both in turning and stopping. Also, unlike a conventional canoe, both oars are pulled simultaneously and from the same pivot point, eliminating yawing motions.

The oars as used in the present invention may be quickly and efficiently stowed by swinging them forward, eliminating the risk of losing them or getting them tangled when coming along side a pier or vessel. Further the oars and tensioning or supporting arrangement can be quickly unclipped and removed.

In order to aid in understanding the invention a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view showing a boat according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view on line A-A of the boat of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on line B-B of the boat of Figure 1.

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a boat or craft 1, for example, a rowing boat or inflatable dinghy in which is situated a means of propulsion for forward rowing 2 of the boat 1. The means of propulsion 2 comprises a support means 3 which may be fixed to the hull of the boat 1 by conventional means (not shown), attached to slide rails 4 of a sliding seat 5, preferably, by means of an adjustable frame attachment 6, or attached to other removable structures in the boat or craft. The support means 3 is preferably positioned centrally in the boat 1, along a line from bow to stem (as indicated by line A-A). If the boat 1 is an inflatable rubber dinghy then the support means 3 may be tightly fitted under the tubes of the inflatable dinghy. Oars or rowing skulls 7 are removably and pivotably attached to the support means 3. To improve rigidity of the support means 3, but to still allow the oars 7 to pivot and to allow maximum space in the boat 1, the support means 3 preferably comprises a rod or pillar 8, having a supporting arm 9 at the lower end of the rod 8. The adjustable frame attachment 6 forms part of or is fitted to the supporting arm 9. However, further arrangements of the support means 3 can be foreseen. The support means 3, comprising the rod 8 and the supporting arm 9 preferably comprises a single structure for strength. The oars 7, having a handle end 10 and blades 11, are pivotably attached at the top of the handle end 10 towards the upper end of the rod 8 of the support means 3 in a conventional manner, for example, by means of spring loaded clips (not shown) to eyes (not shown) fixed to the support means 3.

A tensioning arrangement 12 is attached between an upwardly extending portion of the support means 3 and each oar 7 towards the upper end of the handle end 10. The tensioning arrangement 12 is a flexible band, preferably of rubber or alternatively springs, or other elastic materials.

Alternatively, a supporting arrangement (not shown) is attached to the oar 7 from below. Preferably, the supporting arrangement comprises a spring or hydraulic mechanism, but the use of similar materials or devices can be foreseen. The supporting arrangement is attached between the oar 7 and a portion of the support means 3 below the pivotal attachment of the oar 7. Alternatively, the supporting arrangement is attached between the oar 7 and the hull of the boat 1 or a removable structure in the boat 1. Further, a single supporting arrangement may be attached between the two oars 7 on either side of the support means 3. Preferably, the tensioning arrangement 12 or supporting arrangement is removably attached. The attachment of the tensioning arrangement 12 or the supporting arrangement to the oar 7 is preferably slidable, for example by means of a rubber sleeve 13 to enable easy adjustment of the weighting of the oars 7. The tensioning arrangement 12 or the supporting arrangement act to support the oars 7 so that they are neutrally weighted and held above the gunwales of the boat 1. Therefore, no slide rails are required on the gunwales to take the weight of the oars 7.

In use, the rower pulls back and down on the oars 7 and their feet push against the footstops 14, pushing the sliding seat 5 back (as in a conventional rowing stroke). The return stroke is achieved by raising the oars 7, sliding the seat 5 forwards, and pushing the oars 7 forward. The oars 7 may be feathered through a rotation of the eye, to reduce air and water drag.

It will also be understood that various alterations and modifications may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, more than one means of propulsion may be used in a boat or craft, also a single support means having a horizontal portion may have several pairs of oars attached, or oars located along the horizontal portion at spaced intervals. Further, the means for propulsion of the present invention could have an adjustable frame for attachment to existing boats of different models.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A means of propulsion for forward rowing of a boat or craft, comprising at least two oars attached pivotably to a central support means, characterised in that each oar is supported by a tensioning or supporting arrangement.
2. A means of propulsion according to Claim 1, wherein the tensioning arrangement is attached between the oar and an upwardly extending portion of the support means.
3. A means of propulsion according to Claim 2, wherein the tensioning arrangement comprises a flexible rubber band.
4. A means of propulsion according to Claim 1, wherein the supporting arrangement is attached between the oar and a portion of the support means below the pivotal attachment of the oar.
5. A means of propulsion according to any preceding claim, wherein the tensioning or supporting arrangement comprises a spring.
6. A means of propulsion according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means is fixed or fitted to the hull of the boat or craft.
7. A means of propulsion according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the support means is attached to seat side rails in the boat or craft.
8. A means of propulsion for forward rowing of a boat or craft substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.