US2565714A - Rowing device - Google Patents

Description

Aug 28, 1951 I G. w. ANDERsoN 'ROWING DEVICE Filed Feb. ll. 1947 Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ROWING DEVICE Gene W. Anderson, Gig Harbor, Wash.

Application February 11, 1947, Serial N o. 727,755

`1 Claim.

This invention relates to oars and vit has reference more particularly to improvements in oars of that kind referred to as forward rowing oars; it being the principal object of the invention to provide a novel oar structure, designed for either forward or backward rowing 'and readily convertible from one type to the other.

- It is also an object of the invention to provide an oar structure, for both forward and back-Ward rowing, and Which'permits the necessary up and down angular movement of the oar for dipping the blade into and lifting it from the water in either of the m'anners of use of the oar.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oar of the above kind that is of simplified yet durable construction and especially desirable for pleasure craft.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of parts, in their combination and mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above listed and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is -a plan View of a boat that is equipped with oars embodying the improvements of the present invention therein.

`Fig. 2 is an enlarged, plan view of 'a portion of one of the oars particularly illustrating the geared connection between the handle and blade portions of the oar.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section, taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional detail showing the gear looking means used in converting the oar from forward to backward rowing.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The present oar is intended for use as in normal boat rowing Operations and is applied to the boat in the usual position and is handled in the same manner as the usual type of oar is handled.

In its present preferred form of construction, the oar comprises an inner end portion, or what I call the handle portion, ID, and an outer end portion herein called the blade portion, IZ. Together these portions, as herein assembled, make up an oar of normal length.

The handle portion IO is equipped at its outer end with a gear segment Ill 'and the blade portion |2, likewise, is equipped at its inner end with a gear segment l5. The two gear segments are supported in operative mesh as presently explained and are rotatably mounted for turning on their mounting axis. i

The means for mounting the gear segments to which the blade and handle portions of the oar are applied, comprises a frame made up of a base plate 15 and a top plate ll. These two plates are disposed in parallel vertically spaced planes and are rigidly joined in this relationship by bolts [8 that extend through the plates. Tubular spacers |9 are applied about the bolts between the plates, as best shown in Fig. 5, and these spacers and bolts hold the plates in a definite, spaced'relfationship.

The gear segments, |4 and |5, are mounted between the plates and rotate, respectively, on the y spacer tubes l9-l 9 which serve as mounting axe for the said segments.

The base plate |6 is equipped at opposite edges midway between the pivot bolts, with spaced down turned ears 25-20 and the frame structure, comprised by the plates IS and I 'L-is operatively supported by an oar lock comprising a Vertical pivot pin or shank 2| having a head portion 22 at its upper end; thel head portion being disposed between the ears 20- 25 'and pivotallysecured thereto by a horizontal pivot pin 23 extended therethrough as best shown in Fig. 4. The shank 2| is a-dapted to be mountedin a Vertical socket 25 that is formed at the outer end of a plate 26 that is fixed rigidly to the rail 21 of the boat 28 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This socket, however, might be in the rail itself if the width of the boat is such that this can be done without convenience to the oarsman.

It should be explained here that for forward rowing, the shank 2| is locked against turning in its socket. This is effected by extending -a pin 29 diametrically through the socket member and shank as shown in Fig. 3, the parts being drilled for the reception of this looking pin.

In the arrangement as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 which is that for forward rowing, it is to be noted that the line of the axes of the gear segments is transversely of the boat and that the pivot pin 23` is horizontally disposed and extends in the longitudinal direction of the boat. Thus while the oar maybe dipped up and down by the pivoting of the frame about the axis of the pin 23, the pivot axes about which the gear segments are mounted maintain their alignment in a transverse Vertical plane.

Assuming the parts to be so constructed and assembled, and considering the shank 2| to be held against rotation in the socket, it is to be understood that the frame may pivot on pin 23 and the oar may be dipped into or lifted from the Water in the usual Way by raising and lowering the handle portion. With the oarsman facing the forward end of the boat and the oar handles extended to normal handling position forwardly of him, rearward pull on the handle portions will, by reason of use of the pivotally mounted and intermeshing geared segments |4 and |5, cause the blade portions of the oars to be 'swung rearwardly, and thus the boat may be driven forwardly. Likewise, when the handle portions are returned forwardly, the blade portions move forwardly.

If it is desired to use the oars for backward rowing after the fashion of use of the usual type of oar, the looking pins -29 are withdrawn so that the shanks 2| may then rotate freely in their sockets. Then the handle and blade portions of the oars are brought into alignment and the gear segments of each are locked against 'relative turni'ng. This looking of Vthe gear segments is efiected 'by means best shown in Fig. f wherein it is noted that each gear lsegment is formed -with an lopening 30 therethrough and vthat a latch plate 3| is mounted on the top plate 'fl''l and lhas downturned oppo-site end portions 13232 vdesigned to pass through openings 34 in the-plate |1 and to engage in the Aopenings 33-33 of Vthe gear segments so that they will lbe held slocked relative to each other.

The latch plate 3| is mounted by -a leaf spring member 35 :attached at one end to plate and this yieldingly holds the latch set but permits it -to be :manually raised and its end portions disfengaged :from -the .gear openings when it is desired fto .convert the oar for forward rowng purposes. W'hen the gear segments Vare locked :against turning and the shank 2| isfree to rotate, the oar structure may be 'pivoted up and ldown on the bolt 23 and swung forward and rearward 'about the .supporting lshank in the manner of 'the ordinary oar.

Oars of this kind are 'especially desirable for lresort 'boats where used primarily for pleasure purposes, 'but are useful and sometimes very -desirable for ordinary boat rowing Operations.

Changes in size and proportion of parts may be .made :and various materials may be employed in their construction without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore it is not desired that the claim shall be limited in this respect but that they shall be given an interpretation that is commensurate With the scope of the invention disclosed herein.

Having thus descrbed my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

The combination with a boat having an oar lock socket, of an oar structure adapted for for- Ward or backward rowing comprising an oar lock having a Vertical mounting stem mounted foraxial rotation in said socket, a frame mounted hingedly upon said oar lock for oscill'ation about a horizontal axis that extends in a direction generally lengthwise ;of the boat, said frame compri-sing substantially horizontally disposed and vertically spaced, rigidly joined plates, gear segments mounted pivotally between the plates in intermeshed relationship, each formed with an upwardly opening socket, 'anfoar handle fixed to 'one segment and extended inboard, an oar blade -fixed vto the other segment and extended outboard, ;said upper frame plate having holes therethrough with which thescckets in the gear segments may be registered, a looking pin 'removably applied ;through the socket and 'stem to secure the oar 'look against :turning for forward rowing, and -a looking means mounted on Vthe upper frame plate including a plate having legs ;adapted to extend vthrough the plate openings to engage within 'the -gear '-,sockets to hold the 'gear segmentsagainst relative turning, :and-yieldo able means for .retaining the looking means Vin locked position.

GENE W. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The 'following references are of record in the file of this patent: Z

UNITED STATES PATENTS Burns Oct. 30, 1928

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