WO1999038767A1

WO1999038767A1 - Rowing aid

Info

Publication number: WO1999038767A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000173
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leslie William Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-28
Filing date: 1999-01-19
Publication date: 1999-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2000-07-28
Also published as: AU2175199A; GB9801662D0

Abstract

A rowing aid including an energy storage device (10) which is loaded during the recovery phase of a rowing stroke and which releases the stored energy to an oar during the power phase of a rowing stroke.

Description

ROWING AID

Field of this Invention

The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the rowing of a boat.

Background to the Invention

The act of rowing, that is, propelling a boat by means of oars, or sweeps, is divided into two phases, a power phase in which the oar is immersed in the water and a recovery phase in which the oar is moved through the air to a position for the start of the next power phase and then immersed in the water. The complete cycle is known as a stroke.

Conventionally, when the rower is sitting down in the boat, the rower faces aft and the inboard end of the oar is moved away from the rower during the recovery phase of a stroke and pulled forward during the power phase of a stroke. By so doing, the powerful back and lower limb muscles are called into play as well as the biceps of the rower. If attempts are made to row with the rower sitting facing forward, only the relatively weak stomach and brachial muscles can be used in the power phase of a stroke, thus making this manner of rowing relatively inefficient.

However, this method of rowing does have the advantage that the rower can see where he is going, which enables him to keep more easily to a desired course and it is sometimes used for this reason, although usually when this method of rowing is adopted, longer oars are used and the rower stands up so that the lower limb muscles can be bought into play.

Whichever method of rowing is adopted, the power demands made upon the rower during the two phases of a stroke differ enormously, as during the power phase, the rower has to overcome the initial inertia of the boat as well as the resistance of the water and air to the passage of the boat through them, whereas during the recovery phase the rower has only to overcome the resistance of the air to the passage of the oar through it and the inertia of the oar, which are much less, particularly if the blade of the oar is turned to an approximately horizontal position during the recovery phase of a stroke.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for facilitating the act of rowing a boat in the conventional manner with the rower facing aft or with the rower facing forward.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for facilitating the rowing of a boat characterised in that there is provided an energy storage device, means for inputting energy into the energy storage device during the recovery stage of a rowing stroke and means for releasing the stored energy to an oar during the power phase of a rowing stroke. Preferably the energy storage device is a torsion spring one end of which is fixed in relation to a portion of the structure of a boat with which the apparatus is used, and the other end of which is adapted to be attached to an oar. In one embodiment of the invention a torsion spring has a projecting portion at each end. One projection is adapted to be clamped to the gunwale of a boat and the projection at the other end of the boat has a loop through which the loom of an oar can be passed, so attaching the oar to the torsion spring. The two projections of the spring act as loading and energy releasing levers. In a second embodiment of the invention, the energy storing device is an helical spring used in torsion and contained in a housing which is fixed to a gunwale of a boat. One end of the spring is fixed to the housing and the other end of the spring is fixed to a rotating end-piece of the housing which carries a structure through which the loom of an oar can be passed. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a view of an energy storing and releasing device for use in the present invention,

Figure 2a is a view of an embodiment of the invention attached to a gunwale of a rowing boat,

Figure 2b is a plan view of a base plate incorporated in the embodiment of Figure 2a,

Figure 2c is a front view of the base plate shown in the plan view in

Figure 2b.

Referring to the drawings, a rowing aid embodying the invention incorporates an energy storage/release device in the form of a torsion spring

10 which has a single coil 13 and two extensions 11 and 14. The extension

11 is straight and the extension 14 terminates in a loop 12 through which the loom of an oar (not shown in the drawing) can be inserted.

Figure 2a shows the spring 10 in its installed position on a portion 15 of a base plate 21, which in turn in use is attached to a gunwale of a boat (not shown). The base plate 21 includes a clamp plate 16 for the extension 11 of the spring 10, two substantial removable supports 17 and 18, which act as thole pins for an oar, again not shown in the drawing, and two locating pegs 19 and 20, over which the coil of the spring 10 fits. As shown in Figure 2a, the rowing aid is in a relaxed state. When it is desired to use the rowing aid, the support 17 is removed and the extension 14 of the spring 10 is moved so 4

that it will He between the supports 17 and 18 when the support 17 is reinserted into its hole in the base plate 21. An oar is then passed inboard through the loop 12 of the end of the extension 14 of the spring 10. The unit shown in the drawings is for use on the starboard side of the boat. If desired, the spring 10 can have more than one coil. Indeed, in a second embodiment, which is not illustrated, the spring 10 is an helical spring, but still is used in a torsional mode. In this embodiment of the invention, an helical spring is contained in a housing which is adapted to be attached to the inside of a gunwale of a boat. The lower end of the spring has an axial extension which locates in the base of the housing and the upper end has a similar extension which locates the upper end of the spring in a separate end-piece of the housing, which is mounted on a shaft which passes axially through the spring and is fixed to the bottom of the housing. Thus, rotation of the end-piece of the housing will load the spring torsionally, which will seek to relax itself by causing the end-piece of the housing to rotate in the opposite direction. The end- piece of the housing has a fitment for an oar.

The rowing aid may be used either to even out the energy demands made upon a rower rowing in the conventional manner or to facilitate the rowing of a boat in an unconventional manner with the rower facing the direction in which the boat is rowing.

Claims

5CLAIMS

1. An apparatus for facilitating the rowing of a boat characterised in that there is provided an energy storage device (13), means (11, 12, 14) for inputting energy into the energy storage device (13) during the recovery phase of the rowing stroke and means (11, 12, 14) for releasing the stored energy to an oar during the power phase of a rowing stroke.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the energy storage device (10) is a spring used in a torsion mode.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the spring (10) has an extension (11) adapted to be fixed in relation to a boat with which the apparatus is to be used, and a second extension (14) terminating in means (12) for receiving an oar.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 characterised in that the spring is an helical spring contained in a housing adapted to be attached to a gunwale of a boat, one end of the spring being fixed in relation to a lower part of the housing and the other end of the spring being fixed in relation to an upper part of the housing which is mounted for rotational motion relative to the lower parts of the housing, the upper part of the spring housing including means for receiving an oar.