Portable rowing/exercise device
A portable rowing device that in one mode can be attached to a boat to provide a muscle exercise by propelling the boat in a forward facing direction through a body of water or in another mode can be attached to an exercise stand to provide the same muscle exercise without propelling the user through a body of water.
This invention relates generally to rowing devices and, more specifically, to a portable rowing/exercise device that in one mode can be used for exercise by working against a counter force or in another mode can be used for exercise by propelling a boat through the water in the direction the person is facing.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSNone
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNone
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIXNone
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn general, because of the known benefit of physical exercise those people whose jobs do not involve physical activity generally seek some type of regular exercise through an exercise machine. One such type of exercise machine is a rowing machine that allows a user to pull on two oar like members in a manner much as one rows a boat. Springs or weights resist the rowing motion and thus provide the user with an exercise workout as the oar like members are pulled toward the user. While such devices are an excellent way to provide exercise to certain muscle groups they confine a user to the exercise machine. The present invention in one mode comprises a portable exercise device wherein two portable exercises devices are mounted to the gunwales of a boat to enable the user to obtain the benefit of rowing exercise by paddling a boat through the water while facing in a forward direction direction and in another mode a portable exercise device that can be mounted to the rails of an exercise stand to enable a user to obtain the benefit of a rowing exercise during those conditions when one cannot be on the water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA portable rowing device that in one mode can be attached to a boat to provide muscle exercise by propelling the boat in a forward facing direction through a body of water or in another mode can be attached to an exercise stand to provide the same muscle exercise without propelling the user through a body of water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Portable rowing device 11 includes a first gear 18 having a work arm 20 attached thereto with a paddle 21 located on the end of the work arm and a second gear 19 having a hand arm 22 with a hand grip 23 attached thereto. Similarly, portable rowing device 12 includes a first gear 25 having a work arm 26 with a paddle 27 located on the end of the work arm and a second gear 28 having a hand arm 29 with a hand grip 30 attached thereto.
In operation of the portable rowing device 11, a pulling motion on rowing device hand grip 23 (indicated by F2) pulls the paddle 21 in the direction indicated by arrow F4 thereby pulling the paddle 21 through the water which propels the boat in the direction of the bow arrow D as the rower faces the bow of the boat. Similarly, a pulling motion on rowing device hand grip 30 (indicated by F1) pulls the paddle 27 in the direction indicated by arrow F3 thereby pulling the paddle 27 through the water which propels the boat in the direction of the bow arrow D as the rower faces the bow of the boat.
In operation of the portable rowing device in the exercise mode, as shown in
The portable rowing devices 11 and 12 are shown in a water propulsion mode in
Located below the pivotable base member 40, which includes an opening 43 is a clamp 50 having a pivot pin 52 that extends through the upper part of clamp 50 and base member 43 to provide a pivoting support for the rowing device 11. A washer 53 and cotter key 52 allow one to affix the pivot pin 52 into the U-shaped recess in the top portion of clamp 50.
Located on the lower portion of clamp 50 is an elongated slot having a pressure plate 56 with a slot 56a therein for engagement with a first thumb screw 54 and a second thumb screw 55. The thumb screws allow one to removably fasten the portable rowing device 11 to the gunwale 15 through the clamp 50. As the portable rowing device 12 as well as the fastening process is identical to portable rowing device 11 it is not described herein.
With the base member 40 pivotally supported by clamp 50 the arms 22 and 20 are allowed to pivot in a plane extending longitudinally through shafts 41 and 42 while pulling on the arm 22 cause the arm 22 and 20 to move in a plane extending through gears 18 and 19 and perpendicular to shaft 41 and shaft 42. Thus, the arm 22 can have an up down motion and a to an fro motion normally associated with an oar located in an oarlock on a rowboat.
While portable rowing devices are shown mounted on opposite sides of both a boat and an exercise stand, if desired, only one portable rowing device could be used on either the boat or the exercise stand. For example, when used with a boat a rudder or the like could be used to steer the boat while the boat is propelled by a single portable rowing device 11.
Thus the portable rowing device includes an attachment member or a support 50 for mounting the portable rowing device 11 on either a gunwale of a boat or on an exercise stand. A gear joined member having a work extension 20 on one end and an extension for grasping 22 on the other end forms a gear joined member including spur gears 18 and 19 which are in meshing engagement so that a rotational force on the end for grasping 22 causes the extension on the work extension 19 to rotate in a counter direction. In order to provide smooth and quite operation the gears can be made from non-metallic materials such as nylon or polymer plastics or the like that provide a cushioned contact while transmitting the rotational forces therethrough.
Claims
1. A portable rowing device for use on either water or land comprising:
- an attachment member;
- a first gear having an arm attached thereto;
- a second gear having a hand grip attached thereto: and
- a base supporting said first gear and said second gear in rotational engagement with each other so that when the hand grip is pulled said first gear rotates in a first direction and said second gear rotates in an opposite direction.
2. The portable rowing device of claim 1 including:
- a paddle on said arm;
- a boat with said attaching member comprising a clamp secured to a first side of said boat so that a user can face in a forward direction as the paddle is pulled through a body of water; and a second portable rowing device secured to an opposite side of said boat.
3. The portable rowing device of claim 1 including:
- a resistance member attached to said arm;
- an exercise stand with said attachment member secured to a first side of said stand;
- a second portable rowing device secured to an opposite side of said exercise stand with an arm of said second portable rowing device connected to said resistant member so that pulling a handle of said second portable rowing device and the handle of the first rowing device is resisted by the resistance member connected between the arm of said first portable rowing device and the arm of said second portable rowing device.
4. The portable rowing device of claim 1 wherein the base is pivotally mounted.
5. The portable rowing device of claim 1 wherein the first gear and the second gear have nylon teeth.
6. The portable rowing device of claim 1 wherein the first gear and the second gear are of the same diameter.
7. The portable rowing device of claim 1 wherein the arm includes an extension.
8. The portable rowing device of claim 1 wherein the attachment member includes a slot with a pressure plated therein for engagement with the side of a boat or the side of an exercise stand.
9. The portable rowing device of claim 1 wherein said first gear is repositionable with respect to said second gear to change the orientation of the arm with respect to the handle.
10. The portable rowing device of claim 1 wherein the arm includes a yoke with a pin for affixing said arm with respect to said first gear.
11. The portable rowing device of claim 10 wherein the arm includes a removable extension.
12. The method of exercising muscles in different environments comprising:
- attaching a portable rowing device to a gunwale of a boat and exercising a group of muscles by propelling the boat over the water,
- removing the portable rowing device from the gunwale of the boat; and
- attaching the portable rowing device to an exercise stand and exercising the group of muscles by rowing against a resistance connected to the portable rowing device.
13. The method of claim 12 including the step of mounting a hand grip arm on the portable rowing device and a work arm at an angle to each other.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of attaching to the gunwale includes the step of clamping the portable rowing device to the gunwale.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of attaching to the exercise stand including the step of clamping the portable rowing device to the exercise stand.
16. The method of claim 12 including the step of rotationally repositioning a gear member in the portable rowing device to change the direction of an arm extending from the portable rotating device.
17. The method of claim 12 including the step of removing a paddle on the portable rowing device.
18. The method of claim 12 including the step of changing the length of the arm in the portable rotating device by attaching a different length arm to a yoke member in the portable rowing device.
19. A portable rowing device kit comprising:
- a support for mounting the portable rowing device on either a gunwale of a boat or on an exercise stand;
- a gear joined member having a work extension on one end and an extension for grasping on the other end with the gear joined member including spur gears in meshing engagement so that a rotational force on the end for grasping causes the extension on the work extension to rotate in a counter direction; and
- a resistance member for securing to the work extension.
20. The portable rowing device of claim 19 wherein the spur gears comprises a non-metallic material to inhibit noise generation.
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 23, 2006
Inventor: Frederick Osten (Scandia, MN)
Application Number: 11/135,074
International Classification: B63H 16/00 (20060101); B63H 16/10 (20060101);