Sculling oar handle cover

Abstract

The sculling oar handle cover is used to reduce friction between a sculling rower's fingers/hands and the existing sculling oar handle during rowing, thereby reducing the risk of blisters and other damage to the skin. The cover is affixed to the existing oar handle by sliding it over the handle and securing it with a Velcro fastener. Due to the required stoking method for sculling, the sculling oar handle cover virtually eliminates the friction caused by the continuous rotating of fingers/hands on sculling oar handles. Additionally, because the sculling oar handle cover must be wetted to function property, the slipping of fingers/hands on the oar handles is unlikely even with the release of body oils or the splashing of water on the oar handle covers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rowing is a very well developed sport with participants from early high school to over eighty years in age. Competitions are held at all levels of the sport and can require a great deal of practice and preparation. The two types of rowing are sweep rowing, requiring a single oar per crew participant and sculling, requiring that each crew participant row with two identical oars; one affixed to the port side of the scull and one affixed to the starboard side of the scull.

The sculling motion with respect to the oar handle begins with the fingers of each hand curved around the oar handle at an angle that allows the wrist and extended arm to maintain a straight line. The oar blades are perpendicular to the water, ready to drop into the water for the stroke. The rower is sitting on the seat positioned toward the stern of the scull (referred to as “the catch”). A stroke begins when the oars are dropped into the water at a point towards the bow of the scull and continues by pulling the oar blades through the water to the stern of the scull while the rower's seat slides towards the bow of the scull. Throughout the stroke, the fingers ideally maintain the same position on the oar handles as the rower slides from the stern end towards the bow of the scull. At the conclusion of each stroke, the fingers (and oars) are rotated counterclockwise so that the blades of the oar are lifted from the water and placed parallel to the water (referred to as “the release”). Keeping the fingers at the “rotated” position, the rower moves the oars above the water (referred to as feathering) while sliding back up to the stern of the boat on the slide affixed to the scull. At a point slightly before the forward sliding motion is complete, the rower must rotate the oar handles with a clockwise motion back to the original starting position.

Typically, the oars used in sculling have a handle that is made from a plastic or rubbery material. Some have grooves molded within the handle to provide for some grip assistance. However, rowers invariably develop significant blistering of the fingers and palms of the hands with increased rowing activity; primarily due to the friction caused in rotating the oar handles at both “the catch” and “the release” of each stroke on the water. In addition, the conventional oar handles become slippery with body oils and water that invariably are splashed on the handles during rowing. With the oars handles slipping, the risk of additional friction and skim damage is increased.

It would be advantageous for rowers to have a device that would not only provide for less risk of skin damage, but also would improve the grip throughout the rowing session. This could be particularly important in a competitive environment. Rowers could be afforded a better opportunity to maintain consistent gripping with less chance of hands slipping on the oars at higher stroke rates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The sculling oar handle cover is a removable cotton material device that covers the entire plastic/rubber oar handle affixed to any sculling oar. The cover is pulled over the end of the existing oar handle and is tightened by means of a Velcro closure at the end of said handle closest to the oar blade. The top of the sculling oar handle cover fits snugly over the rounded top of the existing oar handle and is secured by means of an elastic banding. The cotton material that is used to construct the invention is a loosely woven terry cloth, like that used in the manufacturing of dish towels.

The sculling oar handle cover provides less friction between the fingers/hands and the sculling oar handles. Therefore, the rower will experience less risk of blisters during rowing sessions. Because the cover fits tightly over the existing oar handle, there is no noticeable difference in the overall circumference of the oar handle. Therefore, the rower may row with a cover and not experience any significant difference in the overall position of the hands than would be the case if the rower did not use the sculling oar handle cover. Additionally, because the cover must be wetted before use, any additional moisture added from splashed water or body perspiration will not cause slipping that would result with the use on conventional oar handles without a cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a typical prior art sculling oar handle.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the invention top view.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the invention underside view.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the components and dimensions used in the construction of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of securing the elastic roping to the top of the invention and hemming the bottom.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the overhead view of the invention after the elastic roping is pulled to satisfaction and secured.

FIG. 7 shows how the terry cloth like material is sewn in order to provide the roundness of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates the attachment of a Velcro fastening device to keep the invention snug around the existing oar handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, there is shown a typical sculling oar based on prior art. The blade 2 is attached to one end of the oar shaft 3, with an oar handle at the other end 4. Sculling oar handles typically range from 5¾ inches to 6 inches in length and range from 4¼ inches to 5 inches in circumference. For purposes of illustration, the sculling oar handle shown is assumed to be 6 inches in length and 5 inches in circumference.

In FIG. 2, the top view of the finished construction of the invention is shown to be 6¼ inches in length 5 and 2½ inches in width 6. It should be noted that these dimensions are for an existing oar handle that measures 6 inches in length and 5 inches in circumference. For sculling oar handles that vary from these dimensions, the dimensions of the invention can be adjusted accordingly. The critical factors in measurement of the invention is that it be at approximately ¼ inch longer than the existing oar handle and less than ⅛ inch greater than the circumference of the existing oar handle. These dimensions will insure a smug fit over the existing oar handle

FIG. 3 shows the underside view of the finished construction of the invention. The length and width are the same as in FIG. 2, however, the underside of the invention is not fully closed by means of the sewn seam 7 in the terry cloth material. Two inches measured from the bottom of the invention 8 is not sewn together in order to facilitate placing the invention over an existing sculling oar handle. In order to keep the unattached segments closed after the invention is place over the existing oar handle, a 2 inch piece of Velcro 9 is sewn to one side of the opening with the corresponding portion of the Velcro 10, measuring 1½ inches sewn to the other side of the opening.

FIG. 4 provides the detailed dimensions of the materials needed to construct the invention for the illustrated oar handle. A piece of terry cloth like material 11 is cut in the dimensions of 5½ inches in width 12 and 6¾ inches in length 13. A piece of round, thin elastic rope (less than 1/16 of an inch) is cut to approximately 10 inches in length 14. Finally, a piece of Velcro is cut at 2 inches 9 and its corresponding connecting piece is cut at 1½ inches 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, construction requires the elastic to be sewn at the top of the terry cloth like material with a ¼ inch seam 15. Additionally the bottom of the material is hemmed with a ¼ inch seam 16. The two seams will result in adjusting the raw material cut to 6¾ inches to the required 6¼ inch length for the invention (under the chosen scenario).

FIG. 6 shows an overhead view of the end of the invention 22 where the elastic is pulled tightly so that the top of the material closes to an opening of not more than 2 inches in circumference 17. This is done so that the top of the invention mirrors the rounded top of the oar handle to prevent slipping on and/or over the top of the oar handle.

FIG. 7 shows how the material is sewn together with the inside of the material turned to the outside (sowing term of placing “right sides together”) and such seam 18 made from the elastic top to within 2 inches 8 from the hemmed bottom 16. Additionally the remaining open edges are hemmed with a ¼ inch seam 19. The invention is then turned right side out for the remaining construction.

FIG. 8 illustrates the sewing of the Velcro pieces 9, 10 to each side of the 2 inch opening 8. This is done in order to allow for tightening the invention over the oar handle to maintain the correct placement of the invention.

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. A sculling oar handle cover made from a single layer of terry cloth material that is constructed in a single piece cylindrical design to be pulled over the top of an existing cylindrical sculling oar handle with the positioning of the sculling oar handle cover maintained on the existing cylindrical sculling oar handle by a Velcro fastener at the bottom of the sculling oar handle cover.

6. A sculling oar handle cover according to claim 5 that is thoroughly soaked in water prior to its affixation to an existing sculling oar handle.

7. A sculling oar handle cover according to claims 5 or 6 that will greatly reduce friction between a rower's finger/hands and a sculling oar handle during the continuous 90 degree rotation of a sculling oar handle made by rowers during rowing.

8. A sculling oar handle cover according to claims 5 or 6 that will greatly reduce the risk of blisters or other skin damage on the rower's fingers/hands during the continuous 90 degree rotation of a sculling oar handle made by rowers during rowing.

9. A sculling oar handle cover according to claims 5 or 6 that will reduce the possibility of over- or under-rotating the sculling oar handle during the continuous 90 degree rotation of a sculling oar handle made by rowers during rowing.

10. A sculling oar handle cover according to claims 5 or 6 that will adhere to the existing sculling oar handle because it is thoroughly soaked in water and thereby does not require any additional adhesive devices or products.