Forward Facing Rowing System in Sit-Down or Stand Up Position

Abstract

A rowing system in which a handlebar is attached to an axis that rotates when the handlebar is moved back and forth. This axis is attached to an arm loom fixed to a housing immersed in the water, at the other end. This housing supports shafts with oar blades hinged on them, and gates connected to them in parallel position. These shafts are attached with levers joined by a plate. A spring keeps the gates in the closed position, and stops the oar blades when they are pushed up by water's resistance. A cable connects these levers on the housing to one lever located on the handlebar; when this lever is pulled by the rower, the cable drags the housing's levers and opens the gates. The whole mechanism is supported by a block attached to the axis, and fixed at the boat by clamps.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention:

This invention relates to a forward facing rowing system, suitable to use in the sit-down or stand-up position.

2. Description of Prior Art:

The current systems to row forwards present many physical demands on the rower such as expounded motor skills coordination and great force output which cause some to steer away from this sport. After each power stroke one needs the same energy and flexibility in order to reach the recovery phase, not to mention the great difficulty it takes to change of direction (to restrain or to back down), or even to turn in any direction.

Current forward facing rowing systems are limited to a sitting position and do not offer the ability to row while standing. These existing systems are rigid in the sense that the rower must comply to the mechanism in order to row and are intended for rowers that meet certain physical and athletic criteria; thus, excluding those lacking physical dexterity.

The majority of these forward rowing mechanisms must use a boat that meets the specific dimensions of their structure. They are not usable in boats of different dimensions, and usually require one purposeful set of oars to be used in said vessel. Furthermore, these present systems in use require that alterations be made to the boat either to the sidewall or the deck in order to install them.

The current equipments to row occupy a lot of room inside and outside the structure of the vessel, hence preventing more rowing participants to join in within the same boat. These present systems make it difficult for boats to maneuver in close spaces or heavily trafficked areas.

Objects and Advantages:

This forward rowing system, which allows one to row sitting or standing, facilitates the rowing action because it requires a single uniform movement of the handlebar to do it efficiently, forwards or backwards. With this system the oars do not need to leave the surface of the water and they move to the rowing power position without much effort. Anyone can row standing up due to the adjustable handlebar. The movement is the same either forward or backward. The mechanism conforms to the boat and rower by adjusting it to the width and the height of the boat. Clamps are used in order to fasten the oars to the boat without altering the sidewall of the boat, that's why they can be used on boat of different dimensions. Moreover, it allows for an extra set of oars to be installed in the same boat in order to allow more rowers to participate.

Last, and not least, this forward facing rowing system occupies very little space inside and outside the boat. Several rowers can participate in the same boat and can maneuver it with ease-ability in close spaces or in heavily trafficked areas.

SUMMARY

An innovative new system to row forward with the oars always submerged saving one the effort of raising and lowering the oars out of and into the water in order to row.

Yet another novel aspect is the handlebar that allows the oscillating movement to be uniform, facilitating any person to row without previous training and with little effort. The oars follow an oscillating movement that is vertically parallel to the boat and occupy very little lateral space, which facilitates the individual to maneuver in reduced spaces or heavy traffic.

For greater efficiency, this system allows one to reverse direction, to stop or to slow down, due to a lever located near each handgrip shaft. With just the ease of a thumb movement to this lever, rowing direction is easily reversed. Because of the unobtrusiveness of the mechanism it is possible to install more oar assemblies in the same boat.

Furthermore, it must be emphasized that the person can row in a sit-down or stand up position, the handlebar is intended for such a whim.

The frame of the system has the capability of horizontal and vertical adjustment to comply with each person's needs; the support block can be adjusted vertically and the axis can be adjusted horizontally.

This system is so easy to install that one needs only to clamp it to the boat/vessel without any need to amend the boat's sidewall.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a cross view of the rowing mechanism.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of axis, case and handlebar assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of axis, case, and handlebar, as shown in FIG. 2, assembled.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of oar mechanism, housing, blades and gates.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of mounting plate, supporting block, and gunwale attachment base.

FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of locking mechanism in closed position.

FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of locking mechanism in open position.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of one assembled mechanism.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

FIG. 2
10            FRAME
11a           PLATE
11b           PLATE
12            CASE
14            HANDLEBAR
16            BALL-BEARING
18            BALL-BEARING
20            PIN
22            PIN
24            FLEXIBLE CABLE.
25 a, b, c, d CABLE-CLAMP
26            FLEXIBLE CABLE
28            PULLEY
30            PULLEY
32            LEVER
34            LEVER
36            CABLE
38            PIN
FIG. 4
40            HOUSING
42            BLADE
44            BLADE
46            HINGE
48            HINGE
50            AXIS
52            AXIS-LEVER
54            AXIS-LEVER
56            GATE
58            GATE
60            PIN
62            PIN
64            CONNECTING ROD
66            LOCKING ROD
68            SPRING
FIG. 5
70            PLATE
72            BLOCK
74            BASE
76            CLAMP
78            CLAMP
80            PIN

Descriptions-FIGS. 1 to 7

FIG. 1 shows a cross view of rowing system, its location on each side of the boat, the assembly of block 72 and base 74, the engagement cable between levers 32 and 34 on handlebar 12, and lever system on housing 40.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the axis and handlebar. The horizontal loom of frame 10 is an axis attached to case 12 by plates 11a and 11b. Case 12 holds a handlebar 14 with a pin 38 crossing case 12 and eye-bolt attached to handlebar 14. This axis 10 goes inside ball-bearings 16 and 18. The vertical arm of frame 10 is an oar loom. A cable 36 comes from oar housing 40, shown on FIG. 4, through a pulley 28 and connects with flexible cables 24 and 26 through a pulley 30 located on case 12. The flexible cables have inner cables, like the one used on a bike's brakes. Flexible cable 24 is fixed at one end on handlebar 14 by cable-clamp 25a. The inner cable is attached at lever 32. The other end of flexible cable 24 is fixed at case 12 by cable-clamp 25b. The inner cable is tied up to cable 36 through bottom side or pulley 30. Flexible cable 26 is fixed at one end to handlebar 14 by cable-clamp 25d, the inner cable is attached at lever 34. The other end of flexible cable 26 is fixed at case 12 by cable-clamp 25c, the inner cable is tied up at cable 36 through upper side of pulley 30.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of frame 10, its assembly with ball-bearings 16 and 18, its connection with case 12, and the junction between case 12 and handlebar 14.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of oar mechanism. Housing 40 is attached to vertical arm loom of frame 10, and holds axis 50, axis-lever 52, and axis-lever 54. Axis 50 holds hinge 46 attached to blade 42. Axis-lever 52 holds hinge 48 attached to blade 44, and gate 56. Axis-lever 54 holds gate 58. Axis-lever 52 and axis-lever 54 are bended in one end 90 degrees and these sections are bended again 90 degrees outward forming levers. These levers are connected by connecting rod 64. Axis-lever 54 holds a locking rod 66 attached to pin 60 by spring 68. The opposite section of locking rod 66 is connected to cable 36. A notch on locking rod 66 locks it on pin 62 by the action of spring 68.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of mounting plate 70, supporting block 72, base 74 and clamps 76 and 78. Plate 70 holds together block 72 and ball-bearings 16 and 18 on frame 10, shown in FIG. 2. Base 74 is a container opened up and bottom. It holds block 72 in a fixed position by pin 80. Pin 80 goes through a pin-hole of base 74 and any one of the pin-holes of block 72. Clamps 76 and 78 fix the base 74 to the sidewall of the boat.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the stopping mechanism in the closed position. The spring 68 holds the locking rod 66 on pin 62 and connecting rod 64 at the down position, keeping the gates 56 and 58 in stop position.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the locking rod 66 disengaged from pin 62; connecting rod 64 and axis-levers 54 and 52 stay in the up position by the action of cable 36, keeping the gates 56 and 58 open until the rower releases the levers 32 or 34 located on handlebar, as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one oar assembly. It shows the connection between ball bearings 16 and 18, the plate 70 and the base 74. Frame 10 is the connector between handlebar 14 and housing 40. Cable 36 and flexible cables 24 and 26 are the engagement of levers 32 and 34 on handlebar 14, and locking-rod 66 on housing 40, through the pulleys 28 and 30.

Operation:

Adjustments for Different Fitness Levels

Height Adjustment

One chooses the location on the boat for the oar assembly mechanism and secure base 74 with clamps 76 and 78 to boat's sidewall, then slips block 72 into base 74; one sets the height aligning the pin-holes of base 74 and one of the pin-holes of block 72. One inserts pin 80 into the pin-holes. FIG. 7 shows 2 pin-holes in block 72, this is just for illustration; it could be more than 2 pin-holes. These procedures apply to oar assembly on the boat's opposite side.

Width Adjustment

Frame 10 is loose inside ball-bearings 16 and 18. One moves frame 10 to the desire position, according to boat's width, then inserts pins 20 and 22 on frame 10 at sides of plate 70, attached at ball-bearings 16 and 18 on one side and to block 72 on the other side.

Handlebar Adjustment

One places handlebar 14 on case 12, selecting the desired position of handlebar 14, then one aligns pin-holes of case 12 with one eye-bolt of handlebar 14, inserting pin 38 into pin-holes. Flexible cables 24 and 26 are long enough to reach any position of handlebar 14. FIG. 2 shows 3 eye-bolts on handlebar 14, this is just for illustration; it could be more than 3 eye-bolts.

Rowing Forward

One grasps handgrip shaft located on handlebar 14 and pulls lever 32 or 34, according to ones position, (standing up or sitting down), toward hand and holds it. This action is transferred through the flexible cable 24 or 26 and cable 36, unlocks and pulls up locking rod 62 and connecting rod 64. Axis-levers 52 and 54 rotate 90 degrees and so gates 56 and 58 attached to them. FIG. 6B shows a view of this situation. Blades 42 and 44 are free to swing back and for. One pushes handlebar 14 forward (in sit down position) or pulls it back (in stand up position), the horizontal loom (axis) of frame 10 rotates, the vertical loom of frame 10 swings in a pivotal motion, dragging housing 40 forward. Blade 42 hinged on axis 50 and blade 44 hinged on axis-lever 52 are propelled by the water resistance, crossing gates 56 and 58. One releases lever 32 (in standing up position) or 34 (in sitting down position) immediately. At this moment spring 68 resets connecting rod 64 and locking rod 66 to the original position (normally closed), and secures locking rod 66 on pin 62. FIG. 6A shows a view of this state (normally closed). In sit down position one pulls handlebar 14 back, blades 42 and 44 are pushed by water resistance toward gates 56 and 58; these gates hold the blades and transfer the pressure to axis-levers 52 and 54. In forward direction pin 60 stops axis-lever 52 and axis-lever 54, united by connecting rod 64. This action is repeated with every power stroke. In this condition blade 42 and blade 44 become a big oar blade propelling the boat forward. FIG. 4 shows 2 blades, 42 and 44 only, this is for illustration, it could be more than 2 blades. The oar blades feather and square automatically by water force.

Rowing backward

In sit-down position one grasps handgrip shaft located on handlebar 14, pulls lever 34, holds it, then one pulls handlebar 14 backward, and releases lever 34. At this moment blades 42 and 44 are in the opposite side; with this action, blades 42 and 44 push gates 56 and 58, axis-levers 52 and 54 hence locking-plate 66. Pin 62 blocks locking plate 66, and blades 42 and 44 become a big oar blade propelling the boat backward. In standing-up position one pulls lever 32, holds it, then pushes handlebar 14 forward, and releases lever 32.

Maneuvering (Turning and Stopping):

The turning around action is done with one oar in forward position and the other one in backward position, one hand pushing handlebar 14 of rowing mechanism of one side of the boat, and the other hand pulling handlebar 14 of rowing mechanism of the other side of the boat at the same time in a push-pull action. Stopping is done with both oars in the backward position.

Claims

1. A forward facing rowing system comprising:

a handlebar with a lever and a handgrip shaft at each end,

an axis attached at one end to the center line of said handlebar, and said axis embedded in a rotating device,

an oar loom attached to the other end of said axis,

a supporting block pivotally attached to said axis by a plate,

a base that holds said supporting block and is clamped to the sidewall of the boat,

a pin that secures said supporting block inside said base.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said handlebar is an elongated arm attached at its middle to said axis; being de upper portion of said handlebar suitable for rowing in standing up position, and the bottom portion of said handlebar being suitable for rowing in sit down position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said axis is suitable for slide sideways along rotating device for adjusting the wide of rowing system according to the boat's wide.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said base is a container open up and bottom with a pin hole in the center line; and said supporting block is having several pin holes alongside for the purpose of adjusting the height of said mechanism, when said pin hole of said base and one of said pin holes of said supporting block are aligned and crossed by said pin.

5. In a forward rowing system, a housing comprising:

shafts pivotally mounted on lateral sides of said housing, with rods attached to said shafts in parallel position,

oar blades hinged on said shafts, suitable for feathering and squaring by water force,

levers attached to said shafts on the external side of said housing,

a connecting rod pivotally attached at the other end of said levers,

a locking rod pivotally attached to said connecting rod, and locked at a pin,

a spring attached at one end to said locking rod and to a stopper pin at the other end,

a cable connecting said levers on said housing to said levers on said handlebar.

6. The housing of claim 5 wherein said housing is a rectangular frame immersed in the water in upright position, with a lateral side facing the boat and the other lateral side facing the opposite direction; being said lateral side facing the boat attached to said oar loom connected to said axis.

7. The housing of claim 5 wherein said shafts are pivotally mounted on said lateral sides of said housing in perpendicular position, with one said oar blade hinged on each one of said shafts.

8. The housing of claim 5 wherein said shafts have said levers attached to them on the outer of said lateral side facing the boat in perpendicular relationship with respect to said shafts.

9. The housing of claim 8 wherein said levers are pivotally attached together by said connecting rod.

10. The housing of claim 5 wherein said locking rod is pivotally attached to said connecting rod, and said locking rod has a notch that locks it on a said pin by the action of said spring.

11. The housing of claim 5 wherein when the rower pulls said lever located on said handlebar, said lever pulls up said cable and unlocks said locking rod, pulls up said locking rod and said connecting rod; this action causes the rotation of said shafts, setting the said rods attached to them, in horizontal position.

12. The housing of claim 11 wherein said rod attached to said shaft is a gate that stops said oar blade hinged on lower said shaft, when said gate is in vertical position; and allows said blade to cross to the other side, when said gate is in horizontal position.

13. The housing of claim 12 wherein said gates in vertical position are in closed position, and said gates in horizontal position are in open position.

14. The housing of claim 5 wherein said spring restores said locking rod and said connecting rod to the close position and locks said locking rod on said pin when the rower releases said lever on said handlebar.

15. A forward facing rowing method wherein the power stroke is accomplished by the rower pulling, in sit down position, or pushing in stand up position said handlebar in pivotal motion; this action causes a rotation of said axis, dragging the oar loom attached to said axis; said oar loom drives the housing, pushing said oar blades against said gates by water force; said gates halt said oar blades and the boat is propelled forward.

16. The method on claim 15 wherein rowing in opposite direction is accomplished by rower pulling and holding said lever on said handlebar setting said gates in open position, pushing said blades through other side of said gates by a power stroke, and releasing said lever.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein rowing is accomplished by pulling and pushing said handlebar back and forth in pivotal motion, in sit down or stand up position.