System of easily interchangeable handles for oars
The present invention is a system of easily interchangeable handles for oars used in the sport of crew.
The present application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/126,674 filed May 6, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of oars used in the sport of crew. More specifically, it relates to a system of easily interchangeable handles for oars.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOars used in the sport of crew are either “sculling” oars 10, as shown in
Traditionally, oars and handles were one piece of wood or other material. More recently, oars and handles have been two separate pieces so that the length of the handle 22 protruding from the end of the oar 20, as shown in
The traditional approach to the construction of oars has led to a problem, as is described at length herein, if different oarsmen want to use a given oar but want different handles, or if a given oarsman wants different handles on an oar for different conditions.
It is often not feasible to have an oar used only by one oarsman. The costs of the oars make it uneconomical for a crew team to have an oar for each oarsman. Moreover, there are times, such as in “seat racing,” where it is desirable to change oarsman at given locations in a boat but it is not feasible to change oars such that each oarsman retains use of the oar with which he started.
There are at least two additional problems with more than one oarsman using a given oar. First, different oarsmen may prefer different handles, based on the diameter, shape or covering material of the handle or on other criteria. Second, different oarsmen using one oar may cause serious health problems. An occupational hazard of being an oarsman is blisters on one's hands. These blisters may often be numerous and serious. An oarsman is, therefore, subject to infection from viruses, such as HIV, or antibiotic resistant bacteria, such as MRSA contained in blood left on an oar handle by another oarsman who had previously used the oar handle.
In addition, an oarsman, even if he always uses the same oar, may prefer different handles for different conditions. For example, an oarsman may prefer different handles for different weather conditions, such as rain or cold, or different handles for different conditions of his hands, such as more or less severe blisters.
The present invention is a system of easily interchangeable oar handles, oar handles that can be removed and replaced quickly without tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a system of easily interchangeable handles for oars used in the sport of crew.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:
The present invention is a system of one or more easily interchangeable oar handles. As shown, in
The preferred embodiment shown in
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
It also includes as shown in
It should be noted that the center extension 44 and the side extension 45 shown in
It should also be noted that the mechanisms in the prior art described above and shown in
Additionally, it should be noted that the system of the present invention can be included when oars and handles are first manufactured or produced as a kit to be added to existing oars and handles that do not include it.
While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A system of easily interchangeable handles for oars comprising:
- an oar with a blade end and a handle end having a tapered slot-shaped cavity;
- a handle with an oar end having a tapered center extension for insertion in the slot-shaped cavity in the handle end of the oar; and
- means to hold the oar handle center extension in place when it is so inserted such that the handle can be removed and replaced quickly without tools.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means to hold the oar handle center extension in place comprises:
- a thread portion along the circumference of the handle end of the oar; and
- a collar threaded on the inside rotatably attached to the oar handle that is rotated to engage the threaded portion of the handle end of the oar.
Type: Application
Filed: May 6, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2009
Inventors: Paul C. Remus (Bedford, NH), Dana Irwin (Philadelphia, PA), Mike Irwin (Philadelphia, PA)
Application Number: 12/387,665