Rowing boat and footrest for use therein

Abstract: The invention relates to a rowing boat (1) provided with at least one bench seat (2) displaceable in lengthwise direction of the boat and a footrest (4) placed opposite the bench seat (2), which footrest (4) is pivotable about a lying shaft (5) arranged in transverse direction in the boat (1) and has clamping means (6) for fastening footwear (7) thereto. The pivot shaft (5) can be arranged adjustably in the boat (1). The clamping means (6) can take the form of a toe-clip or of a rotating dish binding.

Description: The present invention relates to a rowing boat provided with at least one bench seat displaceable in lengthwise direction of the boat and a footrest placed opposite the bench seat,which footrest is pivotable about a lying shaft arranged in transverse direction in the boat and has means for fastening footwear thereto. Such a rowing boat is known from DE-B-1275904. In rowing, and particularly in competition rowing, it is of great importance that a rower can push properly with his feet against a part of the boat when performing his stroke movement so that he can develop the most powerful possible stroke. To this end the point against which the rower pushes off, the so-called pressure point, must preferably remain stationary. Most rowing boats are therefore provided with a fixed footrest. A significant drawback hereof is that such a fixed footrest does not allow any natural movement of the feet and ankle joints, whereby an optimal stroke movement cannot be performed. Footrests are also known which are arranged pivotally in the rowing boat, but with these footrests the movement of the foot is left wholly free so that the pressure point is not fixed, whereby less force than desired can be exerted. The above mentioned drawbacks are obviated by the footrest for a rowing boat with a rolling-bench-seat as described in DE-B-1275904. This known footrest comprises two footplates which are pivotable about a horizontal shaft mounted on the keel beam of the boat, and which are connected at their other ends by a connecting shaft. Each footplate is provided with sandal-like fastening means for feet or footwear. This known footrest however has the drawback that it does not allow the user of the boat to adapt the position of the pressure point to his individual stroke movement. The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a rowing boat with a footrest of the type described in the preamble of claim 1, which will allow a rower to develop his most powerful possible stroke. This is accomplished according to the invention in that the pivot shaft is arranged in the boat such that it is adjustable with respect to the height of the boat. In this manner a rower can select the optimum height for the position of the pressure point, and adjust the footrest accordingly. Preferred embodiments of the rowing boat according to the invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims 2 - 8. The invention further relates to a footrest assembly for use in a rowing boat of the type described above. According to the invention such a footrest assembly comprises a cross beam connecting opposite sides of the boat, a track connected to said cross beam and running substantially perpendicular thereto, a carriage moveably mounted on said track, a pivot shaft mounted on said carriage and running substantially parallel to said cross beam, and a footrest pivotally mounted on said shaft. The invention is elucidated hereinbelow in the light of two embodiments, wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing in which corresponding components are designated with corresponding reference numerals, and in which: fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a (schematically shown) rowing boat with footrest according to the invention, fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of the footrest shown in fig. 1, fig. 3 is a partly broken away detail view along the arrow III in fig. 2, and fig. 4 is a partly broken away view of an alternative embodiment of the footrest according to the invention. A rowing boat 1 (fig. 1) comprises at least one bench seat 2 for a rower 3 displaceable in longitudinal direction of the boat 1. Placed at some distance opposite the bench seat 2 is a footrest 4 which is pivotable about a lying shaft 5 arranged transversely in the boat 1. The footrest 4 comprises means 6 (not shown here) for fastening thereto footwear 7 of the rower 3. The pivot shaft 5 is fixed to a carriage 8 (fig. 2) which is received slidably in a rail 9. The carriage 8 can be fixed on the rail 9 by means of clamping bolts 10 (fig. 3). The rail 9 forms together with a cross beam 11 fixed thereto a stiff T-piece, whereof the extremities 12, 13 and 14 are each received slidably in rails 15, 16 and 17 and which can be fixed using clamping bolts 18. The pivot shaft 5 and the footrest 4 connected thereto can thus be adjusted into any position desired by the rower 3. The footrest 4 takes a divided form and both footrest parts 19 are arranged for pivoting independently of each other on their common pivot shaft 5. Irregularities in the stroke of the rower 3 can hereby be absorbed and corrected. The pivot shaft 5 can itself also take a divided form (fig. 2 and 3) and the shaft parts 20 can be arranged for displacement independently of each other on the carriage 8. The shaft parts 20 can for instance each have a thickened outer end 21 which is rotatably received in a sleeve 22 welded on the carriage 8 and which can be fixed in a determined angular position by means of a clamping bolt 23. Length differences in both legs 24 of the rower 3 can for instance be hereby compensated. The fastening means 6 for the footwear 7 of the rower 3 can be formed by clamping means. Compared with other fastening methods clamping of the footwear 7 has the advantage of great ease of operation when stepping in and of increased safety in the case of turning over and/or sinking of the boat 1. The clamping means 6 may for instance take the form of rotating dish bindings (fig. 2), as known from the sport of skiing, or of toe-clips (fig. 4) as known from the sport of cycling.

Claims: Rowing boat (1) provided with at least one bench seat (2) displaceable in lengthwise direction of the boat (1) and a footrest (4) placed opposite the bench seat (2), which footrest (4) is pivotable about a lying shaft (5) arranged in transverse direction in the boat and has means (6) for fastening footwear (7) thereto, characterized in that the pivot shaft (5) is arranged in the boat (1) such that it is adjustable with respect to the height of the boat (1). Rowing boat (1) as claimed in claim 1, characteri zed in that the pivot shaft (5) is arranged on a carriage (8) which is movable on a track (9) extending under an angle with respect to the lenghtwise direction of the boat (1). Rowing boat (1) as claimed in claim 2, characteri zed in that the track (9) extends past a cross beam (11) connecting opposite sides of the boat (1). Rowing boat (1) as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the footrest (4) is embodied in divided form and the footrest parts (19) are pivotable independently of each other. Rowing boat (1) as claimed in claim 4, characteri zed in that the pivot shaft (5) takes a divided form and the shaft parts (20) are adjustable independently of each other. Rowing boat (1) as claimed in anyone of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the footwear fastening means (6) are formed by clamping means. Rowing boat (1) as claimed in claim 6, characteri zed in that the clamping means (6) take the form of a so-called toe-clip. Rowing boat (1) as claimed in claim 6, charac terized in that the clamping means (6) take the form of a so-called rotating dish binding. Footrest assembly intended for use in a rowing boat (1) as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising a cross beam (11) for connecting opposite sides of the boat (1),a track connected to said cross beam and running substantially perpendicular thereto, a carriage (8) moveably mounted on said track (9), a pivot shaft (5) mounted on said carriage (8) and running sustantially parallel to said cross beam (11), and a footrest (4) pivotally mounted on said shaft (5).

Inventors: VAN SCHAIK BOB, VAN SCHAIK, BOB
Applicants: SCHAIK BOB VAN, VAN SCHAIK, BOB
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B63H16
IPC codes: B63H16