Improvements in Rowlocks.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
Improvements in Rowlocks.
I, ALFRED BAYLIES, of Taunton, in the County of Bristol, and State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
a
This invention relates to rowlocks, its objects being to provide a device of this
character which will permit the free movement of the oar in any direction that may
be desired and will prevent the slipping of the oar outboard. Also to provide
support between the rowlock and the oar which will maintain them at substantially
a right angle to each other at all times when in operative position and yet permit
the axial turning of the oar in the lock and its withdrawal therefrom without
detaching the support from either the oar or lock.
The invention will be fully described in the following specification and particularly
pointed out in the claims.
In the drawing :
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the gunwale of a boat with my
improved rowlock attached thereto and also showing a portion of an oar in position
in the lock.
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section and partly broken away of the lock
looking from the outside of the boat.
Figure 3 is a section taken on the line a-x of Figure 1.
Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the respective figures.
1 indicates the gunwale of a boat, and 2, blocks or cleats firmly secured to the
gunwale with a space 3 between their adjacent ends. 4 indicates angle plates
secured to the blocks 2 and each provided with a boss 5 which projects upwardly
from its upper face. Each of the bosses 5 is provided with an opening 6 and these
openings receive the pins 7 which project laterally from a socket 8. The socket 8
projects downwardly in the space 3 between the blocks 2 and is free to oscillate
therein. 9 represents the rowlock provided with a socket pin 10 which fits into
the socket 8, so as to permit the lock to be turned freely therein. It is evident,
therefore, that the oar 11 when in the rowlock, may swing freely in either a vertical
or horizontal direction.
As
Projecting inwardly from the rowlock 9 is a rod 12 arranged to lie parallel with
and below the oar when the latter is in the lock, and be separated from it sufficiently
so as not to interfere with the turning of the oar in the lock. 13 and 14 represent
rings which are divided transversely, and the ends 15 thus formed are bent inwardly
at substantially a right angle and secured to plates 16 which are perforated for the
reception of screws 17 by means of which the rings are secured to the oar handle.
These rings are preferably of spring metal in order that they may be sprung open
to adapt them to oars of different sizes or to different parts on the same oar.
shown in the drawing, the ring 14 is secured on the oar at a point where its diameter
is less than that at which the ring 13 is secured, and the ring 13 is consequently
sprung open slightly to leave a space 18 of uniform width between it and the oar to
accommodate the rod 12. A similar space is left between the ring 14 and the oar
handle for the same purpose, but in this case the ring is not sprung open and a
sufficient space between it and the oar of a uniform width is formed by reason
of the ends 15 of the ring being bent inwardly. These spaces 18 should be of
ה

page_text: sufficient width to permit the oar to be turned freely in the lock without undue
friction between the rings 13 and 14 and the rod 12, and at the same time permit
the rings 13 and 14 to hold the oar handle and the rod 12 substantially parallel at
all times. The rings 13 and 14 should be secured to the oar handle in such manner
that the inner edges of the plates 16 of the respective rings will be in a line with
each other so that they will simultaneously engage the rod 12 when the oar is turned
axially in the lock a sufficient distance to cause such engagement. The ring 13
should also be secured on the handle close against the inner edge of the leather 23
secured in the usual manner on the oar. The rowlock is provided with an eye 19
to which is attached one end of a chain 20, and the free end of the chain is provided
with a bar 21 adapted to be pushed through the screw eye 22 which latter, may,
if
desired, take the place of one of the ordinary screws for securing one of the plates 4
to its block 2. This chain prevents all danger of the rowlock being accidentally
lost, and when it is not in use it can be taken out of its socket and be suspended
from the chain inside the boat.
the oar.
From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the rowlock will move
with the oar as the latter is swung vertically or horizontally, and that by reason of
the rod 12 projecting from the lock and being kept substantially parallel with the oar
by the rings 13 and 14, the oar will be at a right angle to the rowlock jaws at all times,
and consequently the force applied to the oar will be more effectually transmitted
to the boat. It is also apparent that the oar cannot slide outboard in the lock,
since the ring 13 will engage the lock and thereby limit the outward movement of
The oar cannot be disengaged from the rowlock without pulling it
inboard until the rings 13 and 14 are disengaged from the pin, and the leather-
covered part of the oar is moved beyond the jaws when it may be lifted out from
between the jaws. It is obvious therefore, that the oar will at all times maintain
its proper position in the lock while being used, and the rower will be enabled to
do more effective and regular work and will be much less liable to "catch a crab."
The arrangement of the rings 13 and 14 and the rod 12 also permit the axial turning.
of the oar in the lock for feathering or other purposes.
1 believe I am the first inventor of a support between a vertically and horizontally
swinging rowlock and the oar which maintains the oar at a right angle to the lock
at all times when in operative position, but which permits the axial turning of the
oar in the lock for feathering or other purpose and its removal therefrom without
detaching any part of the supporting devices from the oar or the lock, and I therefore
do not intend to limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the
parts shown and described to effect this result, since many changes might be made
without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention. For instance the
rod 12 may be attached to the oar and project through an annular space formed by
cutting a segmental slot in the rowlock concentric with the surface of the oar.
It is also to be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor
details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or
sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. The combination with the gunwale of a boat, of spaced blocks secured thereon,
plates secured to the blocks and provided with bosses having openings therein a
vertical socket having laterally-extending pins fitting into the said openings whereby
it is suspended in the space between the blocks to oscillate freely therein, and a
rowlock having a pin fitting into said socket to turn freely therein, substantially as
described.
2. The combination of a rowlock mounted to swing in a vertical and horizontal
plane, an oar fitted in and removable from the lock, and supporting devices between
the oar and the lock to hold them substantially at a right angle to each other at all
times when in operative position, and yet permit the removal of the oar from the

page_text: lock without detaching any of the supporting devices from the oar or the lock,
substantially as described."
3. The combination of rowlock mounted to swing in a vertical and a horizontal
plane, an oar fitted in and removable from the lock, and supporting devices part of
which are attached to the lock and part to the oar to hold the oar and lock at
substantially a right angle to each other and permit axial turning of the oar in the
lock at all times when in operative position and yet permit the removal of the oar
from the lock without detaching any of the supporting devices from the oar or the
lock, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a rowlock mounted to swing in a vertical plane and to
turn in a horizontal plane, of an oar, a rod extending inwardly at a right angle from
said lock below the oar, and rings secured to the oar to leave a space between the
rings and the oar for the reception of the rod, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
5. The combination with a rowlock mounted to swing in a vertical plane and to
be turned in a horizontal plane, and a rod extending from said lock at a right angle
thereto, of an oar working in the lock, and rings divided transversely and having
their ends bent inwardly and provided with plates by means of which they are
secured to the oar, said rings embracing the oar and the said rod and serving to
hold them substantially parallel to each other, as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 29th day of April 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.