Year: 1888

page_text: We, WARREN RICHARD BRIGGS and FRANK CLINTON LYON, both residing at
No. 338 Main Street, in the City of Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield and State
of Connecticut, one of the United States of America, Gentlemen, 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:
Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in Oar-Locks, and
means for securing said locks within their bearings, as against accidental displace-
ment; and with these ends in view our invention consists in the details of construction
and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specificially designated by
the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which our invention appertains may under-
stand how to make and use the same we will proceed to describe its construction and
operation in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawings forming a part
of this specification in which-
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of our improved Oar-lock and the means for securing
the same within its bearing.
Figure 2, is a detail of the thole-pin embodying a slight modification of the locking
device, and
Figure 3, is a central section of the same, showing the thole in its proper position
within its bearings.
Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.
Heretofore, the usual way of securing oar-locks was by chain or cord, but this was
disadvantageous in that said chain or cord was liable to kink, besides consuming much
time and causing considerable annoyance in applying and removing the oar-lock; also
the thole-pin has been split and enlarged at the end so as to afford a spring-pin adapted
to lock within the socket, but this latter construction causes so much friction against
the socket as to seriously interfere with the free swivel movement of the pin in
rowing.
These disadvantages we obviate as follows:-
A, is the oar-lock proper which we prefer to cast with the rib and bead, a, b,
respectively, thus combining strength and lightness.

page_text: B, is the thole-pin which may be cast integral with the lock proper, or formed of a
separate piece and secured thereto by being set within a suitable hole bored in the
body, C. This pin is hollow, as clearly shown, thus further decreasing the weight of
the completed oar-lock.
D, is a pin passing through the thole and, E, is a spring wire coiled about said pin
in such manner that its free ends extend down and without said thole and terminate in
shoulders or catches, F, for the purpose presently explained.
G, is the usual escutcheon adapted to be secured to the gunwale of a boat, and being
provided with the socket, H, into which fits the thole-pin. As seen, the catches, F,
in their distended position project beyond the thole and beneath the end of the socket,
thus forming an obstruction to the withdrawal of said thole.
Instead of forming the tholo-pin of tubing, as in Figure 1, it may consist of an
ordinary shank slotted at 1, to receive the catch-spring, as clearly shown in Figures 2
and 3.
From the foregoing it will be obvious that to secure our improved oar-lock within
its socket it is only necessary to place the ends of the wire, E, in said socket and exert
sufficient pressure to force the catches toward each other, when the thole will readily
pass within the socket and the ends of the spring will distend beyond said thole and
immediately beneath the socket, thus securely locking said thole as against accidental
'displacement.
To remove the oar-lock from its socket the catches are compressed by hand sufficient
to clear the end of said socket and the thole-pin withdrawn.
While our improvement is applicable to any class of boat, it is especially adapted
for use in connection with folding boats, out-riggers, and the like where lightness and
convenience of manipulation are aimed at.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1st. In an oar-lock, the recessed thole-pin, in combination with a spring catch,
secured therein and adapted to lock said pin within its socket, as specified.
2nd. In an oar-lock, the combination with the socket, of the thole-pin carrying a
spring adapted to lock automatically underneath said socket, whereby the oar-lock is
secured as against retraction, substantially as set forth.
Hated this R4 Law at D
1000
Iloted his
1000
5000
WARREN RICHARD BRIGGS.
FRANK CLINTON LYON.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.