Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1887.
Complete Left, 18th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887.
I, FRANK FRUCTUOSO MARTIN, of 57 Friend Street, Gloucester, in the state of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, inventor do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to harness by means of which the oarsman is enabled to
exert a greater power upon the oars with less fatigue than by the use of oars without
an arrangement of harness.
My invention consists of a variety of straps constructed of leather, cotton, or other
suitable material, which straps are suitably provided with buckles of any desired form,
and by means of which buckles the oarsman is enabled so to adjust the length of the
several straps that they may readily conform to his build.
The principal or back-strap of the above mentioned straps is provided with a buckle
or other suitable lengthening or shortening device, and is adapted to pass round the
back of the aforesaid oarsman.
To the respective ends of the said back-strap is suitably affixed one or more rings,
or other suitable means may be applied by which the strap may be connected to the
oars.
To the above mentioned back-strap are adjustably attached two adjustable arm-
strapes, which encircle the oarsman's arms near the elbow, and serve to keep the
aforesaid strap in place.
To the aforesaid back-strap are suitably attached two shoulder-straps which pass
over the shoulders of the said oarsman and keep the aforesaid back-strap from slipping
out of place. The said shoulder-straps are provided with lengthening and shortening
devices in order that they may be adjusted as required.
Suitably attached to the aforesaid shoulder-straps, is a breast-strap which passes
round the said oarsman's breast and holds the harness in position.
Dated this 30th day of April 1887.
HORN & SON,
Agents on behalf of Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Harness for Oarsmen.
I, FRANK FRUCTUOSO MARTIN, of 57 Friend Street, Gloucester, in the State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, 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 :-
My invention relates to certain new and useful Improvements in Oarsmen's
Harness; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of
the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to
make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the
letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.
This invention consists in harness for oarsmen.
The object of the invention is the construction of a harness which can be readily
applied to any oarsman, and which will assist materially and render light, comparatively,
the task of rowing.
By my harness the weight of the oarsman can be utilized and made to assist in
propelling the boat.
The advantage of the harness will be readily appreciated.
The improvement consists, essentially, in a back-strap which is designed to pass
around the body and be connected at its ends with the oars, and the means for sup-
porting and adjusting it to the wearer, all as more fully hereinafter set forth, claimed,
and shown in the annexed drawings, in which-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an oarsman clad in my harness, and Fig. 2 is a rear
view of my harness.
The harness consists, essentially, of a back-strap, which may be made in one or two
pieces, as desired, the latter construction being preferred, as it can be more readily
adjusted to the size of the wearer. In this case the parts A A', which compose the
strap, will be united by a buckle, as shown. The ends will be provided with any
suitable means to connect them with the oars, and for this purpose I have shown them
provided with a snap-hook, a, which is adapted to engage with an eye, a', fastened in
the end of the oar. The snap-hooks are each held in a fold of the end, which fold may
be increased or diminished, as desired, to lengthen or shorten the strap to suit the
size of the oarsman for which it is adapted. For this purpose the extreme end is
provided with a buckle, a², which may be adjusted along on the strap in a manner
well understood.
The shoulder-straps B are fastened at one end to the back-strap, and the other end
is adjustably connected therewith at a distance from said end by a short strap, b,
provided with a buckle, b¹. The shoulder-straps are connected by the breast-strap C,
which is fixedly secured to the one and adjustably connected with the other by the
short strap c, provided with the buckle c¹.
The back-strap is provided near each end with the arm-straps D, which are secured
thereto in such a manner that they have a longitudinal movement thereon to adjust

page_text: themselves to the bend of the arm. These straps serve to hold the back-strap close
to the arm, and at the same time strengthen the arm against the thrust of the oar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. The herein described harness for oarsmen, comprising the strap A, adapted to
pass around the back of the oarsman and have its ends connected with the oars,
the shoulder-straps B, for supporting the harness, and the arm-straps D, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
2. The herein shown and described harness for oarsmen, consisting of the adjustable
back-strap provided with means at each end for connecting it with the oars, the
adjustable shoulder and breast straps for holding the harness in position upon the
wearer, and the adjustable arm-straps adjustably connected with the back-strap,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of Angust 1807