Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 2nd June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th July, 1887.
1, CHARLES EDWIN STARES of Mangan Cottage, South Hayling in the County of
Hants, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Rowlocks for Boats are usually made with a pin and socket so as to be readily
removed when not required.
This plan is objectionable on account of the rowlocks often becoming lost or mislaid
and not being easily found when wanted.
If left in the socket they are apt to catch in anything passing the boat, and cause
accidents.
My improved Crotch or Rowlock is designed to remove all objections, and supply
a Rowlock, which when in place, need not overhang the side of the boat, and which,
without being detached, can be reversed so as to be readily suspended downwards
inside the boat, and entirely out of the way. To effect this, I construct the Crotch or
hook in which the oar works, with the usual round pin, but placed out of its centre,
so that even when the pin is in the socket, the crotch can when desired be turned in
to overhang the inside of the boat, in which position it cannot be struck or damaged
when passing close to another boat or to a quay wall.
The socket in which the pin of my Crotch works is a metal block, by preference a
four sided parallelogram in outward configuration, but having a round hole through
its length to receive the pin of the Crotch.
Near the lower end of two of its opposite sides are two studs or pins which project
at right angles from the block, and form pivots which turn and slide in two slots cut
in the case hereafter described.
On the top of the block, and on two of its sides, are two overhanging flaps, which
prevent the block from slipping down in the case.
The lower end of the Crotch pin, after passing through the block, is made square
and fitted with a horizontal nut plate of special parallelogrammic shape, which
turns with the crotch pin, and is held in place by a key or cotter pin.
This nut in turning engages with a shoulder or recess on two sides of the lower end
of the case, in such a way that it prevents the block rising in the case except when
the crotch is set exactly at right angles to the boat side.

page_text: This prevents the possibility of the rowlock jumping when in use, at which time it
is turned parallel with the boat.
The case is an outer framework of metal in which the block is fitted and supported
against the side of the boat.
It is open in front so as to allow the block and crotch to fall forward, turning on the
two pins at the side of the block.
The two projecting sides of the frame which support the block, stand out at
right angles from a backplate to which they are attached and which is bolted on to
the boat side.
and turn.
They contain the two slots before mentioned in which the pins of the block slide
This turning or pivotting of the block is only possible at a particular part
of the slot near its centre, where it is widened for the purpose.
In order therefore to depress the crotch it is necessary (firstly) to turn it to the
position of right angles with the boatside, (secondly) to lift it about half an inch so as
to bring the pins in contact with the wider parts of the slots, it can then (thirdly) be
turned forward and allowed to fall downwards to a vertical position, where it hangs
noiselessly and out of the way.
To elevate it to its working position these three operations are reversed.
All these motions can be performed in a few seconds.
To remove the crotch from
the block the key or cotter pin is withdrawn, and the block can be removed from the
case by unscrewing two small plates at foot of the slots.
Dated this 18th day of October 1886.

page_text: I, CHARLES EDWIN STARES, of Mangan Cottage, South Hayling, in the County of
Hants, Engineer, 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 improved reversible rowlock is designed to supply a safe convenient and
effective oar-rest, which shall be readily turned inside the boat or suspended in a
reversed position, and yet not be liable to be detached or lost, and which can be easily
replaced in position when its services are required for rowing.
It consists of a fork or crotch with a round pin working in a reversible socket.
This pin is not in the centre of the fork but is placed out of the centre, so that
when in the socket in its usual upright position, the crotch can be turned inwards so
as to overhang the inside of the boat in which position it cannot easily be struck or
damaged when passing close to another boat or a quay wall. To strengthen the crotch a
tapering swell is formed at the juncture of the fork and pin. The pin passes down
through a hole in the socket, which hole is countersunk at its upper end to fit the
swell on the pin. At its lower end the pin terminates in a square shank upon which
is placed a metal lock-plate, which is keyed on to the pin in such a way that the pin
cannot be withdrawn from the socket, nor can the socket block be raised in the slide
in which it is held, until the lock-plate stands in a position which admits of its entering
the slide. This free or unlocked position may be either parallel to the set of the fork
or at right angles to it as may be preferred. This lock-plate prevents the crotch from
jumping when in use.
The socket in which the pin of the crotch works is a small metal block square or
nearly square in section, and about two inches long with the hole in its centre to
receive the pin. At its upper end it has two projecting flanges and on each of two
sides a projecting pin or lug.
A flat or angular metal plate is provided to be attached to the gunwale of the boat,
from which plate there stand out two vertical stays, between which is the space which
holds the socket block. These stays are strengthened at both ends on their outer sides
by webs of metal of triangular form, which sustain them in position. On the top
of the vertical stays is a recess formed to receive the flanges of the socket-
block, and slots are cut in the stays to receive the lugs before referred to. These
slots are enlarged in the central portion of their length, so that when the socket-
block is raised a short distance, until the lugs are in the enlarged portion of the slots
the socket-block can be turned over and the crotch reversed. In order to depress the
crotch it is therefore only necessary to turn it round until the lock-plate beneath is

page_text: S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C.,
Patent Agent.