Improvements in Stretchers or Foot-boards for Rowing Boats.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 15th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th July, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stretchers or Foot-boards for Rowing Boats.
We, CHARLES THOMAS DENNIS, of All Saints Street King's Lynn, Builder, and
ARTHUR ROBERT KING, of 5 Tuesday Market Place, King's Lynn, Banker's Clerk,
both in the county of Norfolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to stretchers or foot-boards for rowing boats.
The objects of our said invention are to provide for the adjustment of the stretche
or foot-board with great precision and facility, and to provide for securely retaining
the same in any position to which it may be adjusted. Our improvements have also
the effect of strengthening the boat to a considerable extent.
The main feature of the said invention consists in the employment of guide-bars or
slides upon or between which the stretcher may be moved to and fro as hereinafter
specified. We usually employ three of the said slides with each stretcher, one slide
being fixed on each side of the boat and the third slide being secured to the keel or
bottom of the boat. The position of these slides will vary somewhat according to the
class of boat in which they are to be fixed.
The stretcher is provided with three sockets or tubes which are fitted to slide upon
the guide-bars or slides above mentioned, or it is otherwise suitably arranged to move
to and fro upon or between the said guide-bars or slides. The bottom or lower
socket or tube is provided with a thumb-screw for holding the stretcher in position ;
or other suitable means are provided for this purpose.
The operation of our improved sliding stretcher is as follows, upon releasing the
thumb-screw or other fastening device, the stretcher may be moved either backward
or forward, as the case may be, to the required position, when it may again he secured
by means of the said thumb-screw or other device. The length of the guide-bars
or slides will be regulated or determined by the distance through which it is required
to move the stretcher.
The guide-bars or slides and the sockets or tubes may advantageously be made of
rass or other suitable material.

page_text: It will be readily understood from the foregoing description that, by our improve-
ments, we provide a stretcher which can be very readily adjusted to suit the rower's
convenience, and which will always be kept at the required angle to the keel of the
boat, and can be very firmly secured in any position in which it may be adjusted.
And we wish it understood that we do not confine ourselves to any special means for
guiding the stretcher when moved backward or forward, as the devices used for this
purpose can be varied according to circumstances.
1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: WC CHARLES THOMAS DENNIS, Builder, of All Saints' Street, Kings Lynn, and
ARTHUR ROBERT KING of 5 Tuesday Market Place, Kings Lynn, Banker's Clerk, both
in the County of Norfolk 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 stretchers or foot-boards for rowing-boats.
The objects of our said invention are to provide for the adjustment of the stretcher
or foot-board with great precision and facility and to provide for securely retaining
the same in any position to which it may be adjusted. Our improvements have also
the effect of strengthening the boat to a considerable extent.
In the accompanying drawing we have shown how our said invention can bo
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan of part of a boat showing one form of our improved stretcher or
foot board.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line a, a, Figure 1.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A indicates the boat. C is the stretcher or foot board.
a, a are guide-bars or slides fixed by set-screws a¹ (or otherwise) in brackets a²
attached in any suitable manner on each side of the boat A. a³ is a guide-har or
slide secured by means of a set-screw a and brackets to the keel or bottom of the
said boat, upon or between which guide bars or slides the stretcher may be moved to
and fro as hereinafter specified. The position and number of these slides will vary
somewhat according to the class of boat in which they are to be fixed.
The stretcher C is provided with sockets or tubes fitted to slide upon the guide-
bars or slides a and with a socket or tube fitted to slide upon the guide-bar or
slide a. The bottom or lower guide bar or slide a³ is provided with holes c in which
is adapted to engage a projection d upon a locking lever d³. The said locking
lever is pivoted at d to a bracket e fixed to the stretcher C. The locking lever (1
is moreover provided with a projection d³ with which engages an automatic catch f
pivoted at fi to the bracket e, when the projection d upon the locking lever dis
engaged in one or other of the holes c, thus preventing the accidental removal of the
said locking lever d' and the consequent shifting of the stretcher C. The said catch f
falls into position by reason of its weight when the locking lever is in the position
for fixing the stretcher. The said catch fis prevented from engaging to too great an
extent with the said projection d³ by a pin or stop 2.
It will be seen that the locking lever d', the catch fand bracket e are so arranged
as to be flush with the surface of the stretcher C when the said locking lever and
catch are closed and thus offer no obstruction to the feet of the person using the
said stretcher.

page_text: The operation of the improved sliding stretcher C is as follows, upon releasing the
catch and the locking lever d' or other fastening device, the said stretcher (may be
moved either backward or forward, as the case may be, to the required position, when
it may again be secured by means of the said locking lover and catch. The length of
the guide-bars or slides will be regulated or determined by the distance through
which it is required to move the stretcher C.
The guide-bars or slides the sockets or tubes, the locking lever and catch and the
brackets above described may be made of brass or other suitable material.
It will be readily understood from the foregoing description that, by our improve-
ments, we provide a stretcher which can be very readily adjusted to suit the rower's
convenience, and which will always be kept at the requisite angle to the keel of the
boat, and can be very firmly secured in any position to which it may be adjusted.
Although we have hereinbefore described a convenient and advantageous method of
carrying our said invention into practice it is obvious that we can somewhat modify
the construction of our apparatus without departing from the nature of our said
invention. For instance we can employ thumb-screws or other suitable means for
holding the hereinbefore described stretcher in position. Or any convenient arrange-
ment for guiding the stretcher when moved backward or forward, as the devices used
for this purpose may be varied according to circumstances.
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 :-
First. A stretcher or foot board for a rowing-boat arranged to slide to and fro for
the purpose above specified, and provided with means for retaining it in any desired
position.
Second. The combination, with the stretcher or foot board, of the guide-bars or
slides and the tubes or sockets, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The improved device comprising the locking lever and catch substantially as
described for locking and retaining. the stretcher or foot board in any desired
position.
Fourth. The improved apparatus comprising the adjustable or sliding stretcher
or foot board and the guiding and locking devices substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 15th day of June 1888
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicants.