Improvements in Rowlocks or Thole-pins for Boats.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1830
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rowlocks or Thole-pins for Boats.
I RICHARD COWELL of No. 11 Bold Street, Fleetwood in the County of Lancaster,
Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Upon the upper edge of the gunwale of the boat I secure-by one or other of the
methods hereinafter described-
-a plate suitably formed for the purpose of such
securing and for carrying the thole pins. The central part of the plate is formed
with a depression of sufficient width to suit the oar and at the terminations of the
depression there are snugs forming the sides of binges.
Between the snugs are holes through or sunk into the plate to receive the lower
ends of the thole pins which ends are shaped to form the completing portion of the
hinges. The pivot is formed by a pin through the snugs and thole-pin.
This pivot is relieved of pressure by two abutments, an upper one formed by the
material of the plate at the back of the recess between the snags against which
the back of the thole-pin rests; and a lower one formed also by the material of the
plate at the lower front of the recess or hole and against which a suitably formed
toe" upon the lower continuation of the thole-pin rests.
These abutments prevent the pins from opening wider than the approximately
perpendicular position in which they are required to be for rowing and take the strain
of the oar, but the hinged thole-pins can be readily turned down towards each other
when the oar is removed and then they lie close in the central depression of the
plate.
1 prefer to form the thole pins of a shallow "U" section in order that they may
lie better upon one another.
I also form the after thole-pin with a slight rise or protecting piece at the back to
protect the point of the forward thole-pin when both are turned down.
In order to prevent the thole-pins from being accidentally turned down or by a
slight pressure I provide suitable knuckle springs acting upon any convenient part of
the thole-pins, but preferably on the " toc hereinbefore described.
In cases in which no "rotation" of the rowlock is required I secure the plate
firmly to the gunwale by screws or bolts, the outer ends of the plate being prolonged
beyond the hinges for this purpose. If rotation is required I use a vertical pivot to
allow the plate to swing or partially rotate in a horizontal plane: a suitable holding
down arrangement is provided and a sole-plate is preferably used bolted or screwed
to gunwale to carry the pivot and, to take the weight and friction of the rowlock
plate. The pivot may be central or fore or aft.
The upper surfaces of the rowlock plate are so formed with curves as to offer no
points on which ropes or other articles can be arrested when the thole-pins are turned
down.
Datad this 17th day of December 1889
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rowlocks or Thole-pins for Boats.
I RICHARD COWELL of No. 11, Bold Street, Fleetwood in the County of Lancaster,
Joiner 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 :----
Upon the upper edge or gunwale of the boat, I secure-by one or other of the

page_text: methods hereinafter described-a plate suitably formed for the purpose of such
securing, and for carrying the thole-pins.
of
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation, Fig. 2. is a cross section, and Fig. 3. a plan view
my invention.
a. is the sole plate which is secured to the edge or gunwale b. of a boat, by means
of screws c. c. The raised snugs a¹ form the sides of hinges taking the thole-pins d.d.
Laterally between the snugs are the holes or recesses e. e. in which work the tails d' d'
of the thole-pins.
Longitudinally between the pairs of snugs a¹ a¹ the sole plate a. is depressed
for a length suitable to the thickness of the oar to be used. The pins f. f. form
the pivots of the hinge but the pressure due to the action of the oar is taken
by the heel of the thole-pin and its toe d' coming into contact with abutments
formed on the sole plate a. for the purpose.
The thole-pins can be turned down as shewn by the dotted lines when they lie
close within the depression of the sole plate between the hinges, and in order that
they may offer no obstruction to ropes, the after thole-pin is formed with a slight
rise at the back, to protect the end of the other thole-pin. The thole-pins are
preferably made of a shallow "U" shape as shewn clearly in Fig. 3.
In order to prevent the thole-pins being accidentally turned down, or by a slight
pressure, I provide suitable knuckle springs g. g. acting on the toe d' as shewn.
In the arrangement herein before described and shewn in the drawings, no "rotation"
of the rowlock is required or allowed, but if such is required, the sole plate a. is not
attached to the gunwale, but works upon an intermediate plate, carrying a vertical
pivot and which is screwed to the gunwale, and takes the weight and friction of the
rowlock hereinbefore described. The said vertical pivot projects upwards into a suitable
hole in the sole plate a. The pivot may be central or fore or aft. Suitable and
ordinary holding-down plates, or clips are provided.
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
I. The safety rowlock having hinged thole-pins substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
II. The sole plate with central depression to receive the thole-pins when turned
down substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
III. The heel and toe of the thole-pins coming into contact with abutments sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
IV. The protecting rise on the after thole-pin, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
V. The knuckle springs acting on the thole-pins substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
VI. The partially rotating thole-pin with vertical pivot substantially as herein before
described.
Dated this 10th day of October 1890.
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicant.