Improvements in Stretchers or Foot-rests, chiefly designed for Use in Rowing-boats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1896-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stretchers or Foot-rests, chiefly designed for
Use in Rowing-boats.
I, CHARLES BENNET LAWES, of The Studio, Chelsea Gardens, London, S.W.,
Sculptor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to stretchers or foot-rests chiefly designed for use in rowing-
boats.
The stretchers or foot-rests hitherto generally employed in rowing-boats have
been rigidly secured at one angle by stretcher-guides or the like.
When stretchers
so mounted are used in connection with sliding seats the soles of the oarsman's feet
remain at the same angle as the said stretchers during the various movements of
the body in rowing and the legs are thus moved through a considerable angle
relatively to the feet during each stroke. This fixture of the feet at one angle
hinders the free action or stroke of the legs in thrusting back the sliding seat.
Now in order to remove this hindrance I mount the said stretcher by means of a
bar upon bearings or otherwise suitably support it so as to enable it to turn or
oscillate during the stroke of the oarsman and so allow his feet to take up their
free natural positions, i.e. the toes rising during the leg stroke and descending
during the return.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter mentioned.
In carrying my said invention into practice I preferably employ suitably shaped
surfaces to receive the feet of the oarsman, these surfaces, forming the foot-rest,
being fixed on the bar mounted in suitable bearings as above mentioned for
oscillating and secured to the frame of the boat by means of plates, screws and the
like. On the said oscillative bar I mount a suitably-shaped heel-rest the shaft of
which passes through a socket on the said bar and is provided with a set-screw or the
like whereby it may be drawn up or down in order to secure the accurate balance
of the feet upon the oscillative bar by accommodating the heel-rest to the length of
the oarsmans foot.
In cases where different oarsmen may use the same seat, such as in fours,
eights, etc., I find it advantageous to provide means for adjusting the position of
the stretcher relatively to the seat. For this purpose the bearings in which the
stretcher turns may be mounted on grooved slides in which rest the heads of the
bolts whereby the said bearings are secured in position; or, a series of screw-
threaded holes may be formed in the plates or the like into which set-screws may
be passed from the said bearings; or other suitable means may be provided for
this purpose.
My improved stretcher is provided with straps and other accessories to enable
the user to obtain the advantages obtained from the ordinary stretcher, and may
if desired be so formed as to be capable of being mounted directly in boats in the
place of existing stretchers.
In applying my improved stretcher or foot-rest to a boat covered with canvas
from stem to stern I build up from the sides of the boat suitable supports for the
bearings to carry the rocking bar. The construction of my improved stretcher or
foot-rest may however be somewhat further modified without departing from the
nature of my said invention.

page_text: "
or
My improved stretcher or foot-rest may also be employed on "home rowers
other such apparatus in which similar conditions exist by providing upon or in
connection with such apparatus suitable bearings and mounting the stretcher or
foot-rest therein as hereinbefore explained.
Dated this 17th day of August 1895.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 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 :-
.
1. The mounting of the stretcher upon an apparatus to enable it to be revolved
conformably with the action of the legs in rowing.
2. The mounting of the heel-trap on the revolving apparatus.
"
3. The special form of the heel-trap for clasping the leg above the " os calcis
so that the foot is not drawn out of the apparatus when the oarsman is dragging
himself forward on the sliding seat.
4. The adjustability of the heel-trap to the length required by the circumstances
of the oscillating stretcher and also by the length of the oarsman's foot.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1896.
CHARLES BENNET LAWES.