Improvements relating to Oars and Rowlocks for Rowing Boats.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Oars and Rowlocks for Rowing Boats.
I, ROBERT RENFREW of Oak Bank, Carrick Castle Lochgoil North Britain
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to oars and rowlocks which are employed in propelling
small boats and has for its objects;
First to reduce the amount of wear and tear of oars when in use;
Second to prevent the slipping about of oars within their rowlocks:
Third; to attach oars to their rowlocks, whilst leaving them free for "feathering"
purposes;
Fourth to insure a uniform length of stroke when rowing; and
Fifth; to prevent oars being detached from the boat accidentally when allowed
to float free.
In carrying out my invention I construct a metal ferule or collar, in form some-
what resembling a short cotton spool, and fit the same tightly upon each oar in a
suitable position to engage with rowlocks. Each rowlock is made of metal in the
form of the letter U, with a shank or pin depending downwards from it, the said
pin being fitted within a socket at the side of the boat, permits the rowlock to be
revolved therein. A second U piece, smaller than the one just named, is placed
within the hollow part of the first one and united to it with pins or pivots in such a
manner that the small U piece may swing, cradle wise, within the larger one;
each U piece being made of metal of a more or less rounded section.
The metal ferule, above named, being attached to an oar the same is placed
within the small U (or cradle) piece, the concave periphery of the said ferule
enabling it to fit upon, be turned about and otherwise manipulated in conjunction
with the cradle piece with ease. For purposes of attachment to oars of different
kinds the said ferules may be made either of one piece of metal with a hole through
the centre of each, to receive an oar or of two or more segmental pieces.
From the foregoing description of the several parts composing my invention it
will be seen that the oars which are furnished with my improvements, rest, when in
use, within swinging, cradle rowlocks which turn upon centre pins in any direction
which may be necessary and by this combination the handles of oars are preserved
from wear and tear by friction; do not slip about, except as required, within their
rowlocks and thus insure to the rower the full value of each stroke; each oar is
insured against accidental displacement, when in use, from the rowlock although
capable of easy manipulation for "feathering" purposes; must always make the
same length of stroke and if released by the rower will not become disengaged
from the rowlocks owing to the careful adjustment of the concave metal ferule to
the rounded section of the cradle piece.
Dated this Fifth dox of June 1891
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Inventor.

page_text: Improvements relating to Oars and Rowlocks' for Rowing Boats.
I, ROBERT RENFREW, of Oak Bank, Carrick Castle Lochgoil North Britain
Gentleman, 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:-
This invention relates to oars and rowlocks which are employed in propelling
small boats and has for its objects:
First to reduce the amount of wear and tear of oars when in use;
Second to prevent the slipping about of oars within their rowlocks;
Third; to attach oars to their rowlocks, whilst leaving them free for "feathering"
purposes;
Fourth; to insure a uniform length of stroke when rowing; and
Fifth to prevent oars being detached from the boat, accidentally, when allowed
to float free..
In carrying out my invention I construct a metal ferule or collar, in form some-
what resembling a short cotton spool, and fit the same upon each oar in a suitable
position to engage with rowlocks.
As my desire is to connect each oar with its rowlock in such a manner as to
render its accidental displacement a very improbable circumstance, without inter-
fering in any degree with its freedom of action, cach rowlock is made of metal in
the form of the letter U, with a shank or pin depending downwards from it, like a
crutch, and the said pin being fitted within a socket at the side of the boat,
permits the rowlock to be revolved therein and each of the said rowlocks is
furnished with a pivotted U piece for engagement with a grooved part of the oar
collar.
The said metal crutch may consist of oue U piece only, pivotted to its shank or
pin, or of a U piece with pin attached, crutch wise, in the ordinary way but with a
second U piece smaller than the first one, placed within the hollow part of the first
one and united to it, at the tips of the U, with pins or pivots in such a manner
that the small U piece may swing, cradle wise, within the larger one; each U piece
being made of metal, of a more or less rounded section.
The metal ferule, above named, being attached to an oar, the same is placed
within the pivotted U or cradle piece, the concave periphery of the said ferule
enabling it to fit upon, be turned about and otherwise manipulated in conjunction
with the cradle or U piece with ease.
For purposes of attachment to oars of different kinds the said ferules may be
made either of one piece of metal with a hole through the centre of each, to
receive an oar, or of two or more segmental pieces.
.
From the foregoing description of the several parts composing my invention, it
will be seen that the oars which are furnished with my improvements, rest, when
in use, within pivotted and swinging rocking and cradle rowlocks, which turn upon
centre pins in any direction which may be necessary and by this combination the
handles of oars are preserved, from wear and tear by friction; do not slip about,
except as required, within their rowlocks and thus insure to the rower the full
value of each stroke; each oar is, by my improved appliances, insured against
accidental displacement, when in use, from the rowlock although capable of easy
manipulation for feathering" purposes; must always make the same length of
stroke and, if released by the rower, will not become disengaged from the rowlocks
owing to the careful and nice adjustment of the concave metal ferule to the section
of the pivotted U or cradle piece.

page_text: The particulars of my invention will be better understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which ;
Figure 1, is a side view in elevation shewing my oar collar attached to an oar
(fragment);
Figure 2, is a front view in elevation shewing one form of my improved, pivotted,
rowlock with sheath removed and shewn apart;
Figure 3, is a similar view to Figure 2 but shewing the oar (with collar attached)
inserted within the rowlock and placed within its sheath;
Figure 4, is a side view in elevation similar to Figure 1 shewing the collar (on
oar fragment) inserted within a rowlock of Figure 2 type, and removed from its
sheath;
Figure 5, is a perspective view of oar fragment, collar and rowlock, Figure 2
type, in an angled position ready for use-detached from sheath;
Figure 6 is a view shewing another type of rowlock, having only one
piece
which is pivotted to the head of its rounded pin or shank, the sheath being shewn
detached;
Figure 7, is a perspective view representing a type of rowlock such as that
shewn in Figure 6 combined with oar fragment and collar similarly to Figure 5.
The form of rowlock which is illustrated in Figure 2 having a crutch part
composed of a U piece A, inseparably united to a rounded shank B and having a
second U piece, C, pivotted to the upper ends of the crutch A at a and a suits
my purpose best as it enables the oar, when placed within it, as shewn in Figures 3,
4 and 5, to be moved in a more varied and generally useful manner than by using
the single piece, pivotted to its shank as shown in Figure 6.
When an oar (having a metal collar D, Figure 1, with raised flanges d¹ and d²
and an enclosed space or groove da formed between and by said flanges) is placed
within a rowlock of Figure 2 type, the cradle part, marked C, Figures 2, 3 and 4
occupies the groove d³ and its pins a¹ and a² enable the oar to be moved inwards or
outwards like a swing, also up and down for dipping, whilst its rounded shank B,
fitted within the sheath & enables the oar and rowlock to be revolved, laterally, in
any direction whilst the oar itself can be revolved upon its own axis within the
cradle piece, C, for "feathering purposes.
::
If an oar, having a metal ferule D attached to it, is placed within a rowlock con-
structed as shewn in Figures 6 and 7, of only one U piece a³ which is pivotted to a
rounded shank pin marked 2 and, furnished with stop pieces marked 63 Figure 7
for restricting the rocking motion of the U piece, the operations of the several
parts in rowing are similar to those of the combination shewn in Figures 1 to 5, but
the form of rowlock shewn in Figure 6 has an advantage over that marked Figure 2
in so far as its weight and inexpensive construction are considered-whilst the
Figure 2 type of rowlock, although heavier in itself and more costly to make is
capable of enabling a greater variety of movements to be effected with the oar
when rowing.
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:
First. The combination of mechanical parts, or parts of mechanism, all sub-
stantially as herein described and shewn or any mere modification thereof, for the
purposes specified.
Second. In rowlocks" for rowing boats, the construction of same according to
Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, or any mere modification
thereof, all substantially as herein described, for the purposes specified.
Third. In rowlocks" for rowing boats, the construction of same according to
Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, or any mere modification thereof,
all substantially as herein described, for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The combination with an oar for rowing purposes or propelling boats,
"

page_text: of one or more collars, all substantially as herein described and shewn or any mere
modification thereof, for the purposes specified.
Dated the 12th day of September 1891.
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Inventor.