Patent Application
20080295757
This invention relates generally to floatation devices, and more particularly to floatation apparatus for boats having outriggers for supporting an oarlock.
The sport of rowing requires a rower or multiple rowers to operate oars of a rowing shell from a cockpit. The oars are attached to outriggers such as a triangular metal frame that holds the oarlock, into which the oar is slotted, away from the side of the shell to optimize leverage. In an effort to provide a shield and inhibit water from splashing into the shell, some rowers have placed duct tape spanning across the triangular metal frame of the outriggers.
In addition, the cockpit of a rowing shell is very limited and confined. The shells are designed in such a fashion to accommodate the rowers with little or no room for storage. As a result, the rowers normally do not carry any personal safety flotation devices as they row. If any personal flotation devices is available at all, it is usually carried aboard a chase boat. However, the chase boat is often supporting several rowing shells, which may be spread over some distance.
There is a need for floatation devices, and more particularly to floatation apparatus for boats having outriggers for supporting an oarlock.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a floatation apparatus attachable to an outrigger extending from a side of a rowing boat for supporting an oarlock. The floatation apparatus includes a buoyant member, and at least one releasably attachable means operably attachable to the buoyant member for releasably attaching the floatation apparatus to the outrigger, and wherein the buoyant member is sized and shaped and the releasably attachable means are operable to support the buoyant member spaced-apart from the surface of the water when the boat is orientated upright.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a floatation apparatus attachable to an outrigger extending from a side of a rowing boat for supporting an oarlock. The floatation apparatus includes a generally triangular-shaped planar member receivable between a triangular-shaped opening defined by a plurality of elongated members of the outrigger and the side of the boat, a plurality of releasably attachable members attachable to the generally triangular-shaped planar member for releasably attaching the floatation apparatus to the outrigger so that the generally triangular-shaped planar member is spaced-apart from the surface of the water when the boat is oriented upright, and wherein said generally triangular-shaped planar member comprises a buoyant material.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for aiding a rower of a boat in the event that the boat capsizes. The method includes providing a buoyant member, releasably attaching the buoyant member to at least one elongated member of an outrigger extending from a side of the boat for supporting an oarlock, rowing the boat with the buoyant member attached to the outrigger and with the buoyant member spaced-apart from the surface of the water, capsizing the boat, removing the buoyant member from the outrigger, and using the buoyant member as a personal floatation device.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method for inhibiting capsizing of a rowing boat having at least one outrigger extending from each side of the rowing boat for supporting a plurality of oarlocks. The method includes providing a plurality of buoyant members, attaching the plurality of buoyant members to the at least one outrigger extending from each of the opposite sides of the rowing boat, rowing the boat with the plurality of buoyant member attached to the outriggers and spaced-apart from the surface of the water, rotating the boat in the water to one side to contact at least one of the buoyant members in the water to thereby inhibit further rotation of the rowing boat.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention is directed to floatation apparatus used in association with single or multiple occupant rowing shells without encumbering its occupants. For example, one or more floatation apparatus of the present invention are releasably attachable to outriggers of the rowing shell to provide stability to the rowing shell during turbulent conditions on the water (e.g., inhibits the shell from overturning), hinder rough water from washing into the cockpit of the shell, and provide a personal floatation device for the rowers should the shell capsize or sink. While the present description is directed to rowing shells, from the present description it will be appreciated that other types of boats having an outrigger for supporting an oarlock may employ the floatation apparatus of the present invention.
There are basically two types of rowing shells that reflect two types of rowing, e.g., sweeping rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing, each rower handles a single oar and in sculling each rower uses two oars, or sculls. A shell typically includes a hull that is only about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch thick to make it as light as possible. Each rower has his/her back to the direction the shell is moving and power is generated using a blended sequence of the rower's legs, back and arms. The rower sits on a sliding seat with wheels on a track called a slide.
As best shown in
The floatation apparatus 300, in one embodiment, may include a generally triangular-shaped planar member 310 which is sized to be received within the generally triangular-shaped opening defined by the elongated members, the cross brace, and the shell. For example, two peripheral edges 320 and 340 of the floatation apparatus may be disposed adjacent to elongated members 220 and 240, respectively, and a third peripheral edge 350 may be disposed adjacent to the side of shell 100. A fourth peripheral edge 390 may be disposed adjacent to cross brace 290.
As best shown in
Floatation apparatus 1300 may include a generally planar triangular-shaped member 1310 having two of the corners removed. For example, one peripheral edge 1320 of the floatation apparatus may be disposed adjacent to elongated member 1220, and a peripheral edge 1350 may be disposed adjacent to the side of shell 1000. Floatation apparatus 1300 may include a plurality of releasably attachable members 1600 for attaching the floatation apparatus to the outrigger and to the shell. Releasably attachable members 1600 may be formed from, for example, a web, line, rope, loop and hook fasteners, fabric, snap fasteners, or any other means that permit the floatation device to be securely connected to the outrigger to withstand turbulent conditions on the water, while permitting a rower to quickly detach or disconnect the floatation apparatus in time of need. For example, straps may be attached to the floatation apparatus or pass through an aperture in the flotation apparatus and releasably attach to the outrigger and to the shell. The shell may include a fitting attached to the side of the shell to which the strap may be attached.
In other examples, a floatation apparatus may be made of other materials that are suitable to aid in keeping rowers afloat or to provide buoyancy, such as, for example, pieces of foam, an air chamber to be inflated, a hybrid combination, and/or other types of material recommended by the U.S. Coast Guard. For example, as shown in
In further examples, the floatation apparatus may include other suitable shapes which are positionable between the triangular-shaped or other openings defined by the elongated members forming the outriggers. For example, while the peripheral edge of the floatation apparatus may be sized and configured to be disposed adjacent to the elongated members of the outriggers, it will be appreciated that other shapes may be suitably employed having only one or more portions of the peripheral edge disposed adjacent to the elongated members of the outriggers. Further, other suitable releasably attachable means may be provided wherein the entire peripheral edge of the floatation apparatus is spaced-apart from the elongated members forming the outrigger. In addition, the floatation apparatus need not extend across the entire opening formed by the elongated members of an outrigger. Where only two elongated members are used for each outrigger, e.g., where there is no center elongated member extending outwardly normal form the shell, the floatation apparatus of the present invention may have peripheral edges or be suitably attachable to the two elongated member of the outriggers.
Rowing shells are typically narrow and unstable vessels and require considerable balance and coordination by the rowers to move them through the water without capsizing. At times, when a shell begins to capsize, the shell can be checked by the rowers shifting their weight or using the oars to stabilize the shell. There is a point of rotation beyond which the shell will continue to rotate and invert. From the present description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a added benefit of the floatation apparatus of the present invention is that it results in a capsizing shell approaching the critical point of rotation at a slower rate, thus allowing more time for the rowers to take corrective action to prevent capsize.
In addition, often when a rowing shell operates in rough water, waves break over the sides of and into the cockpit adding weight and burdening the shell. From the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that an added benefit of the floatation apparatus of the present invention is that it creates a barrier that exposes less of the cockpit to the rough water thereby reducing the amount of water that may be taken on by the shell.
Further, from the present description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the unlikely event of the shell capsizing, the floatation apparatus of the present invention provides personal flotation devices which are readily accessible and within reach of each rower. Thus, a rower need not wait for the chase boat to travel to the shell and deploy flotation devices.
Each rowing boat or shell may include one or more of the floatation apparatus in accordance with the present invention releasably secured to different riggers on, for example, the port and/or starboard sides. The floatation apparatus may be sized and configured to prevent interference with the operation of the oars and avoid any instability to the rowing shell.
Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/941,723, filed Jun. 4, 2007, entitled “Floatation Apparatus,” the entire subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60941723 | Jun 2007 | US |
