Other

Richard Horan

Joel B Miller

Kerry Guarino

The invention is made up of three major components, a sleeve that is mounted on an oar shaft; a dock, which is mounted to the shell's riggers; and a pair of oar retainers that clamp around the sleeve and pivotally mount to the dock. The sleeve is locked into the oar retainers via a latch. The sleeve has a movable block that has a cam, which engages grooves in the oar retainers. The sleeve and can rotate around its axis, which allows the oar to be feathered. The oar retainers hold the sleeve and allow it to rotate and pivot during the rowing stroke. The dock attaches the oar retainer to the shell or outrigger. Its purpose is twofold: first, it provides a stable vertical platform on which the oar retainers can pivot up and down; second, it swivels left and right.

Oarlock system

An improved oarlock system having a sleeve that is attached to an oar, a set of cam blocks installed in the sleeve that can be moved to adjust the inboard of an oar, an oarlock that is positioned over the sleeve so that it contacts the cam blocks. There are several combinations of sleeve type and cam block available for use. The oarlock can be fitted to different sized pins. Pitch of the oar can be easily adjusted using the oarlock and sleeves. Improvements in the use of the sleeves, cam blocks and oarlock permit replacement of worn parts and increased stability of the components when in use as well.

An improved oar that has an oarlock assembly, which holds the main oar shaft and parallel link in line with each other while allowing them to pivot fore and aft and up and down; an oar shaft; a parallel link; and a knuckle. The knuckle positions the handle via a sleeve, and the parallel link that is positioned by a pivot on the end of an arm. Additionally, there is a universal joint between the oar shaft and the handle, in line with the parallel link pivot, that allows the blade to be feathered while keeping the handle perpendicular to the rowing shell at every point in the stroke.

Rowing oar system with articulating handle

An oar consisting of two parallel shafts linked on both ends to form a parallelogram configuration, which keeps the oar's blade and handle parallel to one another and perpendicular to the boat throughout the rowing cycle. The system is further enhanced to provide an internal, adjustable feathering system, interchangeable handles and blades and an integrated, quick-release oarlock.

Growing community of inventors

Belle Harbor, NY, United States of America

Richard Horan