PRIOR ART

While there is prior art such as oar lock systems for white water rafting such as U.S. Pat. No. 9,394,044, the present subject matter has greater freedom of movement and won't allow an oar to slide out of the oar lock.

There is also prior art such as pins and clips such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,610, the present subject matter helps prevent white water rafters from being ejected from the boat compared to traditional methods of securing oars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There exist two primary rowing systems for a whitewater boat. One is the Oars & Oarlock. The second is Pins & Clips. Both systems present a variety of functional problems for the rower.

When using pins and clips oar shaft movement is limited in both rotational and lateral directions. The advantage of using pins and clips is the oar's blade is always oriented in the proper direction and there is restricted lateral movement (the pin restricts the clip).

The disadvantage is the blade is always in the stroke orientation and there is no ability to feather the blade by changing its angle. When a vessel tips to an extreme angle and a rower is using pins and clips, the oar shaft will not slide out of its position as it is retained by the clip and the rower has the ability to hang onto the oar for balance keeping him/herself physically in the vessel.

The disadvantage of Pins & Clips is the blade is always fixed in the 90-degree stroke orientation and there is no ability to feather the blade (rotational movement along oar shaft axis). This increases stress on joints of the shoulders, elbows and wrists leading to fatigue, pain, and performance.

When using oar locks, rotational and lateral movement is not limited or restricted in any fashion. The oar shaft is free to move around its axis (rotational movement) and in and out along its length (lateral movement) within the oar lock.

Oar locks include multi-components wherein its complexity compromises functionality. There is the oar with a plastic sleeve (or rope wrap) along a portion of its length and the oarlock—the oar's contact point to the raft frame. There is an oar stopper which prevents the oar from sliding out of the oarlock; and there is the oar leash. The leash is a simple piece of rope or webbing attached to the oar and frame. Its purpose is to keep the oar attached to the raft.

When one rows with Oars & Oarlocks, the rotational and lateral movement of the oar shaft isn't restricted by the constraints of the oar lock. The shaft moves both around its axis and in and out along the length of its shaft (downward movement is restricted by the oar stop but upward travel is not restricted).

The advantages of this system are the freedom of movement and the ability to feather the oar's blade, however, the freedom of lateral movement becomes problematic at extreme angles. At extreme angles the oar shaft is free to slide out of the oar lock and commonly ejects the rower from the vessel.

When a vessel tips to an extreme angle and a rower is using pins and clips, the oar shaft will not slide out of its position as it is retained and the rower, the person, has the ability to hang onto the oar for balance and keeping him/herself physically in the vessel.

When rowing using oars in oar locks there is no retention of the oar shaft at the point of the oar lock. At extreme angles the oar shaft is free to slide out of the oar lock and it does so very frequently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to clearly describe various specific embodiments disclosed herein. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the presently claimed invention may be practiced without all of the specific details discussed below. In other instances, well known features have not been described so as not to obscure the invention.

As described herein, the term “pivotally connected” shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more identified objects are joined together in a manner that allows one or both of the objects to pivot, and/or rotate about or in relation to the other object in either a horizontal or vertical manner.

As described herein, the term “removably coupled” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.

The Oar Snubber secures one section of encapsulated shock cord to the shaft of an oar with a thermoplastic clamp, stainless-steel bolt, and nut. The other end of the shock cord attaches to the boat frame with a buckle and loop of webbing. This system allows for the rotational movement of an oar shaft within the oar lock while providing a variable but limited degree of lateral movement. The system is variable as the overall length can be adjusted within the limits of the cord supplied but with a definitive restriction.

By maintaining an oarlocks freedom of rotational movement and inhibiting the oar's lateral motion, the present subject matter provides the benefit of both competitive devices and solves the problem that both present.

The present subject matter solves several problems:

It enables one to feather an oar blade through the rowing stroke while at the same time restricting lateral travel.

It provides greater rowing efficiency by reducing fatigue on the shoulders, elbows, and wrists.

It is a first-of-kind safety device for whitewater rowers. There exists no device on the market that allows for rotational movement while simultaneously limiting the lateral movement of the oar within the oarlock.

It eliminates the need for additional stops and leashes.

The present subject matter is comprised of 2 simple, interlocking elements: 1) a clamp and 2) a shock cord retention strap.

The clamp is a 3.8-inch diameter, 3-D printed thermoplastic ring which is approximately 0.8-inch thick by 0.8-inch width.

It has a print-in-place hinge at zero degrees along its circumference and a 0.1-inch offset notch opposing the hinge. The offset notch acts as the point of securement and the contact point for the elastic shock cord.

The clamp uses a stainless-steel bolt and nut to secure it in place and retain the loop of webbing connected to the elastic shock cord.

The hinge can open approximately 80 degrees but less than 90 degrees, allowing the device to be placed around the oar shaft. The internal circumferential surface is patterned with a raised notched coil which grips on to the rope wrap of an oar's shaft giving it ‘bite’. The external surfaces of the clamp are not textured.

The shock cord retention strap has a clamp end and a frame end. It is comprised of six individual components:

0.75-inch Polypropylene webbing loops stitched to both ends of the shock cord.

3/16-inch triple looped marine grade shock cord 7 inches in length.

1-inch tubular polypropylene webbing encapsulating the shock cord approx. 12 inches in length.

Adhesive back industrial-strength, heat shrink wrap.

A 0.75-inch Side Release Buckle Dual Adjustable buckle-metal female, plastic male.

A bar tacked loop of 0.75-inch polypropylene webbing.

The present subject matter's clamp is secured over the oar shaft's rope wrap. The clamp end of the shock cord is attached to the same bolt retaining the clamp to the oar's shaft.

The frame end of the shock cord has a metal buckle receiver (female end). The bar-tacked loop of webbing is secured to the oarlock and/or raft frame.

This retains the plastic male end of the side release buckle and connects the device. The function of the metal/plastic buckle provides a breaking point within the system. The buckle is designed to fail with the intent of avoiding damage to an oar shaft or blade.

The present subject matter utilizes an adaptive manufactured thermoplastic clamp, a length of polypropylene encapsulated marine grade shock cord, polypropylene tubular, standard polypropylene webbing, stainless steel hardware, ¾-inch backpack buckles, adhesive backed shrink wrap and industrial sewing techniques.

Several devices have been developed for the fabrication of the Oar Snubber device which attaches to the shaft of an oar and one end of the shock cord retainer. The other end of the shock cord retainer is comprised of a buckle (backpack buckle) and a loop to secure the entire device to the oar lock.

The foregoing detailed description of exemplary and preferred embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the law. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form(s) described, but only to enable others skilled in the art to understand how the invention may be suited for a particular use or implementation.

The possibility of modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. No limitation is intended by the description of exemplary embodiments which may have included tolerances, feature dimensions, specific operating conditions, engineering specifications, or the like, and which may vary between implementations or with changes to the state of the art, and no limitation should be implied therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top and bottom perspective view of the clamp.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the clamp while it is open.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the oar snubber removably coupled with the ¾ inch webbing stitched loops.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the oar snubber removably coupled to the clamp via the shock cord.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the clamp and shock cord affixed to the oar.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the assembly components including the shock cord, webbing stitched loops, side release buckle, cam buckle alternative, tubular webbing encasement, and adhesive backed heat shrink.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the assembled shock cord.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the assembled shock cord.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of the clamp.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the clamp.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the clamp.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the assembly components alternative including the shock cord core, tubular webbing, webbing for loop, and adhesive backed heat shrink.

FIG. 13 shows a top view of the assembled shock cord.

FIG. 14 shows a bottom view of a ring and latch alternative.

FIG. 15 shows a side view of a ring and latch alternative.