Patents

Friends of Rowing History

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Bill Miller

We often think that major improvements in rowing equipment occurred fairly recently, but many, if not most improvements, were patented many, many decades ago with most well over 100 years old. A good example is the sliding rigger that was raced at the World Championships in the early 1980s and then banned at FISA championships. It was patented at the U.S. Patent Department in 1876 (#184,031 - William N. Blakeman Jr.).

We can get a great perspective on how our sport developed by reviewing these patents. Listed here are some of the U.S. Patents issued. I've tried to include inventions that have some relationship to racing and training. I've ignored patents that relate to non-competitive rowing such as most gunwale mounted oarlocks.

Ebay has a great service where you can search for patents. Go to Ebay Patent Search http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en and browse around.

Rowing Related U.S. Patents:
# Year Owner Title/description

     39,188     1863 W H Willard                 Oar Lock
                                                                    folding thole pins

79,421 1868 E & G A Waters Improvement in Construction of Boats
paper boats (3435 revised)

83,804 1868 P Shelton Tyler Improvement in Paper Boats

107,439 1870 Walter Brown Sliding Seat
"Water's" sliding seat?

116,417 1871 William B Curtis Rowing Machine
flywheel & ratchet rowing machine

137,394 1873 Leonard D Tice Improvement In Exercising Machines
flywheel type rowing machine

138,388 1873 Thomas Fearon Row-Locks
trunnion tilting & pivoting oarlocks

   148,434     1874 Charles B Elliot             Improvement In Steering Devices
                                                                    foot stretcher steering

149,913 1874 John Blakey Sliding-Seats for Row-Boats
oiled / glass rods

156,392 1874 Leonard D Tice Rowing Exercise Apparatus
piston-valve rowing machine

161,629 1875 George W Moore Machine for Rowing Exercise
variable resistance rowing machine

   165,072     1875 Michael F Davis            Improvement In Rowlocks
                                                                    swivel oarlock

169,277 1875 William Lyman Improvement In Oars
reverse rowing gear

173,220 1876 Frederic A Gower Row-Lock
oarlock w/ stops to prevent "wabbling and crabs"

183,265 1876 George W Isaacs Swinging-Out Riggers For Row-Boats

184,031 1876 William N Blakeman Jr Sliding Row-Locks
sliding rigger/footboard

185,032 1876 George W Isaacs Jr Sliding Row-Lock
sliding oarlock moveable by sliding seat

   188,131     1877 David Harrington           Sliding Outriggers For Boats
                                                                    arcing oarlock/pin facilitated by sliding seat

190,793 1877 William Spelman Improvement In Rowlocks
square shaped swivel oarlock

191,923 1877 Mason Britton Protection-Tips For Oar-Blades
sheet metal attachment

192,271 1877 John McLaughlin Exercising-Machine
elastic resistance home rowing machine

199,011 1878 John A Baines Improvement In Rowlocks
swivel oarlock w/pivoting/locking gate

199,432 1878 George Goldie Rowing-Machine
friction resistance rowing machine

203,973 1878 William H Wilcox Exercising Machine
mechanical resistance rowing machine

206,214 1878 Samuel M Barnet Improvement In Exercising-Machines
elastic, rocking seat Parlor Gymnasium

207,070 1878 R Roberts & Outrigger and Rowlock for Boats
J L Knight locking gate swivel oarlock

207,465 1878 John Weyman Improvement In Rowlocks
racing sculls oarlock with free horizontal, vertical and partial rotary movements

208,954 1878 William J O Bryon Jr Exercising Machine
elastic resistance rowing machine

209,377 1878 Will J Britt Improvement In Exercising-Machines
elastic straps attached to oars outboard

   209,960     1878 Michael F Davis            Outrigger-Boat
                                                                    sliding rigger, oarlock, rigger fittings

210,502 1878 Nathan B Cook Improvement In Oars And Oar-Locks
forward facing oar gear

214,911 1879 John P Herrick Improvement In Construction Of Boats
racing shell laminate made of cloth instead of paper

218,736 1878 John W Heenan Improvement In Rowing-Exercise Machines
outboard adjustable friction bearing

222,024 1879 James H Dennis Improvement In Sleds
outrigger sled with oar type implements

224,415 1880 Charles L French Rowing-Wagon
oar-handle driven, 4-wheel sliding seat road vehicle

228,040 1880 J T Coughlin & Construction of Boats
A G Sneider cork laminate shell

228,277 1880 Frank Saunders Exercising Machine
air pump resistance rowing machine

228,800 1880 A Barker & Exercising Machine
E Anderson flywheel w/ air governor rowing machine

   230,314     1880 Richard McManus         Oar
                                                                    oar blade with holes and slots to reduce jarring

230,690 1880 Eugene A Bennett Rowing Gear for Racing Boats
sliding outrigger

230,838 1880 C E Triple & Rowing Vehicle
W H Roff oar handle driven 3-wheel sliding seat road vehicle

9,269 1880 Michael F Davis Row Lock
(reissued pat) improved swivel oarlock

   231,016     1880 Michael F Davis            Oar and Scull
                                                                    oar loom shape, offset handle, loom stiffener

231,017 1880 Michael F Davis Foot Boat and Steering Apparatus
pivoting steering shoe

11,825 1880 Egerton A Bliss Design For Watch-Chain
jewelry chain with sculls and shell

239,872 1881 Charles T Soniat Seat for Row-Boats
seat wheels/keeper

242,073 1881 Charles A Terry Exercising-Machine
variable spring resistance rowing machine

243,309 1881 Frank Saunders Exercising Or Rowing Machines
center piston rowing machine

   245,378     1881 Herman Hirsch              Oar
                                                                    undulating blade shape

249,644 1881 John R Lomas Apparatus For Practice Rowing
device to measure power

255,265 1882 Thomas Fearon Sliding Seat For Row-Boats
reduced friction wheels

258,773 1882 John M Laflin Exercising Apparatus
rowing machine w/coil springs

259,826 1882 Michael F Davis Molded Boat From Celluloid
Boat mold and injection ports

260,341 1882 Richard D Williams Oar Lock
one piece swivel oarlock w/ top bar angled to allow oar insertion

263,025 1882 Charles A Corwin Rowing Gear For Boats
one handle operates two oars facing forward

   269,924     1883 Charles B Elliott            Outrigger Oarlock
                                                                    arcing oarlock/pin facilitated by sliding seat

271,441 1883 Thomas Fearon Outrigger Boat
rigger fittings/oar lock

276,294 1883 F D Smith & Rowing Apparatus
W L Casaday forward facing rowing mechanism

282,589 1883 John H Trowbridge Machine For Exercising...
straight-line chain drive rowing machine

282,853 1883 Michael F Davis Row Boat
rigger support, seating divisions, wind balance, veneer stringers

   282,854     1883 Michael F Davis            Rowlock
                                                                    bearing oarlock w/stop and matching roller bearing oar sleeve

282,855 1883 Michael F Davis Row Boat Seat
anti-friction roller bearing tripod seat

282,856 1883 Michael F Davis Oar
girder loom, rubber grip

288,219 1883 Leonard W Elliott Velocipede
drum clutch, 3-wheel land rowing rowing machine

291,533 1884 C P Pitman & Manufacture Of Boats From Celluloid
H Allaire celluloid laminate shell

294,029 1884 John C Garrood Sliding Seat For Boats
roller bearing sliding seat

298,392 1884 John M Laflin Exercising Apparatus
friction resistance rowing machine

300,915 1884 George B Stanton Oar
a way to attach a metal blade

304,142 1884 William Spelman Rowing Apparatus Or Exercising Machine
rowing box on tracks with outboard pegs

304,474 1884 James J Turpel Seat And Foot-Board For Row-Boats
spring return sliding seat mechanism

305,198 1884 Daniel E Kempster Rowing Vehicle
3-wheel sliding seat road vehicle

317,430 1885 Ellis F Ward Rowlock For Racing Boats
swivel oarlock with pinned gate

323,292 1885 George Briggs Rowing Appliance
captive boat in water pool

330,841 1885 Jacob L Kwarel Bow Facing Oar and Oar Lock
reverse gear

337,942 1886 Bernard Farley Exercising-Machine
pulley weight machine

346,745 1886 Chauncey M Hall Bow Facing Oar
reverse gear oar

348,619 1886 Charles E Courtney Velocipede
3-wheel land rower

   352,329     1886 Edward J Kerns            Rowlock
                                                                    double-motion (swivel at base & lateral pivot) oarlock

   356,846     1887 Frank F Martin              Oarsman's Harness
                                                                    a harness connecting back, shoulders arms and oar handle

358,034 1887 George W Green Oar Or Scull Blade
sheet metal oar or scull blade

359,130 1887 Evington W Case Balanced Oar-Handle
attachable metal oar handle

368,111 1887 Robert Reach Exercising Machine
piston/cylinder resistance rowing machine

   369,860     1887 Daniel E Kempster        Velocipede
                                                                    handle driven, 3-wheel sliding seat road vehicle

377,986 1888 Mitchell E Bosca Outrigger For Boats
adjustable rigger

381,187 1888 William & Rowing Machine
Jacob Tracy fixed blade end, sliding rowing station w/ spring resistance

385,465 1888 Robert Masay Rowing Apparatus
boat station w/ circular pedal apparatus attached to oars

390,740 1888 John H Abeel Jr Anti-Friction Runner For Sliding Seats
ball bearing captured in matching channels

397,386 1889 Robert Reach Exercise Apparatus
rowing machine oarlock resistance & tilting mechanism

413,015 1889 Thomas J Bigger Rowing Machine
oarlock friction resistance rowing Machine

   421,080     1890 Edward J Kerns            Rowing Apparatus
                                                                    pivoting footboard

427,110 1890 Narciso T Quevedo Velocipede
3-wheel sliding seat road vehicle

435,934 1890 Edward J Kerns Exercising Machine
(complex) drum resistance rowing machine

441,765 1890 Stephen H Kimball Rowing Machine
oarlock mechanical resistance folding rowing machine

   500,826     1893 George H Thatcher        Oar Propelled Ice Boat
                                                                    oar propelled out-rigged shell mounted on skates

502,467 1893 William Roessler Rowing Apparatus
rowing machine w/ clutch at oarlock

521,536 1894 Michael F Davis Row-Boat
hull skin reinforcement

540,579 1895 Michael F Davis Oar
pivoting oar handle

540,580 1885 Michael F Davis Rowlock
adjustable oarlock

540,581 1895 Michael F Davis Oar
oar & oarlock stabilizer

541,857 1895 E C Hinton & Rowing Machine
W H Stansfield ice-boat rowing machine

550,642 1895 Walter B Peet Sliding Seat Indicator
measuring slide distance

581,214 1897 John V Lewellen Ball-Bearing Oar-Lock
reduced friction racing oarlock

588,220 1897 Michael F Davis Oar
hollow/grooved loom, light button, metallic blade tip cap

599,811 1898 Frank J Steinhauser Guideway For Sliding-Seat Row-Boats
track guards to prevent "track bites"

609,956 1898 Thomas H Brosnihan Row-Boat
seat actuated titling tracks

641,596 1900 Edward J Kerns Rowing Machine
chain-drive drum w/ belt resistance rowing machine

   642,544     1900 Louis S Burbank           Bicycle
                                                                    4-wheel sliding seat road vehicle w/ oar handles

683,540 1901 William C Wilson Oar-Lock
swivel oarlock w/upper & lower conical pivots and locking rod gate

684,868 1901 James A Robinson Oar
tubular metal oar w/ hollow steel blade

700,827 1902 Alden H Rollins Swivel Rowlock
top bracing for swivel oarlock

710,147 1902 William B Goodwin Rowing Appliance
saddle seat / pivoting footboard / knee rest

731,998 1903 Lawrence W Grayson Rowing Machine
rowing machine w/ clutch friction inside flywheel (similar to Gamut)

738,053 1903 Horace B Murdock Oar Or Scull
sheet metal truss oar or scull blade

749,153 1904 Sanford L Batchelor Bicycle With Rowing Attachment
2-wheel sliding seat road vehicle

805,033 1905 W H Smith & Oar
W B Goodwin oar of hollow construction made of metallic mesh and paper pulp

868,378 1907 Ellis F Ward Oar-Lock
improved swivel oarlock

885,871 1908 Daniel Scanlan Exercising Apparatus For Oarsmen
connected multi-station rowing setup

927,833 1909 John H Cunningham Oarsmen's Apparatus
rowing tank w/ mechanism

1,003,069 1911 Timothy H Shea Oar
hollow oar construction

1,015,071 1912 Robert Reach Gymnasium Rowing Apparatus
hydraulic piston rowing machine

1,058,855 1913 Adrian Gerardin & Sliding Boat-Seat
Charles Sauve coil spring assisted sliding seat & footboard

1,061,363   1913 Lewis J Evans                 Airship
                                                                    balloon airship propelled with oar like attachments

1,097,330 1914 George J Karle Oar Lock
oarlock with screw gate

1,111,269 1914 Philip S Medart Rowing Apparatus
adjustable friction rowing machine

1,223,512 1917 John Neville Adjuster For Outriggers
double threaded adjusters for rigger frame

1,245,098 1917 Joel E Goldthwait Rowboat Seat
tilting sliding seat

1,389,988 1921 William A Rose Oar
two piece rigid (aluminum) oar collar

1,401,038 1921 Thomas Britt Physical Developer Adapted For Rowing Exercise
ratchet type rowing machine

1,451,749 1923 Alton J Wiltrout Oar
bow facing oar gear

1,488,836 1924 Alden H Rollins Adjustable Support
adjustable rigger bolt

1,548,483 1925 George Y Pocock Oar
oar construction

1,594,063 1926 Guy E Long Oarlock
oarlock with roller bearing swivel base

1,621,423   1927 Guy E Long                    Foot Rest
                                                                    pivoting footboard

1,625,447 1927 Theodore S Benice Exerciser
home type rowing machine "Venus?"

1,656,534 1928 Alden H Rollins Rowlock
adjustable back-stand oarlock

1,679,631 1928 Hal E Seagraves Recording Apparatus For Oarsmen
measures oar angles

1,742,260 1930 Thomas R Keenan Oar
tubular/hollow oar w/internal i-beam made from two pieces

1,974,445 1934 Edgar A Calleson Exercise Machine
drum with belt resistance rowing machine

1,979,783 1934 T Williams & Exercising Machine
H Casler elastic resistance home rowing machine

2,067,218 1937 Charles S. Walsh Attachment For A Racing Shell
rigger splash guard

2,154,018 1937 Fred Wagele Feathering Device For Boat Oars
oarlock mechanism

2,259,678 1941 Walter G Bolton Oar
tubular oar built with multiple longitudinal pieces

2,586,024   1952 Frank T Glascow             Rowing Machine
                                                                    fixed dockside box rowing station

2,725,231 1955 Walter M Hoover Rowing Machine
rowing machine w/rotary drum using hydraulic resistance

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