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US 2004/0175999 A1Published application
Stroke cycle phase shift rowing
OwnerCharles O. Kunz, Nancy M. Kunzinventors
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OwnerCharles O. Kunz, Nancy M. Kunzinventors
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In shells with two, four or eight rowers, a method of rowing is proposed to reduce the stroke cycle velocity variation from that obtained when two, four or eight rowers row in unison. To reduce the stroke cycle velocity variation and to thereby obtain a greater average velocity for the same power input, we propose that individuals or groups of individuals row out of phase with other individuals or groups of individuals comprising the crew of a boat. We refer to this method of rowing as stroke cycle phase shift rowing. In boats with unison rowing, the rowers are evenly spaced with about 1.4 m separating adjacent rowers. To facilitate stroke cycle phase shift rowing, individuals or groups of individuals in a crew are spaced further apart than the spacing for adjacent rowers rowing in unison.
We claim the method for rowing both sweep rowing shells and sculling shells with two or more crew members whereby individual members of a crew or groups of crew members row out of phase with other individuals or other groups of crew members where rowing out of phase constitutes individuals or groups of crew members executing all elements of the stroke at a time different from other individuals or groups of crew members during the stroke cycle and is to be distinct from in phase rowing as commonly practiced where all members of a crew execute all elements of the stroke together.
We claim the design of both sweep rowing shells and sculling shells with two or more rowers that provides sufficient spacing between individual rowers or groups of rowers such that the individual rowers or groups of rowers can row out of phase with adjacent individuals or adjacent groups of rowers where the spacing between adjacent rowers that are rowing out of phase is greater than the spacing between adjacent rowers that are rowing in phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.