Supports: racks – With trackway
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-22
2001-07-03
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
With trackway
C211S013100, C211S060100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253932
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to boathouses and in particular to a structure for storing compactly an increased number of rowing shells in a boathouse.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Boathouses are commonly used to store rowing shells. A typical rowing shell accommodates eight oarsmen and a coxswain. The eight-oar shell has eight outriggers for holding the oars. These outriggers extend approximately two feet to two-and-a-half feet from each side of the shell. The shell itself can be anywhere from approximately twelve (12) to eighteen (18) inches deep and includes typically a fin or a keel on the bottom to assist in stability while steering. The outriggers include a u-shaped vertical member for holding and locking the oar in place on the rigging while allowing the oar to pivot about the mounting point on the rigging of the u-shaped vertical member. Rowing shells for holding four rowers or two rowers are also common and resemble the eight-oar shell in terms of rigging and appearance, but are smaller, reflecting the smaller number of rowers. Likewise, shells of a type usually called sculls (which can accommodate one, two, three or more rowers) are common with rigging on both sides of the shell to handle the two oars used by each rower in the scull.
All of these shells are commonly stored in a boathouse. Unfortunately the rigging extending far out from the shells interferes with storing these shells compactly. Accordingly, a structure and method is needed to allow more efficient use of boathouse space so that a larger number of shells can be stored at lower cost.
SUMMARY
In accordance with this invention, structure is provided to allow an increased number of shells (for example, an increase of 50%, 100%, 150%, 200% or even more in the number of shells) to be stored in a boathouse with but a small, if any, increase in the volume of the boathouse. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, shells are stored along both walls of a boathouse and, in addition, on one or both sides of two or more standards each mounted to a carriage attached to a track beneath the roof of the boathouse. The number of shells stored on a side of each standard can be the same as the number of shells stored on each side of the boathouse. The shells on one side of each standard are stored at a selected distance above or below up to the same number of shells, if any, stored on the other side of each standard so that the rigging on two adjacent shells stored on opposite sides of each standard can be interdigitated. Thus the rigging on one shell stored on one side of each standard is slightly above or below the rigging on the adjacent shell or shells stored on the other side of a standard. As a result, up to four or five shells (or more) can be stored on each side of a standard with the rigging of the shell or shells on one side interdigitated with the rigging of the shell or shells on the other side of each standard.
Each vertical standard is mounted to hang straight down from a movable carriage located on a track beneath the ceiling. The shells are stored on arms extending essentially horizontally from each standard. These arms are located on each standard such that the shells stored on these arms are capable of being stored next to the shells mounted on the walls of the boathouse. The shells on the side of each standard adjacent to shells stored on essentially horizontal arms extending into the boathouse from a given wall of the boathouse are thus arranged at heights such that the rigging on the shells stored on each standard can be placed above or below the rigging of the adjacent shells stored on the wall of the boathouse. In other words, the rigging on the shells stored on the walls of the boathouse will interdigitate with the rigging on the shells stored on the side of each standard adjacent to that wall of the boathouse, thereby ensuring maximum storage efficiency of the shells. When it is desired to remove a shell stored on the wall of the boathouse adjacent to which the shells stored on the standards are located, the standards are moved across the boathouse on the two or more tracks by a crank or some other well known mechanism such that the oarsmen can access the desired shell on the wall of the boathouse. Similarly, the standards are also moved across the boathouse to allow the oarsmen to access one or more shells stored on the side of the standards adjacent to the wall of the boathouse.
In this manner, shells can be easily removed from storage by appropriately locating the standards, so that oarsmen can reach the shells desired to be used.
The storage structure and system of this invention provide a more compact storage of shells at a lower cost per shell than in the prior art. Accordingly, a boathouse can be used more efficiently by storing a larger number of shells in a given volume of space.
In other embodiments of this invention, the movable standards can contain only one vertical rack of shells. In another embodiment, more than one set of standards can be mounted on a given carriage. In still another embodiment, additional standards can be mounted on added carriages on the same or adjoining tracks.
This invention will be more fully understood in light of the following detailed description taken together with the following drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1380570 (1921-06-01), Lehman
patent: 2812069 (1957-11-01), Trammell
patent: 3512654 (1970-05-01), Olsen et al.
patent: 3567035 (1971-03-01), Dudzik
patent: 3906759 (1975-09-01), Schwing et al.
patent: 4070979 (1978-01-01), Otis et al.
patent: 4787804 (1988-11-01), Edenas
patent: 4889377 (1989-12-01), Hughes
patent: 5076442 (1991-12-01), Hakeem
patent: 5305890 (1994-04-01), Ishikawa
patent: 5341944 (1994-08-01), Latino
patent: 5931320 (1999-08-01), Gajda et al.
patent: 5938047 (1999-08-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5967346 (1999-10-01), Price, Jr.
Novosad Jennifer E.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
Stodola Daniel P.
LandOfFree
Structure for storing rowing shells does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Structure for storing rowing shells, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Structure for storing rowing shells will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2460715