Apparatus for the improvement of rowing technique

Abstract

A position reference device for rowing indicates the relative hip and hand positions of the rower over the course of each rowing stroke. The position reference device provides a reference for kinesthetic learning through constant feedback about torso and hand position. Embodiments of the feedback device can be used on either a boat or on a rowing machine. The embodiments for boats in particular provide the immediate on-water feedback that enables a rower to improve technique in a way that conventional feedback devices generally do not. The rowing machine embodiments enable rowers to improve skill while off the water thus enabling the rower to learn better technique even when it is not possible to row on water.

1 . A position reference device for a rowing apparatus, comprising: 
 a seat locator attached to the rowing apparatus, the seat locator to indicate hip location of a rower positioned on a seat on the rowing apparatus; and    a hand locator attached to the rowing apparatus to indicate hand position of the rower, the seat locator and hand locator positioned relative to each other according to biometric data of the rower such that the position reference device indicates the rower's body position during at least one selected stroke point.    
     
     
         2 . The position reference device of  claim 1  wherein the seat locator further comprises an adjustable guide bar having a first end and a second end, the adjustable guide bar attached to the seat at the first end; and 
 wherein the hand locator further comprises a cross bar attached substantially perpendicular to the second end of the guide bar.    
     
     
         3 . The position reference device of  claim 2  wherein the adjustable guide bar is shaped and configured to prevent axial rotation of the guide bar.  
     
     
         4 . The position reference device of  claim 2  wherein the rowing apparatus is a rowing machine.  
     
     
         5 . The position reference device of  claim 4  wherein the seat locator further comprises an adjustment assembly attached to the rowing apparatus at the seat, the adjustment assembly to hold the guide bar at the first end, the adjustment assembly configured to enable an extension adjustment of the guide bar.  
     
     
         6 . The position reference device of  claim 5  wherein the adjustment assembly is further configured to enable a tilt adjustment of the guide bar.  
     
     
         7 . The position reference device of  claim 6  wherein the guide bar is extendible to enable height adjustment of the hand locator.  
     
     
         8 . The position reference device of  claim 7  wherein the guide bar has a telescoping portion that enables the height adjustment of the hand locator.  
     
     
         9 . The position reference device of  claim 5  wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises an adjustment frame holding a seat top while saddling a rail positioned underneath the seat on which the seat slides, the adjustment frame having two sides positioned on either side of the rail, one of the sides of the adjustment frame configured to adjustably hold the guide bar.  
     
     
         10 . The position reference device of  claim 5  wherein the guide bar is a first guide bar attached to one side of the seat; 
 wherein the position reference device further comprises a second guide bar substantially similar to the first guide bar similarly attached to an opposing side of the seat from the first guide bar; and    wherein the cross bar is attached between the first guide bar and the second guide bar.    
     
     
         11 . The position reference device of  claim 5  wherein the seat rolls on the rail on wheels having bearings and wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises a single-side adjustment frame that is a half saddle attached to the seat at the seat bearings, the half saddle hanging over one side of the rail and wherein the guide bar is attached to the half saddle.  
     
     
         12 . The position reference device of  claim 9  wherein the side holding the adjustment assembly includes two clamps configured to receive and retain the guide bar and a slot and a hole to receive the clamps, the clamps configured to be tightened in position in the slot and the hole, the slot, the hole, and clamps providing tilt and extension adjustment of the guide bar.  
     
     
         13 . The position reference device of  claim 9  wherein the cross bar is extended such that a second rower on the second rowing machine can operate the second rowing machine in synchronicity with the rowing machine holding the position reference device.  
     
     
         14 . The position reference device of  claim 4  wherein the rowing machine includes a cable attached at a first end to a resistance wheel and including a handle attached at a second end of the cable, the handles to be held by the rower, and the seat further includes rollers and the rowing machine further comprises a rail along which the seat rolls, 
 wherein the seat locator comprises a first sensor to detect location of the seat relative to the rowing machine; and    wherein the hand locator comprises a second sensor to sense the handle position relative to the rowing machine.    
     
     
         15 . The position reference device of  claim 14  further comprising a display device coupled to a receiver and wherein the first sensor is coupled to a first transmitter that transmits first sensor data to the receiver and wherein the second sensor is coupled to a second transmitter that transmits second sensor data to the receiver, the display device to display the first sensor data and the second sensor data.  
     
     
         16 . The position reference device of  claim 15  wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter and the receiver are wireless.  
     
     
         17 . The position reference device of  claim 15  wherein the display device is coupled to a computation device storing the biometric data of the rower and hand and seat locations for selected stroke points for specific rowers, the computation device to correlate sensor data with biometric data and the display device to display output of the correlated sensor and biometric data.  
     
     
         18 . The position reference device of  claim 14  wherein the second sensor is a chain position sensor 
 wherein at least one light source illuminates the link openings of a chain and at least one detector senses the light passing through the chain and the transitions in the detector signal are counted; and    wherein at least one light source illuminates the solid side of a chain and a plurality of detectors sense the light pattern detected by the plurality of detectors and the minimum in the detected light pattern indicates the position of the chain relative to the plurality of detectors.    
     
     
         19 . The position reference device of  claim 14  wherein the first sensor is a linear position encoder.  
     
     
         20 . The position reference device of  claim 14  wherein the first sensor is a rotation encoder.  
     
     
         21 . The position reference device of  claim 14  wherein the first sensor is a gyroscope and an accelerometer.  
     
     
         22 . The position reference device of  claim 14  wherein the second sensor is a gyroscope and an accelerometer.  
     
     
         23 . The position reference device of  claim 14  wherein the first sensor is a first GPS device.  
     
     
         24 . The position reference device of  claim 2  where the rowing apparatus is a boat.  
     
     
         25 . The position reference device of  claim 24  wherein the seat locator further comprises 
 a guide bar having a first end and a second end, the guide bar attached at the first end to the seat at the center front of the seat; and    the hand locator further comprises a transparent plate attached at the second end of the guide bar, the transparent plate having markings to indicate hand position.    
     
     
         26 . The position reference device of  claim 25  wherein the transparent plate is centered with respect to the seat.  
     
     
         27 . The position reference device of  claim 25  wherein the transparent plate is positioned off- center with respect to the seat.  
     
     
         28 . The position reference device of  claim 25  wherein the transparent plate is a screen.  
     
     
         29 . The position reference device of  claim 25  wherein the guide bar is flexible.  
     
     
         30 . The position reference device of  claim 29  wherein the guide bar further comprises at least one flexible joint.  
     
     
         31 . The position reference device of  claim 25  wherein the boat further includes at least one seat that slides along rails attached to the boat and wherein the rower rows with at least one oar having a handle, 
 wherein the seat locator comprises a first sensor to indicate the position of the seat relative to the boat; and    wherein the hand locator comprises a second sensor to indicate the position of the oar relative to the boat.    
     
     
         32 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the hand locator further comprises a battery and a wireless transmitter to transmit data to a rower feed back device.  
     
     
         33 . The position reference device of  claim 32  wherein the hand locator further comprises a solar collector to power the hand locator.  
     
     
         34 . The position reference device of  claim 32  wherein the hand locator is configured inside the oar handle.  
     
     
         35 . The position reference device of  claim 32  wherein the hand locator is configured inside a torus-shaped form that is configured to fit over the oar handle.  
     
     
         36 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the rower rows with two oars wherein each of the oars includes a hand locator.  
     
     
         37 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the first sensor is a linear position encoder.  
     
     
         38 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the first sensor is a rotation encoder.  
     
     
         39 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the first sensor is a gyroscope and an accelerometer.  
     
     
         40 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the second sensor is a gyroscope and an accelerometer.  
     
     
         41 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the second sensor is a GPS device.  
     
     
         42 . The position reference device of  claim 31  wherein the second sensor comprises an angle sensor to measure the sweep angle of the oar and angle sensor to measure the tilt of the oar.  
     
     
         43 . A position reference device for a rowing boat, comprising: 
 a fixed reference on the rowing apparatus;    a camera located at the fixed reference, the camera to take a plurality of sequential images of a rower operating the rowing boat; and    a display device located in the rowing boat to receive the images from the camera, the display device viewable by the rower.    
     
     
         44 . The position reference device of  claim 43  further comprising: 
 a computer to receive and process the sequential images from the camera and to detect hand position and seat position of the rower with regard to the fixed reference point.    
     
     
         45 . The fixed reference of  claim 43  is the oar lock.  
     
     
         46 . The fixed reference of  claim 43  is the rigger.  
     
     
         47 . The position reference device of  claim 43  further comprising: 
 a second camera located at the fixed reference, the second camera to take a plurality of sequential images of an oar used by the rower.    
     
     
         48 . The position reference device of  claim 31  further comprising a display device coupled to a receiver and wherein the first sensor is coupled to a first transmitter that transmits first sensor data to the receiver and wherein the second sensor is coupled to a second transmitter that transmits second sensor data to the receiver, the display device to display the first sensor data and the second sensor data.  
     
     
         49 . The position reference device of  claim 48  wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter and the receiver are wireless.  
     
     
         50 . The position reference device of  claim 48  wherein the display device is coupled to a computation device storing the biometric data of the rower and hand and seat locations for selected stroke points for specific rowers, the computation device to correlate sensor data with biometric data and the display device to display output of the correlated sensor and biometric data.