Pivoting footrest for rowing boats

Abstract

A spring loaded pivoting footrest for a rowing boat.

1 . A pivoting footrest system for coupling the shoes of a rower to the boat, comprising: 
 a pair of shoes;    a pedal or a plurality of pedals structured to permit attachment of the shoes to said pedals;    a spring mechanism structured to accumulate potential energy during the rotation of the shoes,    whereby the pedals are attached to the boat and structured to allow pivoting of the pedals and shoes about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the long axis of the rowing boat, the rotation of the shoes resulting in loading of the spring mechanism during the recovery portion of the rowing motion, and the spring mechanism releasing the stored energy during the initial portion of the power stroke, thereby improving the rowing stroke efficiency.    
   
   
       2 . The pivoting articulation system of  claim 1  including: 
 a cleat attached to the underside to the shoe    a shoe attachment mechanism for attachment of the cleat to the footrest,    whereby the shoes can be releasably attached to the footrest.    
   
   
       3 . The cleat of  claim 2  structured to permit attachment to the standard bolt hole patterns found in bicycle shoes, permitting the use of bicycling shoes for rowing boats.  
   
   
       4 . The shoes of  claim 1  provided with a rigid sole, whereby the foot arch is not flexed during the rowing motion.  
   
   
       5 . The spring mechanism of  claim 1  containing a spring from the group of springs including: torsion, compression, extension, and leaf springs.  
   
   
       6 . The spring mechanism of  claim 1  containing an elastic member, whereby energy is stored in the member by compression or extension of the member, and released thereafter.