Oarlock spacer

Abstract

Described herein are spacers for oarlock height adjustment, for example, for rowing racing shells. The spacers can have a C-shaped clamp section; and a grip section having two handles extending from said clamp section, wherein said clamp section is adapted to be securely fastened to an oarlock pin and to release from the oarlock pin when the handles of the grip section are squeezed together. The clamp section can have an outer rim section, an inner rim section, and an opening configured to pass around the oarlock pin. Also described herein are methods for adjusting oarlock height making use of the spacers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spacer for oarlock height adjustment comprising:
 a C-shaped clamp section; and   a grip section comprising two handles extending from said clamp section,   wherein said clamp section is adapted to be securely fastened to an oarlock pin and to release from the oarlock pin when the handles of the grip section are squeezed together.   
     
     
         2 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said clamp section comprises an outer rim section, an inner rim section, and an opening configured to pass around the oarlock pin. 
     
     
         3 . The spacer of  claim 2 , wherein the opening is about 15.950 mm measured around the outer diameter section. 
     
     
         4 . The spacer of  claim 2 , wherein said inner rim defines a cylindrical space that fastens to the oarlock pin. 
     
     
         5 . The spacer of  claim 4 , wherein the radius of the cylindrical space is about 7.100 mm measured to the inner rim section. 
     
     
         6 . The spacer of  claim 5 , wherein the radius of the cylindrical space is about 11.700 mm measured to the outer rim section. 
     
     
         7 . The spacer of  claim 2 , wherein the handles of the grip section are positioned opposite the opening of the C-shaped clamp section. 
     
     
         8 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the handles are prism-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the handles are cylindrically-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The spacer of  claim 9 , wherein a radius of the handles is about 2.000 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The spacer of  claim 10 , wherein the handles are parallel to each other and a distance between the handles is about 0.750 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the handles is about 17.242 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein each handle has a plurality of notches. 
     
     
         14 . The spacer of  claim 1 , having a thickness of about 6.900 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is made of Nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polypropylene, other plastics, Polyurethane, or blends thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The spacer of  claim 15 , wherein the Nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polypropylene, other plastics, Polyurethane, or blends thereof further comprise a strengthening element. 
     
     
         17 . The spacer of  claim 16 , wherein the strengthening element comprises fiberglass, carbon fiber, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp section and grip section are made of different materials. 
     
     
         19 . A method for adjusting oarlock height, said method comprising:
 providing one or more spacers according to  claim 1 ; and   moving the one or more spacers from a first position on an oarlock pin to a second position on an oarlock pin, wherein said first and second positions are on opposite sides of an oarlock located on the oarlock pin.   
     
     
         20 . A method for adjusting oarlock height, said method comprising:
 positioning one or more spacers of any one of  claim 1  at a first position on an oarlock pin; and   moving the one or more spacers to a second position of the oarlock pin, wherein said first and second positions are on opposite sides of an oarlock located on the oarlock pin.