This invention relates to a diving fin of modular construction

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Divers often require fins with different types of foot pockets such as full-foot (for bare feet), open-heel (for use with dive boots) or even step-in (where a specially- designed shoe clips releasable onto a footplate) as well as different sized and shaped blades for different diving conditions and to meet personal requirements. This means that divers are often forced to own a number of sets of different fins and may battle to travel with multiple pairs due to luggage restrictions.

In addition, longer fin blade designs, which may have performance advantages in some conditions, are difficult to travel with due to their dimensions.

Furthermore, it may happen that either the foot pocket or the blade of a fin becomes damaged, while the rest of the fin is still in good condition. However, if the foot pocket and blade are integrated, the diver is forced to replace the entire fin, rather than just the damaged part.

Lastly, as a new fin blade design requires multiple sizes, tooling for the manufacture of traditional fins with integrated blade and foot pocket is also expensive. This is especially true if a manufacturer wishes to launch a new fin in both open heel and full foot styles, which could necessitate up to 12 large fin moulds.

For these reasons, modular fins, whereby the foot pocket and blade are manufactured separately, are desirable.

However, although various modular fins and foldable fins have been developed, these fins all face various drawbacks, the most notable of which being that the connection between the foot pocket and the blade tends to be a weak point, and prone to breaking or disengaging under the load applied by the user’s kick. In attempting to overcome this weakness, the connectors between the foot pocket and the blade of prior art modular fins and foldable fins tend to be very complex. In addition, despite being modular, many modular fins still require the manufacture of different sized blades for different sized foot pockets.

It is an object of this invention to provide a diving fin which, at least partially, alleviates some of the abovementioned problems. In the following specification, the term“rail” is to be understood to mean a raised elongated projection, integral with the fin and extending along at least a portion of the foot pocket and the blade of the fin, for providing structural support and strength to the fin and longitudinal rigidity to both the blade and the foot pocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a fin, comprising a blade and a foot pocket distinct from one another and releasably connected to one another by one or more rails extending from a leading edge of the blade to the foot pocket, wherein the rails extend from either side of the foot pocket and extend parallel to one another at least partway along the length of the blade towards a trailing edge of the blade, each rail comprising two sections; a first rail section, extending from the leading edge of the blade and terminating in a free end, and a second rail section extending from the foot pocket and terminating in a free end, such that the free end of one rail section comprises a female recess, and the free end of the other rail section terminates in a male extension, slidably receivable in the female recess.

Preferably, a transverse aperture located through the male extension, with corresponding apertures located through side walls of the female recess, in which the apertures are configured to align with one another when the male extension is inserted into the female recess.

A fastening element, such as a pin or plug may be insertable through the aligned apertures located in the female recess and the male extension, to secure the male extension within the female recess.

The foot pocket and the blade are preferably spaced apart from one another, and only connected to one another by the one or more rails.

The blade and foot pocket, are preferably connected to one another by a pair of spaced apart rails extending substantially parallel to one another between the blade and the foot pocket. The foot pocket may comprise a full foot, an open heel configuration, or a footplate for a step- in shoe.

Also described herein is a rail for a dive fin having a blade and a foot pocket, the rail being adapted to releasably connect the blade and the foot pocket of the dive fin to one another, in which the rail comprises a first rail section, extending from the leading edge of the blade and terminating in a free end, and a second rail section extending from the footpocket and terminating in a free end, such that the free end of one rail section comprises a female recess, and the free end of the other rail section terminates in a male extension, slidably receivable in the female recess.

The use of the rails as connectors facilitates the pairing of a variety of different size and style footpockets with a variety of different size and design blades.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the fin of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective views of the fin when assembled;

Figure 3 is a plan view of various embodiments and configurations of the fin of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a side view of various embodiments and configurations of the fin of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to figures 1 to 4 in which like features of the invention are indicated by like numerals; The fin 10 comprises a blade 12 and a foot pocket 14, distinct from one another and releasably connected to another by a pair of spaced apart rails 16 extending along the foot pocket 14 to the blade 12, and at least partway along the length of the blade 12.

It will be noted that even when connected, the foot pocket 14 and the blade 12 are spaced apart from one another by a gap 22 and only connected to one another by the rails 16.

Each rail 16 comprises two sections, the first section 16a extending along at least a portion of the length of the blade 12 and terminating in a male extension 18 towards the foot pocket end of the blade, and the second rib section 16b extending along the length of the foot pocket 14 and terminating in a female recess 20 towards the toe end of the foot pocket. The male extension 18 of the first rail section 16a is slidably receivable in the female recess 20 of the second rail section 16b to provide an overlapping interface. This overlapping interface between the male 18 and female 20 rib sections provides a continuous structural element for joining the blade 12 to the foot pocket 14 and eliminates an identified weak point at the junction between the blade and the foot pocket. As a result of this configuration, torque between the blade 12 and foot pocket 14 generated by drag on the fin blade during the diver’s kicking motion does not act to separate the blade 12 from the foot pocket 14, as is the case with the prior art. Furthermore, thrust generated by the blade 12 acts to force the male rail extension 18 further into the female recess 20, rather than trying to separate the two.

The male extension 18 is retained within the female recess 20 by one or more removable fastening elements comprising a pin or a plug 24, insertable through aligned apertures 26, 28 located in the walls of the female recess and through the body of the male extension. The pin or plug 24 serves to hold the male 18 and female 20 integers in place and does not bear any of the loads generated by the diver’s kicking action. Additionally, as the fastening element 24 does not bear load, it can be configured so as to be easily removable by hand to facilitate quick disassembly of the fin for travel.

It will be noted that even when connected, the foot pocket 14 and the blade 12 are spaced apart from one another by a gap 22 and only connected to one another by the ribs 16. By eliminating any need for additional engaging means between the foot pocket and the blade at the toe-end of the foot pocket, the invention provides for a modular fin which is hydrodynamic and avoids load at the toe-end of the foot, thus allowing for better power transfer from each kick and reduced fatigue and cramping of the foot during use of the fin. The extension of the ribs 16 into the foot pocket 14 of the fin, so that the ribs 16 are integral with the foot pocket 14 also provide rigidity to the foot pocket, preventing flex of the foot pocket 14 under load.

The rails 16 extend parallel to one another at least partway along the length of the blade 12 towards the trailing edge 30 of the blade.

Referring to figures 1 to 3 it will be noted that the rails 16 can either extend through the body of the blade, such that the blade 12 is divided into three portions; a central portion 32, and two side wings 34. Alternatively and referring to figures 3B and 3C, the rails 16 can extend along the outer edges of the blade 12.

The rails may additionally include an articulated hinge 36 with limiting means, located at the leading edge 38 of the blade.

Referring to figures 3 and 4 the foot pocket may be an open heel configuration (Figures 3A and 4A), a shoe (figures 3B and 4B) or a full foot (Figures 3C and 4C), To assemble the fin 10, the male extension 18 of the first rail section 16a is inserted into the female recess 20 of the second rail section 16b, and is secured in place by the pin 24, inserted through the aligned apertures 26, 28. In this manner, the foot pocket 14 is connected to the blade 12, and the fin is ready for use.

To disassemble, one merely removes the pin 24, and slides the male extension 18 out of the female recess 20, disconnecting the foot pocket 14 from the blade 12, thus allowing the fin to take up less space during storage or travelling.

Referring to figures 3 and 4, one big advantage of such a modular design, is that only one blade size is required for different sizes and styles of foot pocket. This dramatically saves in tooling and production costs. By employing a common rail dimension and spacing, every size and style foot pocket fits every blade size and design. This eliminates the complexity that would otherwise be involved in making a single blade size homogenously fit up to 12 different size and style foot pockets and, as a result, dramatically reduces the tooling costs of a new fin model (from up to 12 large fin moulds down to a single new blade mould).

A further advantage of such a fin, is that the foot pocket and the blade can be manufactured separately and from different materials.

Furthermore, and referring again to figures 3 and 4, a diver is able to interchange various foot pockets and blades depending on diving conditions and requirements. This results in a significant space saving, and makes the fins travel friendly.