Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/60—Board appendages, e.g. fins, hydrofoils or centre boards
  • B63B32/64—Adjustable, e.g. by adding sections, by removing sections or by changing orientation or profile

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to water boards, and more specifically to a retractable fin which imparts stability to the water board in use and which retracts without interfering with the user.
• Water boards are similar to water skis.
• the water boarder is towed behind a powerful boat.
• the main difference is that the water boarder kneels on his/her board.
• a strap is provided on the water board for the "boarder” to place his/her thighs to keep the board in contact with the knees and shins of the boarder.
• the stability of the water board can be greatly improved, under certain conditions, by the addition of two fins on the underside of the board which provide control and lateral stability at high speeds. While this increase in stability is desirable for certain types of water boarding, there are other styles of water boarding wherein the fins are neither necessary nor desirable.
• One example of such a style would be jumping where the board and the boarder are towed across an inclined plane to gain altitude. Others would be spin- 360s and side slides.
• the present invention provides a retractable feature for the fins.
• 3,066,327 discloses a retractable stabilizer for water skis which pivots about a pin passing through the stabilizer and its housing disposed at the aft end of the ski and above the ski surface. Latch means are provided to maintain the stabilizer in the retracted position.
• U.S. Patent No. 3,082,444 describes a water ski safety skeg which is protected from damage from underwater debris and inclined ramps by its ability to automatically retract.
• While the water board fin is subject to the same design criteria concerning underwater debris and ramps, etc., the water board presents a problem not present in water ski skeg design. This difference relates to the quality and quantity of user contact with the board.
• a water skier's contact with the water ski comprises the placement of his/her foot in a rubber binding. The remainder of the water skier's body is not intended to contact the ski.
• the stabilizers used on water skis are permitted to protrude above the surface of the ski without interfering with the skier.
• Water boards on the other hand must carefully guard against this above surface protrusion since the water boarder's knees and shins are in contact with the board-surface ll"the way to its rear terminus.
• the location of the skegs at the aft end of the water board or ski results from the dynamics of the stabilizing phenomenon. This location is not subject to a large degree of variation due to the dynamics of the board in motion.
• This invention provides a retractable fin which protrudes onlyminimally above the water board surface.
• a retractable fin comprising an elongate lever member attached to the fin, a notched casing and pivot means to fasten the fin to the casing.
• the retractable fin is attached to the casing such that the fin does not protrude above the casing and is completely maintained within the casing.
• the lever member has beveled locking eans disposed along its longitudinal axis for cooperation with the notched casing and a handle at its distal end for selectively positioning the fin relative to the casing.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water boarder and a water board showing the retractable fins of the present invention
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the retractable water board fin of the present invention
• Fig. 3 is an exploded, perspective view, with parts broken away, illustrating the lever member and casing notches of the retractable fin;
• Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the retractable fin, shown in side elevation
• Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a retractable fin assembly according to the present invention.
• Fig. 9A is a perspective view, with portions broken away, of a third embodiment of a retractable fin assembly according to the present invention.
• Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the third embodiment, with portions of a water board being shown in cross section;
• Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the fin assembly of the third embodiment
• Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in Fig. 10;
• Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 in Fig. 10;
• Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in Fig. 10;
• Fig. 15 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a fin assembly according to the present invention.
• Fig.16 is an enlargedview of a portion of the embodiment shown in Fig. 15 with portions broken away;
• Fig. 17 is a view looking toward the bottom of a water board, showing a fifth embodiment of a retractable fin assembly according to the present invention.
• Fig.18 is a perspective view of portions of the mounting mechanism of the fin assembly shown in Fig. 17;
• Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the fin assembly of Fig. 17, shown in side elevation;
• Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of a fin assembly in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig.21 is a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of a fin assembly in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 23 is an enlarged, exploded view of components of the slide mechanism of the fin assembly shown in Fig. 21;
• Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken along the line 24-24 in Fig. 21.
• retractable fin of the present invention is described with reference to a H ⁇ DROSLIDE kneeboard (Krans ⁇ o Manufacturing, Inc., San Francisco, California), it is intended that the retractable fin can be utilized in conjunction with BOOGIE Boards (Kransco Manufacturing, Inc., San Francisco, California), wherein the user lies upon the board surface, and in conjunction with surfboards, too.
• a water board 10 is shown in Fig. 1.
• a strap 12, fastened at either end of board 10, encircles the mid-thighs of a boarder 14.
• Board 10 and boarder 14 are propelled through the water by holding onto a tow rope 16 which is attached at its other end to a power boat (not shown in this figure) .
• Boarder 14 kneels upon the upper surface of board 10 such that his knees 18 and shins 20 are in contact with the upper surface.
• identical fins 22 constructed according to the invention are shown in their extended position near the aft end of board 10.
• a lever 26 is shown extending above board 10 upper surface approximately at the boarder's ankles. This location permits boarder 14 to adjust the position of fins 22 while underway.
• lever 26 is part of retractable fin 22.
• the body of fin 22 is generally planar and trapezoidal in shape, having two generally horizontal edges 23 and 25, and two parallel, generally vertical edges 27 and 28, and an intermediate stop collar 31. It is intended to be within the scope of this invention for lever 26 and fin 22 to be two separate pieces fastened substantially in the manner as shown in the appended drawings in any of several fastening methods known to those skilled in the art.
• Fin 22 is received in a casing 29 formed by a slotted top 30, side walls 32 and 33, a slotted bottom 34 and end walls 35.
• a slot 36 is provided in top 30 to receive lever 26.
• the side and end walls of the casing define a cavity.
• Fin 22 is pivotally fastened within cavity 29 by pivot pin 38 which passes through a lower corner of fin 22, and openings in walls 32 and 33. Movement of lever 26 in slot 36 forces fin 22 to rotate about pivot pin 38, causing fin 22 to move between the retracted and extended positions relative to casing 29.
• collar 31 abuts against bottom 34 to either side of the slot, designated 37, formed therein.
• Fin 22 is designed such that its bottom edge 23 coincides with the plane of bottom 34 when fin 22 is totally retracted. This retracted position permits board 10 to be towed across an inclined ramp without damage to fin 22 or casing 29.
• the totally retracted fin position is also desirable for several of the stunts described above (e.g., spin-360s and side slides).
• lever 26 The only member which extends above the plane of upper section 30 is lever 26.
• the cooperation of lever 26 and slot 36 must be sensitive to two different applications of force. First, lever 26 can be manually activated by boarder 14 who wishes to extend or to retract fin 22. This adjustment must be relatively easy for boarder 14 to accomplish while board 10 is in use. Secondly, lever 26 must move easily in slot 36 when fin 22 is struck from below the water line by a submerged obstacle or ramp. Thus, lever 26 must be able to easily translate forces from above and below pivot pin 38 without failure which could easily lead to complete destruction of fin 22 or fracture of lever 26.
• top 30 is shown removed from walls 32, 33 and 35.
• Lever 26 is shown in the fin extended position and received within a notch 42 in wall 30.
• a fin retracted notch 44 is formed in wall 30 approximately 30 degrees from notch 42, as measured about the axis of pivot pin 38.
• This embodiment has two positions, extended or retracted, but it is intended to be within the scope of this invention to have any number of available positions permitting intermediate levels of fin extension.
• Top 30 has two positions in slot 36 which correspond to notches 42 and 44 in rear casing wall 33.
• Lever 26 is formed with detent protrusions 46 which is complementarily engageable with notches 42 and 44. The protrusion has beveled edges 48.
• a knob or handle 50 is formed on the distal end of the lever.
• protrusion 46 is selectively received within notches 42 and 44.
• Beveled edges 48 of protrusion 46 make it easier for protrusion 46 to slide and to be displaced from notches 42 and 44. Therefore, if fin 22 is disposed in an extended position (corresponding to notch 42), and it strikes an obstruction, beveled edges 48 facilitate cam-like displacement of protrusion 46 from notch 42 and permit fin 22 to be retracted.
• Lever 26 also has a bend 47 along its longitudinal axis which causes it to act as a leaf spring. At rest, leaf-spring-lever 26 rests against rear casing wall 33 and its corresponding notches 42 and 44.
• beveled edges 48 facilitate the movement of lever 26 out of the notched positions and along the plane of casing wall 33.
• the thickness of protrusion 46 serves to offset lever 26 away from rear casing wall 33 thereby clearing the set positions in slot 36.
• FIG. 4 The cross-sectional view of Fig. 4 illustrates the various positions of fin 22 relative to casing 29 and the geometric relationship between fin 22 and casing 29.
• Casing 29 is set in water board 10 such that its height is coincident with the thickness of board 10.
• Lever 26, with knob 50, is shown in notch 42.
• fin 22 is extended, with collar 31 abuttingly engaged with bottom 34.
• the retracted fin position, corresponding to notch 44 is shown in phantom lines.
• lower horizontal fin edge 23 corresponds with the plane of bottom 34.
• a flattened corner 51 on fin 22 permits it to fit fully within casing 29.
• Top 30 is removable from side walls 32 and 33 and end walls 35 to enable the casing to be inserted into place in a slot therefor within a board.
• top 30 and bottom 34 have transverse dimensions greater than that of the box defined by the side and end walls of the casing. This greater dimension provides flange surfaces which engage with the outside surfaces of a board within which the casing is received.
• the casing is held in place within a board by screws 54 which seat against bottom 34 and extend through openings 56 therein into threaded engagement with nuts 58 received in openings 60 in top 30. It will be appreciated that the casing has a depth equal to or less than thait of the board so that when secured in place within a board, the casing does not significantly protrude therefrom.
• Fig. 6 shows the top of lever 26 within slot 36 formed in top 30.
• Slot 36 defines the arc through which fin 22 is permitted to rotate about pivot pin 38. It is important that lever 26 be restricted to a certain arc of movement.
• Fin 22 has a maximum extended* position, corresponding to the placement of lever 26 in Fig. 6, and a maximum retracted position which corresponds to the outer position ⁇ represented by the dashed lines.
• An enlarged locking boss 60 is formed integrally with top 30 and extends into slot 36 to assist in releasably securing the lever at the positions of maximum retraction and extension of the fin.
• Fig. 7 shows how, despite the " well-defined positions represented by slot 36, lever 26 can be moved by the application of force to the bottom of the fin, without the application of force at the top end of lever 26.
• the section of Fig. 7 is taken below the plane of top 30 and illustrates notches 42 and 44 and locking member 46. As there seen, the beveled edges of protrusion 46 permit lever 26 to be easily moved out of notch 42.
• Fig. 7 shows how the top of lever 26 is set back from locking protrusion 46. This offset, of a distance equivalent to the thickness of locking member 46, allows the top of lever 26 to be lifted out of slot 36 position corresponding to notch 42 when a retracting force is applied from below to fin 22.
• a second embodiment of a fin assembly according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 9.
• a casing, indicated at 62 is shown in cross section and includes a bottom 64 provided with apertures for receiving threaded means for affixing to a water board.
• a fin, of generally triangular configuration, is indicated at 66 and is pivotally connected to casing 62 at 68.
• a torsion spring is provided around pin 68 so that one of its arms 78 is urged against a front wall of casing 62 while the other arm 70b_ exerts a downward force against top surface 66a of fin 66.
• Arm 70b normally biases fin 66 to an extended position as shown in Fig. 9.
• the release lever includes a resilient or flexible arm 74 with an extension at the bottom portion thereof indicated at 76.
• the bottom of 76 may be provided with a suitable roughened surface for enabling purchase by one's finger, in the manner to be hereinafter described.
• the release lever in effect, is a combination retaining/release means operable for cooperating with notch means 66£ to maintain the fin in a retracted position, and is also pivotally movable, to permit the fin to be extended.
• notch means 66£ to maintain the fin in a retracted position
• pivotally movable to permit the fin to be extended.
• the torsion spring urges fin 66 downwardly until a bottom surface of a ridge
• fin 66 may be dimensioned so that upper surface 66d is disposed above the top wall of the fin casing, thereby to present a surface so that one may initially engage the fin, when it is in its retracted position, to push the fin downwardly so that the release lever will be moved rearwardly to cause disengagement.
• a third embodiment of the present invention includes a fin assembly generally indicated at 78, which includes a fin casing 80 and a removable fin 81.
• the concept behind fin assembly 78 is to provide a fin which may be maintained in a retracted position wholly within the casing, and when it is desirable to extend the fin, it is pivoted downwardly, and then rotated about the fin's longitudinal axis, for repositioning within fin casing 80 so that fin 81 extends downwardly.
• the fin is "flipped over" between its extended and retracted positions, anda ball and socket construction is utilized to achieve this result.
• Fin casing 80 includes an upper bo -like section having a front wall 82, side walls 84, 86 and a bottom plate 88.
• a release lever 90 which includes an extension 92 operable for engaging fin 81 in a manner to be described.
• the perspective view shown in Fig. 9A is partially cut away to expose various features.
• side wall 86 there is provided an elongate rail or stop element 94.
• another rail or stop element such as shown at 95 in Fig. 14.
• front wall 82 is provided with a circular, access means such as an aperture 96 which extends into a slot 98 provided in bottom plate 88. Slot 98 further extends into a "socket" such as a circular, beveled aperture 100 provided in bottom plate.88. Apertures 96, 100 are dimensioned for receiving a ball means or sphere 102 which is mounted at the end of a projection or rod 104 which is secured, in turn, to a rectangular bar 106 mounted on top of fin 81. It will also be noted that the rear of bar 106 is provided with a locking/catch means such as a tab or extension 108.
• fin 81 is in its extended position as shown in solid outline. Extension 108 is retained in position by release lever 90 and in particular by extension 92 engaging beneath extension 108 to hold fin 81 in position. Fin 81 is maintained further in position by rail 94 and a rail on the inside of wall 84 which is not shown. The rails engage the top surface of bar 106. As shown in Fig. 10, with fin 81 in its extended position, sphere 102 is seated within circular aperture 100 (the aperture is provided with a bevel) and rod 104 is situated within slot 98.
• Fig. 10 shows a water board, such as indicated at 10, having a dimension somewhat thicker than the fin casing, it is contemplated that there may be an opening whereby one can push on the top of the fin, when it is in the retracted or reversed position as shown in Fig. 10, in order to push it out of engagement with release lever 90.
• Aperture 96 which is dimensioned with a diameter slightly greater than sphere 102, is provided for completely removing fin 81 if desired. To remove the fin, it is necessary to release extension 108 from engagement with release lever 90, and move the fin downwardly so that it is in a substantially vertical position, relative to fin casing 80, so that sphere 102 may be shifted through circular aperture 96.
• the fin can then be removed and another fin can be used.
• a fin which is readily removable from its fin casing, and one which is rotated 180 degrees from the extended and retracted positions. No tools are needed for fin adjustments, and a great depth is not required for the fin casing.
• the fin assembly may be thought of broadly as one which includes means for enabling rotation of the fin about its longitudinal axis so that it may be selectively positioned in an extended or retracted position.
• the means for enabling rotation include the circular apertures 96, 100 and slot 98 which cooperate with rod 104 and sphere 102.
• a fin assembly 110 includes a fin casing 112 and a fin 114 which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 116 to the casing.
• Extendable/retractable means are indicated generally at 118, and include rotatable means 120 including a knob secured via a thread means 122 to a nut means 124 to effect raising and lowering of fin 114 from retracted to extended positions.and vice versa.
• nut means 124 is formed with a pair of upstanding walls- 126, 128 which are secured to fin 114 by connection to an upper portion 114a thereof.
• rotatable means or knob 120 Spanning between walls 126, 128 are ' nut elements 130, 132 which engage thread means 122 and in particular the spiral or helix portions of the thread means.
• rotatable means or knob 120 when rotatable means or knob 120 is rotated, depending upon direction, fin 114 will be moved either upwardly or downwardly, or into an extended or retracted position, or any intermediate position so desired. It is contemplated that only two to three turns will effectuate movement from a fully retracted position to one which is fully extended such as shown in the phantom lines of Fig. 15.
• a simple rotatable system is provided, i.e., a fin assembly is utilized which includes rotatable means operable for directing movement against a fin thereby to selectively push or pull the fin so that it moves to a selected position.
• a fin assembly 134 is defined by a recess 136 provided in the bottom of a water board 10 with rotatable means enabling a fin 138 to be rotated along an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board. The fin thereby can be rotated from a vertical position, as shown in Fig.
• recess 136 is provided generally with the profile of fin 138, and may be formed as a separate fin casing or formed out of the bottom of the water board material itself.
• Fig. 18 The specific means for enabling selective rotatable positioning of fin 138 from a retracted to extended position is set forth in Fig. 18.
• a pair of mounting means or end support elements 140, 142 are secured to the bottom of water board 10, and each includes pin means such as pins indicated at 144 and 146 extending therefrom.
• Pin 144 is mounted to support element 140 bymeans of an orienting means 146 configured with an orthogonal or square shape.
• Fin 138 which is broken away in Fig. 18 and greatly shortened along its length, is defined by an upper portion formed as a circular bar 148 which includes bores 150, 152 extending partially thereinto along the longitudinal axis from opposite ends thereof.
• bores 150, 152 The purpose of bores 150, 152 is to receive pins 144, 146, respectively. Further details include an orthogonal recess 154 provided on rod 148 adjacent bore 150 for receiving orienting means 146.
• Spring or biasing means 156 is concentrically disposed over pin 147, so that when the pin is inserted through bore 152, and with pin 144 inserted in bore 150, the fin is urged toward the left and held securely in position as shown in Fig. 19.
• Recess 154 because it is formed as a recess having right angles, is located on orienting means 146, so as to dispose it either in the extended or vertical position as shown in Fig. 19, or, upon suitable rotation of fin 138, is positionable so that the fin may seat within accommodating recess 136.
• the fin does not have to move along a vertical plane, between-extension and retraction, but rather rotated so that it essentially lies o " n its side in the retracted position. A compact, low profile is assured during such stowage.
• biasing means 156 locks the fin into retracted position.
• To return the fin to an extended position it is shifted against biasing means 156 until recess 154 is freed from engagement with orienting means 146.
• the fin is then rotated 90 degrees to a vertical position and permitted to shift rearwardly for locking engagement between orienting means 146 and recess 154.
• FIG. 20 A still further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 20, which defines a sixth embodiment.
• This embodiment is directed to providing an elongate means connected to a fin operable for extending and retracting the fin.
• elongate means, it is meant an elongate element, movable relative to the fin, so that a pushing or pulling force may be exerted along the longitudinal axis of the elongate element to push or pull the fin into a selected extended or retracted position.
• a fin assembly is generally indicated at 158, and includes a fin casing 160 and a fin 162 which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 163 or similar element to the casing. Connected to fin
• Elongate means 164 which is used to extend and retract fin 162.
• Elongate means 164 may be dimensioned for positioning at any location along a water board, i.e., at a position remote from a boarder. In other words, accessibility to elongate means 164 is determined only by its length.
• a knob 166 is provided at the distal end of elongate means 164 to facilitate gripping by a boarder.
• a guide 168 with a recess 170 is provided for receiving a pin 172 from elongate means 164.
• a spring washer may be mounted adjacent pin
• a fin assembly comprising actuation means defined by elongate means flexibly connected to a fin operable for extending or retracting the fin upon pushing or pulling the elongate means.
• a fin assembly is generally indicated at 178 for receiving a fin 180 therewithin.
• Fin 180 is similar to fin 22 shown in Fig. 1, i.e., a lever is provided at 182, but here extends to a position adjacent the top of fin assembly 178 so that it engages an actuating means defined by a slide element 184 configured for being shifted or pushed by one's fingers, in a rectilinear direction either rearwardly or forwardly to. effect extension and retraction of the fin, or positioning in an intermediate orientation if desired.
• fin assembly 178 includes an upper assembly 186, formed as a box-like construction, which fits over a bottom assembly 188.
• a slot 190 is provided in upper assembly 166 for receiving an upper portion of lever 182.
• slide element 184 is provided with downwardly depending legs 190 (see Figs. 23 and 24) which are provided with indentations or ledges 192 for engaging a bottom surface or guide track 194 of the upper plate of upper assembly 186 adjacent slot 190.
• legs 190 are also spaced apart to define a retaining means such as an opening 196 for receiving and holding a lug 198 provided on the end of lever 182.
• a detent means such as projection 200 is dimensioned to engage either one of a pair of positioning recesses or notches 202 and 204.
• Slide element 182 and its cooperation with lever 182 may be thought of as an actuation means rectilinearly shiftable in either a forward or rearward direction, relative to the length of a water board, for selectively orienting a fin in a predetermined position.
• Slot 190 defines a throw of slide element 184 and therefore provides an accurate guide so that a boarder can quickly and effortlessly adjust the position of fin 180.
• Legs 190 serve a dual purpose, i.e., to transmit force from slide element.184 to fin 180 via lever 182 and to also—orient the slide element for positioning along slot 190 by means of guide tracks 194.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)

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• 1987
  • 1987-01-21 AU AU70344/87A patent/AU7034487A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1987-01-21 EP EP87901823A patent/EP0258389A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1987-01-21 WO PCT/US1987/000237 patent/WO1987004399A1/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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