EP0577194B1

EP0577194B1 - Support for swimming flippers

Info

Publication number: EP0577194B1
Application number: EP19930201817
Authority: EP
Inventors: Renzo Maggi
Original assignee: Salvas SpA
Current assignee: Salvas SpA
Priority date: 1992-06-30
Filing date: 1993-06-23
Publication date: 1997-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-23
Also published as: EP0577194A1; ITMI920646U1; ITMI920646V0; DE69309555D1; IT226727Z2

Description

This invention relates to a support for swimming flippers. Different types of supports are commonly used for swimming flippers. Many of these can be hung on suitable display stands.
One of these supports which is particularly used for swimming flippers comprises a single member of plastics or similar material. Its upper part has a hook from which it is hung. Its lower part is shaped so that it can accept a pair of swimming flippers. The flippers are hung on the lower lateral parts. In this way the rear parts (on the soles) of the flippers face each other.
A pair of flippers hung in this way occupies a considerable amount of space, because of the geometry of the flippers. In fact, the upper part of the flipper, which forms a shoe, itself already occupies an appreciable space. In practice a large amount of space, which is not always available in display or storage areas, is used with this method.
Another disadvantage originates from the supports themselves. These themselves, without the flippers hanging from them, uselessly occupy space both on display stands and in containers.
A further disadvantage which also arises from the type of support is that not all supports are used in such a way as to allow a pair of flippers to be completely displayed. Specifically, there are supports for flippers which make it possible to see only one flipper or only the side of a pair.
FR-A-2 436 276 relates to a support for supporting leather articles. FR-A-2 590 784 shows a support for flippers having elastic arms.
An object of this invention is to provide a support for swimming flippers which is easy and simple to construct and which overcomes the abovementioned disadvantages.
A further object is to provide a support for swimming flippers comprising two members which can be hooked together and separated from each other.
With these objects in view a support for swimming flippers has been provided according to claim 1.
The structural and functional features and advantages of a support for swimming flippers according to this invention will be better understood from the detailed description of a non-restrictive example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a view in plan of the flipper support according to this invention, and
Figure 2 shows a side view of a detail in Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1, this shows a support for swimming flippers constructed as two members which can be hooked together and separated from each other. An upper member 11 has a hook shape and a lower member 12 has essentially a butterfly shape to accept the swimming flippers.
The upper member 11 is attached to the lower member 12 by means of a hooking portion 13 which can be inserted into a suitable seat 14. The projecting hooking portion 13 is located in the lower part of the upper member 11. The seat 14 is provided within a tongue 15, which projects outwards and is constructed in the centre between the two lateral butterfly wing portions 16 of the lower member 12. Means of attachment for the said two members 11 and 12 thus comprise said projecting hook portion 13 and seat 14.
The seat 14 has the shape of an upside-down keyhole. The hooking portion 13 is inserted into the seat 14 in its wider lower part 17 and is then drawn towards its higher narrow part 18. The hooking portion 13 is engaged in the seat 14 with the aid of two cut-out portions 19 which are arranged in diametrically opposite positions and have an essentially segmental shape, as shown in Figure 2. The recesses 19 in the projecting hooking portion 13 in the lower portion of said upper member 11 are of the same thickness as an inner edge 20 of the seat 14. In this way the hook-shaped upper member 11 and the lower member 12 which accepts the flippers are associated together in a rigid way. The shape of cut-out portions 19 and more specifically the fact that they are arranged in parallel does not allow any type of lateral movement of the upper element 11 in any direction other than towards the members.
A first line of weakness 22, which allows the hook to bend, is provided beneath a widened portion 21 of the upper member 11. A second line of weakness 23 is provided in the lower member 12, beneath the tongue 15. The latter can also be bent in this way.
As show in Figure 2, the projecting hooking portion 13 and the said first line of weakness 22 in the upper member 11 are provided on opposite sides thereof.
The butterfly wing portions 16 are configured in such a way that the swimming flippers can be placed upon them and have a shape similar to that of the rear part of the shoes of the flippers and are therefore inserted therein.
A notch 25 is provided on the inner edge of an upper part 24 of the widened portion 21 of upper member 11. This allows the flipper support to be housed firmly on a stand. The bar of the stand, which is usually constructed of a thickness not exceeding that of notch 25, is placed within it. In this way the support for swimming flippers hangs on the bar of the display stand firmly, with or without the flippers, without any unnecessary lateral movement and slipping.
The butterfly wing portions 16 are associated with a central portion 26 by means of grooves 27, which define a joint line. The lines formed in this way represent weakened portions of material and enable the wing portions 16 to be bent. The swimming flippers are then housed on these when they have been bent in this way.
One of the advantages of such swimming flipper supports is the possibility of bending the support itself. To take up less space both the upper member 11 and the tongue 15 of the lower member 12 can be bent.
Another advantage derives from the fact that the support for the swimming flippers according to the invention is constructed of two members which can be hooked together and separated from each other. In this way it also has the advantage of taking up less space than known supports.

Claims

A support for swimming flippers, constructed of plastic material, comprising an upper hook-shaped member (11) and a lower member (12) designed to accept swimming flippers, characterised in that said members (11,12) can be hooked together and separated from each other by means of attachment (13,14), in that said upper member (11) incorporates a first line of weakness (22) allowing bending, and in that a second line of weakness (23) permitting bending is located beneath a tongue (15) projecting from said lower member (12).
A support for swimming flippers according to claim 1, characterised in that said means of attachment comprise a hook portion (13) projecting from a lower part of said hook-shaped upper member (11) and a suitable seat (14) provided in said tongue (15) at the centre between the side wings (16) of said lower member (12).
A support for swimming flippers according to claim 2, characterised in that said projecting hook portion (13) has two cut-out portions (19) arranged in diametrically opposite positions and having an essentially segmental shape.
A support for swimming flippers according to claim 2, characterised in that said projecting hook portion (13) and said first line of weakness (22) in said upper member (11) are provided on opposite sides thereof.
A support for swimming flippers according to claim 3, characterised in that the thickness of the cut-out portions (19) in the upper member (11) is the same as the thickness of an inner edge of said seat (14) provided within said tongue (15).
A support for swimming flippers according to claim 1, characterised in that the lower member (12) designed to accept the flippers has portions substantially in the shape of butterfly wings (16) associated with a central portion (26), by means of grooves (27) defining a joining line, these butterfly wing portions (26) being capable of being inserted within the flippers.
A support for swimming flippers according to claim 1, characterised in that a notch (25) to house the bar of a display stand is provided in an upper portion (24) of the upper member (11).