GB2197796A

GB2197796A - Swimming fins

Info

Publication number: GB2197796A
Application number: GB08628370A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-27
Filing date: 1986-11-27
Publication date: 1988-06-02
Also published as: GB8628370D0

Abstract

A swimming fin of the type for attachment to a user's foot has a first part (10) adapted for fitment to a foot, a second part (11) which provides the fin, the parts (10, 11) being movable relative to each other so that the second part (11) may be folded upwards in a folded position to enable a wearer of such a fin to walk or move more easily when out of the water. A powered device (33, 35) may be provided to cause relative movement between the first part (10) and second part (11) to move the fin from its in-use position to its folded position and/or to cause relative movement between the two parts to provide propulsion means for the user. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Improvements in or relating to Swimming Fins" Description of Invention The present invention relates to swimming fins of the type which, in use, are attached or located on a persons' foot and have a large web-like portion extending therefrom to assist the person in swimming.

Such swimming fins are particularly important to divers in view of the enormous increase in mobility which they permit a diver when moving under water.

Unfortunately, such fins because of their size and shape prove to be cumbersome attachments as soon as a person using such fins moves out of the water and this is particularly the case in confined areas, for example in a boat from which persons are diving where such encumbrances can be very inconvenient.

In practice, divers wearing such fins are normally obliged before entering a boat or soon thereafter to remove the fins from their feet, which of course necessitates the need for the fins to be secured once again in their proper position prior to re-entry into the water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fin that overcomes or alleviates the above mentioned problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, I provide a swimming fin having a first part of a shape or nature adapted to co-operate with the foot of a user so as to enable securement thereto, and a second part attached to said first part by means enabling said second part to have two positions relative to said first part, a first position in which it extends, in use of the swimming fin, away from a user's foot and is generally coplanar therewith, and a second, folded, position in which it extends when secured to a user's foot generally upwardly or is otherwise folded or stored relating to the first part so that it does not extend any substantial distance away from the user's foot, at least in a direction coplanar therewith.

Preferably, said second part is foldable relating to the first part and can move through an angle of approximately 160 between said first position and said second folded position.

Said first part may be in the form of a shoe or boot adapted to be fitted to the user's foot.

Means may be provided, or said fin may be of a nature, so that it naturally adopts either said first position or said second folded position and further means may be provided to maintain said second part in the other of said positions.

Preferably, the means of attachment of said second part to said first part permits of substantially pivotal movement between said second part and said first part and resilient means may be provided, for example a spring, to maintain said second part in said first position.

Conveniently, said first part and said second part may be provided with co-operating attachment means whereby when said second part is moved into its folded position, said means co-operate with each other to maintain said second part in said folded position.

Alternatively, frictional means may be provided to maintain the relative position of said first and second parts. The frictional resistance provided by said friction means may be adjustable.

Means for providing for pivotal movement may comprise a conventional type hinge or may coprise a flexible part interconnecting said first and second parts. Such a flexible part may be integrally formed with said first part, said second part or both.

As an alternative, the second part may be mounted for sliding movement relative to the first part and be movable from an extended working position to a retracted stored position.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, means may be provided for movement of said second part relative to said first part from a position remote from said swimming fin and conveniently, powered means may be provided to effect such movement.

Conveniently, said power means may comprise a pneumatic piston and cylinder, the piston or cylinder being attached to said first part and the cylinder or piston respectively attached to said second part.

Conveniently, air under pressure may be supplied to said cylinder from a convenient source, and in the case where the swimming fin is to be used by a diver equipped with a compressed air supply for breathing under water. such air supply may be used to energise said piston and cylinder via valve means suitably sited for ease of operation by the person using the device.

Such an arrangement will permit of remote movement of said second part relative to said first part from its first to its second folded position and vice versa without the need for a user, who may be a diver wearing cumbersome equipment, from having to lean down and move the second part manually.

Where such a piston and cylinder device is provided, or any other remote control device, means may be provided to cause oscillatory movement of said second part relative to said first part, which movement may be considerably more limited than the movement provided when moving said second part from its first position to its second folded position, but which movement is sufficient to provide propulsion under water to the user of such a swimming fin.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, I provide a swimming fin having a first part adapted for or capable of securing to a person's foot, a second part secured to said first part in a manner to permit of at least some relative movement between said second part and said first part and wherein means are provided to effect such movement in a manner to provide propulsion to a user of said swimming fin.

Preferably, said movement is provided by a powered device and conveniently said device may be pneumatic and provided with compressed air or gas from a suitable source.

Conveniently, said source of air or gas may be the same as that normally used by a person when swimming under water and valve means may be provided at a suitable location to permit of ease of use by the user of said power means.

It is envisaged that only a very small part of the webbed part of a swimming fin may need to be oscillated to provide satisfactory means of propulsion. It is further envisaged that, if required, a swimming fin according to the invention may have more than two parts or regions, a first part for securing to a person's foot, a second part capable of movement relative to said first part from an in-use position to a second folded position, and a third part secured to said second part which is capable of being moved relative to said first part and said second part.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of swimming fin according to the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side view of the fin shown in Figure 1, in its folded position: FIGURE 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of swimming fin of the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, the fin comprises a first part generally indicated at 10 and a second part generally indicated at 11.

The first part 10 comprises a hollow portion indicated at 12 into which part of a person's foot projects to secure the first part 10 to a user's foot. A strap 13 is then secured round the back of the heel of the person to secure the first part 10 to the user's foot.

A second webbed part 11 is attached on the first past 10 for movement about a pivotal axis 14, the attachment means comprising pins 15 and 16 which extend through respective bores 17 and 18 in the first part and into bores in the second part 11.

Since the pivotal mounting of the second part 11 relative to the first part 10 would permit of uncontrolled movement of the second part 11 to the first part 10, biasing means in the form of a helical spring 10 is provided, the spring 10 acting between a surface 21 on the first part and a surface 22 on the second part, the arrangement being such that the spring 20 is in compression and thus will tend to resist any movement of the second part 11 relative to the first part 10 away from the 'in-use' position shown, since such movement in either direction will cause further compression of the spring 20.

Referring now in addition to Figure 2, the second part 11 is shown in its folded position relative to the first part 10 and since movement to the folded position as shown will cause compression of the spring 20, means are provided for maintaining the second part 11 in its folded position. The means shown in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 comprise a stud member 25 and a socket or bore 26. The material from which the swimming fin is made is of a fairly resilient nature permitting of deformation of either the second part 11 around the bore 26 or alternatively or additionally, the head part of stud 25 may project into the through bore 26 to hold the second part 11 captive relative to the first part 10 and hence in its folded position.

It will be appreciated that when the second part 11 is in its folded position, the ability for a user to be able to walk on land or in a boat is greatly improved and the danger of wearing swimming fins in boats is substantially reduced.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, an alterantive embodiment is shown, comprising a first part 30, a second part 31 and the second part 31 is pivotally mounted to the first part 30 by means of a hinge arrangement, similar to that shown with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

A pneumatically operated piston and cylinder device generally indicated at 32 is secured to the swimming fin in a manner such that the cylinder 33 is secured by securing member 34 to the first part 30 and the piston 35 is secured by securing means 36 to the second part 31.

Air lines 37 and 38 are connected via valve means (not shown) to a suitable source of compressed air, for example the air cylinders normally carried by a diver as an air supply.

By suitable operation of the valve means, the piston 35 may be moved relative to the cylinder 32 to cause oscillatory movement of the second part 31 relative to the first part 30 and hence provide the user of the swimming fin with a powered means of transport below water.

The relative angular movement between the first and second parts to provide propulsion need only be small, for example 10 -20 .

Furthermore, the piston and cylinder device 32 may have provision to secure the second part 31 relative to the first part 32 in the position shown in bold outline in Figure 3, i.e. an in-use' position, or in the position shown in dotted outline, i.e. a folded position, when the user is not in the water.

The swimming fin shown in Figures 3 and 4 therefore provides the dual advantage of not only having a second part 31 capable of being used from an 'in-use' position to a folded position to permit of ease of movement both below water and on dry land, but also provides the user with a powered means of propulsion below water.

It will be appreciated that the piston and cylinder arrangement may be any suitable device which in its simplest mode my have a piston biased in one direction and which may be moved in the other direction, for example by compressed air, such that only a single line is necessary from the air supply to the piston and cylinder arrangement.

As an alternative to the piston and cylinder, any other means may be provided for causing oscillatory movement of the second part 31 relative to the first part 30, or as aforedescribed a third part which may be secured to, for example, an end region of the second part 11 or 31 so that only a very end portion, for example, is oscillated relative to the remainder of the swimming fin.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

I. A swimming fin having a first part of a shape or nature adapted to cow operate with the foot of a user so as to enable securement thereto, and a second part attached to said first part by means enabling said second part to hove two positions relative to said first part, a first position in which it extends, in use of the swimming fin, away from a user's foot and is generally coplanar therewith or extends at a small angle to said plane, and a second, folded, position in which it extends when secured to a user's foot generally upwardly or is otherwise folded or stored relative to the first part so that it does not extend any substantial distance away from the user's foot, at least in a direction coplanar therewith.
2. A fin according to Claim I wherein said second part is foldable relative to the first part and is capable of angular movement from said first position to said second position.
3. A fin according to Claim 2 wherein said first part and said second port are capable of movement through an angle of approximately 160 .
4. A fin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first part is in the form of a shoe or boot adapted to be fitted to the user's foot.
5. A fin according to any one of the preceding claims adapted to naturally adopt either said first position or said second folded position and wherein means are provided to maintain said second part relative to said first part in the other of said positions.
ó. A fin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means of attachment of said second part to said first part permits of substantially pivotal movement between said second part and said first part and resilient means are provided to maintain said second part in said first position.
7. A fin according to Claim ó wherein said resilient means may comprise a spring-like member.
8. A fin according to Claim Ó or Claim 7 wherein the means for providing pivotal movement between said first part and said second part comprises a flexible part interconnecting said first and second parts.
9. A fin according to Claim 8 wherein said flexible part is formed integrally with said first port or said second part or both.
10. A fin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first part and said second part are provided with co-operating attachment means whereby on movement of said second part to its folded position, said means maintaining said second part in said folded position.
I. A fin according to any one of Claims I to 9 wherein frictional means are provided to maintain the relative positions of said first and second parts in said first or said second position.
12. A fin according to Claim 11 wherein the resistance afforded by said frictional means is adjustable.
13. A fin according to Claim 1 wherein said second part is mounted for sliding movement relative to said first part and is movable from an extended working position.
14. A fin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided to move said second part relative to said first part.
15. A fin according to Claim 14 wherein said means are provided with control means operable, from a position remote from said fin, to provide said movement.
16. A fin according to Claim 14 or Claim 15 wherein powered means are provided to effect said movement.
17. A fin according to Claim 16 wherein said powered means comprises a pneumatic piston and cylinder, the piston or cylinder being attached to said first part and the cylinder or piston respectively attached to said second part.
18. A fin according to Claim 17 wherein air under pressure is supplied to said cylinder.
19. A fin according to Claim 18 wherein air under pressure is supplied to said cylinder from a compressed air supply also adapted to provide an air supply for a diver.
20. A fin according to Claim 19 wherein valve means are provided sited remote from said fin to enable compressed air to be supplied to said cylinder to cause said movement.
21. A swimming fin having a first part adapted to be capable of securing to the foot of a user, a second part secured to said first part in a manner to permit of at least some relative movement between said second part and said first part and wherein means are provided to effect such movement in a manner to provide propulsion to a user of said swimming fin.
22. A fin according to Claim 21 wherein said movement is provided by a powered device.
23. A fin according to Claim 22 wherein said powered device is pneumatic and provided with compressed air or gas from a suitable source.
24. A fin according to Claim 23 wherein said source of air or gas may be supplied from the container normally used by a person when swimming under water and wherein valve means are provided to enable air from said container to be supplied to said pneumatic device.
25. A swimming fin comprising a first part for securing to a user's foot, a second part capable of movement relative to said first part from an in-use position, to a second, folded, position and a third part secured to said second part where it is capable of being moved relative to said first part and said second part.
26. A fin according to any one of Claims I to 20 wherein said second part is secured to said first part in a manner to permit of at least some relative movement between said second part and said first part and wherein means are provided to effect such movement in a manner to provide propulsion to a user of said swimming fin.
27. A fin according to any one of Claims I to 20 wherein said fin comprises a third part secured to said second part and which is capable of being moved relative to said first part and said second part.
28. A fin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures I and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
29. A fin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
30. A fin including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.