GB2507031A

GB2507031A - A shoe with detachable fin

Info

Publication number: GB2507031A
Application number: GB201215262A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joel Winter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-25
Filing date: 2012-08-25
Publication date: 2014-04-23
Also published as: GB201215262D0

Abstract

A shoe and fin assembly has a shoe and a detachable fin, the fin being attached to the shoe by attachment means. Optionally the attachment means may be clip-fit, projections, friction fit or a spring clip mechanism. Preferably a safety mechanism links the shoe and fin together at the heel of the shoe.

Description

Patent apølication Of Joel Winter For A shoe and fin assembly

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to footwear for use near water and in swimming, more particularly a shoe and fin assembly comprising a shoe with a detachable fin.

Background

Fins wearable on the feet are known for swimming and snorkelling, typically having a shoe-like action in which the foot is inserted into an enclosing part of the fin, the fin blade extending from the shoe into a broadened paddle-like portion, usually formed from a flexible material with optionally a more rigid spine. These have the disadvantage that beaàh or swimming shoes must be taken off in order to put on the fin. The invention aims to provide an improved alternative to present fins.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a shoe and fin assembly, comprising a shoe and a fin detachable from the shoe having a bridge on its upper part adapted to receive the shoe, the shoe and fin comprising an * attachment means adapted to hold the shoe to the fin, the attachment means being engaged by motion of the shoe into alignment with the fin such that the shoe enters * the bridge on the fin, the attachment means comprising one or more projections and one or more corresponding attachment surfaces adapted to engage with the projections.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprises a spring clip mechanism mounted on the fin, having one or more projections having a spring clip * action adapted to engage with one or more features on the shoe comprising an attachment surface, the èpring clip mechanism comprising release means usable to release the shoe from the fin. * In an alternative embodiment, the attachment means comprises a spring clip mechanism mounted on the shoe, having one or more projections having a spring clip action adapted to engage with one or more features on the fin comprising an attachment surface, the spring clip mechanism comprising release means usable to release the shoe from the fin.

In an alternative embodiment, the auachment means comprises one or more projections on the shoe or fin, adapted to engage with corresponding recesses on the shoe or fin so as to hold the shoe in place within the bridge of the fin.

In a further embodiment, the shoe is held in place by means of a friction engagement between the one or more projection(s) and recess(es). In a preferred embodiment the shoe comprises a toe portion having one or more projections extending outwards from it above the sole, and the fin bridge comprises one or more matching grooves into which the projections engage when the shoe is moved into the fin. One or more of the projections and/or grooves may have a tapering profile in order to provide a gradual increase in degree of frictional engagement as the shoe is moved into place.

Preferably the shoe sole comprises a recess into which a corresponding protection on the upper surface of the fin sole engages.

Preferably the shoe comprises a sole having one or more ledges or recesses formed within in onto or into which the spring clip mechanism engages. Preferably the clip mechanism comprises one or more sprung clip teeth mounted on the fin each having an underside portion with a substantially horizontal or undercut profile that engages with, an attachment surface comprising a substantially horizontal or downward sloping upper surface of the ledge or recess so as to retain that surface against vertical motion away from the fin. Preferably the clip teeth have a bevelled profile on their upper surface that comes into contact with a portion of the shoe as the shoe engages with the fin, acting to move the clip tooth against a spring action such that the shoe may move downwards. Once the shoe is in position, the recess comes into alignment with the clip tooth, this springs into place and the shoe is.held tight.

In an alternative embodiment the shoe is provided with features on an upper part of the shoe, for example on a toe cap, that engage with the clip mechanism of the fin.

In some embodiments the shoe and fin are adapted so that the shoe clips into the fin with a substantially vertical movement. In further embodiments, the shoe clips into the fin in a substantially horizontal movement, and the action of the clip mechanism is as described above, but translated into a horizontal movement. In preferred embodiments, the shoe and fin are adapted such that the shoe enters the bridge on the fin at an angle between horizontal and vertical, moving forwards and downwards at the same time in a natural movement pattern for the foot. In this case, the clip mechanism is preferably adapted to allow for components of both forward and downward motion to move past the clip teeth, the clip teeth then springing into place to resist motion backwards and upwards, In a preferred embodiment the shoe and fin comprise a safety mechanism that acts to link the shoe and fin together, valuable in case the spring clip mechanism should accidentally release in use. Preferably the safety mechanism comprises a loop and a hook, the loop being engagable over the hook to ensure a flexible safety linkage. In a preferred embodiment the loop is provided mounted on the heel of the fin, and a corresponding hook is provided on the heel of the shoe. Preferably the loop has a spring action such that once it is placed over the hook force is needed to remove it.

In a preferred embodiment the loop is formed from a springy compliant material and needs to be bent against the spring action in order to engage the loop over the hook.

In further embodiments the loop may be formed from an elastic material such that it needs to be stretched to place it over the hook or to remove it.

In some embodiments the attachment means acts only or primarily to prevent movement of the shoe upwards, and a backwards movement of the shoe relative to the fit will cause the shoe to release. Typically such embodiments will have attachment means at the sides of the shoe and fin but not at the back. In such embodiments the safety mechanism may act to stop rearward movement of the shoe until such time as the user wants to release it.

In preferred embodiments the recesses are provided on or within the sole of the shoe between approximately the mid-length of the sole and the heel, for example adjacent to the arch or instep. In preferred embodiments two clip locations are provided, one On each side of the foot, with corresponding recesses or ledges and clip mechanisms. In further preferred embodiments a further clip location is provided at or near the heel of the shoe and fin, comprising a further recess or ledge on the shoe and a further clip mechanism, The clip mechanism preferably comprises a clip tooth as described above, mounted S on an arm, and a spring means to control the orientation of the arm, and hence the clip tooth, relative to the shoe. The spring means may comprise the material of the arm itself, of the tooth, or both. Engineering plastics having suitable spring contact and durability are known in the art of plastic design and moulding. In an alternative embodiment the spring action maybe provided by a separate spring, for example a metal spring, mounted in the clip mechanism and bearing on the arm and/or tooth.

Metal mechanisms having similar actions are known for example in the design of clip in ski bindings or crampons.

The clip mechanism preferably further comprises a release mechanism actuatable by the user, for example such as a button or other user-operable feature mounted on or forming part of the clip mechanism, arm or clip tooth, which may be compressed by the user for example to move the tooth out of the recess or out past the ledge, allowing the shoe to be removed from the fin.

In an alternative embodiment the clip mechanism comprises quick release means, such that the clip tooth may be disengaged from the recess or ledge by means of a sudden sharp movement, for example a rotating movement in a horizontal plane not normally encountered in swimming, which acts to overcome the spring means and to release the shoe. Mechanisms with similar action are known in the art of bicycle pedal design. In preferred embodiments the region of the fin that receives the shoe is designed to have compliance, allowing the shoe to be moved sufficiently to activate the quick release mechanism.

The shoe is preferably formed from a moulded elastomeric sole component and one or more fabric or moulded elastomeric upper components. Preferably one or more elastic components are included within the upper to give stretch fit for the foot. The attachment surfaces forming part of the sole may comprise a harder polymeric material, for example co-moulded with the sole material. It is envisaged that the attachment means and safety loop and hook will form a recognisable part of the shoe and fin and so may be sized and coloured to be noticeable, for example in a different colour from that of the sole or fin.

In preferred embodiments the fin is similar to existing fins and may be formed from similar materials and in similar ways as known in the art, for example moulded from a thermoplastic elastomer.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to any one style or format of shoe and/or fin, and can be modelled in any way that suits the application. For example, the apparatus of the invention may be used for casual beach use, or for snorkelling and scuba diving with for example a neoprene shoe and longer fin, or for body boarding with a rubber based shoe and shorter fin, with the design androbustness of the shoe and length and material of the fin chosen accordingly.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief DescriDtion of Figures Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a first embodiment of the invention Figure 2 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the invention with the shoe about to be inserted into the fin Figure 3 shows a top view of a first embodiment of the invention in the position in figure 2

S

Figure 4 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the invention in the position in figure 2 Figure 5 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the invention in the position in figure 2 Figure 6 shows a three quarter view of a first embodiment of the invention in the position in figure 2 Figure 7 shows a rear three quarter view of a first embodiment of the invention with the shoe inserted in the fin Figure 8 shows a front three quarter view of a first embodiment of the invention with the shoe inserted in the fin

Detailed Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a first embodiment of the invention. Visible is the underside of the fin and the rear clip mechanism that acts on the heel of the shoe.

* Figure 2 shows the shoe approaching the fin, showing the view through the bridge towards the three clip mechanisms on the fin, one on each side of the position for the * shoe. and one at the heel. Figure 3 shows the same view from above, with the shoe moving down towards its location with the toe of the shoe within the bridge of the fin, and shows the clip mechanism that will engage with the sides of the shoe. Figure 4 shows the same position in a side view. The clip mechanism on each side of the fin location are visible, and a recess in the side of the sole of the shoe. The loop and hook safety mechanism is visible at the rear of the fin and the shoe. Figure 5 shows the same situation from the opposite side, with corresponding clip mechanism and recess on the other side of the fin and shoe.

Figure 6 shows the shoe approaching the fin in front three-quarter view, showing the side clip mechanism and the rear clip mechanism and the side recess within the shoe sole. Visible at the rear clip mechanism is the clip tooth, that will engage with an attachment surface forming part of the recess in the shoe sole, mounted on the clip arm, that moves to allow the tooth to engage.

* * Figure 7 shows the shoe in place in the fin, with the clip mechanisms engaged, and the loop and hook safety feature on the heel of the shoe and fin being engaged. * 6 * Figure 8 shows the same position from the front, showing the opposite side clip mechanism engaged.

In this embodiment recesses have been shown in the shoe sole with which the clip mechanism will engage. The design of the shoe is not limited to having recesses however, and in alternative embodiments the sole may comprise a ledge or shelf the upper surface of which will form an attachment surface fèr the clip mechanism.

Claims

Claims 1. A shoe and fin assembly comprising a shoe, a fin detachable from the shoe having a bridge on its upper part adapted to receive the shoe, the shoe and fin having an attachment means adapted to hold the shoe to the fin; the attachment means being engaged by motion of the shoe into alignment with the fin suchthat the shoe enters the bridge on the fin, and the attachment means comprising one or more projections and one or more corresponding attachment surfaces adapted to engage with the projections.
2. A shoe and fin assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the shoe comprises one or more projections, the fin comprises one or more recesses within the shoe bridge, and the attachment means comprises friction between the projections and recesses.
3. A shoe and fin assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the attachment means comprises a spring clip mechanism mounted on the fin, having one or more projections having a spring clip action adapted to engage with one or more features on the shoe, the spring clip mechanism comprising release means usable to release the shoe from the fin.
4 A shoe and fin assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the attachment means comprises a spring clip mechanism mounted on the shoe, having one or more projections having a spring clip action adapted to engage with one or more features on the fin, the spring clip mechanism comprising release means usable to release the shoe from the fin.
5. A shoe and fin assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which the clip mechanism comprises a spring action feature that engages with a feature forming part of the shoe or the fin.
6. A shoe and fin assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a safety mechanism that acts to link the shoe and fin together at the heel of the shoe and fin.