GB2567443A

GB2567443A - An improved swimfin

Info

Publication number: GB2567443A
Application number: GB1716636.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rutt Tony; Chaplin James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-10-11
Filing date: 2017-10-11
Publication date: 2019-04-17
Also published as: GB201716636D0

Abstract

A swim fin 1 has a rear 2 and front 3 portions each provided with a substantially planar base. The back portion 2 is provided with a foot engagement means 7. The rear 2 and front 3 portions are attached to one another by a hinge 4 arranged substantially between a front region of the rear portion 2 and the back of the front portion 3, so that the pivot 4 is generally disposed between corresponding ends of each of the rear 2 and front 3 portions. A locking means may be provided, such as a rod and recess, tongue and groove or a lip and corresponding extension disposed on the back 2 and front 3 sections of the flipper 1. A spring may also be arranged between the portions 2, 3. The front portion 2 may have a plurality of discrete segments connected to each other by hinges.

Description

An Improved Swimfin

Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to an improved swimfin for use in and out of water.

Review of the Art Known to the Inventor

Swimfins, often referred to as fins or flippers, are used for a number of water based activities including swimming, diving, or snorkelling. Swimfins are used for providing a user with a larger surface area at the point at which they connect with, and propel themselves through, water, to improve propulsion and stability in the water.

Wearing swimfins out of water is a known, commonly experienced challenge because walking becomes very difficult due to the size, particularly length, of the swimfins. This difficulty is exacerbated when, for example, scuba diving or snorkelling because a diver is tasked with putting on several other pieces of equipment - some of which, e.g. breathing gas tanks such as for compressed air, oxygen, nitrox and the like, are very heavy when not benefitting from the sensation of reduced weight that water provides.

- 2 One common practice is to either put swimfins on when already in the water. This method arises from the difficulty associated with wearing the swimfins whilst attempting to walk on land, particularly when paired with putting on other diving equipment. For diving however, the preference is often to put the swimfins on prior to water entry due to restriction to the range of movement resulting from any combination of wetsuit, oxygen tank, buoyancy compensator and weight belt or harness. There is a real danger that, whilst the water will reduce the burden of weight on the diver from the other equipment, it will be difficult to put the swimfins on correctly and precious time and energy can be spent struggling when the diver has already entered the water. Generally therefore a diver will tend to put the swimfins on at the water's edge, whether that is on land or a boat, and then enter the water to try and minimise the challenges described. However this can cause further issues, for example in finding a suitable location to sit for kitting up is required. Dangers can be increased if the water is not calm or the boat is moving.

A diver will often walk backwards once they've put on their swimfins in order to reduce the risk of tripping. Walking backwards, however, can be hazardous in itself because of obstructed vision and unfamiliar load compensation when walking with a full oxygen tank on the back of the diver. When an individual walks forward with a heavy item on their back such as a backpack or oxygen tank, for example, they may compensate for this load generally by a forward lean and/or varying muscle recruitment. When a user walks backwards whilst also supporting the extra weight on their rear, recruitment of muscles is changed so as to accommodate for the non-usual method of manoeuvring.

One further limitation of current swimfins, is the difficulty of climbing ladders. Commonly divers or sea swimmers who are accessing the water from a boat or a jetty will need to exit or re-enter by ladder. This requires the removal of known swimfins as a result of their impracticality, which would prevent safe ladder use. Some individuals do attempt to scale the rungs of ladders with the ladder to their side so as to place their heels on each ladder rung whilst rotating their legs to accommodate such a movement. This is to prevent their oxygen tank from catching the ladder. However, this is a far less favourable method of scaling a ladder because of the clear difficulties and dangers associated with not using the ladder properly. In this scenario the user may not be applying a substantial part of their feet to each rung, which increases the risk of slipping from the ladder. In the event that an individual needs to exit the water quickly the removal of swimfins slows down their exit, which can lead to a number of potential dangers.

As a result of a number of the above issues a diver between dives or a swimmer between sets may find it easier to remove known swimfins so as enable ease of movement. This can be time consuming and therefore can eat into subsequent dives or swim sets.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address the aforementioned challenges.

Summary of the Invention

In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a swimfin having a rear portion and a front portion, the rear and front portions each being provided with a substantially planar base, the rear portion being further provided with a foot engagement means, and wherein the rear portion and the front portion are attached to one another by a hinge arranged substantially between a front region of the rear portion and a rear region of the front portion, so that the hinge is generally disposed between corresponding ends of each of the rear and front portions.

The terms front and rear in this context are intended to be understood with reference to a usual orientation in use. In the context of the usual orientation of a swimfin in use with a human user’s foot, the user's foot will generally be disposed on the rear portion with the toes pointing towards the front portion of the swimfin.

In use, the respective bases of the front and rear portions may be set in to a substantially co-planar position or state. The hinged arrangement also allows the front portion of the swimfin to be moved with respect to the rear portion so that the front and rear portions are non-co-planar with each other to form a non-co-planar state. Thus, the swimfin of the present invention may be effective as a swimfin when the bases are in a co-planar state and also overcome many of the challenges which affect previously-known swimfins when the respective bases are in a non-co-planar state. For example, when the front portion is raised with respect to the rear portion to form an angle between the respective bases thereof, many of the aforementioned drawbacks of a fixed swimfin are mitigated.

-4Arranging the hinge substantially between the front region of the rear portion and the rear region of the front portion aids efficient transition between a co-planar state and a non-coplanar state - especially due to a lack of restriction to movement of the hinge by other elements of the swimfin. This arrangement further ensures that the user has a footprint familiar to that as when wearing a shoe.

The foot engagement means may comprise any suitable means for removably securing a user's foot to the swimfin. Such engaging means may include a strap, a moulded shoe or slipper arrangement. Furthermore, such means may comprise a spring loaded strap, or strap attachment means, for maintaining a foot engaging strap against a user's heel. Alternatively, the foot engagement means may comprise a connection means for connecting the swimfin to an intermediate component. For example, a user may wear a shoe, the shoe being independent of the swimfin but engageable therewith by way of corresponding cleats or clips or the like.

The hinge may be designed or selected to be stiff, so that unwanted movement thereof is reduced.

The hinged arrangement of the present invention may be arranged such that the rear and front portions can be brought together so that the respective bases are substantially adjacent and parallel to one another. Thus, the front portion can be folded so that it is against the rear portion. Such an arrangement reduces the amount of space needed for storage in the non-co-planar stage.

Preferably, in a non-co-planar state of the swimfin the hinge pivot is arranged between the respective ends of the front and rear portions. This further provides for movement of the regions with respect to one another substantially unrestricted by other elements of the swimfin.

This further enables the front portion to be pivoted in such a way that does not come into contact with the user's shin which could inhibit walking.

Preferably, the invention further comprises a locking means.

- 5 A locking means can provide resistance to an unwanted transition between co-planar and non-co-planar states. Thus, for example, when the swimfin is in use in water a risk of an unwanted and/or unexpected transition into the non-co-planar state is reduced. In other words, the swimfin of the present invention aims at providing good performance in water when in the co-planar state. Similarly, the locking means may also reduce a risk of an unwanted and/or unexpected transition from a non-co-planar state into or towards the coplanar state when a user is aiming to walk safely on land.

The hinge may form part of the locking means itself. In one envisaged embodiment, one or both portions may be provided with a recess into which part of the hinge can be inserted so that the hinge is locked. For example, the hinge may be arranged so that if the front and rear portions are in the co-planar state and the hinge subsequently inserted into the recess, the hinge cannot easily be pivoted.

Preferably, the locking means comprises a rod and a corresponding recess which can accept such a rod, the rod and recess being on corresponding portions of the swimfin.

In an alternative embodiment, preferably, the locking means comprises a tongue and corresponding groove arrangement, the tongue and groove being on corresponding portions of the swimfin.

In an alternative embodiment, preferably, the locking means comprises a lip and corresponding extension arrangement, the lip and extension being on corresponding portions of the swimfin.

The swimfin may be provided with more than one suitable means for locking the swimfin in either the co-planar, or non-co-planar position.

Preferably, the invention comprises a spring arranged between the front and rear portions of the swimfin.

Such a spring may draw the swimfin into a folded position where the rear and front portions are arranged non-co-planar. Alternatively, the spring may draw the portions into their coplanar position relative to one another.

-6Preferably, the invention comprises a plurality of discrete segments which are connected to one another by hinges.

In an envisaged embodiment, the front portion comprises a plurality of discrete segments connected together by hinges that allow further folding. The discreet segments are arranged on the front portion, to allow the user to fold the front portion in a manner that reduces the profile front portion. The segmentation of the front portion may allow the front portion to require less space for storage, for example, when the swimfin is in the non-co-planar state.

In a further envisaged embodiment, the rear and front portion are maintainable into and out of their in use and storage positions by spring means. A spring extending from the rear to the front portion may draw the front portion into the co-planar position relative the rear portion. In this configuration, the front portion can be locked into the folded position, which draws the spring into its lengthened, taut, position. When unlocked form the folded position, the spring draws the front position towards a flat, co-planar position relative the rear portion. In an alternative configuration, the spring may draw the front portion into the folded, nonco-planar position relative the rear portion. Thus the front portion can be locked into its in use position relative the rear portion which lengthens and tautens the spring. When unlocked, the front portion is drawn into its folded, non-co-planar position.

Segmentation of the front portion may allow the front portion to require less space for storage, for example, when the swimfin is in the non-co-planar state.

Preferably, the invention comprises bases that are made from a resilient material. This may improve the efficiency of the swimfin in water.

The swimfin may also comprise a durable material to aid withstanding wear and tear associated with walking on rough land surfaces.

Preferably, the resilient material is selected from one or more of a plastics material, rubber, or a composite material such as carbon fibre or natural fibre dispersed in a resilient matrix. Preferably, the mechanism comprises a manual release from the flat profile ‘diving’ position where the user pulls the front portion upward of the rear portion about the hinge. Such pulling releases the locked position and allows the front portion of the swimfin to be pivoted into the non-co-planar, folded position. This hinged position of the rear and front portions

- 7 can also be referred to as the ‘walk’ position. The front portion when locked into position for swimming is co-planar relative the rear portion. The user may press or push the front portion into the flat, locked, position. The engaging of the locked position, in one embodiment can feature the release of an audible click to provide reference to the user that the diving position has been locked into. In an alternative embodiment, the front portion is pulled forward of the rear portion, increasing the distance between the two portions, so as to allow the hinge to be unlocked. Once the hinge is unlocked, the front portion can be pulled upward of the rear portion by the user. When the front portion is unfolded into the co-planar position, the user presses the front portion toward the rear portion, and locks the hinge into the open position. In a further embodiment, the front and rear portions comprise a spring connection means, this means draws the front portion toward the rear portion, and thus maintains the front and rear portions in their planar position.

Alternatively or in addition, at the hinge engaging end of one of the portions, the edge can be fitted with an extension, and the neighbouring portion a receiving aperture or recess. The aperture or recess comprising a raised lip. The raised lip providing resistance to the entry and exit of the complementary extension of the neighbouring portion, which in use aids in the maintenance of the extension within the aperture or recess. The hinging of the front portion relative the rear portion will drive the extension out of the recess or aperture, and over the raised lip. Driving the extension over the raised lip requires an increase in the force applied to pull or push the lifting portion. Once the lip has been overcome, the hinging to the walking position will therefore require lesser exertion from the user than was required to overcome the raised lip, as the hinge will hinge smoothly. The resistance of the raised lip to the extension provides the user with the reference of the locking and/or unlocking of the swimfin into the dive and walking positions. The extension and raised lip provided a secondary securing means for maintaining the swimfin in its locked position.

A further possible embodiment includes the rear and front portions further comprising a latching means. Such latching means may be employed to lock the rear and front portions into their in use co-planar state, similar to that shown in and described in relation to Figure 3 below, by rigidly locking the two portions together. This latching means can comprise a pivoting plate that is pivoted about a connection point on the upper surface of the rear portion that engages a receiving pin on the upper surface of the front portion. This locking means prevents the front portion from hingeably moving by opposing movement that could

-8shift the front portion from the co-planar state relative the rear portion. A further option for locking the front and rear portions in the planar position can include a hook and hookreceiving aperture, or a barrel and bolt means that allows the user to lock the barrel into an extended locked position, or a withdrawn unlocked position.

In a further possible embodiment, the swimfin may feature a locking means that provides resistence to an unwanted transition between co-planar and non-co-planar states. Thus, for example as described above, when the swimfin is in use in water a risk of an unwanted and/or unexpected transition into the non-co-planar state is reduced. In other words, the swimfin of the present invention aims at providing good performance in water when in the co-planar state. Similarly, the locking means may also reduce a risk of an unwanted and/or unexpected transition from a non-co-planar state into or towards the co-planar state when a user is aiming to walk safely on land.

Yet alternatively, the front portion of the swimfin may also be slidably attached to the rear portion in addition to the hinging means. Such a slidable attachment means may enable the front portion to be released from a co-planar state, and slide along a lower, ground engaging, surface of the rear portion to provide for more efficient use of space for storage, for example. A user may latch the front portion into its extended or retracted positions by any suitable locking means, for example, by latching the portions in position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Examples of embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a swimfin exemplifying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the swimfin of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the swimfin of Figure 1 in a co-planar state;

Figure 4 is a side view of the swimfin of Figure 1 in a non-co-planar state;

Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a futher possible embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the swimfin of Figure 5 in a non-co-planar state.

-9Detailed Description of the Drawings

In Figure 1, the swimfin 1 is shown in a side view. The swimfin 1 comprises a rear portion 2 and a front portion 3. The rear portion 2 itself comprises a foot engaging means 7 for receiving in use a user's foot. A heel retaining portion 9 for maintaining a user's heel in position when the foot is in the foot engaging means 7, is fastened to the foot engaging means 7 by two adjustable straps 8 that fasten, individually, to respective adjustable strap fasteners 10 located either side of the foot engaging means 7. The rear portion 2 and front portion 3 are hingeably attached by hinge 4. The hinge 4 is generally disposed between corresponding ends of each of the rear and front portions 2, 3.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the swimfin 1 of Figure 1 in an unfolded position or substantially co-planar state. In an unfolded position, the hinge 4 is opened, and the rear portion 2 and front portion 3 are co-planar, forming a substantially flat profile. On the rear portion 2 is provided a hinge connection plate 6 and on the front portion is provided a hinge connection plate 5. Hinge plate fixing means 11 fix plates 5, 6 to the respective bases 3, 2. The hinge plate fixing means 11 can comprise either nuts and bolts, screws, pins and rivets or other suitable fixing means. These fixing means may extend through the respective hinge connection plates 5, 6 and rear and front portions 2, 3 and maintain their position in contact and relative one another.

In the plan view of the swimfin 1, the foot opening 12 of the foot engaging means 7 is displayed in more detail. The foot is maintained in its in-use position within the foot engaging means 7 by a heel retaining portion 9. The heel retaining portion 9 is maintained at a distance relative to the foot receiving opening 12 by the adjustable straps 8a, 8b. The straps may be constructed from either a rubber, plastic, resilient fabric material or other suitable means with the aim of maintaining the length between the heel retaining portion 9 and the opening 12 of the foot engaging means 7 without slacking. The adjustable straps 8a, 8b are fixed to respective adjustable strap fasteners 10a, 10b. The length of the straps 8a, 8b can be adjusted, independently at each fasteners 10a and 10b.

In an alternative envisaged embodiment (not shown in detail in the drawings), the strap fasteners 10 may comprise their own removable fastening means which may comprise a buckle clip or other suitable releasable clip. The inclusion of a releasable clip allows the

- 10 straps 8 that allow the heel retaining portion 9 to be removed from the device, thus providing interchangeable heel retaining portion 9.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same swimfin 1 in its unfolded, or co-planar state. The hinge 4 is open so that the first portion hinge connection plate 6 and second portion hinge connection plate 5, and therefore rear 2 and front 3 portions are substantially co-planar. Hinge connection plates 5, 6 are fixed to the upper surfaces 19, 20 of the rear 2 and front 3 portions respectively. In other words, the hinge 4 is in its open most position where the portions 2, 3 are occupying substantially co-planar.

In use, if the hinge 4 is closed, the front portion 3 is hingeably pivoted upward about the hinge 4 relative the rear portion 2, for example as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 is thus a side view of the same swimfin 1 in a hinged position, or non-co-planar state. The front portion 3 is hinged toward a position at almost 90 degrees to be non-coplanar with the rear portion 2. This state is aimed at use of the swimfin 1 when not in the water, and when the user is manoeuvring on land, for example. The hinged front portion 3 reduces the ground engaging footprint of the swimfin 1, and therefore creates a profile of the swimfin 1 in contact with the floor that is similar to that of a regular shoe which aids in ease, as examples, of walking, or ladder climbing.

There are a number of suitable means for retaining the front portion 3 in the hinged position. One such method is to provide a stiff hinge 4 or spring for example.

Figure 5 is an alternative embodiment of the swimfin 13 where a hinge 14 is located between the first and second portions 17, 18. In this embodiment, the hinge is joined to the rear and front portions 17, 18 within a recess between the upper and lower surfaces of the portions

17, 18. The hinge plates 15, 16 are maintained in their in use position by for example nuts and bolts, screws, pins and rivets or other suitable fixing means. The fixing means extends through the rear portion 17 and front portion 18 respectively, wherein the fixing means also passes through the internal hinge plates 15, 16. The hinge plates 15, 16 are inserted into respective apertures on the rear 17 and front 18 portions, specifically sized for receiving the hinge plates 15, 16 so as to provide a contact fit between the plates 15, 16 and portions 17,

18.

-11 Figure 6 is a side view of the swimfin 13 of Figure 5 in a further folded state. The arrangement of the hinge plates 15, 16 provides a front portion 17 that can be hinged upward of the rear portion 18 or downward and folded under, into contact against, the ground engaging edge of the rear portion 18. This provides a swimfin 13 with a hinge that 5 provides alternative options for folding that include: folding the front portion 17 upward of the co-planar position relative the rear portion, downward of the co-planar position relative the rear portion, or both. The pivoting under of the second portion 17 against the first portion 18 results in a more compact profile than the first embodiment where the second portion 17 is pivoted upright of the co-planar position relative first portion 18.

Further embodiments of the present invention may occur to the skilled person which vary in minor details and are nonetheless included in the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A swimfin having a rear portion and a front portion, the rear and front portions each being provided with a substantially planar base, the rear portion being further provided with a foot engagement means, and wherein the rear portion and the front portion are attached to one another by a hinge arranged substantially between a front region of the rear portion and a rear region of the front portion, so that the hinge is generally disposed between corresponding ends of each of the rear and front portions.

2. A swimfin according to claim 1, wherein in at least the non-co-planar state of the swimfin the hinge pivot is arranged between the respective ends of the front and rear portions.

3. A swimfin according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the swimfin further comprises a locking means.

4. A swimfin according to claim 3, wherein the locking means comprises a rod and a corresponding recess which can accept such a rod, the rod and recess being on corresponding portions of the swimfin.

5. A swimfin according to claim 3, wherein the locking means comprises a tongue and corresponding groove arrangement, the tongue and groove being on corresponding portions of the swimfin.

6. A swimfin according to claim 3, wherein the locking means comprises a lip and corresponding extension arrangement, the lip and extension being on corresponding portions of the swimfin.

7. A swimfin according to any preceding claim, further comprising a spring arranged between the front and rear portions of the swimfin.

8. A swimfin according to any preceding claim in which the front portion comprises a plurality of discrete segments which are connected to one another by hinges.

9. A swimfin according to any preceding claim, wherein the bases are made from a resilient material.

5

10. A swimfin according to claim 9 in which the resilient material is selected from one or more of a plastics material, rubber, or a composite material such as carbon fibre or natural fibre dispersed in a matrix.