US3089157A

US3089157A - Fin for water skis

Info

Publication number: US3089157A
Application number: US48898A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gordon H May
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-08-11
Filing date: 1960-08-11
Publication date: 1963-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-14

Description

y 4, 1963 G. H. MAY 3,089,157

' FIN FOR WATER SKIS Filed Aug. 11. 1960 FIG.2 FIG.3

INVENTOR. GORDON H. MAY

United States Patent @ffiee Patented May 14, 19%3 assess; Fifi FUR WAT R SKIS Gordon H. May, 1923 tiarnden Ave, San lose, Calif. Filed Aug. it, was, Ser- No. sasss 3 Claims. (til. 9-616) The present invention relates to a fin for a water ski and more particularly to a fin for stabilizing a water ski in a plurality of directions.

The commonly used slalom Water ski has a knife-like fin which extends up to 4 /2 inches below the lower surface of the ski. This type fin stabilizes the ski in a lateral direction for steering under smooth skiing conditions. However, in rough water the ski may bounce and pull the fin out of the water, thus leaving the ski with no steering purchase in the water. This type fin also offers somewhat of a hazard to swimmers or fallen skiers because of its deep, knife-like silhouette.

The object of the present invention is the provision of fin which provides both lateral and vertical stability for a water ski with a minimum depth silhouette.

In the present invention a hollow, generally U-shaped fin is provided for attachment along the lower centerline of a water ski. A continuous flow of water courses through the hollow interior of the fin and resists both vertical and lateral movement of the ski while providing excellent steering properties for the ski.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water ski incorporating the fin of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the present fin; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the fin of FIG. 2.

The fin 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in operating position on the lower, rear centerline of a conventional slalom water ski. An unobstructed channel 11 through the interior of the fin is shown as aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ski to permit the flow of water through the fin as the ski rides along the surface of the water.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fin of the present invention has an elongated web section 12 which is generally U-shaped in cross-section. The lateral edges of the web are bent outwardly in opposite directions approximately normal to the Web to define

thin flanges

13 and 14. The leading edge 15 of the web is tapered rearwardly away from the flanges for streamlining elfect, while the trailing edge 16 of the web may be perpendicular to the flanges. Spaced openings 17 are provided along the length of each flange to permit attachment of the fin to a ski by any suitable securing means, such as screws, bolts, etc. The web comprises thin parallel side sections which provided lateral stability and an arcuate section joining the lower ends of the side sections and providing for vertical stability.

The flow of water through the channel defined by the web of the present fin and the lower surface of the attached ski provides both vertical and lateral stability for the ski. The fin holds the ski in contact with the surface of the water and resists upward movement to the rear of the ski, so that the ski is under the control of the skier at all times. The fiow of water through the channel in the fin not only holds the ski vertically, but also provides excellent steering properties for the ski, even though the depth of the present fin in only approximately half that of the conventional slalom ski fin. The low silhouette makes for convenient storage and carrying of the ski, and with the tapered leading edge, greatly reduces the safety hazard to swimmers or fallen skiers in case of accident.

The web of the present invention is illustrated as U-shaped, but other unobstructed concave shapes, such a V, semicircle, etc., may be used if desired. While the present fin has been illustrated with a slalom (single) ski it is equally applicable to double skis, and may be used with other similar surface-riding craft, such as surfboards, etc.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as my invention is:

l. A stabilizing fin for providing both vertical and lateral stabilization of a water ski, the fin comprising an elongated hollow member adapted to be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ski the member including thin fiat mounting means, means for providing lateral stability including a pair of elongated spaced generally parallel side sections joined to the fin mounting means along longitudinal edges thereof and depending therefrom and means for providing vertical stability including an armate section joined to both side sections along longitudinal edges thereof spaced from and parallel to the mounting means, the arcuate section and the side sections defining a straight unobstructed channel throughout the length of the fin permitting a constant flow of water parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski.

2. A stabilizing fin for providing both vertical and lateral stabilization of a water ski, the fin comprising an elongated hollow member adapted to be aligned with the center line of the ski, the member including:

thin flat mounting means adapted to be received flush against the lower surface of the ski;

means for providing lateral stability including a pair of thin elongated planar side sections positioned generally parallel to each other and spaced at short distance apart, each side section having one longitudinal edge secured to the mounting means and extending approximately normal thereto to resist lateral displacement of the ski; and

means for providing vertical stability including a deeply curved section joining the remaining longitudinal edges of the side sections, the curved section and the side sections forming a straight unobstructed channel throughout the length of the fin permitting a constant flow of Water parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski and resisting vertical displacement of the ski.

3. A stabilizing fin for a water ski, comprising: thin flat mounting means;

planar means for providing lateral stabilization connected to the mounting means; and

arcuate means for providing vertical stabilization connected to the planar means and removed from the mounting means.

the planar means and the arcuate means combining to form a straight channel extending the length of the fin for conducting an unobstructed flow of Water parallel to the longitudinal axis of a ski.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,450 Wilson Feb. 22, 1949 2,940,091 Fifer June 14, 1960 3,025,539 Kincaid Mar. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,574 Great Britain 1888 544,239 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1942

Claims

1. A STABILIZING FIN FOR PROVIDING BOTH VERTICAL AND LATERAL STABILIZATION OF A WATER SKI, THE FIN COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SKI THE MEMBER INCLUDING THIN FLAT MOUNTING MEANS, MEANS FOR PROVIDING LATERAL STABILITY INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATED SPACED GENERALLY PARALLEL SIDE SECTIONS JOINED TO THE FIN MOUNTING MEANS ALONG LONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREOF AND DEPENDING THEREFROM AND MEANS FOR PROVIDING VERTICAL STABILITY INCLUDING AN ARCUATE SECTION JOINED TO BOTH SIDE SECTIONS ALONG LONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREOF SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE MOUNTING MEANS, THE ARCUATE SECTION AND THE SIDE SECTIONS DEFINING A STRAIGHT UNOBSTRUCTED CHANNEL THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE FIN PERMITTING A CONSTANT FLOW OF WATER PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SKI.