US3579681A - Sectional and longitudinally adjustable surfboard fin assembly - Google Patents

Sectional and longitudinally adjustable surfboard fin assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
US3579681A
US3579681A US811810A US3579681DA US3579681A US 3579681 A US3579681 A US 3579681A US 811810 A US811810 A US 811810A US 3579681D A US3579681D A US 3579681DA US 3579681 A US3579681 A US 3579681A
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fin
section
base section
surfboard
fin base
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US811810A
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Karl D Pope
Thomas H Morey
Robert R Tierney
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
    • B63B32/60—Board appendages, e.g. fins, hydrofoils or centre boards
    • B63B32/66—Arrangements for fixation to the board, e.g. fin boxes or foil boxes

Definitions

  • a surfboard fin assembly includes a longitudinally adjustable fin section movably mounted within an elongated channel formed by a fin base section.
  • the fin base section has tapered exterior side walls sized for wedging engagement with tapered interior side walls of a mounting box.
  • the fin base section can be selectively interlocked with the fin section by use of a retaining plate that is slidably coupled to the fin base section and is located in the elongated channel.
  • the retaining plate has a positioning groove for receiving a portion of the fin section.
  • This invention relates to surfboard fin assemblies and more specifically to a surfboard fin assembly that can be removably mounted within a mounting box and includes a fin section that can be longitudinally shifted to different positions.
  • the surfboard fin assembly of this invention is sectional so that a fin base section can remain directly secured to the mounting box while a fin section is longitudinally slid within the fin base section.
  • this invention comprehends a surfboard fin assembly including a fin base section with an elongated channel and a fin section slidably coupled to the fin base section.
  • the fin section has a positioning tongue sized for insertion into the channel.
  • the interior sidewalls of the fin base section are formed with a pair of elongated notches that receive the marginal edges of a retaining plate.
  • the plate is formed with a positioning groove for receiving the positioning tongue. When the positioning tongue is inserted in the positioning groove the fin section can be slid to a desired location and locked against the fin base section. In order to lock the fin section in place an enlarged intermediate section of the fin section and the retaining plate are urged towards one another to exert clamping force on a portion of the fin base section located between the retaining plate and intermediate section.
  • the exterior sidewalls of the fin base section are tapered to wedge tightly against complementary shaped interior sidewalls of a mounting box.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view showing a fin assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention prepared for incorporation into the undersurface of a surfboard;
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional, exploded view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, as would be viewed if the various components of the fin assembly were vertically exploded from an assembled position;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the surfboard, mounting box, and fin assembly taken along 22 of FIG. 1, as
  • FIG. 1 a sectional and longitudinally adjustable surfboard fin assembly 10 is shown exploded downwardly from a conventional surfboard 11 that is formed with an elongated opening in its rearward undersurface section for firmly and permanently bonding a mounting box 12.
  • Mounting box 12 has an elongated cavity 13 and tapered interior sidewalls 14.
  • Securing means for removably securing box 12 and fin assembly 10 together includes forwardly and rearwardly positioned threaded sockets 15, only the rearwardly disposed one of which is shown.
  • a fin base section 16 is centrally formed with an elongated and longitudinally extending channel 17.
  • Fin base section 16 includes a pair of side shoulders or blocks 18 and 19 which, in part, define elongated channel 17.
  • portions of side blocks 18 and 19 not shown in FIG. 1 define portions of a pair of notches.
  • the exterior sidewalls 20 and 21 are tapered in order to be of complementary shape relative to the mounting box interior sidewalls 14.
  • the upper portion of fin base section 16 is formed alternately with ribs 22 and recesses 23 that serve to promote lightweightness as well as uniform cooling of the plastic material following an injection molding fabrication treatment.
  • the forward and rearward sections of fin base section 16 include securing openings 24 and 25 for receiving securing screws 26 and 27 structured to cooperate with threaded sockets 15.
  • an elongated retaining plate having a pair of longitudinally extending marginal edges slidably positioned in the notches, the plate being located in the elongated channel and having a longitudinally extending positioning groove for receiving the positioning tongue;
  • locking means including the retaining plate for selectively locking the fin base section and fin section together when the fin section has been longitudinally moved to a desired position
  • a slot formed through at least one end of the fin base section, the slot being aligned with the notches to facilitate selectively admitting and withdrawing the retaining plate from the channel;

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Abstract

A SURFBOARD FIN ASSEMBLY INCLUDES A LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE FIN SECTION MOVABLE MOUNTED WITHIN AN ELONGATED CHANNEL FORMED BY A FIN BASE SECTION. THE FIN BASE SECTION HAS TAPERED EXTERIOR SIDE WALLS SIZED FOR WEDGING ENGAGEMENT WITH TAPERED INTERIOR SIDE WALLS OF A MOUNTING BOX. THE FIN BASE SECTION CAN BE SELECTIVELY INTERLOCKED WITH THE FIN SECTION BY USE OF A RETAINING PLATE THAT IS SLIDABLY COUPLED TO THE FIN BASE SECTION AND IS LOCATED IN THE

ELONGATED CHANNEL. THE RETAINING PLATE HAS A POSITIONING GROOVE FOR RECEIVING A PORTION OF THE FIN SECTION.

Description

y 1971 K. o. POPE m. E'I'AL 3.5
SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDImLY ADJUSTABLE SURFBOARD FIN'ASSEMBLY Filed April 1. 1969 INVENTORS. KARL D. POPE III THOMAS H; MOREY ROBERT R. TIERNEY A TTORNE Y8 United States Patent O 3,579,681 SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINALLY ADJUST- ABLE SURFBOARD FIN ASSEMBLY Karl 1). Pope III, 6377 Clemens St., and Thomas H. Morey, 36 Lincoln Drive, both of Ventura, Calif. 93003, and Robert R. Tierney, 412 Mallory Way, O al, Calif. 93023 Filed Apr. 1, 1969, Ser. No. 811,810 Int. Cl. A63c /00 US. Cl. 9-310 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A surfboard fin assembly includes a longitudinally adjustable fin section movably mounted within an elongated channel formed by a fin base section. The fin base section has tapered exterior side walls sized for wedging engagement with tapered interior side walls of a mounting box. The fin base section can be selectively interlocked with the fin section by use of a retaining plate that is slidably coupled to the fin base section and is located in the elongated channel. The retaining plate has a positioning groove for receiving a portion of the fin section.
This invention relates to surfboard fin assemblies and more specifically to a surfboard fin assembly that can be removably mounted within a mounting box and includes a fin section that can be longitudinally shifted to different positions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional surfboards ordinarily have a skeg or fin rigidly fixed to the rearward undersurface portion of the surfboard. While this typical arrangement serves to perfectly align the fin and stabilize the surboard the resulting lack of flexibility makes its storage and handling very cumbersome. Restriction to a single fin design also minimizes the range of maneuvers that can be undertaken by the surfer.
In order to overcome the above outlined disadvantages of fixed fins the concept of an easily removable surfboard fin was developed as is fully described in U.S. Pat. 3,422,471 to Morey et a1. issued Jan. 21, 1969. A related approach concerning a demountable and interchangable surfboard fin is disclosed in co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 737,413 filed June 17, 1968, now Pat. No. 3,516,099 entitled Mounting Structure for Removable Surfboard Fin.
In order to further increase the versatility of demountable and interchangable surfboard fins an approach has been suggested whereby the entire surfboard fin can be longitudinally slid within a mounting box and can be interlocked with the box at a selected position. By this arrangement a surfer can adjust the fin position relative to the surfboard trailing edge. The fin however is of unitary construction, tends to jam while sliding, and, is difficult to dismantle from the box.
As shall be fully explained the surfboard fin assembly of this invention is sectional so that a fin base section can remain directly secured to the mounting box while a fin section is longitudinally slid within the fin base section.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated this invention comprehends a surfboard fin assembly including a fin base section with an elongated channel and a fin section slidably coupled to the fin base section. The fin section has a positioning tongue sized for insertion into the channel.
The interior sidewalls of the fin base section are formed with a pair of elongated notches that receive the marginal edges of a retaining plate. The plate is formed with a positioning groove for receiving the positioning tongue. When the positioning tongue is inserted in the positioning groove the fin section can be slid to a desired location and locked against the fin base section. In order to lock the fin section in place an enlarged intermediate section of the fin section and the retaining plate are urged towards one another to exert clamping force on a portion of the fin base section located between the retaining plate and intermediate section.
The exterior sidewalls of the fin base section are tapered to wedge tightly against complementary shaped interior sidewalls of a mounting box. When the fin base section is tightened against the mounting box and the fin section is tightened against the fin base section then the surfer is capable of performing various surfing maneuvers with assurance that the fin assembly is accurately positioned and perfectly balanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The numerous benefits and unique aspects of the present invention will be fully understood when the following detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view showing a fin assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention prepared for incorporation into the undersurface of a surfboard;
FIG. 2 is a sectional, exploded view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, as would be viewed if the various components of the fin assembly were vertically exploded from an assembled position; and,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the surfboard, mounting box, and fin assembly taken along 22 of FIG. 1, as
would be viewed if these components were fully assembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 a sectional and longitudinally adjustable surfboard fin assembly 10 is shown exploded downwardly from a conventional surfboard 11 that is formed with an elongated opening in its rearward undersurface section for firmly and permanently bonding a mounting box 12. Mounting box 12 has an elongated cavity 13 and tapered interior sidewalls 14. Securing means for removably securing box 12 and fin assembly 10 together includes forwardly and rearwardly positioned threaded sockets 15, only the rearwardly disposed one of which is shown.
A fin base section 16 is centrally formed with an elongated and longitudinally extending channel 17. Fin base section 16 includes a pair of side shoulders or blocks 18 and 19 which, in part, define elongated channel 17. As shall be subsequently explained portions of side blocks 18 and 19 not shown in FIG. 1 define portions of a pair of notches. The exterior sidewalls 20 and 21 are tapered in order to be of complementary shape relative to the mounting box interior sidewalls 14. When fin assembly 10 is secured within box 12 then the complementary inten'or sidewalls 14 and exterior sidewalls 20 and 21 become wedged together and snugly interfit to prevent relative motion between box 12 and fin assembly 10. The upper portion of fin base section 16 is formed alternately with ribs 22 and recesses 23 that serve to promote lightweightness as well as uniform cooling of the plastic material following an injection molding fabrication treatment.
The forward and rearward sections of fin base section 16 include securing openings 24 and 25 for receiving securing screws 26 and 27 structured to cooperate with threaded sockets 15.
(d) an elongated retaining plate having a pair of longitudinally extending marginal edges slidably positioned in the notches, the plate being located in the elongated channel and having a longitudinally extending positioning groove for receiving the positioning tongue;
(e) locking means including the retaining plate for selectively locking the fin base section and fin section together when the fin section has been longitudinally moved to a desired position;
(f) a mounting box having an elongated cavity sized to receive the fin base section; and,
g) securing means for securing the fin base section and mounting box together.
7. The structure according to claim 6, including:
a slot formed through at least one end of the fin base section, the slot being aligned with the notches to facilitate selectively admitting and withdrawing the retaining plate from the channel;
tapered longitudinally extending exterior side walls formed on the fin base section; and,
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,287,754 11/1966 Price et a1. 9-310 3,305,881 2/1967 Meyerhofer 93 10 3,323,154 6/1967 Lambach 9-3 10 3,422,471 1/1969 Morey et a1. 9-310 15 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner P. E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.
US811810A 1969-04-01 1969-04-01 Sectional and longitudinally adjustable surfboard fin assembly Expired - Lifetime US3579681A (en)

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Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3747138A (en) * 1970-10-26 1973-07-24 D Morgan Hydrofoil surfboards
US3750204A (en) * 1971-10-04 1973-08-07 W Walter Binary adjustment for water skis
US3965514A (en) * 1975-01-30 1976-06-29 Shafer Arthur B Adjustable and/or removable fin for surfboards
US4044416A (en) * 1976-06-14 1977-08-30 Brewer Charles A Surfboard with adjustable fin
US4405139A (en) * 1980-09-05 1983-09-20 Kuniaki Kawahard Boards for sliding on snow
DE3239441A1 (en) * 1982-10-25 1984-05-24 Heko Kunststoffteilevertriebs GmbH, 8091 Ramerberg Fin box for a surfboard
WO1990002589A1 (en) * 1988-09-14 1990-03-22 Selwyn Charles Burrows An improved fin fitting method
US5038698A (en) * 1989-09-29 1991-08-13 Bic Corporation Daggerfin adjustable sailboard skeg
US5148761A (en) * 1989-09-29 1992-09-22 Bic Corporation Daggerfin adjustable sailboard skeg
DE4122000C1 (en) * 1991-07-03 1992-10-29 Schuetz-Werke Gmbh & Co Kg, 5418 Selters, De Fin keel mount for surfboards - has U=shaped cross=section with two side walls, slightly inclined outwards from mount bottom
US5176096A (en) * 1990-05-18 1993-01-05 F2 International Ges.M.B.H. Assembly for fastening a fin to a sailboard
US5597337A (en) * 1995-02-21 1997-01-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Quick change fin assembly for buoyant test vehicles
US5967078A (en) * 1997-09-23 1999-10-19 Brunswick Corporation Detachable wear strips for the hull of a watercraft
US6254446B1 (en) * 2000-03-09 2001-07-03 Kendon Thigpen Wakeboard fin
US6837763B1 (en) 2003-08-08 2005-01-04 William T. Masteller Adjustable fin positioning system
US6896570B1 (en) 2004-03-04 2005-05-24 O'keefe Thomas L. Fin for a watersport board
EP1539566A1 (en) * 2002-05-07 2005-06-15 Michael Batt An adjustable fin system
US20070202760A1 (en) * 2004-11-26 2007-08-30 Caldwell James M Multi-function surfboard fin and fin box attachment device
US20080311807A1 (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-18 Luke William A Modular fin for a surfboard, sailboard or other water-borne device
US20090258553A1 (en) * 2008-04-15 2009-10-15 Derek Robert Leek Thick, elliptical-planform fin for a water sports board
EP2185404A1 (en) * 2007-08-10 2010-05-19 Fin Control Systems Pty. Limited Fin plug assembly and method of installation
US20150166153A1 (en) * 2012-01-19 2015-06-18 Tzong In Yeh Fin and accessory assembly and water craft having the same
AU2012227148B2 (en) * 2011-10-28 2016-07-07 Tzong In Yeh Fin and accessory assembly and water craft having the same
US20170073047A1 (en) * 2014-05-15 2017-03-16 Flying Fin Systems Pty Ltd Adjustable fin system
US9688365B2 (en) 2012-07-09 2017-06-27 Fin Control Systems Pty Limited Fin plug for water craft
US9957021B2 (en) 2012-11-14 2018-05-01 Fin Control Systems Pty. Limited Fin plug for a water craft
US10279874B1 (en) 2017-11-01 2019-05-07 John Field Quick-connect fin retention system for a water craft
US20190145445A1 (en) * 2017-11-14 2019-05-16 David L. McClung Clamping assembly

Cited By (39)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3747138A (en) * 1970-10-26 1973-07-24 D Morgan Hydrofoil surfboards
US3750204A (en) * 1971-10-04 1973-08-07 W Walter Binary adjustment for water skis
US3965514A (en) * 1975-01-30 1976-06-29 Shafer Arthur B Adjustable and/or removable fin for surfboards
US4044416A (en) * 1976-06-14 1977-08-30 Brewer Charles A Surfboard with adjustable fin
US4405139A (en) * 1980-09-05 1983-09-20 Kuniaki Kawahard Boards for sliding on snow
DE3239441A1 (en) * 1982-10-25 1984-05-24 Heko Kunststoffteilevertriebs GmbH, 8091 Ramerberg Fin box for a surfboard
WO1990002589A1 (en) * 1988-09-14 1990-03-22 Selwyn Charles Burrows An improved fin fitting method
US5148761A (en) * 1989-09-29 1992-09-22 Bic Corporation Daggerfin adjustable sailboard skeg
US5038698A (en) * 1989-09-29 1991-08-13 Bic Corporation Daggerfin adjustable sailboard skeg
US5176096A (en) * 1990-05-18 1993-01-05 F2 International Ges.M.B.H. Assembly for fastening a fin to a sailboard
DE4122000C1 (en) * 1991-07-03 1992-10-29 Schuetz-Werke Gmbh & Co Kg, 5418 Selters, De Fin keel mount for surfboards - has U=shaped cross=section with two side walls, slightly inclined outwards from mount bottom
US5597337A (en) * 1995-02-21 1997-01-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Quick change fin assembly for buoyant test vehicles
US5967078A (en) * 1997-09-23 1999-10-19 Brunswick Corporation Detachable wear strips for the hull of a watercraft
US6254446B1 (en) * 2000-03-09 2001-07-03 Kendon Thigpen Wakeboard fin
EP1539566A4 (en) * 2002-05-07 2010-08-04 Michael Batt An adjustable fin system
EP1539566A1 (en) * 2002-05-07 2005-06-15 Michael Batt An adjustable fin system
US6837763B1 (en) 2003-08-08 2005-01-04 William T. Masteller Adjustable fin positioning system
US6896570B1 (en) 2004-03-04 2005-05-24 O'keefe Thomas L. Fin for a watersport board
US20070202760A1 (en) * 2004-11-26 2007-08-30 Caldwell James M Multi-function surfboard fin and fin box attachment device
US20080311807A1 (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-18 Luke William A Modular fin for a surfboard, sailboard or other water-borne device
US8469757B2 (en) 2007-06-13 2013-06-25 Fin & Fin Surf Board Fin Company Modular fin for a surfboard, sailboard or other water-borne device
EP2185404A1 (en) * 2007-08-10 2010-05-19 Fin Control Systems Pty. Limited Fin plug assembly and method of installation
US20120052755A1 (en) * 2007-08-10 2012-03-01 Fin Control Systems Pty. Limited Fin plug assembly and method of installation
EP2185404A4 (en) * 2007-08-10 2012-09-19 Fin Control Systems Pty Ltd Fin plug assembly and method of installation
US8920204B2 (en) * 2007-08-10 2014-12-30 Fin Control Systems Pty. Limited Fin plug assembly and method of installation
US20090258553A1 (en) * 2008-04-15 2009-10-15 Derek Robert Leek Thick, elliptical-planform fin for a water sports board
AU2012227148B2 (en) * 2011-10-28 2016-07-07 Tzong In Yeh Fin and accessory assembly and water craft having the same
AU2012227148C1 (en) * 2011-10-28 2016-10-06 Tzong In Yeh Fin and accessory assembly and water craft having the same
US9242707B2 (en) * 2012-01-19 2016-01-26 Tzong In Yeh Fin and accessory assembly and water craft having the same
US20150166153A1 (en) * 2012-01-19 2015-06-18 Tzong In Yeh Fin and accessory assembly and water craft having the same
US9688365B2 (en) 2012-07-09 2017-06-27 Fin Control Systems Pty Limited Fin plug for water craft
US9862467B2 (en) 2012-07-09 2018-01-09 Fin Control Systems Pty Limited Securing mechanism for water craft fin
US10377452B2 (en) 2012-07-09 2019-08-13 Fin Control Systems Pty Limited Fin plug for water craft
US9957021B2 (en) 2012-11-14 2018-05-01 Fin Control Systems Pty. Limited Fin plug for a water craft
US20170073047A1 (en) * 2014-05-15 2017-03-16 Flying Fin Systems Pty Ltd Adjustable fin system
US9926051B2 (en) * 2014-05-15 2018-03-27 Flying Fin Systems Pty Ltd Adjustable fin system
US10676165B2 (en) 2014-05-15 2020-06-09 Flying Fin Systems Pty Ltd Adjustable fin system
US10279874B1 (en) 2017-11-01 2019-05-07 John Field Quick-connect fin retention system for a water craft
US20190145445A1 (en) * 2017-11-14 2019-05-16 David L. McClung Clamping assembly

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