Patent ID: 7134927
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A fin assembly adapted for attachment to the heel of the boot or foot of a person seated aboard a kick boat or open float tube for propelling on water, said boot having an ankle, an instep, a sole, a toe, and a heel portion, said fin assembly comprising: a fin member having an upper end portion adapted for reversible attachment to the same constant structures of a fin assembly mounting mechanism and an integral elongated fin blade extending from said fin member upper end portion, said fin blade having a first broad surface, an opposite second surface, a flexible upper hinge portion, a lower end portion, and opposing side portions, said lower end portion of said fin blade having a width dimension greater than said upper end portion of said fin member, said fin blade extending downwardly below the plane of the underneath surfaces of said heel and said sole of said boot, said broad surface of said fin blade being aligned transverse to said sole of said boot, said fin blade hinge portion including a hinge mechanism urging said fin blade to a normal fully extended generally rigid planar configuration offering a maximum resistance to movement of said broad surface of said fin blade against water, yet which said hinge mechanism allows said fin blade to feather, flexing in the direction of said broad surface of said fin blade in response to the resistance to movement of water surrounding said fin blade when said second surface of said fin blade is moved against water, said broad surface of said fin blade in a fully feathered configuration being more parallel to the plane of said heel and said sole of said boot than when said fin blade is freely positioned in its said normal fully extended configuration, said second surface of said fin blade offering substantially reduced resistance to movement against water as a means of generating a differential force in a to and fro kicking motion of said fin assembly to propel said person on water; said fin assembly mounting mechanism being adapted to fit said fin member to said heel of said boot, said fin assembly mounting mechanism including a means for releasable attachment of said fin assembly to said heel of said boot, said fin assembly mounting mechanism providing a means of reversibly attaching said fin member to said same constant structures of said fin assembly mounting mechanism whereby the relative position of said broad surface of said fin blade to said toe and said heel of said boot can be aligned in either a forward facing or backward facing position to propel said person backward or forward on water, said fin assembly being removable from said heel of said boot by said person from a seated position on said kick boat or open float tube floating on water; whereby a person can don the present fin assembly from a seated position on a kick boat or open float tube floating on water to selectively propel either in a forward or backward direction on water and can remove said fin assembly while floating in shallow water to disembark, wading and walking in a normal unrestricted manner.