Patent ID: 6146224
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: A63B,B63B,B63H

Abstract:
A swim fin comprising:(a) a foot receiving portion arranged to attach to a foot of a swimmer,(b) an blade member secured to said foot receiving portion, wherein said blade member extends a significant longitudinal distance in front of said foot receiving portion to form a substantially lengthwise extension of said foot receiving portion, wherein the lengthwise dimension of said swim fin is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of said blade member, and said blade member having opposing surfaces, outer side edges, inner edges that may twist, a root portion proximate said foot receiving portion, and a trailing portion spaced from said root portion and said foot receiving portion,(c) two elongated stiffening members secured to said blade member proximate said outer side edges,(d) a substantially longitudinal opening formed in said blade member which originates at a predetermined position proximate said trailing portion and extends substantially toward said shoe member of said blade member and terminates at a base of said longitudinal opening which is located a predetermined distance from said shoe member, wherein said longitudinal opening is sufficiently large enough to substantially divide a significant portion of said blade member into two half blade portions, and(e) said blade member has sufficient resiliency to permit a significant portion of said blade member to twist under varying load conditions created as said swim fin is kicked through a fluid medium during the act of swimming.