Patent ID: 6640740
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: B63G,B63H

Abstract:
A contact activated retractable control device comprising:at least one fin member having a front edge, a trailing edge opposite to the front edge, a bottom edge between the front edge and the trailing edge, an arm portion extending from and coextensive with the leading edge and away from the bottom edge, and said arm portion having a pivot pin extending in a perpendicular direction from each side of said arm portion; a rotatable housing having an aperture receiving the pivot pin of said arm portion, said housing enabling both a vertical pivot of said fin member upon contact of the fin with an object and axial rotation of said fin about the arm portion of said fin member; a vehicle having a well formed in a bottom surface thereof, said well corresponding in depth to a fully retracted position of said fin member and in width to any rotated position of said fin member; a steering shaft vertically extends from said rotatable housing for controlling a rotation of said housing and thus a direction of said fin about a vertical axis defined by said steering shaft; and a spring member joined between said housing and said pivot pin, said spring member normally biasing said fin member away from said vehicle, said fin member pivoting into as much as an entirety of said well in response to a force against said control fin.