Patent ID: 6077139
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
An amphibious float tube paddle fin system for a floatstrider, whose soles and heels establish a base plane essentially perpendicular to their respective ankles, and whose intent is to be able to walk on dry land or to wade in shallow water, as well as to foot-paddle in a forward direction while suspended in a float-tube in water too deep for wading characterized bya) a self-supported fin (1) providing, as a recovery direction, an easy direction through the water with the fin in an attitude substantially parallel to said base plane, and being subject to a water-pressure operated rotation which provides as a power direction, a resistant direction through the water, substantially different from the easy direction, open against water pressure as the floatstrider makes a forward striding motion driving heel backward with respect to body; andb) a support system for affixing said fin (1) to the ankle of such floatstrider, establishing the easy direction substantially tracking the heel of such floatstrider along said base plane, and establishing, the power direction with substantial strength as water pressure rotates said fin (1) so as to be essentially perpendicular to said base plane during a power stroke in the form of a relative backward motion of the respective heel with respect to the body of said floatstrider;said support system comprising an arch strap (6), an adjustable ankle strap (7) and an adjustable heel strap (9), arranged in concert to support said fin (1) as it opens to track easily behind the heel on the recovery stroke and closes to track with maximum resistance to backward motion of the heel through the water during the power stroke; further characterized in that:said fin (1) has a support end connected to said support system at said arch strap (6) and to said adjustable ankle strap (7) and has an intermediate connection for said heel strap (9), which permits said fin (1) to rotate between a recovery direction essentially coplanar with the sole plane and a power direction essentially perpendicular to the sole plane, without alteration of strap adjustments.