Abstract:
A device comprising a substantially vertical post member that can be adjusted longitudinally within a fin box and remain vertical, riding adjustably in a longitudinally oriented slot and thereby protrudes from the bottom of a standard fin box customarily installed in personal watercraft such as a surfboard, sailboard, paddleboard, and the like. The securable end of a removable fin is dropped over the post and held in place by a nut, clip, hook, or clamp.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/262,586, filed on Dec. 3, 2015, which is incorporated herein by this reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for securely yet releasably retaining a detachable fin or skeg to a watercraft, and more particularly for making the method of attaching and releasing the skeg user-friendly, quick, and easy. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One embodiment of the present invention comprises a cross-pin or cross-plate connected to a vertical post. The cross-pin or plate is configured to reside in the horizontal slots in the sidewalls of a standard box in a common commercially available surfboard, paddleboard, and other watercraft. The vertical post is configured to receive a standard post hole in the insert tab of a common commercially available skeg or fin. In this embodiment of the present invention, the fin is thereby securely attached to the watercraft with the fin tab being locked in the slot of the watercraft box. The device may optionally have also a movable hook or snap member that reaches around a portion of the insert tab to further secure the fin in to the board and that may be removed from the insert tab when the user wishes to release the fin from the board. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a cutaway side view of a fin mounted into a standard fin box with one embodiment of the invention in open and closed position. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of a fin mounted in a fin box with the embodiment in closed position 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a vertical cross-section of a standard fin box. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of the embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a flex-hinged embodiment of the invention in open and closed position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  shows a flex-hinged embodiment in open position, where top portion moves in a horizontal plane. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  shows exploded side and back views of an embodiment that uses detent teeth in the mating surfaces of the hinge knuckle. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  shows a cutaway side view of a fin mounted in a standard fin box showing an exploded view of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  shows a top view of a fin mounted in a fin box and top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  positioned in vertical cross-section of a standard fin box. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  shows a cutaway side view of a fin mounted into a standard fin box with another embodiment of the invention in an open and a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of another embodiment of the invention in a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional end view of the embodiment of  FIG. 12  showing the cross members residing in slots in the sidewalls of a standard fin box. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  shows a close up view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  shows a close up view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 16  shows a close up view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 17  shows a close up view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 18  shows a close up view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0023]    One of the standard means of retaining a skeg, or fin, to a personal watercraft such as a surfboard, sailboard, paddleboard, or the like, consists of a longitudinally set box, a fin box, designed to receive fins of different sizes and shapes. Fins made for these systems generally have a cross-pin at one end of the base of the fin, and a tab at the other end of the base of the fin. The tab end customarily has a screw hole, and in order to securely attach the tab end of the fin within the fin box, the user must peer down the small screw hole, work to locate a plate at the bottom of the box, line up the hole in the fin with a hole formed in the plate, drop in a screw, and tighten the screw with a screwdriver into the hole once the hole is located in the plate. This can be quite difficult, especially in low light situations and in cold, wet, or windy environments, and the screw and/or plate are easily lost. 
         [0024]    One embodiment of the present invention is a retaining device for releasably attaching and retaining the skeg to the watercraft in a more user-friendly way. The device of this embodiment has body portion, a post member that extends substantially vertically from the body portion, and an engaging member that extends substantially laterally from the body portion. The laterally extending member extends into a slot or ridge that is customarily formed in the sidewalls of standard fin boxes allowing the retaining device to slide longitudinally within the fin box to suit the size of the selected removable fin and position the post just right to receive the hole in the tab end of the fin. Optionally, the retaining device may also have an articulating or hinging clip, hook, or clamp that can be place around a portion of the tab end of the fin and hold the fin tab down to securely retain the fin and then moved away from the tab end to allow the fin to be quickly released from the fin box in a user friendly manner. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side cutaway view of a standard fin box  2 , into which a fin has been inserted. One embodiment of the present invention is shown in position to engage the tab portion  16 , of the fin  1 . A vertical slot  7  is provided in the standard fin box to allow access to a longitudinal slot  12  near the bottom of the fin box  2  provided to adjustably retain cross-pin  6  of fin  1 , as well as a threaded plate  14  that, customarily, receives a set screw (not shown) that has been inserted into it through hole  9  in fin tab  16  (but which is replaced in many embodiments of the present invention). Instead, in many embodiments, a retaining device  3  is inserted into the fin box  2 , by slipping cross-pin  8  or other such laterally extending member located in the lower jaw of the device  3  into vertical slot  7  and slid to a preferred position along longitudinal slot  12 . When the device is placed in the desired position, the tab end  16  of fin  1  can be pivoted downward, and the hole  9  in fin tab  16  is aligned with the vertical locator post  10  and dropped down onto post  10 . In this embodiment, the upper end of vertical post  10  forms a ball shape. The device may also have an upper jaw or hook that hinges about a flexible region or articulates about a pintle  18 , shown in open position  4 , and in closed position  5 , and engages the ball end of vertical post  10  by means of a socket. In this embodiment, a grub screw  11  is used in the upper jaw to exert force on fin tab  16  to take up any play resulting from slight differences in fin manufacture, and can also be used with a tool to pry open the upper jaw of the device  3 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the above described device as view from the front, with ball and socket in dashed line.  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the invention that employs a flexible hinge to articulate the upper and lower jaws.  FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the invention that employs a flexible hinge to articulate the upper and lower jaws of the invention, but engages the vertical post  10  from the side. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention that uses detent teeth on the on hinge-articulated jaws to help secure the upper jaw to the vertical post  10 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows a side cutaway view of a standard fin box  2 , and another embodiment of the invention that consists of a vertical post  13  formed, machined, or otherwise fixedly attached to a plate  14  which engages the longitudinal slot  12  in fin box  2  which can be slid to a the desired position and is engaged by pivoting fin  1  onto vertical post  13 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 through 10 , the upper portion of vertical post  13  is threaded to accept a nut  15  to allow user to secure fin tab  16  to box  2 . The nut  15  could be of any appropriate configuration, and preferably be non-corrosive. Alternatively, a post could be drilled for a clevis, or grooved for a clip. Alternatively, the member that slides in longitudinal groove  12  could incorporate a cross-pin or multiple cross-pins. 
         [0029]      FIG. 11  shows a cutaway view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the retaining device  3  resides primarily within the fin box  2  with laterally extending members  8  for engaging the longitudinal slots  12  in the fin box  2  previously discussed. The locator post  10  may extend a bit beyond the fin box  2  to make it easier to locate in sometimes unfavorable conditions. Also, in this embodiment, there may be a hook member  22  hingeably connected to the locator post  10  either directly or by being connected to an intermediate body portion  20 . The hook member  22  also may extend a bit beyond the fin box  2  to make it easy to manipulate by the user&#39;s finger or thumb. The end portion  23  of the hook  22  is configured and positioned to extend around and abut a portion of the tab portion  16  of the fin  1  to hold the fin  1  in place. It is hingeably connected to the locator post  10  or intermediate body member  20  so that the user can pull it away from the portion of the fin tab  16  that it abuts and thereby release the fin  1  from the fin box  2 .  FIG. 11  shows the hook member  22  in solid lines in the flexed position and in broken lines where it would reside when not being flexed away from the fin tab  16 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 12 through 14  show another embodiment that has a flexible hook member  22 . This embodiment includes an end spacer  29 . The end spacer  29  insures that the retaining device  3  never ventures too close to the far end  40  of the fin box  2 . As a result, spacer  29  insures that there is always at least enough longitudinal space for the hook member  22  to be flexed or moved away from the fin tab  2  surface to allow release of the fin  1 . 
         [0031]    Additionally, in  FIG. 12 , there are two laterally extending (or cross) members  8  and  8 ′ per side with a diagonal offset to create a slight or significant “jam” in the sidewall slots or channels of the fin box  2  when the locator post  10  is engaged with vertical through hole  9  of the fin tab  16 . That is, when locator pin  10  is engaged in the hole  9  in the fin tab  16 , the diagonally placed cross members  8  and  8 ′ bind against both the top and bottom surfaces of the horizontal channels  12  to help remove any vertical “slop” as well as any fore or aft movement of the fin  1  once it is securely retained in the fin box  2  and ready to be put to use. This configuration helps resist upward and rotational forces on the device  3 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 14  shows a similar embodiment in which there is a hole or recess  25  in the end portion  23  of the hook member  22 . The hole or recess  25  is configured to receive a manipulation tool (not shown) to provide greater leverage for the user to move the hook member  22  between its flexed and relaxed positions. The hole  25  may also be threaded to allow the hole  25  to also receive a set screw, grub screw, or other such screw to be screwed down and contact a surface or receiving feature on the fin tab  16  to compensate for any manufacturing discrepancies in the vertical dimension of the fin tab  16  and thereby remove any play in the fin  1  when the fin  1  is being securely retained in the fin box  2 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 15  shows another embodiment in which the connection between the hook member  22  and the body of the device  3  is hinged and yet resilient. In this configuration, there is an open space  24  between an upper region and the bottom edge of the intermediate body portion  20  of the retaining device  3 . The region above the open space  24  can flex while the bottom edge of the device  3  continues to press against bottom of the fin box  2  whether the hook member  22  is being flexed or is in its relaxed position. 
         [0034]      FIG. 16  shows an embodiment in which the top surface of the hook member  22  is serrated to increase the user&#39;s ability to pull the hook member  22  back with his or her finger or thumb to release the fin  1  from the fin box  2 .  FIG. 16  also shows a detent member  32  extending from the intermediate body portion  20  of the device  3  that applies a force on a surface of the fin tab  16  to remove or reduce the amount play experienced by the fin  1  while it is retained in the fin box  2 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 17  shows a detent member  34  extending from the hook member  22  to apply a force on a surface of the fin tab  16  as yet another means of compensation for any discrepancies in fin manufacture. By pressing down on the top surface of the fin tab  16 , this detent member  34  can, like the detent member  32  shown in  FIG. 16 , remove or reduce the amount play experienced by the fin  1  while it is retained in the fin box  2 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 18  shows yet another embodiment, this one with an elongate lever  30  along its bottom edge for strength as well as ease of flexation.  FIG. 18  also shows a single, oblong pin  28 , instead of the dual offset pins  8  and  8 ′ of  FIG. 12 , as well as serrations at the bottom of at least to the elongate lever  30  to take advantage of the resilient properties of the elongate lever  30  and configuration to gain additional traction with the bottom surface of the fin box  2 . 
         [0037]    Some of the elements in the foregoing embodiments may be made from resilient, machinable plastic; molded; machined; extruded; or constructed using a combination of other materials and methods. 
         [0038]    While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.