Abstract:
The invention is a fm for surfboards with a variable stiffness function. This is accomplished by means of a central disc that can be rotated to give different degrees of mechanical support to the fin when rotated to different angles, thus providing variable flexibility.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/732,411, filed Dec. 3, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an adjustable surfing fin, which enables a surfer to adjust the fin&#39;s flexibility in order to achieve different surfing experiences. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Many watersports and aquatic activities use water-borne vessels having fins or keels beneath the surface of the vessel, adapted to allow steering of the vessel. Surfboards, windsurfing boards, and numerous other aquatic vessels use fins attached beneath the vessel in order to adjust or use the water flow beneath the vessel for steering and/or stability. 
         [0006]    The characteristics of the fin, such as its level of flexibility, its size, its curves and its surface area all affect the water flow beneath the vessel and how the vessel reacts to steering operations. 
         [0007]    Due to variability in the conditions of the high seas and different personal preferences of surfers, various fins have been developed in order to affect water flow differently, and thus to steer vessels differently and create different surfing experiences. 
         [0008]    Surfboards manufactured today provide a base beneath the board, upon which a desired fin may be reversibly mounted. If a surfer desires a different fin, as a result of changing conditions or a different surfing style, the attached fin must be dismounted, and an alternative fin be mounted in its stead. Thus, a surfer wishing to change the flexibility or any other attribute of their fin must not only spend time and effort replacing a fin every time they wish to change their surfing experience, they must also carry around alternate/replacement fins. This may be true every time a surfer goes to surf, partially due to the inability to predict which fin they will need during the entirety of the surfing session. 
         [0009]    Additionally, the surfer may not notice the unsuitability of their fin until reaching a certain distance from shore (e.g. where the waves are peaking), which would then require them to return to shore in order to replace said fin. Acquiring a set of fins for different surfing experiences may be expensive, as well as bulky when traveling. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,570 B1 describes a fin for a watersport board, which includes a substantially rigid core covered by a flexible core covering. 
         [0011]    EP 79,113 A1 describes a fin for buoyant support suitable for a surf board, dinghy or wind sailing board or the like, formed of a resiliently flexible material such as solid urethane, reinforced with a stiffening insert which incorporates means for attachment to the surf board or the like. 
         [0012]    What is common to the above inventions is that the fin allows for a fixed degree of flexibility and must be replaced every time a different flexibility is required. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,496 describes a novel fin for surfboards and watercraft that includes a pivoting rudder-like section that swings out when a turn is commenced, enhancing the maneuverability of the surfboard by reducing the resistance of the fin as it moves sideways through the water in a turn and by redirecting the water flow through the pivoting rudder section in the direction of the turn. Although said fin does provide left-right maneuverability, it does not provide the ability to change other aspects, such as flexibility, of the fin. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,970 discloses a fin which is able, given the material that is used in its manufacturing process, to provide extra flexibility. This invention, however, relates to a fin manufactured by a specific process, and does not providing different levels of flexibility. 
         [0015]    WO 2,011,143,695 describes a fin for a surf craft. Said fin is able, given the material that is used in its manufacturing process, to provide extra flexibility. This invention however does not providing different levels of flexibility. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,718 describes a keel or fin for a watercraft such as a surfboard that is conventional in shape with a major portion fixed to the board by peg and a minor, flexible, trailing portion fixed to the major portion. This invention however relates to a single adjustable fin which is comprised of an adjustable piece attached to it, giving it minimal flexibility. 
         [0017]    None of the methods found provide for variable flexibility, and hence an improved method for variable flexibility in a surfing fin is still a long felt need. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0018]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surfing device comprising a single fin, with a central disc that can be rotated to give different degrees of mechanical support to the fin when rotated to different angles, thus providing variable flexibility. The fin is formed with a disc-shaped indentation, into which the disc fits. The disc has indentations on its surface. 
         [0019]    Protruding from the disc-shaped indentation of each of the sides of the fin are inward-facing protrusions, corresponding in size and shape to the indentations on the disc. 
         [0020]    The disc is in mechanical communication with a round plug having a slot approximately the size of a screwdriver blade. This allows the surfer to adjust the disc by turning it with a screwdriver, as detailed below. 
         [0021]    These, additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the present invention are: set forth in the detailed description which follows; possibly inferable from the detailed description; and/or learnable by practice of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be implemented in practice, a plurality of embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the adjustable fin of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates the assembled fin in side view; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates the assembled fin in side view in a different disposition; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates the assembled fin in side view in a different disposition; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates the assembled fin in perspective view from the starboard side; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates the assembled fin in perspective view from the starboard side in closeup view; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates the assembled fin in perspective view from the starboard side in closeup view; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  illustrates the assembled fin in perspective view from the starboard side in closeup view; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  illustrates the variable stiffness of the fin in a head-on view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The following description is provided, alongside all chapters of the present invention, so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of said invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Various modifications, however, will remain apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined specifically to provide a means and method for providing a system and method for a surfing fin. 
         [0033]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that such embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore just as every particular reference may embody particular methods, systems, yet not require such, ultimately such teaching is meant for all expressions notwithstanding the use of particular embodiments. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0034]    A preferred embodiment of this invention consists of a special ‘variable rigidity’ fin or keel, attached at its base to a surf board, which allows a surfer to quickly and easily adjust the flexibility and other features of the fin by use of an adjustable mechanism. As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the device allows for a versatile surfing experience. It allows the surfer to be able to adjust the flexibility of the fin without the need to return to shore. Furthermore, it saves the cost of a full set of fins, and is easier to carry and travel with than a full set of fins. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 1  an exploded view is shown. The mechanism consists of a disc  105  that fits into the fin  101 . The disc  105  may be rotated such that protrusions  102  on the base part of the fin align with different parts of the disc  105 , leading to different degrees of support to the fin and differing subsequent flexibility of the fin. A spring-like pin  106  reversibly locks the disc into place. A plug, bearing or other circular part  104  holds the disc  105  in place while allowing rotation of the disc to various positions. A cover plate  107  fits over the disc and holds said disc in place while allowing it to rotate about plug  104 . 
         [0036]    The surfer may adjust the flexibility of the fin by inserting an object such as a screwdriver or wrench into the plug, and turning clockwise or counter-clockwise. This will cause the disc and its protrusions to rotate and lock into matching indentations and protrusions  102  on the fin part  101 . Each locked position provides the fin with a different level of flexibility. 
         [0037]    As the disc rotates within the fin, the protruding pieces move, and mate with the indentations on the disc. Due to the varying degree of coupling between disc and fin, different flexibilities are achieved and as a result a different surfing experience is achieved. 
         [0038]    The device may be mounted on a surf board, windsurfing board, and other aquatic vessels which use fins or keels to manipulate the water flow beneath the vessel and thus facilitate maneuvering of the vessel itself. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  shows the disc  105  which is inserted between the two parts of the fin  101 ,  107  creating a rotatable device within the fin. The disc  105  has elements which fit in corresponding circular indentations in the fin  102 , to lock the fin in place. In addition, a hole  150  is visible, within which an object may be inserted to adjust the disc which turns on a bearing or circular element  104 . A spring  106  is used to force the disc into a set of stable positions. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  illustrates the adjustable fin in side (port) view. The port surface of the fin has indentations and protrusions  102  which fit the disc  105 , allowing the fin to rotate through a discrete set of reversibly fixed positions. Protrusions and indentations  102  fit into corresponding indentations and protrusions of the disc  105  and hold the disc securely into place in a discrete set of positions, allowing for different flexibilities. Indentations  120  fit the protrusion of spring  106 , defining a discrete set of stable positions as will be clear to one skilled in the art. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3 ,  4  show the disc  105  after having been rotated to different positions to achieve different fin flexibilities. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows the fin from the starboard side. The axis  104  is visible, as well as an indicator  111  showing a number indicating the disc position. 
         [0043]    Protrusions  108 ,  109  allow the device to be connected easily to a surfboard or the like, by means of standard connectors such as the tabs shown. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows the scene of  FIG. 5  in closeup view, with indicator  111  indicating position ‘ 5 ’, axis  104  and crescent cutout  110 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows the scene of  FIG. 6  where the disc has been rotated to position ‘ 3 ’, and  FIG. 8  shows the fin after the disc has been rotated to position ‘ 1 ’. 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  shows the fin in a front view, allowing one to appreciate the standard thickness of the fin. The adjustable flexibility of the fin is also apparent here, as on the right the fin has flexed due to a given force while on the left it has not due to increased stiffness. 
         [0047]    Although selected embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it is to be appreciated that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.