Detachable swim fin

A detachable swim fin includes a foot pocket and a fin blade. The fin blade is movably connected to the foot pocket through a locking buckle mechanism. With the detachable design of the fin blade and the foot pocket, the present invention provides an amphibious function. When they are detached, the foot pocket is capable of protecting the foot when walking on land, like a beach shoe or a fishing shoe. When they are assembled, the present invention is used as a swim fin. When going out, the user could take apart the swim fin for carrying conveniently and flexibly. This provides a compact and light design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sports article for diving, and more particularly to a detachable swim fin that has multiple functions for swim or diving.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A swim fin is important equipment for diving. Swim fins are generally put on once the swimmer is in the water, and they are popular as they increase the water-pushing power of the swimmer's legs, thereby increasing the swimmer's speed through the water and helping the swimmer stay afloat more easily. A conventional swim fin includes a foot pocket and a web. The foot pocket is adapted for the diver's foot and the web is adapted to provide propulsion when in water. The foot pocket is integrally formed with the web through a pair of reinforcement ribs provided at two sides of the swim fin, namely, the front section and the rear section of the swim fin are inseparable. This structure has steady properties when in use. But, this product only has a single purpose to be used in water. When walking on land, it is not useful. Particularly, the length of the swim fin is long. It is not convenient for the user to take it along.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings and provide a multi-function detachable swim fin for carrying conveniently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable swim fin, which is assembled or disassembled with ease and provides a better lock function.

According to the present invention, there is provided a detachable swim fin, comprising a foot pocket and a fin blade, the fin blade being movably connected to the foot pocket through a locking buckle mechanism.

Preferably, the fin blade includes a pair of reinforcement ribs extending from two sides thereof, the locking buckle mechanism including a pair of first connecting buckles and a pair of second connecting buckles to engage with the pair of first connecting buckles, the pair of first connecting buckles being fixed to respective rear ends of the pair of reinforcement ribs of the fin blade, the pair of second connecting buckles being mounted on two sides of the foot pocket.

Preferably, the foot pocket includes a shoe body made of soft rubber and a holding base made of hard rubber, the holding base being bound to the shoe body, the pair of second connecting buckles is mounted on the holding base.

Preferably, the foot pocket has a pair of sides each formed with an engaging aperture, an engaging button, and a stop block, each of the pair of second connecting buckles including an engaging protrusion, an engaging hole, and a limit slot, the engaging hole consisting of a large hole and a small hole which are interconnected with each other, the engaging button going through the large hole and sliding in the small hole when mounting the second connecting buckle, the engaging protrusion engaging with the engaging aperture, the stop block being confined within the engaging slot.

Preferably, each of the pair of first connecting buckles includes a main body coupled to one of the pair of reinforcement ribs and two resilient arms extending from the main body, the two resilient arms each having a front end formed with a hook, the pair of second connecting buckles each including a housing, the housing being formed with a pair of grooves at two sides thereof for engaging with the hook.

Preferably, the fin blade has a rear end provided with a plurality of limit ribs disposed between the pair of reinforcement ribs, the foot pocket having a front bottom formed with a plurality of insertion troughs corresponding to the limit ribs, the limit ribs being inserted in the insertion troughs.

Preferably, the limit ribs each have a base portion and an extension end, the limit ribs each having a thickness which is gradually reduced from the base portion to the extension end.

Accordingly, with the detachable design of the fin blade and the foot pocket, the present invention provides an amphibious function. When they are detached, the foot pocket is capable of protecting the foot when walking on land, like a beach shoe or a fishing shoe. When they are assembled, the present invention is used as a swim fin. When going out, the user could take apart the swim fin for carrying conveniently and flexibly. This provides a compact and light design. In addition, with the locking buckle mechanism composed of two connecting buckles, the present invention provides a quick connection. Besides, the present invention has a number of lock designs so that the fin blade and the foot pocket are connected firmly without influencing its function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 4, a detachable swim fin according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a foot pocket10and a fin blade20. The fin blade20is movably connected to the foot pocket10through a locking buckle mechanism30.

The fin blade20includes a pair of reinforcement ribs21extending from two sides thereof. The locking buckle mechanism30includes a pair of first connecting buckles31and a pair of second connecting buckles32which is engaged with the pair of first connecting buckles31. The pair of first connecting buckles31is fixed to respective rear ends of the pair of reinforcement ribs21of the fin blade20. The pair of second connecting buckles32is mounted on two sides of the foot pocket10.

The foot pocket10includes a shoe body10amade of soft rubber and a holding base10bmade of hard rubber. The holding base10bis bound to the shoe body10a. The pair of second connecting buckles32is mounted on the holding base10b.

The holding base10bof the foot pocket10has a pair of sides each formed with an engaging aperture11, an engaging button12, and a stop block13. Each of the pair of second connecting buckles32includes an engaging protrusion321, an engaging hole322, and a limit slot323. The engaging hole322consists of a large hole322aand a small hole322bwhich are interconnected with each other. When the second connecting buckle32is mounted to the holding base10b, the engaging button12will go through the large hole322aand then slide in the small hole322b; the engaging protrusion321will engage with the engaging aperture11; and the stop block13is confined within the engaging slot323. Thus, the second connecting buckle32is locked on the foot pocket10firmly.

Each of the pair of first connecting buckles31includes a main body311and two resilient arms312extending from the main body311. The main body311is coupled to the reinforcement rib21of the fin blade20. Each of the two resilient arms312has a front end formed with a hook312a. Each of the pair of second connecting buckles32includes a housing324. The housing324is formed with a pair of grooves325at two sides thereof. When in use, the two resilient arms312are inserted in the housing324with the hooks312ato engage with the grooves325. When not in use, the two resilient arms312are pressed inward so that the hooks312adisengage from the grooves325and the first connecting buckle31is pulled out. Accordingly, the first connecting buckle31and the second connecting buckle32are locked or unlocked in a quick manner.

Furthermore, the fin blade20has a rear end provided with a plurality of limit ribs22disposed between the pair of reinforcement ribs21. The foot pocket10has a front bottom formed with a plurality of insertion troughs14corresponding to the limit ribs22. The limit ribs22are inserted in the insertion troughs14such that the fin blade20and the foot pocket10are assembled more steadily. Each of the limit ribs22has a base portion221and an extension end222. The thickness of the limit rib22is gradually reduced from the base portion221to the extension end22so that the limit rib22is connected to the insertion trough14tightly.

Accordingly, with the detachable design of the fin blade and the foot pocket, the present invention provides an amphibious function. When they are detached, the foot pocket is capable of protecting the foot when walking on land, like a beach shoe or a fishing shoe. When they are assembled, the present invention is used as a swim fin. When going out, the user could take apart the swim fin for carrying conveniently and flexibly. This provides a compact and light design. In addition, with the locking buckle mechanism composed of two connecting buckles, the present invention provides a quick connection. Besides, the present invention has a number of lock designs so that the fin blade and the foot pocket are connected firmly without influencing its function.