SWIM FIN WITH SEPARABLE BLADE PORTION AND SHOE PORTION

Abstract: This invention relates to a swim fin wherein the propulsion blade portion (1) and the shoe portion (2) are manufactured separately and are disconnectably connected to each other by means of suitable connecting members. The propulsion blade (1) comprises, at the end thereof facing said shoe portion (2), a flattened tang portion (3) which will be fitted, upon connecting the two portions (1, 2) of the fin, into a correspondingly shaped recess (4) in the thickness of the sole (5) of said shoe portion (2). The propulsion blade (1) of said swim fin is also provided, overhead at said tang portion (3), with a transverse bridge member (6) which is supported at both sides by two ridges (7) constructed as extensions of two intermediate ribs (8) of said propulsion blade (1), said bridge member (6) and side ridges (7) interengaging, upon connecting the two portions (1, 2) of said fin, with corresponding seatings or sockets (9, 10) formed in the toe portion of said shoe (2). Moreover, the swim fin is provided with a device (15) for locking together its coupled portions.

Description: This invention relates to a swim fin according to the pre-characterizing part of Claim 1. In the known swim fins of this kind, disclosed in FR-A-1416268, the blade portion is provided at the rear end thereof, i.e., the end facing the shoe portion, with two lateral tang portions, designed for being fitted into matchingly shaped recesses formed in enlargements at the sides of the shoe portion. The said enlargements give the shoe portion a certain stiffness, which makes it difficult to put on and uncomfortable to walk. Moreover, in the known swim fins according to FR-A-1416268, the locking device for locking the two coupled fin portions together, consists of projecting, parts provided on the top side and the bottom side of the shoe portion, behind which respective transverse members made integral with the blade portion, are engaged. With this locking device, the operations for connecting together and disconnecting the two fin portions become rather difficult. The invention aims to overcome the said diadvantages by the provision of a swim fin of the type as disclosed in the pre-characterizing part of Claim 1, wherein the means for coupling and locking the two fin portions together ensure a perfect solidarization thereof by a quick and easily performable operation, without the softness characterizing the shoe portion being affected. This object of the invention is attained by the combination of features according to the characterizing part of Claim 1. It is however noticed that another swim fin, having a recess for the tang of the blade portion formed in the rear ward part of the sole of the blade portion was in itself disclosed in FR-A-2543004. This fin again is in so far different in that it does not comprise a transverse bridge member on the blade part: there is only a curved groove in the blade portion in which a complementary shaped rim on the foremost part of the shoe portion fits if the two portions are joined. This connection is therefore less positive and furthermore the locking device for said connection is different e.g. in sofar in that it does not comprises an additional safety device. Some preferred embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent Claims. One embodiment of the swim fin according to the invention, is shown by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swim fin according to the invention, the blade portion and the shoe portion being interengaged. Figure 2 is a similar perspective view of the said swim fin, the blade portion and the shoe portion being separated. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the said swim fin, the blade portion and the shoe portion being interengaged. Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the shoe portion of the said swim fin. Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the rear portion of the propulsion blade of the said swim fin. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the said blade, comprising a detent for locking the blade to the shoe portion. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of said locking detent in a disengaged condition. In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the blade portion and 2 indicates the shoe portion of a swim fin according to the invention, said blade and shoe portions being constructed as separate members and being disconnectably interconnected by suitable coupling means. The blade 1, which may be made of any suitable flexible material, either metallic, such as aluminum, or plastics, comprises at the rear end thereof, facing the shoe portion 2, a flattened tang portion 3 of substantially triangular configuration and at a small angle to the body of said blade. Said tang portion 3, of unitary construction with the blade 1 proper, is fitted, upon coupling the two fin portions together, into a correspondingly shaped recess 4 formed in the sole 5 of the shoe portion 2 which usually is made of rubber-like soft plastics material. Moreover, said blade 1 comprises, just above said tang portion 3, a transverse bridge member 6 which is supported at both sides by two ridge-members 7 which extend on the top surface of the blade so as to constitute a pair of stiffening ribs therefor. Correspondingly formed in the toe of the shoe portion 2, are a transverse groove 9 and two lateral flat seatings 10 which, upon connecting the two portions of the swim fin, will be engaged by said bridge member 6 and ridge-members 7 of the blade portion, respectively. More particularly, said ridge-members 7 comprise a small triangular lug 107, co-planar with said ridge-member and extending towards said shoe portion. Each lug 107 is designed, upon assembling the swim fin, to fit into a mating recess 110 in the respective seating 10 of the shoe portion. By the action of the coupling means described above, the shoe portion 2 will be practically clamped between the tang portion 3 and the bridge member 6 of the blade, whereby the former will be perfectly united to the latter. Said lugs 107 prevent said tang portion 3 and bridge member 6 to be spread apart when the blade is under stress. To make the union between said blade and shoe even more reliable, the swim fin according to the invention comprises a snap-detent locking device. Said snap-detent device comprises a flexible detent 11 formed in the tang portion 3, particularly in the area thereof joining the body of the blade 1. Upon connecting said blade and shoe portions together, said detent 11 will engage by a snap action with a catch 12 formed on the toe of said shoe, so as to firmly connect the two fin portions together. Said locking device, additionally, comprises means to easily lift said detent 11 to separate the two fin portions. Said means comprises a tongue 13 which is formed by cutting through the blade at the area where said detent 11 joins the tang portion 3, so that by manually depressing said tongue downwards said detent will be moved upwards, the narrow strip of material 14 between the former and the latter acting as a hinge (see Fig. 7). Said locking device is provided also with safety means against any inadvertent actuation of the tongue 13. Said means comprises a small knob 15 rotatably mounted on the tongue 13 through a spindle 115, and provided with a radial pin 215 which normally, by striking against the edge of the slot defining said tongue 13, prevents any actuation of the latter. However, said actuation can be effected by purposely rotating said knob 15 so as to bring said pin 215 in register with a notch 101 formed in the edge of said slot. A swim fin according to the invention has, when compared to the conventional swim fin of the same type, several advantages including: firm connection between blade and shoe portions; easy connection and disconnection of the two fin portions; good fitting of the shoe; simple general construction.

Claims: 1. A swim fin wherein the blade portion (1) and the shoe portion (2) are manufactured separately, and are disconnectably connected to each other by coupling means, which comprise: a) a flattened tang portion (3) which extends rearwardly from the end of the blade portion (1) adjoining the shoe portion (2), and which on the two fin portions (1, 2) being connected to each other, is fitted into a matingly shaped recess (4) formed in the shoe portion (2), b) a transverse bridge member (6) made integral with the blade portion (1), and overlying the forepart of the shoe portion (2), when the two shoe portions (1, 2) are connected to each other, c) a locking device for locking the two coupled fin portions together, characterized by the combination of the following features: d) the recess (4) for the tang portion (3) to be fitted thereinto, is formed in the thickness of the sole (5) of the shoe portion (2), e) the locking device for locking together the two fin portions (1, 2) comprises a small flexible detent (11) formed in the tang portion (3) of the blade portion (1), and designed for being engaged by a snap action, on the said blade and shoe portions (1, 2) being connected to each other, with a catch formed on the shoe portion (2), f) a safety device (15, 215) preventing the detent (11) of the locking device from being inadvertently actuated. 2. A swim fin according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking device comprises means for disengaging the detent (11) from the catch formed on the shoe portion (2), after the safety device (15, 215) having been rendered inoperative. 3. A swim fin according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means for disengaging the detent (11) comprises a tongue (13) which is formed by cutting through the blade portion (1) at the area where the detent (11) joins the tang portion (3), so that by manually depressing the tongue (13) downward, the detent (11) will be moved upwards, the narrow strip of material (14) between the tongue and the detent acting as a hinge. 4. A swim fin according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the safety device comprises a small knob (15) which is rotatable on the tongue (13), and is provided with a radial pin (215) which permits the actuation of the tongue (13) only when this pin (215) is in registry with a notch (101) formed in the edge of the slot defining the said tongue, and prevents the actuation of the tongue (13) when it is set in any other position, in that it strikes against the edge of said slot. 5. A swim fin according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that on the two fin portions being connected to each other, the transverse bridge member (6) of the blade portion (1) is caused to engage a seating (9) formed in the shoe portion (2), and consisting of a transverse groove. 6. A swim fin according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the transverse bridge member (6) is supported at both sides by two bridge members (7) formed as extensions of two intermediate ribs (8) of the blade portion (1), and which on the two fin portions (1, 2) being connected to each other, are caused to engage two matching seatings (10) consisting of lateral flat-bottom embossings. 7. A swim fin according to Claim 6, characterized in that each bridge-member (7) comprises a triangular lug (107) which is coplanar to the ridge-member (7), and extends toward the shoe portion (2), and the said lug (107) is designed for being fitted, on the two fin portions being assembled, into a mating recess (110) in the matching embossing (10) of the shoe portion (2).

Inventors: SEMEIA, ROBERTO
Applicants: SCUBAPRO EUROPE S.R.L.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A63B31
IPC codes: A63B31