Swimming fin

Abstract: Swimmimg fin of the type having an open shoe comprising a shoe portion (201) and a blade portion (101), in which the top surface (211) of the sole of said shoe portion (201) comprises two or more longitudinal ribs (121) projecting into the interior of the shoe portion (201).

Description: The present invention relates to swimming fins, especially swimming fins of the type having an open shoe, that is to say, the shoe portion is lacking in the heel portion, resulting as a foot-socket. More particularly, the invention relates to this type of swimming fin formed with a shoe portion of a flexible elastomeric material and a blade portion of a relatively stiffer material. In particular, the inner top surface of the sole of the shoe portion is of a flexible elastomeric material. These fins are generally worn with special rubber boots. However, the resulting fin has a number of disadvantages, such as a lack of stability especially in the lateral direction owing to slippage between the boot and fin. Furthermore, between the top surface of the sole of the shoe portion and the necessary boot for wearing these fins, considerable friction is created because of the material of which the top surface of the sole is made, thereby making the action of putting these fins on uncomfortable. EP-A-0572853 describes a swimming flipper comprising a blade (2) and a shoe (3) having mutual disengageable restrained joint coupling means, very similar to those means used for the connection between ski and ski-boot. This kind of coupling can also be very stable, but it shows some constructive complications; further, the fin used in this swimming system is only a fin blade, and its features are quite different from those of the above described swim fin of the type having an open shoe. The object of the invention is therefore a fin of the type described above that can be put on easily and has improved stability once on. The subject of the present invention is therefore a swimming fin of the type having an open shoe comprising a shoe portion and a blade portion, in a combination with a boot comprising an upper provided with a sole, the top surface of the sole of said shoe portion of the swimming fin comprising two or more longitudinal ribs projecting into the interior of the shoe portion, and the sole of the said boot being provided with longitudinal grooves complementary to said ribs of the fin. Advantageously, in the case of fins made of two materials, one being more flexible and of an elastomeric type and the other relatively stiffer, these ribs are made of the stiffer material. Further advantages and characteristics will appear clearly in the following detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention made, for illustrative purposes and without implying any restriction, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swimming fin according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a boot suitable for use with a fin of the type illustrated in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a cross section of the shoe portion of the fin of Figure 1, with the boot (also in section) inside the fin. In Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes a swimming fin according to the invention provided with a blade portion 101 and a shoe portion 201. In the case illustrated, the blade portion 101 is made of a stiffer material and extends underneath the top surface 211 of the sole of the shoe portion 201, to form the sole part 111 (see also Fig. 3). Through the elastomeric material of which the top surface 211 of the sole of said shoe portion 201 is made, project three longitudinal ribs 121 integral with the inner face of the sole part 111 of the blade portion 101. Figure 2 shows a boot 2 which is to be used for wearing the fin 1 shown in Fig. 1. This boot comprises an upper 102 provided with a sole 202, said sole 202 being provided with three longitudinal grooves 212. Lastly, Figure 3 shows how the longitudinal grooves 212 of the sole 202 of the boot 2, and the longitudinal ribs 121 projecting from the sole part 111 of the blade portion 101 through the top surface 211 of the sole of the shoe portion 201, fit together. For a user, therefore, putting on a fin according to the invention is much easier: the ribs 121 of stiffer plastic material reduce the possibility of friction between the top portion 211 of the sole of the shoe portion 201 and the sole of a boot, of whatever type the latter may be. In particular, if the boot used is of the kind shown in Figure 2, not only will it be easier to put the fin 1 on, but also the combined fin and boot will be made very stable by the fitting together of the ribs 121 of the top portion 211 of the sole of the shoe portion of the fin and the grooves 212 of the sole 202 of the boot 2. The sole 202 can be made from the same material as the upper part 102 of the boot, or from a stiffer material. In this way, not only is the insertion of the boot into the fin made easier, but greater lateral stability of the resulting fin/boot unit is also ensured. Naturally, although a fin made of two materials has been described, it will be understood that the invention can also be applied to a fin made from one material only, as for example one having the blade and shoe in elastomer or rubber.

Claims: Swimming fin (1) of the type having an open shoe comprising a shoe portion (201), the shoe portion (201) being lacking in the heel portion, resulting as a foot-socket, and a blade portion (101), in a combination with a boot (2) comprising an upper (102) provided with a sole (202), the top surface (211) of the sole of said shoe portion (201) of the swimming fin (1) comprising two or more longitudinal ribs (121) projecting into the interior of the shoe portion (201), and the sole (202) of the said boot (2) being provided with longitudinal grooves (212) complementary to said ribs (121) of the fin. The combination according to Claim 1, characterized in that said shoe portion (201) is of a flexible material and said blade portion (101) is of a relatively stiffer material, and in which said blade portion extends underneath the top surface (211) of the sole of the shoe portion (201) to form the sole part (111), said ribs (121) being formed on said sole part, from which they project into the interior of the shoe portion. The combination according to Claim 1, in which said upper (102) of said boot (2) is made of a flexible material, whereas said sole (202) is made of a relatively stiffer material.

Inventors: GAROFALO GIOVANNI, GAROFALO, GIOVANNI
Applicants: HTM SPORT SPA, HTM SPORT S.P.A.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A63B31
IPC codes: A63B31