Abstract:
Tool-less detachable fins and fin assemblies for watersport boards (e.g, surfboards, wake boards, windsurfing boards, kite boards, stand-up paddle boards and the like) are disclosed. Some embodiments are directed toward detachable fin assemblies which include a fin having a mounting tang defining at least one detent recess in an edge thereof, and a fin box defining an elongate mounting channel for receiving the mounting tang of the fin. The fin box includes at least one spring-biased ball detent assembly having a ball detent positioned so as to engage the at least one detent recess when the mounting tang is positioned within the mounting channel to thereby removably fix the fin to the fin box. The fin box may include at least one threaded aperture for receiving a ball detent assembly therein.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to detachable fins and fin assemblies allowing such removability that are especially adapted for use with watersport boards. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As is well known, a variety of watersport boards (e.g., surfboards, wake boards, windsurfing boards, kite boards, stand-up paddle boards and the like) are provided with one or more fins to allow the surfer to exert directional control to the board in use. In order to facilitate optimum directional control, it may therefore be desirable for the wastersport enthusiast to periodically exchange fins to allow the selection of specific fin designs. For example, a surfer may want to tailor the surfboard&#39;s performance and feel to the surfer&#39;s preference, ability and/or surf conditions being encountered. 
         [0003]    Detachable watersport board fins and fin assemblies which allow the fins to be removed and readily replaced are well known. For example, detachable fins which are secured to the fin box by means of a grub screw have been proposed, such as the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,359 (the entire content of which is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference). Such set-screw dependent fin systems however necessarily depend on a suitable tool which may not always be readily accessible to the surfer in order to allow extraction and insertion of the screw relative to the fin. More recently, however, tool-less detachable fins which rely on spring-biased ball detent assemblies have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,282,434 and 8,393,928, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated hereinto by reference. 
         [0004]    While such prior detachable fins and fin systems are entirely adequate for their intended purpose, further developments and improvements are continually sought, particularly in terms of universality and ease of use. It is towards providing such improvements to tool-less detachable surfboard fins and fin systems that the embodiments disclosed herein are directed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In general, the embodiments disclosed herein are directed toward tool-less detachable fins and fin assemblies for watersport boards. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed toward detachable fin assemblies comprised of a fin having a mounting tang defining at least one detent recess in an edge thereof, and a fin box defining an elongate mounting channel for receiving the mounting tang of the fin. The fin box comprises at least one spring-biased ball detent assembly having a ball detent positioned so as to engage the at least one detent recess when the mounting tang is positioned within the mounting channel to thereby removably fix the fin to the fin box. The fin box may include at least one threaded aperture for receiving a ball detent assembly therein. 
         [0006]    According to certain embodiments, the fin may comprise forward and rearward mounting tangs, and a central mounting tang positioned between the forward and rearward mounting tangs. The central mounting tang has a lower edge which defines the at least one detent recess. The at least one detent recess may be asymmetrically positioned along the lower edge of the central mounting tang so as to be closer dimension relative to the forward mounting tang as compared to the rearward mounting tang. 
         [0007]    Some embodiments of the fin box may include a generally centrally located ball detent assembly which upwardly extends from a bottom surface of the mounting channel. The central forward, rearward and central mounting tangs in such an embodiment may therefore define a generally inverted U-shaped space to accommodate the upwardly extending ball detent assembly. 
         [0008]    The mounting tang of the fin may include outwardly protruding mounting lugs, e.g., forward and rearward pairs of mounting lugs, with the fin box including corresponding registered L-shaped slots, e.g., forward and rearward pairs of L-shaped slots, for receiving a respective one of the mounting lugs therein. The forward and rearward mounting lugs may be provided on the forward and rearward mounting tangs of the fin. 
         [0009]    According to some embodiments, a detachable fin is provided which includes a mounting tang having forward and rearward edges which respectively define forward and rearward detent recesses. The forward and rearward detent recesses may be vertically off-set relative to one another, e.g., such that the forward detent recess is at a lower position as compared to the rearward detent recess. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The disclosed embodiments of the present invention will be better and more completely understood by referring to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the drawings of which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary watersport board, e.g., a surfboard, which includes multiple fin assemblies with detachable fins according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a representative fin assembly and detachable fin thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a enlarged assembled perspective view of the fin assembly and fin as depicted in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the fin assembly shown in  FIG. 2  as taken along line  4 - 4  therein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the fin assembly shown in  FIG. 3  as taken along line  5 - 5  therein; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6-8  are partial cross-sectional elevational views showing the sequential installation of a detachable fin relative to the associated fin box according to the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2-5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of a detachable fin according to the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of a fin box according to the invention assembled with the detachable fin embodiment depicted in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 11 and 12  are partial cross-sectional views showing other respective fin box embodiments assembled with the detachable fin embodiment of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view showing another embodiment of a fin box that may be employed with the detachable fin embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The embodiments herein will be described in reference to a surfboard. However, it is to be understood that such a description is merely exemplary of other possible end use watersport board applications, e.g., wake boards, windsurfing boards, kite boards, stand-up paddle boards and the like) 
         [0023]    As is seen in  FIG. 1 , a surfboard SB may be provided with multiple fin assemblies  10  comprised of a detachable fin  12  received within a cooperating fin box  14 . As is perhaps better depicted in the enlarged views of  FIGS. 2-5 , each fin box  14  is provided with a mounting flange  16  to allow the fin box to be immovably fixed (e.g., by glue, screws or other attachment means) to the undersurface of the surfboard SB. 
         [0024]    The fin box  14  includes a raised base block  18  with a central elongate recessed receiver channel  20  aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A L  of the surfboard SB (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The opposed sides of the channel  20  includes forward and rearward opposed pairs of recessed L-shaped slots  22 ,  24 , respectively. Each of the slots  22 ,  24  is adapted to receive a corresponding one of the forward and rearward lugs  26 ,  28  (it being understood that only one of the lugs  26 ,  28  of each pair thereof being visible in the depictions of  FIGS. 2-5 ) which are correspondingly projecting outwardly from the forward and rearward fin mounting tangs  30 ,  32 , respectively. 
         [0025]    A central mounting tang  34  spans the longitudinal distance between the forward and rearward mounting tangs  30 ,  32 . As can be seen, the depth of the central mounting tang  34  is less than the depth of the forward and rearward mounting tangs  30 ,  32 , respectively, so as to establish a generally inverted U-shaped space  36 . A detent recess  38  is formed in the bottom edge of the central mounting tang  34 . The detent recess  38  is moreover asymmetrically positioned closer to the forward mounting tang  30  as compared to the rearward mounting tang  32  relative to a mid-plane of the tang  34  transverse to the longitudinal axis A L  for the purpose to be discussed below. 
         [0026]    The fin box  14  is provided with a mounting insert  40  that is received in the longitudinal channel  20  and positioned adjacent the bottom wall  20 - 1  thereof. The mounting insert  40  includes a spring-biased detent assembly  42  having a central boss  44  extending upwardly from the bottom surface  20 - 1  of the channel  20 . The central boss  44  provides a housing defining a space to retain a ball detent  46  and a compression spring  48 . 
         [0027]    The compression spring  48  acts on the ball detent  46  so as to urge the same in an upward direction yet allow the ball to be yieldably pushed into the central boss  44  against the bias force of the spring. Thus, with particular reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , as each of the forward and rearward lugs  26 ,  28  is received within a respective vertical leg of the L-shaped slots  22 ,  24 , the mounting tangs  30 ,  32  are permitted to be received within the channel  20 . At such a time, therefore, the ball detent  46  will be engaged with the bottom edge of the central mounting tang  34  rearwardly of the detent recess  38  thereby causing the ball detent  46  to be depressed within the boss  44  against the bias force of the spring  48 . Thereafter, sliding movement of the fin  12  in a rearward direction will cause the lugs  26 ,  28  to travel within a respective horizontal leg of the L-shaped slots  22 ,  24  until the final position of the fin  12  is achieved. At such time, the ball detent  46  will be aligned with the detent recess  38  which causes the former to be urged into the latter by virtue of the bias force of the spring  48 . In such a manner, a reliable engagement between the ball detent assembly  42  and the fin  12  will be achieved thereby removably positioning the latter within the fin box  14 . 
         [0028]    Removal of the fin  12  occurs in a manner opposite to that described immediately above. That is, exerting sufficient force in a forward direction against the fin  12  will urge the ball detent  46  out of engagement with the detent recess  38  thereby allowing the fin  12  to be removed from the fin box  14 . If desired, grub screws (not shown) may optionally be thereadably inserted into cooperative threaded openings  50  formed in the base block  18  of the fin box  14 . Alternatively or additionally, the threaded openings may receive a respective threaded ball detent assembly as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,928. However, in most circumstances, the ball detent assembly  42  provides sufficient retention force to removably lock the fin  12  positionally within the fin box  14 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of an alternative detachable fin  12 ′ that may be universally received within several fin boxes  14   a - 14   d  depicted schematically in  FIGS. 10-13 , respectively. In this regard, it will be observed that the fin  12 ′ includes a mounting tang  60  which extends substantially the entirety of the longitudinal dimension of the fin  12 ′. The mounting tang  60  is provided with forward and rearward detent recesses  62 ,  64  in the forward and rearward edges  60 - 1 ,  60 - 2  of the mounting tang  60 , respectively. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , the forward and rearward detent recesses  62 ,  64  are vertically off-set relative to one another and with respect to a horizontal plane such that the former is at a lower position relative to the latter. 
         [0030]    The fin  12 ′ as shown in  FIG. 9  may be universally accepted for detachable mounting to various embodiments of fin boxes  14   a - 14   d  as shown in  FIGS. 10-13 . In this regard, the fin box  14   a  shown in  FIG. 10  may be provided with a forward ball detent assembly  70  including a ball detent  72  and a compression spring  74  and a rearward mounding rod  76  positioned transverse (relative to the longitudinal axis A L  of the surfboard SB) within the mounting channel  78 . The ball detent  72  cooperates with the forward detent recess  62  whereas the mounting rod  76  is received within the rearward detent recess  64 . 
         [0031]    Conversely as shown in  FIG. 11 , the fin box  14   b  may be provided with a rearward ball detent assembly  80  including a ball detent  82  and a compression spring  84  and a forward mounding rod  86  positioned transverse (relative to the longitudinal axis A L  of the surfboard SB) within the mounting channel  88 . The ball detent  82  cooperates with the rearward detent recess  64  whereas the mounting rod  76  is received within the forward detent recess  62 . 
         [0032]    The fin box  14   c  depicted in  FIG. 12  includes both forward and rearward ball detent assemblies  90 ,  92 , each comprised of a ball detent  90 - 1 ,  92 - 1  and compression spring  90 - 2 ,  92 - 2  which cooperate with the forward and rearward detent recesses  62 ,  64 , respectively. 
         [0033]      FIG. 13  depicts an embodiment of the fin box  14   d  which includes a forward transverse mounting rod  100  which is received within the forward detent recess  62  and an opposed pair of ball detent assemblies  102 ,  104  each having a ball detent  102 - 1 ,  104 - 1  and compression spring  102 - 2 ,  104 - 2 , respectively. Unlike the longitudinally aligned ball detent assemblies  70 ,  80 ,  90  and  92  (relative to the longitudinal axis A L  of the surfboard SB) associated with the fin boxes  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c , respectively, the opposed ball detent assemblies  102 ,  104  are aligned transversely relative to the longitudinal axis A L  of the surfboard SB. 
         [0034]    The invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope thereof.