Abstract:
An improved fin system for surfboards and other watercraft that utilizes a series of wide, flanged, fin boxes as a means of securing the fins into the base of the surfboard body. The fin boxes create a cantilever effect that provides additional strength and rigidity to the fins when compared to other available systems. Additionally, each fin tab of a fin can be installed into a self-contained fin box, thereby allowing for separation of the fin boxes once installed. The separation between the fin boxes permits increased longitudinal and torsional flex of the watercraft body when compared to a unitary fin box design.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to the related U.S. provisional application No. 62/041,128 filed on Aug. 24, 2014. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB) 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
       [0005]    Any disclosures by the inventor regarding the claimed invention were made within a year or less prior to the effective filing date of this application. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The claimed invention relates to fin systems for surfboards and other watercraft. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Conventionally, removable fin systems were developed to allow users to replace fins when broken, experiment with different types of fins, and provide ease in transporting the watercraft when the fins where removed. However, conventional removable fin systems often create rigidity through the tail of the watercraft that impede longitudinal and torsional flex, while at the same time weakening the overall structure by creating shear points in the board. Furthermore, the fins themselves can become loose over time and cause water leakage due to poor adherence of the fin box to the body of the board. Accordingly, the need exists for alternative approaches that effectively provide flex and strength. The present invention is directed to an improved fin system that provides increased strength of mechanical bond between the fin and board while enhancing the flexibility of the watercraft body. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an improved fin system for surfboards and other watercraft that utilizes a series of wide, flanged, fin boxes as a means of securing the fins into the base of the surfboard body. 
         [0009]    When a surfboard is in use, the greatest forces encountered by the fins are tangential to their orientation. This is due to the lift from their foil and the user pushing against the fins laterally during turns. A preferred embodiment is comprised of elongated, flanged, fin boxes that extend in a perpendicular direction away from the length of the fin base. When fins are installed into the fin boxes, the fin boxes extend away from the base of the fins creating a cantilever that provides increased stability to better oppose the tangential forces against the fins. Each fin box utilizes a footing that extends in one direction underneath the flange to create the cantilever effect. The cantilever foot provides a wider footprint that spreads out the load when the fin is faced with lateral forces. The majority of existing fin box systems are narrow and installed longitudinally, parallel to the fin&#39;s orientation, running in the direction of the length of the board. These existing systems not only impede flex, they provide little strength against lateral forces and can become loose and allow water seepage into the core material of the watercraft over time. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, each fin box contains a elongate slot that accepts a correspondingly shaped fin tab. Each fin has two fin tabs extending downward off the base of the fin requiring two independent fin boxes to accept each fin tab. This embodiment allows for separation and spacing between the fin boxes that secure an individual fin. By allowing for spacing between the fin boxes, the posterior end of the surfboard can flex more freely. Other existing systems with unitary or long channel style fin boxes impede flex and create stiff spots in the length of the board where the fin boxes are installed. In multiple finned boards, the gaps between these longitudinally installed fin boxes create shear points in the board that can be prone to breakage. The present embodiments allow for a more uniform flex throughout the fin area which dissipates the stress by bending more evenly. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the cantilever foot is surrounded by a thin, flexible sidewall that can move and flex with the soft foam core of a surfboard once installed. The bond between hard or stiff materials that are glued or fixed to a softer material like foam can often fail. By utilizing a thin flexible wall around the cantilever footing of the fin box, it allows both materials to flex together in a similar fashion, thus ensuring the bond between the wall and foam remains intact. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, a fin box contains two cantilever feet extending in opposing directions underneath the flange. The dual cantilever design provides additional strength and support for the fin when desired. This fin box can be installed in any location that allows for space on both sides of the fin for the dual cantilever. In one embodiment, the dual cantilever fin boxes secure the rear center fin, but could be utilized at multiple locations depending on the desired quantity and arrangement of fins. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment the fin boxes may be variably spaced for controlling the flex of the installed fin. For example, a fin may be designed with the fin tabs extending down from the fin closer together and forward toward the leading edge of the fin. This configuration would leave the posterior portion of the fin to flex laterally since that area of the fin is not supported by the anchoring effect of any fin tabs and corresponding fin boxes. In contrast, the fin tabs may be spaced farther out to the leading and trailing edge of the fin to make the fin stiffer laterally. 
         [0014]    These and other aspects of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. The following description, while indicating various embodiments of the embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many substitutions, modifications, additions or rearrangements may be made within the scope of the embodiments, and the embodiments includes all such substitutions, modifications, additions or rearrangements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present embodiments are described with reference to the following FIGURES, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an individual fin box, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the fin box in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fin box in  FIG. 1  from the surface side, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the fin box in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the fin box in  FIG. 1  from the bottom side, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a fin engaged in a fin box mounted in a watercraft body, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of dual cantilever fin box, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the dual cantilever fin box in  FIG. 7 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the dual cantilever fin box in  FIG. 7  from the surface side, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the dual cantilever fin box in  FIG. 7 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the dual cantilever fin box from  FIG. 7  from the bottom side, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a fin and two corresponding fin boxes, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fin when inserted into two corresponding fin boxes, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of installation of fin boxes in the rear portion of a watercraft body, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of fins engaged in fin boxes in the rear portion of a watercraft body, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of fins engaged in fin boxes in the rear portion of a surfboard, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of a fin engaged in a fin box as would be seen along the line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 16 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is a bottom plan view of a surfboard with fin boxes installed, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
           [0034]      FIG. 19  is a profile view of a surfboard with fins engaged in fin boxes, in accordance with one or more implementations. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, a fin attachment system for watercraft is disclosed. Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment for fin box  24  is shown. The fin box  24  is adapted for the insertion and releasable attachment of a fin  23  to the underside of a watercraft body  22 . Watercraft is a general term that includes surfboards, paddle boards, or any other watercraft that utilizes fins. Fin box  24  is comprised of a body made of injection molded plastic or other suitable material. In one embodiment, the fin box has a top portion comprised of the opening of elongate slot  26 , a threaded hole  27 , and a peripheral flange  29 , and a bottom portion comprised of cantilever foot  31  and the closed lower base portion of the elongate slot  26 . In yet another embodiment, a flexible side wall  30  surrounds cantilever foot  31  and the closed lower base portion of elongate slot  26 , best seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0037]    Elongate slot  26  is open at the top surface of the peripheral flange  29 , and extends down vertically to a closed base, terminating at the bottom surface of the fin box itself. The opening of elongate slot  26  is oriented lengthwise, running in the general direction of the length of the watercraft body when installed, and perpendicular to the fin box width. The elongate slot  26  is formed to receive a complementary shaped fin tab  36  that extends down from the base of a fin  23  as seen in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, the fin has two fin tabs which are inserted into the elongate slots of two corresponding fin boxes. Other embodiments may have only one fin tab, or more than two. The number of fin tabs per fin will depend on the length of the fin&#39;s base as well as the size of the fin to provide sufficient support to resist strain against the fin. 
         [0038]    Peripheral flange  29  surrounds the top open portion of elongate slot  26  and extends away from the open portion at a level slightly below the slot and threaded hole  27  as seen in  FIG. 3 . The peripheral flange provides the width and support to the fin box, as well as an additional surface to adhere to the core material  33 . In one embodiment, a thin flexible side wall  30  extends downward from the underside of the peripheral flange  29 . When the fin box is installed, the flexible side wall allows for better adherence to the core material  33  of the watercraft body, which is most often foam or other soft buoyant material. Harder materials fixed to foam tend to fail at the glue line. By using a thinner flexible side wall for the bottom portion of the fin box, there is no need for a high density foam intermediary bonding surface. The side wall will remain fixed directly to the core material as it can flex and move with the core material when the board is in use. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the threaded hole  27  begins on the upper surface of peripheral flange  29  next to the elongate slot  26  and extends downward at an angle terminating through one lateral wall on the interior of the elongate slot  26 . When ready to mount a fin to the surfboard, a grub screw  28  is threaded downward into the threaded hole  27  until it contacts the fin tab of fin  23 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . When tightened, the grub screw holds the fin securely in the fin box by creating pressure between the fin tab and the inside wall of the elongate slot. The elongate slot can be manufactured with varying degrees of cant to make the fin stand at the desired angle to the bottom surface of the watercraft. 
         [0040]    A view of the bottom surface of fin box  24  is best shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, the flexible side wall  30  emanates from the lower surface of the peripheral flange  29  creating a thin flexible barrier around the closed lower portion of the elongate slot  26  and primary cantilever foot  31 . Primary cantilever foot  31  is comprised of a main body and a plurality of arms. The main body extends perpendicular to the orientation of the opening of elongate slot  26 , running from one external side of the closed lower portion of elongate slot  26  to an interior portion of the flexible side wall  30 . A plurality of arms extend off from both sides of the main body of the cantilever foot at varying lengths. The primary cantilever foot emanates vertically from the lower surface of the peripheral flange, terminating to form the bottom surface of the fin box. In one embodiment, the bottom surface of the fin box is defined by the base of the lower portion of elongate slot  26 , the base of the primary cantilever foot  31 , and the base of flexible side wall  30 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0041]    The width of the cantilever foot provides added strength and rigidity to the fin box by increasing the footprint which opposes the lateral forces placed on the fin when the surfboard user make turns or when the fins are impacted by an object. Fin systems with narrow footprints composed of plugs or channels, permit more lateral movement of the fins when they are mounted in the softer foam core material. The wider footprint provided by the cantilever foot and plurality of arms spreads out the load and allows for less lateral movement of the fins. 
         [0042]    In another embodiment,  FIG. 11  best illustrates a fin box  25  comprised of a dual cantilever foot  31  with a primary and secondary foot. Fin box  25  is comprised of the same elements as fin box  24 , with two notable differences. First, the elongate slot  26  is located closer to the center of peripheral flange  29 , instead of slightly askew as in fin box  24 . Secondly, on the bottom portion of fin box  25 , there is an additional cantilever foot, the secondary cantilever foot, that extends off the closed lower portion of the elongate slot  26  in the opposing direction as the primary cantilever foot. The dual cantilever design provides even more strength and rigidity once a fin is installed. In one embodiment, the dual cantilever fin box  25  could be installed along the center of the surfboard as in  FIG. 15 , but could potentially be used on any portion of the board that has sufficient space to allow for the second cantilever foot. 
         [0043]    Placement and number of the fin boxes and the corresponding fins may differ depending on the type of watercraft and preference of the individual user. Fins may have one or more fin tabs which will dictate how many fin boxes are required. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 , fin  23  has two corresponding fin tabs  36 , but a fin could have one or any number of tabs depending on the size and style of the fin. When utilizing fins that have two or more tabs, the benefit of having two or more separate fin boxes is that the separation allows for more torsional and longitudinal flex in the portion of the watercraft body where the fins are installed, which is desirable to some users. Furthermore, the separation of the fin boxes creates less stiff spots in the watercraft, as well as fewer shear points created by a plurality of channel or unitary fin box designs. 
         [0044]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  illustrates one possible arrangement of the fin boxes and installed fins, with one fin in the rear center of the tail end of the watercraft installed into two fin boxes  25 , and one fin on each side of the tail end of the watercraft installed into two fin boxes  24 . Other embodiments could arrange the fin boxes and the corresponding fins in any number of patterns and locations depending on the individual user&#39;s preference and type of watercraft. 
         [0045]      FIG. 14  best illustrates the installation of fin boxes. In order to install fin box  24 , a routed hole  35  is cut into the core material  33  of the watercraft body using a specialized jig to guide a router. After the hole is routed, a fin box is inserted and fixed into the hole using a glue or other adhesive. Once properly installed, the peripheral flange  29  will sit flush with the surface of the watercraft&#39;s core material. In most cases the core material will be foam but may be wood or other material. Once the fin boxes are set, the core material is covered by a layer of cloth made of fiber glass, carbon fiber, aramid fiber or other similar material. The cloth layer is then saturated with a resin material catalyzed with a hardener. The resin can also be hardened using ultraviolet light. Once fully cured, the resin-impregnated cloth layer becomes hard, forming the composite  32  layer of the board as seen in  FIG. 6 . The composite  32  provides structure to the substrate, as well as protecting the fragile core from impacts and wear from the elements. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, the opening of elongate slot  26  and threaded hole  27  share a raised surface that rises slightly above the surface of peripheral flange  29  as seen in  FIG. 3 . During the lamination process, the raised surface is temporarily covered with an adhesive tape to prevent any resin from entering the threaded hole and slot. After the lamination is cured, the taped, raised surface is sanded down exposing the openings for fin installation. The composite  32  layer covers the peripheral flange surface providing added support and strength, as well as sealing the fin box to prevent water from leaking into the core of the board. 
         [0047]      FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19  illustrate one embodiment of an installed fin attachment system utilizing a three fin arrangement, each fin having two fin tabs installed into two separate fin boxes, maximizing flex of the surfboard and strength of fin attachment. 
         [0048]    In the foregoing descriptions, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present embodiments. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present embodiments. 
         [0049]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present embodiments. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         [0050]    As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, article, or apparatus. 
         [0051]    Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). 
         [0052]    Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular embodiment and as being illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms. Language designating such non-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to: “for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” and “in one embodiment.”