| US5417599A | 1995-05-23 | |||
| FR2494588A1 | 1982-05-28 | |||
| SU1294358A1 | 1987-03-07 | |||
| US5330377A | 1994-07-19 | |||
| US4773885A | 1988-09-27 |
PATENT CLAIMS
1. The swimming and diving fins with vertical wings - stabilizers, indicated by the fact that, the execution of installation of vertical wings at the farthest point from the feet, i.e. the most critical part of the fin, which is its apex, and the wings prevent horizontal movement of the fin board, i.e. strictly maintain both vertical directions of the fin's bending - deflection, and by doing that maintains the straight-line direction of the swimmer - diver's movement using the water current alongside the fin, which comes across the vertical wings analogue to the water current created from the ship's propeller to its rudder.
2. The swimming and diving fins described in claim 1, indicated by the fact that, its structure prevents the tendency of unwanted - unnecessary horizontal deflection of the fin, but also, because of their structure, the vertical wings do not impede the possible need to walk on dry land while wearing the fins.
3. The swimming and diving fins described in claims 1 - 2, indicated by the fact that, their structure enables better horizontal maneuvering abilities of the swimmer - diver, without the unnecessary - slowing rotation of the body but only of the fins themselves, while in order for the vertical wings to achieve complete efficiency during the upbeat - downbeat motion, the space between the fins needs to be formed according to the indicated picture. |
FINS FOR SWIMMING AND DIVING WITH VERTICAL WINGS - STABILIZERS
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The area for which the invention applies
This invention applies for all types of swimming fins and fins for different kinds of diving, made as a pair (each foot has its own board-fin), but also for the mono-fins (both feet have a common board).
Technical problem
The basic construction, i.e. shape of the swimming and diving fins, has basically been the same during their evolutionary development. The enhancement of performance was based on the use of more stable materials than the original - rubber and by increasing the surface of the (thrust) board. When these improvements were being made, only the increase in thrust was considered, but not the unwanted movement of the fin in the horizontal sense, as opposed to the only desired one - vertical.
State of technique
The structure of the fin's thrust board, with the goal of increasing its thrust, i.e. swimming - diving speed, was done in two ways until now:
1. by increasing its overall surface, which is accomplished by its greater length than width (so as to avoid hitting one fin against the other)
2. by using various rubber, Kevlar, carbon fibers because of their enduring elasticity, greater robustness and durability than the traditional rubber.
By increasing the fin's board one increases the overall resistance that the swimmer - diver's legs have to overcome in their single desired vertical movement - paddling.
The fin, opposed to the desired vertical movement, moves in the path of least resistance, which is the undesired one - horizontal. The swimmer - diver unconsciously attempts to maintain the desired heading and the optimal position of the fin and by doing that invests additional power in order to maintain it.
This action results in:
Premature fatigue
Loss of speed
Possibility of dangerous cramps
Through the insight into the worldwide market supply, it was noticed that currently there is no adequate solution for the problem stated above.
Exposition of the invention's essence
In order to prevent the tendency of unwanted - needless horizontal deflection of the fin, the installation of the vertical wings was made in the point which is the farthest from the foot, i.e. in the most critical part of the fin, which is its apex, and that was achieved so as to:
Avoid the horizontal bending of the fin board, i.e. to strictly maintain both (upbeat and downbeat) vertical directions of the fin's bending - deflection. This also gives extra support for the straight-line direction of the swimmer - diver's movement by using the water current alongside the fin, which then encounters the vertical wings, analogue to the water current moving from the ship's propeller to its rudder.
The significant thing is that, because of their structure, the vertical wings are not an impediment to a possible need to walk on dry land with fins on.
Also the structure itself enables better horizontal maneuvering abilities of the swimmer - diver, without the unnecessary - slowing rotation of the body but only of the fins themselves.
In order for the vertical wings to achieve maximum work efficiency during the upbeat - downbeat motion, it is necessary to form the fin space between them according to the indicated picture.
Brief description of the pictures
Picture 1 - shows the view of the fins from above
Picture 2 - shows the view of the fins from the front (wing detail)
Picture 3 - shows the view of the fins from above
Detailed description of at least one way of realizing the invention
The vertical wings can be realized by at least two ways:
1. since the boards are made from thermally treatable materials, it would be enough to cut the wings from the fin board itself, and bend them at a ninety degree angle using a high temperature blow dryer. These bent wings would, at the same time, create free space on the fin board for the water current flowing over the wings during its upbeat and downbeat motions.
2. finished wing profiles can be made from plastic or metal, and added to the fin board by way of gluing or riveting.
Invention application method
This way the invention can be applied on all kinds of swimming and diving fins which, because of their increased efficiency (higher speed, less energy used, better mobility), in the end give superior results.