Surfboard fin mounting system

Abstract

Provided is a system including a fin box that allows surboard fins to be installed, removed or adjusted to the front or rear of the board within the box and a means for installing the box on the surfboard. More importantly, the fins can be installed in the fin box, and adjusted or removed from the fin box without the use of tools. By using the fin box installation system, manufacturers can effectively locate, align and install the fin box on the surfboard. More importantly, the manufacturers are able to lean and rotate the fins precisely at any desired angles and achieve precise and critical symmetrical mounting of the fins with relation to the centerline of the surfboard.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the field of aquatic sports equipment, in particular to the construction of surfboards or other surf riding devices where a controlling fin or multiple fins are attached to the rear underside of the body structure of the device. In some cases these controlling fins protruding from the underside of surfboards have been called skegs. This invention provides a means of attaching fins to the surfboard in such a way that they can be removed, replaced or adjusted by the user without the use of any tools by means of a unique fin box that secures the fins to the surfboard and a unique system for installing the fin box on the surfboard. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Surfing is a thrilling water sport for persons of all ages. In surfboard riding, the surfer stands on a board that skims across the front of a wave. For a surfboard ride, the surfer lies on his stomach on the board and paddles out to the area where the waves build up. W...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a surfboard fin mounting box that allows for easy adjustment, replacement, and installation without additional tools. The fin box is designed to distribute forces evenly along its length and can be mounted at various angles on the surfboard. It uses a locking mechanism to secure the fin in place and can be unlocked with finger pressure. The amount of travel in the locking mechanism is determined by the length of the central slot and the engaged length of the fin and lever. The invention improves the manufacturing process for surfboards and allows for easy adjustment of the fin angle."

Problems solved by technology

Existing designs require some form of tool to install or remove fins, which is a drawback.

The installation of mounting boxes during surfboard fabrication is somewhat difficult due to the following considerations.

This patent does establish the longitudinal adjustment of the fin with a bifurcated locking means but does not provide the unique installation capabilities and cam action locking means so disclosed within this patent.

This patent dwells with the improvement of an existing patent and does not offer the unique installation system for positive alignment of the fin mounting box within the surfboard or the cam action locking means requiring no additional tools for removal of the fin from the surfboard.

This patent though specified for sailboards would work equally well on surfboards, but does not offer the unique mounting system of the fin mounting box within the surfboard and requires a separate tool to adjust or remove the fin from the fin box.

It does not allow for exact angular positioning of the embedded element within the board at assembly and requires a tool for the removal or adjustment of the fin on the surfboard.

The mounting box does not have any means for precise angular adjustment at the time of assembly to the surfboard.

Additionally this patent does not incorporate any precise angular positioning device to be used to set precise angles and position of the fin location on the surfboard.

None of the foregoing prior art teaches or suggests the particular cam-locking feature used to position and lock the fin in place requiring no additional tools or deals with the system involved with the installation of the fin box into the surfboard or the precise setting of adjustment of the fin angles.

Images