Swimming and diving flippers for distrubution of force

Abstract

The swimming and diving flippers for distribution of force includes a boot for housing the foot of a user and extending forwards with a fin to give a mobile propulsion unit, being embodied such as to allow a movement of the upper part of the foot or the instep with relation to the leg, when positioned on the foot of the user, such that the instep can form an angle of variable magnitude with relation to the latter on carrying out the action of firming. The invention further includes a leg fixing device, to be fitted around the lower part of the leg and below the calf of the user and connected to the mobile propulsion unit, by lateral force transmission arms and joints.

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS [0001] Not applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX [0003] Not applicable. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention concerns an effort-distributing swimming and diving flipper. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] Underwater swimming with flippers requires an alternating leg movement which practitioners have defined by the neologism as “finning”. In this movement one distinguishes between an active, or propelling, phase and a passive phase. [0006] The active phase requires significant muscular energy which is transmitted to the flipper so as to produce an action / reaction phenomenon with the water resulting in the propulsion of the swimmer. In the passive phase the expenditure of energy is small; it is a period of rest and preparation, the flipper returning, with a lesser propelling action, to the starting position of the active phase. [0007] During the passiv...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] One objective of the present invention is to make available to persons practicing underwater sports and / or swimming a swimming and diving flipper devoid of the afore-mentioned inconveniences, as this flipper is particularly capable of eliminating the occurrence of pain at the ankle by redistributing in a more homogeneous manner and over the entire leg, the effort produced by the action of the blade and by improving performance while maintaining comfort.

Problems solved by technology

Depending on the swimmer's outfit and in particular the additional mass of equipment he carries, as well as the length of the blade of the flippers, these simultaneous actions of bending and extension of hips and knees are more or less pronounced and always require a significant muscular effort.

Under these conditions the effort produced during finning is essentially borne by the swimmer's ankles, so much so that the abnormal prolonged demand made on them causes articular pain which is susceptible of generating tendinous pathologies as well as muscular leg pain (sural triceps) which can lead to cramps.

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