Swim fins

Abstract

Swim fins that attach to the legs of a swimmer to aid movement through the water. In one example embodiment, a swim fin includes an upper support frame, a lower support frame, a lower blade attached to the lower support frame, and at least one hinge assembly connecting the upper support frame to the lower support frame. The upper support is configured to be generally positioned along and attached to the front of a swimmer's lower leg between the swimmer's knee and ankle The lower support frame is configured to extend, in a swimming position, from a position proximate the swimmer's ankle to a position beyond the end of the swimmer's foot. The at least one hinge assembly allows the lower support frame to be rotated upward from the swimming position to a walking position. The walking position enables the swimmer to walk barefoot on a surface without the lower support frame nor the lower blade substantially contacting the surface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 100,207, entitled SWIM FINS, which was filed on Sep. 25, 2008, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates swim fins and, in particular, to swim fins that attach to the legs of a swimmer to aid movement through the water.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Typical swim fins are worn on the foot of a swimmer to aid movement through the water while surface swimming or participating in swimming-related activities such as bodyboarding, bodysurfing, kneeboarding, riverboarding, snorkeling, and various types of underwater diving. For example, scuba divers use swim fins to move through water efficiently, as human feet provide relatively poor thrust, especially when the diver is carrying equipment that increases hydrodynamic drag.[0006]Unfortunat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]A need therefore exists for a swim fin that eliminates the above-described disadvantages and problems.

[0009]One aspect is a swim fin that includes an upper support frame, a lower support frame, a lower blade attached to the lower support frame, and at least one hinge assembly connecting the upper support frame to the lower support frame. The upper support is configured to be generally positioned along and attached to the front of a swimmer's lower leg between the swimmer's knee and ankle The lower support frame is configured to extend, in a swimming position, from a position proximate the swimmer's ankle to a position beyond the end of the swimmer's foot. The at least one hinge assembly allows the lower support frame to be rotated upward from the swimming position to a walking position. The walking position enables the swimmer to walk barefoot on a surface without the lower support frame nor the lower blade substantially contacting the surface.

[0019]A yet further aspect is a swim fin that includes an upper support frame, a lower support frame, a lower blade attached to the lower support frame, and at least one locking hinge assembly connecting the upper support frame to the lower support frame. The upper support frame is configured to be generally positioned along and attached to the front of a swimmer's lower leg. The lower support frame is configured to extend, in a swimming position, from a position proximate the swimmer's ankle to a position beyond the end of the swimmer's foot. The at least one hinge assembly allows the lower support frame to be rotated upward from a locked swimming position to a locked walking position.

[0025]Yet another aspect is a swim fin which includes a dampener configured to dampen the automatic rotation of the lower support frame from the walking position to the swimming position.

Problems solved by technology

For example, scuba divers use swim fins to move through water efficiently, as human feet provide relatively poor thrust, especially when the diver is carrying equipment that increases hydrodynamic drag.

Unfortunately, typical swim fins have several problems.

For example, since typical swim fins attach only to the foot and heel of a swimmer, typical swim fins can cause severe ankle strain and calf muscle fatigue.

Further, the ankle does not generally orient the foot optimally for forward thrust, thus reducing the efficiency of the hydrofoil properties of the fin.

Further, typical swim fins increase the footprint of the swimmer and are constructed of heavy and bulky materials, thus making it difficult to walk, as is often necessary when entering or exiting water via a shoreline, a boat, or a dock.

Another major problem with typical swim fins is related to an integral foot pocket which at least partially encloses the foot of the swimmer.

Unfortunately, foot pockets tend to inadvertently gather foreign objects such as sand or gravel which can chafe the foot of the swimmer making swimming and walking uncomfortable or even painful, and can further risk infection.

Further, foot pockets tend to retain some water which can be uncomfortable because the foot of the swimmer does not dry even when the swimmer is out of the water.

Further, it can be difficult or impossible to clear foreign objects or water from the foot pocket without completely removing the swim fin from the foot of the swimmer.

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