Swimming and scuba diving fins with adjustable elastic heel strap

Abstract

This invention discloses a swimming / scuba diving fin (1) having a fin plate (2), a shoe (3) with an opening at the rear, an adjustable elastic band (4) that engages around the heel of a scuba diver, and two buckles (400A) connected at opposite ends (40A) of the adjustable elastic band (4) to two opposite sidewalls of the shoe (3), wherein at least one of the buckles (400A) has a shaped hollow body (40) integrally formed and connected to a portion of the sidewall. 1) A channel (420) for axial sliding of the adjustable elastic band (4) and a releasable fastening clamp (430) for the adjustable elastic band (4), wherein the axial sliding channel (420) has a hole (403) for the inlet of the adjustable elastic band (4), a hole (404) for the outlet of the adjustable elastic band (4), and a deflection angle (405) of the adjustable elastic band (4) positioned between the inlet hole (403) and the outlet hole (404).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to swimming and / or scuba fins with an adjustable elastic heel strap. BACKGROUND

[0002] Swimming and / or scuba fins have been on the market for some time and are characterized by a fin blade, a shoe that opens at the rear and an adjustable strap for locking the foot in the shoe, which engages around the user's heel.

[0003] It is known that the strap must be adjustable for the feet of scuba divers of different sizes, which must be usable both without and with specific underwater footwear.

[0004] As is known, elastic straps have been on the market for some time, which engage with the user's heel.

[0005] It is known that such traditional straps mean that it is difficult to properly tension the fins once they are worn and to quickly release them by the user when necessary.

[0006] It is also known that such straps are inefficient, also because the elastic element does not allow the simple and effective insertion and engagement of the user's heel with the traditional fastening system of the shoe that opens at the rear.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to simplify the structure of the adjustable elastic heel strap for known swimming and / or scuba fins. SUMMARY

[0008] Therefore, the technical task of the present invention is to provide a swimming / scuba fin that eliminates the above technical drawbacks of the prior art.

[0009] As part of this technical task, an object of the present invention is to make a swimming / scuba fin with a shoe that opens at the rear, in which the heel strap is easily adjustable under tension.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to make a swimming / scuba fin with a shoe that opens at the rear, in which the heel strap is easily engaged under tension.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to make a swimming / scuba fin, in which the strap has a fastening device with the shoe that opens at the rear, which allows the simple and effective insertion and engagement of the user's heel.

[0012] Finally, the object of the present application is to make a swimming / scuba fin with a shoe open at the rear, wherein the elastic strap and the fastening means of the shoe open at the rear and the tension fastening means of the strap are of a simple and compact design.

[0013] The technical task according to the present application and these and other objects are achieved by making a swimming / scuba fin having a fin blade, a shoe open at the rear, an adjustable elastic strap engageable around the heel of a scuba diver and two strap buckles connected to respective opposite side walls of the shoe at opposite ends of the strap, characterized in that at least one strap buckle has at least one shaped hollow body integrally formed connecting to a portion of the side wall of the shoe, at least one passage for axial sliding of the strap having an aperture for entry of the strap, an aperture for exit of the strap and a deflection angle of the strap positioned between the entry aperture and the exit aperture, and at least one releasable fastening clamp of the strap.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the releasable fastening clamp is positioned outside the sliding passage.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the releasable fastening clamp has two opposite jaws delimiting a fastening groove at which the strap can be introduced and extracted transversely.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the opposite jaws have a reciprocal distance smaller than the diameter at the rest of the strap.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the strap buckle is made in a single piece by molding a polymer resin.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the strap is configured to decrease in diameter when moving from a rest condition to a tensile stress condition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Further features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the description of preferred, but non-exclusive, embodiments of a swimming / scuba fin according to the present application, shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 a complete assembly view of the fin is shown;

[0021] Figure 2 a rear view of the shoe of the strap, of the hinge pin and of the strap buckle is shown;

[0022] Figure 3AA rear assembly view of the shoe, buckle, and strap that are engaged with each other is shown, and in particular, the strap is engaged in a buckle clamp;

[0023] Figure 3B A rear assembly view of the shoe, buckle, and strap disengaged from each other is shown, and in particular, the strap is disengaged from the buckle clamp;

[0024] Figure 4 A perspective view of the buckle is shown;

[0025] Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 5C Two views and sections of the buckle are shown;

[0026] Figure 6A , Figure 6B The engagement mode of the buckle and hinge pin is shown;

[0027] Figure 7A , Figure 7B Views and sections of the buckle and strap that attach to the user's heel are shown respectively. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Referring to the accompanying drawing, swimming / scuba diving fins are shown, the swimming / scuba diving fins being indicated in their entirety by reference numeral 1.

[0029] The fins 1 have a webbed plate 2, a shoe 3 with an opening at the rear, and an adjustable elastic band 4 that can be attached around the heel of the scuba diver.

[0030] The two opposite ends 40A of the belt 4 are connected to two buckles 400A, which are connected to corresponding hinge pins 300A protruding from the two opposite sidewalls of the shoe 3.

[0031] It should be noted that, in other embodiments not shown, each buckle 400A may be permanently or removably attached to the sidewall of the shoe 3 by means of pin fastening or rotation.

[0032] At least one buckle 400A has a shaped hollow body 401 integrally formed and connected to a part of the side wall of the shoe, an axial sliding channel 420 for the elastic band 4, and a releasable radial fastening clamp 430 for the elastic band 4, that is, the releasable fastening clamp 430 of the elastic band 4 acts transversely to the longitudinal dimension of the elastic band 4.

[0033] In the case shown by way of example, the connecting portion includes a housing 410 for the hinge pin 300A.

[0034] Advantageously, the buckle 400A, which integrates the connection to the shoe with the opening at the rear 3 and the adjustment of the adjustable elastic band 4, is made into a single piece by molding polymer resin.

[0035] This axial sliding channel 420 has an inlet hole 403 for the elastic band 4, an outlet hole 404 for the elastic band 4, and a deflection angle 405 of the elastic band 4 positioned between the inlet hole 403 and the outlet hole 404.

[0036] The inlet hole 403 and the outlet hole 404 are located on an orthogonal plane.

[0037] The deflection angle 405 is defined by the throttling wall 405A of the elastic band 4 within the axial sliding channel 420.

[0038] A releasable radial fastening clamp 430 is positioned outside the axial sliding channel 420 of the elastic band 4 and has two opposing jaws 406A and 406B that define a fastening groove 407 in which the band 4 can be laterally introduced and withdrawn.

[0039] Appropriately, at least one of the two opposing jaws 406A, 406B has a toothed portion 416, wherein the toothed portion has tapered teeth.

[0040] The inlet hole 403 and the fastening groove 407 are located on a parallel plane, and the fastening groove 407 is arranged in an alternating position and communicates with the outlet hole 404 of the axial sliding channel 420.

[0041] Typically, the adjustable elastic band 4 has a constant circular cross-section and consists of a bundle of wires in a polymer elastic material covered by a sheath of appropriately braided larger unit diameter wires. The adjustable elastic band 4 is configured to reduce its diameter as it moves from a static state to a tensile stress state.

[0042] Appropriately, the two opposing jaws 406A and 406B have a distance less than the reciprocal of the diameter at the rest of the elastic band 4.

[0043] At least one hinge pin 300A has a rod 301 ending with an enlarged head 302, which in turn has a proximal base 303 on the proximal side of the rod and a distal base 304 on the distal side of the rod.

[0044] The outer shell 410 of the formed hollow body 401 has an opening 411 through which the rod 301 of the hinge pin 300A passes and an elastic yielding tab 413. The opening is used to surround the support shelf 412 of the proximal base 303 of the enlarged head 302 of the hinge pin 300A. The elastic yielding tab applies an elastic force on the distal base 304 of the enlarged head 302 of the hinge pin 300A to hold the proximal base 303 of the enlarged head 302 against the support shelf 412.

[0045] The operation of the swimming / scuba diving fins according to the present invention can be clearly seen from the instructions and illustrations, and is specifically as follows.

[0046] Before being worn by the user, the two buckles 400A of the flippers are rotatably connected in a plane orthogonal to the axes of the corresponding hinge pins 300A protruding from the two opposite sidewalls of the shoe 3.

[0047] At least one of the two opposite ends 40A of the elastic band 4 is connected to at least one of the two buckles 400A, and usually both opposite ends 40A are connected.

[0048] The end 40A of the elastic band 4 enters the outer shell 410 of the molded hollow body 401 through the inlet hole 403, slides into the axial sliding channel 420 defined by the throttling wall 405A of the deflection angle 405, exits from the outlet hole 404 and is locked in the fastening groove 407 in the radial fastening clamp 430 by two opposing jaws 406A and 406B.

[0049] The buckle 400A is rotatably engaged with the hinge pin 300A by a rod 301 passing through a channel opening 411 in the formed hollow body 401, and the proximal base 303 of the enlarged head 302 is engaged with the shelf 412 by an elastic holding force applied by an elastic yielding tab 413 on the distal base 304.

[0050] The user places his / her foot bare or uses footwear to fit into the shoe 3, which has an opening at the back, and engages an adjustable elastic band 4 around his / her he / her heel: advantageously, the buckle 400A rotates freely in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the hinge pin 300A, and thus allows the user to properly position the band 4 around his / her he / her heel.

[0051] The rotational freedom of buckle 400A around rotating pin 300A advantageously allows for adjustment and the stress on belt 4 is purely axial.

[0052] Therefore, the user releases the elastic band from the radial fastening clamp 430 in which it is locked, and pulls the elastic band 4 in one direction or the other—shortening or lengthening the elastic band 4 by sliding it along the axial sliding channel 420—until the desired adjustment position is achieved.

[0053] Then, by keeping the elastic band 4 temporarily locked in the adjusted position due to the sliding resistance caused by the throttling wall 405A, the user pulls the flap away from the end 40A through the outlet hole 404.

[0054] The advantageous feature of the adjustable elastic band 4 being configured to decrease in diameter as it moves from a static state to a tensile stress state allows the user to neck it in the diametrical direction under applied tension, and thus easily introduces laterally the flaps that are now necked in the fastening grooves 407 of the radial fastening clamp 430 away from the end 40A.

[0055] When the user then releases the applied tension, the flaps that have left the end 40A of the adjustable elastic band 4 are secured by the radial fastening clamp 430 by returning to a larger rest diameter, thereby precisely locking the adjustable elastic band 4 in the thus selected and defined adjustment position.

[0056] Advantageously, for subsequent modifications to the position or for complete disengagement of the adjustable elastic band 4 from the heel, the user pulls the flap away from the end 40A through the outlet hole 404 until it necks in the diametrical direction, and laterally pulls the flap away from the end 40A, which is necked by the fastening groove 407 of the radial fastening clamp 430, thereby loosening the flap engagement and thus enabling the user to adjust it at their own discretion.

[0057] In practice, it has been found that the swimming / scuba diving fins according to the invention are particularly advantageous due to the heel strap that is easily adjustable under tension and can be easily engaged.

[0058] The swimming / scuba diving fins according to the invention are also particularly advantageous due to the device for fastening the strap to a shoe with an opening at the rear, which allows for simple and efficient insertion and engagement of the user's heel.

[0059] Finally, the advantage of the present invention is that it manufactures swimming / scuba diving fins with a shoe that opens at the rear, wherein the elastic band, the fastening device of the shoe that opens at the rear, and the fastening device of the band tension are integrated into a simple and compact design, and are made into a single piece by molding polymer resin.

[0060] The swimming / scuba diving fins thus conceived are easily modified and varied in many ways, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the claims; furthermore, all details can be replaced with technical equivalents.

[0061] In practice, the materials and dimensions used can be determined according to needs and existing technology.

Claims

1. A swimming / scuba diving fin (1) having a webbed surface (2), a shoe (3) opening at the rear, an adjustable elastic band (4) engageable around the heel of a scuba diver, and two buckles (400A) connected at opposite ends (40A) of the adjustable elastic band (4) to two opposite sidewalls of the shoe (3), wherein, At least one of the buckles (400A) has a shaped hollow body (401) integrally formed and connected to a portion of the sidewall of the shoe (3), an axial sliding channel (420) for the adjustable elastic band (4), and a releasable fastening clamp (430) for the adjustable elastic band (4), the axial sliding channel (420) having an inlet hole (403) for the adjustable elastic band (4), an outlet hole (404) for the adjustable elastic band (4), and a deflection angle (405) of the adjustable elastic band (4) positioned between the inlet hole (403) and the outlet hole (404), characterized in that the releasable fastening clamp (430) has two opposing jaws (406A, 406B) defining a plurality of fastening grooves (407) at which the adjustable elastic band (4) can be laterally introduced and withdrawn.

2. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The buckle (400A) is made into a single piece by molding polymer resin.

3. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustable elastic band (4) is configured such that its diameter decreases as it moves from a static state to a tensile stress state.

4. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The releasable fastening clamp (430) is positioned outside the axial sliding channel (420).

5. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opposing jaws (406A, 406B) have a distance less than the reciprocal of the diameter of the rest of the adjustable elastic band (4).

6. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fastening grooves (407) are arranged in an alternating manner and communicate with the outlet holes (404) of the axial sliding channels (420) for the adjustable elastic band (4).

7. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet hole (403) and the outlet hole (404) are located on an orthogonal plane.

8. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet hole (403) and the fastening groove (407) are located on a parallel plane.

9. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the two opposing jaws (406A, 406B) has a toothed portion (416).

10. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The toothed portion (416) has tapered teeth.

11. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The deflection angle (405) is defined by the throttling wall (405A) of the adjustable elastic band (4) within the axial sliding channel (420).

12. The swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting portion includes a housing (410) for a hinge pin (300A) extending from the sidewall of the shoe (3), the hinge pin (300A) having a rod (301) ending with an enlarged head (302), the enlarged head subsequently having a proximal base (303) near the rod (301) and a distal base (304) far from the rod (301), and is characterized in that the shaped hollow body (401) of the... The housing (410) has an opening (411) through which the rod (301) passes and an elastic yielding tab (413) which is used for a shelf (412) surrounding the proximal base (303) of the enlarged head (302), and the elastic yielding tab applies an elastic force on the distal base (304) of the enlarged head (302) to hold the proximal base (303) against the shelf (412).

13. A method for adjusting the adjustable elastic band (4) of the swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that: The adjustable elastic band (4) is pulled in one direction or the other by sliding it along the axial sliding channel (420) until it reaches the desired adjustment position, and the adjustable elastic band is temporarily locked in the adjustment position achieved by the sliding resistance caused by the throttling wall (405A); the adjustable elastic band (4) includes a flap away from its end (40A), the flap away from the end (40A) is pulled from the outlet hole (404) until the flap is necked in the diametrical direction under the applied tension; the flap that is necked in the fastening groove (407) of the fastening clamp (430) away from the end (40A) is laterally introduced; and the pull on the flap away from the end (40A) is released, the flap being fastened by the fastening clamp (430) by returning to a larger rest diameter, thereby definitively locking the adjustable elastic band (4) in the adjustment position.

14. The method for adjusting the adjustable elastic band (4) of the swimming / scuba diving fins (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that, Pull the flap away from the end (40A) from the outlet hole (404) until the flap is necked in the diametrical direction, and pull it laterally away from the end (40A) of the flap that is necked by the fastening groove (407) of the fastening clamp (430), thereby loosening the flap engagement for subsequent modifications to the adjusted position.

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