SWIMMING AND DIVING FIN WITH AN ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC HEEL STRAP

Description

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

[0002] Swimming and / or scuba diving fins have been on the market for some time and feature a blade, a shoe open at the rear and an adjustable strap engageable around the user's heel, for locking the foot in the shoe.

[0003] It is known that the strap must be adjustable for the different sizes of the scuba diver's foot, which must be able to use the fin both without and with specific underwater footwear.

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

[0005] <US 4 795 384 A teaches a band mounting for a diving fin, US 2015 / 209620 A1 teaches a heel strap for swimming fin with an open foot pocket, US 5 545 067 A shows a fin buckle for securing the heel strap to a open-shoe type fin.>

[0006] Such traditional straps are known to imply a difficulty in both proper tensioning once the fin is worn and rapid release if necessary by the user.

[0007] Such straps are notoriously ineffective, also because the traditional fastening systems of the elastic element to the shoe open at the rear do not allow a simple and effective insertion and engagement of the user's heel.

[0008] There is therefore a need to simplify the structure of the adjustable elastic heel straps for known swimming and / or scuba diving fins.

[0009] The technical task of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a swimming / scuba diving fin with a shoe open at the rear in which the heel strap is easily adjustable in tension.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to make a swimming / scuba diving fin with a shoe open at the rear in which the heel strap is easily engageable in tension.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to make a swimming / scuba diving fin in which the strap has fastening means to the shoe open at the rear which allow a simple and effective insertion and engagement of the user's heel.

[0012] Not least, an object of the invention is to make a swimming / scuba diving fin with a shoe open at the rear in which the fastening means of the elastic strap to the shoe open at the rear and the fastening means of the tension of the strap are simple and of compact design.

[0013] The technical task, as well as these and other objects, according to the present invention are achieved by making a swimming or scuba diving fin <according to claim 1>

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the releasable <radial> fastening clamp is positioned outside said sliding channel.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the opposite jaws have a reciprocal distance which is less than the diameter at rest of the strap.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the buckle is made as a single piece by moulding polymer resins.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the strap is configured to reduce in diameter when it moves from a rest state to a state of tensile stress.

[0018] Other features of the present invention are defined, further, in the following claims.

[0019] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a swimming / scuba diving fin according to the invention, illustrated by way of indicative and non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a complete assembly view of a fin figure 2 shows a rear view of the shoe, hinging pin and buckle of the strap; figure 3 A shows a rear assembly view of the shoe, the buckle and the strap mutually engaged, and in particular with the strap engaged in the buckle clamp; figure 3 B shows a rear assembly view of the shoe, the buckle and the strap mutually disengaged, and in particular with the strap disengaged from the buckle clamp; figure 4 shows a perspective view of the buckle; figures 5A, 5B, 5C show two views and a section of the buckle; figures 6A, 6B show the engagement modes of the buckle with the hinging pin; figures 7A, 7B respectively show a view and a section of the buckle and the strap engaged on the user's heel.

[0020] With reference to the figures cited, a swimming / scuba diving fin is shown and indicated in its entirety by reference number 1.

[0021] The fin 1 has a blade 2, a shoe open at the rear 3, and an adjustable elastic strap 4 engageable around the heel of the scuba diver.

[0022] The two opposite ends 40 A and 40 B of the strap 4 are connected to two buckles 400 A connected to respective hinging pins 300 A projecting from the two opposed side walls of the shoe 3.

[0023] It should be noted that each buckle 400 A, in other embodiments not illustrated, can be permanently or removably connected to the side wall of the shoe 3, fixed or rotatable, by the use or not of a pin.

[0024] At least one buckle 400 A has a shaped hollow body 401 integrally forming a portion connecting to the side wall of the shoe, an axial sliding channel 420 of the elastic strap 4, and a releasable radial fastening clamp 430 of the elastic strap 4, that is to say releasable fastening clamp 430 acting on the elastic strap 4 transversally to the longitudinal dimension of the elastic strap 4.

[0025] In the case illustrated by way of example, the connecting portion comprises a housing 410 for the hinging pin 300 A.

[0026] Advantageously, the buckle 400 A which integrates the connection to the shoe open at the rear 3 and the adjustment of the adjustable elastic strap 4 is made as a single piece by moulding polymeric resins.

[0027] Such an axial sliding channel 420 has a hole 403 for the inlet of the elastic strap 4, a hole 404 for the outlet of the elastic strap 4 and a deflection angle 405 of the elastic strap 4 positioned between the inlet hole 403 and the outlet hole 404.

[0028] The inlet hole 403 and the outlet hole 404 lie on orthogonal planes.

[0029] The deflection angle 405 is defined by a throttle wall 405 A of the elastic strap 4 inside the axial sliding channel 420.

[0030] The releasable radial fastening clamp 430 is positioned outside the axial sliding channel 420 of the elastic strap 4, and has two opposite jaws 406 A and 406 B which delimit a fastening groove 407 where the strap 4 can be introduced and extracted crosswise.

[0031] Appropriately, at least one of the two opposite jaws 406 A, 406 B has a toothing 416, where the toothing has tapered teeth.

[0032] The inlet hole 403 and the fastening groove 407 lie on parallel planes, and the fastening groove 407 is arranged in a staggered position and communicating with the outlet hole 404 of the axial sliding channel 420.

[0033] Typically, the adjustable elastic strap 4 is of constant circular section and consists of a bundle of threads in polymeric elastic material covered by a protective sheath of threads of greater unit diameter appropriately braided, the adjustable elastic strap 4 is configured to reduce the diameter thereof when it moves from a rest state to a state of tensile stress.

[0034] Appropriately, the two opposite jaws 406 A and 406 B have a reciprocal distance which is less than the diameter at rest of the elastic strap 4.

[0035] At least one hinging pin 300 A has a stem 301 ending with an enlarged head 302 which in turn has a proximal base 303 which is proximal to the stem and a distal base 304 which is distal from the stem.

[0036] The housing 410 of the shaped hollow body 401 has an opening 411 for the passage of the stem 301 of the hinging pin 300 A, surrounded by a resting shelf 412 for the proximal base 303 of the enlarged head 302 of the hinging pin 300 A, and an elastically yielding tab 413 exerting on the distal base 304 of the enlarged head 302 of the hinging pin 300 A an elastic force for retaining the proximal base 303 of the enlarged head 302 against the resting shelf 412.

[0037] The operation of the swimming / scuba diving fin according to the invention appears clear from the description and illustration and, in particular, is substantially as follows.

[0038] The fin, before being worn by the user, has the two buckles 400 A rotationally connected in planes orthogonal to the axes of the respective hinging pins 300 A projecting from the two opposed side walls of the shoe 3.

[0039] At least one of the two opposite ends 40 A of the elastic strap 4 is connected to at least one of the two buckles 400 A, typically both opposite ends 40 A.

[0040] The end 40 A of the elastic strap 4 enters the housing 410 of the shaped hollow body 401 through the inlet hole 403, slides into the axial sliding channel 420 defined by the throttle wall 405 A of the deflection angle 405, exits from the outlet hole 404 and is locked in the radial fastening clamp 430 in the fastening groove 407 by the two opposite jaws 406 A and 406 B.

[0041] The buckle 400 A is rotationally engaged with the hinging pin 300 A through the stem 301 passing through the passage opening 411 of the shaped hollow body 401, and the proximal base 303 of the enlarged head 302 engaged against the resting shelf 412 by an elastic retention force exerted by the elastically yielding tab 413 on the distal base 304.

[0042] The user fits his / her foot, bare or with footwear, in the shoe open at the rear 3 and engages the adjustable elastic strap 4 around his / her heel: advantageously, the buckle 400 A is free to rotate in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the hinging pin 300 A, and thus allows the user to properly position the strap 4 around his / her heel. The freedom of rotation of the buckle 400 A around the rotation pin 300 A advantageously allows the adjustment actions and the stresses on the strap 4 to be purely axial.

[0043] Therefore, the user laterally releases the elastic strap 4 from the radial fastening clamp 430 in which it is locked, and pulls the elastic strap 4 in one direction or the other - shortening or lengthening it by sliding it along the axial sliding channel 420 until a desired adjustment position is achieved.

[0044] Then, by keeping the elastic strap 4 provisionally locked in the adjustment position achieved thanks to the sliding resistance due to the throttle wall 405 A, the user pulls the flap exiting the end 40 A from the outlet hole 404.

[0045] The advantageous feature of the adjustable elastic strap 4 which is configured to reduce in diameter when it moves from a rest state to a state of tensile stress, allows the user to diametrically neck it under the tension applied, and thus easily introduce crosswise the flap exiting the end 40 A now necked in the fastening groove 407 of the radial fastening clamp 430.

[0046] When the user then releases the applied tension, the flap exiting the end 40 A of the adjustable elastic strap 4, by returning to the greater rest diameter is fastened by the radial fastening clamp 430 definitively locking the adjustable elastic strap 4 in the adjusting position thus chosen and defined.

[0047] Advantageously, for a subsequent modification of the adjusting position or for the total disengagement of the adjustable elastic strap 4 from the heel, the user pulls the flap exiting the end 40 A from the outlet hole 404 until it is necked diametrically, and extracts across the flap exiting the end 40 A necked by the fastening groove 407 of the radial fastening clamp 430, loosening the flap from the engagement and therefore being able to adjust it at his / her own discretion.

[0048] It has in practice been found that a swimming / scuba diving fin according to the invention is particularly advantageous for having a heel strap which is easily adjustable and easily engageable in tension.

[0049] A swimming / scuba diving fin according to the invention is also particularly advantageous for having means for fastening the strap to the shoe open at the rear which allow a simple and effective insertion and engagement of the user's heel.

[0050] Not least, an advantage of the invention is that of making a swimming / scuba diving fin with a shoe open at the rear in which the fastening means of the elastic strap to the shoe open at the rear and the fastening means of the tension of the strap are integrated, simple and of compact design and made as a single piece by moulding polymer resins.

[0051] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the needs and the state of the art.

Claims

1. A swimming or scuba diving fin (1) having a blade (2), a shoe open at the rear (3), an adjustable elastic strap (4) engageable around the heel of the scuba diver, and two buckles (400 A) at opposite ends (40 A) of said adjustable elastic strap (4) connected to two opposed side walls of said shoe (3), wherein at least one said buckle (400 A) has a shaped hollow body (401) forming integrally a portion connecting to the side wall of the shoe (3), a channel (420) for the axial sliding of said adjustable elastic strap (4), and a releasable radial fastening clamp (430) of said adjustable elastic strap (4), said axial sliding channel (420) having a hole (403) for the inlet of said adjustable elastic strap (4), a hole (404) for the outlet of said adjustable elastic strap (4) and a deflection angle (405) of said adjustable elastic strap (4) positioned between said input hole (403) and said outlet hole (404), characterized in that said radial fastening clamp (430) has two opposite jaws (406 A, 406 B) that delimit a fastening groove (407) where said adjustable elastic strap (4) is introduced and extracted crosswise.

2. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said buckle (400 A) is made as a single piece by moulding polymer resins.

3. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adjustable elastic strap (4) is configured to reduce in diameter when it moves from a rest state to a state of tensile stress.

4. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said releasable radial fastening clamp (430) is positioned outside said sliding channel (420).

5. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opposite jaws (406 A, 406 B) have a reciprocal distance that is less than the diameter at rest of said adjustable elastic strap (4).

6. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of preceding claims, characterized in that said fastening groove (407) is arranged in a staggered position and communicating with said outlet hole (404) of said channel (420) for the axial sliding of said adjustable elastic strap (4).

7. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inlet hole (403) and said outlet hole (404) lie on orthogonal planes.

8. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of preceding claims, characterized in that said inlet hole (403) and said fastening groove (407) lie on parallel planes.

9. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of preceding claims , characterized in that at least one of said two opposite jaws (406 A, 406 B) has a toothing (416).

10. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said toothing (416) has tapered teeth.

11. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said deflection angle (405) is defined by a throttle wall (405 A) of said adjustable elastic strap (4) inside said axial sliding channel (420).

12. The swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting portion comprises a housing (410) for a hinging pin (300 A) that extends from said side wall of said shoe (3), said hinging pin (300 A) has a stem (301) ending with an enlarged head (302) in turn having a proximal base (303) that is proximal to said stem (301) and a distal base (304) that is distal from said stem (301), and in that said housing (410) of said shaped hollow body (401) has an opening (411) for the passage of said hinging stem (301) surrounded by a resting shelf (412) for said proximal base (303) of said enlarged head (302), and an elastically yielding tab (413) exerting on the distal base (304) of said enlarged head (302) an elastic force for retaining said proximal base (303) against said resting shelf (412).

13. A method for adjusting said adjustable elastic strap (4) of said one swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to claims 11 or 12, characterized in pulling in one direction or the other said adjustable elastic strap (4) by sliding the strap (4) along said axial sliding channel (420) until it reaches a desired adjusting position and, maintaining said adjustable elastic strap (4) provisionally blocked in said adjusting position achieved thanks to the resistance to sliding due to said throttle wall (405 A), pulling said flap exiting the end (40 A) from said outlet hole (404) until it is necked diametrically under the tension applied, introducing crosswise said flap exiting the end (40 A) necked in said fastening groove (407) of said radial fastening clamp (430), and releasing the pull on the flap exiting the end (40 A) that by returning to the greater rest diameter is fastened by said radial fastening clamp (430) locking definitively said adjustable elastic strap (4) in said adjusting position.

14. The method for adjusting said adjustable elastic strap (4) of said one swimming or scuba diving fin (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in pulling said flap exiting the end (40 A) from said outlet hole (404) until it is necked diametrically, and extracting across said flap exiting the end (40 A) necked by said fastening groove (407) of said radial fastening clamp (430) loosening the flap from the engagement for a subsequent modification of the adjusting position.