Adjustable Surfboard Fin System with Rotating Cylinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surfboards with fixed fins are cumbersome for surfers to customize, as adjusting fin roll angles is difficult and prone to misalignment, requiring multiple boards or external tools, and fixed fins cannot be corrected once misaligned.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable fin system with a plug assembly that allows the fin cant to be adjusted by rotating a cylinder within a housing, using set-screw holes to change the fin angle without removing the fin, using minimal tools and allowing alignment with various fin angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fins are fixed in place during manufacturing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fin system transitions from a static fixed configuration to a dynamic adjustable configuration. The cylinder can be rotated to different angular positions within the plug housing, allowing the fin angle to be changed from 0 to 360 degrees. This dynamic mechanism enables surfers to adjust fin cant and alignment according to different wave conditions and personal preferences, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows continuous change of the fin orientation parameter by rotating the cylinder to different angular positions. The set-screw holes at different angular positions on the cylinder enable precise adjustment of the fin angle parameter, transforming the fixed parameter into a variable one that can be optimized for different surfing conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple external parts and tools are added for fin adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is merged into the fin plug assembly itself. The cylinder, set-screw holes, and adjustment mechanism are integrated within the plug housing that is already installed in the surfboard. This eliminates the need for separate external adjustment devices, tools, or multiple plug components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the fin, enables angular adjustment of the fin, and allows secure locking at any angular position. The single integrated plug assembly replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate components including adjustment mechanisms, locking devices, and mounting structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fins are adjusted during manufacturing, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plug assembly and cylinder are pre-assembled with precisely positioned set-screw holes at specific angular intervals during manufacturing. This preliminary precision work is done once during production, ensuring high manufacturing precision for the adjustment mechanism itself. The actual fin angle adjustment is then performed by the end user rather than during manufacturing, resolving the contradiction between customization and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the end user to perform the alignment and adjustment themselves by simply rotating the cylinder and tightening the set-screw. This self-service adjustment eliminates the need for specialized manufacturing equipment or expert alignment procedures, allowing precise customization without compromising manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable fin system comprising: a plug assembly, the plug assembly comprising: a plug housing, the plug housing comprising: a closed end; an open end; a plug first set-screw hole; a plug second set-screw hole; a cylinder configured to be rotatable within the plug housing, and installable into the plug housing via the open end, the cylinder comprising: a cylinder first set screw hole; a cylinder second set screw hole; a cap configured to generally close the open end of the plug housing and to restrain the cylinder from leaving the plug housing; a fin removably attachable to the cylinder; where when the plug first set-screw hole is aligned with the cylinder first set screw hole, the fin is at a first fin cant; where when the plug second set-screw hole is aligned with the cylinder second set screw hole, the fin is at a second fin cant.