Inline Deflecting Swim Fin With Embedded Elastomeric Hinge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current swim fin designs face inefficiencies due to tradeoffs between drag reduction on the upstroke and propulsion on the power stroke, with materials often being too stiff for high speeds, leading to muscle strain and increased drag, while being too flexible for slow speeds, resulting in wasted energy and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an embedded hinge aligned with the foot axis, allowing the swim fin blade to pivot from a perpendicular to a parallel fluid flow during the upstroke, minimizing drag and maximizing propulsion, using a combination of elastomeric materials and hinge mechanisms to control blade deflection and maintain efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the blade is made stiff to reduce deflection during hard kicking strokes, then propulsion efficiency at high speeds is improved, but drag on the upstroke increases and muscle strain occurs during slow swimming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a hinge mechanism that allows the blade to dynamically change its orientation during the swimming stroke. The blade transitions from a perpendicular orientation to the flow during the power stroke (for maximum propulsion) to a parallel orientation during the upstroke (for minimum drag). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the blade to be effectively 'stiff' when needed for propulsion and 'flexible' when needed for drag reduction, without requiring physical deformation of the blade structure itself.
2Ease of operation
If the blade is made flexible to reduce drag on the upstroke, then ease of operation at slow speeds is improved, but propulsion efficiency decreases during hard kicking strokes
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism enables the blade to dynamically adjust its orientation based on the stroke phase. During the upstroke, the blade naturally aligns parallel to the flow, reducing drag and improving ease of operation at slow speeds. During the power stroke, the blade maintains a perpendicular orientation to maximize propulsion. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between flexibility for ease of operation and stiffness for propulsion power without requiring the blade to physically deform.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If transverse axis bending is used to reduce upstroke drag, then drag force is reduced, but the blade cannot maintain sufficient angle of attack for effective propulsion on the power stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a hinge mechanism that allows the blade to dynamically change its angle of attack during the stroke cycle. During the upstroke, the blade orients parallel to the flow to minimize drag. During the power stroke, the blade orients perpendicular to the flow to maximize the angle of attack and propulsive force. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between drag reduction and propulsive force generation, as the blade maintains optimal orientation for each phase without requiring transverse bending that would compromise propulsion.
4Strength
If rigid materials are used for the blade to maintain shape under load, then strength is improved, but the fin creates muscle strain and discomfort during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism allows the blade to dynamically adjust its orientation, enabling rigid materials to maintain structural strength while reducing the energy required to operate the fin. The blade can be made from strong, rigid materials that maintain their shape and provide consistent propulsion, while the hinge absorbs the adaptive flexibility needed for comfort during prolonged use. This resolves the contradiction between strength and comfort by separating the structural function (handled by rigid materials) from the adaptive function (handled by the hinge mechanism).
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution significantly reduces drag force and increases propulsion efficiency across varying swimming speeds, allowing for high performance on both hard and soft kicks without excessive blade deflection, thereby enhancing swimmer efficiency and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the swim fin provides maximum fluid displacement on the power stroke and encounters minimum fluid drag upon leaf rotation parallel to flow on the up stroke
Implementation Method 2
The embedded hinge can be made from a set of hinges including Barrel hinge, Butt hinge, Butterfly, Case hinge, Concealed hinge, Flag hinge, H hinge, Pivot hinge, Self-closing hinge, Bearing hinge and Spring hinge
Data Source
AI summary
A foot inline deflecting swim fin with hinge coupled to a two-leaf-blade fin with embedded channel-hinge with leaves free to rotate from a perpendicular fluid flow configuration upon power stroke to parallel fluid flow configuration upon an upstroke. The hinge-leaf blade will have pivot stops, limiting leaf rotations to accommodate the two stroke swim propulsion, upstroke and power stroke. An embedded unitary elastomeric hinge having integrated channel with channel limiter stops is disclosed.