Modular Swim Fin with Detachable Straight Board

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional long-board swim fins with bending sections are difficult to produce and assemble, lead to low portability, and are prone to breaking due to their complex structure and brittle materials.

Innovation Solution

A swim fin shoe body with a tilted tip forming a holder and an assembling slot, combined with a straight swim fin board featuring paddling sections on both ends, allowing for easy assembly and detachment, reducing complexity and cost, and positioning the board above the sole to prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a bending section is added to the swim fin board to achieve the correct tilt angle, then the kicking ergonomics is improved, but the production difficulty and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekicking ergonomicsVSAvoidproduction difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The swim fin board is divided into multiple sections: a straight main body and a separate bending section. The bending section is pre-formed with the correct angle and attached to the straight board, separating the angle-providing function from the main board structure. This reduces production difficulty of the main board while maintaining the required kicking ergonomics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separate bending section acts as an intermediary component between the straight swim fin board and the shoe body. This bending section is attached to both the board and the shoe, providing the necessary angle without requiring the main board itself to be bent, thus simplifying main board production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a bending section with tilt angle is added to achieve correct ergonomics, then the kicking efficiency is improved, but the assembly difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekicking efficiencyVSAvoidassembly difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly is segmented into modular components: straight board, bending section, and shoe body. Each component can be prepared separately and then assembled through standardized connections, reducing overall assembly difficulty while maintaining kicking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bending section is pre-assembled with the correct angle and orientation before final assembly with the swim fin board and shoe body. This preliminary preparation ensures correct ergonomics are built-in, reducing the complexity of final assembly and ensuring proper kicking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Weight of moving object

If the swim fin board is made from glass fiber or carbon fiber to reduce weight, then the portability is improved, but the reliability decreases due to brittleness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswim fin weightVSAvoidboard durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The swim fin board is segmented into a straight main body and a separate bending section. The bending section, which is the most vulnerable to damage, is separated from the main board structure. This allows the use of lightweight but brittle materials like glass fiber or carbon fiber for the bending section while maintaining overall board durability through the robust straight board structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design positions the bending section away from the sole area where it would be trampled. By locating the vulnerable bending section in a protected position and using a robust straight board structure, the design provides beforehand protection against the brittleness issue of lightweight materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of operation

If the overall length of swim fin board is increased to improve kicking performance, then the swimming efficiency is improved, but the portability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswimming efficiencyVSAvoidoverall length

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The long swim fin board is divided into multiple sections that can be connected. The straight board provides the necessary length for swimming efficiency, while the separate bending section is attached at an angle, allowing the board to be disassembled into shorter components for improved portability while maintaining the effective kicking length during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10058738B1Swimming equipment improvement

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 WANG CHING WEN

AI summary

An improved structure of swimming equipment includes a swim fin shoe body, a holder, an assembling slot and a straight swim fin board. Two ends of the swim fin shoe body are provided with a tip and a heel respectively. The tip of the swim fin shoe body extends at an angle towards the front and underside of the swim fin shoe body to form the holder, and the front end of the holder is provided with the assembling slot. Two ends of the straight swim fin board are provided with a paddling section and a detachable assembling section assembled in the assembling slot. The assembling section and paddling section form a straight pattern jointly, so that the straight swim fin board tilts towards the front and underside of the swim fin shoe body along with the holder.