Rotatable Fin Box With Spring Latch For Water Sports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fin attachment systems for water sport boards, such as surfboards and paddleboards, are prone to damage during storage and transport, and are often difficult to remove and reattach, leading to inconvenience and potential loss.
Innovation Solution
A multiple position fin support system that includes a base with forward and rearward abutments, a rotatable fin box, and a tie-down mechanism, allowing the fin to be securely positioned vertically for use or pivoted to the sides for protection during non-use, using a spring and latch system to facilitate easy movement between positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fin is made removable for easy replacement and storage, then the ease of operation improves, but the reliability deteriorates as the fin becomes prone to damage during removal, storage, and reattachment
Solution Approach 1:
The fin box is designed to be rotatable between a vertical position (fin extending downward for use) and a horizontal position (fin parallel to board surface for storage). This dynamic repositioning allows the fin to remain attached to the board while protecting it from damage during non-use periods, eliminating the need for removable fins.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin box serves multiple functions: it secures the fin during use, allows rotational movement to reposition the fin for storage, and provides a latched position to secure the fin in the horizontal protective position. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the attachment system both secure and protective.
2Reliability
If the fin is made permanent to protect from damage, then the reliability improves, but the ease of operation worsens as replacement and storage become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fin box incorporates rotational capability that allows it to move from a vertical use position to a horizontal storage position. This dynamic feature enables the fin to remain permanently attached for protection while still allowing easy repositioning for storage or replacement by rotating the box to a horizontal orientation where the fin clears the board surface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fin box is made rotatable to enable positioning changes, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional moving parts and mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The fin box is designed with simple rotational capability around a fixed axis, allowing it to switch between vertical and horizontal positions. This single-degree-of-freedom rotation provides the necessary adaptability without requiring complex multi-axis mechanisms or additional actuators, thus minimizing device complexity while achieving versatile positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin box uses a spring-loaded latch mechanism that automatically engages when the box is rotated to the horizontal position, securing the fin without requiring additional fasteners or complex locking mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the rotational motion to trigger the latching action, reducing overall mechanism complexity.
4Reliability
If the fin box includes a latched position to secure the fin horizontally, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to the latch mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded latch automatically engages when the fin box is rotated to the horizontal position, securing the fin without requiring manual intervention or additional locking mechanisms. The system uses its own rotational motion to trigger the latching action, providing reliable security while minimizing added complexity through self-actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded latch acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates the rotational motion of the fin box into a secure locked position. This simple mechanical intermediary provides reliable securing action without requiring complex electronic or hydraulic locking systems, thus maintaining low device complexity while achieving high reliability.
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
The system effectively protects the fin from damage during storage and transport, eliminates the need for frequent removal and reattachment, and is easy to use without requiring tools, while maintaining a secure attachment to the board.
Implementation Method 1
a spring urging the fin box toward the latched position
Data Source
AI summary
An improved support for a fin extending downwardly from the undersurface of a water sport board provides detented rotational positioning of the fin at a selected one of a plurality of angular positions including a vertical position for use, a right side position and a left side position both of which protect the fin from damage during periods of nonuse, transport and storage and which avoid the need for removal and reattachment of the fin between periods of use and periods of nonuse, transport and storage.