Swimming Assistance Mechanism With Foldable Fin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming assistance mechanisms are cumbersome, uncomfortable, and difficult to use during stable breaststroke or backstroke due to their design, which limits their practicality and convenience for swimming.
Innovation Solution
A swimming assistance mechanism with a fin that folds and unfolds like an umbrella, fixed between the palm and elbow, using a wire winding device with elastic springs to deploy and retract the fin with water resistance, providing continuous propulsion without protruding when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a fin is integrally formed on a fixing ring to an arm is fitted so that the fin is steered by a handler to control propulsion and direction, then propulsion control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because it is generally not easy to use during swimming with stable breaststroke or backstroke and difficult to swim while steering with the handler
Solution Approach 1:
The fin is designed to be dynamically deployable and foldable rather than fixed. It can be extended when propulsion is needed and folded back when not in use, allowing automatic adaptation to different swimming phases and styles without requiring manual steering operations
Solution Approach 2:
The fin mechanism automatically deploys and folds based on water resistance and swimming motion, eliminating the need for manual steering operations. The system self-regulates its configuration according to the swimming phase, providing propulsion control without requiring handler intervention
2Power
If a wing folded is attached to a body installed at the bottom of a fixing band so as to divide a water current and propel the water current by the operation of the wing, then propulsion is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because the body is separately installed under the fixing band and the wing is attached to the body, making it reluctant to wear due to the large size, uncomfortable for activities, and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The fin and main body are integrated into a single unified structure rather than being separate components. The fin is directly attached to the main body that fits the arm, eliminating the need for separate fixing bands and attachment mechanisms, thereby reducing overall size and improving wearability
Solution Approach 2:
The fin can be folded back against the main body when not in use, creating a compact nested configuration. This allows the propulsion mechanism to be stored within its own structure, significantly reducing the overall size and making it comfortable for activities and easy to wear
3Productivity
If a fin is deployed when cleaving the current and folded when not cleaving the current, then productivity is improved by obtaining continuous propulsion, but device complexity increases due to the folding mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The fin structure incorporates hinges and elastic elements that enable automatic dynamic transitions between deployed and folded states. This dynamic mechanism allows continuous propulsion by timing the fin deployment with the arm stroke phases without requiring complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The folding and deploying mechanism is self-actuating through elastic forces and water resistance. The fin automatically extends when water current acts upon it during the propulsive phase and folds back during the recovery phase, providing continuous propulsion through self-regulating motion without external control
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
Enables easy wearing and continuous propulsion, improving swimming efficiency for inexperienced swimmers by providing resistance only during arm strokes, reducing discomfort and increasing adaptability to various swimming styles.
Implementation Method 1
outer ends of the ribs are connected to a plurality of wires wound on a wire winding device at a center of the main body so as to be folded on the outer surface of the main body by elastic force due to wire-winding
Implementation Method 2
a swimming assistance mechanism that is attached to the arms and increases a propulsion effect by increasing resistance against water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a swimming assistance mechanism and, more specifically, to a swimming assistance mechanism that is attached to the arms and increases a propulsion effect by increasing resistance against water via an action like that of the fins of a fish when paddling with the arms for propulsion, so as to assist in enabling easier swimming. The swimming assistance mechanism of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a main body fixed between the palm and the elbow; and a fin foldably installed on the outer surface of the main body.