Closed shoe swim fin

Details Closed shoe swim fin Closed shoe swim fin

1993-05-21

1994-10-18

Avila, Stephen P.

Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices

Swimming aid to increase stroke efficiency

Foot attached

A63B 3108

Patent

active

053563239

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to swim fins which are attached to swimmer's feet to improve the swimmer's ability of propulsion through the water, in general. More specifically, to a fin that is worn by a swimmer like an open heel shoe and utilizes a snapping action of the tips.


BACKGROUND ART

Previously, many types of swim fins have been used to provide an effective means to assist a person in propelling themselves through the water. A single fin has been the generally accepted method with some type of foot retaining device including, straps, shoes enclosing pockets, contoured openings, etc. Little attention has been given to the flexible action of the fin other than its direct resistance to the water or how they considered the ability of the swimmer's foot to flex within the foot retainer.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however, the following U.S. patents were considered related:


______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date ______________________________________ 1,607,857 Zukal Nov. 23, 1926 2,073,570 Sutherland Mar. 09, 1937 2,737,668 Cressi et al Mar. 13, 1956 3,019,458 De Barbieri et al Feb. 06, 1962 3,112,503 Girden Dec. 03, 1963 3,239,857 Gwynne Mar. 15, 1966 3,422,470 Mares Jan. 02, 1969 4,007,506 Rasmussen Feb. 15, 1977 4,541,810 Wenzel Sep. 17, 1985 4,738,645 Garofalo Apr. 19, 1988 4,752,259 Tackett et al Jun. 21, 1988 4,857,024 Evans Aug. 15, 1989 ______________________________________
Zukal, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,607,857, discloses a swimming device intended to be attached to the foot of the swimmer. Although not referred very clearly in the text, part of the device appears to be a shoe-like portion, shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Apart from disclosing a shoe-like portion, however, this reference is nothing like the disclosed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,073,570 issued to Sutherland discloses a "swimming shoe" provided with wing members 17 attached to the shoe top 15. This prior art does disclose the feature of the ability of the swimmer to flex his foot inside the device, inasmuch as the shoe part of the device appears to be of fairly conventional design, and street shoes normally allow flexing of the feet of the wearer.
Cressi et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,668, directs their attention to a fin for a swimmer. The fin comprises a housing 3 for the foot having an opening 4 through which the toes of the swimmer project, and upturned side portions 5 having rounded edges 6, 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 4 has a heel section for enclosing the foot of the swimmer and a slight bulbous region. However, the height of housing 4 is not sufficient to allow the swimmer's foot to flex within the shoe portion.
De Barbieri et al disclose in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,019,458 a swim-fin having a shoe portion 1 from which integral heel and toe sections a and b extend upwardly. The shoe portion appears to be open at the toes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,503 issued to Girden, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, discloses a swim-fin employing a buoyant material to overcome the negative buoyancy of the legs and feet of a swimmer. A hollow foot pocket 14 having a convex curvature extends from a sole portion 12 and is provided with an orifice 15 at the forward end.
Gwynne is directed to a swim fin in U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,857 that comprises a shoe 10 having a flat platform piece 11 and a vamp forming a socket 12 for containing the forepart of the swimmer's foot. Also, a fin blade 16, a heel portion 13, and a leg-encasing member 20 that engages the lower part of the swimmer's leg. There is, however, an opening between the heel portion 13 and the leg-encasing member 20.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,470 of Mares teaches a swimming-fin comprising a shoe section 1 and a webb 2 extending forwardly from the toe end of shoe section 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, shoe section 1 is closed at the toe but it is not disclosed in the text whether there is sufficient room in the

REFERENCES:
patent: 1607857 (1926-11-01), Zukal
patent: 2073570 (1937-03-01), Sutherland
patent: 2423571 (1947-07-01), Wilen
patent: 2737668 (1956-03-01), Cressi et al.
patent: 3019458 (1962-02-01), De Barbieri et al.
patent: 3055025 (1962-09-01), Ferraro et al.
patent: 3112503 (1963-12-01), Girden
patent: 3239857 (1966-03-01), Gwynne
patent: 3422470 (1969-01-01), Mares
patent: 4007506 (1977-02-01), Rasmussen
patent: 4541810 (1985-09-01), Wenzel
patent: 4738645 (1988-04-01), Garofalo
patent: 4752259 (1988-06-01), Tackett et al.
patent: 4857024 (1989-08-01), Evans
patent: 4929206 (1990-05-01), Evans

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