Short motion swim fin

Details Short motion swim fin Short motion swim fin

2000-06-29

2001-08-28

Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)

Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices

Swimming aid to increase stroke efficiency

Foot attached

Reexamination Certificate

active

06280272

ABSTRACT:

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Research and development of the present invention and application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention comprises a short motion swim fin that functions as a stretching device to stretch and increase the arch of the foot, and as a training device to strengthen the leg muscles that are used with the motions of flutter kick. This invention differs in design, function, and mechanics from all prior art relating to swim fins, wherein it is a training device for the competitive swimmer; and not designed or intended as a more efficient propulsion device. This invention is a training swim fin that when used over time will improve a swimmer's performance for competitive swimming without fins.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNER 37 CFR §§1.97-1.98
This invention is intended and designed specifically for use with the flutter kick, which is a short, fast motion kick, used for the front or back crawl whereby the body is parallel to the surface of the water with the legs moving up and down from the hips, in short, fast motions, knees slightly bending, and the feet kept loose. The extent of flexible arching of the feet is the critical element for converting the leg motion into propulsion by presenting an angle of attack from the loosely arching foot and every downward kick. The downward kick is the power portion of the flutter kick, whereas the upward motion is more for balance and recovery. The loosely arching function, if you will, as a propeller blade. In fact, many swimmers have a flutter kick that defines a spiral wake as a result of a well-defined arch. Although applicant's invention produces an impressive increase in propulsion, it does so as a result of short, fast, kicking motions, and accordingly is not designed or intended to conserve energy.
Whereas the relevant art studied discloses swim fins that are, for the most part, designed to function for underwater diving. And as such function for the propulsion efficiency in order to conserve energy, and they do so by using a common principle whereby the fin, in one form or another, is worn as a flexible extension of the foot so that the fin itself presents a greater surface, and angle of attack, against the water. This principle is well suited where conservation of energy, or air supply, is the primary consideration, but these fins are larger and also require at slower, longer kicking motion, comparable to using a larger gear to transfer power to a smaller gear for speed. These larger fins are not practical for the short, fast kicking motions of the flutter kick, or more specifically, as a training device for competitive swimming without fins.
In addition to the originality in use of this invention, there is also uniqueness in the design and mechanics. Specifically, it is a short fin that has a rectangular flat plate of thin flexible material, that when worn on the forward portion of the foot, acts as a lever to the foot with the fulcrum of that lever being on the underside of the foot. The effect of this lever action stretches the arch of the foot on every downward kick. The rigidity of the fin is also adjustable to the particular swimmer.
None of the prior art seen can be practically used, or is disclosed to be used, in a similar way as applicant's invention, specifically, as a stretching and training fin for the competitive swimmer and in particular, for the short motions of the flutter lick used in competitive swimming. None of the prior art seen employ the same mechanics, or make any similar claims of the mechanics for a swim fin with an adjustable flexible frame to lever the arch of the foot.
All prior art seen have as a common objective to be used in a dynamic fashion for moving a swimmer through the water more efficiently. The following U.S. Patents are considered relevant to the disclosure: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,597,336; 5,552,748; 3,789,448; 2,556,894.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,336 to Evans, has an open instep, with planar heel, so as to accommodate a plurality of foot sizes and discloses simplification of a single, two part, molding process. It is designed as a propulsion enhancement device with an elongated, flexible blade that has stiffening ribs under the foot, along the longitudinal axis of the fin, and also features unique protuberances to further reduce drag upon the blade surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,748 to Cressi discloses a three-part swim fin that has all the parts joined along the bottom of the shoe, which is a full shoe attached to a forked, arcuate part that holds the elongated fin. This arrangement is primarily intended to reduce the costs of production as compared to that of molded rubber fins. A flipper for enhancing propulsion is provided, wherein the fin has an elongated, flexible, obtuse angle to the shoe, or bottom of the foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,448 to Mitchell discloses a swimming aid for hand and foot propulsion that works on foot propulsion by using the legs in a pedaling, or climbing motion, whereby its design cause a stronger push against the water on the backward motion that it does on the forward motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,556,894 to Axiotes, discloses a swimming device for hand and foot propulsion that works on foot propulsion by using the legs in a pedaling, or climbing motion, whereby the device is kept in a perpendicular attitude to the leg on the backward motion to push against the water, and straightened, or feathered, on the forward motion for less resistance.
The remaining U.S. Patents are mentioned as being of interest: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,683,279; 3,302,223; 1,674,801; 3,922,740.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,729 to Raasch, et al, provides a multi-part diving fin designed for propulsion enhancement with a pivotal footplate that engages the blade, or fin portion, in a manner that allows for adjusting the tension of the elongated blade according to the swimmer's ability.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,233 to Ciccotelli, discloses a swim fin comprising a rigid, flat sole plate that hinges a U-shape element, holding a flexible web, as the fin portion. The swimming motion of the leg causes the frame to move up and down independently from the motion or position of the boot, in a manner that is tensioned cantilever, so arranged as to present a greater angle of attack to the water on the downward motion than on the upward motion. The swim fin is designed to enhance propulsion with minimal strain on the foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,674,801 to Schwalge, discloses a swimming appliance that is used with a pedaling or climbing motion whereby the pushing direction offers more resistance to the water than the pulling direction resulting in horizontal or vertical propulsion. This swimming appliance also features a reinforced sole that is suitable for limited walking out of the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,740 to Potter is a hand paddle and not applicable for wearing on the foot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to swim fins and particularly to short motion swim fins. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rigid U-shape frame of patent application Ser. No. 09/354,437 is replaced by a flat plate of thin, flexible material such as spring steel or a fiberglass composite The width end that fits under the arch of the foot is still referred to as the base end. The plate is kept flexible on the length; but made rigid on the width by fastening non-flexible ribs running along the width on the bottom side of the plate. These ribs, or stiffeners, are fabricated from aluminum or a rigid composite material. The ribs are fastened to the plate by rivets or by lamination in the configuration described so that the plate remains flexible along it's length, but made to be rigid along it's width.
The plate with attached stiffeners, is enclosed by the inner rubber sleeve in the same manner as the U-frame design whereby it forms a double surfaced closure on on

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