Ships – Steering mechanism – Fins
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2001-04-10
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Steering mechanism
Fins
C441S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213044
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to water craft, and more particularly to a water board craft having a fin that is adjustable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the direction of travel of the water craft. This invention is particularly useful when applied to a surfboard or sailboard to allow the rider to adjust the performance of the board to adapt to changing surf conditions and to variations in the weight and skill level of the rider.
Water board craft are well known in the art, taking the form of surfboards, sailboards, boogie boards, and other similar water craft that are maneuvered by the shifting of the weight of the rider. Such water craft typically include a board, formed of a strong yet buoyant material or combination of materials, and one or more fins attached to the bottom of the board. The fins provide stability to the board as it moves through or is propelled through the water. It has been long recognized that an adjustably mounted fin may provide improved performance by allowing the rider to adapt the board to varying conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,989 issued to Anderson on Feb. 27, 1986, teaches an adjustable fin box system wherein the fin may be adjusted in the vertical, horizontal and angular directions. However, the angular freedom of movement provided by the Anderson device is about a horizontal axis, providing adjustment of the fin angle along the longitudinal axis of the board. The device of Anderson provides no freedom of movement for the fin about a vertical axis to adjust the fin angle with respect to the direction of movement of the board through the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,904 issued to Wahl on Aug. 8, 1989, teaches a sailboard with an adjustable keel mechanism. The Wahl device is designed to allow the keel to pivot about a vertical axis during the use of the board in response to loads imposed against the keel by the water, thereby eliminating crabbing and improving the speed of the board. The Wahl device does not provide the desired security of position of a fin in a variety of predetermined angular position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,190 issued to Oates on Oct. 22, 1996, teaches another fin box assembly for a surfboard that permits the fin to be adjusted within an elongated fin box attached to a board. While the Oates device does provide for adjustment of the fin about a vertical axis, the range of adjustment is limited by the width of the fin box. Furthermore, the security of the fin position depends upon a friction interference between parts. These features may limit the usefulness of the Oats device and reduce its dependability in real world conditions.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus there is a particular need for a water board craft having a fin that can be securely adjusted to a wide variety of angular positions with respect to the direction of travel of the board through the water. The mechanism used to adjust the fin should be easy to manufacture, simple to operate, and able to resist the large forces imposed on the fin during the use of the board craft.
A water craft is described herein including: a board; a fin box attached to the board, the fin box comprising a recess having a circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation; a fin having a base with a circular cross-section inserted within the recess, the fin being rotatable within the recess about the axis of rotation; and a means for securing the fin at any of a plurality of angles of rotation about the axis of rotation. The means for securing the fin may be as simple as a set screw in contact with a groove in the base, or as robust as a plurality of splines and slots formed in the base and fin box respectively along with a pinned connection between the board and the base.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4421492 (1983-12-01), Leva
patent: 4493665 (1985-01-01), Liddle
patent: 4733496 (1988-03-01), Wallner
patent: 4854904 (1989-08-01), Wahl
patent: 5070804 (1991-12-01), Strazzeri
patent: 5133681 (1992-07-01), Lobe
patent: 5176096 (1993-01-01), Molnar et al.
patent: 5356324 (1994-10-01), Cunningham et al.
patent: 5493989 (1996-02-01), Anderson
patent: 5567190 (1996-10-01), Oates
patent: 5649846 (1997-07-01), Harper et al.
Magazine advertisement featuring various FCS/Fin Control Systems fins.
Magazine advertisement featuring The Surfer/Shaper.
Collins John
Rodgers John M.
Beusse, Esq. James H.
Holland & Knight LLP
Maire, Esq. David G.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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