Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water skimming or walking device – Having stabilizing surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-19
2001-07-10
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water skimming or walking device
Having stabilizing surface
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257941
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
The invention is in the field of protectors for the fins of windsurfing boards or the like.
2. State of the Art
A windsurfing board is similar to a surfboard, but with a mast and sail. A fin extends from the rearward bottom of the board. When windsurfing, it is common to keep the windsurfing board on a beach until the right conditions occur and the board is put into the water for use. After use in the water, it is again pulled onto the beach until used again in the water or taken for transportation and/or storage. When on the beach, the board usually rests on its fin, which can damage the lower edge of the fin where the board rests. As the boards and fins become more refined, even small nicks and minor damage to the edges and lower surface of the fins can have an adverse effect on the board's performance. It is therefore desirable to protect the fins during transportation and storage and during the time a board is set on a beach waiting for use or between uses.
Currently available fin protectors are made of a soft EVA foam or similar material which fits over a fin to protect it. With a soft material, when the board is set down with the fin on a beach or other hard surface, damage can still occur through the soft foam material. Further, the foam material wears through relatively quickly at the bottom of the fin leaving the bottom of the fin exposed to damage. In addition, the prior art fin protectors have a tendency to fall off the fin when the board is moved.
In my copending application Ser. No. 09/379,259, filed Aug. 23, 1999, I disclose a fin protector made of a semi-rigid or substantial rigid material in the form of a pocket which fits over and accepts the lower portion of the fin therein. The fin protector is held in place on the fin by frictional engagement of the material forming the fin protector and the sides of the fin. However, in some instances a grain or two of sand, if on a sandy beach, becomes positioned between the fin protector wall and the fin and will scratch the fin. This is undesirable and part of what a fin protector should prevent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a fin protector is made of a semi-rigid or substantially rigid material in the form of a pocket with anti-scratch standoffs or spacers therein. The pocket fits over and accepts the lower portion of the fin therein with the sides of the pocket spaced from the surface of the fin by the spacers. The action of the pocket walls in conjunction with the spacers against the fin holds the pocket onto the fin so the pocket does not normally fall off. The pocket can be easily pulled off the fin when it is desired to use the board and replaced on the fin when the board is brought out of the water and placed on the beach or otherwise transported or stored. The spacers in spacing the walls of the pocket from the sides of the fin create a place between the pocket walls and fin surface for grains of sand or other similar items to rest that might otherwise scratch the surface of the fin as the pocket is slid over the fin or removed from the fin.
The pocket is preferably formed of a plastic material which is soft enough to flex and receive and go over, but not damage, the fin, yet rigid enough that it will cause the spacers to grip and normally stay on the fin once the pocket is placed thereon. A low density polyethylene or a fiber filled polyvinylchloride has been found satisfactory for the pocket walls. The pocket may be formed from two sheets of suitable material cut to a pocket shape and secured together along their edges. This can be done by gluing, riveting, stapling, sewing, or similarly securing the pieces together or a combination of the above. The pocket can also be injection molded as a single piece.
The spacer material may be any material that will hold the sides of the pocket away from the fin just enough to prevent scratching of the fin by sand or other material that would be expected to get onto the fin or into the pocket during normal use of the windsurfing board and fin protector. The spacer material should also be soft enough that it can rub against the fin surface as the fin is inserted into the pocket or as the pocket is removed from the fin without scratching or damaging the fin. A presently preferred material which has been found to work well is the hook portion of hook and loop fastening material such as the hook portion of VELCRO material. It has been found that the hooks are strong enough to space the sides of the pockets from the fin sufficiently to provide space among the hooks to receive and hold sand and keep it from scratching the fin. Thin vertical spacer ridges extending inwardly from the pocket sides are also satisfactory and are preferred with an injection molded pocket where the spacer ridges are molded with and are part of the pocket.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 292752 (1987-11-01), Reinhardt
patent: 3374495 (1968-03-01), Joyce
patent: 4320569 (1982-03-01), Todd, Sr.
patent: 4759483 (1988-07-01), Willoughby
patent: 4792316 (1988-12-01), Skedeleski et al.
patent: 5009348 (1991-04-01), Derkatz
patent: 5094344 (1992-03-01), Savage
patent: 5147235 (1992-09-01), Bamburak et al.
patent: 5474256 (1995-12-01), Garner
patent: 6135836 (2000-10-01), Rhynsburger
The House 1999 mail order catalog, p. 24, showing Finshield fin protector. The House, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Photograph copies of DaKine Hawaii Fin Protector.
Photograph copies of Mistral Race cover.
Mallinckrodt Robert R.
Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
Swinehart Ed
Wright Andrew
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