419results about "Swim fins" patented technology

Methods are disclosed to design resilient hydrofoils (164) which are capable of having substantially similar large scale blade deflections under significantly varying loads. The methods permit the hydrofoil (164) to experience significantly large-scale deflections to a significantly reduced angle of attack under a relatively light load while avoiding excessive degrees of deflection under increased loading conditions. A predetermined compression range on the lee portion of said hydrofoil (164) permits the hydrofoil (164) to deflect to a predetermined reduced angle of attack with significantly low bending resistance. This predetermined compression range is significantly used up during the deflection to the predetermined angle of attack in an amount effective to create a sufficiently large leeward shift in the neutral bending surface with the load bearing portions of the hydrofoil (164) to permit the hydrofoil (164) to experience a significantly large increase in bending resistance as increased loads deflect the hydrofoil (164) beyond the predetermined reduced angle of attack. The shift in the neutral bending surface causes a significant increase in the elongation range required along an attacking portion of the hydrofoil (164) after the predetermined angle of attack is exceed. Methods are also disclosed for designing the hydrofoil (164) so that it has a natural resonant frequency that is sufficiently close the frequency of the reciprocating strokes used to attain propulsion in an amount sufficient to create harmonic wave addition that creates an amplified oscillation in the free end of the reciprocating hydrofoil (164).

Methods are disclosed to design resilient hydrofoils (164) which are capable of having substantially similar large scale blade deflections under significantly varying loads. The methods permit the hydrofoil (164) to experience significantly large-scale deflections to a significantly reduced angle of attack under a relatively light load while avoiding excessive degrees of deflection under increased loading conditions. A predetermined compression range on the lee portion of said hydrofoil (164) permits the hydrofoil (164) to deflect to a predetermined reduced angle of attack with significantly low bending resistance. This predetermined compression range is significantly used up during the deflection to the predetermined angle of attack in an amount effective to create a sufficiently large leeward shift in the neutral bending surface with the load bearing portions of the hydrofoil (164) to permit the hydrofoil (164) to experience a significantly large increase in bending resistance as increased loads deflect the hydrofoil (164) beyond the predetermined reduced angle of attack. The shift in the neutral bending surface causes a significant increase in the elongation range required along an attacking portion of the hydrofoil (164) after the predetermined angle of attack is exceed. Methods are also disclosed for designing the hydrofoil (164) so that it has a natural resonant frequency that is sufficiently close the frequency of the reciprocating strokes used to attain propulsion in an amount sufficient to create harmonic wave addition that creates an amplified oscillation in the free end of the reciprocating hydrofoil (164).

Apparatus and methods for body surfing which provide the body surfer a means to stabilize his ride and control his direction / position on a wave are described herein. According to one aspect, a body surfing apparatus includes a body suit having a torso and legs; a plurality of fins located on the torso; and one or more fins located laterally on the legs. The fins are preferably attached to the body suit via an adhesive or mechanical means and the fins and suit are preferably covered with a buoyant layer, the buoyant layer having a minimum thickness of 1 mm.

Designs and methods are disclosed for permitting permit scooped shaped swim fin blades (184) to flex around a transverse axis to a significantly reduced angle of attack while reducing or preventing the scooped blade portion (254) from collapsing or buckling under the longitudinal compression forces (222) exerted on the scooped portion during a large scale blade deflection (212) by strategically alleviating or controlling such compression forces (222). Method are also disclosed for increasing flow capacity, effective scoop length, scoop depth over a greater length of the blade, reducing blade resistance to large scale deflections, reducing bending resistance within scooped blade portions (254) that are experiencing high levels of blade deflection. Methods are also provided for reducing lost motion and increasing propulsion during the inversion phase of a reciprocating kicking stroke cycle while also increasing the formation of a scooped blade region (254) during the inversion phase of the stroke cycle.

A swimmer's hand paddle simulating a human hand is formed from a generally planar member of PVC foam and has a central dome-shaped palm area for receiving the palm of the swimmer's hand. The paddle includes areas for receiving the thumb and fingers of the swimmer's hand. A wrist strap and one or more finger straps secures the user's hand to the paddle. The palm area, and also the areas which receive the swimmer's thumb and fingers, are provided with a series of apertures to allow the swimmer to feel passing water. The paddle is shaped to include an inwardly directed groove such that the peripheral portion of the paddle nearest the swimmer's second finger lies closer to the central palm area than do the peripheral portions nearest the index finger and ring finger. Also, an indented peripheral portion is formed between the swimmer's thumb and index finger.

Methods and compositions which can reduce the disturbance to wild life caused when man attempts to interact with wild life and more particularly methods and compositions which can enhance the interaction of man with aquatic life with minimal disturbance to the aquatic life.

My invention is unification of shoe and swimming enforcing elements comprising water shoe to assure unconstrained and protected walking and promotion for swimming due to generating of additional tractive force in consequence of foot swimming motions. A flexible slip protected spatial internally partitioned sole, with upper reticulated surface and perforated side wall with outlet holes jointly provide free drainage of water and sand from a shoe upper body. For its turn upper body is also reticulated, of flexible hard enough material fixed on the spatial lower sole. Few ranges of swimming elements, angle shaped fins, are immovably fixed on both lateral sides of the shoe upper body in such away that are paralleled to each other and upper body's top surface.

The swim lap counter comprises a top section and a bottom section. In one aspect of the invention, the bottom section is suspended from the top section and comprises a pressure sensitive panel and a submersible digital display. The submersible digital display is disposed proximate the bottom edge of the bottom section.

Aquatic exercise system and method for use in a body of water is presented. In particular, the system comprises a sleeve correspondingly disposable in covering relation to at least a portion of a user's appendage, such as an arm or leg, a securing assembly to secure the sleeve to a user, and at least one fin outwardly extending from the sleeve and structured to increase resistance to the user regardless of the particular directional or rotational movement. In some embodiments, the sleeve is further structured to cover an extremity of a user, such as a hand or foot. Further embodiments include a seat assembly connectable to an access pole of a pool or hot tub. The method includes applying an aquatic exercise system to an appendage of a user, submerging the appendage and system, and moving the appendage and system through water in at least one direction to create resistance.

An aquatic training device including a body having a contact surface for engaging a hand of a user and a securing fin extending substantially transverse from the contact surface. The securing fin further includes a retaining member spaced from the contact surface. The aquatic training device is designed to improve a user's stroke technique, particularly with respect to hand arm positioning while swimming, by forcing the user to engage shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands, and fingers in optimal hand arm positions while swimming.

A water paddle used for surface and underwater swimming, snorkeling, water aerobics and other water exercises. The water paddle includes a hand held, lightweight, flexible plastic, hydrodynamic paddle disk. A front of the paddle disk is flat or concave in shape for increasing or decreasing water resistance when moving the paddle in the water. Also, the paddle disk has a minimal thickness of ⅛ inch or less for allowing the flexing of the disk. An adjustable strap is received through a pair of parallel strap slots in the disk. The adjustable hand strap allows a swimmer to adjust his or her hand at various positions on the back of the paddle disk. The hand can be adjusted for allowing the disk to cover the fingers and palm of the hand in a first position. Also, the hand can be moved upwardly allowing the fingers to extend beyond the upper edge if need be in a second position and reduce pressure against the wrist of the swimmer.

A method of manufacturing a molded product comprising the steps of: providing a mold conforming to the shape of the product the mold serving to define one or more molding surfaces which are to be reproduced in an article formed via the mold; mounting in the mold an article including or forming an image comprising at least one device, logo, letter, word or words or combinations of these in such a way that most, if not all of the article lies within the mold out of contact with the or each molding surface; and injecting into the mold a supply of polymerisible material so as to immerse the article; the material, at least following polymerisation being flexible and so providing at least in part, a substantially transparent product; and withdrawing the product from the mold. Typically the step of providing product is directed to an article of footwear such as a shoe or swimming fin (also known as a flipper). The invention provides for a single stage product or the step of providing the mold conforming to the shape of the product serves also to juxtapose a previously formed or molded product for attachment to a product formed in the injection step. The invention extends to a molded product which is of flexible plastics material molded by way of the method.

An improved amphibious shoe (10) with a swim fin structure which extends for swimming and folds for walking. The amphibious shoe has, in one embodiment, an elastic connection member (27A, 27B) movably connecting the shoe portion (40) of the shoe to the fin portion (20) of the shoe. The elastic connection member maintains the relative positions of the shoe portion and fin portion in a swimming mode and a walking mode. In another embodiment, the shoe portion has a female recess (43A, 43B) for insertion of a corresponding male extension portion (26A, 26B) in the fin portion. Another embodiment includes a locking member (32B, 33B) and a locking plate (34B), wherein the locking plate defines a keyhole slot having a wide portion and a narrow portion, permitting conversion between walking mode and swimming mode when a lateral force is applied.

A combination of strap and buckle for diving fins has a heel strap 3 and a buckle 6. The heel strap 3 has first locking teeth 21 formed thereon and a top portion 31 of the buckle 6 has its inner surface facing the heel strap 3 in the vicinity of its rear end formed in its transversely middle zone 39 with a depression hollowed out by a dimension deeper than a height of the first locking teeth 21.

A high maneuverability towcraft has a hull, a primary water-engaging device, and a towline attachment above a waterline of the hull. A towline line-of-tension extends through an effective centerline of the primary water-engaging device. The towcraft also has a castering device for providing directional stability to the towcraft which allows the towcraft to follow the lead of the primary water-engaging means. The stability of the towcraft is not negatively impacted either by any lateral force of the towline or by an instantaneous position of the towline with respect to a front of the towcraft.

A dive fin replacement heel strap for use on open-foot pocket dive fins having a mounting device on each side of the fin to secure the fins onto a user's foot. The strap is made of an elongate elastic material and has a predetermined width (W). It has a plurality of orifices of a predetermined opening size (D), positioned on the elongate elastic material. There is a tab on the end of the elongate elastic material. The tab has a solid flexible lip around its periphery which has a width greater than W and a height greater than D. There is an indent in the upper horizontal surface and in the lower horizontal surface of the elongate elastic material adjacent to the tab. The orifices are adapted to attached to a mounting device of a dive fin. The tab is adapted to pass through a mounting device of a dive fin and to pass through an orifice and lock in place thereat.

An orthopedic sock system that includes a pair of identical socks each provided with pockets at various locations on the sock that are adapted to receive and hold one of a number of user inserted weight inserts. The user may add weight inserts to each of the socks as desired to achieve the desired rehabilitative or training effect.

A strap with tapered-apertures for open-heeled swim fins is stretched from a first end connection to a conventional boss-button and boss-post structure, whereby the strap will apply a desired level of force as a holding-pressure against the heel of a swimmer. The strap's tapered-apertures are cast to link the tapered dimensions of aperture walls to an easy passage of the strap over the boss button and to a highly resistant passage of the strap-top to a designed seat against the top's raised arches. The manufactured formation of the unique aperture shapes result in an unexpected elasticity of the strap. The combination of aperture structure within the raised arches guide the orifice walls of the aperture into compression, instead of tension, greatly resisting forces to release the strap from the boss-posts and buttons.

Swim fins that attach to the legs of a swimmer to aid movement through the water. In one example embodiment, a swim fin includes an upper support frame, a lower support frame, a lower blade attached to the lower support frame, and at least one hinge assembly connecting the upper support frame to the lower support frame. The upper support is configured to be generally positioned along and attached to the front of a swimmer's lower leg between the swimmer's knee and ankle The lower support frame is configured to extend, in a swimming position, from a position proximate the swimmer's ankle to a position beyond the end of the swimmer's foot. The at least one hinge assembly allows the lower support frame to be rotated upward from the swimming position to a walking position. The walking position enables the swimmer to walk barefoot on a surface without the lower support frame nor the lower blade substantially contacting the surface.

An aquatic propulsion device for holding a hand or foot in a desired position, the device comprising a curvilinear support surface and a linking element arranged across the hand or foot joint at a desired angle to secure the joint in the desired position.

A device for facilitating rapid movement beneath the surface of water is disclosed, having a hand held paddle for each hand, each paddle having an outboard tip and a tail, and a downward facing concave surface with a radius of curvature in a zone near the tip greater than the radius of curvature in a zone near the tail of each paddle.

A buoyant silicone rubber compound-and process for preparing same-is disclosed wherein hollow micro spheres are incorporated into the formulation in order to decrease the specific gravity of the compound to less than 1.0. The disclosed compound is prepared by admixing from about 85 to 99 weight percent polydimethyl siloxane with from about 1 to 15 weight percent hollow micro spheres. The micro spheres are selected to have a mean particle diameter of from about 10 to 500 microns. Aquatic gear comprised of the afore-mentioned buoyant silicone rubber exhibiting positive buoyancy / flotation such as ear plugs, swim goggles, dive masks, fins and sun glasses are also disclosed.

A device can be attached to either the legs or to the arms of a swimmer and produces resistance to swimming whereby the swimmer increases muscle strength and / or technique using the device. There are several forms of the device which offer different amounts of resistance and the device can be worn on either the swimmer's arm or the swimmer's leg.