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US 2001/0044246 A1Published application
High efficiency hydrofoil and swim fin designs
OwnerPeter T. McCarthyinventor
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OwnerPeter T. McCarthyinventor
Estimating the term…
Methods are disclosed for increasing lift and decreasing turbulence and drag on hydrofoils and swim fins. Fins are disclosed having at least one pivoting blade region connected to the swim fin with a flexible joint element made from reduced blade thickness, blade cutout regions, and injection molding of the flexible material of the foot pocket. Methods are also provided for limiting the deflections of at least one pivoting blade region with a movable blade limiting member connected to both the pivoting blade region and a blade limiting load bearing member with a chemical bond created during molding. Methods are disclosed for orienting at least one pivoting blade region at a reduced angle of attack sufficient for increased efficiency and reduced effort. Injection molding assembly methods with chemical bonds and mechanical bonds are provided. Fins having transverse flexible elements, transverse recesses, longitudinal recesses and venting systems are also disclosed.
A swim fin, comprising:
A swim fin comprising a shoe member made with a relatively soft material, said shoe member having a sole and said swim fin having a blade region, said sole and said blade region are made with a relatively stiffer material, said shoe member having at least two sidewise and frontwise protruding elements, said blade region being hinged to said shoe member with a resilient joint element in an area between said protruding elements, said blade region being also connected to said protruding elements with at least one flexible member.
A swim fin comprising a shoe member made of a relatively soft thermoplastic material, said shoe member having a sole and said swim fin having a blade region made with a relatively stiffer thermoplastic material, said shoe member having at least one forwardly protruding element, said blade region being hinged to said shoe member with a flexible joint element in an area adjacent to at least one said protruding element, said blade region being also connected to said protruding element with at least one flexible member.
A method for improving the performance of a swim fin, comprising:
A swim fin comprising:
A swim fin comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.