Directional fins for body and body board surfing
AssigneeWXW, Inc.
InventorHarold E. Waller, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fin assembly for assisting a body or body board surfer in steering comprises a fin member of vane-like, generally planar shape and a securing device for securing the fin member to the limb of a surfer so that the fin projects generally downwardly into the water from the undersurface of the surfer's body. Preferably, oppositely directed right and left hand fin members are provided for securing to right and left hand limbs, respectively, of the surfer. The fin member has an enlarged base from which the fin projects, and the securing device is designed to secure the base against the appropriate limb so that the fin projects generally outwardly.
Claims36
A fin assembly for securing to the lower part of a limb of a body or body board surfer for aiding in steering the body through turns, comprising:
- a fin member having an elongate, stream-lined cross section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base and a tip;
- and
- securing means for releasably securing the fin member at a predetermined location and fixed orientation to a limb of a surferat a location remote from any limb joint with the leading edge facing generally in the direction of travel through the water, the securing means including positioning means for directing the fin member with its tip projecting generally downwardly into the water from the undersurface of the surfer's body when positioned for surfing.
A fin assembly for securing to the body of a body or body board surfer for aiding in steering the body through turns, comprising:
- a fin member having a elongate, stream-lined cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base and a tip;
- the base of said fin member comprising an enlarged, generally planar base member with a vane-like fin projecting transversely away from said base member;
- securing means for releasably securing the fin member at a predetermined location and orientation on a surfer's body with the leading edge facing generally in the direction of travel through the water, the securing means including positioning means for directing the fin member with its tip projecting generally downwardly into the water from the undersurface of the surfer's body when positioned for surfing;
- and
- said securing means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve of elasticated material for slidable engagement over a body portion of a surfer, the sleeve having a slit of length substantially equal to the length of the fin member, and comprising means for holding said base member being located within the sleeve with the fin projecting out of the sleeve through said slit.
A fin assembly for securing to the body of a body or body board surfer for aiding in steering the body through turns, comprising:
- a fin member having elongate, stream-lined cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base and a tip;
- the base of said fin member comprising an enlarged, generally planar base member with a vane-line fin projecting transversely away from said base member;
- securing means for releasably securing the fin member at a predetermined location and orientation on a surfer's body with the leading edge facing generally in the direction of travel through the water, the securing means including positioning means for directing the fin member with its tip projecting generally downwardly into the water from the undersurface of the surfer's body when positioned for surfing;
- and
- the securing means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve of elasticated material for slidable engagement over a body portion of a surfer, the sleeve having a reinforcing patch of corresponding shape to said base member secured around its outer periphery to the outer surface of the sleeve to form a pocket for receiving said base member, said patch having a slit of length at least equal to the length of the fin member for allowing said fin member to project out of said pocket via said belt.
A fin assembly for securing to the legs of a body or body board surfer for aiding in steering the body through turns, comprising:
- a pair of fin members each having an elongate, stream-lined cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base and a tip, one fin member comprising a left hand fin and the other comprising a right hand fin;
- securing means for releasably securing said left and right hand fin members, respectively, to the left and right legs, respectively, of a surfer at a predetermined location and orientation, with the leading edge of each fin member facing generally in the direction of travel through the water, the securing means including positioning means for directing the fin members with their tips projecting generally downwardly into the water from the undersurface of the surfer's body when positioned for surfing;
- and
- said fins being directed inwardly relative to the direction of travel in the water when secured to the respective legs of a surfer.
A fin assembly for assisting steering when body or body board surfing, comprising:
- a vane-like fin having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a lower edge and a tip;
- an enlarged base member rigidly secured to the lower edge of the fin so that the fin projects transversely from the base member;
- and
- securing means for releasably securing the fin to a limb of a surfer, the securing means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve member of elasticated material for close engagement over a generally cylindrical limb portion of a surfer, said sleeve including retaining means for retaining said base member, the retaining means including a slot comprising means for allowing the fin to project transversely outwardly from the sleeve in a fixed orientation relative to the limb portion to which it is secured.
A fin assembly for assisting steering when body or body board surfing, comprising:
- a fin member having a generally planar base and a vane-like fin projecting transversely from the base;
- securing means for releasably securing the fin member to a pre-selected body location on a surfer, the securing means comprising a generally cylindrical sleeve member of elasticated material for close engagement over a generally cylindrical body portion of a surfer, said sleeve including retaining means for retaining said base of the fin member, the retaining means including a slot comprising means for allowing the fin to project transversely outwardly from the sleeve, and
- the longitudinal axis of the fin being at an angle of between 0.degree. and 25.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the base.
A method of body or body board surfing, comprising the steps of:
- securing left and right hand fin members at predetermined locations separately to the left and right hand limbs, respectively, of a surfer so that the fins project downwardly into the water in a fixed, substantially rigid orientation relative to the respective limb when the surfer is in a standard, straight line surfing position, each fin member comprising a vane-like fin having a leading edge facing generally in the direction of travel through the water when secured to the respective limb;
- and
- using the fins when surfing to aid in steering the body through the water by rotating the respective limbs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.