Surfboard fin mounting system
OwnerJames A. English, Richard G. Belitzinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a system including a fin box that allows surboard fins to be installed, removed or adjusted to the front or rear of the board within the box and a means for installing the box on the surfboard. More importantly, the fins can be installed in the fin box, and adjusted or removed from the fin box without the use of tools. By using the fin box installation system, manufacturers can effectively locate, align and install the fin box on the surfboard. More importantly, the manufacturers are able to lean and rotate the fins precisely at any desired angles and achieve precise and critical symmetrical mounting of the fins with relation to the centerline of the surfboard.
Claims24
A surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end comprising:
- (a) a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a base surface;
- (b) a lateral “T” shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral “T” shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing;
- (c) a centralized slot cavity opening and a slot cavity defined by said slot cavity housing, said centralized slot cavity opening having opposing access grooves in the forward portion thereof, whereby said opposing access grooves are wider than said centralized slot cavity opening for the purpose of allowing similarly sized lateral pegs located on each side of said surfboard fin to enter or exit said lateral “T” shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing;
- (d) a lateral “T” shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral “T” shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing;
- (e) a cam action locking device with a lateral cam member located in said lateral “T” shaped slot in said rearward portion of said slot cavity housing for the purpose of engaging said locking arm and locking said surfboard fin in place within said slot cavity housing after said locking arm is inserted into said centralized slot cavity opening, whereby said surfboard fin is held securely in place for use.
A method of making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a base surface;
- (b) providing a lateral “T” shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral “T” shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing;
- (c) providing a centralized slot cavity opening and a slot cavity defined by said slot cavity housing, said centralized slot cavity opening having opposing access grooves in the forward portion thereof, whereby said opposing access grooves are wider than said slot cavity opening for the purpose of allowing similarly sized lateral pegs located on each side of said surfboard fin to enter or exit said lateral “T” shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing;
- (d) providing a lateral “T” shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral “T” shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing;
- (e) providing a cam action locking device with a lateral cam member located in said lateral “T” shaped slot in said rearward portion of said slot cavity housing for the purpose of engaging said locking arm and locking said surfboard fin in place within said slot cavity housing after said locking arm is inserted into said centralized slot cavity opening, whereby said surfboard fin is held securely in place for use.
A fin box installation system for installing a surfboard fin mounting box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, comprising:
- (a) a router jig having two longitudinally centralized “V” grooves and one or more locating orifices;
- (b) a fin box locator having a central slot cavity insert and an angle alignment gage;
- (c) a fin angle position protractor having legs and angle position grooves thereon;
- (d) whereby when said fin box installation system is attached to the surface of a surfboard it acts as a router jig to router out the fin box mounting cavity;
- wherein said “V” grooves are used to locate the centerline of said fin box with the desired relationship to the center axis of the surfboard, said locating orifices are positioned to mount the said legs of said fin angle position protractor, and said fin box locator is equipped with said central slot cavity insert to be inserted into the central slot cavity of the fin box for precise alignment and positioning, and further wherein said angle alignment gage is aligned with desired angle position groove within said fin angle position protractor to achieve the desired angle of the fin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.