Swim Fin for the Arm

Abstract

A swim fin for the arm is disclosed. The swim fin includes a longitudinal spine that is contoured and adapted to extend along the forearm. On one side of the longitudinal spine, a perpendicularly-extending handle is provided in a position to be gripped by the hand. Behind the handle, a strap or sleeve assembly connected to the longitudinal spine is provided to allow the fin to be attached to the forearm. The fin area extends laterally out from the longitudinal spine in a direction opposite the handle and strap or sleeve assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/737,287, filed Dec. 14, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to swim fins for the arms.

2. Description of Related Art

Swim fins are devices that are secured to the arms or legs to increase thrust and aid in maneuvering during swimming. A typical fin includes a propulsive area with a relatively large surface area and some means of attaching to the body. The classic swim fins fit over the feet and have a large area that extends behind the body when the wearer is swimming. With this type of swim fin, kicking the legs causes the fins to generate thrust.

While less popular in use, there have been a number of attempts to develop hand- and arm-mounted swim fins. One of the earlier examples of these is represented in U.S. Pat. No. 1,715,571 to Robertson, which discloses a board-like hand paddle that includes a slot or notch through which the hand can extend to grip the board and a strap that fits over the forearm. U.S. Pat. No. 2,771,618 to Crum discloses a swimming appliance that is fitted over the forearm. Other, more recent, examples include U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,023 to Topolski, which discloses a forearm paddle combined with a bicep/tricep float, and is used to train swimmers in proper stroke technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention relates to a swim fin for the arm. The swim fin includes an elongate longitudinal spine. Extending perpendicularly from the extent of the longitudinal spine in a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal spine and in about the same plane with it is a handle that is contoured and adapted to be gripped in the hand. Extending from the longitudinal spine outwardly in a direction opposite the first direction is a fin area. The fin area may be stiffened with one or more spines that extend within the fin area. Behind the handle, a strap or sleeve assembly allows the swim fin to attach to the arm. The strap or sleeve assembly may be pivotally attached to the longitudinal spine such that the swim fin is adapted to act as a first class lever.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention will be described with respect to the following drawing figures, in which like numerals represent like features throughout the description, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swim fin for the arm;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the underside of the swim fin of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the swim fin of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swim fin for the arm, generally indicated at 10, as installed on an arm 12. The swim fin 10 has a large fin area 14 which, when worn on the arm 12, extends laterally outwardly from one side of the hand and forearm. The fin area 14 is constructed and adapted to push water when the swim fin 10 is moved. Contiguous with and supporting the fin area 14 is a major longitudinal spine 16, which extends at least the entire length of the fin area 14.

The longitudinal spine 16 is shaped on at least one side to follow the contours of the human hand and forearm, and has a length that is about the length of the forarm, although it may be slightly shorter than the forearm or, as shown in the figures, longer than the forearm. If the spine 16 is made of a relatively stiff material, it may be covered with foam or another padded material on the arm-facing side so as to conform as necessary to the hand and forearm. A handle 18 extends transversely from the longitudinal spine 16 and is positioned to be grasped in the palm of the hand, as can be seen in FIG. 2, an elevational view of the underside of the swim fin 10. As can be appreciated from the figures, the fin area 14 extends in one direction away from the longitudinal spine 16, while the handle 18 extends in the opposite direction toward and into the hand.

Behind the handle 18 and connected to the longitudinal spine 16 is a forearm strap assembly 20. The forearm strap assembly 20 includes a forearm strap 22 that is adapted to be slipped over or drawn tightly around the forearm. The forearm strap 22 may be secured with snaps, a zipper, hook-and-loop fasteners, or any other conventional fasteners. The forearm strap 22 may also be elastic or rubberized foam, and may simply slip over the forearm. The connection between the strap 22 and the longitudinal spine 16 may be fixed in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the strap 22 may be mounted on the longitudinal spine 16 by means of a swivel joint that allows the swim fin 10 to move relative to the arm 12.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the swim fin 10. As shown in FIG. 3, if the strap 22 is mounted by means of a rotational joint, the swim fin 10 can move in the directions illustrated by the arrows A. Thus, with the strap 22 rotationally mounted, the swim fin 10 essentially acts as a first class lever, with the effort applied through the handle 18 and the strap 22 acting as a fulcrum.

However, even if the strap 22 is not rotationally mounted on the forearm, the wearer can apply pressure on the handle 18 to change the direction of the swim fin 10 and to cause it to do work against water. Because it follows movements of the arm 12, the swim fin 10 can be used to push water and facilitate movement in substantially any plane.

Although a single strap 22 is shown in the illustrated embodiment, the swim fin 10 could include two or more straps spaced from one another. For example, a second strap could be provided behind the first one in order to attach to the forearm more proximally. Alternatively, instead of one or a plurality of straps, the swim fin 10 could attach to the arm 12 by means of a sleeve that fits over the arm. The sleeve could be comprised of a fabric or flexible material that is secured around the arm by laces, a zipper, or other conventional fasteners. The sleeve might also be constructed of a contiguous and relatively elastic material, like neoprene, that simply stretches to slide over the arm. If the sleeve is made of a relatively elastic material, it may not be necessary to connect the sleeve to the longitudinal spine 16 via a rotational joint; instead, the elasticity of the sleeve may allow the swim fin 10 to rotate sufficiently with respect to the arm 12.

As shown in the figures, a number of transverse stiffening spines 24 extend from the longitudinal spine 16 into the fin area 14 to support and stiffen the fin area 14. Three stiffening spines 24 are provided in the illustrated embodiment, but more or fewer may be provided.

The swim fin 10 may be made of any material that is compatible with prolonged water exposure, for example, plastic or rubber resins. Typically, the swim fin 10 would be molded of a single material, e.g., by injection molding. In those cases, the transverse spines 24 and longitudinal spine 16 may comprise thickened sections of the material of which the swim fin 10 is made. However, in other embodiments, the swim fin 10 may comprise a “skeleton” of rigid material that forms the longitudinal spine 16 and transverse spines 24 and a covering or webbing material that is stretched over that skeleton.

The fin area 14 may vary in size and in stiffness, depending on the type of movement for which it is to be used and a number of other factors. In the illustrated embodiment, the fin area 14 extends out from the arm a distance that is about equal to the length of the forearm itself, e.g., 12-18 inches, although that may vary from embodiment to embodiment, as may the total surface area of the fin area 14. In some cases, stiffening spines 24 may not be required.

In addition to size, the fin area 14 may vary in shape. For example, the fin area 14 may be given the shape of an animal wing, such as a bat wing, a bird wing, or any other fanciful or decorative shape. The fin area 14 may also resemble various types of animal fins and flippers. As shown particularly in FIG. 3, the fin area 14 need not be flat, and may instead have various undulations and contours, either for aesthetic or hydrodynamic purposes.

As those of skill in the art will realize, because of the shape of the swim fin 10 and its particular contours, swim fins 10 would typically be made in two different varieties—one contoured for the left side of the body and the other contoured for the right side of the body. However, in some embodiments, it is possible that a swim fin 10 could be made ambidextrous, either by making it substantially symmetrical about the appropriate axes or by making the fin area 14 swivel around with respect to the longitudinal spine 16. It is also possible that the fin area 14 and the handle 18 could be made to be detachable from and attachable to the longitudinal spine 16, so that they can be attached to either side of the longitudinal spine 16.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting. Modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A swim fin for the arm, comprising:

an elongate longitudinal spine;

a handle portion extending from the spine in a first direction perpendicular to and in generally the same plane as an extent of the longitudinal spine, the handle portion being positioned to be grasped in the palm of a hand;

a strap or sleeve assembly including a forearm strap attached to the longitudinal spine behind and spaced from the handle portion; and

a fin area contiguous with and extending from the longitudinal spine in a direction opposite the first direction and in generally the same plane as the extent of the longitudinal spine, the fin area being constructed and adapted to push water.

2. The swim fin of claim 1, further comprising one or more stiffening spines extending from the longitudinal spine into the fin area.

3. The swim fin of claim 2, wherein the stiffening spines comprise thickened sections of a material from which the fin area is made.

4. The swim fin of claim 2, wherein the one or more stiffening spines extend in the direction opposite the first direction.

5. The swim fin of claim 4, wherein the one or more stiffening spines comprise two or more stiffening spines and the two or more stiffening spines are spaced with respect to one another.

6. The swim fin of claim 1, wherein the strap assembly includes a rotatable joint that allows the swim fin to rotate with respect to a forearm to which it is secured such that the swim fin acts essentially as a first class lever, with the strap assembly as a fulcrum and effort applied through the handle portion.