Diving Flipper

Abstract

A diving flipper (10) for propulsion in water, comprising a shoe part (100) for receiving a foot of a user, and a flipper part (200) having two ribs (210) and a blade (220) fastened to the ribs (210), wherein the ribs (210) are arranged on both sides of a median plane (M) of the diving flipper (10), and each have dorsal and plantar edges (250, 251) in the transverse direction of the ribs (210) and distal and proximal ends (260, 261) in the longitudinal direction of the ribs (210), and fastening devices (300) for fastening the ribs (210) to the shoe part (100),
wherein the dorsal edge (250) of at least one rib (210) is inclined relative to the median plane (M) of the diving flipper (10), so that the dorsal edges (250) have less of a distance to each other than the plantar edges (251) of the ribs (210) to each other, wherein the ribs (210) elastically deform relative to each other at least in sections in the direction of the median plane (M) of the diving flipper (10) in the event of an external application of force to the flipper part (200) in the plantar direction.

Claims

1. A diving flipper (10) for propulsion in water, the flipper comprising: a shoe part (100) for receiving a foot of a user; a flipper part (200) having two ribs (210) and a blade (220) fastened to the ribs (210), wherein the ribs (210) are arranged on both sides of a median plane (M) of the diving flipper (10), and each have dorsal and plantar edges (250, 251) in the transverse direction of the ribs (210) and distal and proximal ends (260, 261) in the longitudinal direction of the ribs (210); and fastening devices (300) for fastening the ribs (210) to the shoe part (100), wherein the dorsal edge (250) of at least one rib (210) is inclined relative to the median plane (M) of the diving flipper (10), so that the dorsal edges (250) have less of a distance to each other than the plantar edges (251) of the ribs (210) to each other, wherein the ribs (210) elastically deform relative to each other at least in sections in the direction of the median plane (M) of the diving flipper (10) in the event of an external application of force to the flipper part (200) in the plantar direction.

2. The diving flipper according to claim 1, wherein the dorsal edges (250) of both ribs (210) are inclined toward each other to the median plane (M) of the diving flipper (10), so that the dorsal edges (250) have less of a distance to each other than the plantar edges (251) of the ribs (210) to each other.

3. The diving flipper according to claim 1, wherein the dorsal edges (250) are inclined to the median plane (M) in the transverse direction of the ribs (210) by an angle (β) of 10° to 60°.

4. The diving flipper according to claim 1, wherein at least one rib (210) is comprised of at least one first and one second layer (211, 212), wherein the second layer (212) is shorter than the first layer (211).

5. The diving flipper according to claim 4, wherein the first and/or second layer (211, 212) is tapered in the direction of the distal end (260) of a rib (210), wherein the second layer (212) is more strongly tapered than the first layer (211).

6. The diving flipper according to claim 4, wherein the first and the second layer (211, 212) are connected with each other by an adhesive (213).

7. The diving flipper according to claim 1, wherein the ribs (210) are manufactured out of glass fiber, carbon fiber or bamboo laminate.

8. The diving flipper according to claim 1, wherein the distal ends (260) of the ribs (210) have a larger distance to each other than the proximal ends (261) of the ribs (210) to each other.

9. The diving flipper according to claim 1, wherein at least one expansion element (400) is arranged on a distal end section (262) of at least one rib (210) and is configured to expand the extension of the rib (210) in a transverse direction.

10. The diving flipper according to claim 9, wherein the expansion elements (400) have a distance to the corresponding rib (210), wherein the distance measures between 5 and 15 mm.

11. The diving flipper according to claim 3, wherein the angle (β) is 20° to 50°.

12. The diving flipper according to claim 3, wherein the angle (β) is 30° to 50°.

13. The diving flipper according to claim 3, wherein the angle (β) is 45°.

14. The diving flipper according to claim 4, wherein each of the ribs (210) is comprised of at least one first and one second layer (211, 212), wherein the second layer (212) is shorter than the first layer (211).

15. The diving flipper according to claim 9, wherein at least one expansion element (400) is arranged on a distal end section (262) of each of the ribs (210).

16. The diving flipper according to claim 9, wherein the transverse direction is a plantar direction.

17. The diving flipper according to claim 10, wherein the distance is 10 mm.

Description

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary diving flipper,

[0041] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the diving flipper on FIG. 1,

[0042] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along the A-A cut of the diving flipper on FIG. 1,

[0043] FIG. 4 is a side view of a rib of the diving flipper on FIG. 1, wherein the rib has a first and a second layer,

[0044] FIG. 5 is a front view of the rib on FIG. 4, and

[0045] FIG. 6 are schematic sequential motions of the diving flipper in the water.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary diving flipper 10 for propelling a user or diver in the water, wherein the diving flipper 10 has a shoe part 100 for receiving a foot of the user, a flipper part having two ribs 210 and a blade 220 fastened to the ribs 210, wherein the ribs 210 are arranged on both sides of a median plane M of the diving flipper 10, and each have dorsal and plantar edges 250, 251 in the transverse direction of the ribs 210 and distal and proximal ends 260, 261 in the longitudinal direction of the ribs 210, wherein the distal ends 260 of the ribs 210 have a larger distance to each other than the proximal ends 261 of the ribs 210 to each other, and fastening devices 300 for fastening the ribs 210 to the shoe part 100.

[0047] An expansion element 400 is further arranged on the ribs 210 at a respective distal end section 262 of the rib 210, which is set up to expand the extension of the corresponding rib 210 in a transverse direction—an expansion in the plantar direction in the example shown. The expansion elements 400 here have a distance to the corresponding rib 210, and do not directly abut against the rib 210, wherein the distance measures 10 mm in the embodiment shown.

[0048] As more clearly evident on FIG. 2, the ribs 210 each comprise a groove or notch 310 at their proximal ends 261, which is provided for a stop not visible on the figures in receiving openings 320 of the shoe part 100 provided for fastening the ribs 210. In addition, the ribs 210 each comprise a first fastening recess 330, and the receiving openings 320 of the shoe part 100 each comprise two second fastening openings 340.

[0049] In order to fasten the ribs 210 to the shoe part 100, the ribs 210 are inserted into the receiving openings 320 of the shoe part 100, wherein the notch 310 of the ribs 210 hits the stop inside of the receiving openings 320, so that the first fastening recess 330 of the ribs 210 and the two second fastening openings 340 of the receiving openings 320 overlap in such a way that the latter can receive a bolt or a screw 350 for immovably fixing the ribs 210 to the shoe part 100.

[0050] As shown on FIG. 3 in detail, the dorsal edges 250 of the ribs 210 are each inclined to each other by an angle β to the median plane M of the diving flipper 10, so that the dorsal edges 250 have a smaller distance to each other than the plantar edges 251 of the ribs 210 to each other, wherein the ribs 210 elastically deform relative to each other at least in sections in the direction of the median plane M of the diving flipper 10 in the event of an external application of force to the flipper part 200 in the plantar direction. The dorsal edges 250 in the transverse direction of the ribs 210 are inclined by an angle β of 45° to the median plane M in the embodiment shown on the figures.

[0051] In the example shown, each rib 210 consists of a first and a second layer 211, 212, wherein the second layer 212 is shorter than the first layer 211, and wherein the first and the second layer 211, 212 are connected with each other by means of an adhesive 213, as visible on FIG. 4. The first and the second layer 211, 212 are each tapered in the direction of the distal end 260 of a rib 210, wherein the second layer 212 is more strongly tapered than the first layer 211, as visible on FIG. 5. The layers 211, 212 of the ribs can here be manufactured out of glass fiber, carbon fiber or bamboo laminate.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows schematic sequential motions of the diving flipper during an upward movement (movement against the stroke direction), a subsequently downward movement (movement in the stroke direction), and a renewed upward movement (movement against the stroke direction).

[0053] The first upward movement of the diving flipper on FIG. 6 shows a user lunging into a leg kick in the stroke direction, wherein the diving flipper must here be moved opposite the stroke direction, wherein the water resists the motion against the stroke direction by exerting a force in the plantar direction, wherein the ribs here elastically deform at least in sections relative to each other in the direction of the median plane of the diving flipper due to the angled arrangement of the ribs on the shoe part, as visible in the first sequence of motions. The deformation of the ribs in the direction of the median plane of the diving flipper also causes the blade to deform, wherein the surface of the blade is essentially tensioned between the ribs and flat in design in a resting position of the diving flipper, and curved if the ribs are deformed as mentioned above. The curved surface of the blade can also lead to a “backward swimming” with the diving flipper.

[0054] Because of this elastic deformation of the ribs, the ribs become prestressed to some extent, and act as relaxing mechanical springs during a renewed leg kick in the stroke direction, wherein the restoring force that results in the process significantly reduces the force expended by the diver to move forward. Such a sequence of motions is depicted in the downward movement on FIG. 6.

REFERENCE LIST

[0055] Diving flipper 10 [0056] Shoe part 100 [0057] Flipper part 200 [0058] Ribs 210 [0059] Blade 220 [0060] Dorsal edges 250 [0061] Plantar edges 251 [0062] Distal end 260 [0063] Proximal end 261 [0064] Distal end section 262 [0065] Fastening device 300 [0066] Groove/notch 310 [0067] Receiving opening 320 [0068] First fastening opening 330 [0069] Second fastening opening 340 [0070] Bolt/screw 350 [0071] Expansion element 400 [0072] Median plane M [0073] Angle β