Abstract
A water footwear adapted for wear on the foot of a user having a fin. The fin is slidable between a deployed position where the fin projects forward from the toe of the water footwear to a retracted position where the distal end of the fin is moved inline or immediately adjacent the toe of the water footwear. With the fin in the retracted position the user may easily walk in a normal fashion. With the fin moved to the deployed position it provides an aid for swimming.
Claims
1. A water footwear apparatus, comprising: a fin, said fin having a first end opposite a distal end; a translating engagement of said fin, said translating engagement adapted to connect said fin with a sole of water footwear having a heel end opposite a toe; said fin in said translating engagement moveable for a distance along an axis between a retracted position and a deployed position; said fin in said retracted position locating said distal end of said fin adjacent to said toe of said water footwear; and said fin in said deployed position positioning a portion of said fin between said first end and said distal end projecting from said toe said distance to said distal end of said fin.
2. The water footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein said translating engagement of said fin to said sole of said water footwear is a slot formed within said sole of said water footwear; and said fin positioned in a sandwiched engagement within said slot.
3. The water footwear apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said translating engagement of said fin to said sole of said water footwear is a frame having a first end opposite a second end; fasteners engaging said frame to said sole of said shoe with said first end of said frame closest to said heel end of said water footwear and said second end of said frame closest to said toe of said water footwear; said fin in a sliding engagement with said frame; and said first end of said fin translatable for said distance in said sliding engagement in-between said first end and said second end of said frame.
4. The water footwear apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: a connector forming a secondary engagement of said second end of said frame to said toe of said water footwear.
5. The water footwear apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: a lock, said lock having a first position and a second position; said lock in said first position preventing translation of said fin in said sliding engagement; and said fin translatable for said distance in said sliding engagement with said lock in said second position.
6. The water footwear apparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising: a lock, said lock having a first position and a second position; said lock in said first position preventing translation of said fin in said sliding engagement; and said fin translatable for said distance in said sliding engagement with said lock in said second position.
7. The water footwear apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sliding engagement of said fin with said frame comprises: a mount engaged to said second end of said frame; a gap formed between said mount and said second end of said frame; and said fin slidably engaged within said gap.
8. The water footwear apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sliding engagement of said fin with said frame comprises: a mount engaged to said second end of said frame; a gap formed between said mount and said second end of said frame; and said fin slidably engaged within said gap.
9. The water footwear apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sliding engagement of said fin with said frame comprises: a mount engaged to said second end of said frame; a gap formed between said mount and said second end of said frame; and said fin slidably engaged within said gap.
10. The water footwear apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sliding engagement of said fin with said frame comprises: a mount engaged to said second end of said frame; a gap formed between said mount and said second end of said frame; and said fin slidably engaged within said gap.
11. The water footwear apparatus of claim 9 additionally comprising: said lock engaged through a central slot formed in said fin to a connection with said mount; and said central slot having a length defining said distance said fin is moveable along said axis between said retracted position and said deployed position.
12. The water footwear apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising: said lock engaged through a central slot formed in said fin to a connection with said mount; and said central slot having a length defining said distance said fin is moveable along said axis between said retracted position and said deployed position.
13. The water footwear apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising: a pair of parallel elongated fin slots formed through said fin; and said mount engaged to said second end of said frame with pins communicating through said fin slots.
14. The water footwear apparatus of claim 8 additionally comprising: a pair of parallel elongated fin slots formed through said fin; and said mount engaged to said second end of said frame with pins communicating through said fin slots.
15. The water footwear apparatus of claim 9 additionally comprising: a pair of parallel elongated fin slots formed through said fin; and said mount engaged to said second end of said frame with pins communicating through said fin slots.
16. The water footwear apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising: a pair of parallel elongated fin slots formed through said fin; and said mount engaged to said second end of said frame with pins communicating through said fin slots.
17. The water footwear apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising: a pair of parallel elongated fin slots formed through said fin; and said mount engaged to said second end of said frame with pins communicating through said fin slots.
18. The water footwear apparatus of claim 12 additionally comprising: a pair of parallel elongated fin slots formed through said fin; and said mount engaged to said second end of said frame with pins communicating through said fin slots.
Description
[0020] In the drawings:
[0021] FIG. 1 is an overhead view of the device showing the fin having a distal end at or slightly in front of the toe end of the body in one mode positioning the fin to a retracted position where it allows easy walking by the user where the fin is translatable to the deployed position of FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 2 depicts an overhead view of the device as in FIG. 1, where the fin is engaged within a space or slot in the sole or below the sole, in a manner to allow translation of the fin to the depicted deployed position locating the distal end of the fin a distance from the toe end of the body of the footwear.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a fin in a position similar to that of FIG. 1 where the fin is in a more rectangular configuration and translated to the retracted position.
[0024] FIG. 4 depicts the fin of FIG. 3, where translation is provided by engagement of sole of the footwear with a slot running axially through the fin, in a manner allowing translation of the fin to position the fin distal end a distance in front of the toe end of the footwear.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows the device having a fin similar to that of FIG. 3, but where the fin is configured with two adjacent portions engaged with the sole to translate sideways to the deployed position from the collapsed configuration of FIG. 6.
[0026] FIG. 6 as noted shows a sideways translating mode of the fin of FIGS. 3-5, which has translated to the collapsed position with two fin portions adjacent sides of the footwear, thereby allowing easy walking even with the distal end of the fin proximal to the toe end of the body.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a view of the bottom of the body of the footwear employed with the translating fin herein, showing a sole with the fin engaged therein such as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, which has been translated to a retracted position with the first end of the fin adjacent the heel end of the body.
[0028] FIG. 8 shows the device where a frame is engaged with or within the sole of the footwear and depicts the fin translated to the deployed position projecting forward from the toe end of the footwear.
[0029] FIG. 9 depicts the device herein as in FIG. 8 but showing the fin translated to the retracted position to locate the distal end of the fin adjacent the toe end of the footwear.
[0030] FIG. 10 depicts the frame of the device herein which is adapted for engagement to the footwear such as in FIGS. 1-5 and 8-9 where a first portion is spaced from a second portion of the frame and the fin is engaged to translate along slots having pins therethrough and showing the frame positioned with the fin translated to a deployed configuration.
[0031] FIG. 11 shows the frame of FIG. 10 wherein the fin has been translated toward the second portion of the frame to position the fin in a retracted position with the frame engaged to the bottom of footwear adapted for positioning on the foot of a user.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the footwear engageable track of FIG. 10.
[0033] FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the footwear engageable track of FIG. 11.
[0034] FIG. 14 depicts an exploded view of the frame showing the fin translatably engaged with the frame by pins or screws which communicate through parallel elongated openings in the fin and also showing the locking member.
[0035] FIG. 15 depicts a mode of the fin engaged with the frame herein and showing the fin to be expandable by translating opposing side portions.
[0036] FIG. 16 depicts a mode of the frame adapted for engagement to footwear which includes a biasing member adapted to impart force to translate the fin along an axis in a direction away from the first portion of the frame to the deployed or projecting position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0037] In this description, any directional prepositions, if employed, such as up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, first, second, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms referring to the device or depictions as such may be oriented, are describing it such as it appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. Such terms of direction and location are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device herein has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.
[0038] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-16, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1, in an overhead view of the device 10 showing the body 12 of the footwear 13 configured with an interior cavity 14 which extends through an elongated portion 16 of the body 12 of the footwear 13 into a lower end of the interior cavity 14 adjacent an insole. As noted, the body 12 of the footwear 13 is preferably formed of elastic material adapted for use in the water such as neoprene or similar elastic and water employable materials.
[0039] On the bottom of the body 12 of the footwear 13 is located a sole 18 which is adapted for walking on hard surfaces, sand, soil, and on surfaces underwater. In the mode of FIG. 1, a translatable engagement of the fin 22 with the footwear 13 is provided by a slot 20 formed within the sole 18 which is adapted for translation of a fin 22 therein. Other modes of a translatable engagement of the fin 22 to the footwear 13 body 12 are shown herein and neither those of FIG. 1 or otherwise shown herein should be considered limiting. The fin 22 may be any shape such as the triangular shape of FIGS. 1-2 and 8-9 or more rectangular shape of FIGS. 3-4.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows an overhead view of the device 10 as in FIG. 1, where the fin 22 is in a translating engagement to the footwear 13 using a slot 20 in the sole 18. The slot 20 runs through the middle of the sole in a manner enabling translation of the fin 18 therein to position the first end 19 of the fin 22 adjacent the toe end 24 of the body 12 of the footwear 13. In this configuration the fin 22 will translate axially along the footwear 13 to position the distal end 21 of the fin 22 a distance in front of the toe end 24 of the body 12 when in the deployed position such as in FIGS. 2, 4, and 8.
[0041] Shown in FIG. 3 the fin 22 is translated in the slot 20 in the sole 18 to a position similar to that of FIG. 1, where the fin 22 is formed to a more rectangular configuration. FIG. 4, depicts the fin 22 as in FIG. 3, where the translating engagement can employ an elongated opening 27 running axially along the fin 22 which is engaged within the slot 20 in the sole 18 or with a pin in the sole 18. In this translational engagement the fin 22 is slidable to position the first end 19 of the fin 19 at or adjacent the toe 24 of the body 12 of the footwear 13. This allows the user to translate the fin 22 from the retracted position of FIG. 3 where the footwear 13 is easy for walking, to the deployed position of FIG. 4 with the distal end 21 of the fin 22 a distance in front of the toe end 24 of the body 12 with a central portion of the fin 22 between the toe 24 and the distal end 19. This distance of projection or distance of the distal end 21 from the toe 24, is determined substantially by the distance of translation of the fin 22, between the retracted point where the first end of the fin 22 is closest to the heel end 23 and when the first end 19 of the fin 22 is closest to the toe 24. In the deployed position the user wearing the footwear 13 is provided enhanced force when swimming and kicking their legs.
[0042] In FIGS. 5-6 is shown the device 10 having a translating engagement of the fin 22 to the footwear 13 where the fin 22 is configured with a first portion 28 and a second portion 30. The first portion 28 is configured translate away from a first side edge of the footwear 13 and the second portion 30 of the fin 22 is configured to translate away a second edge of the footwear 13 in an opposite direction. In this mode, translation of the fin 22 to a deployed position locates the distal side edges of the first portion 28 and second portion 30 spaced from respective sides of the footwear 13.
[0043] Shown in FIG. 7 is a view of the bottom of the body 12 of the footwear 13 of the device 10 to which the sole 18 is engaged. In this mode, the fin 22 is in a translating engagement within a void or slot 20 formed in the sole 18 between a deployed and a retracted position. However, the fin 22 can also be in a translating engagement with an exterior surface of the sole 18. Where such a translating engagement is provided, a frame 32 can provide the translating connection of the fin 22 with the sole 18 of the footwear 13. While it should not be considered limiting in any fashion, such a translating engagement of the fin 22 to the footwear 13 is depicted in FIGS. 8-14 where the footwear 13 so engaged is configured for use in a water environment and adapted to engage on the foot of the user.
[0044] As seen in FIG. 7, when the fin 22 is translated to the retracted position, the first end 19 of the fin 22 is positioned in between the heel end 23 of the body 12 of the footwear 13 and the toe 24 and the distal end 21 of the fin 22 is closer to the toe 24. As noted, this retracted position renders the device 10 easier to walk in where the footwear 13 is engaged on the foot of a user walking on substantially dry ground or sand or soil. However, the position of the fin 22 in FIGS. 1 and 5, might also be a retracted position enabling easy walking, especially where a collapsible fin 22 shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 15 is employed.
[0045] As depicted in FIG. 8, showing the fin 22 translated to the deployed position, the translating engagement of the fin 22 to the footwear 13 in the device 10 herein may employ a frame 32 such as also shown in FIGS. 10-16. Such a frame 32 is configured for engagement with the sole 18 of footwear 13 in a mode allowing the user or allowing footwear 13 manufacturers to mount the frame 32 with fin 22 and form the device 10 herein in a customized fashion. Alternatively, the frame 32 might be co-molded into the sole 18 or otherwise engaged with the sole 18 of the footwear 13. While in a preferred mode of the device 10 such as in FIG. 1-7 or 8-9 the device 10 will be configured as a unit with footwear 13 adapted for engagement to the foot of a user, the device 10 can also be assembled with existing footwear 13 by engaging the frame 32 with translating fin 22 thereto such as by employing a connector to hold the frame 32 to the sole 18 of footwear 13. Such connectors can be screws 34, for example, or might be adhesive or co-molding or snaps or cooperative half fasteners positioned on each of the sole 18 and frame 32, or other connectors as would occur to those skilled in the art such as any fastener from the GRAINGER catalog.
[0046] Also shown in FIG. 8 and other figures herein depicting the frame 32, are a plurality of parallel fin slots 40 and a central slot 42 in the fin 22. As can be discerned in 10-14 the fin slots 42 form a passage for fasteners such as screws 34 connecting the mount 38 to the second end 46 of the frame 32 which is engaged to the first end. The fin 22 is in a translating sandwiched engagement in-between this connection and the fin 22 is guided during translation by the screws 34 located in the fin slots 40. A central slot 42 as described below is also present.
[0047] In this sandwiched engagement, the distance of projection or distance of the distal end 21 from the toe 24 in the deployed fin 22 position, is determined substantially by the distance of translation of the fin 22, between the retracted point where the first end 19 of the fin 22 is closest to the first end 44 of the frame, the deployed position where the first end 19 of the fin 22 is slid to a position closest to the second end 46 of the frame 42. Thus the distance of projection of the fin 22 forward from the toe 24 is determined by the distance the fin 22 is translated on the frame 32.
[0048] As shown one means to define the distance of translation in each direction, is the positioning of the lock 48 through a central slot 42 in the fin which has a length. The length of the central slot 42, thus defines the distance of translation of the fin 22 since it will stop in both directions when the ends of the central slot 42 contact the lock 48. Thus, when the fin 22 is in the retracted position with the first end 19 of the fin 22 at or closest to the first end of the frame 44, the fin 22 will translate the distance toward the second end 46 of the frame 32 until the opposite end of the central slot 42 contacts the lock 48. The distance translated will substantially equal the distance the distal end 21 of the fin 22 locates in front of the toe 24 and thereby determines a distance of projection of the fin 22 from the distal end 21 across a mid portion thereof, to the toe 24. Alternatively, should the lock 48 not be present, the length of the fin slots 40 can determine the distance since they will stop when contacting the screws 34. FIG. 9 depicts the device herein as in FIG. 8 showing the axis 33 of the footwear 13 along which the fin 22 is translated from the deployed position in FIG. 8, to the retracted position. In this retracted position, as noted, in the other depictions, the distal end 21 of the fin 22 is located substantially adjacent the toe end of the footwear. By substantially throughout this application is meant plus or minus twenty percent. By adjacent is meant the distal end 21 is aligned with the end of the toe 24 is rearward of the toe 24 between the heel end 23 and toe 24 or projects no more than one to five inches in front of the toe 24.
[0049] Also depicted in FIGS. 8-9 are a toe connector 36. The toe connector 36 forms a connection of the frame 32 at or adjacent the toe 24 of the footwear 23 to reinforce the engagement of the frame 32 against dismount under the heavy torque developing where the first end 19 of the fin 22 connects with the footwear 13. While shown as a strap encircling the toe 24 and engaging a mount 38 on the frame 32, the toe connector 32 may also be a snap, clip, hook and loop fabric, adhesive, or any other fastener as would occur to those skilled in the art which will hold the mount 38.
[0050] In experimentation, the strap functioned well as the toe connector 32 by forming an encircling connection with the toe 24 of the footwear 13 and was found less prone to fail when subjected to the force of the user kicking while swimming.
[0051] FIG. 10 depicts the frame of the device herein which is adapted for engagement to the footwear such as in FIGS. 1-5 and 8-9 where a first portion is spaced from a second portion of the frame and the fin is engaged to translate along slots having pins therethrough and showing the frame positioned with the fin translated to a deployed configuration.
[0052] FIG. 11 shows the frame 32 of FIG. 10 wherein the fin 22 has been translated away from a first end 44 of the frame 32 toward the second end 46 of the frame 32. The translating engagement provided by the frame 32 engaged to footwear 13 allows the sliding of the fin 22 along the axis 33 shown in FIG. 9, to move the fin 22 between a retracted position of FIG. 9 to the deployed position of FIG. 8. The frame 32 providing the translating engagement is connected to the sole 18 of footwear 13 which, as noted, is adapted for positioning on the foot of a user. Also shown is the mount 38 for engagement of a toe connector at the second end 46 of the frame 32 providing a point of connection to the toe 24 of the footwear 13 to better support the torque of the fin 22 during use by the user. As noted the toe connector 36 may be a strap or other fastener or connection to the toe 24 for the second end 46 of the frame 32 as would occur to those skilled in the art.
[0053] In FIG. 12 is shown a bottom view of the frame 32 showing the fin 22 translated to the deployed position as in FIG. 8. Also shown is a lock 48. The lock 48 is actuable by a user in a first position to allow translation of the fin 22 and in a second position to fix or lock the position of the fin 22. As shown in FIG. 14 a current favored mode of the lock 48 is a rotating knob which has opposing flat sides which are equal to or slightly smaller than a diameter of the central slot 42. Thus, when rotated to first position the fin 22 will translate on the frame 32 and when rotated to a second position the diameter of the opposing sides of the knob contact the sides of the central slot 42 and prevent translation locking the fin 22 in place. This arrangement can also be seen in FIG. 13 showing the fin 22 retracted on the frame 32.
[0054] In FIG. 14 is shown an exploded view of the frame 32 depicting how frame 32 provides a translating engagement of the fin 22 to footwear 13 when the frame 32 is operatively attached to the sole 18 of such water-employed footwear 13. The fin 22 is positioned within a gap 37 in between the mount 38 and the second end 46 of the frame 32 to which the mount 28 engages. Pins such as screws 34 engage through the fin slots 40 to connect the mount 38 to the second end 46 of the frame 32 and form the gap 37 in which the fin 22 translates in a sandwiched engagement between the second end 46 of the frame 32 and the mount 38. The lock 48 is shown with opposing planar sides 49 which have a diameter as noted equal to or small than a width of the central slot 42 to allow translation when positioned parallel to the opposing sides of the central slot 42. T
[0055] FIG. 15 depicts the fin 22 engaged with the frame 32 herein in the manner noted above but additionally including side fin portions 28 and 30, which rotate or translate out from the opposing side edges of the fin 22, rendering the fin 22 to be expandable. A biasing component such as a spring shown as the biasing component 52 in FIG. 16 or other biasing member or component such as elastic or a spring member, may provide a force to move the fin side portions 28 and 30, outward.
[0056] In FIG. 16 is shown the frame 32 as in FIGS. 8-15 wherein a biasing component 52 is positioned to impart a force to the fin 22 to translate it automatically away from the first end of the frame 32 toward the second end 46 of the frame 32 and thereby move the fin 22 to the deployed position as in FIG. 8, once the lock 48 is moved to the position to allow translation of the fin 22. To move the fin 22 back to the retracted position as in FIG. 9, the user would impart force to the fin 22 to move it to the retracted position of FIG. 9, and then move the lock 48 to a locked position where it contacts the fin 22 and holds it in the retracted position.
[0057] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the water footwear device herein have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that upon reading this disclosure and becoming aware of the disclosed novel and useful reconfigurable water footwear herein disclosed, that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may occur to and be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions, as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
