Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
COUPLEABLE FIN APPARATUSES AND BOOT TOE BODIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of United States provisional patent
application no.
62/088,387 filed December 5, 2014. Further, in the United States of America,
this application is
a continuation-in-part of United States patent application no. 14/171,288
filed February 3,
2014, which is a continuation of United States patent application no.
13/639,446 (now United
States patent no. 8,641,464) filed October 4, 2012, which is a national stage
entry of PCT
international application no. PCT/CA2011/000395 filed April 7, 2011, which
claims the benefit
of United States provisional patent application no. 61/322,104 filed April 8,
2010. Also, in the
United States of America, this application is a continuation-in-part of United
States patent
application no. 14/435,084 filed April 10, 2015, which is a national stage
entry of PCT
international application no. PCT/CA2012/000946 filed October 12, 2012.
FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to fins, and more particularly to fin
apparatuses
coupleable to boot toe bodies, boot toe bodies coupleable to fin apparatuses,
systems including
coupleable fin apparatuses and boot toe bodies, and methods of coupling fin
apparatuses and
boot toe bodies.
RELATED ART
A user can couple a known fin to each foot of the user. When the user kicks in
water, for
example, the fins can facilitate generating propulsion in the water.
Many known fins have foot pockets for receiving a foot of a user, but such
foot pockets
are generally integral to the fin and available only in a small number of
standard sizes because,
for example, costs to manufacture and distribute entire fins with a large
variety of foot sizes and
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shapes would be very high. Therefore, when a user selects such a fin, the user
must also select a
single foot pocket size of the fin, often from among a small number of
available sizes.
Therefore, such foot pockets often do not comfortably fit a foot of a user,
and space between
the foot and an inside wall of the foot pocket can receive water,
disadvantageously adding to
drag of the fin in water and limiting the control of the user over the fin.
Other known fins
include alternatives to foot pockets, but such known alternatives may still
require a user to
choose from small number of standard sizes because, for example, of
potentially high
manufacturing and distribution costs for a large variety of foot sizes.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a method of coupling a boot
toe body
to a fin apparatus comprising a fin body coupled to a boot coupling body, the
method
comprising: connecting a first connector on a first end of the boot coupling
body to a first
complementary connector on a top side of the boot toe body; and connecting a
second
connector on a second end of the boot coupling body to a second complementary
connector on
a bottom side of the boot toe body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a fin apparatus coupleable
to a
boot toe body, the apparatus comprising: a fin body; and a boot coupling body
coupleable to the
fin body. The boot coupling body comprises: first and second ends; a first
connecting means on
the first end of the boot coupling body for connecting with a first
complementary connecting
means on a top side of the boot toe body; and a second connecting means on the
second end of
the boot coupling body for connecting with a second complementary connecting
means on a
bottom side of the boot toe body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a boot toe body coupleable
to a fin
apparatus comprising a fin body coupleable to a boot coupling body comprising
first and
second ends, the boot toe body comprising: a first connecting means on a top
side of the boot
toe body for connecting with a first complementary connecting means on the
first end of the
boot coupling body; and a second connecting means on a bottom side of the boot
toe body for
connecting with a second complementary connecting means on the second end of
the boot
coupling body.
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According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a fin system comprising
the
apparatus and the boot toe body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a fin apparatus coupleable
to a
boot toe body, the apparatus comprising: a fin body; and a boot coupling body
coupleable to the
fin body. The boot coupling body comprises: first and second ends; a first
connector on the first
end of the boot coupling body for connecting with a first complementary
connector on a top
side of the boot toe body; and a second connector on the second end of the
boot coupling body
for connecting with a second complementary connector on a bottom side of the
boot toe body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a boot toe body coupleable
to a fin
apparatus coupleable to a boot coupling body comprising first and second ends,
the boot toe
body comprising: a first connector on a top side of the boot toe body for
connecting with a first
complementary connector on the first end of the boot coupling body; and a
second connector on
a bottom side of the boot toe body for connecting with a second complementary
connector on
the second end of the boot coupling body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a fin system comprising
the
apparatus and the boot toe body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a method of coupling a
boot toe
body to a fin apparatus comprising a fin body coupled to a boot coupling body,
the method
comprising: connecting a first boot connector on a top portion of the boot
coupling body to a
first complementary boot connector on a top side of the boot toe body; and
connecting a second
boot connector on a bottom portion of the boot coupling body to a second
complementary boot
connector on a bottom side of the boot toe body. The second complementary boot
connector
comprises a boot toe retaining surface. The second boot connector comprises a
boot retaining
surface on a top side of the bottom portion of the boot coupling body.
Connecting the second
boot connector to the second complementary boot connector comprises:
contacting the boot
retaining surface and the boot toe retaining surface; and retaining the second
boot connector
against movement in a direction towards the fin body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a fin apparatus coupleable
to a
boot toe body, the apparatus comprising a fin body. The apparatus further
comprises a boot
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coupling body comprising: a top portion comprising a first boot connector for
connecting with a
first complementary boot connector on a top side of the boot toe body; and a
bottom portion
comprising a second boot connector for connecting with a second complementary
boot
connector on a bottom side of the boot toe body. The second boot connector
comprises a boot
retaining surface on a top side of the bottom portion of the boot coupling
body for contacting a
boot toe retaining surface of the second complementary boot connector. The
boot retaining
surface is configured to retain the second boot connector against movement in
a direction
towards the fin body when the boot retaining surface contacts the boot toe
retaining surface.
Other aspects and features will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in
the art
upon review of the following description of illustrative embodiments in
conjunction with the
accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH14; DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view of a fin system according to an
embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded bottom perspective view of a fin apparatus including a
fin body, a
boot coupling body, and a fastener of the fin system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the fin apparatus of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the fin apparatus of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the fin system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the boot coupling body and of
a boot toe
body of the fin system of FIG. 1, taken along the line 6-6 shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the boot coupling body and
the boot toe
body of FIG. 1 in a first stage of coupling the boot coupling body to the boot
toe body.
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FIG. 8 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the boot coupling body and
the boot toe
body of FIG. 1 in a second stage of coupling the boot coupling body to the
boot toe body.
FIG. 9 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the boot coupling body of
FIG. 1 coupled
to the boot toe body of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is a partial side cross-sectional view of a boot coupling body and a
boot toe
body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a side view of a boot system according to another embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a boot system according to another embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a bottom view of a boot toe body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 14 is an exploded bottom perspective view of a fin system according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a partial side view of a fin system according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 16 is top views of fin apparatuses according to other embodiments.
FIG. 17 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and part of a fin body
according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and part of a fin body
according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and part of a fin body
according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and part of a fin body
according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and a fin body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view of a boot coupling body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view of a boot toe body according to the
embodiment
of FIG. 22.
FIG. 24 is a partial top view of the boot coupling body and the boot toe body
of FIGS.
22 and 23, with a clasp of the boot coupling body in a coupling position.
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FIG. 25 is a partial top view of the boot coupling body and the boot toe body
of FIGS.
22 and 23, with the clasp of the boot coupling body in a decoupling position.
FIG. 26 is a bottom view of a fin apparatus including the boot coupling body
of FIG. 22,
with a heel coupling body of the boot coupling body in a stowed position.
FIG. 27 is a side view of the fin system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 28 is a side view of a clasp according to another embodiment.
FIG. 29 is another exploded top perspective view of the fin system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 30 is another exploded top perspective view of the fin system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 31 is a top perspective view of the fin apparatus and the boot toe body
of the fin
system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 32 is a proximal end view of the fin apparatus of the fin system of FIG.
1.
FIG. 33 is a distal end view of the fin apparatus of the fin system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 34 is a top view of the fin apparatus and the boot toe body of the fin
system of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 35 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and a fin body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 36 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and a fin body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 37 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 38 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and part of a fin body
according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 39 is a bottom view of part of a boot coupling body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 40 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 41 is a bottom view of a boot, a boot coupling body, and part of a fin
body
according to another embodiment.
FIG. 42 is a bottom view of a boot coupling body and a fin body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 43 is an exploded top perspective view of a fin system according to
another
embodiment.
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FIG. 44 is a side cross-sectional view of a fin frame of the fin system of
FIG. 43, taken
along the line 44-44 shown in FIG. 43.
FIG. 45 is an exploded bottom perspective view of a coupling body of the fin
system of
FIG. 43.
FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view of a boot coupling body including the fin
frame and
the coupling body of the fin system of FIG. 43.
FIG. 47 is an exploded bottom perspective view of a coupling body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 48 is a side cross-sectional view of the coupling body of FIG. 47 and a
boot toe
body according to the embodiment of FIG. 47.
FIG. 49 is a side cross-sectional view of a boot and a heel coupling portion
of a boot
coupling body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 50 is a side partial-cross-sectional view of a fin system according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 51 is a side schematic illustration of a boot coupling body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 52 is a side schematic illustration of a boot coupling body of FIG. 51
with a boot
toe body being coupled to the boot coupling body.
FIG. 53 is a side schematic illustration of the boot coupling body of FIG. 51
with the
boot toe body of FIG. 52 coupled to the boot coupling body.
FIG. 54 is a side schematic illustration of the boot toe body of FIG. 52 being
ejected
from the boot coupling body of FIG. 51.
FIG. 55 is a side schematic illustration of a boot coupling body according to
another
embodiment.
FIG. 56 is a side view of a boot toe body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 57 is a side view of a boot shell that may be coupled to the boot toe
body of FIG.
56.
FIG. 58 is a side view of a boot toe body and a boot coupling body according
to another
embodiment.
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FIG. 59 is a side view of the boot toe body of FIG. 58 and a boot coupling
body
according to another embodiment.
FIG. 60 is a side view of a boot toe body and a boot coupling body according
to another
embodiment.
FIG. 61 is a side view of a boot toe body, a boot coupling body, and a boot
shell
according to another embodiment.
FIG. 62 is a side view of a boot and a boot toe body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 63 is a side view of a boot shell, a liner, and a boot toe body according
to another
embodiment.
FIG. 64 is a side schematic illustration of a boot coupling body according to
another
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a fin system according to an embodiment is shown
generally at 100
and includes a fin body 102, a boot coupling body 104, a boot toe body 106,
and a boot 108.
The fin body 102 has a proximal end shown generally at 110 and configured to
be
coupled to the boot coupling body 104 and the boot toe body 106 as described
below. The fin
body 102 also has a distal end shown generally at 112 opposite the proximal
end 110. The fin
body 102 has a top side shown generally at 114 and a bottom side shown
generally at 116.
When a user wearing the fin body 102 walks on a surface, the bottom side 116
generally
faces downward and therefore generally contacts the surface. In general, the
"bottom" side
herein refers to a side that faces downward and generally contacts a surface
when a user walks
on the surface. However, when using the fin body 102 in water, a user may face
downward, so
a "bottom" side of a fin herein refers to a surface that generally faces
upward when in use by a
swimmer facing downward. Further, a "bottom view" herein generally refers to a
view of such
a "bottom" side, so in the case of a fin in use, a "bottom view" herein
generally refers to a view
from above. Conversely, a "top" side of a fin herein refers to a surface that
generally faces
downward when in use by a swimmer facing downward, and a "top view" herein
generally
refers to a view of such a "top" side, so in the case of a fin in use, a "top
view" herein generally
refers to a view from below.
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The fin body 102 also defines a first through-opening shown generally at 118
and
extending between the top side 114 and the bottom side 116, and a second
through-opening
shown generally at 120 and extending between the top side 114 and the bottom
side 116. The
fin body 102 includes a retainer 122 positioned in the through-opening 118 and
extending out
of the bottom side 116. The retainer 122 defines a generally transverse
through-opening shown
generally at 124 to receive a fastener 126 as described below. The retainer
122 may be made
from a relatively rigid thermoplastic material, for example, and the fastener
126 may be a
metallic rivet, for example.
Herein, a "relatively rigid thermoplastic material" may refer to a
thermoplastic material
having a modulus of elasticity of about 100 megapascals (MPa) to about 500
MPa, for example.
The parts described herein may be made from various materials including
thermoplastic
materials such as thermoplastic polyurethane, polypropylene, polyamides,
thermoplastic
elastomers, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene,
ethylene,
polyolefine, acetal resin, polyoxymethylene plastic such as DELRINTM or DELRIN
1O7TM,
and/or combinations of two or more thereof, for example. These thermoplastic
materials may
also be fiber-infused, and/or include composite matrix materials including
glass and/or carbon
fibers, for example.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the boot coupling body 104 is curved in a
generally-semi-
circular shape having a top portion shown generally at 128, a bottom portion
shown generally at
130, and an intermediate portion shown generally at 132 and extending between
the top portion
128 and the bottom portion 130.
The intermediate portion 132 defines a receptacle shown generally at 134 open
to a
space between the top portion 128 and the bottom portion 130. The receptacle
134 is sized to
receive a portion of the retainer 122 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in
FIG. 5, a distal
side of the retainer 122 has two spaced-apart lobes, so the receptacle 134
includes two spaced-
apart recesses (as shown in FIG. 2) to receive respective lobes of the
retainer 122. The
intermediate portion 132 also defines a generally transverse through-opening
shown generally
at 136 and sized to receive the fastener 126.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top portion 128 defines a holder (or a
holding body)
138 extending into the space between the top portion 128 and the bottom
portion 130, and the
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bottom portion 130 defines a clasp 140 extending into the space between the
top portion 128
and the bottom portion 130. The boot coupling body 104 is thus a unitary body
having the
holder 138 and the clasp 140.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the through-opening 118 is sized to receive a portion
of the
intermediate portion 132 with the top portion 128 on the top side 114 of the
fin body 102, and
with the bottom portion 130 on the bottom side 116 of the fin body 102. As
shown in FIGS. 3
and 4, the boot coupling body 104 may be positioned with the intermediate
portion 132 in the
through-opening 118 such that the through-opening 124 is transversely aligned
with the
through-opening 136 such that the fastener 126 may be received in the through-
opening 124
and in the through-opening 136. In that position, the holder 138 extends
through the through-
opening 120 and extends out of the bottom side 116 of the fin body 102. The
fastener 126 may
couple the fin body 102 to the boot coupling body 104, but in alternative
embodiments, such a
fastener may be omitted if such a fin body and boot coupling body may
interlock or otherwise
be coupled without such a fastener. Herein, a "fin apparatus" may refer to the
assembly of the
fin body 102 and the boot coupling body 104 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In
other embodiments,
a fin apparatus may include more or fewer parts, and may be integrally formed
as a single
unitary body.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the boot toe body 106 is curved and has a top
portion shown
generally at 142, a bottom portion shown generally at 144, and an intermediate
portion shown
generally at 146 between the top portion 142 and the bottom portion 144. The
top portion 142
defines a receptacle shown generally at 148 and open to a top side of the boot
toe body 106, and
the bottom portion 144 defines a receptacle shown generally at 150 and open to
a bottom side
of the boot toe body 106. On a front end shown generally at 152, the
intermediate portion 146
defines a recess shown generally at 154 and extending between the top and
bottom sides of the
boot toe body 106. The recess 154 defines a front surface 155 that is
complementary to a
retaining surface 156 on the retainer 122 so that the recess 154 may receive a
portion of the
retainer 122 when the retaining surface 156 contacts the front surface 155.
Referring to FIG. 6, the holder 138 defines a retaining surface 158
complementary to a
retaining surface 160 in the receptacle 148. Further, the clasp 140 defines a
retaining surface
162 complementary to a retaining surface 164 in the receptacle 150. Absent any
external forces,
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the intermediate portion 132 is curved such that a curved inner surface of the
intermediate
portion 132 (facing into the space between the top portion 128 and the bottom
portion 130) has
a curvature that is greater than a curvature of a complementary outer surface
on the front end
152 of the boot toe body 106. However, the boot coupling body 104 is
resiliently deformable,
and as described below, coupling the boot toe body 106 involves resiliently
deforming the boot
coupling body 104 such that the curvature of the curved inner surface of the
intermediate
portion 132 decreases to a curvature closer to the curvature of the
complementary outer surface
on the front end 152 of the boot toe body 106, and such that a separation
distance between the
holder 138 and the clasp 140 increases.
Referring to FIG. 7, the front end 152 of the boot toe body 106 may be
received in the
space between the top portion 128 and the bottom portion 130 with the holder
138 received in
the receptacle 148 such that the retaining surface 158 contacts the retaining
surface 160. When
the retaining surface 158 contacts the retaining surface 160, the boot toe
body 106 is pivotable
relative to the boot coupling body 104, and the boot coupling body 104 is
pivotable relative to
the boot toe body 106, about a generally transverse axis defined by the point
of contact of the
retaining surface 158 on the retaining surface 160. If the boot toe body 106
is pivoted about that
axis of rotation in the direction of the arrow 166, or if the boot coupling
body 104 is rotated
about that axis of rotation in the direction of the arrow 168, or both, then
the clasp 140 and the
retaining surface 162 approach the receptacle 150 by moving in the direction
of the arrow 170.
FIG. 8 illustrates the clasp 140 closer to the receptacle 150, having moved in
the
direction of the arrow 170 relative to the position shown in FIG. 7. The boot
coupling body 104
is more resiliently deformable than the boot toe body 106. Therefore, as the
clasp 140 moves
from the position shown in FIG. 7 closer to the receptacle 150 as shown in
FIG. 8, the boot
coupling body 104 is resiliently deformed such that the curvature of the
curved inner surface of
the intermediate portion 132 decreases to a curvature closer to the curvature
of the
complementary outer surface on the front end 152 of the boot toe body 106, and
such that the
separation distance between the holder 138 and the clasp 140 increases.
Because the boot coupling body 104 has been resiliently deformed to increase
the
separation distance between the holder 138 and the clasp 140, the boot
coupling body 104
resiliently urges the clasp 140 in a direction generally towards the holder
138. Therefore, as
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shown in FIG. 9, when the retaining surface 162 moves in the direction of the
arrow 170 past
the retaining surface 164, the receptacle 150 receives the clasp 140 with the
retaining surface
162 in contact with the retaining surface 164. The retaining surfaces 158,
160, 162, and 164 are
positioned to retain the holder 138 and the clasp 140 against movement in a
direction towards
the fin body 102, and the clasp 140 is thus connected to the boot toe body 106
at the receptacle
150, while simultaneously the holder 138 is connected to the boot toe body 106
at the
receptacle 148 with the retaining surface 158 in contact with the retaining
surface 160. In
various embodiments, a "receptacle" need not be a recess, but may include
other structures that
define at least one retaining surface to function as a connector.
The holder 138, the clasp 140, the receptacle 148, and the receptacle 150 thus
function
as connectors. The holder 138 and the receptacle 148 are first complementary
connectors, and
the clasp 140 and the receptacle 150 are second complementary connectors. When
the holder
138 is connected to the boot toe body 106 at the receptacle 148 and when the
clasp 140 is
connected to the boot toe body 106 at the receptacle 150, the front surface
155 in the recess 154
contacts the retaining surface 156 of the retainer 122, and the holder 138 and
the clasp 140 are
positioned to position the front surface 155 against the retaining surface
156. Although the boot
toe body 106 resiliently deforms the boot coupling body 104, the retainer 122
is more rigid and
is not significantly resiliently deformed by the boot toe body 106, so the
boot toe body 106 may
be firmly retained against the retainer 122. The holder 138, the clasp 140,
and the retainer 122
thus cooperate to retain the boot toe body 106 against moving relative to the
boot coupling
body 104 to couple the boot toe body 106 to the boot coupling body 104.
Further, because the
front surface 155 is complementary to the retaining surface 156, the retainer
cooperates with the
front end 152 of the boot toe body 106 to align the boot toe body 106 to the
boot coupling body
104 and inhibit lateral and rotational movement of the boot toe body 106
relative to the boot
coupling body 104. In summary, the boot coupling body 104 and the boot toe
body 106 may
cooperate to align the boot toe body 106 automatically to the boot coupling
body 104, which
may facilitate coupling the boot toe body 106 to the boot coupling body 104.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9 may facilitate a simple and intuitive method
of
coupling and decoupling a fin apparatus to a boot because a user may couple a
fin apparatus to
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a boot by "stepping in" to the boot coupling body 104 of a fin apparatus with
one hand or no
hands at all.
In some embodiments, the boot coupling body may be permanently coupled to the
boot
toe body as shown in FIG. 9. However, in other embodiments, the boot coupling
body may be
decoupleable from the boot toe body.
Referring to FIG. 10, a fin system according to another embodiment is shown
generally
at 172 and includes a fin body 174, a boot coupling body 176, and a boot toe
body 178. The fin
body 174 is substantially the same as the fin body 102, and the boot toe body
178 is
substantially the same as the boot toe body 106. The boot coupling body 176 is
substantially the
same as the boot coupling body 104, and includes a clasp 180 that is
substantially the same as
the clasp 140, except that the boot coupling body 176 includes a rigid lever
182 coupled to the
clasp 180 and extending posterior to the clasp 180. Moving the lever 182 in
the direction 184
away from the boot toe body 178 transfers a force from the lever 182 to the
clasp 180 to release
or decouple the boot coupling body 176 (and thus the fin body 174 coupled to
the boot coupling
body 176) from the boot toe body 178 because a portion of the boot coupling
body 176 anterior
of the clasp 180 is flexible enough to allow the clasp 180 to exit from a
receptacle or connector
of the boot toe body 178 in response to the force from the lever 182 away from
the boot toe
body 178. The lever 182 may include a safety lock (not shown) to prevent
accidental release.
For example, FIG. 41 illustrates a rigid lever 292 including a safety lock
294. Also, FIG. 42
illustrates a rigid lever 296 according to another embodiment, in which the
lever 296 includes a
heel coupling body as described below.
As shown in FIG. 5, the boot toe body 106 may be coupled to the boot 108. For
example, the boot toe body 106 may be formed by injection molding, and the
boot 108 may be
made of a material such as neoprene and sewn, adhered, or otherwise fastened
to the boot toe
body 106. Alternatively, the boot toe body 106 and the boot 108 may be
integrally formed by
multi-stage injection molding, for example. In some embodiments, a boot toe
body may extend
to locations well beyond a toe region (as shown in FIG. 13, for example) and
may include, for
example, some or all of an entire boot.
In general, boot toe bodies described herein may be molded into or otherwise
formed in
one or a small number of sizes, and then coupled to boots of varying sizes and
materials.
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Therefore, one or a small number of sizes of boot toe bodies may be
manufactured to facilitate
coupling to fin apparatuses such as the fin apparatuses described herein.
Manufacturing boot
toe bodies in one or a small number of sizes may reduce manufacturing costs
when compared to
other boot binding systems because the one or small number of sizes of boot
toe bodies may be
coupled to a large variety of different boots. For example, boots may be
manufactured by a
number of manufacturers in a large number of varieties that may vary by foot
size and shape,
by material, by ankle support, and in many other ways without requiring
separate tools or
injection molds to manufacture different toe boot bodies for each variety of
boot. For example,
the boot toe body 106 may be coupled to a low-ankle boot 188 as shown in FIG.
11, or to a
high-ankle boot 190 as shown in FIG. 12. Further, referring to FIG. 14, the
boot toe body 106
may be coupled to a boot shell 192, and the boot shell 192 may be configured
to receive and
couple to a boot 194.
Further, boots described herein may, for example, be similar to boots that
were
described and illustrated in United States provisional patent application no.
61/322,104 filed on
April 8, 2010, or that were described and illustrated in United States patent
application no.
13/639,446.
Referring to FIG. 15, another embodiment includes a boot toe body 196 that is
similar to
the boot toe body 106, except that the boot toe body 196 is configured to be
attachably and
detachably coupled to a boot 198. For example, the boot toe body 196 may
include a height
adjustment mechanism 200 to adjust a height of a receptacle of the boot toe
body 196 to fit a
particular boot 198. The boot toe body 196 may also include a heel coupling
body 202 having a
third connector configured to be coupled to a heel region shown generally at
204 of the boot
198. The heel coupling body 202 may be adjustable in length to accommodate
different lengths
and sizes of the boot 198, thus adjusting a separation distance between the
first and second
.. connectors and the third connector. The boot toe body 196 may facilitate
coupling a fin
apparatus to a dry suit or to a user's preferred boot, for example.
Further, boots and boot toe bodies as described herein may include sole bodies
such as
the sole bodies described and illustrated in PCT international application no.
PCT/CA2012/000946. Further, "boot" herein is not limited to any particular
footwear, and may
include shoes and other footwear, and also prosthetic limbs for example. FIG.
40 illustrates a
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boot toe body according to another embodiment, in which a hinge 290 permits
greater
flexibility between a toe portion and a heel portion of the boot toe body.
Further, fin apparatuses may vary in many ways, such as in length, in width,
in shape, in
material, and in flexibility, for example. Fin apparatuses described herein
may, for example, be
similar to fin apparatuses (or "flippers") that were described and illustrated
in United States
provisional patent application no. 61/322,104, or that were described and
illustrated in United
States patent application no. 13/639,446. FIG. 16 illustrates fin apparatuses
206, 208, 210, 212,
and 214 according to other embodiments.
Referring to FIG. 17, another embodiment includes a boot coupling body 216
that is
similar to the boot coupling bodies described herein, but includes a heel
coupling body 218.
The heel coupling body 218 includes lateral posts 220 and 222, which are
configured to be
attached to a coil spring strap (not shown) for extending between the lateral
posts 220 and 222
and behind a heel region of a boot, such as the heel region 204 of the boot
198 or a heel region
shown generally at 224 of the boot 108.
Referring to FIG. 18, another embodiment includes a boot coupling body 226,
which is
similar to the boot coupling bodies described herein, but includes a heel
coupling body 228.
The heel coupling body 228 has a loop shape with a posterior portion shown
generally at 230.
At the posterior portion 230, the heel coupling body 228 includes a connector
232 that can be
received in a receptacle on a heel end of a boot, such as the receptacle 1050
shown in FIG. 37
of PCT international application no. PCT/CA2011/000395 for example. The loop
of the heel
coupling body 228 may be resiliently deformable to stretch the posterior
portion 230 around a
heel portion of a boot, and the loop portion of the heel coupling body 228 may
be adjustable in
length.
FIGS. 19 to 21 and 35 to 39 illustrate length adjustment in other embodiments.
FIG. 19
illustrates a boot coupling body having a resiliently extendable heel coupling
body 236. FIGS.
to 39 also illustrate boot coupling bodies having resiliently extendable heel
coupling bodies.
FIG. 20 illustrates a boot coupling body 238 having a heel coupling body 240
that is adjustable
in length by positioning a connector 242 in different holes 244, 246, and 248
of the boot
coupling body 238. FIGS. 35, 36, 37, and 39 also illustrate boot coupling
bodies having heel
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coupling bodies that are adjustable in length. FIG. 21 illustrates an
exchangeable semi-rigid
heel coupling body 250.
Referring to FIG. 22, a boot coupling body according to another embodiment is
shown
generally at 252 and is similar to the boot coupling bodies described above.
The boot coupling
body 252 has a top side shown generally at 254 and a bottom side shown
generally at 256. The
boot coupling body 252 also has a clasp 258 that is coupled to the boot
coupling body 252 by a
generally cylindrical fastener 260 that is coupled to the boot coupling body
252 to rotate around
an axis of rotation 262 extending between the top side 254 and the bottom side
256 of the boot
coupling body 252. The clasp 258 is thus coupled to the boot coupling body 252
for rotation
around the axis of rotation 262. The boot coupling body 252 also includes a
heel coupling body
264 including a connector 266 connectable to a heel end of a boot. The heel
coupling body 264
is also coupled to the fastener 260 for rotation about the axis of rotation
262. Therefore, rotation
of the heel coupling body 264 about the axis of rotation 262 transfers a
torque to the fastener
260 and to the clasp 258, thereby rotating the clasp 258 about the axis of
rotation 262 in
response to rotation of the heel coupling body 264 around the axis of rotation
262. The clasp
258 defines a retainer 268 having a retaining surface 270 facing towards the
bottom side 256 of
the boot coupling body 252.
Referring to FIG. 23, a boot toe body 272 according to the embodiment of FIG.
22 is
similar to the boot toe bodies described above and has a top side shown
generally at 274 and a
bottom side shown generally at 276. On the bottom side 276, the boot toe body
272 defines a
receptacle 278 defining a retaining surface 280 facing the top side 274 of the
boot toe body 272.
Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, when the clasp 258 is rotated about the axis of
rotation
262 such that the retainer 268 is above the retaining surface 280, the
retaining surface 270
contacts the retaining surface 280 to retain the clasp 258 in the receptacle
278, and the clasp
258 thus functions as a connector to connect the boot coupling body 252 to the
boot toe body
272, and the clasp 258 and the receptacle 278 are thus complementary
connectors. However,
when the clasp 258 is rotated about the axis of rotation 262 such that the
retainer 268 is no
longer positioned over the retaining surface 280, then the clasp 258 no longer
connects the boot
coupling body 252 to the boot toe body 272 at the receptacle 278, and the boot
coupling body
252 is thus decoupled from the boot toe body 272.
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In some embodiments, the clasp 258 may be made of a material such as
polytetrafluoroetheylene (or TEFLONTm), or may include an insert of such
material, to reduce
friction and facilitate sliding on the retaining surface 280. FIG. 28
illustrates a clasp shown
generally at 286 according to another embodiment. The clasp 286 includes a
roller (or reel) 288
to facilitate snapping over the retaining surface 280. The roller 288 may also
be made of a
material such as polytetrafluoroetheylene (or TEFLONTm), or may include an
insert of such
material, to reduce friction and facilitate sliding on the retaining surface
280. The roller 288
may also have an elliptical cross-sectional shape to facilitate snapping over
the retaining surface
280, for example to facilitate snapping a fin apparatus into a boot toe body
when the clasp 286
is in a coupling position (similar to the position shown in FIG. 24) or a
partial coupling position
(between positions similar to the positions shown in FIGS. 24 and 25), for
example for
snapping in when in use in water. Referring to FIG. 26, the heel coupling body
264 may be
rotated into a stowed position towards a distal end of the fin to facilitate
storing or transporting
the fin apparatus. FIGS. 35 to 39 illustrate other embodiments including
rotatable clasps
coupled to heel coupling bodies.
The embodiment of FIGS. 22-26 may facilitate a simple and intuitive method of
coupling and decoupling a fin apparatus to a boot because a user may couple a
fin apparatus to
a boot, with only one hand and in a single action, by rotating the heel
coupling body 264 to a
position where the heel coupling body 264 is connected to a heel portion of
the boot, and the
user may decouple the fin apparatus from the boot, again with only one hand
and in a single
action, by rotating the heel coupling body 264 to a position where the heel
coupling body 264 is
disconnected to a heel portion of the boot. The heel coupling body 264 may
include a safety
lock (not shown) to prevent accidental release.
Referring to FIG. 27, the fin system of FIG. 1 is shown assembled, and a top
surface
282 of the fin body 102 is generally coplanar with a top surface 284 of the
boot toe body 106.
As indicated above, a swimmer using fin systems, such as the fin systems
described above,
often faces downward when swimming, so that the top surface 282 and the top
surface 284 face
generally downward when in use. Also, a swimmer's strongest kick is often a
downward kick,
so a swimmer's propulsion often depends largely on forceful downward kicks.
During
downward kicks, water flows over the top surface 284 and the top surface 282,
and in some
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embodiments, positioning the top surface 282 generally coplanar with the top
surface 284 may
enable more laminar and efficient flow of water from the top surface 284 to
the top surface 282
during such downward kicks. Therefore, positioning the fin body 102 with the
top surface 282
generally coplanar with the top surface 284, as shown in the embodiments
described above,
may permit more efficient fluid flow than when compared to other fin systems.
Referring to FIG. 43, a fin system according to another embodiment is shown
generally
at 300 and includes a boot coupling body shown generally at 302. The boot
coupling body 302
includes a coupling body 304 and a fin frame 306. The fin system 300 also
includes a boot toe
body 308 attachable to a boot (not shown). The fin frame 306 may be
integrally, permanently,
detachably, or non-detachably coupled to a fin body 307, and when the fin
frame 306 is coupled
to the fin body 307, the fin frame 306 and the fin body 307 may together
function substantially
the same as other fin bodies described above, such as the fin body 102 or the
fin bodies shown
in FIGS. 16, 21, 26, 35, 36, and 42 for example. Still further, other fin
bodies described above,
such as the fin body 102 or the fin bodies shown in FIGS. 16, 21, 26, 35, 36,
and 42 for
example, may be understood to include a fin frame (similar to the fin frame
306, for example)
detachably or non-detachably coupled to a fin body (similar to the fin body
307, for example),
and boot coupling bodies such as those described herein may be detachably
coupled to such fin
frames.
The fin frame 306 has a top side shown generally at 312, a bottom side shown
generally
at 314, a proximal end shown generally at 316, distal ends shown generally at
318 and 320, and
a retaining member 322 extending longitudinally away from the proximal end 316
and laterally
centered between the two distal ends 318 and 320. The retaining member 322
also rises out
from the top side 312 of the fin frame before curving in a generally semi-
circular shape towards
the proximal end 316. The retaining member 322 includes a top portion 324 and
an
intermediate portion 326. The top portion 324 of the retaining member 322
defines a retaining
surface 328. The retaining member 322 is resiliently deformable such that
exerting a downward
force on the top portion 324 will reduce the space between the top portion 324
and the top side
312 of the fin frame 306.
Referring to FIGS. 43 and 44, the fin frame 306 also includes a holder (or a
holding
.. body) 330 extending downward into a space from the bottom side 314 of the
proximal end 316
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of the fin frame 306. The holder 330 defines a retaining surface 332
complementary to a
retaining surface 334 defined on the boot toe body 308. The fin frame 306 also
defines an
adjustable retaining surface 336 sized to be received in a corresponding
recess 337 on the boot
toe body 308. A position of the adjustable retaining surface 336 can be
adjusted so as to adjust
an amount by which the adjustable retaining surface 336 extends away from the
remainder of
the fin frame 306. In the embodiment shown, the position of the adjustable
retaining surface
336 is adjusted using adjustment means including a threaded member 338 running
through the
center of the fin frame 306. Around the adjustable retaining surface 336 and
below the holder
330, the fin frame 306 defines tapered surfaces so that when the boot toe body
308 approaches
the fin frame 306, the fin frame 306 may automatically be centered or aligned
relative to the
boot toe body 308, which may facilitate coupling the boot toe body 308 to the
boot coupling
body 302 in a hands-free motion by "stepping in" as described below.
The coupling body 304 is similar to the boot coupling body 252 shown in FIG.
22,
being curved in a generally-semi-circular shape having a top portion 340, a
bottom portion 342,
and an intermediate portion 344 extending between the top portion 340 and the
bottom portion
342, and a clasp 346 on the bottom portion. The intermediate portion 344
defines a through-
hole 348 sized to receive the retaining member 322 of the fin frame 306. The
through-hole 348
defines a retaining surface 350 complementary to the retaining surface 328 of
the retaining
member 322 such that when the retaining member 322 is received in the through-
hole 348 of
the coupling body 304, the retaining surfaces 350 and 328 act as connectors to
couple the fin
frame 306 to the coupling body 304. Further, the retaining surfaces 350 and
328 may be
separated from each other to allow the retaining member 322 to be removed from
the through-
hole 348 to detach the fin frame 306 from the coupling body 304. The boot
coupling body 302
of the embodiment shown may thus include the fin frame 306 coupled (or
detachably
couplable) to the coupling body 304.
Referring to FIG. 45, the clasp 346 of the coupling body 304 is coupled to a
support
body 354 with a cylindrical fastener 353 to permit the clasp 346 to rotate
relative to the support
body 354. The support body 354 is coupled to the bottom portion 342 and to the
coupling body
304 with a fastener 352 such that the bottom portion 342, and thus the support
body 354 and the
clasp 346, can rotate about an axis of rotation 355 defined by the fastener
352. The support
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body 354 is resiliently deformable to allow the clasp 346 to move resiliently
away from a
resting position in a downward direction. The boot coupling body 302 is thus
resiliently
deformable (at least by resilient deformation of the support body 354, which
also functions as a
spring) to vary a separation distance between the holder 330 and the clasp
346. Clasp 346 is
sized to be received by the retaining surface 356 of the boot toe body 308.
The coupling body 304 also has an aligning member shown generally at 358,
which is
rotationally coupled to the support body 354 such that rotation of the
aligning member 358
around the axis of rotation 355 causes similar rotation of the support body
354 around the axis
of rotation 355. The aligning member 358 therefore facilitates causing
rotation of the clasp 346
around the axis of rotation 355. The aligning member 358 also defines a curved
retaining
surface 360 and which extends longitudinally beyond the clasp 346 and is sized
to be received
by a longitudinal recess in the sole of a boot or a boot toe body such as boot
toe body 308 (as
shown in FIG. 13, for example). In some embodiments, the aligning member 358
may be
replaced by rigid lever 182 in FIG. 10 or a heel coupling body such as heel
coupling body 202
in FIG. 15 or any of the heel coupling bodies shown in FIGS. 17-22. In
embodiments including
a heel coupling body, the heel coupling body may also be rotatably coupled to
the clasp 346 for
rotation around the axis of rotation 355, and thus when the heel coupling body
is coupled to a
connector on a heel of a boot, the heel coupling body may prevent movement of
the clasp 346,
which may prevent release of the clasp 346 from the retaining surface 356 and
thus prevent
release of the boot coupling body 302 from the boot toe body 308.
When the boot coupling body 302 is assembled with the fin frame 306 coupled to
the
coupling body 304 with the retaining member 322 received in the through-hole
348 as shown in
FIG. 46, a user, wearing a boot including or coupled to the boot toe body 308,
can connect a
connector (the retaining surface 332) to a complementary connector (the
retaining surface 334
shown in FIG. 43) and then exert a force downward onto the clasp 346, causing
resilient
deformation of the support body 354 as the clasp 346 moves resiliently
downward until the
clasp 346 rolls over the edge of retaining surface 356 and "snaps" into place
against the clasp
346 as the support body 354 resiliently urges the clasp 346 upward again,
thereby connecting
the clasp 346 to the retaining surface 356. The clasp 346 is thus a roller,
and the boot toe body
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308 may thus be coupled to the boot coupling body 302 in a hands-free motion
by "stepping in"
to the boot coupling body 302.
Alternatively, the user, wearing a boot including or coupled to the boot toe
body 308,
can connect a connector (the retaining surface 332) to a complementary
connector (the retaining
surface 334 shown in FIG. 43) when the clasp 346 is rotated about the axis of
rotation 355 into
a position in which the clasp 346 can approach the retaining surface 356
without contacting the
retaining surface 356, and then the clasp 346 may be rotated about the axis of
rotation 355 into
a position in which the clasp 346 is connected to the retaining surface 356.
As shown in FIG.
46, the axis of rotation 355 has an angle that is inclined on the top side
away from the fin frame
306 and on the bottom side towards the fin frame 306, and such an angle causes
the clasp 346
to move downward (and thus in a direction away from a top side and into
contact with the
retaining surface 356) when the clasp 346 is rotated about the axis of
rotation 355 in a direction
that causes the clasp 346 to be connected to the retaining surface 356.
Either way, once the clasp 346 is connected to the retaining surface 356, the
boot toe
body 308 is coupled to the boot coupling body 302, and the adjustable
retaining surface 336
will be received against a retaining surface in the recess 337, the retaining
surface 332 of holder
330 will be received against the retaining surface 334, and the clasp 346 will
be received
against retaining the surface 356, effectively locking the boot toe body 308
to the boot coupling
body 302. Further, the curved retaining surface 360 may be received by a
longitudinal recess in
the sole of a boot or a boot toe body such as boot toe body 308 (as shown in
FIG. 13, for
example) when the clasp 346 has "snapped" into place against retaining surface
356.
The embodiment of FIGS. 43-46 may facilitate a simple and intuitive method of
coupling and decoupling a fin apparatus to a boot because a user may couple a
fin apparatus to
a boot including or coupled to a boot toe body by engaging the holder against
the retaining
surface of the boot toe body, aligning the boot with the boot coupling body by
rotating the
aligning member such that the boot coupling body is aligned centrally with the
boot toe body,
and then pivoting the boot toe body relative to the boot coupling body about
the generally
transverse axis of rotation to cause the clasp and coupling to resiliently
deform in the downward
direction, causing it to approach the corresponding retaining surface of the
boot toe body, until
it "snaps" into position against the corresponding retaining surface of the
boot toe body.
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Alternatively, the user may engage the holder against the retaining member 322
of the boot toe
body when the clasp is rotated into a position in which the clasp can approach
the retaining
surface 356 without contacting the retaining surface 356, and then the clasp
may be rotated into
a position in which the clasp is connected to the retaining surface 356.
Either way, the fin
apparatus may be coupled to the boot until the clasp is rotated into a
position in which the clasp
may be separated from the retaining surface 356 to decouple the boot toe body
308 from the
boot coupling body 302. As shown in FIG. 46, the axis of rotation 355 has an
angle that is
inclined on the top side away from the fin frame 306 and on the bottom side
towards the fin
frame 306, and such an angle causes the clasp 346 to move upward (and thus in
a direction
towards a top side and out of contact with the retaining surface 356) when the
clasp 346 is
rotated about the axis of rotation 355 in a direction that causes the clasp
346 to be separated
from the retaining surface 356.
Referring to FIGS. 47 and 48, a fin apparatus 400 according to another
embodiment
includes a boot coupling body shown generally at 402. The fin apparatus 400
also includes a
boot toe body 404 integral to or permanently coupled to the boot 406. In
alternative
embodiments, the boot toe body 404 may be removably coupled to the boot 406.
The boot
coupling body 402 includes a coupling body 408 and a fin frame 410. In some
embodiments, a
fin body (not shown) can be integrally or permanently coupled to the fin frame
410. In other
embodiments, a fin body can be removably coupled to the fin frame 410.
In the embodiment shown, the fin frame 410 may be removably coupled to the
coupling
body 408 to form the boot coupling body 402. In some embodiments, the fin
frame 410 may be
removably coupled to coupling body 408 using two corresponding retaining
surfaces on each of
the fin frame 410 and coupling body 408, such as the method described in
reference to FIGS.
43-46.
Fin frame 410 defines a holder (or a holding body) 430 defining a retaining
surface 431,
which may be sized to be received against a retaining surface 432 when the
boot coupling body
402 is coupled to boot toe body 404.
The coupling body 408 is similar to the boot coupling body 252 described in
FIG. 22,
being curved in a generally semi-circular shape having a top portion shown
generally at 412, a
bottom portion 414, and an intermediate portion 416 extending between the top
portion 412 and
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the bottom portion 414, and a clasp 418 affixed to the bottom portion 414 with
a fastener 420.
Fastener 420 affixes the clasp 418 by extending laterally through slot 436 and
permits rotation
of the clasp 418 relative to the bottom portion 414, so the clasp 418 is also
a roller. Slot 436 is
elongated in a generally vertical orientation, thereby allowing the fastener
420 (and therefore
the clasp 418) to move vertically up and down within the slot 436. Clasp 418
can be similar to
the clasp 286 shown in FIG. 28.
The bottom portion 414 of the coupling body 408 may extend longitudinally away
from
the front of the boot 406, and may include a rigid lever such as rigid lever
182 in FIG. 10 or a
heel coupling body such as heel coupling body 202 in FIG. 15 or any of the
heel coupling
bodies recited in FIGS. 17-22. The bottom portion 414 of boot coupling body
408 may be sized
to be received in a longitudinal recess, which may be in the sole of boot 406
or on the bottom
side of boot toe body 404 (not shown).
The intermediate portion 416 of the coupling body 408 defines a rotational
interface 424
about which either the top portion 412 or bottom portion 414 of coupling body
408 may rotate.
Fastener 426 acts as a rotational pivot about which such rotation takes place,
and also couples
together the top portion 412 and bottom portion 414 of the coupling body 408.
Rotation of the
coupling body 408 when coupled to the fin frame 410 may provide an advantage
in storage and
protection for the fin apparatus 400 while in transit or while not in use
because the bottom
portion 414 of coupling body 408 can rotate around so as to be parallel with
fin frame 410,
thereby reducing the size of the overall apparatus and protecting the bottom
portion 414 (which
may include a long longitudinal extension such as a heel coupling body or
rigid lever).
In the embodiment shown, the clasp 418 is positioned above but not attached to
a spring
422, which is made of a resiliently deformable material. Spring 422 is fixed
within the bottom
portion 414 of the coupling body 408 using fasteners 426 and 428. Clasp 418
will move
downward against spring 422 when a downward force is applied to clasp 418.
Because spring
422 is resiliently deformable, clasp 418 will return to its original position
upon removal of any
downward force acting upon it. The boot coupling body 402 is thus resiliently
defounable (at
least by resilient deformation of the spring 422) to vary a separation
distance between the
holder 430 and the clasp 418.
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The boot toe body 404 defines a retaining surface 432 sized to receive the
holder 430.
The boot toe body 404 also defines a retaining surface 434 on the bottom side
of the boot toe
body. The retaining surface 434 is sized to receive the clasp 418 of the
coupling body 408 upon
coupling the boot coupling body 402 to boot toe body 404.
The embodiment shown may facilitate a simple and intuitive method of coupling
and
decoupling a fin apparatus including at least boot coupling body 402 and boot
toe body 404. A
user may couple boot coupling body 402 to a boot including a boot toe body 404
by engaging
the holder 430 against the retaining surface 432 of the boot toe body 404,
aligning the boot toe
body 404 with the boot coupling body 402 by rotating the bottom portion 414
around the axis
of rotation defined by fastener 426 such that the clasp 418 is aligned with
retaining surface 434
of the boot toe body 404, and then pivoting the boot toe body 404 relative to
the boot coupling
body 402 about a generally transverse axis of rotation formed between the top
portion 412 and
bottom portion 414 of the coupling body 408 so as to cause the boot toe body
404 to exert a
downward force on clasp. The downward force on clasp 418 causes it to move in
the downward
direction due to the corresponding resilient deformation of spring 422. As the
boot toe body
404 further deforms the spring 422, clasp 418 approaches the corresponding
retaining surface
434 of the boot toe body 404 until it "snaps" into position against the
corresponding retaining
surface 434. Alternatively, the user may engage the holder against the
retaining surface 432 of
the boot toe body when the clasp is rotated into a position in which the clasp
can approach the
retaining surface 434 without contacting the retaining surface 434, and then
the clasp may be
rotated into a position in which the clasp is connected to the retaining
surface 434. Either way,
the fin apparatus may be coupled to the boot until the clasp is rotated into a
position in which
the clasp may be separated from the retaining surface 434.
FIG. 64 illustrates a boot coupling body according to another embodiment. The
boot
coupling body of FIG. 64 is similar to the boot coupling body 402 shown in
FIGS. 47 and 48,
and includes a clasp or roller 47 and 48 that is detached from and can move
relative to a spring
724 in a recessed region defined by the spring 724. Springs such as the spring
724 may be
thermoplastic leaf springs or other types of springs that may be made from
other materials.
Referring to FIG. 49, another embodiment of a boot coupling body 600 is
similar to the
boot coupling body 402 shown in FIGS. 47 and 48. Boot coupling body 600
includes a
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coupling body shown generally at 602 and a fin frame 604. In some embodiments,
a fin body
(not shown) can be integrally or permanently coupled to the fin frame 604. In
other
embodiments, a fin body can be removably coupled to the fin frame 604.
In the embodiment shown, the fin frame 604 may be removably coupled to the
coupling
body 602 to form boot coupling body 600. In some embodiments the fin frame 604
may be
removably coupled to coupling body 602 using two corresponding retaining
surfaces on each of
the fin frame 604 and coupling body 602, such as the method described in
reference to FIGS.
43-46.
Fin frame 604 defines a holder (or a holding body) 606 including a retaining
surface
608, which may be sized to be received against a corresponding retaining
surface on a boot toe
body in a way similar to that described in reference to FIGS. 47 and 48.
The coupling body 602 is similar to coupling body 408 shown in FIGS. 47 and
48,
being curved in a generally-semi-circular shape having a top portion shown
generally at 610, a
bottom portion shown generally at 612, and an intermediate portion shown
generally at 614
extending between the top portion 610 and the bottom portion 612.
The bottom portion 612 of the coupling body 602 may extend longitudinally away
from
the front of the fin frame 604, and may include a rigid lever such as the
rigid lever 182 in FIG.
10 or a heel coupling body such as the heel coupling body 202 in FIG. 15 or
any of the heel
coupling bodies recited in FIGS. 17-22.
The intermediate portion 614 of coupling body 602 defines a rotational
interface 616
about which either the top portion 610 or bottom portion 612 of coupling body
602 may rotate.
Fastener 618 acts as a rotational pivot about which said rotation takes place,
and also couples
together the top portion 610 and bottom portion 612. Rotation of the coupling
body 602 when
coupled to the fin frame 604 may provide the same advantage to a fin apparatus
including this
embodiment as the advantage described in reference to FIGS. 47 and 48.
In the embodiment shown, the spring 620 is fixed within the bottom portion 612
of the
coupling body 602 with fasteners 618 and 622. Spring 620 is similar to spring
422 shown in
FIGS. 47 and 48, being made of a resiliently deformable material. However, in
the embodiment
shown, the spring 620 defines an integral hook (or clasp) 624 consisting of or
comprising the
same resiliently deformable material as the spring 620. In the embodiment
shown, the hook 624
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and the spring 620 are part of a single body, which may be produced as a
single piece using
injection molding techniques, for example. Hook 624 may function in
substantially the same
way as clasp 418 shown in FIGS. 47 and 48, in that it may resiliently deform
in a downward
direction along with spring 620 when a downward force is applied to the top of
hook 624.
Because both spring 620 and hook 624 are resiliently deformable, hook 624 may
return to its
original position upon removal of any downward force acting upon it.
The embodiment shown may facilitate an equivalently simple and intuitive
method of
coupling and decoupling a fin apparatus including at least boot coupling body
600 to a boot toe
body (not shown) similar to the method described in reference to FIGS. 47 and
48. Substituting
clasp 418 with the integral hook 624 may provide an advantage to both
durability and longevity
of coupling body 600. The embodiment shown may also provide an advantage
during
production and manufacturing of coupling body 602.
Referring to FIG. 50, an embodiment of a heel coupling body 502 is shown. Heel
coupling body 502 can be an extension of the bottom portion 504 of a boot
coupling body
described in previous embodiments (not shown), and is designed to couple
detachably to a heel
portion 506 of boot 508. The boot 508 is not necessarily a complete boot, but
may in various
embodiments be an open-heel body for receiving a boot or for receiving a foot
or prosthetic
limb, for example. Heel coupling body 502 includes a retaining surface 509
sized to be received
against a corresponding retaining surface 510.
Heel coupling body 502 also defines a lever mechanism shown generally at 512
and
including a lever 514, a wedge 516 and an actuator 518. When the retaining
surface 509 is
received against the corresponding retaining surface 510, the actuator 518
contacts a surface
524 of the boot 508, which causes rotation of the lever mechanism 512 about a
fastener 522 in a
direction that urges the wedge 516 into a position against a lock 520 that
urges the retaining
surface 509 against the retaining surface 510 such that the heel coupling body
502 is essentially
"locked" in place against the heel portion 506 of boot 508. A user operating
the embodiment
shown can "unlock" the heel coupling body 502 from the boot 508 by rotating
the lever 514
around the fastener 522 in a generally rearwards direction. In doing so, the
wedge 516 is
removed from contact with the lock 520 and ceases to urge the retaining
surface 509 against the
retaining surface 510, and the actuator 518 exerts a force against the surface
524, which urges
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the retaining surface 509 rearwardly away from the retaining surface 510 to
move the heel
coupling body 502 backwards and out of the "locked" position against the heel
portion 506 of
the boot 508.
Referring to FIG. 51, a boot coupling body according to another embodiment is
shown
generally at 628 and includes a toe coupling region shown generally at 630 and
substantially the
same as the coupling body 408 and the fin frame 410 shown in FIGS. 47 and 48.
The boot
coupling body 628 also includes a heel coupling body shown generally at 632
that is similar to
the heel coupling body 502 shown in FIG. 50, except that the heel coupling
body 632 defines
recesses shown generally at 634, 636, and 638 to receive a wedge 640 in three
positions defined
by each of the recesses 634, 636, and 638. A lever 642 and actuator 644 may
move the wedge
640 in substantially the same way as the lever 514 and the actuator 518
respectively as
described above with reference to FIG. 50, but the wedge 640 is resiliently
urged into the
recesses 634, 636, and 638, so the wedge more-naturally rests in one of the
three positions
defined by the recesses 634, 636, and 638.
As shown in FIG. 52, the lever 642 may be moved to position the wedge 640 in
the
recess 634 to move the wedge 640 into a position to be coupled to a heel
region of a boot toe
body 646. Then, as shown in FIG. 53, a user may step into the boot coupling
body 628 and in
doing so transfer a force from a bottom surface of the boot toe body 646 to
the actuator 644,
which (as described above with reference to FIG. 50) may urge the wedge into
the position
defined by the recess 638 and lock the heel coupling body 632 to a heel region
of the boot toe
body 646. Therefore, in various embodiments such as those described herein,
connections to a
heel region are not necessarily on a boot itself, but may be in on a boot toe
body 646 or on any
other body that is or that may be coupled to a boot. As shown in FIG. 54, the
lever 642 may be
pulled away from the heel region of the boot toe body 646 to eject the boot
toe body 646 from
the boot coupling body 628.
Referring to FIG. 55, a boot coupling body according to another embodiment is
shown
generally at 648 and includes a toe coupling region shown generally at 650
that is similar to the
coupling body 408 and the fin frame 410 as shown in FIG. 47 and 48. The boot
coupling body
648 also includes a heel coupling body shown generally at 652 that is
substantially the same as
the heel coupling body 632 shown in FIGS. 51-54. The toe coupling region 650
includes a clasp
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654 that is substantially the same as the clasp 418 as shown in FIG. 47 and
48, but the clasp 654
is coupled or integral to a spring 656 that is held in position by fasteners
658 and 660. The
spring 656 is resiliently deformable as shown in FIG. 55 to permit resilient
movement of the
clasp 654 as shown in FIG. 55 and generally as described above.
Referring FIGS. 56 and 57, a boot toe body according to another embodiment is
shown
generally at 662 and is configured to be coupled detachably at a toe region of
the boot toe body
662 to a toe coupling region of a boot coupling body shown generally at 664,
which is
substantially the same as the coupling body 408 and the fin frame 410 shown in
FIGS. 47 and
48. The boot toe body 662 is also configured to be coupled detachably to a
boot shell 666,
which may be temporarily, detachably, non-detachably, permanently, or
integrally coupled to a
dry suit, to a user's preferred boot, to a liner, or to an innerboot, for
example. Referring to FIG.
58, the boot toe body 662 may be configured to be coupled detachably to a boot
coupling body
668 also having a heel coupling body shown generally at 670 that is
substantially the same as
the heel coupling body 502 shown in FIG. 50. FIG. 61 illustrates an embodiment
including a
boot toe body shown generally at 682 (which is similar to the boot toe body
662) that is
detachably coupled to a toe coupling region of a boot coupling body shown
generally at 684
(which is also similar to the coupling body 408 and the fin frame 410 shown in
FIGS. 47 and
48) and that is detachably coupled to a boot shell shown generally at 686
(which is similar to
the boot shell 666) of a boot.
Referring FIG. 59, a boot toe body according to another embodiment is shown
generally
at 672 and is configured to be coupled detachably at a toe region of the boot
toe body 672 to a
toe coupling region of a boot coupling body shown generally at 674 (which is
substantially the
same as the coupling body 408 and the fin frame 410 shown in FIGS. 47 and 48)
and is also
configured to be coupled detachably at a heel region of the boot toe body 672
to a heel coupling
body shown generally at 676 (which is substantially the same as the heel
coupling body 502
shown in FIG. 50) of the boot coupling body 674. The boot toe body 662 is also
configured to
be coupled detachably to a dry suit or to a user's preferred boot, for
example, either of which
may be received in sandal-like structures of the boot coupling body 674. FIG.
60 illustrates an
embodiment including a boot shown generally at 678 that may be coupled
detachably to a
sandal-like boot toe body shown generally at 680.
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Referring to FIG. 62, a boot assembly according to another embodiment is shown
generally at 688 and includes a boot 690, which may be a unitary boot or may
be a boot liner or
innerboot combined with a boot shell, for example. The boot assembly 688 also
includes a boot
toe body 692, which may be connected at a toe region or also at a heel region
to a boot coupling
body generally as described herein. The boot 690 includes a connector shown
generally at 694
on an upper side of a toe region of the boot 690, and connecting surfaces of
the connector 694
are complementary to connecting surfaces of a connector shown generally at 696
on an upper
side of a toe region of the boot toe body 692. The boot 690 also includes a
connector shown
generally at 698 on a heel region of the boot 690, and connecting surfaces of
the connector 698
are complementary to connecting surfaces of a connector shown generally at 700
on a heel
region of the boot toe body 692. The connectors 694, 696, 698, and 700 may
thus facilitate
detachably attaching the boot 690 to the boot toe body 692.
Referring to FIG. 63, a boot assembly according to another embodiment is shown
generally at 702 and includes a boot shell 704 that may be may be temporarily,
detachably,
non-detachably, permanently, or integrally coupled (for example by snapping,
gluing, sewing,
or other techniques of shoe fabrication) to a neoprene sock or boot liner 706.
The combination
of the boot shell 704 and the boot liner 706 may form a relatively very light
boot that may be
desirable for some embodiments. The boot assembly 702 also includes a boot toe
body 708,
which may be connected at a toe region or also at a heel region to a boot
coupling body
generally as described herein. The liner 706 includes connectors shown
generally at 710 and
712 (which are sewn-in flexible hooks or other liner elements in the
embodiment shown) on an
upper side of a toe region of the liner 706, and connecting surfaces of the
connectors 710 and
712 are complementary to connecting surfaces of connector shown generally at
714 and 716
respectively on an upper side of a toe region of the boot toe body 708. The
liner 706 also
includes a connector shown generally at 718 on a heel region of the liner 706,
and connecting
surfaces of the connector 718 are complementary to connecting surfaces of a
connector shown
generally at 720 on a heel region of the boot toe body 708. The connectors
710, 712, 714, 716,
718, and 720 may thus facilitate detachably attaching the liner 706 to the
boot toe body 708.
More generally, "boot" herein may in some embodiments include a combination of
a shell and
a permanently coupled or replaceable liner. Further, the shell 704 may
transfer forces from a fin
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(not shown) coupled to a toe region of the shell 704 to other regions of a
foot of a user in the
liner 706, and in various other embodiments, such shells or other similar
structures may transfer
forces from a fin coupled to a toe region of the shell to other regions of a
foot of a user.
In general, the boot toe bodies such as those described herein for example may
be
molded into or otherwise temporarily or permanently coupled to boots
(including other
footwear or prosthetic limbs) to form boots that are connectable to fin
apparatuses such as those
described herein for example. Such boot toe bodies may be standardized and
manufactured in
one or in a small number of sizes, thereby possibly reducing manufacturing
costs when
compared to other boot binding systems, while boots such as the boots
described herein may be
manufactured by a number of manufactures in a large number of varieties that
may vary by foot
size and shape, by material, by ankle support, and in many other ways.
Further, fin apparatuses
such those described herein may also vary in many ways, such as in length, in
width, in shape,
in material, and in flexibility, for example. Nevertheless, such various boots
and various fin
apparatuses may be interchangeable where the boots include standardized boot
toe bodies (such
as the boot toe bodies described herein for example) and where the fin
apparatuses are
connectable to such boot toe bodies. Therefore, a user may interchange a
variety of boots and/or
a variety of fin apparatuses to form combinations of particular boots and
particular fin
apparatuses to suit particular purposes (for example, a boot suitable for cold
water combined
with a fin apparatus suitable for spear fishing, or a boot suitable for warm
water combined with
a fin apparatus suitable for snorkeling) without requiring entire fin systems
to embody the
desired features of both the boot and the fin apparatus. Further, as boots or
fin apparatuses are
improved over time, a user may upgrade only an improved boot or an improved
fin apparatus,
without requiring an entire fin apparatus to benefit from the upgrade. The
boot toe bodies may
thus function as interfaces between a human foot and a wide variety of fin
apparatuses.
Various components of the embodiments described above may be varied or
interchanged in alternative embodiments. For example, some or all of boot toe
bodies of
embodiments such as those described herein may, in alternative embodiments, be
combined
with some or all of fin bodies such as those described herein or with some or
all of boot
coupling bodies such as those described herein. As another example, connectors
from some
embodiments may, in alternative embodiments, be interchanged with connector
from other
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embodiments. For example, a toe connector from one embodiment may be combined
with a
heel connector from another embodiment. As another example, boots, other
footgear, bodies
coupled to boots, bodies coupled to other footgear, bodies configured to be
coupled to boots,
bodies configured to be coupled to other footgear, bodies configured to hold
or be coupled
directly or indirectly to a foot or to a prosthetic limb, for example all may,
in alternative
embodiments, be interchanged with each other. As such, where connection is
shown to a boot,
for example, similar connection in an alternative embodiment may be to other
footgear, to a
body coupled to a boot, to a body coupled to other footgear, to a body
configured to be coupled
to a boot, to a body configured to be coupled to other footgear, or to a body
configured to hold
or be coupled directly or indirectly to a foot or to a prosthetic limb. As
still another example,
various different fin apparatuses, fin frames, and fin bodies such as those
described herein may,
in alternative embodiments, be substituted for each other. Therefore, although
specific
embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be
considered
illustrative only and not as limiting the invention as construed according to
the accompanying
claims.
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