EP0890375A1 - Composite fibre-reinforced resin blade for swimming fins - Google Patents
Composite fibre-reinforced resin blade for swimming fins Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0890375A1 EP0890375A1 EP98112531A EP98112531A EP0890375A1 EP 0890375 A1 EP0890375 A1 EP 0890375A1 EP 98112531 A EP98112531 A EP 98112531A EP 98112531 A EP98112531 A EP 98112531A EP 0890375 A1 EP0890375 A1 EP 0890375A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- blade
- sheets
- reinforced resin
- panel
- composite fibre
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B31/00—Swimming aids
- A63B31/08—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs
- A63B31/10—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs held by, or attachable to, the hands or feet
- A63B31/11—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs held by, or attachable to, the hands or feet attachable only to the feet
Definitions
- the present invention relates to swimming fin blades, and in particular to swimming fin blades of the type described for example in French patent No. 2,332,038.
- the said blades are predominantly, although not exclusively, used in the manufacture of fins on account of the many advantages they offer in terms of lightness, propulsion and mechanical strength compared with more commercial fins.
- the fins in which these blades are used essentially consist of a blade and a shaped shoe portion connected together mechanically by fitting the rear end of the blade into suitable housings in the sole of the shoe portion and fixing these two parts together by means of a screw coupling.
- the blade can be made using various materials which have to be very hard, mechanically strong, resistant to corrosion and lightweight; that is why panels of glass fibre or carbon fibre bonded with a matrix of thermosetting resin (for example epoxy resin) are used for these blades.
- the shoe portion is usually made of rubber or elastomeric material.
- a first object of the present invention is therefore to produce a composite blade for swimming fins which is designed to be decorated in a simple but abrasion-resistant manner.
- a second object of the present invention is therefore also to produce longitudinal channels in the blade in order to increase its flexibility.
- the first object is achieved by means of a blade consisting of a panel made of glass fibre or carbon fibre bonded with a matrix of thermosetting resin, which panel is covered on both sides with sheets of thermoplastic material.
- these sheets can be decorated using silk-screen printing or flexography techniques.
- One of the properties of thermoplastic materials is that they are transparent, which means that they can be decorated on the side that will be applied directly to the panel, so that the decorative motifs will be visible yet still protected from abrasion.
- this method also enables the structure of the panel sandwiched between the sheets to show through. If the decorative motifs cover the whole surface of the abovementioned sheets, it is possible to make transparent windows in the latter in order to show the underlying panel.
- An additional feature is that the abovementioned sheets have good mechanical properties and are resistant to abrasion.
- the second object is achieved by cutting grooves into the section of blade, these grooves being produced by removing portions of a given width and length from the panel in a direction longitudinal to the said panel, starting from the front end of the section of blade.
- the flexibility of the blade is ensured by the fact that, in those panel portions comprising the grooves, the sheets of thermoplastic material are bonded together by means of hot press moulding so as to form longitudinal channels in which the water can flow more easily.
- those portions of the two sheets that lie within the grooves can be given a semicircular channel shape, for example by means of thermoforming using suitable mould cavities.
- the composite fibre-reinforced resin blade according to the present invention comprises a panel 1 made of glass fibre or carbon fibre bonded with a matrix of thermosetting resins (such as, for example, epoxy resins), which give the blade improved mechanical characteristics and make it abrasion- resistant.
- Two sheets of thermoplastic material 2 are applied to this panel - which constitutes the inner part of the blade forming the subject of the present invention - one on the bottom surface of the panel and one on the top surface.
- the sheets 2 are applied to the panel using any process suitable for the purpose, for example by means of hot press moulding, and decorative motifs 3 can then be printed on the sheets using silk-screen printing or flexography techniques.
- the decorative motifs 3 can be printed either on the external side or on the internal side of these sheets. If the decorative motifs are printed on the internal side of the sheets, they will be protected from abrasion. Moreover, in cases where the abovementioned decorative motifs cover the entire surface of the thermoplastic sheet, it is possible to leave part of the latter undecorated, forming a transparent window 4 - which is shown in Figure 1 as having an ellipsoidal section - so as to allow the internal panel to show through. As shown on the left-hand side of Figure 1, a groove 5 which extends inwards from the front end of the blade over a given length and width has been cut into the panel 1.
- the abovementioned groove 5 is covered with the sheets of thermoplastic material 2 which are bonded together, as denoted by the reference 202 in Figure 3, by means of hot press moulding.
- the parts 202 can be given a semicircular channel shape 202' in the region of the groove, for example by means of presses fitted with suitable mould cavities, as illustrated in Figure 4.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
- Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
Composite fibre-reinforced resin blade for swimming fins,
comprising a fibre-reinforced resin panel (1) which is
covered on both sides with two sheets of thermoplastic
material.
Description
The present invention relates to swimming fin
blades, and in particular to swimming fin blades of the
type described for example in French patent
No. 2,332,038.
The said blades are predominantly, although not
exclusively, used in the manufacture of fins on account
of the many advantages they offer in terms of lightness,
propulsion and mechanical strength compared with more
commercial fins.
The fins in which these blades are used essentially
consist of a blade and a shaped shoe portion
connected together mechanically by fitting the rear end
of the blade into suitable housings in the sole of the
shoe portion and fixing these two parts together by means
of a screw coupling. The blade can be made using various
materials which have to be very hard, mechanically
strong, resistant to corrosion and lightweight; that is
why panels of glass fibre or carbon fibre bonded with a
matrix of thermosetting resin (for example epoxy resin)
are used for these blades. The shoe portion, on the other
hand, is usually made of rubber or elastomeric material.
In order to satisfy market requirements, decorative
motifs or brand or sponsorship names which will not
wear off over time as a result of abrasion need to be
applied to fins in general and to competition fins in
particular.
A first object of the present invention is
therefore to produce a composite blade for swimming fins
which is designed to be decorated in a simple but
abrasion-resistant manner.
It is known to form self-shaping longitudinal
channels in the blades of swimming fins in order to
channel the flow of water during the fin stroke so that
the mass of water glides over the blade more easily (see
for example European patent No. 160,261). This type of
channelling is, however, impossible on a fibre-reinforced
resin panel.
A second object of the present invention is
therefore also to produce longitudinal channels in the
blade in order to increase its flexibility.
According to the present invention, the first
object is achieved by means of a blade consisting of a
panel made of glass fibre or carbon fibre bonded with a
matrix of thermosetting resin, which panel is covered on
both sides with sheets of thermoplastic material. Before
being applied to the surfaces of the panel, these sheets
can be decorated using silk-screen printing or
flexography techniques. One of the properties of
thermoplastic materials is that they are transparent,
which means that they can be decorated on the side that
will be applied directly to the panel, so that the
decorative motifs will be visible yet still protected
from abrasion. Furthermore, this method also enables the
structure of the panel sandwiched between the sheets to
show through. If the decorative motifs cover the whole
surface of the abovementioned sheets, it is possible to
make transparent windows in the latter in order to show
the underlying panel. An additional feature is that the
abovementioned sheets have good mechanical properties and
are resistant to abrasion.
According to the present invention, the second
object is achieved by cutting grooves into the section of
blade, these grooves being produced by removing portions
of a given width and length from the panel in a direction
longitudinal to the said panel, starting from the front
end of the section of blade. The flexibility of the blade
is ensured by the fact that, in those panel portions
comprising the grooves, the sheets of thermoplastic
material are bonded together by means of hot press moulding
so as to form longitudinal channels in which the
water can flow more easily. Furthermore, during the
moulding stage, those portions of the two sheets that lie
within the grooves can be given a semicircular channel
shape, for example by means of thermoforming using
suitable mould cavities.
In order to offer a better understanding of the
present invention, a brief description will be given
below with reference to the appended drawings which
illustrate a practical embodiment of the composite fibre-reinforced
resin blade for swimming fins according to the
invention.
As may be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the composite
fibre-reinforced resin blade according to the present
invention comprises a panel 1 made of glass fibre or
carbon fibre bonded with a matrix of thermosetting resins
(such as, for example, epoxy resins), which give the
blade improved mechanical characteristics and make it
abrasion- resistant. Two sheets of thermoplastic material
2 are applied to this panel - which constitutes the inner
part of the blade forming the subject of the present
invention - one on the bottom surface of the panel and
one on the top surface. The sheets 2 are applied to the
panel using any process suitable for the purpose, for
example by means of hot press moulding, and decorative
motifs 3 can then be printed on the sheets using silk-screen
printing or flexography techniques. In the case of
transparent sheets 2, the decorative motifs 3 can be
printed either on the external side or on the internal
side of these sheets. If the decorative motifs are
printed on the internal side of the sheets, they will be
protected from abrasion. Moreover, in cases where the
abovementioned decorative motifs cover the entire surface
of the thermoplastic sheet, it is possible to leave part
of the latter undecorated, forming a transparent window
4 - which is shown in Figure 1 as having an ellipsoidal
section - so as to allow the internal panel to show
through. As shown on the left-hand side of Figure 1, a
groove 5 which extends inwards from the front end of the
blade over a given length and width has been cut into the
panel 1. The abovementioned groove 5 is covered with the
sheets of thermoplastic material 2 which are bonded
together, as denoted by the reference 202 in Figure 3,
by means of hot press moulding. In order to improve the
channelling of the flow of water over the blade, during
the hot press moulding stage the parts 202 can be given
a semicircular channel shape 202' in the region of the
groove, for example by means of presses fitted with
suitable mould cavities, as illustrated in Figure 4.
Claims (4)
- Composite fibre-reinforced resin blade for swimming fins, characterized in that it comprises a fibre-reinforced resin panel (1) which is covered on both sides with two sheets of thermoplastic material (2).
- Blade according to Claim 1, in which these sheets (2) of thermoplastic material are applied to the panel (1) by means of hot press moulding.
- Blade according to the preceding claims, in which these sheets (2) have decorative motifs (3) and/or writing on their external and/or internal surfaces.
- Composite fibre-reinforced resin blade according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it has longitudinal grooves (5) which are covered with the sheets of thermoplastic material (2).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT97GE000060A IT1293218B1 (en) | 1997-07-11 | 1997-07-11 | FIBER-RESIN COMPOSITE SHOVEL COATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THERMOPLASTIC SHEETS FOR SWIMMING FINS. |
ITGE970060 | 1997-07-11 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0890375A1 true EP0890375A1 (en) | 1999-01-13 |
Family
ID=11355053
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98112531A Withdrawn EP0890375A1 (en) | 1997-07-11 | 1998-07-07 | Composite fibre-reinforced resin blade for swimming fins |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0890375A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1293218B1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100272970A1 (en) * | 2009-04-28 | 2010-10-28 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Fiber material component with 3d surface and method of manufacturing the same |
US8641464B2 (en) | 2010-04-08 | 2014-02-04 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Flippers, boots, systems including same, and methods of using same |
CN103990255A (en) * | 2013-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | 刘祖学 | Multifunctional swimming tool |
US9440114B2 (en) | 2012-10-12 | 2016-09-13 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Boot sole system and fin for same |
WO2019053751A1 (en) * | 2017-09-13 | 2019-03-21 | Alemanni Sub Di Alemanni Itio E C. S.A.S. | Fin for underwater swimming |
US10675508B2 (en) | 2010-04-08 | 2020-06-09 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Coupleable fin apparatuses and boot toe bodies |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2329307A1 (en) * | 1975-10-28 | 1977-05-27 | Cavalero Rene | Flipper for underwater swimming - has large rigid propelling surface extending into flexible robber base under foot for increased propulsion |
EP0160261A2 (en) * | 1984-05-03 | 1985-11-06 | The Sumitomo Bank, Limited | Swim fin provided with a self-shaping, fluid flow conveying and controlling canal-like member |
EP0436927A1 (en) * | 1990-01-12 | 1991-07-17 | TECHNISUB S.p.A. | A swimming flipper with a composite blade and a method for its manufacture |
FR2689404A1 (en) * | 1992-02-14 | 1993-10-08 | Tabata Co Ltd | PALM OF SWIMMING AND PROPULSION, CONSISTING OF ELASTIC MATERIALS, BOTH HARD AND MOUS. |
EP0640361A1 (en) * | 1993-07-28 | 1995-03-01 | TECHNISUB S.p.A. | Swimming flipper and method for its manufacture |
-
1997
- 1997-07-11 IT IT97GE000060A patent/IT1293218B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1998
- 1998-07-07 EP EP98112531A patent/EP0890375A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2329307A1 (en) * | 1975-10-28 | 1977-05-27 | Cavalero Rene | Flipper for underwater swimming - has large rigid propelling surface extending into flexible robber base under foot for increased propulsion |
EP0160261A2 (en) * | 1984-05-03 | 1985-11-06 | The Sumitomo Bank, Limited | Swim fin provided with a self-shaping, fluid flow conveying and controlling canal-like member |
EP0436927A1 (en) * | 1990-01-12 | 1991-07-17 | TECHNISUB S.p.A. | A swimming flipper with a composite blade and a method for its manufacture |
FR2689404A1 (en) * | 1992-02-14 | 1993-10-08 | Tabata Co Ltd | PALM OF SWIMMING AND PROPULSION, CONSISTING OF ELASTIC MATERIALS, BOTH HARD AND MOUS. |
EP0640361A1 (en) * | 1993-07-28 | 1995-03-01 | TECHNISUB S.p.A. | Swimming flipper and method for its manufacture |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100272970A1 (en) * | 2009-04-28 | 2010-10-28 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Fiber material component with 3d surface and method of manufacturing the same |
US8641464B2 (en) | 2010-04-08 | 2014-02-04 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Flippers, boots, systems including same, and methods of using same |
US9737762B2 (en) | 2010-04-08 | 2017-08-22 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Flippers, boots, systems including same, and methods of using same |
US10112079B2 (en) | 2010-04-08 | 2018-10-30 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Flippers, boots, systems including same, and methods of using same |
US10675508B2 (en) | 2010-04-08 | 2020-06-09 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Coupleable fin apparatuses and boot toe bodies |
US9440114B2 (en) | 2012-10-12 | 2016-09-13 | Cetatek Holdings Inc. | Boot sole system and fin for same |
CN103990255A (en) * | 2013-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | 刘祖学 | Multifunctional swimming tool |
WO2019053751A1 (en) * | 2017-09-13 | 2019-03-21 | Alemanni Sub Di Alemanni Itio E C. S.A.S. | Fin for underwater swimming |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT1293218B1 (en) | 1999-02-16 |
ITGE970060A1 (en) | 1999-01-11 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE ES FR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19990316 |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Free format text: DE ES FR |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: HTM SPORT S.P.A. |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20020808 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20021219 |