EP3226984B1

EP3226984B1 - Coupleable fin apparatuses and boot toe bodies

Info

Publication number: EP3226984B1
Application number: EP15864622.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Peter Ortwig
Original assignee: Cetatek Holdings Inc
Current assignee: Hiebler Sports GmbH
Priority date: 2014-12-05
Filing date: 2015-12-04
Publication date: 2020-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-04
Also published as: EP3226984A1; WO2016086319A1; ES2804464T3; CA3007239A1; CA3007239C; EP3226984A4

Description

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 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. Document US-A-2011/0065343 describes a detachable swim fin, and document DE-A-102011112980 describes a diving set which has two link assemblies for producing force transmission connection between diving shoe and flipper.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a method as claimed in claim 1 of coupling a boot toe body to a fin apparatus.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a fin apparatus as claimed in claim 3 coupleable to a boot toe body.
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 THE 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 DELRIN™ or DELRIN 107™, 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 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, 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 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 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. 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 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. 35 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 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.
In some embodiments, the clasp 258 may be made of a material such as polytetrafluoroetheylene (or TEFLON™), 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 TEFLON™), 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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 deformable (at least by resilient deformation of the spring 422) to vary a separation distance between the holder 430 and the clasp 418.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 (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 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.

Claims

A method of coupling a boot toe body (106, 178, 196, 272, 308, 404, 646, 662, 672, 680, 682, 692, 708) to a fin apparatus comprising a fin body (102, 174, 307) coupled to a boot coupling body (104, 176, 216, 226, 252, 302, 304, 306, 402, 408, 410, 600, 602, 604, 628, 648, 664, 668, 674, 684), the method comprising:
connecting a first boot connector (138, 158, 330, 332, 430, 431, 606, 608) on a top portion (128, 254, 412, 610) of the boot coupling body to a first complementary boot connector (148, 160, 334, 432) on a top side (142, 274) of the boot toe body; and

connecting a second boot connector (140, 162, 180, 258, 268, 270, 286, 288, 346, 418, 624, 654, 722) on a bottom portion (130, 256, 414, 612) of the boot coupling body to a second complementary boot connector (150, 164, 278, 280, 356, 434) on a bottom side (144, 276) of the boot toe body, wherein:
the second complementary boot connector comprises a boot toe retaining surface (164, 280, 356, 434);

the second boot connector comprises a boot retaining surface (162, 270, 288, 346) on a top side of the bottom portion of the boot coupling body; and

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.
The method claim 1 further comprising coupling the boot coupling body to the fin body.
A fin apparatus coupleable to a boot toe body (106, 178, 196, 272, 308, 404, 646, 662, 672, 680, 682, 692, 708), the apparatus comprising:
a fin body (102, 174, 307); and

a boot coupling body (104, 176, 216, 226, 252, 302, 304, 306, 402, 408, 410, 600, 602, 604, 628, 648, 664, 668, 674, 684) coupleable to the fin body, the boot coupling body comprising:
a top portion (128, 254, 412, 610) comprising a first boot connector (138, 158, 330, 332, 430, 431, 606, 608) for connecting with a first complementary boot connector (148, 160, 334, 432) on a top side (142, 274) of the boot toe body; and

a bottom portion (130, 256, 414, 612) comprising a second boot connector (140, 162, 180, 258, 268, 270, 286, 288, 346, 418, 624, 654, 722) for connecting with a second complementary boot connector (150, 164, 278, 280, 356, 434) on a bottom side (144, 276) of the boot toe body;

wherein the second boot connector comprises a boot retaining surface (162, 270, 288, 346) on a top side of the bottom portion of the boot coupling body for contacting a complementary boot toe retaining surface (164, 280, 356, 434) of the second complementary boot connector; and

wherein 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 complementary boot toe retaining surface.
The method of claim 1 or 2, or the apparatus of claim 3, wherein the boot coupling body (104, 176, 216, 226, 252) is detachably coupleable to a fin frame detachably or non-detachably coupled to the fin body.
The method of claim 1 or 2 or 4, or the apparatus of claim 3 or 4, wherein the boot coupling body (104, 176, 216, 226, 252) comprises a unitary body having the first and second boot connectors.
The method of claim 1 or 2, or the apparatus of claim 3, wherein the boot coupling body (302, 402, 600, 628, 648, 664, 674, 684) comprises a fin frame (306, 410, 604) detachably or non-detachably coupled to the fin body.
The method or apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first boot connector (332) is on the fin frame (306, 410, 604), and wherein the second boot connector (346, 418, 624) is on a coupling body (304, 408, 602) detachably coupled to the fin frame.
The method of claim 1 or 2 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, or the apparatus of claim 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, wherein:
the first boot connector comprises a holding body on a first end of the boot coupling body and having a holding surface positionable against a retaining surface on the top side of the boot toe body;

the second boot connector comprises a boot clasp on a second end of the boot coupling body and comprising the boot retaining surface; and

the holding body is configured to be retained against movement in a direction towards the fin body when the holding surface is positioned against the retaining surface on the top side of the boot toe body.
The method or apparatus of claim 8 wherein the boot clasp (258, 286, 346, 418, 624, 654) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (262, 355) extending between the top and bottom sides of the boot toe body to connect the second boot connector to the second complementary boot connector, and wherein the boot clasp is shaped to lose contact with the second retaining surface in response to rotation of the boot clasp about the axis of rotation.
The method or apparatus of claim 8 or 9 wherein:
the holding body is receivable in a first receptacle on the top side of the boot toe body; and

the boot clasp is receivable in a second receptacle on the bottom side of the boot toe body.
The method of claim 1 or 2 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10, or the apparatus of claim 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10, further comprising a lever (182) operable to transfer a force to the second boot connector in a direction (184) away from the bottom side of the boot toe body to cause the boot retaining surface to lose contact with the boot toe retaining surface.
The method of claim 1 or 2 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11, or the apparatus of claim 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11, wherein the boot coupling body comprises a resilient body (422) unattached to the second boot connector and resiliently deformable to increase the separation distance between the first and second boot connectors.
The method of claim 1 or 2 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12, or the apparatus of claim 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12, wherein the second boot connector (140, 162, 180, 258, 268, 270, 286, 288, 346, 418, 620, 624, 654, 656, 722) is resiliently deformable to increase the separation distance between the first and second boot connectors.
The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 13 further comprising the boot toe body.
The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 14 further comprising a third boot connector (202, 218, 232, 236, 240, 250, 266, 502, 632, 652, 670, 676) for connecting with a third complementary boot connector (204, 224, 506) on a heel end of a boot coupled to the boot toe body.