U.S. patent application number 12/061658 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-08 for floating hydrodynamic fin system.
Invention is credited to Massimo Ferru.
Application Number | 20090253319 12/061658 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41133683 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090253319 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferru; Massimo |
October 8, 2009 |
Floating hydrodynamic fin system
Abstract
Floating hydrodynamic fin system, useful for surfboard and
windsurf, modifying its fin lift trim by a calibrate and controlled
spring and an asymmetric shape of the fin-base that leaves a gap
between said fin-base and the fin-box, allows the floating of the
system rearward and/or forward. This happens by: 1) reducing the
resistance of the water flow against the fin. 2) influencing the
critical point of the board by the vector lift force displacement
rearward in one or more critical times. 3) reducing the fin lift
surface due to a part displacement of the fin into the fin-box.
Said system can also works by a limited and calibrated movement of
a fin-box into another fin-box controlled by a spring calibrate
device and by a suitable fin-box shape that leaves a gap between
the inside and outside box allowing the floating of the system.
Inventors: |
Ferru; Massimo; (Rome,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MASSIMO FERRU
VIA CLELIA GAROFOLINI, 11
ROME
00151
IT
|
Family ID: |
41133683 |
Appl. No.: |
12/061658 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/79 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 32/66 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/79 |
International
Class: |
B63B 1/00 20060101
B63B001/00 |
Claims
1) Floating Hydrodynamic Fin System useful for surf and windsurf is
characterized by: A fin box located near the rear of the surfboard,
A fin located within the fin box, A spring device located in the
rear between the fin and the fin box and composed of the following
parts: a steering and calibrated spring located in a screw that
hooks the fin to the board by its head and by a blind nut to the
fin box, Said Spring device appositely built in order to compress
the spring itself when the speed causes a certain amount of
resistance in the water, When, the pressure on the fin is reduced,
the fin returns to its original position relaxing the spring, A
plurality of motions of the fin rearward and forward for enhancing
early planning, maintenance of planning for more time and distance
and maneuverability of the board.
2) Floating Hydrodynamic Fin System as claimed in claim 1) is
further characterized by: The timing of the fin lift displacement:
When the hoard overtakes the critical speed, starting to plane, and
it is getting ready for the maneuvers, the system lets move the fin
lift trim for enhancing early planning and easier, maneuverability
of the board.
3) Floating Hydrodynamic Fin System as claimed in claim 1) is
further characterized by: A fin box into another fin box controlled
by one or more calibrate springs and by a suitable fin box shape
which leaves a space between the inside and outside box allowing a
limited and calibrated movement of the fin system, Said limited and
controlled motion both rearward and forward happens simultaneously
and automatically while changing the fluid resistance depending on
the planning phases and maneuvers of the board.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention is related to water planning crafts, such as
surf and windsurf, and the function of the fin lift to enhance
planning, maneuverability and specific tacks.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Fins are generally described by different shapes and
hardness and are made of several lengths, width and twist response:
it may change relative to the size board, sea and wind conditions,
specific requirements. Fins available in the market typically are
done to be located into a fin-box in a fixed position and the fin
lift trim typically carries on its function by the fin in a static
position near the rear of the board, so the desire to enhance such
function is an objective of surfboard and fin constructors. In the
present invention the fin can float in a limited calibrate
oscillation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention discloses "floating hydrodynamic fin
system" for windsurf and surf. The fin systems available in the
market don't float because the fin is stopped in a fixed beforehand
position under the board, near its rear.
[0004] In the present invention the fin can float in a limited
calibrate oscillation toward the rear-board. This fin floating is
due: [0005] a) to a particular spring calibrate device or any other
device that achieves the same function; [0006] b) to an asymmetric
shape of the base of the fin which leaves a gap between the
fin-base and the fin-box.
[0007] The spring is calibrated to let float the fin when the board
is starting in a manner to reduce the resistance of the water flow
against the fin and to displace said fin in a better hydrodynamic
position.
[0008] Such device is adjusted by one or more springs in a manner
to leave when the force generated by the water flow is pushing.
[0009] Said spring is located in the screw that locks the fin to
the board by its head, and by a nut and lock nut (or blind nut)
into the fin-box, at the same time the screw allows the movement of
the fin and the spring, after compression, will relax floating in
hydrodynamic mode.
[0010] The spring setting of the floating Fin system is done in
accordance with the different kind of windsurf, surf, sea and wind
conditions, or/and specific requirements.
[0011] The floating fin system changes the lift trim by a
displacement toward the rear-board. When the board is jumping out
of the water (critical start planning) said displacement carries on
its function by the following: [0012] 1) reduction of the
resistance of the water flow against the fin. [0013] 2) influence
of the critical point of the rear side of the board in the critical
time by a temporary vector lift force rearward. [0014] 3) reduction
of the fin lift surface due to a part of the fin hiding into the
fin-box.
[0015] Due to these hydrodynamic advantages the board, by such
floating can plane earlier, can maintain the planning for more time
and distance and can plane earlier another one.
[0016] The floating of the fin lift trim enhances its hydrodynamic
function in a better temporary rear position during the board
planning phases and maneuvers. The fin lift surface can decrease
because the force generated from the speed that pushes on the fin
surface enhancing its lift function.
[0017] The fin can also float toward the front direction of the
board giving more flexibility and better maneuverability to typical
windsurf and surf such as freestyle, this is possible: [0018] a) by
the pivot that hooks the fin to the board positioned in the middle
of the base of said fin, the screws and the calibrate springs
positioned in the extremities of the above mentioned base; [0019]
b) by a special shape which leaves a gap between the fin-base and
the fin-box, useful for the above mentioned floating fin
system.
[0020] The setting of the calibrate spring system will be done in
accordance with specific requirements and priority and to obtain
different performance.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0021] The best mode to carrying out this invention is: by a common
fin-box that floats into another fin-box and by a pivot locked to
the last one said fin-box in a two possible options: [0022] a)
fixing the pivot (for the lock into the fin box) in the front side
of the fin-box and the calibrate springs, or any other device, in
the back side between the two said fin-boxes. Said system is useful
for the fin floating toward rear-board; [0023] b) fixing the pivot
in the middle of the fin-box, that is inserted into the other
fin-box, and the spring devices, or any other device, in the front
and back side between the two said fin boxes. Said system allows
the movement of the fin both rearward and forward.
[0024] In a) and b) options the floating fin-box is limited by a
shutter or another device that restricts the box displacement into
the other fin-box.
[0025] Said inside fin-box will be made in a manner to leave a gap
between inside and outside fin-box.
[0026] Some or more of all details to realize or complete this
invention may change but remaining into this patent dominion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] In the detailed description which follows, reference will be
made to the drawing of the following figures:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a side lateral view of the floating hydrodynamic
fin system where the dark area of the fin (1) shows the before
start lift trim, and the light area shows the during start lift
trim displacement rearward (2). The fin-box (3) is positioned in
the rear of the board.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a view of the fin lift trim (8) in its modifying
toward the rear-board (4) by the compression of the spring (5) put
in the screw (6). The fin is stopped by the pivot (7) into the
front side of the fin box of the board.
[0030] FIG. 3 is an under back side of the board showing the
initial position of the fin before the starting of the board
(1).
[0031] FIG. 4 is an under back side of the board showing the
floating of the fin (2) after the pushing of the water flow
force.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a side lateral view of the fin floating system
where the pivot (3) stops it in the front side of the fin-box of
the board. Said fin system by the screw (4) into the spring (5) and
by an asymmetric shape of the fin-base (6) leaves a space to the
floating rearward.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a side lateral view of the fin floating system
where the pivot (7) hooks it in the middle position of the fin-box
of the board; Said fin system by the screws into the springs (8 and
9) and by a typical shape of the fin-base (10 and 11) leaves a gap
between said fin-base and the fin-box useful for the floating
system toward front and rear-board.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a view of the screw (6) into the spring (7) which
allows the fin swinging and the blind nut (8) that locks the fin to
the board.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a fin-box (3) inserted into another fin-box (4)
locked by a pivot (1) and swinging by the springs (2) where
corresponds the floating fin from the original start position (5)
to the after start rearward position (6). Such fin-box movement is
restricted by a shutter (7) or any other device. The shape of the
inside box (3) is asymmetric and leaves a gap between the two boxes
allowing the swinging.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a fin-box (4) inserted and locked by a pivot (1)
into another fin-box (5) and swinging by the springs (2 and 3)
where corresponds the fin (6) floating toward front (7) and
rear-board (8). Such fin-box movement is restricted by a shutter (9
and 10) or any other device. The shape of the inside box (4) leaves
a gap between the two boxes allowing the swinging of the
fin-box.
[0037] FIG. 10 shows the fin lift trim floating toward the front
(1) and the rear-board (2).
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Floating hydrodynamic fin system useful for water planning
crafts, such as surf and windsurf, works by a fin floating in a
manner to modify its lift trim by the following device: a
particular spring calibrate device or any other device that
achieves the same function, and by an asymmetric shape of the
fin-base that leaves a gap between said fin-base and the
fin-box.
[0039] Such device changes the lift trim floating toward the rear
and/or the front, thus enhancing the early planning of the board
and the next displacement of the lift trim toward rear/front
improves the maneuverability by the factors: [0040] 1) reducing the
resistance of the water flow, against the fin. [0041] 2)
influencing the critical point of the board by the vector lift
force displacement rearward in one or more critical times. [0042]
3) reducing the fin lift surface due to a part displacement of the
fin into the fin-box.
[0043] By such factors the board can also maintain the planning for
more time and distance and can earlier plane another one.
* * * * *