U.S. patent application number 12/414398 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-08 for retaining structure for removably mounting a surfboard fin.
Invention is credited to Tzong In YEH.
Application Number | 20100173546 12/414398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42312009 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100173546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YEH; Tzong In |
July 8, 2010 |
RETAINING STRUCTURE FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING A SURFBOARD FIN
Abstract
A retaining structure for a surfboard fin includes a mounting
base secured in the undersurface of a surfboard, a fin member and
two blocks. The mounting base has a receptacle and two holding
portions. The fin member has a connecting section to be embedded in
the receptacle of the mounting base and a body section extending
from the connecting section. The body section of the fin member
protrudes outside the undersurface of the surfboard and has front
and rear ends inclined outwardly. Each block is detachably mounted
on the respective holding portion of the mounting base and defines
a recess in a side according to the slope of the respective
inclined end of the body section so that the inclined ends of the
body section can be fitted in the recesses of the blocks and
suppressed by the blocks and thereby be secured onto the mounting
base.
Inventors: |
YEH; Tzong In; (Fremont,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC
4000 Legato Road, Suite 310
FAIRFAX
VA
22033
US
|
Family ID: |
42312009 |
Appl. No.: |
12/414398 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 32/66 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/74 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/79 20060101
B63B035/79 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 8, 2009 |
TW |
098100541 |
Claims
1. A retaining structure for removably mounting a surfboard fin
comprising: a mounting base firmly secured within a cavity in the
undersurface of a surfboard; the mounting base having a receptacle
and two holding portions adjacent to opposite ends of the
receptacle; a fin member having a connecting section to be embedded
in the receptacle of the mounting base and a body section extending
from the connecting section, the body section protruding outside
the undersurface of the surfboard and having front and rear ends
inclined outwardly; and two suppressing mechanisms each detachably
mounted on the respective holding portion of the mounting base and
each including a block, wherein one of the blocks defines a recess
in a side thereof according to the slope of the inclined front end
of the body section of the fin member while the other block defines
a recess in a side thereof according to the slope of the inclined
rear end of the body section in such a way that the inclined front
and rear ends of the body section can be fitted in the recesses of
the blocks and suppressed by the blocks and thereby be secured onto
the mounting base.
2. The retaining structure of claim 1 wherein each of the two
holding portions of the mounting base defines a fixing hole
therein; each of the suppressing mechanisms includes a block
defining a through hole from top to bottom and a fixing part
configured to pass through the through hole of the block and be
releasably locked in the fixing hole in order to secure the block
onto the respective holding portion of the mounting base and
thereby enable the block to suppress the fin member.
3. The retaining structure of claim 2 wherein the mounting base
includes a base portion having the holding portions thereon and a
patch plate shaped to fit for the base portion; the receptacle of
the mounting base passes through the patch plate and into the base
portion; and when the base portion is coupled with the patch plate,
the receptacle and the holding portions are exposed in an opening
of the patch plate.
4. A retaining structure for removably mounting a surfboard fin
comprising: a mounting base firmly secured within a cavity in the
undersurface of a surfboard; the mounting base having a receptacle
and a holding portion defining a fixing hole therein; a fin member
having a connecting section to be embedded in the receptacle of the
mounting base and a body section extending from the connecting
section, the body section protruding outside the undersurface of
the surfboard; a first block integrated with the mounting base and
provided to suppress one end of the body section of the fin member;
a second block defining a through hole from top to bottom; and a
fixing part configured to pass through the through hole of the
second block and be releasably locked in the fixing hole of the
holding portion in order to secure the second block onto the
holding portion and thereby enable the second block to suppress the
other end of the body section of the fin member.
5. The retaining structure of claim 4 wherein the two ends of the
body section of the fin member are inclined outwardly and each of
the first and second blocks defines a recess in a side thereof
according to the slope of the respective inclined end of the body
section of the fin member in such a way that one inclined end of
the body section can be fitted in the recess of the first block and
suppressed by the first block which is integrated with the mounting
base while the other inclined end of the body section is fitted in
the recess of the second block and is suppressed by the second
block which is secured on the mounting base by the fixing part.
6. The retaining structure of claim 5 wherein the fixing part is a
screw and the fixing hole defined in the holding portion is
threaded.
7. A retaining structure for removably mounting a surfboard fin
comprising: a mounting base firmly secured within a cavity in the
undersurface of a surfboard; the mounting base having a receptacle
and two holding portions adjacent to opposite ends of the
receptacle; a fin member having a connecting section to be embedded
in the receptacle of the mounting base and a body section extending
from the connecting section, the body section protruding outside
the undersurface of the surfboard, wherein the connecting section
has a width slightly greater than the body section to such an
extent that the front and rear ends of the connecting section
extends outside the front and rear ends of the body section
respectively; two blocks each defining a through hole from top to
bottom; and two fixing parts configured to pass through the through
holes of the blocks and be releasably locked in the fixing holes of
the holding portions in order to secure the blocks onto the holding
portions of the mounting base and thereby enable the blocks to
suppress the front and rear ends of the connecting section of the
fin member.
8. The retaining structure of claim 7 wherein the fixing parts are
screws and the fixing holes defined in the holding portions are
threaded.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a fin construction to be mounted
on the underneath of a surfboard and more particularly to a fin
retaining structure for removably mounting a surfboard fin.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] Retaining structures to mount fins onto the underneath of
surfboards are known in the art. Such structures are typically
configured to create a rigid connection between the fin and the
body as secure as possible. Such retaining structures are herein
defined generally as designed to permit the removal of fin member
without the extensive use of tools from the surfboard. Such
retaining structures for the surfboard fin generally provide some
facilitation in the assembly of fin members and permit the ordinary
user to rapidly change a fin member.
[0005] One such structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,099
to Thomas et al. and is directed to a mounting structure for
tightly securing a skeg or fin to a surfboard. The mounting
structure includes a channeled mounting box bonded in the rear ward
portion of a surfboard. The sidewalls of the box are shaped with
complementary tapering. The base of the fin is directly secured in
the box by screws, which upon tightening, snugly wedge the side
walls together to prevent wobbling or other relative movement
between fin and box that could interfere with surfing
operations.
[0006] Another mechanism for fin retaining structure is described
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,151 to Christopher J. Beacham and relates to
fins for watercrafts. These fins have an apertured, basal flange.
Each fin is affixable, in a variety of positions, to the underside
of the watercraft via fixing means extending through the apertures
in the flange and into the fabric of the watercraft. Although the
fin may be affixed to the underside of the watercraft easily via
the screws, the apertured flange affects the appearance in a
negative way.
[0007] A heretofore unmet need exists for a fin retaining structure
in which fin members can be easily and firmly assembled to the
board, with attractive appearance, and are to be removed therefrom
easily as well.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a
retaining structure for removably mounting a surfboard fin. The
retaining structure includes a mounting base, a fin member, and two
suppressing mechanisms. The mounting base is firmly secured within
a cavity in the undersurface of a surfboard. Moreover, the mounting
base has a receptacle and two holding portions adjacent to opposite
ends of the receptacle. The fin member has a connecting section and
a body section extending from the connecting section. The
connecting section is to be embedded in the receptacle of the
mounting base. The body section protrudes outside the undersurface
of the surfboard and has its front and rear ends inclined
outwardly. In particular, each of the two suppressing mechanisms is
detachably mounted on the respective holding portion of the
mounting base and includes a block. Specifically, one of the blocks
defines a recess in a side thereof according to the slope of the
inclined front end of the body section of the fin member while the
other block defines a recess in a side thereof corresponding to the
slope of the inclined rear end of the body section in such a way
that the inclined front and rear ends of the body section can be
fitted in the recesses of the blocks and suppressed by the blocks
and thereby be secured onto the mounting base.
[0009] The present invention and the advantages thereof will become
more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in
which corresponding parts are identified by the same numerals and
in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fin retaining structure in
accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fin retaining structure of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a block of the fin retaining
structure of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fin retaining
structure of FIG. 1 together with a surfboard to which the fin
retaining structure is attached;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a partly enlarged side view of the fin retaining
structure of FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a partly enlarged top view of the fin retaining
structure of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fin retaining structure,
along with the surfboard, in accordance with a second embodiment of
the invention; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fin retaining structure,
along with the surfboard, in accordance with a third embodiment of
the invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring now to the FIG. 1, a fin retaining structure is
shown having a mounting base 1, a fin member 2 and two suppressing
mechanisms 300. The mounting base 1 is to be firmly secured within
a cavity in the undersurface of a surfboard, as shown in FIG. 4.
Each of the suppressing mechanisms 300 includes a block 3 and a
fixing part 4. The fin member 2 is attached to the mounting base 1
with the help of the two suppressing mechanisms 300.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting base 1 includes a base
portion 11, a patch plate 12 and a receptacle (to be described
hereinafter). The base portion 11 is fitted in a main upper portion
of the cavity (see FIG. 4) and has a channel 13 and two holding
portions 14 adjacent to opposite ends of the channel 13. Each of
the holding portions 14 of the base portion 11 defines a fixing
hole 15, such as a threaded hole, for reception of the fixing part
4. In addition, a plurality of ribs 16 is arranged around the base
portion 11 to provide relatively more outer surface. The patch
plate 12 is a separate structure that is fitted into a lower
portion of the cavity in the undersurface of the surfboard 10 to
allow the bottom of mounting base 1 flush with the undersurface of
the surfboard 8. Further, the patch plate 12 defines an opening 13a
therethrough. In fact, the stacked patch plate 12 and the base
portion 11 co-define the receptacle of the mounting base 1, namely
the opening 13a plus the channel 13, in order to receive a
connecting section 22 of the fin member 2.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, the base portion 11 of the mounting base
1 is embedded in a foam core 81 of the surfboard 8. In order to
attach the base portion 11 onto the foam core 81 securely, a method
to fulfill that purpose is provided herein. First, coat the base
portion 11 with hot-melt adhesive around. Next, place the coated
base portion 11 in to a mold (not shown) in which a shaped cavity
is defined according to the surfboard. Then, fill the mold with
some foam materials, such as PE, PS or PS pre-foam beads. After
that, heat the mold to form the shaped foam core along with the
base portion 11 mounted thereon. It is noted that the hot-melt
adhesive, under heat treatment, will disperse outwardly and
randomly in such a way that the dispersed adhesive will then
tightly grasp the heated foaming materials and the base portion 11
together once the temperature is brought low. For this reason, the
base portion 11 of the mounting base 1 can be tightly bonded to the
foam core 81. It should be understood that the ribs 16 around the
base portion 11 further enlarge the contact surface therebetween
and greatly strengthen the bonding of the base portion 11 to the
foam core 81. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the base portion 11 of the
mounting base 1 is secured in the cavity with its bottom surface
flush with the undersurface of the foam core 81 of the surfboard 8.
In particular, the channel 13 and the holding portion 14 of the
base portion 11 are exactly exposed on a certain area of the
undersurface of the foam core 81.
[0022] After the base portion 11 is firmly bonded to the foam core
81, a bottom skin 82 is then laminated onto the undersurface of the
foam core 81 as well as the exposed channel 13 and holding portion
14 of base portion 11. Furthermore, a top skin 83 is laminated onto
top and edges of the foam core 81.
[0023] It should be understood that the top or bottom skin 82 or 83
may be formed of a single or multi-layer material. For example, the
bottom skin 82 is preferably made by a combination of a smooth
plastic board and a PE foam layer. Likewise, the top skin 83 may be
formed in one piece or be made up by pieces. The preferable
combination for the top skin 83 is a PE foam material along with a
plastic patterned laminate covered thereon.
[0024] When the top and bottom skins 83, 82 are both bonded onto
the exterior surfaces of the foam core 81, a specific segment of
the bottom skin 82 by which the base portion 11 is covered is then
cut away in order to expose the channel 13 and the holding portions
14 of the base portion 11 on that certain area again. The left
space where the segment is cut away, namely the lower portion of
the cavity in the undersurface of the surfboard, is then be filled
up with the patch plate 12.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, in order to create secure
connection between the patch plate 12 and the base portion 11, a
plurality of upright bolts 18 extends from top of the patch plate
12 and a plurality of holes 17 is defined in the undersurface of
the base portion 11 for reception of the bolts 18. In this way, the
patch plate 12 can be temporarily engaged with the base portion 11
and later be permanently bonded to the base portion 11 in any known
manner such as by adhesives or high-frequency welding or any other
suitable known means.
[0026] As mentioned above, the patch plate 21 has the opening 13a
in which the channel 13 and the holding portions 14 of the base
portion 11 are exposed when the patch plate 12 and the base portion
11 are coupled. Additionally, the patch plate 12 is shaped to
perfectly fit the left space where the cut-away segment left
behind. The patch plate 12 may be further trimmed as needed in
order to have its bottom surface flush with the undersurface of the
bottom skin 82 of the surfboard 8. It should be noted that, in
other examples, the patch plate 12 may be left out and excluded
from the surfboard 8 as one's wish.
[0027] According to the aforementioned method, it is advantageous
to be able to assemble the surfboard 8, the mounting base 1 and the
fin member 2 all together under relatively lower cost without
decreasing the quality.
[0028] Referring back to FIG. 2, the fin member 2 includes the
connecting section 22 and a body section 21. The body section 21
extends from the bottom of the connecting section 22 and protrudes
outside the undersurface of the surfboard 8. In construction, the
body section 21 and the connecting section 22 are formed, but not
limited to be, in one piece.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body section 21 of the fin
member 2 has front and rear ends 211, 212 inclined outwardly. One
of the blocks defines a recess in a side thereof according to the
slope or shape of the inclined front rear 211 of the body section
21 while the other block defines a recess in a side thereof
according to the slope of the inclined rear 212 end of the body
section 21.
[0030] Each of the two suppressing mechanisms 300 is detachably
mounted on the respective holding portion 14 of base portion 11 of
the mounting base 1. Specifically, each of the blocks 3 defines a
through hole 31 from top to bottom to receive the respective fixing
part 4. When the fin member 2 is to be used for surfing, it is
quite easy for the surfer to mount the fin member 2 onto the
surfboard 8, as shown in FIG. 4. All you have to do is to insert
the connecting section 22 of the fin member 2 into the receptacle
of the mounting base 1, and then to have the fixing parts 4 pass
through the holes 31 of the blocks and be locked to the fixing
holes 15 of the mounting base 1. For convenience sake, the fixing
parts 4 are screws while the fixing holes 15 are threaded holes
correspondingly. That is, the blocks 3 and the fixing parts 4 are
threadably engaged with the base portion 11 of the mounting base 1.
When the fixing parts 4 are screwed into the fixing holes 15, the
blocks 3 will tightly press the fin member 2 onto the mounting base
1. It follows that when the fixing parts 4 are screwed the blocks 3
to the holding portions 14 of the base portion 11, the inclined
front and rear ends 211, 212 of the body section 21 can be fitted
in the recesses 32 of the blocks 3 and suppressed by the blocks 3
and thereby be secured onto the mounting base 1, as shown in FIG.
4. FIG. 5 clearly shows that one block 3 abuts against a sidewall
of the inclined front end 211. Preferably, the recesses 32 of the
blocks 3 are generally dimensioned in accordance with the inclined
front and rear ends 211, 212, as depicted in FIG. 6, in order to be
perfectly tied in with the fin member 2. It is realized that using
the blocks 3 suppressing the inclined front and rear ends 211, 212
of the fin member 2 enables the fin member 2 to be simple in shape
and therefore be easy to be manufactured, which helps bring fin
product cost down.
[0031] On the other hand, since the blocks 3 are releasably affixed
to the undersurface of the surfboard 8, the fin member 2 may also
be easily removed from the surfboard 8 to allow for easy of
transport, inasmuch as the surfboard 8 with the fin member 2
removed could be safely stacked one on top of the other. In such
cases, the fin member 2 can be easily removed off by simply
screwing the fixing parts 4 off the holding portions 14. Removing
the fin member 2 from the surfboard 8 helps to save great space and
prevent the fin member from damage. In summary, the employment of
the blocks 3 to suppress the fin members 2 enables the quick
attachment or detachment of the fin member 2 to the surfboard
8.
[0032] FIG. 7 provides a cross-sectional view of a fin retaining
structure, along with a surfboard 8, in a second embodiment. As can
be seen from the drawing, the second embodiment is generally
similar to the first embodiment, comprising a mounting base 1, a
fin member 2, a first block 3a, a second block 3 and a fixing part
4. The mounting base 1 is firmly secured within a cavity in the
undersurface of the surfboard 8. The mounting base 1 has a
receptacle and two holding portions 14. One of the holding portions
14 defines a fixing hole 15 therein for reception of the fixing
part 4, such as a screw. The fin member 2 has a connecting section
22 embedded in the receptacle of the mounting base 1 and a body
section 21 extending from the connecting section 22. The body
section 21 protrudes outside the undersurface of the surfboard 8.
In particular, the first block 3a is integrated with the mounting
base 1 and provided to suppress the rear end 212 of the body
section 21 of the fin member 2. It should be noted that, in another
example, the first block 3a may be configured to suppress the front
end 211 of the body section 21 rather than the rear end 212 as
one's wish.
[0033] Similar to the suppressing mechanisms 300 of FIG. 2, the
second block 3 defines a through hole 31 from top to bottom, and
the fixing part 4 passes through the through hole 31 of the second
block 3 and is screwed to the threaded fixing hole 15 of the
holding portion 14. In this way, the fixing part 4 along with the
second block 3 is releasably locked in the fixing hole 15 of the
holding portion 14 in order to secure the second block 3 onto the
holding portion 14 of the mounting base 1 and thereby enable the
second block 3 to suppress the front end 211 of the body section 21
of the fin member 2.
[0034] As described above, it is realized that the second
embodiment includes the unique first block 3a which is integrated
with the base portion 11 or the patch block 12 of the mounting base
1 into one piece. In construction, the first block 3a together with
the base portion 21 or the patch block 22 may be formed by plastics
molding or the like. Alternatively, the first block 3a may be
formed in advance and then be bonded to the base portion 21 or the
patch block 22 by adhesives or high-frequency welding. In this way,
in operation, only the second block 3 and the fixing part 4 are
needed to be handled for assembling. It should be noted that both
the recesses 32a of the block 3a and the recess 32 of the block 3
are dimensioned in accordance to the inclined front and rear ends
211, 212 of the body section 21 of the fin member 2, as taught
above for the first embodiment.
[0035] With reference to FIG. 8, a fin retaining structure, along
with a surfboard, in accordance with a third embodiment of the
invention is illustrated. As can be seen from the drawing, the
third embodiment is generally similar to the first embodiment,
comprising a mounting base 1, a fin member 2, two blocks 3b and two
fixing parts 4. The mounting base 1 is firmly secured within a
cavity in the undersurface of the surfboard 8. Moreover, the
mounting base 1 has a receptacle and two holding portions 14
adjacent to opposite ends of the receptacle. The fin member 2 has
an unique connecting section 22b embedded in the receptacle of the
mounting base 1 and a body section 21 extending from the connecting
section 22b. As shown, the body section 21 protrudes outside the
undersurface of the surfboard 8. The main difference between the
first and third embodiments is that the connecting section 22b has
a width slightly greater than that of the body section 21 to such
an extent that the front and rear ends 211b, 212b of the connecting
section 22b extends outside the front and rear ends of the body
section 21 respectively.
[0036] Similar to the suppressing mechanism 300 of FIG. 2, each of
the two blocks 3b defines a through hole from top to bottom for
reception of the two fixing parts 4. That is, the fixing parts 4
pass through the through holes of the blocks 3b and then are
screwed to the threaded fixing holes 15 of the holding portions 14.
In this way, the fixing parts 4 together with the blocks 3b are
releasably locked in the fixing holes 15 in order to secure the
blocks 3b onto the holding portions 14 of the mounting base 1 and
thereby enable the blocks 3b to suppress the front and rear ends
211b, 212b of the connecting section 22b of the fin member 2.
[0037] It should be noted that it is not necessary to define any
recess in the blocks 3b to receive the front and rear ends of the
body section 21 of the fin member 2. In this embodiment, since the
two ends of the body section 21 are not inclined (see FIG. 8), no
side recess is defined in the blocks 3b. However, in another
example, recesses 32, may be further defined as needed.
Furthermore, in another example, one of the blocks 3b may be
integrated with the mounting base 1 into one piece, as discussed in
the second embodiment.
[0038] It will be appreciated that although a particular embodiment
of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be
made. It is intended in the claims to cover such modifications
which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *