U.S. patent application number 13/234565 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-22 for heel strap for swimming flippers of the open-shoe type.
Invention is credited to Dante NOCETI.
Application Number | 20120071047 13/234565 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43739297 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120071047 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NOCETI; Dante |
March 22, 2012 |
Heel Strap for Swimming Flippers of the Open-Shoe Type
Abstract
Heel strap (5) for swimming flippers (1) of the open shoe type
(3), comprising a tubular resilient element (10), with a round
cross section, connected to each end and connected removably to
means (12, 11) for supporting a rigid eyelet (9) which can be
attached removably to a corresponding pivot pin (6, 7) projecting
laterally from the flipper (1).
Inventors: |
NOCETI; Dante; (SANTA
MARGHERITA LIGURE, IT) |
Family ID: |
43739297 |
Appl. No.: |
13/234565 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 31/11 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/64 |
International
Class: |
A63B 31/11 20060101
A63B031/11 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2010 |
IT |
GE2010U000019 |
Claims
1. Heel strap for swimming flippers of the open shoe type,
characterized in that it comprises a tubular resilient element
having a round cross section connected to each end and connected
removably to means for supporting a rigid eyelet which can be
attached removably to a corresponding pivot pin projecting
laterally from the flipper.
2. Heel strap according to claim 1, characterized in that the said
tubular resilient element with a round cross section is a length of
elastic used in underwater guns of the crossbow type.
3. Heel strap according to claim 1, characterized in that the said
rigid eyelet is connected to the said support means with the aid of
elements which allow it to rotate to a certain extent.
4. Heel strap according to claim 1, characterized in that a bush is
fitted on each end of the said tubular resilient element, each bush
comprising a threaded part onto which a corresponding cap can be
screwed, this cap being connected to the said eyelet.
5. Heel strap according to claim 4, characterized in that the said
cap comprises a pivot pin provided with a head having a through
hole positioned in a direction substantially orthogonal to the said
pivot pin, through which it is possible to pass a pivot pin for the
rotation of the said eyelet with respect to the said cap.
6. Heel strap according to claim 1, characterized in that the said
eyelet comprises a first suitably shaped hole of greater diameter
and a second suitably shaped hole of smaller diameter.
7. Heel strap according to claim 1, characterized in that it
comprises a rubber element having a central through hole into which
the said tubular resilient element is inserted, a substantially
flat or slightly curved support part for the heel, and a grip ring.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a heel strap for swimming
flippers of the open-shoe type.
[0002] As is known, a swimming flipper of the open-shoe type is
provided in its front part with a blade and in its rear part with
an open shoe made from rubber or similar elastomeric material, into
which the diver, who is provided with suitable footwear with a
sole, inserts his foot. A flipper of this type is particularly
suitable for scuba diving, and is provided in the rear part of the
shoe with a strap which secures the diver's heel, in order to
retain the foot correctly in the flipper. These straps can be made
in different types, and may for example include a rubber belt
provided at both ends with buckles which are fixed to the sides of
the flipper shoe. These buckles, into which the ends of the strap
are inserted, allow a degree of adjustment of the capacity and
tension of the strap. However, these straps have a number of
drawbacks, such as the fact that both ends of the strap must be
inserted into the corresponding buckles whenever the flipper is put
on and must be removed whenever the flipper is taken off. The belts
can suffer from wear over time as an inevitable result of these
continued operations of insertion into the buckles and removal
therefrom, and are subject to a certain loss of tension in the long
term, which is detrimental to their effectiveness.
[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a heel strap for swimming flippers of the open-shoe type which
overcomes the drawbacks of the known straps described above, which
can be customized, and which advantageously has a markedly greater
effectiveness and durability than the known straps.
[0004] This object is achieved by the present invention by means of
a heel strap for a swimming flipper of the open-shoe type,
characterized in that it comprises a tubular resilient element with
a round cross section connected removably at each end to means for
supporting a rigid eyelet which can be attached removably to a
corresponding pivot pin projecting laterally from the flipper.
[0005] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the
tubular resilient element with a round cross section is an elastic
element used in underwater guns of the crossbow type.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will be made clear in the course of the following
description, to be considered as a non-limiting example, referring
to the attached drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a partial view in lateral elevation of a
typical swimming flipper of the open-shoe type on which a heel
strap according to the present invention is to be used;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a view from above of the flipper of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a view in lateral elevation of the heel strap
according to the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a view from above of the strap according to the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] With reference to the appended drawings and with particular
reference to FIG. 1, the number 1 indicates a flipper having a
blade 2 in its front part and having an open shoe 3 made from
rubber or similar elastomeric material in its rear part. The diver,
wearing suitable footwear 4 with a sole, inserts his foot into this
open shoe 3, and the foot is kept in the correct position in the
flipper 1 by means of a heel strap 5 according to the present
invention. At the sides of the shoe 3 (see also FIG. 2 of the
appended drawings) there are provided two projecting pivot pins 6
in diametrically opposite positions, each pivot pin having a head 7
of larger diameter in its upper part. These pivot pins 6 can be
made, for example, in one piece with the shoe 3. One end of the
heel strap 5 is engaged in each of these pivot pins 6, by means of
suitable metal attachment eyelets 9.
[0012] The heel strap 5 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4 of the appended
drawings) comprises a tubular resilient element 10 having a round
cross section and suitable thickness, for example a length of
elastic used in underwater guns of the crossbow type. Each end of
this resilient element is fixed to a plastic bush 12 which has a
threaded part (not visible in the drawings) onto which is screwed a
plastic cap 11 for supporting the metal attachment eyelet 9. The
end of the cap 11 is fixed to a metal pivot pin 13 provided with a
head 14 in which is formed, in a direction orthogonal to the pivot
pin 13, a through hole into which is inserted a further pivot pin
15 whose ends are fixed to two parallel side pieces 16 which
support the metal eyelet 9. This pivot pin 15 can rotate with
respect to the head 14, and therefore each of the metal eyelets 9
can be rotated with respect to the cap 11 to which it is fixed and
with respect to the tubular resilient element 10. Each of the metal
eyelets 9 also comprises a first suitably shaped hole 17 for
fitting onto the head 7 of the corresponding pivot pin 6, and a
second suitably shaped hole 8 adapted to be positioned under the
head 7 of the corresponding pivot pin when the strap has been
attached. The strap 5 according to the invention is completed by a
rubber element 18 comprising, on the one hand, a flat part 19 for
supporting the diver's heel and, on the other hand, a grip ring 20.
A through hole 21, into which the tubular resilient element 10 of
the strap 5 is inserted, is formed in the central part of the
rubber element 18.
[0013] The present strap is advantageously highly customizable,
since it can be made simply by obtaining a tubular resilient
element 10 with a round cross section, such as an elastic element
for underwater guns of the crossbow type, cutting it to size
according to the characteristics of the user's foot and/or of the
user's footwear, and inserting this resilient element 10 into the
through hole 21 of the rubber element 18 provided with the heel
support part 19. At this point, the bushes 12 with the threaded
parts on their outer ends are fixed to the ends of the resilient
element 10, and then the cap 11, provided with the metal eyelet 9
which is rotatable with respect to it, is screwed onto each
bush.
[0014] The strap is attached in a simple and effective way to the
pivot pins 6 provided at the sides of the flipper 1, by fitting the
first hole 17 of greater diameter of the metal eyelet 9 onto the
head 7 of each pivot pin, and then positioning the eyelet in such a
way that the second hole 8 of smaller diameter is placed, on
completion of the attachment, around the pivot pin 6 and therefore
under the head 7. In order to insert his foot into the flipper 1,
the diver simply has to grip the ring 20 and pull the strap 5 which
is elastically elongated, and, when the foot has been inserted,
release the ring 20 in such a way that the part 19 comes into
contact with the heel, thus providing a suitable pressure on the
heel. In order to remove the foot from the flipper 1, it is simply
necessary to grip the ring 20 again and to pull the strap 5 again
in such a way that the strap 5 is elastically elongated and allows
the foot to be taken out.
* * * * *