WO2007138367A1

WO2007138367A1 - Boots and fins for walking and swimming

Info

Publication number: WO2007138367A1
Application number: PCT/HR2007/000018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zoran Maksan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-31
Filing date: 2007-05-31
Publication date: 2007-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-30
Also published as: HRP20060199A2

Abstract

The boot (1) and fin (2) for walking and swimming, where it is possible to place the fin in two fixed positions in relation to the boot. «Walking» position where the fin is placed in vertical position by the lower leg, what makes it possible to walk normally under the water surface or on the ground. The fin is set into «swimming» position by pulling it backwards along the rail (3) on the boot and then by fixing it. In that way the fin is used as any other fin for swimming. There is no need for any intervention on the blade of the fin, so that this invention can be applied to any known type of fin blade.

Description

BOOTS AND FINS FOR WALKING AND SWIMMING

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

This invention refers to boots and corresponding fins with which it is possible to walk or swim under the water surface and walk or run on the ground, and according to international classification it is registered as .

Background Art

The problem with the ordinary fins when worn on the ground or on board is that walking with them is very unpractical or even dangerous. Divers often have to walk on the sea bottom. Classical fins can be an obstacle in the work of professional divers who execute underwater works (construction workers, archeologists etc.) Army divers and commandos have to take off the fins after swimming and put them away or carry them along.

There were several attempts to solving of this problem. None of them accomplished to solve all the demands posed by divers. The intervention was done mostly on the blade of the fin, what is unacceptable due to the hydrodynamics of the fin and the mechanical solidity as well as inability of using a line of existing quality solutions for the blade of the fin.

Disclosure of the Invention

The goal of the invention was to meet the following demands:

- One of our goals was to keep all the original manufacturers' solutions of the blade of the fin in order to preserve the knowledge of particular manufacturers acquired by means of long- term experience and tests on the hydrodynamics of the fins. We have tried and accomplished that our concept can be applied on all types of blades.

- We minimized the foot pocket resistance the least possible in order to improve the hydrodynamics of that part of the fin.

- Folding the individual fin in the upright position can be done in 5 seconds in one continued movement. Folding the fin back must be done in the same amount of time. - The fins, once in "walking" position, enable the diver to walk on all types of land - under or above the water surface.

- In "swimming" position, the forces acting on the foot do not cause any critical overload on any part of the foot.

- Diver's boots require a minimal modification i.e. the rails attached to lateral sides of the sole upon which slides the «rider» from the flipper. The adjustement of the rail is such that the same boots or shoes can be used with different kinds of fins.

- There is less need for knee protectors, because fins have the same purpose when folded.

A brief description of the drawings

Picture 1 shows the fin in «walking» position. The blade of the fin is placed in the front position on the rail and attached with a buckle with a fuse vertically by the lower leg.

Picture 2 shows the fin in «swimming» position. The blade is placed in the back position on the rail and pulled on the foot.

Picture 3 shows the «rider» on the blade and the rail on the boot.

Modes of application of the invention

The invention is applied by putting on the boots with the fins mentioned in this application. The fins are fixed into «walking» position by sliding them forwards along the rail, rotating them upwards in a position parallel to the lower leg and attaching the buckle on the lower leg. This position makes it possible to walk underneath the sea surface or on the land. The fins are fixed into «swimming» position by releasing the buckle with the fuse, rotating forwards and sliding the whole fin backwards along the rail to the back position. In this position the fin can be used as any other fin, keeping all the advantages of different types of fin blades.

Claims

1. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by the boot having rails on lateral sides of its soles along which slides the «rider» situated on the part of the fin closest to the heel and that way the fin slides along the rail and can be taken off the foot and fixed into a vertical position by the lower leg.

2. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by a buckle standing on the front upper side of the fin, which connects to corresponding buckle with a fuse, attached to the lower leg or boot.

3. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by rails on the boot along which slides the «rider», positioned in the middle part of lateral sides of the soles, so that the rails do not obstruct walking with boots only, neither do they hinder using the boot with any other kind of fin.

4. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by «riders» positioned on lateral sides of the back side of the fin on both interior sides, which are corresponding, i.e. slide along the rails on the boot.

5. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by the fin being pulled from back into front position, rotates upwards and from the horizontal «swimming» position, fixes into vertical «walking» position.

6. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by the fin being pulled forward or backward along the rail and the front part of the boot. In that way the fin in the «swimming» position fixes on the slider while the front part of the boot and foot pocket slipped on it make the second support point.

7. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by the fin being pulled forward or backward along the rail and the front part of the boot, hi that way the fin in the «walking» position fixes in the front part of the rail while the buckle connecting to the corresponding buckle attached to the lower leg or boot makes the second support point.

8. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by the fin unbuckling from «walking» position into «swimming» position, by letting off the fuse on the buckle attached to the lower leg or boot.

9. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by lack of any intervention on the blade of the fin in order to accomplish the possibility of folding the fin, what enables the use of all known types of blades.

0. Boot and fin for walking and swimming characterized by the fin being suitable for putting on the foot i.e. boot, because it lacks the back part i.e. heel.