WATERSPORT BOARD FINS WITH FIN RETENTION SYSTEMS AND WATERSPORT BOARDS CONTAINING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A fin to be inserted into a fin box of a watersport board for stabilizing the watersport board during use on a body of water, the fin comprising:
- a hydrodynamic blade configured to extend into a body of water when the fin is coupled to a watersport board that operates upon the body of water, wherein the hydrodynamic blade defines a fin plane and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a foil surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge;
a fin base extending from the hydrodynamic blade and configured to be selectively received within a fin box of the watersport board; and
a fin retention system configured to restrict removal of the fin base from the fin box, wherein the fin retention system includes a selective retention system that is configured to selectively transition between an unlocked configuration, in which the selective retention system permits the fin to be inserted into and removed from the fin box, and a locked configuration, in which the selective retention system restricts the fin from being inserted into and removed from the fin box, wherein the selective retention system includes;
a retainer latch that is configured to extend within a retention channel of the fin box to restrict removal of the fin base from the fin box when the fin base is inserted into the fin box and the selective retention system is in the locked configuration and to pivot about a pivot axis when the selective retention system is transitioned between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration; and
an actuator lever that is coupled to the retainer latch via a pivot shaft and that is configured to be actuated by a user to pivot the retainer latch about the pivot axis to selectively transition the selective retention system between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration, wherein the pivot shaft extends at least partially through each of the fin base, the actuator lever, and a portion of the hydrodynamic blade that is distal the fin base relative to the actuator lever;
wherein the actuator lever forms a portion of the hydrodynamic blade when the selective retention system is in the locked configuration;
wherein the actuator lever is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration; and
wherein the retainer latch is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Watersport board fins with fin retention systems and associated watersport boards and methods. A fin includes a hydrodynamic blade and a fin base extending from the hydrodynamic blade. The hydrodynamic blade defines a fin plane and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a foil surface. The fin further includes a fin retention system with a selective retention system that includes a retainer and an actuator coupled to the retainer via a pivot shaft. The actuator forms a portion of the hydrodynamic blade when the selective retention system is in a locked configuration and is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. The retainer is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.
17 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A fin to be inserted into a fin box of a watersport board for stabilizing the watersport board during use on a body of water, the fin comprising:
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a hydrodynamic blade configured to extend into a body of water when the fin is coupled to a watersport board that operates upon the body of water, wherein the hydrodynamic blade defines a fin plane and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a foil surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a fin base extending from the hydrodynamic blade and configured to be selectively received within a fin box of the watersport board; and a fin retention system configured to restrict removal of the fin base from the fin box, wherein the fin retention system includes a selective retention system that is configured to selectively transition between an unlocked configuration, in which the selective retention system permits the fin to be inserted into and removed from the fin box, and a locked configuration, in which the selective retention system restricts the fin from being inserted into and removed from the fin box, wherein the selective retention system includes; a retainer latch that is configured to extend within a retention channel of the fin box to restrict removal of the fin base from the fin box when the fin base is inserted into the fin box and the selective retention system is in the locked configuration and to pivot about a pivot axis when the selective retention system is transitioned between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration; and an actuator lever that is coupled to the retainer latch via a pivot shaft and that is configured to be actuated by a user to pivot the retainer latch about the pivot axis to selectively transition the selective retention system between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration, wherein the pivot shaft extends at least partially through each of the fin base, the actuator lever, and a portion of the hydrodynamic blade that is distal the fin base relative to the actuator lever; wherein the actuator lever forms a portion of the hydrodynamic blade when the selective retention system is in the locked configuration;
wherein the actuator lever is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration; and
wherein the retainer latch is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A fin to be inserted into a fin box of a watersport board for stabilizing the watersport board during use on a body of water, the fin comprising:
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a hydrodynamic blade configured to extend into a body of water when the fin is coupled to a watersport board that operates upon the body of water, wherein the hydrodynamic blade defines a fin plane and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a foil surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a fin base extending from the hydrodynamic blade and configured to be selectively received within a fin box of the watersport board; and a fin retention system configured to restrict removal of the fin base from the fin box, wherein the fin retention system includes a selective retention system that is configured to selectively transition between an unlocked configuration, in which the selective retention system permits the fin to be inserted into and removed from the fin box, and a locked configuration, in which the selective retention system restricts the fin from being inserted into and removed from the fin box, wherein the selective retention system includes; a retainer latch that is configured to extend within a retention channel of the fin box to restrict removal of the fin base from the fin box when the fin base is inserted into the fin box and the selective retention system is in the locked configuration and to pivot about a pivot axis when the selective retention system is transitioned between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration; and an actuator lever that is coupled to the retainer latch via a pivot shaft and that is configured to be actuated by a user to pivot the retainer latch about the pivot axis to selectively transition the selective retention system between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration; wherein the actuator lever forms a portion of the hydrodynamic blade when the selective retention system is in the locked configuration;
wherein the actuator lever is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration;
wherein the retainer latch is configured to rotate away from the fin plane when the selective retention system transitions from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration;
wherein the selective retention system further includes at least one retention system lock that is configured to maintain the selective retention system in the locked configuration;
wherein the retention system lock is configured to resist unintentional transitioning of the selective retention system from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration;
wherein the retention system lock includes a base component that extends from a surface of the fin base toward the actuator lever when the selective retention system is in the locked configuration;
wherein the retention system lock includes an actuator lever component that is defined by the actuator lever; and
wherein the actuator lever component includes at least one of a recess configured to receive the base component or a cutout in the actuator lever configured to permit the actuator lever to resiliently deform to receive the base component when the selective retention system is in the locked configuration.
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Specification