The present disclosure relates to a fin arrangement as well as a water sports device.
Fin arrangements for the formation of a fin on a water sports device are known and published in different versions. Fins are basically guiding elements which are provided on the sliding surfaces of water sports devices such as surfboards, wakeboards, kiteboards or similar sports devices in order to facilitate the control and, if necessary, the steering of the sports devices.
With conventional water sports devices, the fins are usually inseparably connected to the main body of the water sports device and in particular glued to it or bonded to it via laminate layers. The disadvantage of these fixed connections is that the fin size cannot be adapted to different conditions. Furthermore, in practice, the problem arises that a defective fin cannot simply be replaced.
For this reason, systems are known in which replaceable fins can be connected to the main body of the water sports device via screw connections. For this purpose, a solid holding body with externally located openings is laminated into the soft foam core of a surfboard. Extensions of the fin can be inserted into these openings and locked by means of a grub screw. The disadvantage of this design is that the mounting cannot be carried out without tools. In addition, laminating the holding body into a board is a laborious process that is only possible with boards that provide sufficient space. With wakeboards or kiteboards, for example, which have a relatively thin main body, such a connection of the fins by means of a laminated body is usually not possible.
Furthermore, fin arrangements that can be assembled and disassembled without tools are known in which a fin is mounted on a laminated holding body via a spring element. By overcoming a spring force, the fin can be separated from the water sports device without tools. A disadvantage of known designs with fins held by spring elements is that these are often not suitable for being subjected to loads in both moving directions without causing the fin to detach from the main body. With conventional constructions, the disadvantage is that the fin separates from the main body of the water sports device when it collides with the ground against the predetermined main moving direction.
Furthermore, with conventional systems there is the problem that the extensions of the fin must be placed in openings to connect to the sports device. These openings tend to get clogged, making it impossible to insert the extensions.
The task of the invention is now to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide a fin arrangement for a water sports device in which the fins can be easily connected to the main body of the water sports device and in which a reliable connection of the fin with the main body of the water sports device can be established, even if the water sports device is operated in both moving directions.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a fin arrangement for a water sports device, comprising a base body and a fin which is detachably connected or connectable to the base body via a spring element without the use of tools, wherein the base body has a mounting surface for resting against the sliding surface of the main body of the water sports device, and wherein the fin has a recess for receiving at least part of the base body.
Optionally, it is provided that a latching cam and a latching recess are provided and/or that the spring element in the assembled position is inserted into the latching recess.
Optionally, it is provided that the latching cam is arranged along the movement curve of the spring element when establishing the assembled position.
Optionally, it is provided that in order to bring the fin into its assembled position, the spring element must be elastically deformed in such a way that the spring element can be inserted into the latching recess over the latching cam.
Optionally, it is provided that the spring element in the assembled position is held in the latching recess in a force-locking or positively locking manner behind the latching cam.
Optionally, it is provided that the spring element is at least temporarily compressible and thereby pre-tensionable to get past the latching cam when the fin is separated from the base body.
Optionally, it is provided that the spring element in the assembled position extends to the outside and/or is accessible from the outside.
Optionally, it is provided that the spring element is manually compressible and thereby pre-tensionable to get past the latching cam when the fin is separated from the base body.
Optionally, it is provided that two spring elements are provided which are arranged on both sides of the longitudinal direction of extension and are spring-mounted transversely to the longitudinal direction of extension.
Optionally, it is provided that the two spring elements are designed in such a way that when the base is inserted into the recess of the fin, they lock automatically behind respective latching cams and can be released by pressing manually on both sides.
Optionally, it is provided that a longitudinal positive locking extension is provided which can be inserted into a longitudinal positive locking cutout, the longitudinal positive locking extension being provided on one of the elements base body or fin and the longitudinal positive locking cutout being provided on the respective other element, so that the longitudinal positive locking extension can be inserted into the longitudinal positive locking cutout by connecting the fin to the base body.
Optionally, it is provided that the longitudinal positive locking extension introduced into the longitudinal positive locking cutout is provided for locking a degree of freedom which may act along the longitudinal direction of extension.
Optionally, it is provided that the spring element comprises an end supported on another portion of the spring element, whereby the spring element is wrapped or formed in a spiral manner, and/or that the spring element comprises a wrapped or spiral portion, and/or that the region of the spring element which is elastically deformed in order to generate a spring force is wrapped or formed in a spiral manner.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a water sports device comprising a main body having a sliding surface for moving on a water surface in a sliding manner and a fin arrangement, wherein the mounting surface of the base body of the fin arrangement is arranged on the sliding surface of the main body of the water sports device.
Optionally, it is provided that the base body protrudes along the normal direction of extension from the main body or from the mounting surface or sliding surface of the water sports device.
Optionally, it is provided that the base body is arranged outside, in particular completely outside, of the main body of the water sports device and is preferably uncovered with the exception of the mounting surface.
Optionally, it is provided that fastening means are provided for connecting the base body to the main body, and that the fastening means are inserted into fastening means openings in order to provide the connection of the base body to the main body.
Optionally, it is provided that a screw connection is provided in which fastening means in the form of screws are screwed through the main body into the fastening means openings of the base body.
Optionally, it is provided that the water sports device comprises a solid main body with a wooden core or a solid plastic core.
The sliding surface is, in particular, that side of the water sports device which faces the water during operation and which is designed, in particular, for moving on a water surface in a gliding manner, this surface preferably extending also under the fin or under the base body and, optionally, in the region under the fin or under the base body having a profile deviating from the other profile of the surface. For example, the sliding surface below the fin or below the base body can be plane or curved.
In the following, the present disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments.
Unless otherwise specified, the reference signs correspond to the following components: Base body 1, spring element 2, fin 3, main body (of the water sports device) 4, sliding surface (of the water sports device) 5, hook pairing 6, hook groove 7, hook extension 8, pivot axis 9, latching recess 10, latching cam 11, spring retainer 12, longitudinal direction of extension 13, normal direction of extension 14, longitudinal positive locking extension 15, longitudinal positive locking cutout 16, fastening means 17, fastening means opening 18, pivot recess 19, spring fastening element 20, mounting surface 21, taper 22, fin surface 23, recess 24.
The base body 1 protrudes along the normal direction of extension 14 from the main body 4 or from the mounting surface 21 or the sliding surface 5 of the water sports device. Thus, the base body 1 is arranged outside, preferably completely outside, of the main body 4 of the water sports device and, with the exception of the mounting surface 21, uncovered. This configuration makes it possible, for example, to easily clean the elements connecting the fin 3 to the base body 1. This configuration can be provided in all embodiments.
The fin 3 can be connected without tools to the base body 1. The fin 3 can also be separated from the base body 1 without tools. For this purpose, the fin arrangement comprises a hook pairing 6. This hook pairing 6 serves the partial connection of the fin 3 with the base body 1. Due to the hook pairing 6, in particular, the degree of freedom of the fin 3 with respect to the base body 1, which runs along the normal direction of extension 14, is blocked which would thus permit a translational withdrawal of the fins 3 from the base body 1 along the normal direction of extension 14. Optionally, at least one other degree of freedom is also blocked by the hook pairing 6, in particular a degree of freedom running along the longitudinal direction of extension 13. Preferably, however, one degree of freedom, in particular a degree of freedom of rotation or pivoting, remains free. The hook pairing 6 preferably comprises a hook groove 7 and a hook extension 8, one of the elements being provided on the base body 1 and the other element on the fin 3.
In the present design, the fin 3 comprises a hook extension 8 which projects and/or can be inserted into a hook groove 7 of the base body 1. For assembly, as shown in
The spring element 2 of the present embodiment is arranged and can be arranged in a spring retainer 12. In the present embodiment the spring retainer 12 is located in the fin 3, whereby the spring element 2 is arranged at and/or in the fin 3. In all embodiments, spring element 2 may be at least partially formed in a spiral manner and preferably comprises a rounded or cylindrical or semi-cylindrical outer surface and/or a rounded or cylindrical or semi-cylindrical portion. Optionally, the spring element 2 can be provided with play in the spring retainer 12. Optionally, a spring fastening element 20 is provided which allows the mounting and holding of spring element 2 in the spring retainer 12. For example, the spring retainer 12 may have an opening larger than the envelope of spring element 2 so that spring element 2 can be inserted into the spring retainer 12. Consequently, the spring retainer 12 may be closed by the spring fastening element 20 in such a way that the spring element 2 is locked or held in the spring retainer 12. Such an arrangement of the spring element 2 in the spring retainer 12 can be provided in all embodiments.
The fin arrangement according to
In addition, the fin 3 comprises a pivot recess 19. The pivot recess 19 is designed in such a way that a pivotal movement of the fin 3 relative to the base body 1 about the pivot axis 9 is possible without a collision of the fin 3 with the main body 4 or with the sliding surface 5 of the main body 4.
Preferably, that surface of the fin 3 which faces the main body 4 or the sliding surface 5 of the water sports device is adapted to the shape and the profile of the sliding surface 5, so that this surface is in contact with the sliding surface 5. In addition, preferably one or more longitudinal positive locking extensions 15 are inserted into longitudinal positive locking cutouts 16 in order to lock a degree of freedom acting along the longitudinal direction of extension 13. In particular, the hook pairing 6 is designed in such a way that the hook extension 8 projects into the hook groove 7, thereby inhibiting the separation of the hook pairing 6 along the normal direction of extension 14. In order to detach the fin 3 from the base body, the fin 3 must be pulled off the main body 4 of the water sports device along the normal direction of extension 14 in an area remote from the hook pairing 6. This compresses the spring element 2 so that it can be moved past the latching cam 11 in order to move the spring element 2 out of the latching recess 10 and in order to subsequently be able to separate the fin 3 from the base body 1.
The fin 3 optionally comprises, in all embodiments, a taper 22 extending at an angle and/or rounded from the, when viewed along the normal direction of extension, outermost point of the fin 3 towards the sliding surface 5 of the main body 4. In particular, this taper 22 prevents any objects hitting the fin 3 from this direction from getting caught in the fin 3. In particular, this prevents the fin 3 from being separated from the base body 1 by such objects. The hook pairing itself prevents the fin 3 from being pulled off the base body 1 in the area of the hook pairing 6.
In particular, the present configuration ensures that fin 3 can be operated in both operating directions along the longitudinal direction of extension 13 without fin 3 separating from the base body 1.
The mode of operation of the hook pairing 6 as well as the pairing of a longitudinal positive locking extension 15 and a longitudinal positive locking cutout 16 essentially corresponds to that of
In the embodiments of
In the embodiments of
In all embodiments, the longitudinal positive locking extension 15 may be in the form of a bar-shaped extension located within the recess 24 of the fin 3. Due to this form, which is shown, for example, in
Optionally, it can be provided in all embodiments that the spring element 2 is formed in a spiral manner. In particular, the spring element 2 has at least in sections a cylindrical or rolled shape, preferably one end of the spring element 2 being supported on a further section of the spring element 2. This may form a rounded outer surface which allows the latching cam 11 to be passed in a sliding manner without any jamming or a permanent positive lock. Furthermore, the spring element 2 has an elasticity which makes it possible, when a certain force is applied, to guide the spring element 2 past the latching cam 11 by compressing the spring element 2. The spring element is preferably arranged in such a way that the rounded outer surface points in the direction of the latching cam 11 when passing over the latching cam 11.
Optionally, it may be provided in all embodiments that the spring element 2 comprises an end or a portion which is supported on a further section of the spring element 2, whereby the spring element 2 is wrapped or formed in a spiral manner, and/or that the spring element 2 comprises a section which is wrapped or formed in a spiral manner.
Preferably it is provided that the elastically deformed section of the spring element 2 is wrapped or formed in a spiral manner to generate a spring force.
Due to the wrapped or spiral design of the spring, the spring element 2 may have a progressive spring characteristics. Furthermore, the self-supported spring element 2 designed in this way can easily be provided in a spring retainer 12. With pre-tensioned spring tongues, in contrast, clamping of the springs must be provided.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the fin arrangement has an assembled position, wherein in the assembled position the spring element 2 is arranged in the latching recess 10, and/or in which at least one longitudinal positive locking extension 15 is arranged in a longitudinal positive locking cutout 16, and/or in which the hook pairing 6 is closed, and/or in which a hook extension 8 projects into a hook groove 7, and/or in which the base body 1 is introduced into the recess 24, and/or in which the base body 1 is completely inserted into the recess 24, and/or in which the surface of the fin 3 facing the main body 4 is formed flush with the mounting surface 21 of the base body, wherein the overall surface formed by these two surfaces is preferably adapted to the shape of the sliding surface 5 of the main body 4 of the water sports device and/or in which the fin 3 is connected to the base body 1 via the spring element 2 and the hook pairing 6.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the main body 4 of the water sports device is a main body with a solid core, such as a solid plastic core or a wooden core. Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the base body 1 has fastening means openings 18 into which fastening means 17 for fastening the base body 1 to the main body 4 are inserted, the fastening means 17 preferably being guided through the entire main body.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the spring element 2 is supported with one end on a further section of the spring element 2, and/or that the spring element is substantially wrapped or formed in a spiral manner, and/or that the spring element has an extension, in particular an end, which is guided in a manner deviating from a round shape and serves, for example, as an anti-rotation means for the spring element, and/or that the spring is formed from a metallic material, for example spring steel, a thin metal plate or a similar material.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the spring element 2 is arranged in a spring retainer 12, whereby the spring element 2 is preferably inserted with play in the spring retainer 12.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the base body 1 extends from the sliding surface 5 of the water sports device along the normal direction of extension 14, and in particular is arranged entirely outside the main body 4 of the water sports device.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the recess 24 of fin 3 is provided to accommodate base body 1.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the water sports device has a preferred direction of movement and that along the preferred direction of movement the spring element 2 is arranged in the front region of the fin arrangement and the hook pairing 6 is arranged in the rear region of the fin arrangement.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that one or more pivot axes 9 are formed by the hook pairing 6, and that substantially all degrees of freedom except for a pivotal movement about the pivot axes 9 are inhibited by the configuration of the fin arrangement. The pivoting about the pivot axis 9 is only possible from the assembled position after overcoming a holding force generated by the spring element 2 and the latching cam 1. Optionally, it is provided that in order to separate the fin 3 from the base body 1, a movement along a degree of freedom takes place in which the fin 3 is pivoted with an initial pivotal movement which runs substantially along the normal direction of extension.
Optionally, it is provided in all embodiments that the spring element 2 is substantially formed in a cylindrical and/or spiral manner, or has a cylinder-shaped and/or spiral-shaped section, which allows an elastic deformation of the spring element when a mechanical pressure is applied from the outside.
Optionally, the water sports device in all embodiments is a kiteboard or a wakeboard, in particular a kiteboard or a wakeboard with a solid core.
The base body 1 comprises a mounting surface 21 for contacting the main body 4 of the water sports device or the sliding surface 5 of the water sports device. In particular, the mounting surface 21 may be adapted to the shape of the sliding surface 5 of the water sports device. The base body 1 preferably extends only on one side of the mounting surface 21 and is therefore preferably free of projections on the mounting surface 21. The fastening of the base body 1 to the main body 4 is preferably achieved via fastening means, which can each be inserted into a fastening means opening 18 of the base body 1 and can in particular be screwed in.
In the present embodiment the spring elements 2 are arranged on the base body 1 and in particular are part of the base body 1. In the present embodiment the latching cams 11 are arranged on the fin 3.
In particular, the spring elements 2 snap into the latching recesses 10 behind the latching cams 11 when the fin 3 is attached to the base body 1. By compressing the spring elements 2 they can again be brought into a position, in which the spring elements 2 can be moved past the latching cams 11, whereby a separation of the fin 3 from the base body 1 is possible.
In the present embodiment, the longitudinal positive locking extensions 15 of the fin 3 serve in particular also to reinforce the fin 3, in particular to reinforce the fin 3 in the area of the recess 24 and to increase the stability of the fin arrangement transversely to the longitudinal direction of extension 13, in particular laterally. For this purpose, the longitudinal positive locking extensions 15 are formed, for example, bar-shaped and, in particular, arcuately bar-shaped. Furthermore, an increase in the stability of the fin arrangement is also achieved by the fact that the longitudinal positive locking cutouts 16 in the base body 1, and in particular also the base body 1 itself, fill the recess 24 at least in sections. The stability of the fin arrangement in the assembled position is improved by the resting of the inner surface of the recess 24 and the longitudinal positive locking extensions 15 against the base body 1. In particular, the longitudinal positive locking cutouts 16 are arched or undercut so that they can be filled by the longitudinal positive locking extensions 15, which are also arched. This creates a positive locking structure in which the longitudinal positive locking extensions 15 embrace elements surrounding the longitudinal positive locking cutouts 16. These elements are substantially arranged along the assembling direction of the fin 3. The cross section is preferably constant along this path.
In an alternative, not shown, embodiment, the latching cams 11 are not bar-shaped, as shown in
According to another, not shown, embodiment, a construction, as shown in
In the embodiments of
It may be provided in the embodiments of
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
A50573/2016 | Jun 2016 | AT | national |
This application is the National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2017/065491 filed on Jun. 23, 2017, which claims priority from Austrian Patent Application No. AT A50573/2016 filed on Jun. 24, 2016, both of which are herein incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2017/065491 | 6/23/2017 | WO | 00 |