초록 ▼

A fin for a watersport board, such as a surfboard, includes a substantially rigid core covered by a flexible core covering. The core may include one or more positioning members located on either side surface of the core. The core covering may be formed over the core without covering the positioning

A fin for a watersport board, such as a surfboard, includes a substantially rigid core covered by a flexible core covering. The core may include one or more positioning members located on either side surface of the core. The core covering may be formed over the core without covering the positioning members. The fin may include a board coupling assembly that includes a plurality of plugs that each have a lumen lined with material of the flexible core covering. The board coupling assembly may secure the fin to the board by compression forces between a screw and the lining of the plug lumens. Methods of making and using such a fin are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fin for a watersport board, comprising:a substantially rigid core having a first side surface, a second side surface, and a peripheral edge around the first and second side surface, the core including at least one positioning member located on the first side surface, and at least one positionin

1. A fin for a watersport board, comprising:a substantially rigid core having a first side surface, a second side surface, and a peripheral edge around the first and second side surface, the core including at least one positioning member located on the first side surface, and at least one positioning member located on the second side surface, the positioning member being effective to retain the core in a substantially fixed position while the fin is being manufactured;a core covering having an increased flexibility relative to the core and being fixedly secured over a major portion of the core, including the first and second side surfaces; anda board coupling assembly structured to secure the fin to a watersport board, the board coupling assembly including a plurality of plugs sized to be inserted into the watersports board, each plug including a lumen lined with a portion of the core covering.2. The fin of claim 1, wherein the core includes a plurality of positioning members located on each of the first and second side surfaces, the positioning members located on the first side surface being located directly opposite of the positioning members on the second side source.3. The fin of claim 1, wherein each positioning member includes an engagement surface spaced away from the side surface from which the positioning member is located.4. The fin of claim 1, wherein the core covering is located over the first and second side surfaces without substantially covering a positioning member.5. The fin of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a semi rigid plastic material, and the core covering comprises a soft elastomeric plastic material.6. The fin of claim 1, wherein the board coupling assembly further comprises (i) a spacer member having a first end, a second end sized to contact a top surface of the watersport board, and a lumen extending from the first end to the second end; and (ii) a screw sized to be inserted through the lumen of the spacer member and into the lumen of the plug.7. The fin of claim 1 provided on a surfboard.8. A fin for a watersport board, comprising:a body portion including a substantially rigid core and a core covering formed of a flexible material; anda base portion located at one end of the body portion, the base portion including a plurality of plugs, each plug oriented and sized to be inserted into a body of a watersport board, and having a lumen extending through the plug, the lumen lined with the flexible material of the core covering.9. The fin of claim 8, wherein the rigid core includes a first side surface, a second side surface, and at least one positioning member located on each of the first and second side surfaces.10. The fin of claim 8, wherein the base portion includes a first end and a second end, and a length extending from the first end to the second end, the lumen of the plugs being transversely oriented to the base portion length.11. The fin of claim 8, further comprising (i) a spacer member having a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end and a spacer member lumen extending from the first end to the second end, the second end having a lip configured to contact a top surface of the watersport board; and (ii) a self-tapping screw sized to be inserted through the spacer member lumen into the plug lumen, wherein tightening of the screw compresses the base portion and the spacer member.12. The fin of claim 8 provided on a surfboard.13. The fin of claim 8, wherein the core comprises glass fiber-filled nylon and the core covering comprises polyurethane.14. The fin of claim 8, wherein the plurality of plugs are integrally formed with the core of the body portion.15. The fin of claim 8, wherein the plug lumens are lined with a portion of the core covering.16. The fin of claim 8, further comprising an engagement surface located in a plug, the engagement surface being effective to reduce forward or backward movement of the core during manufacture of the fin.17. The fin of claim 8, wherein the core includes a first side surface and a second side surface, and the core covering is provided over a substantial portion of the first and second side surface.18. A fin for a watersport board, comprising:a substantially rigid core having a board contacting surface, a first side surface with a plurality of positioning members extending therefrom, a second side surface with a plurality of positioning members extending therefrom, and a peripheral edge extending from the board contacting surface around the first and second side surfaces, the board contacting surface including a plurality of plugs, each plug having a lumen substantially perpendicularly oriented to the board contacting surface; anda flexible core covering fixedly secured to the core without substantially covering the plurality of positioning members, and including a portion extending into each of the lumens of the plurality of plugs to form an engagement surface with a screw utilized to secure the fin to a watersport board.