초록
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Provided is a system including a fin box that allows surboard fins to be installed, removed or adjusted to the front or rear of the board within the box and a means for installing the box on the surfboard. More importantly, the fins can be installed in the fin box, and adjusted or removed from the fin box without the use of tools. By using the fin box installation system, manufacturers can effectively locate, align and install the fin box on the surfboard. More importantly, the manufacturers are able to lean and rotate the fins precisely at any desired a...
Provided is a system including a fin box that allows surboard fins to be installed, removed or adjusted to the front or rear of the board within the box and a means for installing the box on the surfboard. More importantly, the fins can be installed in the fin box, and adjusted or removed from the fin box without the use of tools. By using the fin box installation system, manufacturers can effectively locate, align and install the fin box on the surfboard. More importantly, the manufacturers are able to lean and rotate the fins precisely at any desired angles and achieve precise and critical symmetrical mounting of the fins with relation to the centerline of the surfboard.
대표
청구항
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We claim: 1. A surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end comprising: (a) a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a base surface; (b) a lateral "T" shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral "T" shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing; (c) a centralized slot cavity opening and a slot cavity define...
We claim: 1. A surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end comprising: (a) a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a base surface; (b) a lateral "T" shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral "T" shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing; (c) a centralized slot cavity opening and a slot cavity defined by said slot cavity housing, said centralized slot cavity opening having opposing access grooves in the forward portion thereof, whereby said opposing access grooves are wider than said centralized slot cavity opening for the purpose of allowing similarly sized lateral pegs located on each side of said surfboard fin to enter or exit said lateral "T" shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing; (d) a lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral "T" shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing; (e) a cam action locking device with a lateral cam member located in said lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward portion of said slot cavity housing for the purpose of engaging said locking arm and locking said surfboard fin in place within said slot cavity housing after said locking arm is inserted into said centralized slot cavity opening, whereby said surfboard fin is held securely in place for use. 2. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein said surfboard fin may be installed or removed from said fin box without the use of any additional tool. 3. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein said slot cavity housing includes a centralized slot cavity opening and a slot cavity defined by said slot cavity housing, said centralized slot cavity opening having opposing access grooves in the rearward portion thereof, whereby said opposing access grooves are wider than said slot cavity opening for the purpose of accepting a similarly sized lateral cam member located on said cam action locking device into said lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing, thereby allowing installation and removal of said cam action locking device. 4. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein said slot cavity housing includes one or more pivoting tabs located on said rearward and said forward ends for overlapping with the surface of a surfboard to locate said fin box correctly relative to said surfboard surface when said fin box is installed on said surfboard. 5. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein said locking "T" shaped slot in the rearward end of said slot cavity housing is greater in height and longer in length than said "T" shaped slot in said forward end, such that said lateral pegs are inserted into said forward end before said locking arm is inserted into said rearward end. 6. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein unwanted rearward or forward movement of said surfboard fin is inhibited by friction between the lower surface of the surfboard fin and said base surface of said slot cavity housing when locked. 7. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 6, wherein said base surface of said fin box has a plurality of ridges thereon, and said surfboard fin has mating ridges on its lower surface whereby engagement of mating ridges increases resistance to unwanted rearward or forward movement of said surfboard fin when locked. 8. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 6, wherein unwanted rearward or forward movement of said surfboard fin is inhibited when locked, and further wherein the position of said surfboard fin may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly prior to being locked in place. 9. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 8, wherein said surfboard fin may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly prior to being locked in place without the use of any additional tool. 10. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein said cam action locking device includes a locking arm and a lateral cam member with a locking lobe and an orifice, whereby when properly positioned and said locking lever is pushed down into place, said locking lobe forces said locking arm into said fin box and said orifice mates securely with a raised detent on said locking arm, thereby locking said surfboard fin securely in place within said slot cavity. 11. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein said cam action locking device includes a pivoting cam action member having a handle and a disk element, whereby when properly positioned and said pivoting cam action member is rotated into place and said disk element mates securely with a locking arm on the surfboard fin, thereby locking said surfboard fin securely in place within said slot cavity. 12. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 11, having a circular shaped slot for accepting said cam action locking device, thereby allowing installation and removal of said cam action locking device. 13. The surfboard fin box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 1, wherein said cam action locking device includes a wedge locking member having a handle and a plurality of grooves on its lower surface, whereby when properly positioned and said wedge locking member is pushed into place and said plurality of grooves mates securely with a stop on the surfboard fin, thereby locking said surfboard fin securely in place within said slot cavity. 14. A method of making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a base surface; (b) providing a lateral "T" shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral "T" shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing; (c) providing a centralized slot cavity opening and a slot cavity defined by said slot cavity housing, said centralized slot cavity opening having opposing access grooves in the forward portion thereof, whereby said opposing access grooves are wider than said slot cavity opening for the purpose of allowing similarly sized lateral pegs located on each side of said surfboard fin to enter or exit said lateral "T" shaped slot in said forward end portion of said slot cavity housing; (d) providing a lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing defined by said slot cavity housing and said base surface whereby said lateral "T" shaped slot forms undercuts in each side of said slot cavity housing; (e) providing a cam action locking device with a lateral cam member located in said lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward portion of said slot cavity housing for the purpose of engaging said locking arm and locking said surfboard fin in place within said slot cavity housing after said locking arm is inserted into said centralized slot cavity opening, whereby said surfboard fin is held securely in place for use. 15. The method for making surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 14, wherein said step of providing a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a base surface further includes said step wherein said base surface includes a plurality of mating ridges to engage the mating ridges on the lower surface of the surfboard fin to prevent unwanted rearward or forward movement of said surfboard fin when locked. 16. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 14, wherein said step of providing a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a base surface further includes said step wherein said base surface is smooth and wherein unwanted rearward or forward movement of said surfboard fin is inhibited by friction between the lower surface of the surfboard fin and said base surface of said slot cavity housing when locked. 17. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end,, according to claim 15, wherein said step of providing a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and said base surface with a plurality of mating ridges thereon includes said plurality of mating ridges engaging the mating ridges on the lower surface of the surfboard fin prevent unwanted rearward or forward movement of said surfboard fin when locked, and further wherein the position of said surfboard fin may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly prior to being locked in place without the use of any additional tool. 18. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 16, wherein said step of providing a slot cavity housing having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and said smooth base surface engages the lower surface of the surfboard fin to prevent unwanted rearward or forward movement of said surfboard fin when locked, and further wherein the position of said surfboard fin may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly prior to being locked in place without the use of any additional tool. 19. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 14, wherein said step of providing a cam action locking device with a lateral cam member located in said lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward portion of said slot housing cavity includes the step of providing a cam action locking device having a locking arm and a lateral cam member with a locking lobe and an orifice, whereby when properly positioned and said locking lever is pushed down into place, said locking lobe forces said locking arm into said fin box and said orifice mates securely with a raised detent on said locking arm, thereby locking said surfboard fin securely in place within said slot cavity. 20. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end,, according to claim 14, wherein said step of providing a cam action locking device with a lateral cam member located in said lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward portion of said slot housing cavity includes the step of providing a cam action locking device having a pivoting cam action member having a handle and a disk element, whereby when properly positioned and said pivoting cam action member is rotated into place and said disk element mates securely with a locking arm on the surfboard fin, thereby locking said surfboard fin securely in place within said slot cavity. 21. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 20, wherein said step of providing a lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing is replaced by the step of providing a circular shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing for the purpose of accepting a rotational cam locking device, thereby allowing installation and removal of said cam action locking device. 22. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, according to claim 14, wherein said step of providing a cam action locking device with a lateral cam member located in said a lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward portion of said slot housing cavity includes the step of providing a wedge locking member having a handle and a plurality of grooves for the purpose of mating securely with a stop on the surfboard fin, thereby locking said surfboard fin securely in place within said slot cavity. 23. The method for making a surfboard fin box accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end,, according to claim 22, wherein said step of providing a lateral "T" shaped slot in said rearward end portion of said slot cavity housing is omitted, whereby said slot cavity opening has only one "T" shaped slot in the forward position. 24. A fin box installation system for installing a surfboard fin mounting box for accepting a surfboard fin having lateral pegs lateral pegs on its side surfaces at one end and a locking arm at the other end, comprising: (a) a router jig having two longitudinally centralized "V" grooves and one or more locating orifices; (b) a fin box locator having a central slot cavity insert and an angle alignment gage; (c) a fin angle position protractor having legs and angle position grooves thereon; (d) whereby when said fin box installation system is attached to the surface of a surfboard it acts as a router jig to router out the fin box mounting cavity; wherein said "V" grooves are used to locate the centerline of said fin box with the desired relationship to the center axis of the surfboard, said locating orifices are positioned to mount the said legs of said fin angle position protractor, and said fin box locator is equipped with said central slot cavity insert to be inserted into the central slot cavity of the fin box for precise alignment and positioning, and further wherein said angle alignment gage is aligned with desired angle position groove within said fin angle position protractor to achieve the desired angle of the fin.
