Fin assembly

Abstract

A fin assembly for a board includes a fixing element adapted to be embedded into a lower surface of the board and a fin. The fixing element includes a cavity, at least one projection extending upwardly in the cavity from the fixing element and towards an opening of the cavity, and a fixing member received by the fixing element and engageable with the projection. The fin has a formation projecting from an end surface of the fin and adapted to be received within the cavity. The formation includes a free end and at least one recessed portion located between the free end and the end surface of the fin. When the fixing formation is received within the fixing cavity, the fixing member may urge the projection against the recessed portion to thereby secure the fin to the board.

1 . A fin assembly for a board, the fin assembly including: 
 a fixing element adapted to be embedded into a lower surface of the board;    a fixing cavity extending into the fixing element;    at least one projection located inside the fixing cavity and extending upwardly from the fixing element towards an opening of the cavity;    a fixing member received by the fixing element and engageable with the projection;    a fin attachable to the board and having an end surface which is located adjacent to the lower surface of the board when the fin is attached to the board; and    a fixing formation projecting from the end surface of the fin, wherein the fixing formation is adapted to be received within the fixing cavity, and wherein the fixing formation includes a free end and at least one recessed portion located between the free end and the end surface of the fin, whereby, when the fixing formation is received within the fixing cavity, the fixing member may urge the projection against the recessed portion to thereby secure the fin to the board.    
     
     
         2 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is in the form of a curved recess.  
     
     
         3 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion tapers from the free end towards the end surface of the fin to thereby provide an inclined abutment surface, whereby, when the fixing formation is received within the fixing cavity, the fixing member may urge the projection against the inclined abutment surface to thereby secure the fin to the board.  
     
     
         4 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the projections are located adjacent to a sidewall of the cavity such that they may be urged away from the sidewall by the fixing member.  
     
     
         5 . The fin assembly of  claim 1  having at least two projections arranged at spaced locations along the fixing element.  
     
     
         6 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the projections extend upwardly from a base of the fixing element.  
     
     
         7 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each projection has an associated fixing member.  
     
     
         8 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each fixing member is in the form of a fastener extending into the fixing element at an inclined angle relative to the fixing element.  
     
     
         9 . The fin assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each fixing member is received by an associated inclined passage which extends through the fixing element such that the fixing members may engage the projections and urge the projections against the recessed portions.  
     
     
         10 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said recessed portion of the fixing formation has an associated said projection.  
     
     
         11 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing formation is provided with two recessed portions which are separated by a central portion having parallel side faces.  
     
     
         12 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , including at least one aperture extending through the fixing formation.  
     
     
         13 . The fin assembly of  claim 1 , including a peripheral flange extending from the fixing element.  
     
     
         14 . The fin assembly of  claim 13 , including extensions projecting outwardly from opposed extremes of the peripheral flange, wherein the extensions limit the extent to which the fixing element may be embedded into the board.