Removable and adjustable surf fin system

Abstract

A fin plug assembly to receive and engage a fin includes a cavity, a cam with gears, and a worm gear. The fin plug assembly allows a quick and easy fore-aft adjustment of the fin. Disclosed also is a method of installing the fin plug assembly in a surfboard using a one-piece complete control jig system including the step of providing additional structural strength by removing and/or spiking the foam material in the body of the surfboard.

1 - 48 . (canceled)  
     
     
         49 . A system for installing a fin plug into a surf-craft, the system comprising: 
 a fin plug having a cavity adapted to receive a tab extending from a fin and an outer configuration with a plurality of outriggers extending from the outer configuration; and    a control jig adapted to couple to a lower surface of the surf-craft and adapted to form an opening having an outline substantially similar to the outer configuration of the fin plug and a plurality of depth cuts corresponding to the plurality of outriggers, where the opening is adapted to guide means for cutting a mounting cavity within the lower surface of the surf-craft so that the outline of the mounting cavity is substantially similar to the outer configuration of the fin plug and the plurality of depth cuts position the plurality of outriggers on the lower surface of the surf-craft to insert the fin plug at a predetermined depth and orientation within the mounting cavity of the surf-craft.    
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 49 , where the control jig has a predetermined thickness adapted to retain a hardenable material within the opening that adheres the fin plug within the mounting cavity.  
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 49 , where the fin plug has at least three outriggers adapted to insert the fin plug at the predetermined depth and orientation within the mounting cavity of the surf-craft.  
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 49 , where the fin plug has an upwardly extending flange and the plurality of outriggers extend from the flange.  
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 52 , where the flange and the plurality of outriggers are adapted to be removed.  
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 53 , where the flange and the plurality of outriggers are adapted to be removed by sanding.  
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 49 , where the control jig is made of material adapted to be removed by sanding.  
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 49 , where: 
 the fin plug has an external surface with the cavity adapted to receive the tab; and    the plurality of outriggers position and orientate the fin plug so that the surface of the fin plug is substantially flush with the lower surface of the surf-craft and is positioned in its predetermined orientation.    
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 49 , where the fin plug includes means for releasably locking the tab within the cavity of the fin plug.  
     
     
         58 . The system according to  claim 57 , wherein the locking means includes a grub screw positioned within the fin plug, said grub screw being adapted to selectively contact the fin tab to inhibit removal of the fin tab from the cavity.  
     
     
         59 . The system according to  claim 57 , where the means for locking includes: 
 a worm gear having teeth adapted to rotate within the fin plug; and    a cam between the worm gear and the cavity, where the cam is adapted to engage with the teeth of the worm gear such that rotation of the worm gear causes the cam to engage with the tab of the fin within the cavity.    
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 49 , where the control jig has a peel-off layer to expose an adhesive surface adapted to couple to the lower surface of the surf-craft.  
     
     
         61 . A control jig assembly adapted to assist in installing a fin plug having a plurality of outriggers to a surf-craft, the control jig assembly comprising: 
 a first layer;    a second layer; and    an adhesive layer between the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is adapted to be removed to expose the adhesive layer to couple the first layer to the surf-craft, at least the first and adhesive layers having a center portion with an opening extending through the first layer and a plurality of depth cuts corresponding to the plurality of outriggers, the first layer being adapted to receive the fin plug with the plurality of outriggers and retain a hardenable material within the opening to adhere the fin plug within the surf-craft.    
     
     
         62 . The control jig according to  claim 61 , where the opening and the plurality of depth cuts are formed by removing corresponding portions of the center portion.  
     
     
         63 . The control jig according to  claim 61 , where the opening is adapted to guide drilling means for forming a mounting cavity within the surf-craft, the mounting cavity having a profile that substantially corresponds to the profile of the opening.  
     
     
         64 . The control jig assembly according to  claim 61 , where the first layer is made of material adapted to be removed by sanding.  
     
     
         65 . The control jig assembly according to  claim 61 , where the first layer has a predetermined thickness to retain the hardenable material within the opening.  
     
     
         66 . A control jig adapted to assist in installing a fin plug to a surf-craft, the fin plug having a plurality of outriggers, the control jig comprising: 
 a substantially planar body having an upper surface and a lower surface, where the lower surface is adapted to couple to a surface of the surf-craft;    a center portion having an opening extending through the substantially planar body, where the opening is adapted to receive cutting means for forming the mounting cavity; and    a plurality of depth cuts extending from the opening and corresponding to the plurality of outriggers, where the depth cuts are adapted to receive the plurality of outriggers of the fin plug to allow the outriggers to sit upon the surface of the surf-craft and to position the fin plug in a predetermined orientation with respect to the surf-craft.    
     
     
         67 . The control jig according to  claim 66 , where the opening and depth cut outs are formed by removing corresponding portions of the center portion.  
     
     
         68 . The control jig according to  claim 66 , where the lower surface of the substantially planar body has an adhesive layer to couple the lower surface of the substantially planar body to the surface of the surf-craft.  
     
     
         69 . The control jig assembly according to  claim 66 , where the substantially planar body is made of material adapted to be removed by sanding.  
     
     
         70 . The control jig assembly according to  claim 66 , where the substantially planar body has a predetermined thickness to retain a hardenable material within the opening to couple the fin plug to the surf-craft.  
     
     
         71 . A control jig capable of installing a fin plug having a plurality of outriggers to a surf-craft, the control jig comprising: 
 a layer having an opening with an outline substantially similar to the fin plug, where the layer has a lower surface adapted to couple to a surface of the surf-craft, where the opening is adapted to guide means for cutting a mounting cavity within the surf-craft so that the outline of the mounting cavity is substantially similar to the outline of the fin plug; and    a plurality of depth cuts adapted to be removed from the layer corresponding to the plurality of the outriggers so that the center portion and the plurality of depth cuts are adapted to receive the fin plug with the plurality of outriggers such that the plurality of outriggers sit upon the surface of the surf-craft to position the fin plug along at a predetermined depth and predetermined orientation within the mounting cavity.    
     
     
         72 . The control jig according to  claim 71 , where the layer is made of material that is removable by sanding.  
     
     
         73 . The control jig according to  claim 71 , where the layer has a predetermined thickness to retain a hardenable material within the opening to couple the fin plug within the mounting cavity of the surf-craft.  
     
     
         74 . The control jig according to  claim 71 , where the layer has an adhesive surface adapted to adhere to the surface of the surf-craft.