Dual adjustable strap designs for swim fins

Abstract

An improved adjustable heel strap having an adjustable instep strap connected to the heel strap adjacent the heel portion of a swimmer' foot. Methods are provided for providing a highly adjustable strap system for preventing loss of swim fins in rough water conditions such as large surf and large open ocean waves. Methods are also provided for providing multi-dimensional heel strap adjustability around the ankle and instep to reduce ankle strain, increase ankle support, distribute load and stress points, reduce chaffing and blisters, increase leverage and power to the swim fin, reduce looseness and play between the foot and the swim fin, to increase comfort, to increase control, to improve positioning control, to improve sizing adjustment and to provide increased conformity to greater variations in foot and ankle sizes, shapes and contours. Methods are also provided for providing dual adjustable heel straps and instep straps having sufficient quick release capabilities for permitting the swim fin to be put on and taken off quickly and easily while in the water, including while in rough water conditions.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A method for providing an improved strap assembly for a swim fin, comprising providing an adjustable heel strap having two distal ends arranged to be secured to two lateral sides of a foot pocket of said swim fin for applying a predetermined tension against the heel of a swimmer, said adjustable heel strap having an adjustment member for adjusting said predetermined tension, providing a heel pad connected to said adjustable heel strap, and providing an instep strap secured to said heel pad and being arranged to engage the ankle of said swimmer with a predetermined ankle tension, said instep strap having at least one adjustable member for adjusting said predetermined ankle tension.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said instep strap has a quick release member for disengagement with said ankle.  
   
   
       24 . An improved strap assembly for a swim fin, comprising: 
 (a) a heel strap secured to two lateral sides of a swim fin foot pocket, said heel strap having a predetermined heel strap tension between said two lateral sides;    (b) an instep strap secured to said heel strap with an instep strap connection, said instep strap connection having an adjustable location on said heel strap between said two lateral sides.    
   
   
       25 . The strap assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said heel strap has at least one heel strap buckle arranged to adjust said predetermined heel strap tension.  
   
   
       26 . The strap assembly of  claim 25  wherein said instep strap connection is a heel pad with an opening for receiving said adjustable heel strap.  
   
   
       27 . The strap assembly of  claim 25  wherein said instep strap is secured to said heel strap at an instep strap base, said instep strap having a free end portion spaced from said instep strap base and said adjustable heel strap, said free end portion being secured to an adjustable instep buckle, said instep strap buckle being arranged to permit a predetermined instep strap tension to be adjustable.  
   
   
       28 . The strap assembly of  claim 26  wherein said instep strap is secured to said heel pad at an instep strap base, said instep strap having a free end portion spaced from said instep strap base and said heel pad, said free end portion being secured to an adjustable instep buckle, said instep strap buckle being arranged to permit a predetermined instep strap tension to be adjustable.  
   
   
       29 . The strap assembly of  claim 24  wherein said instep strap is secured to said heel strap with a quick release connector.  
   
   
       30 . The strap assembly of  claim 26  wherein said instep strap is secured to said heel pad with a quick release connector.  
   
   
       31 . The strap assembly of  claim 28  wherein said free end portion is secured to said heel pad with a quick release connector.  
   
   
       32 . The strap assembly of  claim 31  wherein said instep strap base is secured to said heel pad with a quick release connector.  
   
   
       33 . An improved strap assembly for a swim fin, comprising: 
 (a) a heel strap secured to two lateral sides of a swim fin foot pocket, said heel strap having a predetermined heel strap tension between said two lateral sides;    (b) an instep strap secured to said heel strap with an instep strap connection located between said two lateral sides, said instep strap having two free end portions, said free end portions each being secured to said instep strap connection with a quick release connector.    
   
   
       34 . The strap assembly of  claim 33  wherein said instep strap connection is a heel pad with an opening for receiving said adjustable heel strap.  
   
   
       35 . A method for providing an improved strap assembly for a swim fin, comprising: 
 (a) providing a heel strap to be secured to two lateral sides of a swim fin foot pocket, said heel strap having a predetermined heel strap tension between said two lateral sides;    (b) connecting an instep strap to said heel strap with a heel pad, said heel pad having an adjustable location on said heel strap between said two lateral sides.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said heel strap has at least one heel strap buckle arranged to adjust said predetermined heel strap tension.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said heel pad has a closed sleeve arranged to secure said heel pad to said heel strap.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said instep strap has a predetermined instep strap tension, and said instep strap has at least one instep buckle arranged to adjust said predetermined instep strap tension.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said instep strap is secured to said heel pad with a quick release connector arranged to permit efficient connection and disconnection while in water.  
   
   
       40 . A method for providing an improved strap assembly for a swim fin, comprising: 
 (a) providing a heel strap secured to two lateral sides of a swim fin foot pocket, said heel strap having a predetermined heel strap tension between said two lateral sides;    (b) connecting an adjustable instep strap to said heel strap with a heel pad located between said two lateral sides, said adjustable instep strap having two free end portions, said free end portions each being secured to said heel pad with a quick release connector to permit efficient connection and disconnection while in water.