Swim or diving fin

Abstract

A swim or diving fin includes a footpocket for housing a foot, a blade extending from the front end of the footpocket member, a frame member extending for at least a portion of the blade. The frame member or members includes a closed loop perimetric rim member having two opposite longitudinal branches delimiting an inner hollow region and also having one or more transversal bridges connecting the longitudinal branches. The blade is connected to the frame member at one or more of the transversal bridges and/or at least at one or more ends of the rim member.

1 . A swim or diving fin comprising:
 a footpocket configured to house a foot;   a blade extending from a front end of the footpocket; and   at least one frame member extending for at least a predetermined portion of the length of the blade along at least a longitudinal side edge of the blade,   wherein the frame member comprises a closed loop perimetric rim member having two opposite longitudinal branches spaced one from the other and delimiting an inner hollow region, and one or more transversal bridges connecting the longitudinal branches at one or more points on a length thereof, and   wherein the blade is connected to the frame member at one or more of: the one or more transversal bridges and one or more longitudinal ends of the rim member.   
   
   
       2 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the fin comprises two frame members each disposed along at least portion of opposite longitudinal side edges of the blade. 
   
   
       3 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein each longitudinal side edge of the blade is fastened to the perimetric rim member such that the respective longitudinal side edge of the blade is disposed in a substantially intermediate position between the longitudinal branches of the perimetric rim member. 
   
   
       4 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the perimetric rim member and the transversal bridges are made of materials having different flexibilities and/or resiliencies. 
   
   
       5 . The fin of  claim 4 , wherein the perimetric rim member is made of a more rigid material than the transversal connection bridges. 
   
   
       6 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of transversal bridges arranged at predetermined distances one from the other along a longitudinal extension of the perimetric rim member. 
   
   
       7 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more transversal connection bridges have a predetermined extension along a longitudinal direction of the blade. 
   
   
       8 . The fin of  claim 7 , wherein the at least a longitudinal side edge of the blade is fastened to the frame member at one or more of the one or more transversal bridges with overmolded appendices of the one or more transversal connection bridges, and wherein the appendices branch off laterally faced toward the blade from the one or more transversal connection bridges and overlap lengthwise at least partially an upper and a lower side of the blade. 
   
   
       9 . The fin of  claim 7 , wherein the blade is fastened to the one or more transversal connection bridges by one or more lateral projections extending from the longitudinal side edge of the blade, and wherein the one or more lateral projections engage one or more seats in the one or more transversal connection bridges. 
   
   
       10 . The fin of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more seats are openings, and wherein the one or more lateral projections engage the one or more seats by elastic engagement. 
   
   
       11 . The fin of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more lateral projections comprise tapered pins widening in the direction of the engagement and having a rounded or spherical engagement head. 
   
   
       12 . The fin of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more lateral projections are dimensioned to project outwardly of the one or more seats after the engagement. 
   
   
       13 . The fin of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert disposed in a gap between two adjacent transversal bridges, the insert being removable or fixed and partially or completely filling the gap. 
   
   
       14 . The fin of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is made of a material having a flexibility and/or resiliency different from at least one of the perimetric rim member or the transversal bridges. 
   
   
       15 . The fin of  claim 13 , wherein there are two or more inserts in two or more gaps connectable one to the other by a connection bracket. 
   
   
       16 . The fin of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is fastened within the gap with an anti-slip off mechanical fastener. 
   
   
       17 . The fin of  claim 16 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a pin or tooth oriented laterally of the longitudinal side edge of the blade, the pin or tooth engaging a dead end or through recess provided in the insert or the blade. 
   
   
       18 . The fin of  claim 17 , wherein the pin or tooth is provided on at least one of an upper or lower surface of the blade at the longitudinal side edge thereof, and wherein the dead end or through recess is provided in the insert. 
   
   
       19 . The fin of  claim 18 , wherein the pin or tooth is a plurality of engagement pins removably coupled to the insert by snap fit engagement into a plurality of spaced and parallel appendices of the insert. 
   
   
       20 . The fin of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is provided with dead end or through recesses altering a flexible and/or resilient behavior of the fin when the insert is coupled to the gap. 
   
   
       21 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more transversal bridges are comprised within a resilient member filling a gap delimited by an inner side of the perimetric rim member, the resilient member comprising perimetric branches contacting the inner side the perimetric rim member, the transversal bridges branching off therefrom. 
   
   
       22 . The fin of  claim 21 , further comprising one or more inserts disposed in one or more gaps between adjacent transversal bridges. 
   
   
       23 . The fin of  claim 21 , wherein the resilient member is coupled by snap fit or by chemical or physical adhesion to the inner side of the perimetric rim member. 
   
   
       24 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein one frame member is provided between two positions of the blade, each of the two portions being coupled to a longitudinal side edge of the frame member and to the one or more of the transversal bridges. 
   
   
       25 . The fin of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of inserts each configured to fill at least a portion of a gap between adjacent transversal bridges, the inserts having different resiliencies and/or flexibilities. 
   
   
       26 . The fin of  claim 25 , wherein the inserts of different resiliencies and flexibilities are marked by different colors. 
   
   
       27 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the inner hollow region delimited by the perimetric rim member is partially or completely filled with an insert, and wherein the blade is connected to the frame member at one or more points of the insert or at least an end of the rim member. 
   
   
       28 . The fin of  claim 27 , wherein the insert is made of a material having resiliency and/or flexibility different from the one or more transversal bridges or from the rim member. 
   
   
       29 . The fin of  claim 27 , wherein the insert is mechanically mounted within the perimetric rim member or is coupled to the perimetric rim member by chemical or physical adhesion. 
   
   
       30 . The fin of  claim 27 , wherein the insert comprises a plurality of members assemblable to fill the entire inner hollow region. 
   
   
       31 . The fin of  claim 27 , wherein the insert comprises stratified or laminated materials selected to provide the insert with a predetermined flexibility and/or resiliency. 
   
   
       32 . The fin of  claim 27 , wherein an outer surface of the insert is provided with ribs, fairings, apertures or notches modifying resiliency and/or flexibility of the insert and adjusting water flow along the frame member. 
   
   
       33 . The fin of  claim 27 , wherein the longitudinal side edge of the blade is connected to the perimetric rim member at one or more points of the insert such that the longitudinal edge of the blade is disposed in a substantially intermediate position between the longitudinal branches of the perimetric rim member. 
   
   
       34 . The fin of  claim 33 , wherein connection points between the insert and the longitudinal edge of the blade are disposed at predetermined longitudinal distances. 
   
   
       35 . The fin of  claim 34 , wherein the connection points are provided by one or more of overmolded appendices of the insert overlapping an upper and a lower surface of the blade for a certain width and longitudinal extension or by snap fit pins. 
   
   
       36 . The fin of  claim 35 , wherein the connection points are provided by one or more pins branching off from the longitudinal side edge of the blade and elastically engaging one or more through openings in a wall of the insert. 
   
   
       37 . The fin of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more pins are shaped and arranged along the longitudinal side edge of the blade to mate with the insert, with the transversal connection bridges, or with a resilient member having perimetric contact branches and bridges.