Adjustable fin system for surfboards

Abstract

A fin system for a surfboard includes a fin box and a fin having a base, wherein the base is slidably engaged to the fin box. A surfboard comprises a fin attached to a bottom of the surfboard through a slot formed from a fin box, and a dial coupled to a base of the fin so that rotation of the dial causes movement of the fin from a distal position toward a read end of the surfboard to a proximal position toward a front end of the surfboard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surfboard comprising:
 a fin attached to a bottom of the surfboard through a slot formed from a fin box; and   a dial coupled to a base of the fin so that rotation of the dial causes movement of the fin from a distal position toward a read end of the surfboard to a proximal position toward a front end of the surfboard.   
     
     
         2 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the dial is coupled relative to and accessible from a front side of the surfboard. 
     
     
         3 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the dial is coupled to the base of the fin. 
     
     
         4 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein the dial comprises an arrow indicator located thereon for indicating the position of the fin relative to the surfboard. 
     
     
         5 . A fin system for a surfboard comprising:
 a fin box; and   a fin having a base, wherein the base is slidably engaged to the fin box.   
     
     
         6 . The fin system of  claim 5 , wherein the fin box includes a longitudinally extending slot and wherein the base of the fin is retained in the fin box with laterally extending pins that engage the longitudinally extending slot in the fin box. 
     
     
         7 . The fin system of  claim 5 , further comprising a dial coupled to a gear, wherein the gear is coupled to a rack gear that is coupled to the base of the fin. 
     
     
         8 . The fin system of  claim 7 , wherein the dial is retained within a housing that is permanently embedded within the surfboard. 
     
     
         9 . The fin system of  claim 7 , wherein the dial is biased with a spring relative to the housing and configured to cause engagement and disengagement between teeth on the dial and teeth on the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The fin system of  claim 9 , wherein the dial is coupled to a shaft, the shaft being coupled to the gear, such that rotation of the dial and shaft causes rotation of the gear and displacement of the fin relative to the fin box. 
     
     
         11 . The fin system of  claim 10 , further comprising a retaining ring provided on a bottom end of the shaft to retain the shaft on the gear when the dial is depressed and released. 
     
     
         12 . The fin system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a slidable fin receptacle positioned in the fin box, the fin box defining a longitudinally extending channel within which the receptacle can move.   
     
     
         13 . The fin system of  claim 12 , further comprising a cylindrical roller coupled to the fin box, and a gear coupled between the receptacle and the cylindrical roller; wherein rotation of the roller causes rotation of the worm gear, and wherein the worm gear engages corresponding gear teeth on the receptacle to cause movement of the receptacle relative to the fin box as the worm gear rotates. 
     
     
         14 . The fin system of  claim 12 , further comprising a cable system connected to the fin receptacle to move the receptacle relative to the fin box. 
     
     
         15 . An adjustable fin system for a surfboard, comprising:
 a fin box adapted for mounting to a surfboard, the fin box defining a longitudinally extending channel;   a fin attachment slider that is slidably coupled to the fin box within the channel, the fin attachment slider being configured to be attached to the base of a fin.   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable fin system of  claim 15 , wherein the slider comprises a low friction material. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable fin system of  claim 15 , further comprising a rotary dial coupled to the fin box. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable fin system of  claim 15 , wherein a bottom of the dial includes an angled gear having a plurality of gear teeth radially extending therefrom for engaging with a rack gear provided on the top of the slider. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable fin system of  claim 15 , wherein the fin box channel is lined with a low friction material. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable fin system of  claim 15 , wherein the dial is coupled relative to and accessible from a front side of the surfboard.