Heel strap for swimming flippers

Abstract

A heel strap for swimming flippers includes a tubular resilient band having a round cross section, which can be coupled at each end to a member supporting a rigid eyelet that can be removably attached to a pivot pin projecting laterally from the flipper.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heel strap for swimming flippers of open shoe type, comprising:
 a tubular elastic band having a circular cross-section and an inner lumen defined by an outer wall; and   a rigid eyelet connected at each end of the tubular elastic band, the eyelets having an opening constructed such that each eyelet removably attaches onto a pin fixed one to each side of the flipper,   wherein the inner lumen of the tubular elastic band has a diameter that is equal or less than a thickness of the outer wall.   
     
     
         2 . The heel strap according to  claim 1 , wherein the eyelets are rotatably connected to the ends of the tubular elastic band such that each eyelet is allowed to rotate at least partially relative to the end of the tubular elastic cord to which it is connected. 
     
     
         3 . The heel strap according to  claim 1 , wherein the eyelet has a first hole of greater diameter and second hole of smaller diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The heels strap according to  claim 1 , further comprising a member mounted on the tubular elastic band midway along a length thereof at a location corresponding to a back of a user's foot, the tubular elastic band passing through an opening in the member defined in a tubular extension extending alongside an outer wall of the member, the member having,
 an inner wall positioned to face and support a heel of the user, and   a gripping element extending outwardly from the tubular extension, for the user to grip the tubular elastic band and pull the band away from the user's foot.   
     
     
         5 . The heel strap according to  claim 4 , wherein the gripping element is an annular gripping element. 
     
     
         6 . The heel strap according to  claim 4 , wherein the tubular extension has a plurality of parallel slots such to facilitate curving of the tubular extension. 
     
     
         7 . A heel strap for swimming flippers of open shoe type, comprising:
 a tubular elastic band having a circular cross-section and an inner lumen defined by an outer wall;   a rigid eyelet connected at each end of the tubular elastic band, the eyelets having an opening constructed such that each eyelet removably attaches onto a pin fixed one to each side of the flipper; and   an externally threaded bush connecting to each end of the tubular elastic band, each eyelet having a cap which is internally threaded and is threadly engaged to the external threads of the bush.   
     
     
         8 . The heel strap according to  claim 7 , wherein the cap includes a first pin extending outwardly therefrom away from the end of the tubular elastic band, and a cross pin pivotally connected to the first pin and rotatable relative there to, the eyelet being connected to the cross pin and pivotal relative thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The heel strap according to  claim 7 , wherein the eyelets are rotatably connected to the ends of the tubular elastic cord such that each eyelet is allowed to rotate at least partially relative to the end of the tubular elastic band to which it is connected. 
     
     
         10 . The heel strap according to  claim 7 , wherein the eyelet has a first hole of greater diameter and second hole of smaller diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The heels strap according to  claim 7 , further comprising a member mounted on the tubular elastic band midway along a length thereof at a location corresponding to a back of a user's foot, the tubular elastic band passing through an opening in the member defined in a tubular extension extending alongside an outer wall of the member, the member having,
 an inner wall positioned to face and support a heel of the user, and   a gripping element extending outwardly from the tubular extension, for the user to grip the tubular elastic band and pull the band away from the user's foot.   
     
     
         12 . The heel strap according to  claim 11 , wherein the gripping element is an annular gripping element. 
     
     
         13 . The heel strap according to  claim 11 , wherein the tubular extension has a plurality of parallel slots such to facilitate curving of the tubular extension.