Surfboard Fins and Related Components

Abstract

An elastic member is provided for enhancing retention of a surfboard fin that has been removably inserted in a surfboard. The surfboard fin has one or more receptacles. The elastic member has a capsule that is adapted to fit in one of the receptacles and has an opening, and which. The elastic member includes an elastic biasing member in the housing, and a protruding member that is biased by the elastic biasing member into a position where the protruding member protrudes through the opening.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An elastic member for enhancing retention of a surfboard fin that has been removably inserted in a surfboard, the surfboard fin having one or more receptacles, the elastic member comprising:
 a capsule adapted to fit in one of the receptacles, the capsule having an opening;   an elastic biasing member in the housing; and   a protruding member that is biased by the elastic biasing member into a position where the protruding member protrudes through the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The elastic member of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises a front portion and a back portion that are adhered together to at least partially enclose the elastic biasing member and protruding member. 
     
     
         3 . The elastic member of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule has an outer surface that is shaped substantially as a conical frustum to hold the elastic member within the receptacle by mechanical resistance. 
     
     
         4 . The elastic member of  claim 3 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule is angled at from about 1 degree to about 3 degrees relative to an axis of the capsule, the capsule being wider at the side with the opening than at the opposing side. 
     
     
         5 . The elastic member of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule comprises one or more raised and substantially rounded protuberances, the protuberances being adapted to hold the elastic member within the receptacle by mechanical resistance. 
     
     
         6 . The elastic member of  claim 5 , wherein each of the protuberances comprises one or more of polyurethane, thermoplastic, epoxy, and cyanoacrylate. 
     
     
         7 . The elastic member of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule comprises one or more substantially rounded indentations, the indentations being adapted to hold the elastic member within the receptacle by mechanical resistance. 
     
     
         8 . The elastic member of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule has a screw thread to allow the elastic member to be screwed into the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The elastic member of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding member is a metal ball bearing. 
     
     
         10 . The elastic member of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic biasing member is a coil spring. 
     
     
         11 . An elastic member for enhancing retention of a surfboard fin that has been removably inserted in a surfboard, the surfboard fin having one or more receptacles, the elastic member comprising:
 a capsule comprising an outer surface that is shaped substantially as a conical frustum to hold the elastic member within one of the receptacles by mechanical resistance, the capsule having an opening;   an elastic biasing member in the housing; and   a protruding member that is biased by the elastic biasing member into a position where the protruding member protrudes through the opening.   
     
     
         12 . The elastic member of  claim 11 , wherein the capsule comprises a front portion and a back portion that are adhered together to at least partially enclose the elastic biasing member and protruding member. 
     
     
         13 . The elastic member of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule is angled at from about 1 degree to about 3 degrees relative to an axis of the capsule, the capsule being wider at the side with the opening than at the opposing side. 
     
     
         14 . The elastic member of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule comprises one or more raised and substantially rounded protuberances, the protuberances being adapted to hold the elastic member within the receptacle by mechanical resistance. 
     
     
         15 . The elastic member of  claim 14 , wherein each of the protuberances comprises one or more of polyurethane, thermoplastic, epoxy, and cyanoacrylate. 
     
     
         16 . The elastic member of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule comprises one or more substantially rounded indentations, the indentations being adapted to hold the elastic member within the receptacle by mechanical resistance. 
     
     
         17 . The elastic member of  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the capsule has a screw thread to allow the elastic member to be screwed into the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The elastic member of  claim 11 , wherein the protruding member is a metal ball bearing. 
     
     
         19 . The elastic member of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic biasing member is a coil spring. 
     
     
         20 . An elastic member for enhancing retention of a surfboard fin that has been removably inserted in a surfboard, by being inserted in a receptacle of the surfboard fin, the elastic member comprising a layer of elastomeric material rolled in a substantially cylindrical shape.