Walkable swim flipper

Abstract

A walkable swimming flipper includes a foot portion with a foot pocket and opposed sides, each side having a pivot joint. A fin portion with a fin tip and fin base includes first and second supports with corresponding hinges rotatably coupled to the pivot joints, enabling rotation between swimming and walking positions. At least one lock secures the fin portion in either position. Locking mechanisms include a twistable knob that inserts a tab into a locking hole near the fin base or a flange integrally formed with the foot portion. First and second buckles on the sides accommodate an adjustable heel strap.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A walkable swimming flipper comprising:
 a foot portion wherein the foot portion comprises a foot pocket and a first side and second side wherein the first side has a first pivot joint, and the second side has a second pivot joint;   a fin portion having a fin tip and a fin base and a first support with a first hinge and a second support with a second hinge wherein the first hinge is rotatably coupled to the first pivot joint and the second hinge is rotatably coupled to the second pivot joint such that the fin portion rotates from a first position to a second position; and   at least one lock coupled to at least one of the first side and the second side to lock the fin portion in at least one of the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The swimming flipper of  claim 1 , wherein the fin portion has a blade portion that is between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         3 . The swimming flipper of  claim 2 , wherein the blade portion has at least one vertical rib that extends substantially from the fin base to the fin tip. 
     
     
         4 . The swimming flipper of  claim 1 , wherein the foot portion has a front end and a back end wherein the front end has a flipper stop and the back end has a foot extension. 
     
     
         5 . The swimming flipper of  claim 3 , wherein the blade portion has a locking hole substantially near the fin base. 
     
     
         6 . The swimming flipper of  claim 4 , wherein the flipper stop supports and stops the fin portion when in its second position. 
     
     
         7 . The swimming flipper of  claim 5 , wherein the lock comprises a knob that twists to insert a tab into the locking hole when the knob is twisted from an unlocked position to a locked position. 
     
     
         8 . The swimming flipper of  claim 1 , wherein the first side and the second side has a first buckle and a second buckle wherein a heel strap is adjustably coupled to the first buckle and the second buckle. 
     
     
         9 . The swimming flipper of  claim 1 , wherein the fin portion has channels that optimize water flow past the flipper. 
     
     
         10 . The swimming flipper of  claim 1  wherein one of the at least one locks is a flange coupled to the at one of the first side or the second side of the foot portion wherein the flange locks the fin portion in the second position. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a walkable swimming flipper, the method comprising the acts of:
 providing a foot portion and a fin portion;   rotatably coupling the fin portion to the foot portion such that the fin portion may be rotated between a first position and a second position;   coupling at least one lock to the foot portion that selectively locks the fin portion in at least one of the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising providing a blade portion that is between a first support and a second support on the fin portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming at least one vertical rib that extends substantially the length of the blade. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a flipper stop on the front end of the foot portion and a foot extension on a back end of the foot portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a locking hole substantially near a fin base of the fin portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flipper stop supports and stops the fin portion when in its second position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a knob that twists to insert a tab into the locking hole when the knob is twisted from an unlocked position to a locked position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a first buckle and a second buckle that allows a heel strap to be adjusted to fit a user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming channels in the fin portion that optimize water flow past the fin portion.