REPELLOR® FINS

An important factor in successful body surfing or body boarding in the ocean when riding the hollow or curved surface of a wave is the ability to maintain traction on this part of the wave wall and enable the body surfer or body boarder to maintain their position in this important buoyancy or “sweet spot” section of the wave. This important section of the wave buoys, balances and propels the body surfer or body boarder forward without the wave “breaking” on top of them or allowing them to be thrown out through the curl of the wave. The thrust, propulsion and directional movement provided by flippers as extensions of the wearer's feet enables the body surfer or body boarder to accurately control and manage their position in relation to the wave wall and therefore stay within this important section of the wave so as to “ride” the wave.

Traditional flippers are usually substantially flat rubber flaps which extend from a shoe portion to amplify the kicking effect of the wearer by increasing the area of water displaced by each kick of their feet. However, this kicking affect is reduced by the escape of the displaced water moving over each side of the flipper surface both during upward and downward movement thereof. Further, the control of directional movement necessary in body surfing and body boarding applications is limited by only four control “edges” being provided on each flipper.

It is an object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of traditional flippers by reducing water displacement losses, improving directional movement control by providing an increased number of control surfaces and “edges” to each flipper, increasing thrust and hence wearer's speed during upward and downward movement of each flipper.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a swimming flipper comprising a foot portion and a substantially flat blade portion extending there from, said blade portion having provided on each longitudinal edge thereof at least two opposed rails extending inwardly and at an angle above and below relative to the flat blade of said flipper, and having provided two ridges extending underneath the blade from the foot portion to provide wearer stability when walking out of water and stiffness for kicking in water, and said foot portion having and at least two fixed couplings that can be engaged and disengaged into the corresponding and opposing couplings of opposing foot portion couplings to interlock and hold flippers attached to each other when not being worn by user. For preference, said rails extend substantially the length of each longitudinal edge of said flipper portion.

It is an object of the Repellor® Fins invention to increase the efficiency of traditional flippers by reducing water displacement losses, reducing water drag, improving directional movement control by providing an increased number of control surfaces such as “edges”, “ridges” and downward movement of each flipper