sideways monofin

[octpora]

Has anyone ever used or designed a sideways monofin that anyone knows of?

Getting over a distal fracture and sprain so I started thinking because my ankle seems to disagree with certain repetative movements
Of course a sideways setup would require a sidebending undulation. To me this seems it would have the advantage of not using the 'hinge' type joints like the dolphin type kick. Hinge joints are great for range of motion, but that requires a whole host of stabilizing muscles in order to limit and refine motion. Perhaps a sidebending motion would better utilize the elastic quality of conective tissue? Also perhaps less water resistance in the stroke as the body is generaly wider than it is thick.

Or maybe i just need to suck it up and break it back in! I can almost stand up on my toes again but it makes me want to kill something.

If I'm all wrong and misguided, please be gentle.

[sanso]

That sounds like an excellent idea and the point about stabilizing muscles seems to make sense.
I have, though, never heard of anything there - please design and make one and tell us what it's like!

[AquaQuant]

Hello,

I just joined this site to post my reply (Google Alerts brought me here). So, I just want to mention that I have actually seen a patent on Google which described a sideways monofin. Go to patents.google.com (I think) and check it out!

Andrew

[trux]

Originally Posted by AquaQuant

I just joined this site to post my reply (Google Alerts brought me here). So, I just want to mention that I have actually seen a patent on Google which described a sideways monofin. Go to patents.google.com (I think) and check it out!

Could you post a link, the patent number, or some keyword that would help us to find the right patent? I tried "sideways monofin" in Google Patents, but getting no result at all. In contrary for "sideways fin" I see too many hits, but none of the ones at the top look like the one octopra writes about. I am not sure to which one you actually refer.

[trux]

Originally Posted by octpora

Has anyone ever used or designed a sideways monofin that anyone knows of?

Well, I did not see such monofin yet (though would love to add it to my Collection of Weird Fins), but guess that human body is not quite well suited for the sideway propulsion. There are though several fin concepts for handicapped divers - if you have a look at the above linked collection, there are couple of them, though none of them is a monofin. For example the Farallon Fins have a fixation on shins, and was designed exactly for people like you having problems with ankles. This concept would be certainly usable with a monofin too.

Also other fins are fixed on the shins - the Shin Fins, or the Freedom Fins. Also the currently discussed Aqueon, which in its concept comes closer to a monofin, does not put any stress on ankles. The there are some fins for breast stroke - like for example the ones from Speedo. Or the Liquix hand fins may be of an interest too, though they may be difficult to use while spearing The Velosub is another propulsion device that may be interesting for people with some injuries unable to use regular fins.

[asd]

Swim fin assembly - Google Patents

Abstract
A swim fin assembly of a generally T-shaped configuration including a flexible fin and an elongated foot support bar traversing and being operatively connected to the fin in a rigid securement. The fin is progressively more flexible from its forward end to its rearward end and from its upper and lower edges toward its center. A pair of foot receiving members are pivotally mounted on the foot support bar proximate its extended ends such that upon securing one's feet in the foot receiving members the fin is substantially perpendicular with respect to the wearer's feet such that upon exerting a stepping-type motion employing alternating thrusts in a prone position in a body of water, the resulting reciprocal pivotal movement of the foot support bar about its midpoint causes the vertically oriented fin to move from side-to-side and propel the wearer through the water.

Patent number: 6561862
Filing date: Mar 15, 2002
Issue date: May 13, 2003
Inventor: George B. Moore
Primary Examiner: Jesus D. Sotelo
Attorney: Holland & Knight LLP


Current U.S. Classification
441/61; 441/64; 440/14; 440/25; 440/32

International Classification
A63B 3111

[apneaboy]

Cool

No more dolphin technique its yesterdays news, now its time for swimming like a shark.

With this and a strategically placed fin on my back and a good looking shark coloured outer suit I could empty a few beaches rapid, no more jet skis ;-)

Its just like apnea cycling underwater....

This has to be the way forward.

I'm off to cut my bike to pieces and change my mono fin footpockets.. I'll let you know how i get on.

Der nen der nen derdun dununerrrrrr (theme from jaws plays in the background)