need an opinion on swim fins

My wife and I have been snorkeling in the Caribbean for the last 20
years and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit
much. One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin.
They are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we
wind up renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive
and limits us to snorkeling at beaches that rent equipment. The
solution seems to be – why not make a fin in two parts, one half would
be a sandal (which can be used alone as a water shoe) and the other
part is the blade that can be clipped on to the sandal when swimming.
What I would like your opinion on is: what do you think of a two-part
fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype. It's ugly but it
works. After seeing the rough model, a friend suggested that I patent
the idea. So I took out a provisional patent. But I would like to
use this forum to get your opinion before I sink a whole lot of money
into a venture that may not have any commercial value. Any ideas or
opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks, Don Macnow

"Don M" <dmacnowm> wrote in
message
news:bf2c5d5e.0310050951.506574c4@c om...
> My wife and I have been snorkeling in
the Caribbean for the last 20
> years and the luggage we have to take
along is getting to be a bit
> much. One of the things that take up
a lot of room is the swim fin.
> They are just too big to carry with
all the other necessities so we
> wind up renting some of the snorkeling
equipment. This gets expensive
> and limits us to snorkeling at beaches
that rent equipment. The
> solution seems to be - why not make a
fin in two parts, one half would
> be a sandal (which can be used alone
as a water shoe) and the other
> part is the blade that can be clipped
on to the sandal when swimming.
> What I would like your opinion on is:
what do you think of a two-part
> fin? I actually made, and am using a
prototype. It's ugly but it
> works. After seeing the rough model,
a friend suggested that I patent
> the idea. So I took out a provisional
patent. But I would like to
> use this forum to get your opinion
before I sink a whole lot of money
> into a venture that may not have any
commercial value. Any ideas or
> opinions would surely be appreciated.
Thanks, Don Macnow

Don,
Sounds like a good idea. Good luck!

Don M <dmacnowm> wrote:

[...]
>solution seems to be – why not make a fin in two parts, one half would
>be a sandal (which can be used alone as a water shoe) and the other
>part is the blade that can be clipped on to the sandal when swimming.
>What I would like your opinion on is: what do you think of a two-part
>fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype. It's ugly but it
>works. After seeing the rough model, a friend suggested that I patent
>the idea. So I took out a provisional patent. But I would like to
>use this forum to get your opinion before I sink a whole lot of money
>into a venture that may not have any commercial value.

They are what is known as "jet fins", used for scuba diving.
These are fins with a socket, into which fits your wet boot,
the kind of neoprene booty you use for windsurfing, sailing etc.

Typical jet fins are used mainly for scuba though, where for
safety you need the ability to develop some good kick, and so
they are normally made quite hefty. You would have to have
something novel in there to get your own patent, but perhaps
there is a market for something with a more sandal-like boot.

Or, go all the way and have two japanese-fan style attachments
on either side of the shoe... then you can stroll into a bar,
knock back a Carib or two, then flick your feet, clip the fans
together, and dive Spider Man like straight out the window into
the sea. [I claim patent on that one, though]. (c) 2003

--
Ken Tough
Pretoria, South Africa

Just sounds like an open back fin. It's the blade that takes up the room
anyway. If you could come up with a fin that folds in half, now THAT might
be interesting for us travel folks.


"Don M" <dmacnowm> wrote in message
news:bf2c5d5e.0310050951.506574c4@c om...
> My wife and I have been snorkeling in the Caribbean for the last 20
> years and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit
> much. One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin.
> They are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we
> wind up renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive
> and limits us to snorkeling at beaches that rent equipment. The
> solution seems to be - why not make a fin in two parts, one half would
> be a sandal (which can be used alone as a water shoe) and the other
> part is the blade that can be clipped on to the sandal when swimming.
> What I would like your opinion on is: what do you think of a two-part
> fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype. It's ugly but it
> works. After seeing the rough model, a friend suggested that I patent
> the idea. So I took out a provisional patent. But I would like to
> use this forum to get your opinion before I sink a whole lot of money
> into a venture that may not have any commercial value. Any ideas or
> opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks, Don Macnow

"Keith" <klREMOVEemmons@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:blq1rt$aoa@library1.airnews.net...
> Just sounds like an open back fin. It's the blade that takes up the room
> anyway. If you could come up with a fin that folds in half, now THAT might
> be interesting for us travel folks.

The folding fin as well as the fin that converts from a reef walking "wet
shoe" have all been previously thrust upon the diving public. The folder is
in current production, but you better hurry- it might not be around long.

A fin of limited value is quite popular among some divers and snorkelers, it
is known as a "Force Fin" and is quite pricey- maybe that's why people buy
it, dunno.

They are very light and compact. The downside is that they have pretty much
so no thrust capability, but they are good for "bicycle kickers", a habit
that should be corrected, anyway.

Rent them on location or get a bigger travel bag. Be thankful you're not a
SCUBA diver.

Don, by all means patent it before somebody here beats you to it. I think
someone already has. Don't spend vast sums on building molds. You might want
to contact the "Historical Diving Society", DEMA or page thru years of Scuba
Diver magazine looking for editorial announcements of products (that didn't
fare well for any number of reasons).

-Doc Adelman




>
>
> "Don M" <dmacnowm> wrote in message
> news:bf2c5d5e.0310050951.506574c4@c om...
> > My wife and I have been snorkeling in the Caribbean for the last 20
> > years and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit
> > much. One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin.
> > They are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we
> > wind up renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive
> > and limits us to snorkeling at beaches that rent equipment. The
> > solution seems to be - why not make a fin in two parts, one half would
> > be a sandal (which can be used alone as a water shoe) and the other
> > part is the blade that can be clipped on to the sandal when swimming.
> > What I would like your opinion on is: what do you think of a two-part
> > fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype. It's ugly but it
> > works. After seeing the rough model, a friend suggested that I patent
> > the idea. So I took out a provisional patent. But I would like to
> > use this forum to get your opinion before I sink a whole lot of money
> > into a venture that may not have any commercial value. Any ideas or
> > opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks, Don Macnow
>
>

Don M on Sunday 05 October 2003 17:51 wrote:

> My wife and I have been snorkeling in the Caribbean for the last 20
> years and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit
> much. One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin.
> They are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we
> wind up renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets
> expensive and limits us to snorkeling at beaches that rent
> equipment. The solution seems to be – why not make a fin in two
> parts, one half would be a sandal (which can be used alone as a
> water shoe) and the other part is the blade that can be clipped on
> to the sandal when swimming. What I would like your opinion on is:
> what do you think of a two-part
> fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype. It's ugly but it
> works. After seeing the rough model, a friend suggested that I
> patent
> the idea. So I took out a provisional patent. But I would like to
> use this forum to get your opinion before I sink a whole lot of
> money
> into a venture that may not have any commercial value. Any ideas or
> opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks, Don Macnow

What you need to do now is build a working prototype and run tests
using numerous divers from neophyte to the more serious recreational
skin and SCUBA types. Listen to what they say and make refinements.
When you get something that really works, get venture capital to
manufacture it or approach an established dive fin maker.

Good Luck.


I usually handle the fin packing problem, which is really a problem
since I have size 13 feet -- my foots are a foot long, by not using a
conventional suitcase. I use a military style, zipper duffle. It's
almost like a lightweight dive bag, but still very durable. It is
spacious enough to hold a set of dive fins, mask and snorkel with
more than enough room left over for two weeks worth of casual
clothes, shoes, etc. If I wanted to SCUBA dive, I could probably
stuff in a regulator, too. If I need suits, blazers, a tux, etc, I'll
add a folding garment bag.

--
Stefan Patric
tootek2m

in article bf2c5d5e.0310050951.506574c4@com, Don M at
dmacnowm wrote on 10/5/03 10:51 AM:

> My wife and I have been snorkeling in the Caribbean for the last 20
> years and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit
> much. One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin.
> They are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we
> wind up renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive
> and limits us to snorkeling at beaches that rent equipment. The
> solution seems to be – why not make a fin in two parts, one half would
> be a sandal (which can be used alone as a water shoe) and the other
> part is the blade that can be clipped on to the sandal when swimming.
> What I would like your opinion on is: what do you think of a two-part
> fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype. It's ugly but it
> works. After seeing the rough model, a friend suggested that I patent
> the idea. So I took out a provisional patent. But I would like to
> use this forum to get your opinion before I sink a whole lot of money
> into a venture that may not have any commercial value. Any ideas or
> opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks, Don Macnow
Got a day job ?