Watercraft fin box with retractable fin
Systems and methods to provide a watercraft fin box with a retractable fin. The fin box may be fitted to a watercraft such as an inflatable paddle board. The retractable fin is associated with a lever that allows the retractable fin to rotate within a body of the fin box. An elastic member positioned within the body of the fin box operates to urge the retractable fin away from the body when the retractable fin rotates into the body. The elastic member does not urge the retractable fin away from the body when the fin box is fitted to a watercraft and the retractable fin of the fin box is positioned to face the Earth, such as when the watercraft is placed atop water with the retractable fin immersed in water.
1 . A watercraft fin box comprising:
a body comprising a track aperture and a body lever rotation point, the body forming a body interior void and configured to couple to a watercraft;
a retractable fin with a lever, the lever comprising an end lever post and a medial lever post, the end lever post configured to rotate about the body lever rotation point and the medial lever post configured to engage the track aperture; and
an elastic element coupled to the body;
wherein:
the retractable fin operates in a first state extending from the body such that the lever is not engaged with the elastic element; and
the retractable fin operates in a second state at least partially extending into the body interior void such that the lever is engaged with the elastic element and the elastic element urges the retractable fin out from the body interior void.
2 . The watercraft fin box of claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is of spherical shape.
3 . The watercraft fin box of claim 1 , wherein the medial lever post operates to travel within the track aperture as the retractable fin moves between the first state and the second state.
4 . The watercraft fin box of claim 1 , wherein the watercraft is a paddle board.
5 . The watercraft fin box of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to fit within a thickness of the watercraft.
6 . The watercraft fin box of claim 5 , wherein when the watercraft fin box is positioned with the retractable fin positioned to extend toward the Earth, the retractable fin rests in the first state.
7 . The watercraft of claim 6 , wherein the body comprises a left body and a right body, the left body and the right body separable from one another.
8 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the lever is detachable from the retractable fin.
9 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the medial lever post travels within the track aperture as the retractable fin travels between the first state and the second state.
10 . A method of using a watercraft fin box comprising:
providing the watercraft fin box comprising:
a body comprising a track aperture and a body lever rotation point, the body forming a body interior void and configured to couple to a watercraft;
a retractable fin with a lever, the lever comprising an end lever post and a medial lever post, the end lever post configured to rotate about the body lever rotation point and the medial lever post configured to engage the track aperture; and
an elastic element coupled to the body;
positioning the body within a thickness of the watercraft;
placing the watercraft atop water such that the retractable fin is immersed in water;
wherein:
the retractable fin operates in a first state extending from the body such that the lever is not engaged with the elastic element; and
if the retractable fin encounters a force that impacts the retractable fin, the retractable fin operates in a second state at least partially extending into the body interior void such that the lever is engaged with the elastic element and the elastic element urges the retractable fin out from the body interior void.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the elastic element is of a spherical shape.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the medial lever post operates to travel within the track aperture as the retractable fin moves between the first state and the second state.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the end lever post of the lever is configured to rotate about the body lever rotation point as the retractable fin moves between the first state and the second state.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the body is disposed within the thickness.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the watercraft is a paddle board.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the lever is detachable from the retractable fin.
17 . The method of claim 10 , the body comprises a left body and a right body, the left body and the right body separable from one another.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the body is configured to fit within the thickness of the watercraft.
19 . A watercraft fin box comprising:
a body comprising a track aperture and a body lever rotation point, the body forming a body interior void and configured to couple to a water board;
a lever, the lever comprising an end lever post and a medial lever post, the end lever post configured to rotate about the body lever rotation point and the medial lever post configured to engage the track aperture;
a retractable fin configured to attach to the lever; and
an elastic element attached to the body;
wherein:
the retractable fin operates in a first state extending from the body such that the elastic element does not impart a force on the lever; and
the retractable fin operates in a second state at least partially extending into the body interior void such that the elastic element does impart a force on the lever to urge the retractable fin out from the body interior void.
20 . The watercraft fin box of claim 19 , wherein:
the elastic element is of spherical shape;
the body comprises a left body and a right body, the left body and the right body separable from one another; and
the medial lever post travels within the track aperture as the retractable fin travels between the first state and the second state.