-
Fin Fun USA
Hi all!
I put Fin Fun USA so it isn't confused with the other Fin Fun thread I posted earlier. This is the real one we all know and love!
I have an alert set up to notify me of anything new on Google Patents that has to do with mermaids or monofins. A few weeks ago, this popped up: https://www.google.com/patents/US9162110
I have a lot of respect for Fin Fun. I like what they've done for the mermaiding community. I think their monofin is really cool, and it's a shame that it's been knocked off so many times. But I am curious about a few things in their patent and wanted to get the advice and input of you mermaids who have been in this community a lot longer.
1. Was FF the first company to have open bottomed / walkable tails? Were they they first company to have swimmers put on the tail first, then the monofin, then pull the tail down over the monofin? I thought Magic Tail was older than FF, and they have the same open bottom tails with those little pockets on the tips that hook around their monofin, but I don't know how they instruct users to put the tail/monofin on.
2. My second question is -- if I'm reading this patent right, they could effectively shut down any company who is not only using a monofin like theirs, but also any company that is simply selling mermaid tails that are pulled on like a skirt? It looks like they've patented the *method* for putting on a tail.
3. Was FF the first company to make a monofin like this - with the neoprene cover and the sock-like foot pockets? I know a lot of you have been making your own monofins for a long time, anyone make one similar, even out of a different fabric? Not that it changes anything in regards to their patent or anything, I'm just curious. I know when I first saw their patent it felt like a huge improvement on the monofins with the rubber straps, but I'm just curious as to whether or not others made anything similar prior to Fin Fun releasing theirs.
-
http://www.suntailmermaid.com/mermaid-monofin/ seems to be a variation on finfun's patent. I wonder what will be result of that?
-
I thought about it some more... Does Fin Fun patent mean for their state only? Or can anyone elsewhere make mermaid monofins and not have the patent guys knocking at their door?
And how can anyone patent the putting on a tail? I would have thought that putting it on was common sense. You roll up the tail, wear it, then wear the monofin. Does anyone put it on like a closed shirt?
Maybe I should have a patent for myself where no one can wear floral printed mermaid tails. And while I'm at it, a patent for one piece fish suits that if anyone makes one for themselves, they have to pay me 80% royalties because *I* am the one that thought of the idea of putting a dorsal fin on the back of my swimsuit.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
