Patent Application
20220110302
This invention has been created without the sponsorship or funding of any federally sponsored research or development program.
The present invention relates generally to fishing bait nets and in particular to collapsible bait nets for easy storage and transport.
In the fishing industry, whether for sport or for profit, bait nets are used to capture small fish and/or sea creatures for use as bait to attract bigger fish such as marlin, tuna, tarpon or similar fish. The bait nets usually used by fishermen come in varying forms, sizes, and shapes, but invariable are too cumbersome to store and transport. In particular, the bait nets used to catch larger bait need to be sturdy and able to withstand the rigors of being cast into the ocean from a moving or stationary vessel, dragged through water, and pulled back into a boat. In instances where the bait net is sturdy enough to handle this rigorous activity, they are not easily stored on or off the boat or transportable from one venue to another. The rigid construct of most good bait nets results in rapid deterioration through sun exposure or tearing due to improper storage on a boat or in a garage or other location not suitable to protect the delicate netting.
The present invention solves these problems by providing a collapsible hoop net that is strong and sturdy to endure the rigors of capturing bait, and which is capable of being stored and transported with ease. The essential feature of this invention allows for the collapsing of the hoop net for easy and efficient storage on the boat in a location that minimizes sun exposure and rapid deterioration. Alternatively, the collapsible/folded hoop net may be stored in another location or may be packaged in a protective casing.
The present invention serves to improve upon existing bait nets and address the storage and transport challenges facing the industry without sacrificing the strength and rigidity the bait net.
The present invention is a collapsible bait net or hoop net comprised of netting that is affixed or mounted to a flexible flat metal bar having two ends that are connected to each other or joined together to form one complete ring or hoop that maintains its shape and integrity. The two ends of the flexible flat metal bar connect seamlessly by a fastening means which allow(s) the entire assembly to function as intended. Additionally, the attachment of the net about the flexible flat metal bar is designed to evenly distribute weight and improve the overall balance of the assembly. The flexible flat metal bar has the appearance and dimensions similar to that of a blade, meaning it is flat, thin, and long. The flexible flat metal bar or blade may be coated with rubber or a rubber like material to facilitate the attachment of the net. The net, when affixed to the flexible flat metal bar or blade, extends in a conical shape, creating a hoop or enclosed receptacle for capturing and holding live bait as they are pulled from the water into a boat. Further, the hoop net and flexible flat metal bar or blade are combined with other components of the invention, including six stabilizing cords positioned equidistant along the circumference of the hoop created by the connected or joined ends of the flexible flat metal bar or blade, which cords converge at the center of the hoop by a fastening means to a single draw cord. The draw cord is used to cast or lower the assembled hoop net into the water to a desired depth and to pull the hoop net back into the boat with or without bait inside the net. Once the hoop net assembly has been used, the flexible flat metal bar is twisted or rotated to form a double
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In describing the invention, reference will at times be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Before the subject invention is described further, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments of the invention described below, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in the art to which this invention belongs will recognize, however, that the techniques described can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects.
In this specification, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
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In this embodiment of the present invention, the material for the flexible flat metal bar or blade 10 is 17-4 PH Stainless Steel. The tensile strength and flexibility of this 17-4 PH Stainless Steel material allows the hoop formed by joining the two ends 15, 20 of the metal bar or blade 10 to maintain its shape, integrity, and rigidity during use and handling. The 17-4 PH Stainless Steel combines the optimal amount of strength, toughness, flexibility, and resistance to corrosion. The flexible flat metal bar or blade 10 may have a length of 12 feet, a width of 10 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm. In other embodiments of the present invention, the flexible flat metal bar 10 may be comprised of an amalgam of metals and carbon to generate a 1070 rated carbon steel which also allows for the flexibility, toughness, and strength required. Other embodiments of this invention may include the use of metal alloys, plastics, fiberglass, epoxy, or carbon fiber, or other materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. In other embodiments of the invention, the flexible flat metal bar or blade 10 may have different dimensions whereby the length may be lesser or greater than 12 feet, the width may be lesser or greater than 10 mm, and the thickness may be lesser or greater than 1 mm.
The level of flexibility of the flexible flat metal bar 10 is very important to the ability of the bait net 5 to collapse or fold and unfold repeatedly without breaking or warping. The assembled bait net 5 collapses into three smaller rings or hoops to facilitate storage and transport, as shown in
For purposes of illustration,
The present invention does not come apart in order to collapse or fold, rather it is assembled with a semi-permanent or permanent fastener and collapses on itself and/or folds onto itself to reduce its surface area, making it compact for easy storage and transport. Once assembled, the components of the present invention are not disconnected or detached for purposes of achieving collapsibility. The ability of the assembled bait net 5 to collapse or fold easily 100, 140 (as shown in
In the embodiments of the invention described herein the net or netting 30 may comprise of ¼″ mesh made of monofilament; and the six stabilizing cords 35 may be made of 3001b. monofilament. The six stabilizing cords 40 converge to the center of the bait net 5 and are fastened together by means of a 10/0 stainless steel swivel and is further attached to the draw cord 40 which draw cord 40 may also be made of 3001b. monofilament that is 25 feet long and ¼″ thick. The disclosed materials and dimensions of the components of the bait net 5 are not meant to be limiting, but illustrative and may be adjusted by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs for optimal function.
In the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, the net or netting 30 may be made of mesh or similar fibers woven into a diamond-like structure or lattice-like structure as shown in
In other embodiments of this invention, the net or netting 30 may comprise of materials including, but not limited to monofilament nylon, multifilament nylon, monofilament polyethylene nylon, multifilament polyethylene, knotless polyethylene netting, and/or clear twisted polyethylene. The net or netting 30 may comprise of any material synthetically derived or manufactured to have the same or similar structure and properties similar to that of nylon and/or polyethylene. Further, the net or netting 30 may comprise of other similar nylon and/or polyethylene materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs, including the art of marine netting.
In other embodiments of this invention, the net 5 may comprise of materials including, but not limited to monofilament nylon, multifilament nylon, monofilament polyethylene nylon, multifilament polyethylene, knotless polyethylene netting, and/or clear twisted polyethylene. Further the net 5 may comprise of other similar nylon and/or polyethylene materials or netting. The net 5 may comprise of any material synthetically derived or manufactured to have the same or similar structure and properties similar to that of nylon and/or polyethylene.
In the embodiment of this invention described herein and/or other embodiments of this invention, the cords (35, 40) may be made of monofilament. In other embodiments the cords (35,40) are not limited to this material, but may comprise of nylon or other material having the same or similar tensile strength and thickness of ordinary fishing line or other material of same or similar properties known to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Further, the cords 35, 40 may comprise of materials including, but not limited to monofilament nylon, multifilament nylon, monofilament polyethylene nylon, multifilament polyethylene, knotless polyethylene netting, and/or clear twisted polyethylene. The cords 35, 40, may comprise of other similar nylon and/or polyethylene materials or netting. The cords 35, 40, may comprise of any material synthetically derived or manufactured to have the same or similar structure, tensile strength, and other properties similar to that of monofilament and/or nylon and/or polyethylene.
As various changes may be made in the above-described subject matter without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention, it is intended that all subject matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, will be interpreted as descriptive and illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims.
