The field of the disclosure relates generally to fishing assemblies, and more specifically, to fishing assemblies that include a housing for holding a fishing net therein.
Fishing poles include a rod and reel arrangement for selectively releasing a line having a baited and/or lured hook. When a fish is hooked, the line may be reeled in to bring the fish toward the fisherman. After the fish is reeled in, the fish may be captured out of the water by lifting the line and raising the fish out of the water environment. One difficulty presented by this technique is that added weight is applied to the connection between the hook at the end of the fishing line and the fish, which can loosen or even break the hooked connection with the fish and result in the loss of the catch. As a result, use of a net or some other device to capture the fish from the water may be desirable.
One problem with such known nets is that they are provided separately from the fishing poles. As a result, the nets are difficult to carry in combination with other fishing equipment when setting up at a suitable location. Moreover, some such nets may also be small and therefore present organizational challenges to readily stow and access the nets without them becoming lost or otherwise separated from the fishing pole. Thus, a need exists for providing a fishing assembly that provides the functionality of a fishing pole and a fishing net and which has an improved ease of access and portability.
In one aspect, a fishing assembly is provided, the fishing assembly includes a fishing pole, a collapsible net assembly, and a housing coupled to the fishing pole. The housing defines a cavity sized to receive the collapsible net assembly therein. The fishing assembly further includes a net release mechanism for releasing the net assembly from the cavity, wherein the net release mechanism is configured to engage the housing and is selectively releasable to disengage with the housing to allow the net assembly to be removed from the housing.
In another aspect, a fishing assembly is provided. The fishing assembly includes a fishing pole and a housing coupled to the fishing pole. The housing defines a cavity sized to receive a collapsible net assembly therein. The fishing assembly further includes a net release mechanism for releasing the net assembly from the cavity. The net release mechanism is configured to engage the housing and is selectively releasable to disengage with the housing to allow the net assembly to be removed from the housing.
In yet another aspect, a housing configured to be coupled to a fishing pole is provided. The housing includes a body defining an internal cavity. The internal cavity being sized to receive a collapsible net assembly therein. The housing further includes a net release mechanism for releasing the net assembly from the cavity. The net release mechanism is configured to engage the net assembly and is selectively releasable to disengage with the net assembly to allow the net assembly to be removed from the housing.
Referring to
In the example embodiment, the handle section 106 includes a housing 116, a cap 118, and a hinge 120. The housing 116 is coupled to the pole section 108, or, more specifically, is integrally assembled with the pole section 108 such that the housing 116 forms the handle section 106 of the fishing pole 109. In other embodiments, such as in the embodiment described with respect to
In the example embodiment, the cap 118 is movably coupled to the housing 116 via the hinge 120. More specifically, in the example embodiment, the cap 118 is pivotable relative to the housing 116 about the hinge 120 from a closed position, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In the example embodiment, the button 134 is biased outwards (i.e., out of the page in
In other embodiments, the button 134 may engage one or more other structures of the handle section 106 to lock the net assembly 124 in position within the housing 116. For example, and without limitation, in some embodiments, the housing 116 additionally or alternatively includes one or more internal recesses (not shown) defined on an interior surface within the housing 116 and the button 134 extends into and engages the one or more internal recesses to lock the net assembly 124 in position within the housing 116. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the net assembly 124 includes a plurality of buttons which may each engage one or more corresponding structures of the housing 116. Moreover, in other further embodiments, the fishing assembly 100 may include any suitable release mechanism that enables the net assembly 124 to selectively engage the handle section 106 as described herein. For example, in some embodiments, the housing 116 includes one or more latches (not shown) that selectively engage the net assembly 124 within housing 116. Additionally or alternatively, the fishing assembly 100 may further include a biasing mechanism (not shown) for biasing the net assembly 124 out of the handle section 106 when the release mechanism is actuated. In one example, the biasing mechanism includes a spring positioned within the handle section 106 that is compressed when the net assembly 124 is loaded into the handle section 106 and which is biased to expand when the net assembly 124 is released to drive the net assembly 124 out of the handle section 106.
Referring to
In the example embodiment, the net frame 128 includes a first frame link 138 and a second frame link 140. The net frame 128 is formed of a metal material, though in other embodiments, the net frame 128 may be formed of any suitable materials.
In the example embodiment, the net assembly 124 includes a net release mechanism 132 for transitioning the net assembly 124 between the expanded configuration shown in
In the expanded configuration, shown in
Referring back to
In the example embodiment, the runner locking assembly 152 is a snap-button ferrule mechanism that includes one or more buttons 154 configured to engage the net handle 126 and the runner 144. To transition the net assembly 124 from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration, a user may depress the button 154 of the runner lock 146, allowing the runner 144 to slide from a lowered position on the net handle 126 to a raised position on the net handle 126. The user may then lock the net assembly 124 in the expanded configuration by aligning the runner 144 with one or more buttons 156 on the net handle 126 when the runner 144 is in the raised position. More specifically, in the example embodiment, the runner locking assembly 152 includes a first spring loaded button 154 and a second spring loaded button 156 each coupled to the handle assembly. The runner 144 further defines one or more apertures (not shown) that are positioned to align with the first and second button 154, 156. For example, referring to
In other embodiments, any suitable release mechanism may be used to transition the net assembly 124 between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration. For example, and without limitation, in some embodiments, one or more of the buttons 154, 156 may be provided on the runner 144 and may engage an outer structure that extends around the runner 144. In further embodiments, the runner 144 may include a clamping mechanism (not shown) that provides a friction fit between the runner 144 and the handle to secure the runner 144 in position on the handle 126 and lock the net assembly 124.
Referring back to
Referring to
In the example embodiment, the housing 516 further defines an internal cavity 522 that receives the net assembly 524 therein in substantially the same manner as described with respect to
The housing 516 further includes a clamp 505 which engages the fishing pole 509, and specifically the handle section 506 of the pole, to secure the housing 516 to the fishing pole 509. In particular, in the example embodiment, the clamp 505 extends inwards of the housing 516 in the pole cavity 503 and provides a friction fit between the housing 516 and the fishing pole 509. The clamp 505 is adjustable by a crank 507 or, more broadly, an “adjustment mechanism”, that is accessible from an exterior of the housing 516. In particular, rotation of the crank 507 in a first direction moves the clamp 505 radially inward to provide engagement between the clamp 505 and the fishing pole 509. Rotation of the crank 507 in a second, opposite, direction, moves the clamp 505 radially outward to allow for removal of the fishing pole 509 from the housing 516.
In other embodiments, any suitable clamp 505 or, more broadly, connection device, may be used to removably attach the housing 516 to fishing pole 509. For example, and without limitation, in some embodiments the clamp 505 may include one or more prongs (not shown) that extended into the fishing pole 509 to secure the fishing pole 509 in position within the pole cavity 503. Moreover, in other embodiments, the housing 516 may attach to a different surface or portion of the fishing pole 509. For example, in some embodiments the housing 516 does not receive the entire diameter of the fishing pole 509 therein but may instead attach to a portion of the handle section 506 upwards on the fishing pole 509 from the base end 502.
As used herein, the terms “about,” “substantially,” “essentially” and “approximately” when used in conjunction with ranges of dimensions, concentrations, temperatures or other physical or chemical properties or characteristics is meant to cover variations that may exist in the upper and/or lower limits of the ranges of the properties or characteristics, including, for example, variations resulting from rounding, measurement methodology or other statistical variation.
When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The use of terms indicating a particular orientation (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “side,” etc.) is for convenience of description and does not require any particular orientation of the item described.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/489,409, filed Mar. 9, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63489409 | Mar 2023 | US |