Patent Application
20100146838
This invention relates to snares, more particularly a lobster snare device wherein a user can easily control the tension of a loop and having a dive indicator incorporated into the lobster snare device to alert third parties to a user's location while using the lobster snare device.
Currently, lobster snare devices use a loop located on one end of a pole and complex trigger devices to tighten the loop around a lobster. The use of trigger devices in conventional lobster snare devices is dangerous to lobsters and to sensitive coral reefs where lobsters are usually found. This is due to the fact that users cannot control the tension of the loop when using lobster snare devices having trigger devices. The high tension of the loop can harm or even kill immature lobsters, which are required to be released back into the water. Further, the high tension and speed with which the loop closes can cause sensitive plant life to get caught in the loop. In additions trigger devices are prone to failure.
Another problem posed to conventional lobster snare users is the danger of being struck by water craft such as boats or jet skis while snorkeling or diving for lobsters because conventional lobster snare devices do not provide any indicators to alert third parties to the location of the user while in and/or under the water.
Thus, a need exists for a lobster snare device in which a user can control the tension of the snare loop and which provides a dive indicator to alert third parties to a user's location while using the lobster snare under water.
The relevant patents of prior art includes the following references:
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a lobster snare device in which a user may easily control the tension of the loop.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lobster snare device in which a user may easily control the speed with which the loop closes.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a lobster snare device which is safe for the environment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lobster snare device which will not hurt or kill lobsters thereby making it possible to release immature lobsters back to the water unharmed.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a lobster snare device which may be used to alert third parties to a user's location while using the lobster snare.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a lobster snare device which permits a user to catch a lobster without harming the environment by providing an elongated, telescoping internal pole inside an external pole. A loop is located on a distal end of the internal pole, which is preferably made of cable, and is secured to the distal end of the internal pole by inserting the cable through a hole located in the internal pole, inserting the end of the cable through a first hole in a distal cap located on the distal end of the external pole inserting the end of the cable back through a second hole in the distal cap and securing the end of the cable to itself via a clamp. A plastic tube/sleeve is preferably located on the loop so as to minimize damage to lobsters during use. The proximal end of the internal pole extends from the external pole and has a handle/dive indicator attached to it which is preferably colored red so as to indicate where a user is located beneath the water surface. In addition to or in place of the colored handle/dive indicator, the proximal end of the internal pole may also have a dive flag attached to it to warn boaters of the user's location while in and/or under water. While the lobster snare device is not in uses the dive flag may be rolled around the handle/dive indicator and covered by an outer cover.
To use the lobster snare device, a user first pushes the internal pole to create a desired loop size, then places the loop around a lobster and finally pulls the internal pole to tighten the loop around the lobster.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
In the following detailed descriptions reference will be made to the attached drawings in which;
For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:
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Although a preferred embodiment of a lobster snare device has been disclosed, it should be understood, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of pars herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.
