FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
This disclosure generally relates to holders for nets. In particular, this disclosure relates to means for securing a net to a person when fishing, or the like.
BACKGROUND
Carrying a net while fishing can present several issues. The net may become cumbersome, especially if it's large or lacks a proper attachment system, leading to tangling with other gear. The net can also snag on vegetation or rocks, causing inconvenience and potential damage. Additionally, if not properly secured, it might be lost in the water.
Furthermore, ensuring the net is easily accessible without interfering with casting and fishing can also be challenging. Other drawbacks, inconveniences, issues, and problems also exist.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, disclosed embodiments address the above, and other, drawbacks, inconveniences, issues, and problems with existing systems and methods for securing a net.
Disclosed embodiments include a net holder system having a net mounted unit couplable with a net, a user-mounted unit couplable with a user, and wherein the net mounted unit also couples with the user-mounted unit to secure the net to the user. In some embodiments, the net mounted unit includes a male mounting component and the user-mounted unit includes a female mounting component that couples the net mounted unit to the user-mounted unit.
In some embodiments the net mounted unit includes a securement mechanism to couple the net mounted unit to the net. In some embodiments the securement mechanism may be an adhesive. In some embodiments the securement mechanism may be straps.
In some embodiments the user-mounted unit includes a belt clip. In some embodiments the user-mounted unit includes a retaining strap. In some embodiments the user-mounted unit includes a button to release the coupling of the net mounted unit and the user-mounted unit. In some embodiments the button includes retention structures that selectively couple to a portion of the net mounted unit.
In some embodiments the user-mounted unit includes a retention device to assist in coupling the net mounted unit with the user-mounted unit. In some embodiments the retention device includes a magnet.
In some embodiments the net mounted unit includes retention ribs and the user-mounted unit includes a shoulder that the retention ribs couple with to hold the net mounted unit at a predetermined orientation with respect to the user-mounted unit.
In some embodiments the net mounted unit includes a flat bearing face and the user-mounted unit comprises a reciprocal flat bearing face.
In some embodiments the net-mounted unit includes a groove to assist in coupling the net mounted unit to a handle. In some embodiments the net-mounted unit includes a slot to assist in coupling the net mounted unit to a handle. Other embodiments also exist.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a net holder in use during fishing in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 2A is top-view schematic of a net-mounted unit in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 2B is side-view schematic of a net-mounted unit in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 3 is an isometric top view of a net-mounted unit in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 4A-4D are various views of a user-mounted unit in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIGS. 5A-5B are left and right side views, respectively, of a user-mounted unit in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a user-mounted unit in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIGS. 7A-7B are side and front views, respectively, of a user-mounted unit holding a net vertically in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIGS. 8A-8C are top, side views, and assembled side-view (with some parts transparent for clarity) respectively, of a net holder system holding a net vertically in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a net with a male mounting component attached in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIGS. 10A-10B are an internal view and top view, respectively, of a user-mounted unit in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIGS. 11A-11B are net holder system components that enable oriented mounting of a net in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIGS. 12A-12B are net holder system components that enable mounting of a net in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIGS. 13A-13B are an isometric and side view, respectively, of net-mounted units in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure provides a net holder that allows easy carrying of a net 100 on the river or wherever a net is needed. As shown in FIG. 1, the net 100 is carried near the waist 102 of a person 104 and is secured by net holder 106. The net 100 may be carried by a user 104 at other locations or may be located on a drift boat, raft, or the like, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, embodiments of net holder 106 comprises a net-mounted unit 108 with a male mounting component 110 and a user-attached unit 120 (shown in FIGS. 4-6) with a female mounting component 126 that receives and retains the net-mounted unit 108, thus securing the net 100 to the user 104 in a desired orientation and location. As would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, the male-female arrangement of the mounting components 110, 126 may be reversed, and other inter-connection configurations may also be used. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, embodiments of the net-mounted unit 108 have three main components: a net plate 112, male mounting component 110, and securement mechanism 114 which may be adhesive, hook-and-loop connectors, screws, straps, snaps, and the like. The net plate 112 is the structural support that holds the male mounting component 110. The net-mounted unit 108 can be attached to the net 100 using securement mechanism 114 such as two-sided adhesive tape, screws, straps or the like.
As shown in FIG. 3, embodiments of the net plate 108 can have a curved upper surface 116 and reinforcement ribs 118 for strength and rigidity. Embodiments of the net plate 112 may be configured to support the weight of the net 100.
As illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B embodiments may also include a flat bearing face 158 between the two units (108, 120). The flat bearing face 158 provides that the face of the net mount unit 108 sits flush and is supported by the user-mounted unit 120 as shown. Among other things, this helps prevent premature failure or accidental releases.
As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, the male mounting component 110 fits into the female connection component 126 and in some embodiments may be held in place with both magnetic (e.g., retention mechanism 134 such as a magnet) and mechanical forces due to the mating and/or interlocking faces of the male and female components. A retention mechanism 134 such as a magnet is used for, among other things, to aid in alignment and the mechanical forces of the mating parts keeps the male mounting component 110 in place. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, retention mechanism 134 may be part of male mounting component 110, part of the female mounting component 126, may be split-between both components 110, 126, and the like. Embodiments of the female mounting component 126 on the user-attached unit 120 may include a button 142 (see FIG. 5) to release the net mount male mounting component 110. The button 142 must be pushed in order to release the net 100, thus preventing the net from falling off accidentally.
FIGS. 4-6 illustrate embodiments of a user-attached unit 120. FIG. 4A is an isometric back-side view of an embodiment of a user-attached unit 120 with retaining strap 130 omitted for clarity. FIG. 4B is an isometric back-side view of an embodiment of a user-attached unit 120 with retaining strap 130 shown. FIG. 4C is a side view of an embodiment of a user-attached unit 120 with retaining strap 130 closed and female mounting component 126 shown as transparent to illustrate interior components. FIG. 4D is back-side view of an embodiment of a user-attached unit 120 with retaining strap 130 shown. Embodiments of user-attached units 120 may have five components: a front cover 122, back plate 124, female mounting device 126, belt clip 128 and retaining strap 130. Embodiments of female mounting component 126 may be formed inside the front cover 122 with a connection hole 132 or the like and a retention device 134 which may be a magnet or the like. The front cover 122 acts like an enclosure to hold male mounting component 110 (see male mounting portion 110 in FIG. 3, for example) securely in place. As noted above male and female operations may be reversed and/or combined in both portions as would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The female mounting portion 126 has a connection hole 132 which receives the male connection component 110 of the net-mounted unit and securely holds the net-mounted unit 108 in place.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-D, embodiments of the back plate 124 fit over the back of the front cover 122, securing the female mounting component 126 within the assembly. As noted, a connection hole 132 in the face of the front cover 122 allows the male mounting portion 110 held by the net mounted unit 108 to be attached. In some embodiments the back plate 124 clips into the front cover 126, securing the assembly 120 together and keeping the female mounting portion 126 in place. Front cover 122 may be secured to the back plate 124 via fasteners 136 which may be bolts, rivets, snaps, screws, adhesive, or the like.
Embodiments of user-mounted unit 120 include a belt clip 128. The belt clip 128 may have an angle built into the clip 128 as shown (e.g., FIG. 4C) which causes the net 100 to hang vertically on the body 104 and keep it from hitting the user's 104 legs or the user's 104 back. The angle in the belt clip 128 ensures that the net holder 106 sits at a slight angle with respect to the user's 104 body so that when the net 100 is attached, it is retained in a vertical orientation. Without the angle in the belt clip 128 the net 100 may angle in toward the user's 104 legs, which is cumbersome.
Embodiments of user-mounted unit 120 may include a retaining strap 130 system, shown here as hook-and-loop fastener such as is sold under the tradename Velcro®, that attaches to the top of the via 138 between the belt clip 128 and the back plate 124. The hook-and-loop fastener then loops down to the slot 140 at the bottom of the back plate 124 and loops back up onto itself as shown (e.g., FIG. 4C). This allows user-mounted unit 120 to be fully secured to a variety of types of attachment points either a wading belt, standard belt, hip pack, backpack straps, belly boat handle or strap, or the like. In one embodiment, the strap 130 may be attached between a metal belt clip 128 and the back plate 124 of the assembly 120. A screw or other fastener may be inserted through a hole in the strap 130 and tightened down to hold the strap 130 in place.
Embodiments of the net-mounted unit 108 align to connect to the user-mounted unit 120 via the interconnection of male mounting component 110 and female mount assembly 126. As noted, a retention device 134 (e.g., magnet) may assist with connection and alignment via magnetic force but, also, a mechanical connection holds it in place. As shown, (e.g., FIG. 3) the male mounting component 110 on the net mounted unit 106 may be round and fully rotate in the female mounting component 126. The full rotation allows the net 100 to rotate out of the way when needed such as when the user 104 sits down, needs to access their pack, contacts an obstacle, or the like.
As shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, in some embodiments, the net holder 106 mounts a net 100 both with the net portion hanging down (see, e.g., FIG. 1) and with it oriented vertically upwards (see, e.g., FIGS. 7A-7B). The net holder 106 is designed to allow users 104 to hold the net 100 in multiple different orientations both hanging (e.g., FIG. 1, net hoop with mesh net toward the ground) and vertical (e.g., FIG. 7A-7B, net hoop with mesh net upwards toward the sky). This allows the user 104 to be able to adjust the method of their holding depending on the style of hold they prefer and the size of net 100 they use. For example, larger nets 100 with long handles are typically easier to carry vertically and shorter nets 100, with short handles, are typically easier to carry hanging downward. The same net holder 106 can be used in both ways with little changing required by the user 104.
FIG. 11A is an illustration of an embodiment of a net-mounted unit 108 configured to enable holding of a net 100 in a preferred orientation. For example, retention ribs 154 may be formed in or otherwise attached to net plate 112. As illustrated in FIG. 11B, retention ribs 154 hook or otherwise engage a portion of the user-mounted unit 120 (e.g., at shoulder 156) to hold net plate 112 (and any attached net 100 (not shown in FIG. 11B) in a preferred orientation. The orientation(s) of the relative parts (112, 120) can be at any angle as determined by the user 104.
FIGS. 5A-5B show another embodiment of user-mounted unit 120 utilizing a button release as disclosed herein. The net holder 106 also has the ability to flip from left to right easily while also maintaining the angle. The female mounting component 126 is the same, top and bottom. It's designed so that the button 142 can either face to the left or to the right. The orientation can be easily adjusted by flipping the belt clip 128 and resecuring it with the provided fasteners 136. Depending on where the user 104 mounts the user-mounted unit 120, the user 104 can orient the button 142 to face either left or right, in reference to the top of the belt clip 128, to ensure the easiest access to the net 100. For example, FIG. 5A shows user-mounted unit 120 with button 142 oriented to the right and FIG. 5B shows the button 142 oriented to the left.
In some embodiments, the net holder 106 allows the net 100 to be mounted on either side of the body of a user 104, depending on which side they want to keep it on. The net holder 106 system accomplishes this in two ways as disclosed herein. First, a single male mounting component 110 is attached to the net 100 near the hoop (see, e.g., FIG. 9 (netting removed for clarity)). On the user-mounted unit 120 belt clip assembly 128 may include an L-shaped bracket 148 that is added to the belt clip assembly 128 on which the handle of the net 100 rests against to keep it in a vertical position (see, e.g., FIGS. 7A-7B).
As shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the second way to mount a net 100 in a particular orientation is the use of a second male mounting component 110 adjacent to the first male component assembly 110. The female mounting component 126 also as an additional connection hole, and with two points of connection the net 100 will be help in place at a desired orientation.
As shown in FIG. 6, embodiments of the user-mounted unit 120 also have the ability to attach a retractor 144 (such as a retractable lanyard or the like) directly to the unit 120. Embodiments of the user-mounted unit 120 are designed in such a way that allows a mechanical retractor 144 to attach to the user-mounted unit 120 and a strap or other connector 146 attaches to the net 100 (not shown in FIG. 6). In some embodiments, the retractor 144 allows the net 100 to be pulled into position and the male mounting component 110 and female mounting components 126 link to each other without requiring the user 104 to manually attach the net-mounted unit 108 to the user-mounted unit 120. Instead, the net mounted unit 108 is drawn into place by the retractor 144 that pulls the two units 108, 120 together by an elastic cord, spool, or other retractor 144 mounted between them.
The net holder 106 of the present disclosure works on any type of pack by leveraging the belt clip 128 and retaining strap 130 (e.g., a Velcro® strap). The net holder 106 also works on any type of net 100, (e.g., round handled, flat handled, or the like). The net-mounted unit 108 has the ability to be mounted with an appropriate securement mechanisms 114 (e.g., adhesive, screws, straps, or the like). The net holder 106 can also be mounted not just to the user's 104 body but also to furniture, walls, boats, vehicles, etc., to help secure, store, and control the net 100.
Embodiments of the male mounting component 110 have been designed to be primarily attached with a securement mechanism 114 that is an adhesive but also allows for it to be attached with screws or straps, depending on the requirements and preferences of the user 104.
As illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13B embodiments may also include grooves 160 and/or slots 162 in the net-mounted unit 108. Among other things, grooves 160 and/or slots 162 allow for zip ties or other straps to help secure net plate 112 to a net 100. In some embodiments net plate 112 may also be contoured or shaped to allow for it to attached to correspondingly contoured or shape (e.g., rounded) net 100 handles. In still further embodiments, net plate 112 may have flexible portions (e.g., wings) that enable mounting to a net 100 or other tool. Furthermore, the disclosed net holder system 106 may be used to connect any number of things, not just nets 100, such as water bottles, koozies, wading staffs, bugle tubes, tripods for shooting competitions, and other outdoor tools/equipment. Likewise, male mounting component 110 could also be incorporated into a net 100 itself or other products so that a separate net plate 112 is not needed.
In some embodiments, nets 100 that have the male mounting component 110 already attached may utilize other female mounting components (e.g., such as a complementary feature in a boat, on a wall, etc.) and/or retention devices (e.g., magnets, ferromagnetic plates, etc.) to mount the net 100 without the user-mounted unit 120. Further, some embodiments of net 100 handles have attachment points designed to accept the male mounting component 110 directly without adhesive 114 or other components. For example, some nets 100 have several holes placed in specific unique places on the net's 100 frame and/or handle to hold the net 100 on the user's 104 body, both for hanging and vertical mounting.
As illustrated in the internal view of FIG. 10A, button 142 may be integrally formed with female mounting component 126 and may have retention structures 150 (e.g., lips, edges, enclosures, etc.) that mate with male mounting component 110, or portions thereof, to secure the net 100 in place. Some embodiments may employ a biasing mechanism 152 (e.g., a spring or the like) to assist in securing the pieces.
Although various embodiments have been shown and described, the present disclosure is not so limited and will be understood to include all such modifications and variations would be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Patent Application
20250151886
