Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02177533 2006-03-30
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10 Title: FISH LANDING NET WITH TELESCOPING HANDLE
Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fishing and,
more particularly, to fish landing nets.
Background of the Invention
Fishing is an activity having both commercial and
sporting purposes. It is highly popular as an outdoor
sport, largely because of the solitude (or companionship)
and opportunity to enjoy natural scenic beauty which
often attends such sport. Of course, the successful
angler can look forward to a tasty meal.
And the sport has its economic aspects. Persons who
enjoy fishing spend millions of dollars on fishing
equipment. In some aspects of game fishing, e.g., lake
fishing involving trolling or casting, participants go
forth in boats laden with fishing gear of many types.
Such gear may include heavy tackle boxes containing the
latest lures, live bait containers, multiple fishing
poles and, of course, a landing net. Persons who outfit
themselves in this way and who engage in this type of
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game fishing find such activity practical only with a
boat - there is no other good way to transport and use
the gear.
While anglers often journey to a fishing site by
motor vehicle, it is not uncommon to fly to a site near
the body of water to be fished. And, of course, such air
travellers know that it is desirable to minimize the
weight and space needed for the fishing gear.
One of the potentially bulkiest but necessary items
of equipment used by anglers is a landing net. In an
effort to address the need for a compact yet effective
net, folding landing nets have been made available. Such
nets have varying degrees of complexity and ease of use.
Folding landing nets are sold by Cabela's of Sidney,
Nebraska, by The Global Flyfisher of Northbrook,
Illinois, and by many others.
In the patent literature, examples of fish landing
nets are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,515,685 (Ash);
317,820 (McClintock); 4,870,773 (Schmucker et al.);
1,430,221 (Dukas) and 4,492,025 (Davis). The nets shown
in such literature employ parts detachable from one
another so that the net can be folded or, at least,
"shape-modified" in some way.
The net shown in the Schmucker et al. patent has
flexible, curved arm-like members which telescope into
rigid housing cylinders when the net is collapsed. The
net has two spring-biased caps preventing the outer ends
of the members from scissoring when the net is in use.
Such caps must be manually, simultaneously pushed back
(as the patent describes it) to permit such outer ends to
come into registry during net setup. The caps are then
released to hold such ends in that position.
While earlier landing nets have been generally
satisfactory, many are characterized by certain
disadvantages. One involves the fact that when folded
for carrying, the user must contend with and keep track
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of several loose parts. The device shown in the Ash
patent is a good example.
Loose parts are (or should be) anathema to anglers.
This is so since anglers often unfold their nets directly
over water or very near water. Assuming the angler is
successful in getting all of the loose parts to the
fishing site, inadvertent dropping and loss of a part may
prevent effective landing of fish.
Yet another disadvantage of certain known folding
landing nets is their complexity in construction, in use
or both. The net shown in the Schmucker et al. patent is
an example in its use of a relatively large number of
parts, some telescoping, and the need for a degree of
manual dexterity when setting up the net for use.
And not all known landing nets of the collapsible
type have any sort of device for preventing collapse when
the net is in use. The net shown in U.S. Patent No.
4,138,790 (Schmucker) is an example. And while the net
of the above-mentioned Schmucker et al. patent has a
button extending into an opening for holding the handle
in position during net use, such button does not have a
positive-lock "ledge-like" face. A locking device is
highly desirable, at least because the distal end of the
net is often "jammed" into the water surface when landing
a fish. The resulting force could collapse a net with an
unsecured telescoping handle such as that of the noted
Schmucker patent.
To the delight of anglers, especially those fly
fishing in streams for trout, an imaginative new folding
landing net fish~is now available and is the subject of
U.S. Patent No. 5,339,556 (Boehm).
Objects of the Invention
It is an object of the invention to provide an
improved fish landing net overcoming some of the problems
and shortcomings of prior art landing nets.
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Another object of the invention is to provide an
improved fish landing net wherein all of the parts are
(or may be) attached together when the net is folded for
transport as well as when the net is in use.
Another object of the invention is to provide an
improved fish landing net which reduces the number of
parts required.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an
improved fish landing net which requires very little
manual dexterity to set the net up for use or fold it for
travel.
Another object of the invention is to provide an
improved fish landing net which incorporates a positive-
locking feature. How these and other objects are
accomplished will become more apparent from the following
detailed description and the drawing.
Summary of the Invention
The inventor of the invention of U.S. Patent No.
5,339,556 is also the inventor of the fish landing net
disclosed in this specification. This specification
describes another approach for providing a landing net
which is sufficiently robust to land large game fish such
as Northern pike or lake trout and yet collapses and
folds to a relatively small size.
The invention is a fish landing net of the type
including a distal portion away from and a proximal
portion nearer the angler when the net is in use. The
net has a pair of frame members joined at the distal
portion by a flexible connector for ease in folding. A
handle is at the proximal portion.
The handle moves "telescope-like" along an axis
extending toward the proximal and distal portions. The
handle is telescoped inward toward the distal portion to
fold the net and telescoped away from the distal portion
to erect the net for use.
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More specifically, the proximal portion includes
first and second lock pieces, each of which substantially
circumscribes the axis along which the handle moves.
Such lock pieces support the handle for telescoping
movement.
Each lock piece has at least one surface deformation
(and preferably has first and second deformations) which
in one specific embodiment are first and second axial
grooves along the interiors of such pieces. The handle
has a third surface deformation, e.g., a ridge or a pair
of ridges, extending axially along such handle and when
the net is erected for use, the third surface deformation
engages the first and second surface deformations. Such
engagement "locks up" the net by substantially preventing
relative rotating movement of the handle and the lock
pieces with respect to one another.
In another aspect of the invention, the handle has
an outward end away from the net distal portion. Such
outward end includes a release portion free of the third
surface deformation. In the absence of such deformation
(and when the lock pieces and the release portion are
coincident with one another), the lock pieces and the
handle can be relatively pivoted about the axis. The
release portion is preferably at the handle outward end
so that when the net is folded, the handle does not
obstructively "stick out" away from the net frame. Space
is thereby saved.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the first
lock piece includes a stop member and the second lock
piece includes a stop surface in contact with the stop
member when the net is erected for use. In a highly
preferred embodiment, each lock piece has a stop member
and a stop surface. When the net is unfolded ready for
use, the stop member of the first lock piece contacts the
stop surface of the second lock piece. Similarly, the
stop member of the second lock piece contacts the stop
surface of the first lock piece.
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And there are yet additional new features. The lock
pieces are configured so that they are relatively axially
immovable one with respect to the other. To that end, at
least one lock piece has a circumferentially-extending
land engaging a groove in the other lock piece. Most
preferably, each lock piece redundantly has such a land
and groove.
In a preferred embodiment, the handle and the lock
pieces retentively engage one another so that whether
folded for storage or travel or unfolded for use, the
handle does not separate from the other components of the
net and, particularly, from the lock pieces. To that
end, the handle has a disc-like shoulder at its inward
end for engaging the proximal portion of the net, i.e.,
one of the two lock pieces, thereby preventing the handle
from separating from such proximal portion while the net
is in use.
And, most preferably, there is a second shoulder at
the outward end which engages such proximal portion when
the handle is telescoped inward and the net is folded or
ready to be folded. Such second shoulder prevents the
handle from separating from such proximal portion when
the net is folded. For ease of assembly, it is preferred
that one of the shoulders, e.g., that at the outward end
of the handle, be removable to permit the handle to be
telescopically assembled to and disassembled from the
lock pieces.
A preferred embodiment of the new landing net also
includes another highly-desirable feature. There is a
locking member between the handle distal and proximal
ends to prevent movement of the handle along the long
handle axis when the net is erected for use. In a more
specific embodiment, the locking member engages one of
the locking pieces described above.
The locking~member can be configured in any of
several different embodiments. In a highly preferred
embodiment (appropriate when the handle is made of or at
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least includes a plastic material having shape memory), a
notch is cut along the handle to form the locking member
which, therefore, also includes the plastic material. To
put it in other words, the handle plastic material is the
"parent" material and the locking member is formed by
cutting such parent material.
When so formed, the parent material of the handle
and the material of the locking member is continuous.
That is, there is no discontinuity or joint between such
member and the handle.
However, that is not the only way that a locking
member can be provided. As another example, the locking
member includes a spring-biased button that has a
positive-lock face. Such button "pops up" when the
handle is moved to its fully-extended position.
Further details of the invention are set forth in
the following detailed description and in the drawing.
Brief Description of the Drawincts
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the
inventive net shown with the handle telescoped inward as
when the net is being folded or unfolded.
FIGURE 2 is, generally, a side elevation view of the
net of FIGURE 1 taken along the viewing plane 2-2
thereof. The handle is telescoped outward as when the
net is erected for use. Parts are broken away and the
netting is omitted.
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the distal
portion of the net showing how the frame members are
flitted with a flexible connector.
FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of components of a
second embodiment of the new net. Parts are broken away
and other parts are omitted.
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of one of the ring-like
lock pieces shown in FIGURE 4.
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FIGURE 6 is a side view of the lock piece shown in
FIGURE 5 taken generally along the viewing plane 6-6
thereof.
FIGURE 7 is an end view of the lock piece shown in
FIGURE 5 taken generally along the viewing plane 7-7
thereof.
FIGURE 8 is a representative view showing how a
square handle and lock pieces having conformably-shaped
square openings may be used to make the net of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 9 is a representative view showing how a
hexagon handle and lock pieces having conformably-shaped
hexagon openings may be used to make the net of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 10 is a representative view showing how an
oval handle and lock pieces having conformably-shaped
oval openings may be used to make the net of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 11 is a representative view showing how a
splined handle and lock pieces having conformably-shaped
splined openings may be used to make the net of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the outward end
of the handle showing a retained disassembly disc.
FIGURE 13 is a top elevation view of a portion of
the new net showing one embodiment of a locking member.
FIGURE 14 is a side elevation view of a portion of
the new net taken along the viewing axis VA14 of FIGURE
13.
FIGURE 15 is a side elevation view of a portion of
the new net showing another embodiment of a locking
member.
Detailed Description of PreferredEmbodiments
A general overview description of the new net 10
will be provided and this is followed by a detailed
description of the various components used in the net 10.
Referring first to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the new fish
landing net 10 has a distal portion 11 away from and a
proximal portion 13 nearer the angler when the net 10 is
in use. A pair of rigid, tube-like frame members 15, 17
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are threaded through the mesh netting 19 and such members
15, 17 are joined at the distal portion by a flexible
connector 21 for ease in folding. The connector 21 is
preferably an elastomer with "shape memory." That is, in
the absence of outside forces, e.g., a force folding the
net 10 for storage, the connector 21 is straight. A
jacket 23 overcovering the connector 21 or used in lieu
of the connector 21 may optionally be used.
Referring also to FIGURE 4, each proximal end 25, 27
of each frame member 15, 17, respectively, is fitted to a
stud 29 projecting from each of the first and second lock
pieces 31 and 33, respectively. Each proximal end 25, 27
is substantially permanently attached to a respective
lock piece 31, 33. As will be seen, detachment of a
proximal end from its stud is not necessary when folding
the net 10. It is to be noted from an inspection of
FIGURES 6 and 7 that in a highly preferred embodiment,
the centerline 35 of a stud 29 is angular to and offset
from the centerline 37 of a respective lock piece. Such
offset is by a dimension D about equal to one-half the
maximum cross-sectional dimension (the diameter if tubing
is used) of the frame member 15 or 17.
A handle 39 is at the proximal portion 13 and such
handle 39 moves "telescope-like" along an axis 41
extending toward~the distal and proximal portions il, 13.
The handle 39, preferably hollow, is telescoped inward
toward the distal portion 11 to fold the net 10 and
telescoped away from the distal portion 11 to erect the
net 10 for use.
The proximal portion 13 includes first and second
lock pieces 31, 33, respectively, through which the
handle 39 slides. In a highly preferred embodiment, each
lock piece 31, 33 circumscribes the axis 41 along which
the handle 39 moves and support the handle 39 for
telescoping movement. In general terms, the lock pieces
31, 33 each have a surface deformation 43 (or first and
second deformations 43), e.g., one or two grooves 43a.
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When the net 10 is assembled for use, the grooves) 43a
of one lock piece, e.g., the grooves 43a of piece 31, are
aligned with the corresponding grooves, e.g., the grooves
43a of the other piece 33 when the net 10 is unfolded and
the frame members 15, 17 are generally coincident with
the same plane 45.
The handle 39 has a third (and possibly fourth)
surface deformation 47, e.g., one or, preferably, two
ridges 47a, along most of its length. When the net 10 is
unfolded and the grooves 43a aligned (as described
above), the handle ridges 47a engage the corresponding
grooves 43a in both lock pieces 31, 33 and prevent such
pieces 31, 33 from rotating with respect to one another
and with respect to the handle 39.
The outward end 49 of the handle 39 has a
substantially cylindrical release portion 51 which is
free of ridges 47a or other surface deformation 47 used
to lock the pieces 31, 33 as described. When the handle
39 is pushed inward toward the net distal portion 11, the
release portion 51 becomes aligned with that lock piece
31 or 33 nearest the grip member 53. (In the embodiment
of FIGURE 4, the release portion 51 would be aligned with
lock piece 33. In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, the
release portion would be aligned with lock piece 31a.)
Such lock piece 31 or 33 is thereby no longer
prevented by the handle ridges 47a from rotating with
respect to the handle 39. For net folding (and
considering the embodiment of FIGURE 4), the lock piece
33 and the attached frame member 25 may be rotated with
respect to the handle 39 and the lock piece 31. To put
it another way, in such embodiment, the lock piece 31 and
the handle 39 are non-rotatable with respect to one
another since the grooves 43a of piece 31 are always
engaged with the ridges 47a of the handle 39. However,
the handle 39 can slide in the lock piece 31. (The
release portion 10 is preferably at the handle outward
end 49 so that when the net 10 is folded, the handle 39
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does not obstructively "stick out" away from the net
frame members 15, 17. Space is thereby saved when the
net 10 is folded.)
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of
FIGURES 1 and 2 includes lock pieces 31a, 33a configured
so that the ring portion 55 of lock piece 31a is nearer
the grip member 53 than is the ring portion 57 of lock
piece 33a. Thus, ring portion 55 turns with respect to
the handle 39 but portion 57 does not. On the other
hand, in the embodiment of FIGURE 4, lock pieces 31, 33
are configured so that the ring portion 57 of lock piece
33 is nearer the grip member 53 than is the ring portion
55 of lock piece 31. Thus, ring portion 57 turns with
respect to the handle 39 but portion 55 does not. The
net 10 can be made either way.
It is also to be appreciated that the "groove-and-
ridge" arrangement shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 is but one
possible embodiment. Rather than having ridges 47a, the
handle 39 may have any one of several "key-like" cross-
sectional shapes, i.e., shapes that function like a shaft
key in preventing relative rotation of two parts. For
example, square, hexagon, oval or splined as shown in
FIGURES 8, 9, 10 and 11, respectively, are but a few
examples of handle cross-sectional shapes that could be
used. This is so since any of such shapes, when used
with lock pieces having conformably-shaped openings 59,
prevent relative rotating movement of the handle 39 and
the lock pieces 31, 33 with respect to one another.
(When considering the foregoing, it is to be appreciated
that whatever cross-sectional shape is used, the release
portion 51 of the handle 39 is preferably circular in
cross-section.)
Referring again to FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7, the first
lock piece 31 includes a stop member 61 and the second
lock piece 33 includes a stop surface 63 in contact with
the stop member 61 when the net 10 is erected for use.
In a highly preferred embodiment, each lock piece 31, 33
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has a stop member 61 and a stop surface 63. When the net
is unfolded ready for use, the stop member 61 of the
first lock piece 31 contacts the stop surface 63 of the
second lock piece 33. Similarly, the stop member 61 of
5 the second lock piece 33 contacts the stop surface 63 of
the first lock piece 31. The stop members 61 and
surfaces 63 are arranged in a way that when such stop
surfaces 63 contact their respective stop members 61, the
grooves 43a or other surface deformations 43 in the lock
10 pieces 31, 33 are aligned with one another so that the
handle can slide in such lock pieces 31, 33 for net
folding or setup.
And there are yet additional new features. The lock
pieces 31, 33 are configured so that they are relatively
axially immovable one with respect to the other. To that
end, at least one lock piece e.g., piece 31, has a
circumferentially-extending land 65 engaging a notch 67
in the other lock piece 33. Most preferably, each lock
piece 31, 33 has such a land 65 and notch 67.
In a preferred embodiment, the handle 39 and the
lock pieces 31, 33 retentively engage one another so that
whether folded for storage or travel or unfolded for use,
the handle 39 does not separate from the other components
of the net 10 and, particularly, from the lock pieces 31,
33. To that end, the handle 39 has a disc-like shoulder
69 at its inward end for engaging the proximal portion 13
of the net, i.e., one of the two lock pieces 31, 33,
thereby preventing the handle 39 from separating from
such proximal portion 13 while the net 10 is in use.
And, most preferably, there is a second shoulder 71
at the outward end which engages such proximal portion 13
when the handle 39 is telescoped inward and the net 10 is
folded or ready to be folded. Such second shoulder 71
prevents the handle 39 from separating from such proximal
portion 13 when the net 10 is folded.
Referring next to FIGURE 12, for ease of assembly
and disassembly (if needed to replace a part, for
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example), it is preferred that the handle 39 and the lock
pieces 31, 33 be separable from one another. To permit
such separation, that end of the handle 39 which receives
the grip member 53 includes an axially protruding tongue
73 which extends through a slot 75 in the disassembly
disc 77. The tongue has a hole 79 for receiving a
holding pin 81 (much like a cotter key) to hold the disc
77 on the handle 39.
Referring next to FIGURES 13 and 14, another
embodiment of the net 10 includes a locking member 85
between the handle distal and proximal ends and 87, 89,
respectively, to prevent movement of the handle 39 along
the long handle axis 41 toward the net distal portion 11
when the net 10 is erected for use. In a more specific
embodiment, the locking member 85 engages one of the
locking pieces 31 or 33 described above and prevents the
handle 39 from collapsing toward such net distal portion
11.
The distance D1 between the shoulder 69 and the
ledge-like abutment face 91 of the member 85 is only
slightly greater than the distance D2 between the
shoulder 69 and that locking piece 31 or 33 which is
adjacent to the member 85. In that way, the handle 39
must be substantially fully extended before the member 85
pops outwardly to engage the locking piece 31 or 33 and
very little handle movement is permitted subsequent to
erecting the net 10 for use.
The locking member 85 can take any of several
different embodiments. In a highly preferred embodiment
(appropriate when the handle 39 is made of or at least
includes a plastic material having shape memory), a
generally U-shaped separating notch 93 is cut along the
parent material 95 of the handle 39 to form the locking
member 85. In that way, both the handle 39 and the
locking member 85 include such material 95. The locking
member 85 naturally biases itself outward to a lock
position as shown in FIGURE 14 where its abutment face 91
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contacts or can contact one of the locking pieces 31, 33.
The member 85 must be manually depressed to "clear" the
locking pieces 31, 33 and refold the net 10.
When so formed, the parent material 95 of the handle
and the material of the locking member 85 is a continuum
97. That is, there is no discontinuity or joint between
such member 85 and the handle 39. A highly preferred
plastic material for making the handle 39 and locking
member 85 is chlorinated vinyl chloride (CVC).
Referring next to FIGURE 15, another embodiment of
the locking member 85 includes a spring-biased button 85a
that has a positive-lock abutment face 91. Such button
85a "pops out" when the handle 39 is moved to its fully-
extended position.
In either embodiment, it is preferred that the
locking member 85 include a gradually sloping camming
surface 99. As the handle 39 is withdrawn to the "use"
position, i.e., away from the net distal portion 11, such
surface 99 contacts the locking pieces 31, 33 and
automatically cams the locking member 85 toward the
handle 39 for full handle withdrawal.
After the locking member 85 "clears" the locking
pieces 31, 33, such member 85 moves radially outward away
from the handle axis 41. Such outward movement of the
member 85 prevents subsequent handle movement toward the
net distal portion 11 until the member 85 is manually
depressed.
It is also preferred that the locking member
abutment face 91 be generally normal to the handle axis
41, i.e., generally parallel to a plane 101 perpendicular
to such axis 41. In that way, there is no tendency of a
locking piece 31; 33 to cam the member 85 inward as is
the case with a rounded button or the like.
While the principles of the invention have been
described in connection with a few specific embodiments,
it is to be understood clearly that such embodiments are
by way of example and are not limiting.