Patent ID: 6983559
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
1. A gripper particularly adapted to hold a fish upright while a hook is being extracted from the fish's digestive system, said gripper comprising: a first member having an outer handle portion connecting with an upper jaw portion with said upper jaw portion having an open space defined in part by spaced apart sidewalls having abrasive bottom edges, a second member having an inner handle portion connecting with a lower jaw portion with said lower jaw portion pivotally carried in said upper jaw portion open space, and a swivel element pivotally carried by said lower jaw portion, said swivel element formed with a top wall having an abrasive top surface and a bottom surface prepared to mate with said lower jaw portion, said upper jaw portion sidewalls being divided respectively into lower leg segments and offset upper leg segments with said upper leg segments having radiused outer ends and top edges connected by a top wall, and said upper jaw abrasive bottom edges including sets of tooth serrations with a first outermost tooth serration being inwardly offset from an outer bottom edge of said upper jaw portion top wall, and said lower jaw portion positioned next to a lower jaw of said fish and then said handle portions squeezed together so that said upper jaw portion abrasive bottom edges and said swivel element abrasive top surface engage said fish's lower jaw in a manner that minimizes injury to said fish and wherein upon said swivel element being rotated fully counterclockwise, a front edge of said swivel element remains free from forming an interference fit with said upper jaw tooth serrations upon contact between said swivel element front edge and said sidewall bottom edges of said upper jaw portion.