Patent ID: 6943304
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: G01G

Abstract:
1. For an electronic fish scale including a molded housing defining an interior volume and having upper and lower portions and adapted in exterior concaved side surface contour for supported hand grasping; an electronically controlled weight-sensing member mounted within said interior volume; a digital output screen extending over a portion of one said exterior side surface and electronically connected to said weight-sensing member; a fish-engaging assembly connected to and extending from said weight-sensing member through an aperture formed in said lower portion, said fish engaging member including a pair of opposed jaws each having a generally C-shape, a distal end of each of said jaws touching one another when said jaws are closed in an at-rest position; said fish-engaging assembly also including a longitudinal moveable jaw actuator which enables a user to engage and move said jaw actuator longitudinally by use of the finger or thumb, said jaw actuator spring biased downwardly when at rest to close said jaws into the at-rest position, said jaws being opened when said jaw actuator is manually moved upwardly into said housing; a lower lip of a fish positioned between opened said distal ends being securely held when said jaw actuator is released to close said jaws, whereupon a digital display of the weight of the fish is produced on said output screen when said fish scale is held to fully support the fish within said jaws, jaw tip covers comprising: a molded in place said jaw tip cover formed of resilient plastic and covering the distal portion of each of said jaws whereby fish lip gripability is increased while likelihood of harm to a fish being weighed is substantially reduced.