Abstract:
A trap capable of harvesting bait fish in open water or in ponds. In one embodiment a wire mesh cage having capture gates using longitudinal bores and angled rods, each sized to admit desired bait fish but exclude predatory fish. A bait box is provided to hold bait to attract the desired fish. The mesh construction of the cage permits free flow of water currents and visibility of the bait in the bait box. The mesh can also be sized, to provide size selection, by permitting the ready escape of immature and smaller bait fish.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention pertains to traps for capturing bait and, more particularly, to a novel entrance gate for allowing entry of bait fish, such as minnows and killies into, and preventing egress of these fish from the trap. In recent years, in many regions of the world, the bait industry has faced declining harvests. 
     In the past, a great many devices have been proposed for capturing fish and other animals in a trap. Such devices are described in patents found in U.S. Patent Office Class 43 and subclasses 65, 66, 77, 81, 100, 102, 103, and 105. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,867 to Kennedy shows a catfish trap having two successive entry passages that are sized and arranged to capture fish of a predetermined size. U.S. Pat. No. 3,271,894 to Manno shows a “head” or entry passage for a shellfish trap in which the heads  25  are conical in shape with “closely spaced” pointed fingers  32  formed by splitting the conical shell of the head. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,337,982 to Sajulan shows a fish trap having a plurality of fish entry passages  10 , the walls of which are formed by chicken wire that extends into the passages to provide rows of fingers or prongs  17  that the fish must pass through on its way into the trap. Bait box or container  18  is provided in a central region of the traps. 
     While certain novel features of this invention shown and described below are pointed out in the annexed claims, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details specified, since a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. No feature of the invention is critical or essential unless it is expressly stated as being “critical” or “essential.” 
     SUMMARY 
     The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is an apparatus for harvesting bait fish, such as minnows and killies. The present invention relates generally to sporting and fishing equipment and, more specifically, to unattended traps for the capture of bait fish, such as minnows and killies. 
     The invention includes a trap which may be deployed in the open water and/or ponds and has demonstrated the ability to rapidly and selectively capture large quantities of desired bait fish such as minnows and killies while largely eliminating the capture of underdeveloped/undesirably small fish. The trap has been tested in marine environments, and for free swimming minnows or killies, rapidly fills within several hours to maximum capture. The amount of undesirably small fish caught is negligible. The invention also provides a suitable capture mechanism for pond raised bait fish. The ability of the trap to harvest a desired size bait fish, and not damage smaller immature bait fish can be especially valuable in a pond environment. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a trap which will: (1) allow bait fish to easily observe bait, and other fish pursuing the bait inside the trap and/or at least one entrance gate; (2) allow bait fish to enter the trap through the one or more gates with ease; (3) restrict fish within the trap from exiting through the one or more gates; (4) not injure or puncture the flesh of fish entering or attempting to leave the trap; (5) be of durable construction such that damage will not be sustained when the trap is loaded with fish and it is being hauled through and out of the water; and (6) be economical to manufacture and assemble. 
     It is a further object of the invention to disclose an apparatus which will harvest commercial quantities of bait fish without destruction of immature species. 
     It is a further object of the invention to disclose an apparatus that will harvest commercial quantities of bait fish that can be set in lines or used as a portable harvester. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a device allowing bait fish to freely enter the trap, but such fish are restricted by novel means from escaping the trap. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a trap which can be readily emptied of its contents when removed from the water. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a trap which allows bait fish being lured into the trap to see and smell the luring bait, but not let the entrapped fish actually consume the bait. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be seen from the detailed description which follows 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an entrance gate; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the entrance gate of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the entrance gate of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the entrance gate of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two entrance gates of FIG. 1 inside a bait fish trap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed descriptions of one or more preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in any appropriate system, structure or manner. 
     FIGS. 1-4 shows various views of entrance gate  10 . Gate  10  can include a main opening  20 , first section  30 , transition section  40 , end section  50 , first cylindrical section  60  with tip  70 , and second cylindrical section  80  with tip  90 . 
     Main opening  20  is adjacent first section  30 . First section  30  is adjacent transition section  40 . Transition section  40  is adjacent end section  50 . Transition section  40  connects first section  30  and end section  50 . 
     First section  30  can be of rectangular cross section and can be about 4 inches by about 6 inches. End section  50  can also be of rectangular cross section and can be about 1 inch by about 6 inches. The cross section of first section  30  is larger than the cross section of end section  50 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, end section  50  can include first cylindrical section  60  and second cylindrical section  80 . First cylindrical section  60  can include semi-circular cross section  62 . First cylindrical section  60  includes outlet  69  and can include tip  70 . Semi-circular cross section can have a diameter of about 1 inch to about 1.5 inches. 
     Tip  70  can be comprised of a plurality of rods  71 ,  72 ,  73 , and  74  . Rods  71 - 74  can be at angles  71 A- 74 A from a line perpendicular to cross section  62 . The angles  71 A- 74 A do not have to be equal to each other. They can range from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees, more preferably from about 15 degrees to about 35 degrees, and most preferably from about 25 degrees to about 35. 
     Rods  71 - 74  can be of various lengths and are not required to have equal lengths. The lengths can range from about one-quarter to about two times the diameter of semi-circular cross section  62 ; preferably from about one-half to about one and one-half the diameter; more preferably from about two-thirds to about one and one quarter the diameter; and most preferably from about two-thirds to about the diameter. 
     Second cylindrical section  80  can be located on the opposite side of end section  50  as first cylindrical section  60 . As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the construction of second cylindrical section  80  can be similar to that of first cylindrical section  60 . 
     With the trap  5  constructed as described, and when it is placed into the water, bait fish in the vicinity will be attracted by bait in the bait box  110  and will swim about one or more of the gates  10 ,  10 ′ seeking entrance. 
     At any single point in time various bait fish to be lured can be swimming inside or around the gates  10 ,  10 ′. Additional bait fish endeavoring to reach bait box  110  will see these bait fish swimming inside the gates  10 ,  10 ′ and/or interior  7  of cage  6 . This will be a further incentive for luring the additional bait fish to enter gates  10 ,  10 ′. 
     After entering gate  10  and upon reaching one of its two longitudinal passages  60 ,  80 , a particular bait fish will be forced to follow such longitudinal passage through outlet  69 ,  89  and into the interior  7  of the cage  6 . Such a fish can enter the trap  5  past the rods  71 - 74 ,  91 - 94  without interference, even though the fish may touch the rods. Because the rods generally slope toward the direction of travel (FIGS.  1 - 4 ), the entering bait fish does not perceive an obstruction. However, after the bait fish enters interior  7  of cage  6 , it will be prevented from leaving by rods  71 - 74 ,  91 - 94  which contact the fish when trying to leave cage interior  7  through outlets  69 , 89 . 
     It should be understood that the size of the longitudinal bores  60 , 80  and cage openings  8  should be based on size of bait fish to be lured and entrapped. In a preferred embodiment the longitudinal bores  60 , 80  are about 1 inch to about 1.25 inches in diameter and cage openings  8  are about 0.5 inches by about 1 inch. Selectively sizing cage openings  8  allow underdeveloped and smaller bait fish to escape and minimizes the laborious task of separating such unacceptable trash fish when trap  5  is unloaded. 
     Trap  5  can be unloaded merely by raising it to the water surface using pull cord  140  and then opening door  130  over a storage container wherein the entrapped bait fish are discharged. If necessary, bait box  110  is refilled by opening door  120  before trap  5  is again placed in the water for the next catch. 
     Conventionally available plastic coated wire mesh can be used for trap  5  and gate  10 , 10 ′ construction. Such plastic coating resists corrosion. The preferred size of the mesh is about 0.5 inches to about 1 inch. Alternatively, trap  5  and one or more gates  10 , 10 ′ can be constructed in whole or part by injection molded plastic, metal, wood or other suitable materials. 
     Placing one or more gates  10 , 10 ′ closer to the top of trap  5  improves its effectiveness when resting on the bottom of the water. When placed on the bottom trap  5  will sink somewhat in the soil/mud, but the lower portions of the one or more gates  10 , 10 ′ will not sink below the bottom soil/mud. Accordingly, the bait fish to be lured will not see a partially obstructed gate entrance  20 , 20 ′. 
     One embodiment shown includes a bait trap  5  comprising: (a) a cage frame  6  having an interior portion  7 , (b) a door  130  attached to the cage frame  6  and providing access to the interior portion  7 , and (c) a first gate  10  attached to the cage  6  comprising, (i),an inlet section  20 , (ii) an end section  50  connected to the inlet section  20  and allowing communication between the inlet section  20  and the end section  50 , the end section  50  having first and second transverse sides  61 ,  81 , (iii) a first longitudinal section  60  connected to the first transverse side  61  of the end section  50  and having a longitudinal bore  65 , the longitudinal bore  65  having an opening  63  along at least part of its length allowing communication between the first longitudinal section  60  and the end section  50 , the first longitudinal section  60  further including an outlet  69  allowing communication between the first longitudinal section  60  and the interior portion  7 , the outlet  69  comprising a tip  90 , and (iv) a second longitudinal section  80  connected to the second transverse side  81  of the end section  50  and having a longitudinal bore  85 , the longitudinal bore  85  having an opening  83  along at least part of its length allowing communication between the second longitudinal section  80  and the end section  50 , the second longitudinal section  80  further including an outlet  89  allowing communication between the second longitudinal section  80  and the interior portion  7 , the outlet  89  comprising a tip  90 . 
     The following is a list of reference numerals: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST FOR REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
             
          
           
               
                 (Reference No.) 
                 (Description) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 5 
                 trap 
               
               
                 6 
                 cage 
               
               
                 7 
                 interior of cage 
               
               
                 8 
                 foraminous openings 
               
               
                 10 
                 gate 
               
               
                 20 
                 main opening 
               
               
                 30 
                 first section 
               
               
                 40 
                 transition section 
               
               
                 50 
                 end section 
               
               
                 60 
                 first cylindrical section 
               
               
                 62 
                 semicircular cross section 
               
               
                 64 
                 angle 
               
               
                 69 
                 outlet 
               
               
                 70 
                 tip 
               
               
                 71 
                 rod 
               
               
                 72 
                 rod 
               
               
                 73 
                 rod 
               
               
                 74 
                 rod 
               
               
                 80 
                 second cylindrical section 
               
               
                 82 
                 semicircular cross section 
               
               
                 84 
                 angle 
               
               
                 89 
                 outlet 
               
               
                 90 
                 tip 
               
               
                 91 
                 rod 
               
               
                 92 
                 rod 
               
               
                 93 
                 rod 
               
               
                 94 
                 rod 
               
               
                 100 
                 wall of end section 
               
               
                 110 
                 bait box 
               
               
                 120 
                 door for bait box 
               
               
                 130 
                 door for trap 
               
               
                 140 
                 pull cord 
               
               
                 150 
                 float 
               
               
                 160 
                 connection point for pull cord 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature; ad pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more se together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type of described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.