Device for timed release of bait

A device for timed release of a bait. The device comprises an enclosure with a release portion of the enclosure being movable between a closed position for enclosing the bait therein and an open position for exposing the bait. An actuating mechanism is connected to the enclosure for moving the release portion of the enclosure from the closed position to the open position. A timing mechanism is connected to at least one of the enclosure and the actuating mechanism. The timing mechanism triggers the movement of the release portion of the enclosure from the closed position to the open position after elapse of a predetermined time interval.

This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,737,320, filed on Apr. 14, 2011, entitled DEVICE FOR TIMED RELEASE OF BAIT, by inventors Vincent Joseph Stuart and Matthew Ivan D'Entremont, in the name of Clare Machine Works Ltd., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of traps for trapping marine animals, and more particularly to a device for timed release of bait.

BACKGROUND

In order to catch marine animals and in particular crustacean such as, for example, lobsters and crabs, a trap is employed which is placed on the ocean floor and which contains a bait to entice the crustacean into the trap. The bait is usually in the form of a piece of fish openly placed inside a chamber that is accessible through one or more designated gates which enable the crustacean to enter the chamber but substantially prevent them from leaving the same. The traps are left on the ocean floor for an extended period of time—typically several days—to attract a sufficient number of crustaceans.

Unfortunately, ocean currents wash the bait, and attacks of sand fleas, sline eels, the crustacean as well as other marine animals such as fish make it difficult retaining the bait for an extended period of time while at the same time making it sufficiently accessible and exposed to attract the crustaceans.

Consequently, the traps need to be checked and re-baited in regular time intervals resulting in additional work and time spent at sea for the fishermen, with corresponding risks to the welfare of the fishermen and equipment, as well as in additional cost for fuel with corresponding increase in pollutants and emissions associated with the burning of fuel during the rebaiting process.

It is desirable to provide a device that reduces the frequency of re-baiting the trap and extends the fishing time of the trap.

It is also desirable to provide a device that retains the bait in a protecting enclosure for a predetermined period of time.

It is also desirable to provide a device that releases or exposes the bait after the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a device that reduces the frequency of re-baiting the traps and extends the fishing time of the trap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that retains the bait in a protecting enclosure for a predetermined period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that releases or exposes the bait after the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for timed release or exposure of a bait. The device comprises an enclosure with a release portion of the enclosure being movable between a closed position for enclosing the bait therein and an open position for exposing the bait. An actuating mechanism is connected to the enclosure for moving the release portion of the enclosure from the closed position to the open position. A timing mechanism is connected to at least one of the enclosure and the actuating mechanism. The timing mechanism triggers the movement of the release portion of the enclosure from the closed position to the open position after elapse of a predetermined time interval.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a timing element. The timing element comprises a timing element body made of a water soluble material. The timing element body has a predetermined size and shape such that in operation a predetermined portion of the timing element body is accommodated in a respective holding structure disposed in a first device element and such that a predetermined surface portion of the timing element is in contact with a respective surface portion of a second device element for preventing relative movement between the first device element and the second device element. The size and shape of the timing element body is determined such that the timing element body withstands a predetermined force acting thereupon for a predetermined time interval when immersed in water.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a method for timing release of a bait. An enclosure is provided with a release portion of the enclosure being movable between a closed position for enclosing the bait therein and an open position for releasing the bait. An actuating mechanism connected to the enclosure is provided for moving the release portion of the enclosure from the closed position to the open position. The bait is placed inside the enclosure and the release portion of the enclosure is moved to the closed position. A timing element made of a water soluble material is placed in a predetermined location such that the timing element abuts the release portion of the enclosure in the closed position. The timing element triggers the movement of the release portion of the enclosure from the closed position to the open position after elapse of a predetermined time interval.

One advantage of the present invention is that reduces the frequency of re-baiting the trap and extends the fishing time of the trap.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a device that retains the bait in a protecting enclosure for a predetermined period of time.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a device that releases the bait after the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While embodiments of the invention will be described for use with lobster traps, it will become evident to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto, but are applicable for use with traps for trapping various species of marine and fresh water animals.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 9b, a device100for timed release of a bait according to one embodiment of the invention is provided. The device100comprises a base102and a cover104forming an enclosure for retaining the bait10therein in a substantially protected fashion when in a closed position, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. For providing movement between the cover104and the base102for opening the enclosure and releasing the bait10an actuating mechanism is provided. The actuating mechanism may comprise a buoyancy element114disposed in the upper portion of the cover104. When released the buoyancy element114provides a force acting on the cover104, thus moving the same upward in a substantially vertical direction for moving the enclosure into an open position, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4.

Guiding element108interacting with a respective guiding channel112disposed in the upper portion of the cover104enables guided relative movement between the cover104and the base102along a substantially vertical direction. The guiding element108can be removable mounted to the base using a quick fastening mechanism comprising, for example, an interacting element118—having the form of, for example, an ace of spades—disposed at the tip of the guiding element108interacting with a spring clip120disposed in cavity122which is, in one case, placed in proximity to the center of the base102. To facilitate insertion of the guiding element108into the spring clip120, the cavity122is provided with sloped walls for directing the interacting element118of the guiding element108towards the spring clip120. The base102further comprises surface130for placing the bait thereupon and ridge124for abutting a bottom portion of the cover104in the closed position, as illustrated inFIG. 5.

Timing element106triggers the movement of the cover104from the closed position to the open position after elapse of a predetermined time interval. The timing element106can be made of a water soluble material as will be described in more detail herein below. A predetermined portion of the timing element106is accommodated in aperture110of the guiding element108such that the timing element abuts upper surface116of the cover104in the closed position. The timing element106can be disposed in a protective housing128—comprising, for example, a U-shaped wall structure forming part of the cover104—to protect the timing element106from ocean currents and attacks by marine animals. After the timing element106is substantially dissolved—after elapse of the predetermined time interval—the upwardly directed force provided by the buoyancy element114moves the cover104from the closed position to the open position until the cover104is abutted through interaction of an upper surface portion of the protective housing128with handle126of the guiding element108, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4.

Prior deployment, the bait10is placed onto the surface130of the base120. The guiding element108is inserted into the guiding channel112of the cover104and then pushed through the bait10and inserted into the spring clip120. The cover104is then moved into the closed position, and the timing element106is inserted into the protective housing128and a portion thereof through the aperture110of the guiding element108, as illustrated by the block arrow inFIG. 2. In one case the protective housing128comprises a plurality of cut-outs160for securing the timing element106using elastic band138until the device100is submerged in water, as illustrated inFIG. 7a. When submerged in water, buoyancy acting on the cover104abuts the timing element106against the aperture110of the guiding element108, thus securing the timing element106. The cut-outs160are placed such that securing of timing elements106having different predetermined lengths L is enabled by using the elastic band138and different combinations of the cut-outs160. Optionally, protrusions136are provided for placing the elastic band138there around, as illustrated inFIG. 7b, to secure the timing element106having, for example, the length of the housing128. For example, end portions162of the housing128are widened for accommodating the protrusions136in the form of screws therein.

The guiding element108further may comprise stabilizer forks132and optionally may have bait barbs134for securing the bait when the enclosure is in the open position, as illustrated inFIG. 6.

Further, the ridge124and the respective bottom portion of the cover104as well as the guiding member108and the respective guiding channel112may be designed such that in the closed position a seal is provided to the extend that small marine animals such as, for example, fleas are prevented from entering the enclosure while fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the enclosure is enabled to ensure pressure equalization when the device100is immersed in water.

The base102and the cover104each are made of, for example, a suitable plastic material such as a UV resistant plastic type material and are manufactured, for example, as single units using a standard plastic molding process. The spring clip is mounted to the base102using a standard screw mechanism or is incorporated into the base102during the plastic molding process. The guiding element108is made of a suitable metal such as, for example, stainless steel or, alternatively, of a suitable plastic material such as a UV resistant plastic. The buoyancy element114is made of, for example, a suitable closed cell syntactic foam.

Alternatively, the buoyancy element is replaced using, for example, a spring mechanism for actuating the cover. Further alternatively, the cover is pivotally movable mounted to the base with the timing element abutting a surface portion of the cover opposite to the pivot.

Alternatively, the timing mechanism comprises an electrical timer such as, for example, a digital counter or a mechanical timer such as, for example, a wind-up timing device.

The water soluble timing element106can be used to provide a simple, passive and reliable timing mechanism. Referring toFIGS. 8 to 9b, the timing element106according to one embodiment of the invention is provided. The timing element106comprises an elongated body having a triangular—such as an isosceles triangular—cross section of a predetermined length L, width W and height H made of a water soluble material. Alternatively, the timing element106comprises bodies having, for example, different cross-sections such as, for example, a circular cross-section or a rectangular cross-section and different ratios of length L to Width W and to Height H. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fuse is provided that has a four-sided cross-section as illustrated inFIG. 9c, the fuse having parallel upper and lower surfaces, and angled sides, the fuse being otherwise identical to the fuse with the isosceles triangle configuration as described above, with a top portion143removed to provide a fuse with reduced Height H. In this manner, a fuse is provided with a shortened duration, as the fuse will dissolve more quickly when compared to the isosceles triangle configuration as described above. It is understood that a variety of fuses of different thicknesses or height could be provided, to provide various different fuse durations as needed. As illustrated inFIG. 8, in operation a predetermined portion107of the timing element body106is accommodated in a respective holding structure—aperture110—disposed in the guiding element108. A predetermined surface portion140of the timing element106is in contact with a respective portion of the surface116of the cover104. The timing element106prevents relative movement between the guiding element108and the cover104. The buoyancy of buoyancy element114causes predetermined force F to act on the predetermined surface portion140of the timing element106, as indicated by the block arrows inFIG. 8. The timing element106being abutted in the aperture110experiences a reactive force acting on the surface142of the portion107disposed in the aperture110. As a result, the timing element106is experiencing shearing stresses between the portions106A,106B and the portion107, respectively. The size, shape and material of the timing element106are determined such that the timing element body withstands the predetermined force F acting thereupon for a predetermined time interval when immersed in water. When immersed in water the timing element body106dissolves gradually until the remaining portion is unable to withstand the predetermined force F.

As is evident, there are various possibilities for abutting the cover104using the timing element106. For example, and end portion of the timing element106is accommodated in a respective cavity instead of the aperture110or the timing element106is accommodated in two apertures instead of being in contact with a surface.

For use with the device100it is desirable to provide timing elements106having same shape and size to fit in the aperture110and housing128while being able to withstand the predetermined force F for the duration of different time intervals. For example, for use with lobster traps it is desirable to provide time intervals in the range of 4 to 72 hrs with an accuracy of approximately +/−2 hr on the 4 hour duration timing elements and +/−6 hr on the 72 hrs timing elements. This is achieved in a number of ways or combination thereof, such as:

providing timing elements106made of different materials such as, for example, wood fibers, lye, milled grain, fish meal, fish oil, corn oil, canola oil, rock salt and bentonite;

providing timing elements106made of different mixtures of at least two water soluble materials;

providing timing elements106made of different mixtures of at least two materials with at least one water soluble material and one material that is non-soluble in water such as, for example, rock salt and fish meal;

providing timing elements106comprising a core made of a first water soluble material and at least a layer made of a second water soluble material surrounding the core; and,

providing timing elements106made of a water soluble material compressed with different compression forces and/or size of the particulates.

Referring toFIGS. 10ato 10c, an embodiment of a mounting mechanism for secure and releasable mounting the device100to a trap is provided. The mounting mechanism comprises channels150and152disposed in the bottom of the base102, as illustrated inFIG. 10a. The number of the channels150and152, the size of the channels150and152, and the distance between the channels are determined for accommodating a portion of a mesh structure156such as, for example, a metal mesh, therein, as illustrated inFIG. 10b. The mesh structure156is then secured to the base by mounting plate158to the base using for example, screws155accommodated in respective threaded bores154disposed in the base102, as illustrated inFIGS. 10aand 10c. The device100having the mesh structure156secured thereto is then disposed in the trap and the mesh structure156is tied to the trap.

The present invention has been described herein with regard to certain embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.