Wildlife capturing device

A fish capturing device is provided. The device includes a pair of cage members having a first position in which an opening is defined therebetween through which a fish may be passed and a second position in which each of the cage members are pivoted until the cage members are nested together to form an enclosure for enclosing a fish therein. A latch is configured for latching the pair of cage members into the first position and releasing the pair of cage members into the second position. A tensioner applies tension to the pair of cage members to bias the cage members into the second position to enclose the fish within the pair of cages.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is related to a wildlife capturing device, and, more particularly, towards a wildlife capturing device suitable for capturing aquatic life without inflicting harm unto the captured aquatic life.

BACKGROUND

Many methods exist for capturing aquatic animals such as fish. For example, traditional methods include using a line and baited hook, a net, and a gig. A gig usually includes a pole or other elongate item suitable for being grasped and a speared end at which a fish is speared. Spearing a fish is generally considered acceptable when the fish is going to be kept for nutrition or gaming purposes, however, in some instances a fisherman may spear a fish that they cannot otherwise keep.

For example, some municipalities and/or governments have restrictions on the size of a fish that may be harvested such as, for example, a minimum length of a fish. This presents problems when using a gig as a gigged fish is unlikely to recover from the injuries sustained during gigging. For a gigged fish that is under the minimum length requirements, the fisherman must release the gigged fish back into the water. Gigging an undersized fish may happen often when judging the length of a fish during poor visibility due to lack of lighting for fishing at night, water with low visibility, and depth perception due to refracted optics in water. Unfortunately, due to the injuries sustained by the gigged fish, it is likely that an undersized, gigged fish will not survive the injuries from gigging after being released.

A need therefore exists for a method or solution that addresses these disadvantages.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a fish capturing device. The device includes a pair of cage members having a first position in which an opening is defined therebetween through which a fish may be passed through. A latch is configured for latching the pair of cage members into the first position and releasing the pair of cage members in which the opening is closed therebetween and the pair of cage members is nested to form an enclosure in a second position. A tensioner applies tension to the pair of cage members to bias the cage members into the second position to enclose the fish within the pair of cages.

According to one or more embodiments, the device includes a brace extending lengthwise with each of the pair of cage members and pivotally carrying each cage member.

According to one or more embodiments, the cage has netting carried thereabout for forming the enclosure.

According to one or more embodiments, a length of one of the pair of cages is less than a length of the other of the pair of cages such that the shorter cage can be received within the longer cage when the pair of cages is in the second position.

According to one or more embodiments, the latch is carried by an elongate handle.

According to one or more embodiments, the elongate handle is configured to rotate the latch from the latched to an unlatched position.

According to one or more embodiments, the latch includes a rotatable bar that engages beneath a portion of each of the pair of cages to place the cages in the first position when the latch is in the latched position.

According to one or more embodiments, the tensioner includes one of a rope, string, and cable, and further wherein, pulling upwards on the tensioner at a portion proximal the elongate handle biases the cages into the second position.

According to one or more embodiments, each of the pair of cages includes a support extending therefrom. Each of the supports surrounds the handle and is pivoted when the pair of cages moves between the first and second positions.

According to one or more embodiments, the supports can be grabbed and pivoted until in parallel alignment to impart movement of the pair of cages into the first position.

According to one or more embodiments, the supports surround the elongate handle so as to maintain the elongate handle in a generally upright orientation when the pair of cages are in the first position and the device is resting about the opening on a ground surface.

According to one or more embodiments, a fish capturing device is provided. The device includes a pair of cage members having a first position in which an opening is defined therebetween through which a fish may be passed and a second position in which each of the cage members are pivoted until the cage members are nested together to form an enclosure for enclosing a fish therein. A latch is configured for latching the pair of cage members into the first position and releasing the pair of cage members into the second position. A tensioner applies tension to the pair of cage members to bias the cage members into the second position to enclose the fish within the pair of cages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a fisherman using a device generally designated10according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein. The device10is provided for capturing fish or other animals and aquatic life. The device10is illustrated in a first position (P1) inFIG. 1and positioned above a fish “F” that is resting against a ground surface “G.” The device10is illustrated in a second position (P2) inFIG. 3in which the fish is enclosed therein, and illustrated in transition between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2) inFIG. 2. In operation, the device is positioned proximal and over a fish “F” and then translated downwardly until the fish “F” is enclosed within the device10as illustrated inFIG. 2. The device10is then actuated into the second position (P2) in a manner that will be described in greater detail later.

The device10is shown in greater detail inFIGS. 4 and 5. The fish capturing device10includes a pair of cage members, each identified as12and14. The pair of cage members12,14has a first position (P1) in which an opening16is defined therebetween through which a fish “F” may be passed through. A latch20is configured for latching the pair of cage members12,14into the first position. The latch20is further configured for releasing the pair of cage members12,14in which gravity and tension applied thereto transitions the cages12,14into a second position in which the opening is closed therebetween and the pair of cage members12,14are nested to form an enclosure22. The latch20is carried by an elongate handle36. A tensioner24is provided for applying tension to the pair of cage members12,14to bias the cage members12,14into the second position to enclose the fish “F” within the pair of cages12,14. The tensioner24is illustrated as a rope in the one or more embodiments illustrated herein. In operation, after the latch20is moved into a position that allows rotation of cages12,14, the rope is pulled upwardly (as identified with the slack in rope24inFIG. 3) in order to tension the cage members12,14into the second position (P2). This may be accomplished in a variety of ways, including the rope orientation relative to cages12,14as illustrated in the figures.

The device10may include a brace26extending lengthwise with each of the pair of cage members12,14. In one or more embodiments, each of the cage members12,14are pivotally carried by the brace26such that the cages12,14can be pivoted from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2). The cage has netting34carried thereabout for forming the enclosure22such that a captured fish cannot excape. The netting34may define a thread pattern such that adjacent threads are a predetermined distance apart to help with measuring a captured fish. In other words, the net spacing may be, for example, one inch between adjacent threads such that if a fisherman counted15strands along a length of a fish, the fisherman would know that the fish is approximately15inches long.

In one or more embodiments, a length of one of the pair of cages12is less than a length of the other of the pair of cages14such that the shorter cage12can be received within the longer cage14when the pair of cages is in the second position. This is illustrated inFIG. 5.

As illustrated with particular reference toFIG. 2,FIG. 4, andFIG. 5, the elongate handle36is configured to rotate the latch20from the latched position (P1) to an unlatched position (P2). The latch20may include a rotatable bar40that engages beneath a portion of each of the pair of cages12,14to place the cages in the first position when the latch20is in the latched position. A support42may be provided about each cage12,14to which the rotatable bar40selectively engages with. When the rotatable bar40is aligned with the brace26, the bar40is not restricting pivoting movement of each of cages12,14.

The tensioner24may include one of a rope, string, and cable. Additionally, the tensioner could be a torsional spring or other biasing member for biasing the cages12,14into one of the desired positions or a combination of any elements depicted or described herein. The tensioner24is configured such that pulling upwards on the tensioner24at a portion proximal the elongate handle36biases the cages12,14into the second position (P2).

As illustrated throughout the figures, each of the pair of cages12,14includes supports46,48, respectively, extending therefrom. The supports46,48surround the handle36and are pivoted when the pair of cages12,14move between the first position (P1) and second position (P2). In this manner, the supports46,48as illustrated inFIG. 5can be grabbed and pivoted towards each other until in parallel alignment to impart movement of the pair of cages12,14back into the first position (P1). Additionally, the supports46,48surround the elongate handle36so as to maintain the elongate handle36in a generally upright orientation when the pair of cages12,14is in the first position (P1) and the device10is resting about the opening on a ground surface. In this manner, when the device10is not in use, the handle36maintains a generally upright orientation.

In operation, the device10is placed above a fish “F”, such as is illustrated inFIG. 1. The device10is then translated downwardly such that the opening16is positioned aligned with the fish “F” and then around the fish “F” and against a ground surface as illustrated inFIG. 2. Elongate handle36is then rotated in order to unlatch the latch bar40. The tensioner24is then pulled or otherwise engaged until the cage members12,14pivot downwardly and into each other to form an enclosure as illustrated inFIG. 3. The fish “F” is then released by grasping supports46,48such that the cage members12,14are then pivoted outwardly from each other back into the first position (P1) as illustrated inFIG. 1. The fish is either deposited into a boat, cooler, or other containment system, or released back into the water. The elongate handle36is then rotated into the original position until bars40are in engagement with a bottom surface of the cage members12,14.