Snapping fish stringer

A fish stringer has a locking body, an insert received in the locking body and a loop connected to the locking body and the insert. An insert-receiving cavity traverses into the locking body. The insert has a handle portion to be manipulated and a tongue portion within the insert-receiving cavity. A latching mechanism on the insert engages a latch receptacle on the locking body. The latching mechanism is a flexible arm with a tab. The flexible arm is deformed from an equilibrium position as the tab engages with the latch receptacle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fishing gear. More specifically, the present invention is a snapping fish stringer which is designed to facilitate the holding of caught fish on the person of a fisherman. The present invention is specially adapted to allow easy addition of new fishes to the stringer by way of its snapping design. Furthermore the present invention can be attached to the fisherman's person such that the string extends down past their waist. This is particularly useful for fly fishing as often the fisherman is waist deep in water, and any fish which are caught will remain in the water on the present invention for the duration of the fishing, thus keeping them alive and fresh.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fishing is a favorite pastime of many people who live near streams, rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water which harbor environments that are suitable for populations of fish to live in. There are several different reasons as to why people fish, with the two main reasons being for enjoyment and food. Many people consider fishing to be an extremely relaxing activity, no doubt partially due to the relaxed nature of the task, and the natural surroundings in which the activity of fishing often places the fisherman. Fishing often takes place on the bank of a river or lake, on a pier, in a stream or river, or on a boat. Most of these locations are typically considered to be very calm and serene, or at the very least, highly enjoyable to the senses. The fisherman is usually able to feel a reconnection with nature by way of the activity of fishing and the locations where it is performed. This reconnection with nature is one of the major driving factors in why fishing is such a popular activity, especially in the summer months. In the modernized world, people live surrounded by technology which drives a hectic and fast paced way life which is even more exaggerated when living in a metropolitan area such as a city. People who have personally experienced this way of life can tell you that eventually it can get extremely annoying and stressful when sustained for long periods of time. Fishing allows people to take a step back from the modernized world and relax in nature by performing an activity that is an ancient human art, and requires only the most basic of mechanical technology in order to perform. This fact is the main reason why fishing is often performed by individuals as a favored pastime, and fishing for this purpose is often referred to as recreational fishing; it is however not the only reason to fish.

The other reason to fish, and perhaps more important reason to fish in many parts of the world, is a more basic and primal reason; to obtain food. Fish is well known as an excellent source of protein and many vitamins and minerals which are vital to human survival. As a result of this fact, fish serves as the main source of protein in many cultures diets, even to this very day. Societies which have developed near bodies of water which support large populations of marine animals have inevitably developed a taste for fish, as it is an excellent primary source of protein. There are many different techniques which have been developed to catch fish in quantities large enough to support the protein needs of a village; this is often referred to as subsistence fishing, and is still practiced in many parts of the world where fish are the most readily available source of protein.

Fishing for food can be broken down into two main groups, commercial fishing, and traditional fishing. Commercial fishing is characterized as any large scale operation in which extremely large quantities of fish are caught in order to be shipped and sold around the world. Commercial fishing often makes use of large boats referred to as fishing boats, which are equipped with massive booms and nets which they drag in the water in order to catch huge quantities of fish efficiently. Traditional fishing by contrast is a much smaller operation and usually involves only a handful or one individual making use of tried and true fishing equipment to catch a small to moderate amount of fish for personal consumption or local sale. As such, recreational fishing itself falls under the umbrella of what can be considered to be traditional fishing, particularly if the recreational fisherman intends to keep and consume the fish that they catch. Some of the traditional methods which were developed to catch fish, and are still in use today, include hand net fishing, trap fishing, bow and arrow fishing, spear fishing, and angling.

Angling is perhaps one of the most common forms of fishing used in recreational fishing in the modern world. Modern angling typically involves the use of a line with a sharpened hook at the end, with the line is run through what is known as a fishing rod. The fishing rod comprises a rod and a reel. The rod helps to guide the line and give the fisherman greater control over the line while the reel is intended to store excess line, release line, and pull in the line when necessary. There are several subgroups of angling with a rod, perhaps the most common of which being fly fishing. Fly fishing typically involves the use of a specialized fishing rod and lures called flies. This specialized equipment is coupled with a unique casting technique to lure the fish into striking the fly, thus allowing the fisherman to land the fish if the situation is handled properly. One of the iconic characteristics of fly fishing, particularly freshwater fly fishing, is the fact that the fisherman often wades out some distance into the water in order to better reach areas where fish are likely to be located.

The fact that the fisherman is usually in the water during the fly fishing presents a unique challenge to one simple question; what does the fisherman do with the fish they have caught before they return to shore? The answer is typically an apparatus known as a stringer. A stringer is a simple apparatus which comprises a line with a ring on one end and a dull spike on the other. This line is often secured to the fisherman's vest at one end, and tied shut with the other end. When a fish is caught, the stringer line is untied and then run through the fish's mouth, out through the gills, and then retied to the fisherman's vest, thereby securing the fish and also allowing the fish to remain in the water if the stringer line is long enough. This is an effective method of keeping fish caught by the fisherman before returning to shore, however it suffers from a number of disadvantages. First and foremost, it is rather difficult for a fisherman to untie the end of a thin line when one is knee or even waist deep in sometimes running water with no way to put down their fishing rod. The second issue is the fact that the lines used in stringers are often uncovered and can be rough in texture. This can not only make it difficult to slide the fish down the line, but also has the potential to damage the gills of the fish, thus possibly causing it to die earlier. It is resultantly an object of the present invention to solve the issues mentioned above by introducing a snapping fish stringer which can be easily opened and then secured closed again, thereby making it very easy to load fish onto the line. It is a further object of the present invention to ensure that the fish quickly and easily slides along the line, thereby decreasing difficult for the user, and decreasing trauma on the fish.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a snapping fish stringer which is specifically designed with usability in mind; more specifically, it is intended to be incredibly easy to open and close such that fish can be added to the stringer with extreme ease. The present invention makes use of components which snap together to create a closed loop for holding fish which can be quickly and easily opened and closed. The present invention also makes use of a specially coated wire to enable fish to slide free on the wire, making it much easier for the fisherman to load fish onto and off of the present invention, as well as making the experience less traumatic for the fish and hopefully increasing its chances of survival until it can be gutted and cleaned. To this end the present invention comprises a locking body1, an insert2, and a cable3which is connected to the locking body1at a first end31and the insert2at a second end32. A closed loop (e.g. the “stringer”) can be created by placing the insert2into the locking body1. The locking body1, insert2, and cable3of the present invention are illustrated together throughFIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 3.

To allow the insert2to be easily connected and disconnected from the locking body1, several components are utilized by the present invention. The locking body1itself comprises an insert-receiving cavity11, a latch receptacle12, and a ring13. The insert-receiving cavity11, which is designed to interface with the insert2, traverses into the locking body1in order to create a space for the insert2within the locking body1. The latch receptacle12is provided to help secure the insert2in the insert-receiving cavity11. Thus, the latch receptacle12is engaged with a corresponding part of the insert2. Since the latch receptacle12is designed to interface with a part of the insert2, said latch receptacle12is positioned adjacent to the insert-receiving cavity11. The ring13is delineated by a ring hole that traverses through the locking body1. The ring13is positioned at one end of the locking body1, opposite the insert-receiving cavity11. This allows the ring13to be used to secure other items without interfering with the connection and disconnection of the insert2with the locking body1. For example, the ring13can be used to connect a rope, a carabiner, or other types of fasteners that correspondingly attach the present invention to a fixed point. This is desirable as it allows the present invention to be better utilized in a number of situations; it can be secured to a pier, to a fisherman's jacket, to a belt, to a pole, and numerous other objects. The aforementioned fasteners and attachment points are just a few examples of possibilities enabled by the present invention and are not meant to limit the use of other unmentioned fasteners and attachment points. Components of the locking body1are illustrated viaFIG. 4,FIG. 5, andFIG. 6.

The insert2itself comprises a handle portion21, a tongue22, and a latching mechanism23. The handle portion21provides an ergonomic grip that makes it easier for a user to interact with the insert2. The tongue22is adjacently connected to the insert2and is positioned in the insert-receiving cavity11. The combination of the handle portion21and the tongue22enables a user to easily connect and disconnect the insert2from the locking body1. The handle portion21serves as an easily grasped component that is accessible by a user even while the tongue22is positioned in the insert-receiving cavity11. As a result a user is better able to operate the present invention with one hand, as is beneficial when fishing. The latching mechanism23serves to secure the insert2with the locking body1by interfacing with the latch receptacle12. When the tongue22is positioned in the insert-receiving cavity11, the latching mechanism23engages with the latch receptacle12to prevent movement of the tongue22relative to the insert-receiving cavity11. This ensures that the created loop remains closed, keeping any fish that have been caught secured via the present invention. Components of the insert2are illustrated viaFIG. 7,FIG. 8, andFIG. 9.

The cable3comprises a first end31connected to the locking body1and a second end32connected to the insert2. As earlier referenced, the cable3is used to form a closed loop that securely holds any caught fish. When the insert2is connected to the locking body1, the first end31and second end32are ideally parallel to each other. This parallel configuration reduces the likelihood of tangles in the cable3and resultantly makes the present invention easier to operate, especially with only one hand. The parallel configuration also directs the coated wire downwards and out of the way of the mobility of the user. To make it easier for a user to slide fish along the cable3, the cable3comprises a flexible inner body33and a low-friction coating34. The flexible inner body33allows the cable3to be twisted and curved as desired by a user, such as when looping the cable3through a caught fish. The low-friction coating34, which encases the flexible inner body33, provides a smooth surface that minimizes the chances of a fish becoming stuck while being slid along the cable3. The flexible inner body33of the cable3has a high tensile strength in the interests of durability, ensuring the present invention will be able to withstand prolonged use over long periods of time. In the preferred embodiment a steel construction is used to provide the tensile strength desired for the flexible inner body33. A number of materials may be used for the low-friction coating34, an example of which is polyurethane. The combination of flexible inner body33and low-friction coating34is illustrated inFIG. 10. An additional advantage provided by the combination of the flexible inner body33and low-friction coating34, compared to commonly used nylon cables3, is increased user comfort. Since fisherman often carry their catches by holding the cable3, the nylon cables3can prove uncomfortable as they dig into a user's palms, leaving imprints and stressing the hand.

As heretofore described, the present invention utilizes a latching mechanism23and latch receptacle12to secure the insert2and locking body1to each other. A number of different implementations are possible, one example being the detent24configuration used by the preferred embodiment. The detent24comprises a flexible arm25and a tab26. The flexible arm25connects the tab26to the tongue22and allows a degree of vertical movement. This provided freedom allows the flexible arm25and tab26to bend slightly to fit into the insert-receiving cavity11, returning into an equilibrium position when the tab26is aligned with the latch receptacle12of the locking body1. The latch receptacle12is a hole14that the tab26traverses through, thus preventing movement of the insert2with respect to the locking body1. To disengage the latching mechanism23from the latch receptacle12, a user simple presses down on the tab26in order to allow the tongue22to be pulled out of the insert-receiving cavity11. An indent is positioned into the locking body1to help provide a tactile guide for a user wishing to depress the tab26. The indent is sized to receive a user's fingertip, helping a user to quickly find and disengage the latching mechanism23without having to visually focus on the latching mechanism23.

The design of the present invention allows the cable3to be formed into a closed loop in a manner such that the closed loop can be quickly and easily opened by the fisherman. The locking body1and its constituent components interact with the insert2and the latter's constituent components to allow a loop to easily be opened and closed. The loop is opened to allow fish to be secured to the cable3, with the cable3and insert2being threaded through the mouth and gill slits of the fish. Once the fish is secured in this manner, the loop is closed in order to retain the fish. The loop can be opened and closed again to add more fish or to unload the fish from the cable3.

A number of properties enhance the functionality of the present invention. For example, the insert2may be given a thin and elongated shape to make it easier for a user to thread said insert2through the mouth and gill slit of a fish. Injection molding can be used to singularly form the insert2, increasing manufacturing efficiency and ease. The insert2, as well as the locking body1, can be constructed from a variety of materials, with plastics being one example of an economical and effective material choice. Other properties may be altered to provide increased options to potential customers. For example, the length of the cable3can be altered without detracting from the functionality of the present invention. The present invention could offer different cable3lengths to provide more choice, perhaps offering cable3lengths of five feet or ten feet. Ultimately, while cable3length is variable it is desirable for the cable3to be of sufficient length such that any fishes loaded onto the wire are below the water's surface when the second half is secured to the user at just above the waist and the user is in water up to about their knees.

Furthermore, a carabiner can be packaged as part of the present invention. By providing a carabiner it is assured that users have a fastener available for securing the ring13to another object, e.g. fisherman's apparel.