APPARATUS FOR AIDING IN THE CLEANING OF FISH

Abstract: A tool (10) for holding and immobilizing a fish for cleaning which includes a lower mouth-insertable jaw member (21) with a relatively wide upper surface (11) thereon, an upper jaw member (22) having also a lower relatively wide surface (12) thereon and a plurality of spike members (13) attached at one end thereof to the lower surface (12) of the upper jaw member (22) and being disposed transversely with respect to such lower surface. A pliers-like structure of the type which will automatically remain in the closed position is utilized for moving the upper and lower jaw members (22 and 21) with respect to each other for the purpose of holding and immobilizing a fish during the cleaning process.

Description: "Apparatus for Aiding in the Cleaning of Fish" Technical Field The present invention relates generally to an appara¬ tus for aiding in the cleaning of fish, and more particu- larly to a tool for immobilizing a fish and holding it so that the cleaning process can be accomplished without the problem of the fish slipping away during such process. Background Art Various devices have been used for the purpose of holding a fish in one position during the cleaning process. A very common device of this kind is a board having a clamp attached to one top side at one end thereof. To use such a device, the tail of a fish, or perhaps even the head is clamped into such device and then the scales or skin are removed, along with fins and entrails. Also, pliers or Vice-Grips have been used for holding fish for cleaning purposes. Additionally, U. S. Patent No. 4,306,336 shows a pliers-like head-gripping tool for immobilizing and holding fish for cleaning purposes. A problem with all of the prior art methods for holding fish mentioned above is that the fish are not as positively held in place as is desirable. For example, in the patent mentioned above, a fish can pivot from side-to-side while held in such pliers-like device. Disclosure of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for holding and immobilizing a fish for cleaning purposes having a lower mouth insertable jaw member with a rela- tively wide upper surface thereon and an upper jaw member having a lower relatively wide surface thereon. The lower surface of the upper jaw member has a plurality of spike members attached thereto which extend downwardly toward the lower mouth insertable jaw member. The upper and lower jaw members are connected to a Vice-Grip type structure for damping the upper jaw members against the head of a fish in such a manner that the spike members extend through the head for the purpose of killing and immobiliz¬ ing the fish and for preventing the fish from pivoting or moving in any v/ay out of the grasp of such jaw members. The lower jaw member extends into the mouth of the fish in close proximity to the pointed ends of the spike members when such apparatus is in use. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for use when cleaning fish. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for immobilizing a fish during the cleaning process thereof and for preventing pivoting or any other movement of such fish with respect to the holding and clamping apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described above which is easy to use and economical to produce. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodi¬ ment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front partial view of the gripping jaws of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side view of the present invention in use; Fig. 4 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a side view of the present invention shown in a closed position in solid lines and in an open position in dashed lines. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 shows a fish gripping and immobilizing tool (10) constructed in accordance with the present invention. On the front end of the tool (10) is a lower mouth insertable jaw member (11) having serrations in the top thereof. Also, on the front end of the tool (10) is a top jaw member (12) having a plurality of spike members (13) rigidly attached thereto for a purpose which will be explained in detail below. The body of the tool (10) is in the preferred embodiment shown a standard Vice-Grip type device includ¬ ing an upper handle element (14), a lower handle element (15), an over-center locking lever (16), a spring member (17) and an unlocking cam member (18), all of which are well known to those skilled in this art. Between the conventional Vice-Grip structure and the jaw member (11 and 12) are levers (21 and 22), which replace the normal pliers-like structure of a conventional Vice-Grip and convert such structure for use in applying the fish gripping jaw members (11 and 12). In operation, the lower jaw member (11) would be placed inside of the mouth of a fish such as shown in Fig. 3, with the jaws (11 and 12) in a spaced-apart position such as shown in Fig. 1 or as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 5. Once the lower jaw member (11) and part of lower lever (21) are in the proper position within the fish's mouth, then the Vice-Grip like structure of elements (14-19) would be utilized to clamp the top jaw member (12) down against the top of the fish's head, for example as shown in Fig. 3, and whereby the tool would be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 in solid lines. It will be understood, of course, that if a large fish is being cleaned, the adjusting member (19) would be utilized to cause the closed position of the tool to be such that the jaw members (11 and 12) would be spaced apart to some degree as compared wider than the position shown in Fig. 5 in solid lines, but when a smaller fish is being cleaned, then these jaws (11 and 12) would be adjusted, through the adjusting screw (19), to be closer together when in the closed position thereof than when it is being used for a larger fish. When the apparatus is utilized in the manner de¬ scribed above, as is shown in Fig. 3, the spikes (13) will extend downwardly into the brain of the fish, thereby killing the fish and causing it to be immobilized. The fact that there are several spikes (13), rather than just one, makes it not so critical about the positioning of the spikes since the person cleaning the fish only needs to get in the general area of the brain of the fish in order to be assured that the spikes (13) will strike a vital area enough to kill and immobilize such fish. Additional¬ ly, the plurality of spikes (13), as compared to the use of only one spike (13), has the additional advantage that once the device is clamped down on the fish as shown in Fig. 3, the fish cannot pivot from side-to-sidε with respect to the axes of any one of the spikes (13). Consequently, once the fish is so held, the cleaning process can proceed such as by removing the skin or scales, fins, tail and entrails without fear of having the fish slip away. Additionally, a hook (20) on the back end of the lever (15) is provided for allowing the tool to be hung on a branch or other suspending device so that the fish can be held above the ground during the cleaning process, if desired. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above _OMPI ^ -5- teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within Λ A M . imc the invention may tie the scope of the appended Claims, tne practised otherwise than as specifically described OMPI U-- Yγ'iFO

Claims: I CLAIM: 1. A tool for gripping fish for skinning, scaling, and cleaning or the like, comprising: (a) a lower mouth-insertable jaw member- having an upper relatively wide upper surface thereon; (b) an upper jaw member having a lower relative¬ ly wide surface thereon; (c) a plurality of spike members attached at one end thereof to the lower surface of said upper jaw member and being disposed transversely with respect to said lower surface, said spike members being pointed on the other end thereof; and (d) positioning means for adjusting the position of the top jaw with respect to the bottom jaw whereby the lower jaw can be inserted into the mouth of a fish when the upper and lower jaws are disposed apart from each other and the positioning means can be used to move the spike members on the top jaw member down through the head of a fish towards said lower jaw member for holding the fish for cleaning and from pivoting with respect to said spike members. 2. The apparatus of Claim 1 including two rows of spike members, with at least two spikes in each row. 3. The apparatus of Claim 2 consisting of two spikes in one row and three spikes in another row. 4. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises a pair of jaws pivotally attached toge¬ ther. 5. The apparatus of Claim 4 including holding means for automatically holding said jaws together once said jaw members are clamped together holding a fish. 6. The apparatus of Claim 5 including lever means for releasing said holding means. 7. The apparatus of Claim 6 including hook means on said holding means for allowing said apparatus to be suspended from a branch or the like for holding a fish above the ground for cleaning. OMPI

Inventors: HERT WILLIAM L, HERT, WILLIAM, L.
Applicants: HERT WILLIAM L, HERT, WILLIAM, L.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A22C25
IPC codes: A22C25