FISHING NETS

Abstract: A fishing net comprises a shaft handle (10), a net support (12) and a bag net (14). The support (12) projects from the handle (10) in an extended position. The support (12) has two diverging arms (16) connected together by a first flexible element (18) at their outer ends. The bag net (14) is carried by the support (12) around its open mouth. The handle (10) is tubular and the arms (16) of the net support (12) are movable lengthwise of the handle (10) to a retracted position substantially parallel to the axis of the handle (10) with the net (14) being accommodated inside the handle (10).

Description: FISHING NETS. This invention relates to a fishing net for use in landing fish. Fish landing nets for individuals have been provided heretofore, the majority, if not all, of which in their collapsed or retracted carrying state have their bag net or part thereof unprotected, for example in a collapsed loose state at one end of a shaft handle or wound around a shaft handle, and therefore available to be caught or snagged on vegetation, i.,e. branches of a bush or tree, as a fisherman is carrying the net to or from a fishing stance or between fishing stances. This is disadvantageous and an object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage. Accordingly, the present invention is a fishing net comprising a tubular shaft handle, a net support projecting therefrom in an extended position, the support having- two diverging arms connected together by a first flexible element at their outer ends with the inner ends of the arms being pivotally connected to an annular union provided at an outer end of a collar slidable along the handle, a bag net carried by the support around its open mouth, the arms of the net support being movable lengthwise and externally of the handle to a retracted position substantially parallel to SUBSTITUTE SHEET the axis of the handle with the net to be accommodated inside the handle, and a second flexible element being secured to the net and threaded internally into the handle to enable the net to be pulled using the second element into the handle on retraction of the support. Preferably, the arms are slidably engaged in respective divergent passages of a mounting provided at an outer end of the handle. The outer ends of the arms are desirably inwardly bent. The mounting has desirably an inner wall whose inner periphery is of a complementary fit for the handle and an outer wall to define with the outer periphery of the inner wall the divergent passages, the inner periphery of the outer end portions of the outer wall having inward ramps to influence the outer end portions of the arms inwardly, when retracted, for their outer ends to substantially abut each other. The handle has desirably a radial slot in which a slide, integral with the collar, tracks to prevent rotation between the collar and the handle. The other end of the second flexible element is desirably threaded through the mounting and the handle to exit therefrom through the slot and a hole in the collar for manually pulling the net into the handle with the arms in a partially or fully retracted position. Alternatively, the other end of the second SUBSTITUTE SHEET flexible element is beneficially secured to the handle adjacent to its outer end, the second element having first passed around a guide provided on the inside portion of the slide, the guide serving to pull the net into the handle as the collar is moved down the handle to a retracted position. The guide may be an apertured extension of the slide providing a limb around which the second element is passed, or may be a low-friction rotatable roller mounted on an extension of the guide. Preferably also, the collar has a bar catch and the mountiny is provided with a hook to engage the catch whereby when the net support is fully extended the hook and catch are engaged. The hook is desirably of resilient material to be capable of being depressed to allow it to be released from the catch for retraction of the arms. Preferably further, the inner end of the handle is provided with a hand grip. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a fishing net according to the present invention, the net being shown in an extended position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detail at the outer end of a handle with a catch and a hook components about to be engaged; SUBSTITUTE SHEET Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fishing net with a partially retracted net support and net; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fishing net with a fully retracted net support and net; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the handle and a collar; and Figs. 6A and 6B are side views of part of the fishing net showing a modified arrangement for pulling the net into the handle in retracted and extended positions respectively. Referring to the drawings, a fishing net comprises a tubular shaft handle 10, a net support 12 and a bag net 14. The support 12 projects from the handle 10 in an extended position. The support 12 has two diverging arms 16 connected together by a first flexible element 18 at their outer ends which are inwardly bent as shown. The bag net 14 is carried by the support 12 around its open mouth. The arms 16 of the net support 12 are movable lengthwise of the handle 10 to a retracted position substantially parallel to the axis of the handle 10 with the net 14 being accommodated inside the handle 10 as hereinafter described. The inner ends of the arms 16 are pivotally connected to an annular union 20 provided at an outer end of a collar 22 slidable along the handle 10. The arms 16 are slidably engaged in respective divergent SUBSTITUTE SHEET passages 24 of a mounting 26 provided at an outer end of the handle 10. The handle 10 has a radial slot 28 in which a slide 30, integral with the collar 22, tracks to prevent rotation between the collar 22 and the handle 10. The mounting 26 has an inner wall 27 whose inner periphery is of a complementary fit for the handle 10, and an outer wall 29 to define with the outer periphery of the inner wall 27 the divergent passages 24, and the outer end portions of the outer wall 29 for each passage 24 having inward ramps 31 to influence the outer end portions of the arms inwardly, when retracted, for their outer ends to substantially abut each other. A second flexible element 32 is secured to inside of the net 14 and threaded through the mounting 26 and the handle 10 to exit through a hole 34 in a boss 36 in the collar 22 The collar 22 has a bar catch 38 and the mounting 26 is provided with a member 40 having a hook 42 to engage the catch 38 whereby when the net support 12 is fully extended the hook 42 and the catch 38 are engaged. The member 40 is of resilient material to be capable of being depressed to allow the hook 42 to be released from the catch 38 for retraction of the arms 16. The inner end of the handle 10 is provided with a hand grip 44. The fishing net as described above is advantageous over existing nets in that the bag net 14 is wholly SUBSTITUTE SHEET withdrawn into the handle 10 and is therefore not available to be caught or snagged on branches, thorns or other vegetation as an angler walks through or brushes passed overgrown vegetation. For use, the collar 22 is pushed outwardly until the catch 38 rides over a ramp on the hook and allows the hook to engage thereover. To retract the net 14, the hook 42 is disengaged from the catch 38 and the collar pulled down the handle as shown in Fig. 3. The pulling down movement is stopped halfway and the element 32 is pulled to withdraw part of the net 14 into the handle 10. The movement is continued and the element 32 is then pulled to withdraw fully the net 14 into the handle 10. In a modification as shown in Figs 6A and 6B, the withdrawing" of the net 14 into the handle is accomplished automatically. The other end of the second flexible element 32 is anchored to the handle 10 adjacent to its outer end at 46. The second element 32 extends between the net 14 and the anchorage 46 around a guide 48 provided on the inside portion of the slide 30. The guide 48 is an apertured extension 33 of the slide 30 providing a limb 35 around which the second element is passed. Alternatively, the guide may be a low- friction rotatable roller (not shown) mounted on an extension of the guide. Variations and modifications can be made without SUBSTITUTE SHEET departing from the scope of the invention as above described and claimed hereinafter. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: -3- CLAIMS : 1. A fishing net comprising a tubular shaft handle, a net support projecting therefrom in an extended position, the support having two diverging arms connected together by a first flexible element at their outer ends with the inner ends of the arms being pivotally connected to an annular union provided at an outer end of a collar slidable along the handle, a bag net carried by the support around its open mouth, the arms of the net support being movable lengthwise and externally of the handle to a retracted position substantially parallel to the axis of the handle with the net to be accommodated inside the handle, and a second flexible element being secured to the net and threaded internally into the handle to enable the net to be pulled using the second element into the handle on retraction of the support. 2. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the arms are slidably engaged in respective divergent passages of a mounting provided at an outer end of the handle. 3. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer ends of the arms are inwardly bent. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 4. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the mounting has an inner wall whose inner periphery is of a complementary fit for the handle, and an outer wall to define with the outer periphery of the inner wall the divergent passages, the inner periphery of the outer end portions of the outer wall having inward ramps to influence the outer end portions of the arms inwardly, when retracted, for the outer ends to substantially abut each other. 5. A fishing net as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the handle has a radial slot in which a slide, integral with the collar, tracks to prevent rotation between the collar and the handle. 6. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the other end of the second flexible element is threaded through the mounting and the handle to exit therefrom through the slot and a hole in the collar for manually pulling the net into the handle with the arms in a partially or fully retracted position. 7. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the other end of the second flexible element is secured to the handle adjacent to its outer end, the second element SUBSTITUTE SHEET having first passed around a guide provided on the inside portion of the slide, the guide serving to pull the net into the handle as the collar is moved down the handle to a retracted position. 8. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the guide is an apertured extension of the slide providing a limb around which the second element is passed. 9. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the guide is a low-friction rotatable rollar mounted on an extension of the guide. 10. A fishing net as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the collar has a bar catch and the mounting is provided with a hook to engage the catch whereby when the net support is fully extended the hook and catch are engaged. 11. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the hook is of resilient material to be capable of being- depressed to allow it to be released from the catch for retraction of the arms. 12. A fishing net as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the inner end of the handle is provided with a hand grip. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 13. A fishing net substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. 14. A fishing net substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 6A and 6B of the accompanying drawings. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: MOLLOY JAMES, MOLLOY, JAMES
Applicants: JCJ LIMITED, MOLLOY JAMES
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A01K77
IPC codes: A01K77