Abstract:
The present invention is intended to provide the fisherman with a current score on a predetermined number of largest fish caught by culling the smaller fish and keeping the larger fish. The invention provides a device body that floats in water as well as a series of fish measurement recording devices that are not affected by inclement weather.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to an accurate device for recording and maintaining the weight of fish caught during a fishing competition where the goal is to catch and retain a predetermined number of fish of the greatest weight within a prescribed time limit, subsequently culling the smallest fish when a larger one is caught. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The sport of competitive fishing has experienced a large amount of growth in recent years. An increased number of people are competing in fishing tournaments and an increased number of fans are watching the tournaments. Subsequently, corporations and other sponsors are investing more into the fishing tournaments. As the tournaments continue to grow, the prize money from the tournaments grows as well. The goal of the tournaments is to catch a predetermined maximum number of fish of the largest size. The fisherman can catch as many fish as the fisherman wants but can only keep the predetermined maximum number of fish in the boat at a time. As the fisherman continues to fish, the fisherman catches more fish which are then compared to the previously caught fish. Subsequently, the smallest fish are released and the largest fish are kept. At the conclusion of the tournament, the fisherman typically transports his catch to a tournament scale where the fish are officially measured. Generally, the tournament limit on scored fish is seven. However, in some fishing tournaments the limit can be more than seven or less than seven, with five being a relatively common number. 
     When a fish is caught by the fisherman, the fisherman measures the fish on a scale or with a measuring tape and places a tag on the fish to code the fish for future reference. The fisherman then places the fish in a live well or other similar container. The fisherman also records the information of the tag number and the size of the fish onto a recording device. When the fisherman fills all of his tags, the fisherman can subsequently catch more fish, quickly reference the size and weight of the fish, and retrieve the fish from the live well. If the fisherman has caught a larger fish than one of the fish in the live well, the fisherman can release the smaller fish from the well and tag the new fish. 
     The problems encountered by prior fish measurement recording inventions stem from the atmosphere of the fishing tournament. Fishing tournaments are routinely conducted in bad weather and on rocking boats. These conditions lead to difficulty recording fish measurements. A typical system involves erasable marker and a tabulation board on which the fisherman writes. One problem is that erasable marker washes off when it gets wet. Furthermore, another popular system comprises a peg and board system but the problem with this system is that the pegs fall out of the board if the board is not kept flat on a flat surface. Additionally, these systems can fall into the water and sink or be damaged by the water. 
     Accordingly, several inventions have attempted to resolve the difficulties of the prior art. Difficulties of the previous inventions include, but are not limited to, inventions that are not able to retain a measurement in inclement fishing conditions or inventions that are not easily used in a boat. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,752 to Holloway is directed to a tabulation pegboard for use during a fishing competition. The invention uses a pegboard with pins or pegs that are inserted into holes that are placed in the pegboard. The holes in the pegboard are labeled with numbers in order to associate a fish in a live well with a series of rows of holes to gather measurements for more than one fish. The problem with these boards is that when the fisherman moves the board or picks up the board and places it in a vertical position the pin or peg may have a tendency to fall out and consequently lose the fish measurement recording. Additionally, at times of inclement weather, the holes become wet, thus likely decreasing the friction between the pin and the hole, making it easier for the pin to fall out. Furthermore, with all of the pins, it is easy to lose a pin or to drop the pins in the bottom of the boat which decreases the amount of time fishing as the fisherman must pick up all of the pins. The same difficulties arise with U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,547 to Lehr, et. al., another peg and board weight recording invention. Still another known weight tabulation board on the market uses erasable marker in a whiteboard style cordoned into multiple weight tabulation areas for multiple fish. The problem associated with this weight tabulation board is that in inclement weather, if the board gets wet the measurements can wash off. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a weight tabulation board that resists inclement weather or inclement water conditions. 
     Another object of the invention is to present a quick and efficient system to aide the competitive fisherman and to maximize his time in fishing and retaining the best catches of the competition. 
     Another object of the current invention is to maintain the fish measurements for longer periods of time while dealing with inclement weather or inclement water conditions which often leads to increased difficulty in retaining tabulations. 
     A further object of the invention is to maintain a list of measurements that is difficult to erase or change without the application of sufficient force. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a weight tabulation board that floats in the event that the board is dropped into the water. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a weight tabulation board that retains measurements when the board is transported. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a board to record measurements on with the measurements being easily culled with new measurements. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a board to record fish measurements on that floats in water. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a new device for tabulating and maintaining an up-to-the-minute record of the weights of a predetermined number of fish caught within a prescribed time during a fishing competition. The object of the fishing tournaments is to catch and retain the fish of the greatest weight while culling the lightest fish when the catch exceeds the predetermined number. Typically a fishing tournament involves identifying each fish caught by a particular code, either numerically, by color, or by some other indicia, then temporarily maintaining the fish in a live well and identifying them by a floater bearing the number or color code attached to each fish. Furthermore, the invention includes weighing and recording the weight on the invention containing indicia having the number, color, or any other indicia associated with the indicator. 
     The device body itself consists of a planar member with the measurement recording devices therein. The device body can be configured to float in water or not configured to float in water. In a preferred embodiment the floatable device body has two chambers, a chamber housing the measurement recording devices and a chamber providing floatation to the device body. The device body, and in some embodiments the measurement chamber, includes typically from five to seven, although there can be more or less than five or seven, rows comprised of fish measurement recording modules. 
     The fish measurement recording modules can be either electric, typically digital, or mechanical. Mechanical fish measurement recording modules as disclosed are excellent at resisting inclement weather, resisting inclement boat conditions, and the numbers do not wash off if accidentally dropped in a body of water or a live well. Typically the measurement recording modules record measurements that consist of three digits, although more or fewer digits can be used depending on the embodiment of the invention. 
     The mechanical measurement recording modules can be made from a wide variety of measurement recording modules. In a preferred embodiment of the current invention the measurement recording modules typically comprise three, although there can be fewer than three or more than three, ratchet and wheel modules comprising a wheel piece and a ratchet piece with the wheel piece having numbers and the ratchet piece attached to the wheel piece. 
     Also in a preferred embodiment, each of the five to seven rows of fish measurement recording modules is numbered one through five, six, or seven. Although this is the preferred embodiment, any indicia corresponding to a tag to place on a fish can be used including symbols, colors, numbers, etc. 
     The ratchet and wheel modules rotate in order to display different numbers on each wheel piece. In order to maintain the ratchet and wheel modules in a set position to display a specified number, a pawl has been positioned on the back of the device body in order to hold the ratchet and wheel module in place. As a result of the interaction between the ratchet and wheel module and the pawl, a user must exert a force on to the ratchet and wheel piece to force it to move past the pawl. 
     In another embodiment, the pawl is positioned such that when engaged in detent with the ratchet and wheel module, the pawl is beneath the surface of the back of the device body. When the ratchet and wheel module is rotated, the pawl is pushed out of detent and beyond the surface of the device body. This function prevents the ratchet and wheel module from rotating when the back of the device body is positioned on a flat surface. 
     In a fishing tournament, each new fish caught is quickly identified, weighed, and tagged with the weight tabulated in an appropriate row of a measurement recording modules. With the fish identified by a color or number coded floater and maintained in a live well, when the number of fish exceeds the predetermined number, it is necessary for the fisherman to cull the catch. By an instant review of the tabulations on the present invention, the fisherman can quickly determine and release the lowest weight fish. This continues with each new fish caught. Thus, at the conclusion of the tournament, the fisherman has retained only the fish of the greatest weight. 
     Still other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature. 
     In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “e.g.,” “etc,” and “or” indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fish measurement culling device body showing our new design. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device body showing our new design. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a top elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective of the fish measurement culling device. 
         FIG. 10  is the front perspective of the fish measurement culling device exploded. 
         FIG. 11  is the rear perspective of the fish measurement culling device exploded with cradle. 
         FIG. 12  is the front view of the fish measurement culling device. 
         FIG. 13  is the cross sectional view along vertical axis  13  of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is the cross sectional view along the horizontal axis  14  of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  is the side of the ratchet and wheel module. 
         FIG. 16  is the opposite side view of the ratchet and wheel module of figure 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to a low cost, portable weight tabulation board that has particular utility in recording and maintaining the weight of fish caught during a competitive fishing tournament, where the object is to catch a maximum number of fish during a prescribed time limit. There typically is no limit on the number of fish that may by caught so a convenient and reliable system must be available for the fisherman to allow him to quickly determine the fish to be retained and the fish to cull; thereby, allowing him to maximize the time spent fishing. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to minimizing the potential of measurement loss during the fishing tournament by providing a measurement recording device free of the use of markers and other systems. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the fish measurement culling device  10 , comprising a device body  12 , a floatation chamber  15 , and a measurement chamber  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the fish measurement culling device  10  can float in water. However, it is not necessary that the fish measurement culling device  10  can float in water. Additionally, in another preferred embodiment, the device body  12  is constructed of durable, molded thermoplastic although other materials known can also be used including, but not limited to, a device body made of foam. The device body  12  has a front  18  and a back  20 . On the front  18  of the device body  12  is the name  22  of the invention, The Accu-Cull. Additionally, there is a series of numbers, colors, or other indicia  24  corresponding to the number of measurement recording modules  56  within the measurement chamber  16 . Although in the preferred embodiment there are both numbers and colors  24  located on the front of the device body  12  to correspond to the appropriate tag placed on fish in the live well, any means of indicia can be used to indicate what fish the recorded measurement corresponds. The means for indicating what the measurement displaying modules reference include, but are not limited to, numbers, colors, symbols, words, colored ratchet and wheel modules, and any other form of reference indicia known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, different embodiments can use one or more reference indicia on the device body  12 . 
     Another embodiment of the present invention features a scale attached to the present invention or embodied within the invention. This addition simplifies the method of weighing, recording, and culling fish and fish measurements as all of the tools needed including a scale, a weight recording device, and a method of changing the weights, are included in one device. This simplifies the fisherman&#39;s necessary steps while saving him time and effort. 
     In addition, the measurement chamber  16  has a series  64  of openings  38  to see the numbers  32  on the measurement recording modules  56 . In a preferred embodiment, each of the openings  38  to see the numbers  32  on the ratchet and wheel module  26  has two ears  54  to cover aspects of the number wheel  30  not selected for display. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the measurement recording modules  56  are made of three ratchet and wheel modules  26 . The measurement recording modules  56  can consist of either mechanical or electronic measurement recording modules. Mechanical measurement recording modules can include the ratchet, wheel, and pawl embodiment as in the present invention, a series of tally counters, or any other mechanical counter known. Electronic counters include digital measurement recording modules comprising of a Liquid Crystal Display screen coupled with an electronic circuit for recording and displaying numbers and any other electronic counter known. 
     In the ratchet and wheel embodiment, the number of ratchet and wheel modules  26  can be either increased or decreased depending on the number of digits in the measurement modules  10  desired to be kept. For example, in a typical bass or trout fishing tournament the fish rarely exceed ten pounds therefore the number of digits necessary in recording the weight of the fish is typically only three. However, in a red fish tournament or similar tournament in which the fish are much larger the angler may need to record four, five, or even more digits in the measurement. Although the three ratchet and wheel modules  26  can be connected, in a preferred embodiment the three ratchet and wheel modules are not connected. The two ratchet and wheel modules on the right of the floatation chamber  15  when viewing it from the front, are connected. However, the furthest left most ratchet and wheel module is not connected to the other two in order to allow for a wider break between openings in order to accommodate the indicator dot  46 . The ratchet and wheel modules  26  are made of a ratchet side  28  and a number wheel  30 . The number wheel  30  displays numbers  32  through the opening  38  in the measurement chamber  16 . Furthermore, in an ideal embodiment, each opening  38  in the measurement chamber  32  is open to see the number  32  of the number wheel  30  which has two ears  54  to cover numbers on the number wheel  30  not selected for display. The front  19  of the measurement chamber  16  has an indicator dot  46  positioned to indicate for easy reference the number  32  desired for display on the number wheel  30 . 
     Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the device body  12  fits into a carrier  48 . In this embodiment, the device body  12  has a flange  74  located at the top  66  of the device body  12 . The device body  12  can therefore fit into a cradle  48  which has two corners  72  at the bottom and a clip  70  at the top  66  made to clip over the flange  74  of the device body  12 . In this embodiment, the bottom  68  of the device body  12  fits into the casing  48  for added stability and increased functionality. In one embodiment, the cradle  48  is configured to be mounted on a surface of a boat in order to hold the device body  12  in place. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of the device body  12  in casing  48 . The view illustrates the measurement recording module  56  and the attachment means  36  within the measurement chamber  16 . The measurement recording module  56  is ideally made of three ratchet and wheel modules  26  that are held in place by brackets,  36  within the measurement chamber  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10  the measurement chamber  16  houses the measurement recording modules  56  and the floatation chamber  15  can be hollow in the ideal embodiment or filled with some type of buoyant material such as, but not limited to, foam or a floating plastic. 
     Furthermore, the floatation chamber  15  can be configured to keep the device body  12  floating in water for an extended duration in the event the device body  12  is lost while the fisherman is fishing on a body of water. Although the device body can also be configured not to float in water as well, in one embodiment the floatation chamber  15  is configured to temporarily keep the device body  12  afloat allowing the fisherman to immediately retrieve the device  12  from the body of water he is fishing on or even from a live well if the device body  12  is accidentally dropped into the live well. This is generally achieved by leaving the floatation chamber  15  as a hollow chamber to provide buoyancy to the device body although a buoyant material may be placed in the measurement chamber as well. 
       FIG. 11  represents an exploded rear perspective of the fish measurement culling device  10  including the device body  12  and the cradle  48 . The view illustrates brackets forming the connection means connecting the ratchet and wheel device to the device body brackets  36  attached to the front  18  of the device body  12 . The view also illustrates that the prongs  34  of the measurement recording modules  56  fit into the brackets  36 , of the device body  12 . The view illustrates that the measurement recording modules  56  are composed of three ratchet and wheel modules  26  attached by prongs  34 . The three ratchet and wheel modules  26  are configured to be interlocking in a preferred embodiment of the device body  12  and the measurement chamber  16 . 
       FIG. 11  further illustrates a series of pawls  58 , indented into the back  20  of the device body  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the pawls  58  are formed as indentations in the back  20  of the device body  12 . The pawls  40  can also be attached to the device body  12  using a variety of means including, but not limited to, attaching a separate pawl to the interior of the device body  12  with and adhesive, screw, nut and bolt, or any other attachment mechanism known to those skilled in the art. The series of pawls  58  can be composed of one or more pawls  40  depending on the number of digits desired to be recorded on the fish measurement recording device  56 . The pawls  40  of the device body  12  are intended to interlock with the teeth  42  of the ratchet side  28 . The pawl  40  rests in the indentation  44  of the ratchet teeth  42  when the desired number  32  is displayed on the wheel piece  30 . The pawls  40  are ideally formed as a part of the device body  12 , preferably formed when liquid plastic is poured into a mold for the device body with the mold having a molding for a pawl. Additionally, the ratchet and wheel pieces  26  are also ideally made of a durable thermoplastic. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the ratchet and wheel module  26  both in a selected position  50  in detent, as well as rotating  52  between numbers  32 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a vertical cross section of the measurement chamber  16  illustrating the interaction between the pawl  40  and the teeth  42  of the ratchet piece  28 .  FIG. 13  also illustrates that in one embodiment when the ratchet and wheel module  26  is in detent  50  the pawl  60  is depressed beneath the surface of the measurement chamber  16 . The figure also illustrates that in a preferred embodiment when the ratchet and wheel module  26  is out of detent  52  the pawl is extended  52  beyond the surface of the measurement chamber  16 . This illustrates a further embodiment of the invention in that if the device body is placed on its back on a flat surface, the pawls  40  are not able to extend beyond the surface  76  of the measurement chamber  16  thus preventing the ratchet and wheel modules  26  from rotating. 
     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.