Abstract:
A fishing net system comprises a handle having a top and a bottom. A loop extends from the bottom of the handle, and a mesh is attached to the loop. A connector system is operably coupled to the fishing net at a location spaced apart from the top of the handle. The connector system is configured to removably couple the fishing net to a user&#39;s back. A method is also provided for attaching a landing net to the back panel of a fishing garment, which includes the steps of removably coupling the handle of the landing net to the top section of the garment; and removably coupling the landing net to the middle section of the garment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation in part and claims the benefit of now abandoned U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/783,687, filed Mar. 17, 2006, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the sport of fly fishing, it is common for the fisherman to use a landing net to facilitate the removal of the caught fish from the water. Nonetheless, the landing net is only used occasionally. It is therefore desirable for the landing net to be readily accessible when needed, but to be stored in a location that does not interfere with routine fishing operations such as moving through brush or other obstacles to the fishing site, casting a fly, or operating a rod and reel. The prior art contains several systems for attaching a landing net to a garment worn by the fisherman. For example, Sargent U.S. Pat. No. 1,024,653 describes a device which comprises a clip adapted to removably hold the round handle of a landing net in a vertical position on the back of a fisherman&#39;s garment. Braken U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,391 discloses a fishing garment having a loop that extends down from the neck along the back panel of the garment and carries a ring to which a landing net may be attached. Farber U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,695 describes a pouch-like support adapted for attachment to the back of a fisherman&#39;s garment for removably accommodating a landing net. The complete disclosures of all these references are herein incorporated by reference. 
   Many currently commercially available fishing vests have a single ring sewn near the top of the vest to allow a landing net to be clipped onto the vest using a detachable clip or magnet attached to the net handle. This arrangement works well while the fisherman is standing vertically, but whenever the fisherman bends over, e.g. to grab something, to duck under an obstruction, to work on something, etc., the net may slip off the fisherman&#39;s back, swing to the side, and fall into the fisherman&#39;s face or otherwise interfere with the fisherman&#39;s activities. This may happen many times during the day and can be annoying. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a fishing garment system and method wherein a landing net may be removably secured to the back of a garment, waders, other clothing, fishing vest or the like, and yet stay in place when the fisherman bends over, leans to the side or otherwise moves. In one embodiment, a fishing net system comprises a handle having a top and a bottom. A loop extends from the bottom of the handle, and a mesh is attached to the loop. A connector system is operably coupled to the fishing net at a location spaced apart from the top of the handle. The connector system is configured to removably couple the fishing net to a user&#39;s back. In this way, the connector system may be used to hold the net in place on the user&#39;s back when not in use. 
   A variety of connector systems may be used to couple the fishing net to the user&#39;s back, and may be integrally formed with the net, removably attached or may be provided as a retrofit item. One example of a connector system comprises at least one magnet that is coupled to the handle near where the handle reaches the loop. Another example is a first pair of magnets positioned on opposite sides of the mesh, and a second pair of magnets configured to be placed on opposite sides of a user&#39;s garment. 
   In some cases, the fishing net will also have a coupling system that is coupled to the top end of the handle. With this configuration, the coupling system and the connection system secure the landing net in a vertical position on a back a user&#39;s garment when not in use. 
   In a further embodiment, the invention provides a kit for removably coupling a landing net to a user&#39;s garment. The kit comprises a connection system that is configured to secure the landing net in a vertical position on the back panel of the fishing garment when not in use, and the connection system comprises a net portion and a garment portion. The kit further includes instructions for using the connection system. The instructions may include steps for removably coupling the net portion to the landing net and the garment portion to the garment, and for removably coupling the landing net to the garment using the net portion and the garment portion. 
   In yet another embodiment, a fishing garment system of the invention comprises a fishing garment, e.g. a vest, having a back panel with a top section and a middle section, and a landing net having a handle and a loop with attached mesh. A first connection system is provided that removably couples the end of the landing net handle to the top section of the garment back panel and a second connection system is provided that removably couples the intersection of the handle and loop of the landing net to the middle section of the garment back panel. 
   In preferred embodiments, the first and second connection systems each comprise a pair of complementary connectors that removably couple with each other. In one embodiment, the first connection system may comprise a ring attached to the garment back panel and a clip attached to the landing net handle. In other embodiments, the first connection system may comprise a first and a second magnet, one magnet and a metal plate to which the magnet is attracted, or a first and a second hook and loop fastener (e.g. Velcro® tape), one of which is attached to the back panel of the garment and the other of which is attached to the landing net handle. 
   In one embodiment, the second connection system may comprise a first magnet and second magnet, one magnet and one metal plate attractive to the magnet, or a first and a second hook and loop fastener. One of these connectors may be attached to the middle section of the back panel of the fishing garment, and the other connector may be attached to the intersection of the handle and the loop on the landing net. In one embodiment, one of these connectors may be disposed on the surface of a support that is clipped onto, or sewn into, the fabric in the middle section of the back panel, and one of the connectors may be disposed on a connecting adaptor comprising a circumferential strap adapted to wrap around the landing net handle and a middle strap adapted to engage the circumferential strap at each end thereof and wrap around the landing net loop at the intersection of the handle and the loop. 
   A method is also provided for attaching a landing net to the back panel of a fishing garment, which comprises the steps of removably coupling the handle of the landing net to the top section of the back panel; and removably coupling the intersection of the handle and loop of the landing net to the middle section of the back panel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a rear perspective view of a fishing garment system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an alternative connection system according to the invention. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate perspective views of alternative embodiments of a connecting panel adapted to be attached to the rear panel of a fishing garment. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate perspective views of one embodiment of a connecting adaptor adapted to be attached to the intersection of the handle and loop of a landing net. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrates perspective view of another embodiment of a connecting system that may be used to removable couple a landing net to a user&#39;s garment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention will be further described with reference to the drawings. The same number is used in different drawings to refer to the same elements. 
   The invention provides a variety of techniques for securing a fishing net to a garment or other article. For example, the techniques of the invention may be used to removably couple a fishing net to a fishing vest, chest waders, shirts, jackets or other types of apparel and garments. To removably couple the fishing net to such articles, a variety of techniques may be used. Typically, such nets will be configured to clip to a garment, such as at the end of the handle. Some aspects of the invention provide an additional removable coupling arrangement somewhere on the article being worn by the fisherman to prevent the net from swinging side to side or even over the top of the fisherman. Such a removable coupling arrangement can be integrally formed with the net or may be a removable coupling arrangement. In this way, the coupling arrangement may be sold as an integral part of the net or may be retrofit. Similarly, the connection system may be an integral part of the clothing or garment, or may be attached after purchasing the garment. Further, the coupling arrangement may be provided anywhere along the net or on the garment, but will typically be located somewhere along the handle and the back of the user. 
   Some of the embodiment may use magnets to removably couple the net to the garment, although other connectors may be used, such as a hook and loop fastener material. When magnets are used, they may be provided in pairs so that they may be easily be coupled to the net or clothing with essentially no alterations. For example, one pair of magnets may be placed on opposite sides of the net&#39;s mesh and the other pair may be placed on opposite sides of the garment. The first pair of magnets may then be coupled to the second pair to secure the net to the garment. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a fishing garment system  10  according to the invention. Fishing garment  10  comprises a fishing vest  100  having a back panel with a top section  101  and a middle section  102 . Landing net  105  comprises handle  106  and loop  107  to which mesh  108  is attached. In accordance with the present invention, a first connection system  109  removably couples handle  106  of landing net  105  to vest  100 , and a second connection system  110  removably couples intersection  114  of landing net  105  (where handle  106  joins loop  107 ) to vest  100 . However, it will be appreciated that the second connection system  110  could be located anywhere along handle  106 , on loop  107 , or at multiple locations on the net  105 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , first connection system  109  comprises ring  112  secured to top section  101  of vest  100  and clip  113 , which is attached to end  111  of handle  106 . Clip  113  is adapted to engage ring  112  when landing net  105  is not in use, and is adapted to disengage ring  112  when landing net  105  is needed.  FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative first connection system  209  that removably couples ring  112  of vest  100  to handle  106  of landing net  105 . Connection system  209  comprises a first magnet  201  secured to ring  112  and a second magnet  202  secured to handle  106 . When landing net  105  is not in use, first magnet  201  and first magnet  202  are engaged by magnetic attraction. When it is desired to use landing net  105 , magnets  201  and  202  are pulled apart with moderate force, whereupon magnet  201  remains attached to ring  112  and magnet  202  remains attached to the released landing net  105 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a second connection system  110  is provided that removably couples landing net  105  to vest  100  at the intersection  114  of handle  106  and loop  107 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , second connection system  110  comprises connecting panel  115  (e.g. as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) secured to middle section  102  of vest  100  and connecting adaptor  116  (e.g. as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) secured to intersection  114  of landing net  105 . 
     FIG. 3A  illustrates one embodiment of connecting panel  115 , which may comprise a support  301  having connector  302  disposed on its upper surface  303 . Pin  304  is attached through hinge  305  to lower surface  306  of support  301 . The end of pin  304  is adapted to pierce the fabric of middle section  102  of vest  100  and then engage hook  307 , thereby securing connecting panel  115  to vest  100 . In this way, a connection system may easily be retrofit to existing clothing or garments. 
     FIG. 3B  illustrates another embodiment of connecting panel  115  comprising support  307  having connector  308  disposed on its upper surface. Connecting panel  115  may be sewn into the fabric of middle section  102  of vest  100  with stitches  309 , thereby securing connecting panel  115  to the back panel of vest  100 . Panel  115  may be provided at the time best  100  is manufactured, or at a later time. 
     FIG. 4A  illustrates one embodiment of connecting adaptor  116 , which may comprise circumferential strap  401  adapted to wrap around handle  106  of landing net  105  ( FIG. 1 ) and middle strap  402  adapted to engage circumferential strap  401  at each end thereof and wrap around loop  107  of landing net  105  at intersection  114  of handle  106  and loop  107  ( FIG. 1 ). Circumferential strap  401  and middle strap  402  may be made from any suitable material, e.g. nylon, rubber, canvas, etc. Circumferential strap  401  may comprise a continuous circle that can be slid over handle  106  (as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ), or a linear strip the ends of which may be secured together after wrapping around handle  106 , e.g. using a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro® tape. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4B , middle strap  402  may comprise a linear strip, one or both ends of which are secured to circumferential strap  401  using Velcro® tape  404 . Connector  403  may be disposed on the outer surface of circumferential strap  401 . When positioned on landing net  105 , adaptor  116  covers the intersection  114  of handle  106  and loop  107 , with connector  403  facing connecting panel  115  so as to engage the connector thereon. In some cases, connector  403  could be coupled with an adhesive, placed into a bored out hole in the net, or the like. Also, in one option, some or all of the net itself could be constructed of a metal so that it will easily couple to a magnet on the fishing vest, or vice versa. 
   The connectors used on connecting panel  115  and adaptor  116  may be any complementary connectors that secure landing net  105  to vest  100  when landing net  105  is not in use, yet pull apart when moderate force is applied to remove landing net  105  from vest  100 . For example, the connectors on both connecting panel  115  and adaptor  116  may comprise first and second magnets that attract each other, or one connector may be a magnet and the other connector may be a metal plate to which the magnet is attracted. Alternatively, the connectors may comprise first and second hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro® tape. As a further example, one connector may be a ring and the other connector may be a spring-loaded hook or clip that releases from the clip when moderate force is applied. 
   The present invention is suitable for retrofitting fishing vests that are currently available at a variety of retail outlets. For example, many fishing vests now come equipped with a ring on the top of the rear panel, such as ring  112  shown in  FIG. 1 , and many landing nets include a handle clip such as clip  113  shown in  FIG. 1 . All that is required to take advantage of the present invention with such an arrangement would be to secure a connecting panel, such as connecting panel  115  shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , to the middle section of the vest and to install a connecting adaptor, such as connecting adaptor  116  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , on the landing net so that the connector on the connecting adaptor engages with the connector on the connecting panel. Alternatively, a new vest may be manufactured with the connecting panel integrated into the back of the vest and/or a new landing net may be manufactured with a connector integrated into the intersection of the landing net. 
   Another embodiment of a system that may be used to easily retrofit a fishing net and garment with connectors is illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B .  FIG. 5A  illustrates a net connection system  500  that comprises a pair of magnets  502  and  504 . Magnets  502  and  504  may be encased in a plastic or other protective material that permits the two magnets to easily interlock when attracted to each other. For example, the plastic may having interlocking features, teeth or detents which permit that magnets to interlock and keep from rotating relative to each other. Connection system  500  may be placed on either sides of the mesh  508  of a fishing net  509 . In this way, the fishing net may easily be retrofit to include a connector. Typically, the magnets  502  and  504  will be placed on the mesh within a few inches of where the handle meets the loop, although other locations are possible. 
     FIG. 5B  illustrates a garment connection system  510  that comprises magnets  512  and  514  which may be constructed in a manner similar to magnets  502  and  504 . In this way, magnets  512  and  514  may be placed on opposite sides of a garment  516 , such as a fishing vest, to hold the magnets to the garment. 
   When systems  500  and  510  are coupled to the net and the garment, they may be coupled together simply by hanging the fishing net from the user&#39;s back and permitting the two pairs of magnets  502 ,  504  and  512 ,  514  (which are attracted to each other) to couple to each other. By wiggling the net or the user&#39;s back, the two pairs of magnets will come close enough to each other to couple together. 
   This configuration permits a retrofit kit to be sold which includes four magnets and instructions for use. Such a system is inexpensive and easy to use. 
   The foregoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details shown and described herein, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and substitutions can be made to the preferred embodiments herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.