Abstract:
A handheld landing net hoop shape that positions greater landing net hoop opening in the area an angler first pulls a hooked fish into a landing net. One side of the hoop shape follows a more customary teardrop shape while the other side of the hoop shape extends further and at an angle that complements the natural reach of an angler as he prepares to scoop a hooked fish. It is an efficient use of landing net hoop circumference for the angler who is catching a fish with the aid of a handheld landing net.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to equipment and accessories used by anglers in the sport of fishing. More particularly, it relates to landing nets that are of the type used by anglers to assist them with catching fish. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    To increase their chances for successful fishing, anglers utilize equipment and accessories that will aid in catching fish. The landing net is one piece of equipment that anglers have used for many years to help reduce the load that is otherwise placed on the angler&#39;s hook and on the line that is connected to it when pulling a fish toward the angler, thereby also reducing the risk of losing the hooked fish. It also aids the angler in landing the fish more quickly. More recently, modern anglers opt for the release of the caught fish, the idea being that the fish can recover and be recaught at another time. This catch and release practice of fishing tends to look for ways to decrease the trauma inflicted on the fish while being caught and thereby increasing the likelihood of survival of the released fish. By decreasing the amount of time to land the hooked fish the degree of exhaustion decreases and the likelihood of fish recovery and survival increases. When a landing net is used, fish tend to be caught more quickly. In the view of this inventor, however, there is room for improvement of the traditional landing net, particularly in light of the fact that landing nets have not changed very much over time and certainly not in step with the modern acceptance and goals of catch and release fishing. Some landing nets try to achieve an increase in effectiveness by utilizing a longer handle and or a larger hoop opening thereby making it easier and quicker to get the fish in the net. While these landing net changes can help there are practical limitations to increases in handheld landing net size. In fact, some anglers cite the cumbersome aspect of carrying landing nets as a reason they don&#39;t use them at all or less frequently than they would like to. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The asymmetric hoop shape of the present invention has obtained these objects. The asymmetric shape of the present invention provides for a landing net hoop opening that is proportioned in such a way as to purposefully place more hoop area in the place that the hooked fish initially enters the net in relation to the angler. In consideration of the position of the angler to the approaching hooked fish, greater landing net hoop efficiency can be achieved with the present invention than with the current landing net hoop shapes. The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the present invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a front, top and right side perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a view of how a user may hold the landing net of  FIG. 1 ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate two different perspective views of a landing net  10 , generally identified, that uses the preferred embodiment of a hoop  12  constructed in accordance with the present invention.  FIGS. 1 and 3  illustrate the asymmetric shape of the hoop  12 . The asymmetric hoop  12  shape is shown to extend the hoop  12  opening on the right side of the hoop  12  while the left side of the hoop  12  follows a more traditional shape.  FIG. 3  illustrates the landing net  10  as it may be used by an angler  14  and shows the advantage of the asymmetric hoop  12  shape. 
         [0008]    As shown, the landing net  10  assembly includes a handle  16 , the hoop  12  connected together and a net  18  attached thereto. The handle  16  and the hoop  12  can be constructed of many various materials including, but not limited to wood, metal, composites, thermoplastics and so forth. The net  18  can also be made of various materials such as, but not limited to, nylon mesh, knotted string, rubberized materials and so forth. The hoop  12  being asymmetric in its circumference with one side of the hoop  12  shape following a more traditional shape starting from the hoop  12  connection at the handle  16  and traveling the circumference of the hoop  12  until at the point where a traditional shape typically would return to the handle  16  in a symmetric pattern, but instead continues more laterally until finally making a tighter radius and continuing in a more direct path back to the handle  16 . This arrangement places the most wide aspect of the hoop  12  opening lower down the hoop and further away from the angler holding the landing net thus creating a more advantageous area to catch or scoop the fish  20 . 
         [0009]    In more detail, still referring to  FIG. 3 , in its&#39; most basic functionality, the landing net  10  is extended in the hand of the angler  14  toward a fish  20  being caught. Often, the position of the hooked fish  20  relative to the angler  14  is slightly opposite from the side the angler  14  is holding a fishing rod  22 . Because of this common position of the angler  14  to the hooked fish  20 , the use of the asymmetric hoop  12 , of the present invention, provides the angler  14  a greater hoop  12  opening in the area the hooked fish  20  first enters the landing net  10  over symmetrical hoop shapes of the same circumference and handle length. The hoop  12  of the present invention is not constrained by a specific circumference or handle  16  length. 
         [0010]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 3 , As the angler  14  reaches to scoop the hooked fish  20  with the landing net  10  in his outstretched hand, the hoop  12  shape of the present invention will provide that the most wide portion of the hoop  12  opening will be generally parallel with the water line and in a optimal location to scoop the hooked fish  20 . This placement of hoop  12  opening will give the angler  14  a greater hoop  12  opening area to scoop the hooked fish  20  into the landing net  10 . The landing net  10  is shown in a left hand position of the angler  14  and the asymmetry of the hoop  12  places more hoop  12  opening away from the body of the angler  14  effectively extending the reach of the landing net  10  over a net of traditional shape. 
         [0011]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the asymmetric hoop  12  shape can be utilized in more than one position and in the right hand, left hand or both hands by simply rotating the landing net  10 . The landing net need not only be held by the angler  14  as shown. For example, the landing net  10  of the present invention can be rotated in the hand(s) of the angler  14  so that the most reaching aspect of the hoop  12  is pointed down deeper into the water instead of away from the angler  14 . The idea being that an asymmetric hoop  12  shape allows for various uses of the same landing net  10  because it offers the angler  14  various hoop  12  aspects depending on how it is held. 
         [0012]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the asymmetric aspect of the hoop  12 , when held by the angler  14  as shown, places the wide portion of the hoop  12  further down in the hoop  12  opening thus placing the widest aspect of the hoop  12  in the area where the hooked fish  20  first enters the net. The shape of the asymmetric aspect of the hoop  12  can vary with changing conditions such as, but not limited to, water depth, fish  20  depth, and angler  14  height. The exact design of the present invention should not be considered the only asymmetric shape that will provide the ideal shape for all conditions. The asymmetric shape of the present invention is an example of one asymmetric configuration that can provide the benefits of increased landing net  10  performance and/or uses over symmetric landing nets. The asymmetric hoop  12  shape of the present invention could be adjustable and thus be optimised for varying conditions. 
         [0013]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the advantages of moving the widest aspect of hoop  12  opening further down the hoop  12  and further away from the angler  14  can be achieved either in the right hand, left hand, or both hands by appropriately rotating the landing net  10  in the chosen hand(s). 
         [0014]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, a more efficient handheld landing net  10  hoop  12  shape for any given hoop  12  circumference. 
         [0015]    In broad embodiment, the present invention is a landing net  10  of efficient asymmetric hoop  12  shape for common angler  14  holding positions when catching fish  20 . 
         [0016]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.