Abstract:
Some embodiments of the invention include a net assembly and a lifting mechanism, where the lifting mechanism, when activated, moves the net assembly from a first position beneath the water surface to a second position that is higher than the first position. These embodiments allow anglers and other individuals engaged in sport-fishing to easily net a fish while retaining the use of both hands for other purposes. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This disclosure relates in general to equipment used to capture and restrain objects found in the water, and in particular, to a mechanical netting device for the capture and restraint of objects found in the water.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Many individuals must capture and/or restrain objects found in the water for work and/or play. Sport-fishing from a boat is one example. As opposed to commercial fishing practices that typically use very large nets or long lines to capture many fish at once, sport-fishing refers to an angler who seeks to capture and/or kill an individual fish for primarily recreational purposes.  
         [0005]     When sport-fishing from a boat, the process of bringing a fish into the boat, or “landing” a fish, has traditionally been accomplished using three primary methods, each of which may be performed either by the angler who is playing the fish or by a companion of the angler.  
         [0006]     The first traditional method is to physically grab the fish, either by the tail or by the mouth, using the hand or some type of pliers, and lift it inside the boat. If done by hand, this technique works well only for small fish that lack sharp teeth. If done by the angler, it requires the angler to grasp the fishing rod with one hand while using the other to handle the fish. Furthermore, fish are often played to complete exhaustion before the angler or the angler&#39;s companion attempts to land the fish, which decreases the chances of fish survival if the fish must be released for reasons such as being too small, too large, wrong species, etc. Fish that are allowed to be killed under the applicable fishing regulations are often referred to as “legal.” 
         [0007]     The second traditional method is to gaff the fish. The hook of the gaff is used to pierce the fish and lift it into the boat. If done by the angler, it requires the angler to grasp the fishing rod with one hand while using the other to handle the gaff. Obviously, gaffing should be employed only with legal fish. Ascertaining whether a fish is legal must be accomplished before the fish is gaffed, and this is sometimes difficult, especially when closely related species of fish are present in the water, e.g., there may be up to five species of salmon present in the waters off Alaska.  
         [0008]     The third traditional method, and by far the most popular, is to net the fish using a long-handled net when the fish is close to the boat. If done by the angler, it requires the angler to grasp the fishing rod with one hand while using the other to handle the net.  
         [0009]     In addition to the disadvantages described above, the traditional methods are becoming more inconvenient in the face of increasingly popular catch-and-release regulations that are designed to be protective of the fish. Catch-and-release regulations govern the handling of fish that are caught purely for sport, with the intent that the fish will be released back to the water.  
         [0010]     Fish are harmed by the traditional methods of landing them in numerous ways. For example, it has been shown that lifting fish, especially larger ones, from the buoyancy provided by the water can be traumatic to the fish&#39;s internal organs. It has been shown that traditional fish net made of nylon filaments or hemp filaments can be damaging to fins and gills. It has been shown that handling fish with dry hands can damage the fish&#39;s protective slime coating, which is a barrier to infection.  
         [0011]     In order to minimize harm to fish, some catch-and-release regulations require that the fish be played and released without ever leaving the water. For anglers who use the traditional methods of landing fish described above, this poses increased difficulty. For example, gaffing a fish is entirely incompatible with catch-and-release regulations. Grabbing a fish is still possible, but now the fish must remain in the water while the angler attempts to release the hook. Netting the fish is probably easiest, but the angler must first net the fish, put down the rod, and release the fish, all while maintaining a grip on the net.  
         [0012]     Embodiments of the invention address these and other disadvantages of the traditional methods described above as well as other methods not described. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary lifting mechanism for a mechanical netting device according to some embodiments of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram illustrating an exemplary net assembly for a mechanical netting device according to some embodiments of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the operational configuration of a mechanical netting device that includes the lifting mechanism of  FIG. 1  and the net assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary lifting mechanism  100  for a mechanical netting device according to some embodiments of the invention.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the lifting mechanism  100  includes a portable air tank  110 , a valve  120 , pneumatic tubing  130 , and a pneumatic cylinder  140  that includes a cylinder rod  145 .  
         [0018]     The pneumatic cylinder  140  is operated by compressed air stored in the portable air tank  110 . The compressed air stored in the portable air tank  110  is selectively supplied, using the pneumatic tubing  130 , to either end of the pneumatic cylinder  140  by the valve  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , when compressed air is supplied to one end of the pneumatic cylinder  140 , the cylinder rod  145  is extended from the pneumatic cylinder. When compressed air is supplied to the other end of the pneumatic cylinder  140 , the cylinder rod  145  reverts to its retracted position within the pneumatic cylinder. Because the cylinder rod  145  may be moved both outward and inward by the compressed air, the pneumatic cylinder  140  is categorized as a double-action pneumatic cylinder.  
         [0019]     In alternative embodiments of the invention, the pneumatic cylinder  140  may be a single-action pneumatic cylinder, which can be moved pneumatically in only one direction. In single-action pneumatic cylinders, the return movement of the cylinder rod may be supplied by a spring or some other force when the air pressure is removed.  
         [0020]     The lifting capacity of the pneumatic cylinder depends upon the size of the barrel and the air pressure used to operate it. A variety of pneumatic cylinders having different lifting capacities and stroke lengths may be obtained from numerous pneumatic cylinder manufacturers. An exemplary pneumatic cylinder that is suitable for use with some embodiments of the invention is manufactured by Schrader Bellows as Model FW 2B110521. This particular pneumatic cylinder model possesses a 48 inch stroke.  
         [0021]     Although the lifting mechanism  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  relies upon compressed air to operate, other embodiments of the invention may utilize hydraulic or even electric lifting mechanisms, such as an electric linear actuator. However, electric lifting mechanisms are not preferred because of the wet operating environment. For example, additional waterproofing may be required for the electric circuits of these embodiments.  
         [0022]     According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the valve  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be foot-operated. In other words, an angler standing in a boat with both hands otherwise occupied may use a foot to move the valve  120  to a position that causes the cylinder rod  145  to extend from the pneumatic cylinder  140 . The pneumatic tubing  130  illustrated in  FIG. 1  does not necessarily represent the actual length of the pneumatic tubing  130  used in embodiments of the invention. Preferably, the length of the pneumatic tubing  130  is long enough to allow the valve  120  and the portable air tank  110  to be positioned on the floor of the boat while the pneumatic cylinder  140  is positioned outside of the boat.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram illustrating an exemplary net assembly  200  for a mechanical netting device according to some embodiments of the invention.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the net assembly  200  includes a net  210 , a net support  220 , and a net attachment  230 . The net support  220  defines the shape and size of the opening for the net  210 . Although the shape of the illustrated net support  220  is rectangular, alternative embodiments of the invention may use other shapes, such as circular shapes, oval shapes, square shapes, etc. The actual size of the illustrated net support  220 , as well as the size and depth of the net  210 , will depend to a large extent upon the expected size of the fish that are to be caught. The net attachment  230  is structured to connect the net support  220  to the exposed end of the cylinder rod  145  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the operational configuration of a mechanical netting device  300  that includes the lifting mechanism of  FIG. 1  and the net assembly of  FIG. 2 . For ease of illustration, only the pneumatic cylinder  140  and the cylinder rod  145  of the lifting mechanism  100  are shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the netting device  300  also includes a boat attachment  320 . Preferably, the boat attachment  320  is a clamp that allows the netting device  300  to be positioned in any suitable location on the gunwale  310  of the boat. The boat attachment  320  may also be permanently affixed to the gunwale  310 , but detachably affixed to the pneumatic cylinder  140 . Either option would allow the netting device  300  to be removed from the boat during transit between fishing areas, docking of the boat, etc.  
         [0027]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the net attachment  230  connects the net assembly  200  to the exposed end of the cylinder rod  145 . In preferred embodiments of the invention, the net attachment  230  and the cylinder rod  145  are detachably affixed to each other. Furthermore, the net attachment  230  may also be detachably affixed to the net support  220 , and the net  210  is preferably detachably affixed to the net support  220 . That is, the cylinder rod  145 , the net attachment  230 , the net support  220 , and the net  210  may be easily connected and disconnected to facilitate transport of the netting device  300 .  
         [0028]     An exemplary operational configuration of the netting device  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . When the cylinder rod  145  is in the retracted position within the pneumatic cylinder  140 , the net support  220  and the top of the net  210  is positioned at some distance below the waterline. Preferably, this distance is large enough to allow the angler to easily guide a hooked fish over the net, but small enough so that the chances of the fish swimming the line around the net support  220  or the net attachment  230  and breaking off is minimized.  
         [0029]     Operation of the netting device  300  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 . Once the netting device  300  is assembled as shown in  FIG. 3 , a hooked fish may be led over the rectangular opening of the net support  220 . After the fish is in position, the angler or another person may operate the valve  120  so that compressed air from the portable air tank  110  causes the cylinder rod  145  to quickly extend from the pneumatic cylinder  140 . The movement of the cylinder rod  145  raises the net assembly  200 , and the fish is netted.  
         [0030]     Since the net assembly  200  will remain in the extended position until the valve  120  is used to lower the net assembly, the netting device  300  enables the angler or another person to use both hands to remove the hook from the fish, measure the fish, identify the fish, or whatever else is required before the fish is released or killed. Once the hook is removed from the fish, the valve  120  may be triggered to lower the net assembly  200  below the waterline and allow the fish to escape.  
         [0031]     The highest extended position of the net assembly  200  may be determined by adding the distance that the cylinder rod  145  is displaced from the lowest initial position of the net assembly. After the cylinder rod  145  is extended, the net assembly  200  may be positioned so that the net support  220  is above the waterline but the bottom of the net  210  remains a distance below the waterline. Thus the netted fish is prevented from escaping but still remains within the water, which minimizes the harm done to the fish. Alternatively, the initial starting position of the net assembly  200  may be fixed at a point so that after the cylinder rod  145  is extended the entire net  210  is above the waterline.  
         [0032]     According to some embodiments of the invention, the angler or another person may adjust the highest position of the net assembly  200  by fixing the initial position of the net assembly at the appropriate depth below the waterline. This may be accomplished by adjusting the position at which the boat attachment  320  connects to the pneumatic cylinder  140 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the boat attachment  320  is shown attached near the top of the pneumatic cylinder  140 . Thus, the net assembly  200  is near the limit of how deep its initial position may be set. If the boat attachment  320  was a clamp, the initial position of the net assembly  200  could be raised by clamping the pneumatic cylinder  140  at a position closer to its midpoint.  
         [0033]     According to alternative embodiments of the invention, the maximum height achieved by the net assembly  200  could be adjusted, not by setting its initial depth at the desired position, but by limiting the distance that the cylinder rod  145  is displaced from the retracted position within the pneumatic cylinder  140 .  
         [0034]     It should be apparent that some embodiments of the invention will have different physical dimensions and shapes compared to other embodiments depending on the size of the boat, and the size of the fish that are expected to be caught. For example, boats that have a larger average distance between the waterline and the tops of the gunwales may require a longer pneumatic cylinder than those boats having a smaller average distance between the waterline and the tops of the gunwales. As another example, the size of the pneumatic cylinder may also vary depending on the average size of the fish that are expected to be caught. A 45 pound Chinook salmon would require a beefier pneumatic cylinder than an 8 pound trout.  
         [0035]     Alternatively, some embodiments of the invention may accommodate larger fish by using more than one pneumatic cylinder. For example, the net assembly  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2  has only one net attachment  230 . Some embodiments of the invention may have a net assembly with two net attachments  230 , each net attachment connected to a corresponding pneumatic cylinder  140 . In this case, the valve  120  of  FIG. 1  may be structured to supply air simultaneously to both of the pneumatic cylinders.  
         [0036]     Embodiments of the invention, such as those described above, allow an angler or another person to unhook, measure, identify, or otherwise inspect the fish for legality while the fish remains entirely or partially in the water, thus minimizing the harm done to the fish. Embodiments of the invention also enable an angler to net a fish by himself or herself, without help from other persons, and without requiring the angler to remove a hand from the fishing rod. The angler or another person may also unhook, measure, identify, or otherwise inspect the fish for legality without having to place the fish inside the boat, and without having to use one hand to maintain control of the net. Thus, the amount of additional water and fish slime introduced inside the interior of the boat is minimized, increasing the safety of those standing or sitting inside the boat.  
         [0037]     Furthermore, embodiments of the invention are capable of lifting even very heavy fish to a point where it becomes easier for a person to transfer the fish to the boat. According to some embodiments of the invention, the net attachment  230  may be structured to swivel about an axis that passes longitudinally through the center of the cylinder rod  145 . Thus, the net assembly  200  and net  210  may be extended from the water, rotated to a point over the inside of the boat, and then lowered again. This movement of the mechanical netting device  300  would allow a person to lift and lower even very heavy fish into the boat with very little effort.  
         [0038]     Although the embodiments of the invention described above were illustrated in the context of sport-fishing from a boat, other embodiments could easily be attached to a fixed structure such as a boat dock or a pier. This would allow anglers fishing from shore, and especially handicapped anglers, to more easily catch and release and/or catch and kill their limit of fish.  
         [0039]     Embodiments of the invention are also not strictly limited to sport-fishing applications. For example, embodiments of the invention may be useful for those who work with other aquatic species, such as whales, dolphins, alligators, etc. As another example, embodiments of the invention may be useful in search and rescue operations to help retrieve people from the water.  
         [0040]     As yet another example, embodiments of the invention may be installed so that people who fall overboard on large boats could accomplish a self-rescue, i.e., the lifting mechanism may be configured to be activated by a person who is treading water adjacent to the gunwale of the boat. Embodiments of this type may be especially useful aboard cruise ships and commercial fishing vessels.  
         [0041]     Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, “another”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment.  
         [0042]     The preceding embodiments are exemplary. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the concepts taught herein can be tailored to a particular application in many other advantageous ways. In particular, those skilled in the art will recognize that the illustrated embodiments are but one of many alternative implementations that will become apparent upon reading this disclosure. Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in the exemplary embodiments, it should be apparent that the embodiments described above can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. I claim all modifications and variation encompassed by the spirit and scope of the following claims.