Abstract:
The present invention relates to a foot operated fishing net tipping apparatus releasably attached to a fishing boat comprising: a boat-attaching portion, a net-holding portion, a lock portion, a foot pedal portion and connecting members. A conventional fishing net is therefore frictionally attached within an opening of the net-attaching portion, which rotably pivots atop the boat-attaching portion. A foot pedal is linked to the net-attaching portion as such to allow the pedal&#39;s motion to be transferred to the net-attaching portion. A fisherman can raise and lower the fishing net with one foot, thereby freeing both hands for the fishing rod.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a foot operated fishing net tipping apparatus releasably attached to a fishing boat comprising: a boat-attaching portion, a net-holding portion, a lock portion, a foot pedal portion and connecting members. A fisherman can raise and lower a fishing net with one foot, thereby freeing both hands for the fishing rod. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In fishing, especially from a conventional fishing boat, it is common for fishermen to help one another in bringing a caught fish into the boat by having one person handle the fishing line and another person using a net to secure the catch. On a good day fishing, when two fishermen have a fish on, it becomes virtually impossible to help each other in the above fashion. 
   It became apparent to the inventor to devise an apparatus that would use one&#39;s foot to operate a fishing net from a conventional fishing boat. 
   Prior art teaches of no such apparatus that enables a boat fisherman to operate a fishing net with a foot pedal. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is thus the object of the present invention to provide boat fishermen with a foot operated fishing net tipper designed to free a fisherman&#39;s hands while reeling in his/her catch. 
   In one aspect of the invention, the boat-attaching portion may be fixedly attached to a boat&#39;s upper edge. 
   In another aspect of the invention, the boat-attaching portion may incorporate a clamp-type device to releasably secure said boat-attaching portion. 
   Accordingly, the foot-operated fishing net tipper of the present invention allows a fisherman to operate a fishing net by foot while manipulating a fishing rod with both hands. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following brief description and upon referring to the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown attached to a boat&#39;s side. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 1  of the boat-attaching portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown clamped to a boat&#39;s side. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 1  of the boat-attaching portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown unclamped from a boat&#39;s side. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 1  of the locking latch portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown with the latch engaged. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 1  of the locking latch portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown with the latch disengaged. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 8  of the net holding portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown in a net securing position. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 8  of the net holding portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown in an opened position. 
       FIG. 8  is a right-side elevation view of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown attached to a boat and holding a net in a raised position. 
       FIG. 9  is a right-side elevation view of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown attached to a boat and holding a net in a lowered position. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the boat attaching portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention shown attached to a boat&#39;s side. 
   

   While the invention is described in conjunction with preferred illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals. 
   Turning to the drawings, in particular,  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a perspective view of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention comprising: a boat-attaching portion  2  with each half being a mirror image of the other having a generally planar member  6 , an outer bracket  5 , an inner bracket  9 , an outer clamp  3  adapted with a channel  4  to slide in a mating channel  92  within the outer bracket  5 , an inner clamp  7  also having a channel  8  adapted to slide unidirectionally in a mating channel  92  within the inner bracket  9 , a ratchet mechanism  93  adapted with a hinged member  11  hinged to the planar member  6  within an opening  16  where said hinge member  11  is adapted with a plurality of teeth  12  mating with a reversed pattern of teeth  17  atop the channel  8  of the inner clamp  7 , a pair of upwardly projecting plates  70  integrally attached to the planar member  6  thereby forming two raised fins above said planar member  6  through which a horizontal reinforced perforation  31  is provided to rotably engage an axle  30  holding the net holding portion  20 , a net-holding portion  20  having a lower  21  and an upper  22  hemi-cylindrical half forming a generally hollow tubular member, said lower half  21  is fixedly attached to an net axle housing member  28  through which an axle  30  passes, and also adapted with a hinge  25  and latch pins  24 , the upper half  22  of the net holding portion  20  is adapted with a mating hinge  25 , latches  23  having an opening through which the latch pins  24  of the lower half of the net holding portion  20  frictionally engage, a turn bolt  29  having a knob  27  and a threaded stem  94  protruding a similarly threaded opening at the very top of the upper half  22  of the net holding portion  20 , a strike  13  located on the lower rearmost surface  96  of the lower half of the net holding portion  20  having a rearward hook portion  97  and a horizontal perforation, a lock portion  99  having a pivoting latch  35  and a lever  37  fixedly attached to an lock axle housing  36  so as to rotably with connecting members  62  and  63  where said connecting members  62  and  63  form an axle upon which the locking latch  99  rotates, connecting members  61 ,  62  &amp;  63  including rear stabilizer struts  62  &amp;  63  and a center transmission arm  61 , and a foot pedal assembly  40  having a curved toe portion  41 , a planar heel portion  42  joined by vertically planar joining members  43  to which upwardly protruding tongues  50  are integrally attached, a pedal  100  having an arm  46  and pedal axle housing  45  and a planar pad  47  and an upwardly protruding tongue  51  all integrally attached to said arm  46  by an axle  52  traversing perforations at each joining member  50 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a cross sectional view taken from  FIG. 1  of the boat-attaching portion  2  of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention illustrating a partial section of a boat&#39;s side adapted with the boat-attaching portion  2  comprising: an outer clamp  3  slidably connected to the outer channel portion  5  of the planar base  6  where a widened member  76  contacts the outer surface of the boat&#39;s side  38  just under the boat&#39;s upper lip  39 , and an inner clamp portion  7  ratchetedly attached to the inner channel member  9  of the planar base  6 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , further illustrating the ratchet mechanism  93  comprising: an inner clamp member  7  slidably engaged within a channel  9  fixedly attached to a planar base  6 , and a hinged ratchet latch  18  floating above a mating ratchet surface  17  thereby promoting a solid grip between the ratcheted lower clamp surface and the similarly ratcheted surface  12  of the hinged ratchet latch  18 . The connection can be disengaged by squeezing the handle  11  and  10  together thereby lifting the hinged ratchet latch  18  away from the ratcheted upper surface of the inner clamp member  7 . 
   In reference now again to  FIG. 2 , it can be further understood how when the inner clamp member is pushed outwardly against the inner surface of the boat&#39;s side with the lower grip  14  while pulling the planar surface  6  inwardly with the upper grip  15 , a clamp-like pressure is exerted on both inner and outer surfaces of the boat&#39;s side. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the initial set-up of the boat-attaching portion  2 . The inner clamp member  7  is then inserted within an inner channel within the channel member  9  to engage the ratchet latch. 
   Turning to  FIG. 5 , a cross-sectional view of the ratchet latch assembly in a disengaged position illustrating the freedom granted to the inner clamp member  7  thus allowing said member to be retracted inwardly away from the boat-attaching portion  2  of the present invention. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 8 , illustrating the net holding portion  20  having a lower  21  and an upper  22  hemi-cylindrical half forming a generally hollow tubular member, said lower half  21  is fixedly attached to an net axle housing member  28  through which an axle  30  passes, and also adapted with a hinge  25  and latch pins  24 , the upper half  22  of the net holding portion  20  is adapted with a mating hinge  25 , latches  23  having a opening through which the latch pins  24  of the lower half of the net holding portion  20  frictionally engage, a turn bolt  29  having a knob  27  and a threaded stem  94  protruding a similarly threaded opening at the very top of the upper half  22  of the net holding portion  20 . A net handle  80  may be placed within the hollow cylindrical form by latching the upper latch  23  with the lower latch  24  and tightening the turn bolt  29  fixedly attached to a knob  27  threaded to a reinforced portion  26  of the upper half  22  of the net attaching portion  20 . 
     FIG. 7 , also a cross-sectional view net holding portion  20  in a collapsed position illustrating the release of a quick release latch  23  from the latch  24  of the lower half of the net holding portion  20 . When a fish is captured in the net  80 , the fisherman&#39;s hands are now freed to quickly manipulate the net  80 . Removing the net is accomplished quickly by pulling the upper latches  23  upwardly, releasing said latches from the lower latches  24  thereby allowing rotation of the upper half  21  of the net holding portion  20  thus freeing said net  80 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 , a right side elevation of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention further illustrating the connecting members  61  &amp;  63  and the pedal assembly  40  where two vertical struts  63  are formed of a rigid material such as steel and adapted to pivotally engage to grips  79  at the top portion of the planar base  6  and similarly to perforations  44  within the tongues at the top portion of the pedal joining members  43 , and a transmission strut  61  is similarly engaged to a strike  13  at the lower rearmost surface  96  of the lower half  21  of the net holding portion  20  and to a perforation in a tongue  51  on the upper edge of the pedal member  46 . It can be observed that when downward pressure is applied atop the pad  47  of the pedal member  46 , the transmission strut thereby transfers this action to the net strike  13 , which in turn rotates the net holding portion toward the inner side of the boat thereby tipping up the outer end of said net holding portion  20 . Furthermore, when the net in raise, a locking assembly engages a latch  35  to a strike  13  which holds the net  80  in an upright position. To lower the net back in the water  90 , the fisherman simply depresses a lever  37  integrally attached and pivotally engaged to the vertical struts  62  &amp;  63  thus releasing the net holding portion  20  and net gravitationally. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 10 , a alternative embodiment of the boat attaching portion of the foot operated fishing net tipper of the present invention where the same tipping features are preserved when using a screw-on base  6  without clamps for those boats with a wide upper edge  39 , this base  6  is fastened to the boat&#39;s upper edge  39  by means of screws  90 .