Abstract:
One embodiment of a castable fish catching net device operable by one person for capturing aquatic animals from any body of water without the need for the operator to enter the water. Includes a purse type seine supported by a generally triangular frame which is heavier than the surrounding water thus providing a sinking force. A handle is attached to the apex of the triangular frame extending in towards the center of the frame. A casting and retrieval cord is attachable to the most center end of the handle. Buoyant means is provided to orient the fish catching net device in a substantially vertical attitude relative to the surface of the body of water as it descends into the water. The purse shaped net has membranes that generate a buoyant-force as the fish catching net device is dragged through the water thus providing the operator with the ability to control the depth of deployment by varying the speed of forward travel through the water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This application generally relates to fish catching nets, specifically to the type that can be cast away and retrieved by one person and can also be towed behind watercraft for trawling. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Nets have been used to capture aquatic animals since prehistoric times. Trawl nets are deployed from watercraft. Seine nets are used from the shore. The oldest nets are rectangular sheets of mesh. To be useful from the shore, two people must wade into the water with the ends of the net attached to poles that are used as handles and to keep the net upright. Together, they drag themselves and the net through the water hoping they don&#39;t scare away what they are attempting to catch. This type of seine is only useful with two operators and is limited to areas of gentle slope less than waist deep. This type of net predates written history. 
     The prior art exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,214 to Cline (1987 Mar. 31) reveals a seine that is pushed through the water. It provides a cumbersome and heavy frame with an attached elongated handle. It requires flotation devices to help overcome its weight and size. It must be assembled and disassembled before and after each use. The operator must enter the water while holding it in position and attempt to push it through the water. Due to its large size, it could not be used in moving water such as streams or rivers. No commercial success was ever achieved with this design. 
     A cast type net has been used for millennia throughout the world. It dates back at least to ancient Egypt. It consists of a circular planar or conical mesh net which has weights affixed around the perimeter. Drawstrings are attached to the underside from multiple points of the perimeter. The strings join together at a center hole through which they pass and are attached to a retrieval line. The operator must fold the net such that the strings, weights, net, and retrieval line do not tangle. The user attempts to put enough spin on the net as it is thrown so that the weights spread the net flat before it lands on the surface of the water. 
     With a perfect throw, the net lands about three meters away and sinks directly towards the bottom. The weights sink faster than the net and converge to close the net. An effort to slow the premature closing of this type of net was offered in patent application publication US 2003/0131519 A1(2001 Jul. 17) by Fickling. The application shows an additional strip of material added to the perimeter. 
     The noise of the weights and net hitting the surface of the water is the same as throwing a large handful of rocks into the water. Any fish directly below are unlikely to stay around. When the operator drags the closed net across the bottom through mud, weeds, rocks, and sticks, it often snags and is damaged beyond repair. The time it takes to fold the net properly, throw it, retrieve it and refold it for another attempt is considerable and requires a degree of skill and physical exertion. 
     The convertible dip net in U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,531 to Holden (1970 Dec. 22) is an attempt to make a net that can roll along the bottom as it is pulled by multiple retrieval lines attached to a circular frame. It is limited to smooth bottom surfaces only. It can only capture bottom dwelling creatures in the trawl mode. It cannot be cast out and retrieved. It requires assembly and disassembly for the different modes of operation and transportation. No commercial success was ever achieved by this design. 
     The net assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,869 to Murguido (1998 Apr. 14) is primarily for capturing crustaceans. The operator must use a bait item on a hook, cast the net into the water and passively wait. The hope is that the crustaceans will enter the net and stay long enough so that when the net is retrieved they will not escape. It is not designed as a seine for capturing fish in that the net is deployed vertical in the water. 
     An rigid net anchored to the bottom of a stream bed is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,510 to Anderson (1997 Apr. 1). To attempt to capture minnows, the operator must enter the stream and secure the unit to the bottom. The operator then moves upstream and tries to chase any bait items into the net. The operator then must travel in the water back to the unit and reach down into the water to retrieve it. Wading through swift current over rocks, submerged branches, mud, and plants requires a great deal of effort and can be dangerous. No commercial success was ever achieved with this design. 
     Another attempt at a framed net anchored to the bottom of a stream bed is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,703 to Walter (1988 May 24). It consists of a large tripod-like frame with an attachable net. The net has both weights and floats. The user must assemble it at each location. The user must anchor the net assembly to the bottom of a body of water, move upstream and attempt to chase aquatic animals into the net. This concept is for use only in streams. No commercial success was ever achieved with this design. 
     Although U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,484 to Kinoshita (1990 Apr. 10) is in reference to deep sea trawl fishing for bottom dwelling fish, it is described in the interest of full disclosure. The claims of this patent are to provide the ability to raise or lower the trawl net as it is dragged near the bottom of the ocean. A solid sheet membrane is attached to the leading edge of the trawl net. A rope is attached to the free leading edge of the solid sheet so that the angle of inclination of the sheet can be increased or decreased. Floats and weights must be attached to the deflection membrane to make it effective. Other attempts of depth control are the use of solid canard wing-like deflectors attached to the otter boards of commercial trawl nets that can be varied in the angle of inclination with respect to the direction of travel. 
     A number of disadvantages are apparent in the selection of seines and trawl nets that are commercially available. Most seines require two people who are willing to enter the water. This is difficult and dangerous. The noise and disturbance is great enough to scare most bait items and fish away. These nets are only useful in water less than waist deep. The nets that are castable are difficult to use. They require a level of skill and physical effort to be of any use. They are very limited in the distance that they can be thrown. They can only be deployed in water deep enough to allow the net to close as it descends into the water. The actual volume of water that is seined through is minimal due to the rapid closing of the net once it hit the surface. The noise they make when they hit the surface of the water scares minnows to shallow water where they are less likely to be eaten by larger predators. These nets cannot be deployed in shallow water where most bait items stay. Dragging these nets across the bottom of the lake or stream often destroys the net due to abrasion and snagging. 
     In view of the forgoing, there is a need for a net that a single person can operate without entering the water. Additionally, this net should also be able to be towed for trawling without having to be converted from its original form. This net should be able to capture aquatic animals from different depths and distances at the choice of the operator. It should be useful in deep or shallow water. It should be able to be deployed from shore, pier, or watercraft. It should be easy enough to deploy so that even children can make use of it. It should not require any preparation for use. It should not require any special physical effort or skill. 
     SUMMARY 
     The advantages of the first embodiment of the subject of this application are that it provides a fish catching net that is operable by one person without the need to enter the water, and needs no preparation or assembly to make use of. A further advantage is that it can be cast and retrieved, and towed for trawling in its original form. Another advantage is that the net assembly provides the ability to capture all forms of aquatic animals from different depths and distances. Additionally, the net assembly can exploit the survival instinct in prey which move toward shallow water when frightened in an attempt to avoid being eaten by larger predators. A further advantage is that the net assembly has a handle integral within the net assembly with which the user may conveniently hold the net assembly in order to remove whatever has been captured. The net assembly may be constructed of inexpensive materials which are readily available and manufactured without the necessity of extensive tooling and labor. 
     The first embodiment of the structure of a fish catching net comprises a generally triangular frame with a handle projecting inward from the apex of the triangular shape towards a center position of the frame. The frame may be formed from a round rod of rigid material or tubing. A casting and retrieval cord is attachable to the most center end of the handle. The netting may be attached to the frame by inserting the frame rod into a channel in the netting. This channel may be formed by folding the leading edge of the netting over and mating the edge to the body of the netting thus forming the tubular channel. This channel may be slid over the frame thus defining the intake opening of the net. The purse shape of the attached net may be formed such that the upper back portion of the net is at an incline. This inclination provides a buoyant-force to cause the net assembly to rise if the forward rate of movement through the water is increased. This buoyant-force is produced by the deflecting resistance of the water against the inclined net membrane. The weight of the frame will cause the net assembly to descend into deeper water with a slower rate of forward movement. This feature will be useful in both seining and trawling modes of operation. While this description is in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, accordingly, it should be understood that it is illustrative and not limiting. 
     For use as a seine, the operator may tether the unattached end of the casting and retrieval cord to a wrist, beltloop, pole, casting rod and reel, or any other suitable item. The net assembly is thrown into the water out to whatever distance is desired. Enough air is captured in the handle tube to provide the amount of buoyancy needed to keep the frame in a vertical position as the net descends into the water. 
     The net is retrieved by pulling the cord at different rates of speed. To capture aquatic animals at the surface of the water, a faster rate of retrieval is used. To capture aquatic animals at intermediate depths, variable rates of retrieval are used. To capture bottom dwellers, the net assembly is allowed to descend fully and a slower retrieval rate is employed. 
     For trawling, the unattached end of the cord is tethered to a suitable location on the aft portion of the watercraft. As the vehicle moves forward, the net assembly trails behind at whatever depth the operator chooses by varying the rate of forward travel. The size of the net assembly is such that it is legal to use it in this manner in most states on inland waterways and coastal regions. It can be used to capture any form of aquatic animal be it minnows, baitfish, shrimp, crustaceans and fish. 
     The net assembly may be used in a passive manner in streams and rivers by tethering the unattached end of the retrieval cord to a suitable anchor point, such as an overhanging branch, or a pole extending over the water, such that the net is deployed into the current. Aquatic animals may be trapped in the net by the force of the moving water through the net until retrieved by the operator. 
     Thus, several advantages of one or more aspects are to provide a more convenient fish catching net. Other advantages of one or more aspects are to provide a more functional and useful fish catching net. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing embodiments of a castable framed fish catching net without placing limitations thereon. While only one embodiment has thus been described, it is to be understood that other embodiments and variations may be made within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fish catching net device in accordance with the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view the fish catching net device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a frontal view in detail of the handle and cord attachment of the fish catching net device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the lower end cap of the handle illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the upper end cap of the handle illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 first embodiment of a fish  
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 catching net assembly 
                   
                   
               
               
                 40 
                 generally triangular frame 
                 50 
                 handle 
               
               
                 60 
                 mesh netting 
                 70  
                 casting and retrieval cord 
               
               
                 42  
                 parallel handle supports 
                 52 
                 handle tube 
               
               
                 54 
                 upper end cap 
                 56  
                 lower end cap 
               
               
                 56H 
                 hole in lower end cap 
                 58  
                 cotter pin 
               
               
                 58A 
                 cotter pin loop 
                 58B  
                 cotter pin tangs 
               
               
                 62  
                 upper seam of mesh net 
                 64  
                 bottom of mesh net 
               
               
                 66L 
                 left side of mesh net 
                 66R 
                 right side of mesh net 
               
               
                 72  
                 crimp fastener 
                 82  
                 barrel swivel 
               
               
                 84A 
                 upper eyelet 
                 84B  
                 lower eyelet 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
     FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5   
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fish catching net assembly generally referred to with numeral  10 . Net assembly  10  comprises a frame  40  that supports a mesh net  60 , and a tubular handle  50  to which is attached a casting and retrieval cord  70 . Frame  40  is formed of a single elongated structural member, generally shaped into a triangle. However it can be formed into different shapes, such as oval, circular, rectangular, or square. I contemplate that the structural member that forms frame  40  of this embodiment be made of a round aluminum rod that is 8 mm in diameter and 180 cm long, but other thicknesses and lengths are also suitable. Other materials such as copper, plastic, fiberglass etc., as well as hollow round, square, or rectangular tubing would also be suitable. A pair of parallel handle supports  42  are formed as the ends of the structural member are further shaped so that they project inward from the apex of the triangle toward a center point of frame  40 . 
     In the first embodiment of net assembly  10 , I anticipate frame  40  to be of a right triangular shape with a hypotenuse being 60 centimeters in length. I contemplate each right angled side of this triangle to be 50 centimeters in length. In practice, frame  40  may be fabricated as large as desired and be of other geometric shapes and still be within the scope of other embodiments that are possible. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , mesh net  60  is illustrated as a generally converging purse shape adapted to be fitted around and attached to frame  40  at its front end and converging to a more narrow pocket at its rear end. Mesh net  60  may consist of mesh netting, string netting, loosely woven fabric, or other suitable material. Mesh net  60  can be cut and sewn from one piece of material and stitched such that it forms a bottom  64  and two sides  66 L and  66 R. The elongated member that forms frame  40  supports mesh net  60 . The generally triangular shape of frame  40  defines the opening of the purse shape. The uppermost edges of sides  66 L and  66 R are mated together to form an upper seam  62 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the angle of elevation in the vertical direction of seam  62  is an incline from the apex of frame  40  downward toward the rear of bottom  64 . I contemplate that mesh net  60  be made of knotless nylon netting with a mesh size of 5 mm although other materials and mesh sizes would also be suitable. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an upper end cap  54  has two holes bored into its uppermost surface such that it will receive handle supports  42  through these holes.  FIG. 3  shows that cap  54  is slid to the uppermost points of handle supports  42 . I contemplate that cap  54  is adhered to handle supports  42  with marine epoxy adhesive although other types of adhesives would also be suitable. A handle tube  52  is coupled to cap  54  encasing handle supports  42  within itself.  FIG. 4  shows a lower end cap  56  having a hole  56 H bored into the centermost position of its bottom-most surface.  FIG. 3  shows a cotter pin  58  consisting of a loop  58 A and tangs  58 B. A barrel swivel  82  has an upper eyelet  84 A and a lower eyelet  84 B. Swivel  82  is attached to cotter pin  58  by spreading tangs  58 B apart and sliding eyelet  84 A between tangs  58 B into loop  58 A. The tangs  58 B of cotter pin  58  are inserted into hole  56 H from the outside of cap  56  and bent thus fastening cotter pin  58  securely to cap  56 . Hole  56 H is then sealed with epoxy, silicone, or other similar substances thus excluding water from entering into handle  50 . End cap  56  is coupled to the bottom end of handle tube  52  with adhesive. 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates how cord  70  is tethered to eyelet  84 B. By inserting cord  70  through eyelet  84 B and using a crimp fastener  72  to affix the end of cord  70  to itself, cord  70  is securely attached to eyelet  84 B. Although many different materials may be used for cord  70 , I contemplate using a 4 mm diameter solid braid nylon rope. I contemplate cord  70  to be 10 meters in length, although any length desired will be useful depending on personal preference. 
     Operation— FIGS. 1 and 2   
     In preparation for using net assembly  10  in a seining operation, a fisherman fastens the unattached end of cord  70  to a desired anchor point be it a wrist, belt loop, or other suitable location. Grasping the apex of frame  40 , the user tosses net assembly  10  out over a body of water to whatever distance is chosen. Upon landing on the surface of the water, net assembly  10  will begin to descend. The amount of air captured within handle  50  will keep net assembly  10  substantially vertical while it is submerged in the water. As tension is applied to cord  70 , frame  40  will orient itself into a substantially perpendicular attitude relative to cord  70 . This is a result of the central location of the attachment point of cord  70  to handle  50 , and the resistance against mesh net  60  by the water as net assembly  10  is pulled forward. The weight of frame  40  will cause net assembly  10  to descend deeper into the water if no forward movement is produced. The user can retrieve net assembly  10  by pulling on cord  70  thus propelling it through the water back to the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  which is a side elevational view of net assembly  10 , the upper edges of sides  66 L and  66 R of mesh net  60  are mated at seam  62 . This results in an inclination of the upper portion of mesh net  60  descending from the apex of frame  40  to the rear of bottom  64 . This inclination of mesh net  60  will generate a buoyant-force as a result of the deflection of the water against this portion of net  60  as net assembly  10  moves forward. This deflective force will cause net assembly  10  to rise. The amount of buoyant-force generated is proportional to the speed with which net assembly  10  is pulled through the water. The user has the option of capturing aquatic life from any depth desired by varying the rate of retrieval of net assembly  10 . If desired, the user may begin retrieving net assembly  10  immediately upon deployment. By pulling cord  70  rapidly, net assembly  10  will remain just below the surface of the body of water thereby capturing anything in its path back to the user. An intermediate depth may be seined by slowing the rate of retrieval. Bottom depths may be seined by allowing net assembly  10  to descend fully and retrieving it with an even slower rate of forward movement of through the water. Cord  70  may be attached to the end of a casting rod or long pole and net assembly  10  pulled parallel to the shoreline. Handle  50  is used for lifting and holding net assembly  10  to remove any aquatic animals that have been captured. 
     For trawling from watercraft, the fisherman secures the unattached end of cord  70  to a suitable anchoring point on the aft portion of the watercraft. Net assembly  10  is deployed into the water and as the watercraft moves forward, it trails behind at whatever distance is chosen by the length of cord released. The depth of deployment is determined by varying the rate of forward travel. Net assembly  10  may be retrieved, emptied of catch, and redeployed without the need to stop the watercraft. 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     The nets used by man to capture aquatic animals have changed little in thousands of years. The efforts revealed by the prior art failed to solve the problem in a satisfactory way. All attempts diverged from each other in function. Not even combinations of designs or attempted improvements of existing devices have yielded a breakthrough in an effective device or method of capture. None have succeeded in the marketplace. To have to enter the water to catch fish and bait items is dangerous and unacceptable. No devices have been developed that utilize a new principle of operation. If this principle were in fact obvious, it would have by now resulted in a device created by any one of the billions of humans that attempt to capture aquatic animals as a food source or for sport. 
     Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the castable framed fish catching net will provide a more reliable, convenient, yet lightweight device with which to capture aquatic animals. The first embodiment can be used successfully by persons of almost any age. Additionally, no preparation or special skills are needed. It can be cast and retrieved, and towed for trawling in its original form. It is operable by one person without the need to enter the water. It can be deployed from the shore, pier, or watercraft. One advantage is that the device can be used to capture aquatic animals from the different depths and distances that might be desired by the user. In that it can be used in deep or shallow water, it exploits the survival instinct in prey animals that tend to swim toward shallow water when frightened in an attempt to avoid being eaten by larger predators. 
     While the above description is considered as illustrative only of the principle of one embodiment and contains many specifities, it should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Therefore, it should be understood that modifications of construction methods and materials are comprehended in the spirit of the various embodiments that are possible. All suitable modifications and equivalent revisions may be made within these embodiments. 
     For example, with regards to the shape of frame  40 , a second embodiment, not shown, of fish catching net assembly  10  is that frame  40  be of a rectangular shape. A third embodiment, not shown, of net assembly  10  is that frame  40  be of a circular shape. Additionally, frame  40  can be formed of a sealed hollow tube. Weights affixed inside or outside the tube could provide the mass needed to cause net assembly  10  to descend into the water. The air captured inside the tubing would keep net assembly  10  vertical while it is descending into the water. Further embodiments could form the purse net  60  from knotted string netting, loosely woven fabric, etc. Casting and retrieval cord  70  could be made detachable by the use of a clasp type barrel swivel. The length of cord  70  could be extended greatly for trawling at longer distances from the watercraft or reaching greater depths. Another variation possible is to provide for handle  50  to be pivotal. Handle  50  could then be rotated from inside the triangular shape to the outside converting net assembly  10  into a dip net or a fish landing net. 
     Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments described and illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.