Patent Publication Number: US-6901674-B2

Title: Lighted fish measurement device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of fish measurement devices, and more particularly to a lighted fish measurement apparatus to identify slot fish. 
     Since the time length restrictions have been put into place for anglers, many devices have been designed to measure the length of the fish to aid the angler in determining a legal catch. As years passed, size limitations have changed to also include many variations of rules to any given body of water. Some of these limitations include possession of a determined number of fish may be kept under a certain specified size and a determined number of fish may be kept over a determined size. Another variation of size limitations may state that legal fish fall into a specified range, where anglers may only possess fish between two determined measurements. In either case, whether the span between two measurements is legal for possession or fish that must be returned to the water, these fish are referred to as “slot” fish. In some states, Wis. for example, these size limitations vary from lake to lake for the same species. An angler must determine whether a fish that is caught falls inside or outside these slot areas both in the daylight and after daylight hours. Prior technology is deficient in aiding an angler in determining the many variations in size limitations during the day or night. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,988 issued to C. T. Lunn shows a device to measure the length of a fish, though is not helpful in the determination of slot sized fish. There is mention of measurement in day or night hours by coating with a phosphorescent material to allow the apparatus to glow in the dark. This is a very time limited solution, as after a period of time the device will not be easily seen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,575 issued to Hoover et al. discusses the determination of slot size fish though the apparatus falls short in aiding the determination of these fish. The determination after daylight hours is also not addressed. Fedora, U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,932, indicates the legal size limitations of multiple species of fish directly on the rule. Though slot sizes could also be indicated on the rule, the device cannot easily be changed when fishing lake to lake with varying size restrictions. Schnell, U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,521 B1, created a portable backlit fish cleaning measurement device. Though the apparatus addresses the measuring of fish in low light conditions, it does not address variations in slot size indications needed by an angler. 
     With reference to slot fish, the above fish measurement devices rely on the fisherman to determine whether the measured length of a fish falls into slot regulations. The following information will illustrate a fish measuring device in which enables the user to measure a fish in daylight and low light conditions along with easily identifying slot regulated catches. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the invention is a fish measurement device. 
     Another object of the invention is to aid in determining slot fish and be allowed to vary as size restrictions demand. 
     A further object of the invention is to be lighted for measuring fish in low light conditions. 
     Another object of the invention is ability to indicate “slot” fish by overlay or electronic display. 
     A further object of the invention is a low profile waterproof enclosure as to not to obstruct personal movement in a boat. 
     Yet another object of the invention is American Standard and Metric Measurements. 
     Still yet another object of the invention is the apparatus is mountable in multiple locations in a fishing vessel. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lighted fish measurement device comprises a connection means to outside power source; a backlight source; circuitry means to connect said outside power source to said backlight source; a generally clear face including graduations in American Standard and Metric measurements; a semi-transparent colored overlay, variable in length, highlighting user defined graduations; a rugged waterproof enclosure, and a means to secure said lighted fish measurement device to a fishing vessel. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a view of the semi-transparent colored overlay depicting lengths can be cut to varied lengths. 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross sectional view of the enclosure and generally clear face. 
         FIG. 2  is a cutaway view of the enclosure and rule exposing view of the printed wiring board with inverted mounted LEDs for backlight. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the invention mounted on a cross sectional view of the surface in which mounted. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the invention mounted on the front deck of a fishing boat. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the invention mounted on the side of the front deck of a fishing boat. 
         FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of the invention mounted on the side of a fishing boat gunnel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
     With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1. 28  is a rugged waterproof enclosure that houses the apparatus.  23  are flanges that protrude from the base of the enclosure  28  to allow the device to be mounted to a flat surface in a fishing vessel. Flanges  23  include holes  24  to be mounted with a screw.  27  is the generally clear face of the apparatus that includes measurement graduations in American Standard inches  21  and Metric cm  22 . For length measurement, the fish is placed over the top of the rule  27  where one end of the fish is held at the beginning of the rule and the length of the fish is then determined by reading the graduation seen at the other end of the fish. 
     In accordance with the present invention,  25  displays a semi-transparent colored overlay where the  FIG. 1A  shows it able to be user cut to length. The length of the overlay may be cut to varying sizes to indicate a measurement span defining the slot dimension per a given body of water.  25 , after being cut to length can easily be inserted into grooves in the enclosure  26 . The  26  grooves do not penetrate the enclosure, but are deep enough to hold the overlay  25  firmly. The user may be able to slide the overlay slightly back and forth on the rule to make minor adjustments.  FIG. 1B  shows the cross sectional view of the enclosure  28 , generally clear face  27  and the grooves  26 . The design allows the user to easily remove the semi-transparent colored overlay indicating the slot area on the rule  27  and insert a new measured and trimmed overlay  25  when fishing another body of water where the size regulations have changed. The overlay is washable, reusable, inexpensive so also disposable and easily replaceable. The user may also indicate the specific lake an overlay is to be used by writing on with permanent marker. When a fish is placed on the rule and the length of the catch falls onto the colored area of the overlay, the angler can easily tell whether the fish falls into the slot size and still read the measurement through the overlay. The colors may be green for a keeper or red to indicate a fish that must be returned to the water. With use of the invention, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the time the chain of events to measure and determine slot fish is greatly reduced. A swift measurement can be taken and determination that a fish must be released, results in the fish being out of the water for a shorter period of time, causing less harm to the fish. 
     An alternate embodiment may use colored or grayscale electronic display or LCD (liquid crystal display) to indicate the measurement graduations and slot areas. The display would be user programmable to indicate the slot area measurements to vary the color or grayscale contrast. 
     It is another feature of the invention that the measurement device be visible in low light conditions.  FIG. 2  displays  27  cutaway to show the printed wiring board  32  with holes  31  spanned throughout the length of the printed wiring board  32  and underneath rule  27 .  33  are light emitting diodes of the inverted mounting type. The LED&#39;s terminations mount on the backside of the printed wiring board and the LED itself protrudes through the printed wiring board  32  allowing for a low profile enclosure  28 .  32  contains the circuitry means and electronic components to illuminate the LEDs  33 . The rule  27  is generally clear to allow the LEDs, backlight source, to illuminate  27 , but opaque enough to not allow the circuit board and components to not be seen from the outside. Light sources  33 , may also be light bulbs and other electronically illuminated components. 
     In keeping with the invention,  FIG. 3  displays the present invention  44  mounted to a cross sectional view of a flat surface  43  to which it is to be mounted.  41  shows a screw may be used to secure the apparatus through the flange  23 . A double-sided adhesive membrane may also be used between the apparatus  44  and the surface  43  to secure the device when screws are not feasible.  45  is a small hole in the bottom of the apparatus to allow the electrical conductors  42  connect to an outside power source where the conductors run through the surface  43  to which the device is mounted. A rubber grommet or silicone may be used to seal hole  45 .  46  is a removable tab where the conductors may be fed out the side of the enclosure when the conductors cannot be fed through the surface. Conductors  42  may run to a fuse block in a fishing vessel where a switch on an instrument panel may control power to the device.  FIG. 3A  displays the conductors  42  possessing an inline fuse and fuse holder  51  where clips  62  may be connected to a remote battery. The electrical connection process is well known in the art. The apparatus may also contain an enclosed power source to eliminate a need for an outside power source connection. 
     By way of illustration,  FIG. 4A  displays the apparatus  44  mounted to a raised front deck  52  of a fishing boat. Seats  53  are shown for reference. In  FIG. 4B  the invention  44  is mounted to the side of the raised front deck  52  where  53  is a seat on the raised front deck  52 . Finally,  FIG. 4C  displays the device  44  mounted to the side gunnels  54  of a fishing boat. 
     The invention is fish measurement device that aids the angler in not only measuring the size of a fish, but also is shown if the fish falls into a slot size regulation. The semi-transparent colored overlay length is user definable and is easily added or removed from the rule. The rule is backlit so it can be easily seen in low light conditions, for the rule and the semi-transparent overlay are illuminated. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.