Abstract:
A collapsible and telescoping finishing net assembly having a tubular handle member with a net support frame slidably received within the handle from an internal retracted position to an external deployed position. The net support has a first arm member and a second arm member that are substantially flat and rectangular shaped and include stiffening members providing progressively increased stiffness nearer the upper and lower ends of the arm members. A plug is situated within the handle and slides lengthwise within the handle. The arm members are pivotally connected together at their upper distal ends and are pivotally connected at their lower proximal ends to the plug. A locking mechanism biased tension members hold the arm members in rigid alignment at their upper ends when the net support is in the external deployed position. A net is attached to the net support by looping the net about eyelets that are molded into the arm members. When the assembly is deployed, the net can be used to capture fish.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a collapsible and telescoping fishing net for use in the sport of angling when landing a fish. More particularly, the invention relates to an assembly of a fishing net that collapses and stores within the net&#39;s handle that can be conveniently telescoped and deployed by rapidly extracting the net from the handle and locking the net into an open or expanded position. 
     Fishing nets are widely utilized as auxiliary equipment by fishermen in order to capture and land a fish caught on a hook. Fishing nets are particularly useful for wading fisherman and highly desirable for one fishing from a bank or a boat. Many times the problem for a fisherman is to produce an operable fishing net while suddenly encountering a fish and having a simultaneous need to reel in the fish and apply tension to a fishing line. While holding a pole and line that is hooked to a fish, a fisherman is relegated to having no more than one hand available for operation of a fishing net. For a long while, nets suited for one hand operation have been available as an elongated rigid handle carrying at one end a permanently affixed loop frame holding a net. 
     However, such nets with the frame mounting the net fixed to and as a permanent extension from the handle are inconvenient because the complete unit has considerable length and is difficult to transport by the angler in association with other equipment. Further, the exposed net is prone to snag and catch in the natural obstacles associated with boating, wading, and fishing. 
     Many fish nets have been designed before with handles and nets condensed, yet with features to help provide for a quick change of the condensed net to one which is operational. U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,291 describes a landing net wherein the net and its frame can be easily collapsed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,272 describes a fish net that can be collapsed and stored in the net handle after some substantial manipulation of the net and frame. U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,177 describes a fish net and frame that is collapsible and storable in the handle by a combination of telescoping and folding the frame and net. U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,790 describes a fish net with a frame and a handle wherein the fish net and frame collapse and pivot into a more compact assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,700 describes a fish net, frame, and handle that can be collapsed and telescoped into the handle, but is not easily manipulated from the collapsed condition to the operational position and back again. U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,773 describes a fish net, frame, and handle that can be collapsed by folding and telescoping of the frame, but does not provide a cover for the stored net. U.S. Pat. No. 3,167,878 describes a fish net, arms, and handle that can be collapsed into the handle by manually compressing the arms, while the arms normally produce a curvature to provide a widely-open net frame. U.S. Pat. No. 1,169,311 describes a fish net, a three-section frame, and handle that can be collapsed and telescoped into the handle, but requires the time consuming assembly of several frame sections to make the fish net operable. Although these patents disclose handles and nets designed to be condensed, none of the prior art patents teaches the combination of a readily collapsible fish net assembly stored within a handle that may be rapidly deployed using one-hand to manipulate the device while still providing a device that is very sturdy, durable, and economically viable to construct. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel fishing net assembly that is suitable for use by anglers in various fishing settings having a net supporting frame is collapsible so that the net is conveniently stored and does not snag or tangle while not in use. Said object is accomplished through further objects of providing a fishing net assembly that is subject to manipulation by one-hand to deploy the net for landing a fish. Another object is to provide such fishing net that is very sturdy and durable, yet economical to produce. Still other objects will be apparent from the more detailed description of the invention which follows. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a collapsible and telescoping fishing net which includes a rectangular or square tubular member and a first arm member and a second arm member supporting a net pouch. The net pouch is retained on the arms by a plurality of eyelets and posts provided in the arm members. The arm members are pivotally attached to a slidable plug such that the plug, arm members and net pouch may slide into the tubular member for storage of the fishing net. The fishing net may be deployed by latch button release and sliding the tubular member so that the arms are extended outwardly. At the opposite end of the plug, the arm members are joined together by pivot pin and a locking pin is retained in a slot on the first arm member in tension with respect to the second arm member such that when the fishing net is deployed the locking pin engages a slot on the second arm member to lock the arms into place in an oval looped configuration for landing fish. The shape and sturdiness of the fishing net is improved by the design of the arms in a rectangular shape having a pair of sloping flanges on the interior surface edges of each arm. The sloping flanges rise from the mid-sections of the arms to terminate at each end of the arms such that the arms and flanges are widest at the ends of the arms, thus making the arms very sturdy despite the advantage of being constructed of inexpensive material. The flange disappears at about the mid-section of the arms to allow the arms to easily bend to take the oval looped shape desirable for supporting a fishing net and landing fish. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a collapsible and telescoping fishing net, according to the present invention, in a telescoped or fully expanded position. 
     FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the fishing net in a telescoped position. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fishing net in a fully collapsed position. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fishing net in a telescoped position, but partially collapsed. 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the fishing net in a telescoped and fully expanded position after applying downward force to the fishing net in the partially collapsed position as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 a  is a cut-away top plan view of the locking pin assembly with the arms of the fishing net collapsed. 
     FIG. 6 b  is a cut-away top plan view of the locking pin assembly with the arms partially expanded. 
     FIG. 6 c  is a cut-away top plan view of the locking pin assembly with the arms further partially expanded. 
     FIG. 6 d  is a cut-away top plan view of the locking pin assembly with the arms completely expanded and the locking pin engaged. 
     FIG. 7 is a cut-away bottom perspective view of a portion of the fishing net whose arms are completely expanded and the locking pin engaged. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged cut-away end plan view of the locking pin assembly, lanyard, and eyelet. 
     FIG. 9 is a cut-away and cross-sectional side plan view of the plug, hinge, and latch button assembly. 
     FIG. 10 is a cut-away and cross-sectional side plan view of the plug, hinge, and support member assembly. 
     FIG. 11 is a cut-away and cross-sectional top plan view of the plug, hinge, and support member assembly with the fishing net partially expanded. 
     FIG. 12 is a cut-away and cross-sectional top plan view of the plug, hinge, and support member assembly with the fishing net completely expanded. 
     FIG. 13 is a cut-away and cross-sectional bottom plan view of the plug and support member assembly with the fishing net completely expanded. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of a fishing net is illustrated that is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In FIG. 1 there is shown a fishing net assembly  2  that is telescoped having an expanded looped net support  4  holding a net  6  for landing fish. The net  6  attaches to the net support  4  of the fishing net assembly  2  which includes a first arm member  8  and a second arm member  10  that expand to form the net support  4 . When the fishing net assembly  2  is deployed for landing a fish, the net  6  appears as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The fishing net assembly  2  includes a tubular handle member  12  into which the arm members  8  and  10  are collapsible. The tubular structure of the handle member  12  is of such size and shape to permit the arm members  8  and  10  to retract into an internal position within the interior of the handle member  12  when the arm members  8  and  10  are collapsed. As shown in FIG. 3, the collapsed arm members  8  and  10  and net  6  can slide completely into the handle member  12  until a latch button  14  powered by a spring  16  may engage a first latch aperture  18  on the handle member  12 . The handle member  12  may be closed at its bottom end by a cap  22  or plug. A lanyard  24  attaches to the end of the collapsed arm members  8  and  10  and hangs out of the upper end of the handle member  12  while the arm members  8  and  10  are retracted. 
     When ready for deployment of the fishing net assembly  2 , the combination of the arm members  8  and  10  comprising the net support  4 and the net  6  is pulled axially out of the handle member  12  to an external position until the latch button  14  engages a second latch aperture  20  on the handle member  12 . The entire process of deploying the fishing net assembly  2  maybe carried out by one hand. First, the extraction of the arm members  8  and  10  is completed by holding the lanyard  24  with a foot and pulling the handle member  12 . Then, when the arm members  8  and  10  are completely free of the handle member  12  and the latch button  14  is engaged, the ends of the extended arm members  8  and  10  may be pressed against a fixed surface as shown in FIG. 4 using one hand. Pressing the extended arm members  8  and  10  causes the arm members to begin to deflect to form the looped net support  4 . As shown in FIG. 5, continued pressing to cause the arm members  8  and  10  to deflect results in the formation of the net support  4  into the desired triangular or elliptical looped shape. The entire process of deploying the fishing net assembly  2  is very simple and may be carried out very rapidly to lock the net support  4  into the circular-elliptical looped shape. 
     FIGS. 6 a,    6   b,    6   c,  and  6   d  illustrate in enhanced detail the mechanism for locking the net support  4  into the looped shape. The first arm member  8  and second arm member  10  are pivotally connected at their upper ends by a first pivot device  26 , illustrated by a pin member. Each arm member  8  and  10  has a right angle tab  28  and  30  on the upper end of the arm member which forms a location for joining the two arms  8  and  10  by the pivot device  26 . Also, within the right angle tab  28  on the first arm member  8 , the tab  28  includes a closed slot  32  having a locking mechanism  34 , embodied by a locking pin, slidably retained therein. Within the right angle tab  30  on the second arm member  10 , the tab  30  includes an open slot  36  with an open end for receiving the locking pin  34  when the arm members  8  and  10  are expanded to form the looped net support  4 . As the arm members  8  and  10  are deflected, the locking pin  34  moves about the end of the second arm member  10  and slides within the closed slot  32  until the arm members  8  and  10  are deflected to the point that the locking pin  34  engages the open end of the open slot  36 . One or more biased tension members  38  cause the locking pin  34  to slide into the end of the open slot  36  when engaged. The biased tension members  38  shown in FIG. 8 are several o-rings attached between the pivot pin  26  and the locking pin  34  such that the o-rings are stretched to cause a bias and pull the locking pin  34  into the open slot on the second arm member tab  30 . When the locking pin  34  engages the open slot  36  of the second arm member  10 , the first arm member  8  and second arm member  10  are locked into position such that the arm members&#39; upper ends abut, and the arm members  8  and  10  remain deflected to form the looped net support  4  for holding a net  6  useful in landing fish. The locking pin  34  may be disengaged by pressing the arm members  8  and  10  of the net support  4  toward the handle member  12  to diminish the bias of the tension members  38  and loosen the locking pin  34  to allow the locking pin to slide out of the open slot  36 . 
     Each arm member  8  and  10  is flat and rectangular which has been found to make the net support  4  sturdy and rigid when opened. The flat rectangular shape allows construction of the arm members  8  and  10  from inexpensive plastics without overly complex molds, while permitting the molding of integral eyelets  40  into the arm members  8  and  10  for attaching and supporting the net  6 . A plurality of eyelets  40  are molded into the arm members  8  and  10  by cutting out small apertures from the rectangular arm members and leaving one or more small posts  42  attached to the rectangular arm members within each aperture. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the posts  42  may each include a mushroom shaped head portion  44  or other retaining element for retaining a net loop  46  on the post  42 . The net loops  46  may be shortened and secured to the posts  42  by slip rings  48 . The molded construction of the posts  42  in the arm members  8  and  10  provides for hanging the net  6  onto net support  4  without further need for means to retain the net  6 . 
     Each of the arm members  8  and  10  includes a stiff portion and a flexible portion that aid in forming the shape of the looped net support  4  and make the fishing net assembly easy to deploy without need for application of much force to deflect the arm members  8  and  10 . The stiff portions of the arm members  8  and  10  may be formed by increasingly wide tapered flanges  50  having a point of beginning near the mid-section of each arm member  8  and  10 . Although a single flange or other stiffening member could alternatively be substituted, in the embodiment depicted, one flange  50  is situated on each edge of the arm members  8  and  10 . The flanges  50  are situated on the inwardly facing flat surfaces of the arm members  8  and  10  and at right angles thereto, and the flanges  50  taper in increasing width to form an increasingly deep groove on the inwardly facing surfaces of the arm members  8  and  10 . The flanges  50  terminate near the ends of the arm members  8  and  10 . Thus, this permits a stiffer support near the ends of the arm members  8  and  10  and near the proximal connections shown in FIGS. 1,  4 , and  5 . Further, the tapered flanges  50  permit a more flexible section near the mid-sections of the arm members  8  and  10  to permit bending of the arm members  8  and  10  into a circular-elliptical shaped net support  4  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The girth and actual circular-elliptical shape of the looped net support  4  is determined in part by the location and the width of the flanges  50  which cause the increased stiffness of the arm members  8  and  10  near their ends. The flanges  50  may be modified with features such as a cut away portion  52 , as shown in FIG. 7, to enhance the operation of the fishing net assembly  2  in telescoping, collapsing, and retracting into the handle member  12 . In particular, the cut away portion  52  permits the arm members  8  and  10  to fold into an parallel contiguous relationship for retracting into the handle member  12 . 
     The lower ends of the arm members  8  and  10  are attached to a plug  54  which slides lengthwise into the tubular handle member  12  and does not turn about the lengthwise axis of the handle member  12 . This is accomplished by making the handle member  12  and plug  54  with a non-circular transverse cross-section, e.g., elliptical, triangular, square, splined or other non-rotatable shapes. The plug  54  may be similarly shaped to the handle member  12  or otherwise configured to prevent turning radially about the lengthwise axis. 
     The plug  54  contains the spring biased latch button  14  discussed previously which is able to engage the latch apertures  18  and  20  in the handle member  12  when properly aligned. The latch apertures  18  and  20  allow the latch button  14  to slide outwardly from its inward position to its outward extension. When the latch button  14  is in its extended position, the latch button  14  may secure the plug  54  into position as indexed by the latch apertures  18  and  20  such that the plug  54  cannot move to retract or telescope. 
     When the arm members  8  and  10  are completely telescoped as indexed by the latch button  14 , the plug  54  is positioned with its upper surface above the upper edges of the handle member  12 . The arm members  8  and  10  are pivotally attached at their lower ends to the plug  54  by a second pivot device  56  exemplified by the pivot pin shown in FIGS. 11,  12 , and  13 . In this position the second pivot device  56  is situated with respect to the upper edges of the handle member  12  such that each arm member  8  and  10  may pivot about the second pivot device  56  to cause the arm members  8  and  10  to spread apart as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The single pivot pin  56  joins the connecting arm members  8  and  10  at their lower ends in a construction that is simple to construct and cost effective. Nonetheless, the arm members  8  and  10  may be separately pivotally connected to the plug  54  without having the arm members  8  and  10  adjoin at their lower ends. Grooves  58  are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 in a transverse direction in order to facilitate the interconnection of the arm members  8  and  10  to the second pivot device  56  and the rotation of the arm members  8  and  10  about the second pivot device  56  to spread the arms apart. Once the arm members  8  and  10  are spread apart, a crossbar type support member  60  may be provided for additional reinforcement of the telescoped net support  4 . The support member  60  of FIGS. 11,  12 , and  13  may attach to one arm member  8  or  10  by a pivot pin  62  and spring  64  and depend on a rest pin  66  when the net support frame  4  is expanded. 
     In constructing the invention, the handle member  12  may be made of a corrosion resistant metal, plastic, or fiber-glass, and the plug  54  may be made of any material that is compatible with the material of the handle member  12 . Such materials may be metal, plastic, fiber-glass or the like. Whereas, the arm members  8  and  10  may be made of any strong corrosion-resistant material that may be configured in accordance with the teachings of the invention and has sufficient flexibility to permit the bending of the arm members  8  and  10  into the desired shape of the looped net support  4 . Such material for the arm members  8  and  10  is preferable plastic, but may include stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, fiber-glass, etc. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.