Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1896
We, WILLIAM HARDY and JOHN JAMES HARDY, of Alnwick, in the County of
Northumberland, trading as Hardy Brothers, Fishing Tackle Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to landing nets of the folding type in which the operations
of opening out and locking or of folding the net are dependent on gravity, that is
to say, in which the weight of the net-frame itself on being thrown over effects
the opening out of the net when required for use and the closing or folding
thereof after use; the present improvements being especially but not exclusively
applicable for use in connection with nets wherein the net-frame is carried
n a Y-shaped or other fitting pivoted to or secured in the handle, and being
designed with a view to affording greater facility in opening out and locking the
net, and in closing and folding the same for convenient transport.
According to one mode of carrying out our invention, the net-frame is attached
to a Y-shaped piece secured in a socket which is hinged laterally to a stem fitted
in the handle. Sliding freely upon this stem is a sleeve or locking ring. The
lower portion of the socket, which works against the locking ring, is cam-shaped,
and partially embraces the stem thereby forming a stop when opening the net.
When it is desired to open out the net, the operator simply throws the net over
and turns the handle, so that the hinge joint of the socket and stem is uppermost
and the weight of the net tends to bring the socket in alignment with, the stem
and handle, and in so doing the cam-shaped extremity of the socket will cause
the sleeve or locking ring to recede. Immediately however the parts have
arrived in alignment, the ring will fall by gravity, and embrace the lower portion
of the socket and a part of the stem; thereby locking the joint and holding the
net open. On raising the net-frame to a vertical position and turning the net
so that the hinge joint is underneath, the locking ring will fall back (by gravity)
along the stem and the net be automatically closed or folded.
In constructing the Y-shaped piece we prefer to form the same in two parts."
The stem of the Y is divided in two longitudinally, each part carrying one of
the lateral arms of the Y. The lower extremity of each lateral arm forms a
mitre-joint with the upper end of the stem, a pin on one half of the latter engaging
in a hole formed in the other half, and, in conjunction with the mitre-joint,
serving to hold the two parts together. The stem is screw-threaded on each half
to permit of its being secured in the socket. The lateral arms of the Y-shaped
piece are furnished with inwardly projecting eyes for carrying a gut or other
connection to which the inner portion of the net is attached.
The net frame is preferably made of U- or channel-shaped steel.
According to another mode of construction, the stem of the Y-shaped piece is
square or rectangular in cross section and is furnished with a sliding locking
sleeve, whereof the outer end, on one side, is formed with a longitudinal pro-.

page_text: jection. Each limb of the net-frame is furnished with a finger, each finger being
pivoted to one of the lateral arms of the Y-shaped piece. The finger of each limb
is extended towards the net, and when the latter is opened out, this extension rests
against a laterally projecting ear on each arm of the Y. The opposite extremity
of each finger is cam-shaped to permit of its freely passing the sliding locking
sleeve; the longitudinal projection on the latter, when the net is opened out,
engaging with and locking the free ends of the fingers. The lateral arms of
the Y may be connected by a bridge piece, whereby the net may, when not in use,
be suspended from a hook.
According to an alternative mode of construction, in which the net is attached
to a fixed bow, the inner extremities of the bow are secured to a bi-part or
divided Y-shaped piece hinged transversely to a stem which carries the sliding
locking sleeve; the said stem being secured to the handle. The lower extremity
of each part of the stem of the Y is cam-shaped for the purpose hereinbefore
mentioned. The upper extremity of the stem is furnished with a ring for use as
a stop when opening out the net and for suspending the same when not in use.
The loose sliding locking sleeve or collar may be applied to a joint or ferrule
to which the Y or other piece carrying the net-frame is hinged; the said joint
or ferrule being fitted directly to the handle whereby the net is held..
According to another mode of constructing the locking device, each finger is
provided at its outer end with a lateral tooth which projects beyond the inner
surface of the arm of the Y-shaped piece. The arm of the Y carries on its inner
face a pivoted lever or catch, same being furnished at one extremity with a
projection for engaging the tooth on the finger and at the other end with a weight.
Stops may be provided for limiting the movement of the weighted lever or catch.
In this instance, the locking device is fitted to each arm of the Y-shaped piece.
Dated this 14th dox of
1000
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.
1, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPL
SPECI
ION.
Improvements in Landing Nets.
We, WILLIAM HARDY and JOHN JAMES HARDY, of Alnwick, in the County of
Northumberland, trading as Hardy Brothers, Fishing Tackle Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to landing nets of the folding type in which the operations
of opening out and locking or of folding the net are dependent on gravity, that is
to say, in which the weight of the net-frame itself on being thrown over effects
the opening out of the net when required for use and the closing or folding
thereof after use; the present improvements being especially but not exclusively
applicable for use in connection with nets wherein the net-frame is carried
in a Y-shaped or other fitting pivoted to or secured in the handle, and being
designed with a view to affording greater facility in opening out and locking the
net, and in closing or folding the same for convenient transport.
In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated several. modes of carrying
our invention into effect. Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations shewing a method of con-
struction wherein the locking of the net, when open, is effected by a gravitating

page_text: locking ring or thimble; Fig. 3 being a detached view of the Y-shaped fitting
employed therewith. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are similar views of another construction.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate an alternative arrangement, and Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13
a further alternative mode of construction wherein the net is locked by means of
a pivoted weighted lever.
According to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the net-frame a
is attached to a Y-shaped piece b secured in a socket e which is hinged laterally
at d to a stem e fitted in the handle f. Sliding freely upon the stem e is a sleeve
or locking ring g. The portion c¹ of the socket c is cam-shaped so as to work
smoothly against the locking ring g; the said portion partially embracing the
stem and thereby forming a stop on the net being opened out. When it is desired
to open out the net, the operator simply throws the net over (whereupon the net
assumes the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2), at the same time
turning the handle so that the hinge joint d is uppermost; the weight of the net
tending to bring the socket in alignment with the stem e and handle f. In so
doing the cam-shaped extremity of the socket causes the sleeve or locking ring g
to recede. Immediately however the parts have arrived in alignment, the ring
will fall by gravity and embrace the portion cl of the socket c and a part of the
stem e; thereby firmly locking the joint and holding the net open. On raising
the net-frame to a vertical or approximately vertical position and then turning
the net so that the hinged joint is presented on the underside the locking ring g
will fall back (by gravity) along the stem e and the net be automatically closed
or folded.
In constructing the Y-shaped piece b, we prefer to form the same in two
parts The stem 3 of the Y is divided in two longitudinally, each part
carrying one of the lateral arms 13. The lower extremity of each lateral arm
forms a mitre-joint with the upper end of the stem, a pin on one half of the
latter engaging in a hole formed in the other half, and, in conjunction with the
mitre-joint, serving to firmly hold the two parts together. The stem is screw-.
threaded on each half to permit of its being secured in the socket c. The lateral
arms of the Y-shaped piece are furnished with inwardly projecting eyes 665 for
carrying a gut or other connection to which the inner portion of the net is attached.
The net-frame is preferably made of U- or channel-shaped steel. With a view
to obviating the difficulty usually experienced in opening out nets of the type
herein referred to, the outer extremities of the arms which form the net-frame
may be curved inwardly.
According to another mode of construction, illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the
steme of the Y-shaped fitting is square or rectangular in cross section and is
furnished with a sliding or gravitating locking sleeve g, formed on one side
with a longitudinally and laterally projecting catchy. Each limb of the net-
frame a is furnished with a finger a a', each finger being pivoted at h to one of..
the lateral arms of the Y-shaped fitting b. The finger of each limb is
extended towards the net, and when the latter is opened out, this extension rests
against a laterally projecting ear 66 on each arm of the Y. The opposite extremity
of each finger is cam-shaped to permit of its freely passing the locking sleeve g;
the projection on the latter, when the net is opened out, engaging with and
locking the free ends of the fingers. The arms be of the Y may be constructed
by a bridge piece whereby the net may, when not in use, be suspended from
a hook.
According to an alternative mode of construction, shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, in
which the net is attached to a fixed bow or frame a, the inner extremities of the
bow are secured to a bi-part or divided Y-shaped piece b hinged transversely to
steme which carries the sliding or gravitating locking sleeve or ring g, the
stem e being secured to the handle. The extremities b° 6° of each of the parts b* b
of the Y are cam-shaped for the purpose hereinbefore described. The extremity
of the stem e is furnished with a loop or ring el for use as a stop when opening out
the net and for suspending the same when folded or not in use.

page_text: The sliding or gravitating locking sleeve or collar may be applied to a joint
or ferrule to which the Y-shaped or other piece carrying the net-frame is hinged;
the said joint or ferrule being fitted directly to the handle whereby the net is held.
A spiral spring may, moreover, be applied to the stem or shank e for the purpose
of assisting the action of the locking ring.
According to another mode of constructing the locking device illustrated in
Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13, each finger a' is provided with a lateral tooth a³, each
projecting over one of the arms b₁ 2 of the Y-shaped fitting. Each arm carries
on its inner face a pivoted lever or catch i, same being furnished at one extremity
with a projection for engaging the tooth a and at the other end with a weight.
A stop or stops may be provided for limiting the movement of the weighted lever
or catch i. In this instance, the lover i maintains the net locked until the
frame is held in a vertical position, when the lever gravitates and automatically
unlocks the net so as to permit the folding of the same.
The net-handle f may be furnished with a device for attachment to a strap;
same consisting of two blades attached in the longitudinal direction of the
handle, the unsecured ends of the blades meeting and overlapping each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
1. A folding landing net furnished with an automatic locking device which
comes into operation upon the net being held downwards, substantially as herein
described.
2. The improved construction of folding landing net having a socket carrying
the net-frame and hinged to a stem secured in the handle, and a locking sleeve
operating by gravity to engage a cam-shaped extension of the socket, substan-
tially as herein described.
3. In a folding landing net, a Y-shaped fitting constructed substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings,
whereby the folding of the net or transport is facilitated.
4. The improved construction of folding landing nets wherein a gravitating
locking sleeve is furnished with a projecting portion which laps or engages the
extremities of the pivoting net-frame, substantially as herein described.
5. The improved construction of folding landing net wherein a gravitating
locking sleeve is mounted on a stem secured in the handle and engages the
extremities of a bi-part Y-shaped fitting pivoted to the said stem, substantially
as herein described."
6. The improved construction of folding landing net wherein the locking is
effected by levers or catches, such as i, operating by gravity to engage with lateral
projections on the extremities of the pivoting net-frame, substantially as herein
described.
DL: 150.
1007
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.