Patent ID: 7934336

Claim:
A tool for releasing excess air from a swim bladder of a fish comprising: a. a housing having a first end, a second end, a side wall extending between said first end and said second end, and an interior, said first end having a surface and an opening in said surface, said surface lying substantially in a plane; b. a push rod extending out of said second end of said housing, said push rod having a top, said push rod moveable between a first position where said top lies distal to said second end of said housing and a second position where said top lies adjacent to said second end of said housing; c. a syringe having a first end and a second end, said first end of said syringe being attached to said push rod, said syringe lying within said housing interior, and said syringe including an enclosed volume; d. a needle, said needle having a first end and a second end and a conduit extending between said first end and said second end, said first end of said needle being attached to said second end of said syringe so that said push rod, said syringe, and said needle move in unison; e. wherein when said push rod is located in said first position, said needle is completely contained within said housing, and wherein when said push rod is located in said second position, said needle extends through said opening in said surface of said housing; f. wherein said needle travels along a center axis when said push rod travels between said first and second positions; g. wherein said plane defining said first end of said housing intersects said center axis at an acute angle; and h. wherein said needle being in communication with said syringe, said syringe being in communication with said interior of said housing, and said interior of said housing being in communication with an ambient environment such that said needle vents into said syringe, said syringe vents into said interior of said housing, and said interior of said housing vents to the ambient environment, whereby gas vented from said fish when said needle is inserted into said swim bladder of said fish must pass through said needle into said syringe, out of said syringe, into said interior of said housing, and then out of said housing to the ambient environment.