Patent ID: 7124533

Claim:
An automatic landing net yoke for use with an extensible handle and a net hoop, the handle having a distal end and a spring button disposed within the distal end, the spring button being depressible within the handle, and the net hoop having hoop ends, which comprises a yoke body, the yoke body having a front face, an upper yoke body portion and a pair of opposing lateral yoke portions, a handle cavity defined within the yoke body for receiving a portion of the handle within it, a pair of opposing hoop cavities, each hoop cavity being disposed within a lateral yoke portion and to either side of the handle cavity, each hoop cavity being configured to receive a hoop end within it, a yoke ramp defined within the upper yoke body portion, the yoke ramp comprising a yoke ramp opening defined within the front face of the upper yoke body portion, opposed interior sidewalls extending rearwardly of the front face, and an interior ramp surface, the ramp surface tapering downwardly from the front face, and an aperture defined within the yoke ramp, wherein the yoke ramp slidingly engages the spring button and the interior ramp surface forces the spring button inwardly of the handle as the handle is pulled through the handle cavity of the yoke.