Patent ID: 7104003

Claim:
A quick-release snag resistant fishing net retainer ( 50 ) to securely hold a fishing net (FN) to a boat (B) during travel, comprising: a compressive retainer ( 100 ) having a proximal end ( 102 ) and a distal end ( 104 ), and formed with a resilient arm ( 120 ) near the distal end ( 104 ) such that the resilient arm ( 120 ) is configured to create a neck ( 130 ) between the resilient arm ( 120 ) and either the retainer ( 100 ) or a mounting means ( 200 ), the neck ( 130 ) having a locked position neck opening ( 132 ) that is less than a diameter of a rim (R) of the fishing net (FN) so that the resilient arm ( 120 ) must be displaced to allow the rim (R) to pass through the neck ( 130 ) and such that the rim (R) is secured in place by the resilient arm ( 120 ) once it has passed through the neck ( 130 ); and the mounting means ( 200 ) releasably attaching the compressive retainer ( 50 ) to a deck (D) of the boat (B); wherein the mounting means ( 200 ) includes a flat surface mounting implement ( 230 ), configured to be secured to a top surface of a deck (D) of the boat (B), having a mounting surface ( 232 ) in contact with the deck (D) and formed with a retainer recess ( 233 ), an engagement surface ( 234 ), a top surface ( 236 ), and a rear surface ( 238 ), wherein the compressive retainer ( 100 ) is configured to cooperate with the retainer recess ( 233 ) and the resilient arm ( 120 ) is configured to secure the rim (R) against the engagement surface ( 234 ); and further including an implement guard ( 250 ) configured to cooperate with the flat surface mounting implement ( 230 ) to improve the snag resistance of the retainer ( 50 ) and to reduce the likelihood of the retainer ( 50 ) being a tripping hazard, the implement guard ( 250 ) having a mounting surface ( 252 ) in contact with the deck (D), an interior surface ( 254 ) in close proximity to the resilient arm ( 120 ), a top surface ( 256 ) at substantially the same elevation as the top surface ( 236 ) of the implement ( 230 ), and a rear surface ( 258 ).