AU2008203546A1

AU2008203546A1 - Combination lobster, crayfish and crab trap

Info

Publication number: AU2008203546A1
Application number: AU2008203546A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Wayne Murdoch
Original assignee: Katapo Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Katapo Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-07
Filing date: 2008-08-07
Publication date: 2010-02-25
Also published as: WO2010015013A1

Description

1 STANDARD PATENT APPLICATION COMBINATION LOBSTER, CRAYFISH AND CRAB TRAP FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to fishing devices in particular but not limited to a combination trap for trapping lobsters, crayfish and crabs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lobster and crayfish traps or pots are known prior art. Prior art lobster pots usually 10 comprise a woven round or cylindrically shaped basket, or may be constructed of aluminium frames which are internally sprung having a woven nylon mesh outer fabric. Such prior art traps are prone to cause damage to the decks and superstructures of fishing and luxury cruising vessels, transport vehicles, and auxiliary equipment. Prior art traps of the woven configuration are often heavy and can cause personal injury to 15 fisherman. Traps made of steel or iron often leave rust stains on fishing vessels and associated equipment. Due to their design, prior art lobster traps are also unstable in surging water such as sea currents resulting from their unchanged and traditional designs. In addition, air bubbles are often emitted from woven cane structured pots which discourage entry of prey until the bubbles have been completely evacuated. Due 2 to traditional design, prior art lobster traps also cannot be stacked safely and occupy valuable space aboard fishing vessels and transport vehicles. In many of the designs, there is also no catch removal aperture, resulting in the fisherman having to release the lobsters from the trap through the entry port itself. Furthermore, the traps often catch 5 unintended prey such as inquisitive seals that enter the trap and drown. Due to the traditional designs of prior art lobster traps there is usually a chance for the prey to escape when retrieving the trap through the aperture opposite the hauling rope by which the trap is raised and lowered. As a result of traditional lobster trap shapes, freight and storage costs are also a 10 consideration in a commercial operation. Due to the use of woven cane and light materials in existing prior art traps, and their repetitive use, the traps require replacement and repair on a continual basis. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 15 It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek to ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art in disclosing a novel and innovative lobster, crayfish and crab trap which addresses the problems and limitations of existing traps as well as providing the public with a useful choice.

3 STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect the invention resides in a lobster, crayfish and crab trap including in combination, a fenestrated enclosure wherein the fenestrations or openings of the enclosure are of 5 the size to prevent a lobster, crayfish or crab of a commercially designated size from passing through, the enclosure comprising a base, top and side members, the side members connecting the top to the base and tapering inwardly from the base to the top, 10 the top including a lobster or crayfish entry port, the base including one or more ballast compartments for the containment of insertable ballast material, at least one of the side members including an inward swing door for the entry of crabs to the enclosure, 15 said door swinging between an inwardly open position and a closed position in line with the enclosure sides, 4 the swing door biased to return and remain in the closed position wherein said biasing means having a closing force adapted to allow only the ingress, but prevent the egress of crabs of a designated commercial size or strength, wherein in operation, 5 the enclosure is submerged and retained on a sea bed by the ballast and wherein lobsters or crayfish can climb over the enclosure, thereby entering the enclosure through the entry port and wherein crabs can enter and be trapped in the enclosure by pushing open and overriding the biasing force of the swing door. Preferably the enclosure is made of a durable and salt water resistant plastic. 10 Preferably the fenestrations in the enclosure can include projections to aid the lobster or crayfish climbing to the entry port. Preferably the ballast is sand, granite, or any suitable non-toxic material that may be inserted into the ballast compartments of the enclosure. Preferably the entry port comprises a circular inverted frusto-conical entry region to the 15 enclosure. Preferably there are compartments for the insertion of bait or scented attractant materials to attract the lobsters, crayfish and / or crabs.

5 Preferably there are strategically placed and specially configured holes in the structures of the top and side members to allow rapid escape of any air bubbles as the enclosure is lowered to the sea bed. Suitably, as required, there can also be anchors for attaching to the base wherein the 5 anchors are specially adapted to provide maximal resistance to the trap being dragged or moved about by undersea currents. Preferably the anchors are retractable weighted members which can be deployed by mechanical, coil-spring, or gravitational means in order to grapple the trap to the seabed. In a preferred example, the sides, top and base of the enclosure are separate items 10 which are hinged or assembled together and can be folded or disassembled for ease of storage and transport purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS In order that the invention be better understood and put into practical effect, reference 15 will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred lobster, crayfish and crab trap according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 1 with anchor members.

6 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a preferred lobster, crayfish and crab trap 10 according to the invention. The trap is shown having a base 12, sides 14, 16, 18, 20 and top 22. The sides taper 5 from the base inwardly toward the top. The top has a frusto-conical or funnel shaped entry port 24 for lobster or crayfish to enter the enclosure on by climbing the sides from the sea bed. There are also bait compartments 26, 28 for the insertion of scented bait to attract the lobster, crayfish and / or crab. The sides are shown with fenestrations 14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, 20a, 20b having small 10 projections to facilitate the lobster or crayfish in climbing over the trap towards the entry port. The sides also show crab trap doors 30, 32 which are biased towards the closed position as shown and can be pushed inwards so the crab can enter the enclosure. There are also one or more ballast compartments 34 which can be filled with sand or granite or any suitable non-toxic material to keep the trap submerged on the sea bed. 15 There is also an exit hatch 36 to enable the fisherman to retrieve the prey caught in the trap. The trap is preferably made of moulded plastic however any other suitable materials may be used. The trap is also shown with strategically placed apertures 10a, 10b, 10c or holes to allow the escape of air as the trap is being submerged. The 7 apertures allow quick escape of any air trapped underneath the channel sections of the top section so that no bubbles remain to deter lobsters or crayfish from approaching the trap. It has been suggested that bubbles emitted or rising from woven traps simulate a predator which is a deterrent to lobsters and crayfish, and that prior art traps are only 5 effective after all the air has escaped from the trap or pot. In the present invention, the strategically placed apertures allow the quick release of air so that the period between submerging the trap and actually catching prey is much reduced. Also shown in Figure 2, depending on whether they are required, are anchor members 40 and 42 attached to the base to provide resistance by grabbing the seafloor so to 10 prevent the trap from being dragged or moved about by strong undersea currents. In a preferred example, the sides, top and base of the enclosure are separate items which are hinged or assembled together and can be folded or disassembled for ease of storage and transport purposes.

8 VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope 5 and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims in this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising" are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims

1. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap including in combination, a fenestrated enclosure wherein the fenestrations or openings of the enclosure are of the size to prevent a lobster, crayfish or crab of a commercially designated size from 5 passing through, the enclosure comprising a base, top and side members, the side members connecting the top to the base and tapering inwardly from the base to the top, the top including a lobster or crayfish entry port, 10 the base including one or more ballast compartments for the containment of insertable ballast material, at least one of the side members including an inwardly swinging door for the entry of crabs to the enclosure, said door swinging between an inwardly open position and a closed position in line with 15 the enclosure sides, the swing door biased to return and remain in the closed position wherein said biasing means having a closing force adapted to allow the ingress, but prevent the egress of crabs of a designated commercial size or strength, 10 wherein in operation, the enclosure is submerged and retained on a sea bed by the ballast and wherein lobsters or crayfish can climb over the enclosure, thereby entering the enclosure through the entry port and wherein crabs can enter and be trapped in the enclosure by pushing 5 and overriding the biasing force of the swinging door.

2. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in claim I wherein the enclosure is made of a durable plastic.

3. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the fenestrations in the enclosure include projections to aid the lobster or crayfish climbing to 10 the entry port.

4. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the ballast is sand, granite, or any suitable non-toxic material that may be inserted into the ballast compartments of the enclosure.

5. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the 15 entry port comprises a circular frusto-conical entry region to the enclosure.

6. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in any of the above claims wherein there are compartments for the insertion of bait or scented materials to attract the lobsters, crayfish and / or crabs. 11

7. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in any of the above claims wherein there are strategically placed holes in the top and side members to allow the escape of any air bubbles trapped as the enclosure is lowered to the sea bed.

8. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in any of the above claims wherein there 5 are anchors attached to the base to prevent the trap from being dragged or moved about by undersea currents.

9. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in claim 8, wherein the anchors are retractable weighted members which can be deployed by mechanical, coil-spring, or gravitational means in order to grapple the trap to the seabed.

10 10. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the sides, top and base of the enclosure are separate items which are hinged or assembled together and can be folded or disassembled for ease of storage and transport purposes.

11. A lobster, crayfish and crab trap substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrations. 15