AU2013234857B2

AU2013234857B2 - Flexible closure apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2013234857B2
Application number: AU2013234857A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Fabienne Marie PIZARRO; Jose Augustin PIZARRO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-19
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2016-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-19
Also published as: WO2013138847A1; AU2013234857A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a closure apparatus (10) for a container (22). The closure apparatus (10) comprises a flexible tubelike body (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16). The first end (14) of the body (12) is adapted to be fitted over a mouth (26) of the container (22). The second end (16) adapted to provide access to an interior of the container (22).

Description

FLEXIBLE CLOSURE APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

An apparatus and method are disclosed for retaining live bait, captured fish or other aquatic wildlife in a container during fishing or angling pursuits. The apparatus may lake the form of a flexible closure for the container. However, the disclosure is to be broadly interpreted, in that the apparatus and the method may find other uses for closing containers for other than the capture or husbandry of aquatic animals.

BACKGROUND ART

Containers tor aquatic wildlife are many and varied, ranging from flexible bags to rigid buckets. In order to retain wildlife in such containers but also provide access, some form of closure is generally provided, such as a lid in the case of a bucket type container.

Active wildlife, for example prawns, provide a particular problem in that accessing a bag or bucket, for example to add further bait or captures, provides an opportunity for escape. Bag closures can be awkward and generally require manipulation by two persons, and thus are generally unsuited to solo pursuits. Lids for buckets arc also prone to being blown way if not firmly secured, removal of which further complicates the access procedure.

In cases where a lid is simply not employed, the live bait and/or captured fish in a bucket may be poached by birdlii'c, especially if the user is at a distance from the container at any time. In the event that a container is knocked onto its side, even a lid may become dislodged and the contents lost or at least quickly dispersed.

Accordingly, there has been recognized a need for a retaining apparatus providing an improved closure for convenient access to the contents of a container, particularly containers for live bait or captured fish.

The above references to the background art do not constitute an admission that the art forms a part of the common general knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. The above references are also not intended to limit the application of the apparatus and method as disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In a first aspect there is disclosed a closure apparatus for a container, the elosure apparatus comprising: a flexible tubelike body having a first end and a second end allowing access bv live bait or aquatic wildlife; die first end of the body adapted to be fitted over a mouth of the container; and tire second end adapted to provide access to an interior of the container, wherein the flexible tubelike body has a length, between said first end and said second end, greater than a depth of the container .

In one embodiment foe tubelike body of ihe closure apparatus may taper inwardly from a first diameter adapted to fit said mouth to a relatively narrower second diameter. The tapered body acts to tunnel the live bait or aquatic wildlife into water suitably held in the container. A length greater than a depth of the container is believed to be effective in deterring escape by more active species of aquatic wildlife, such as live prawns which, exhibit a strong jumping behaviour. in another embodiment foe closure apparatus may comprise a flexible tubelike body constructed of an elastic textile material. Elasticity of the material of foe body assists with retaining the first end over foe mouth of the container, and may further provide or enhance self-closing of the second end of foe body to more effectively prevent escape.

The first end of the body may include a hem for a draw-string provided for sec uring the body when fi tted to the mouth of the container .

In a second aspect, there is disclosed a method for closing a container, said method comprising the steps of: providing a flexible tubelike body having a first end and a second end, the flexible tubelike body having a length greater than a depth of the container; fitting the first end of the flexible tubelike body over a mouth of die container; dispos ing the second end of the flexible tubel ike body in an interior of the container, whereby the second end can close upon itself by virtue of the flex ibility of the flexible tubelike body.

In an embodiment, the flexible tubelike body so provided tapers inwardly from the first end to the second end. The step of providing foe flexible tubelike body may further comprise foe step of eonstructing foe flexible tubeltke body of an elastic textile material, where the body has a continuous W'all or a wail composed of a plurality of panels joined at seams.

In another embodiment, die method may further comprise securing the flexible tubelike body by tying a knot in an end portion of the flexible tubelike body adjacent the second end.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a container together with a closure apparatus as described in the statements above. The container, such as a bucket, may be adapted for holding live bait.· and/or captured aquatic wildlife in a body of water, such as sea water, contained therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which, may fall within the scope of the apparatus and method as set forth in the summary, specific embodiments will now be described, b way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective -view- of a closure apparatus of a first embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the closure apparatus of the first embodiment shown in a first configuration with a first end fitted over a container, such as a bucket; Figure 3 shows a cutaway perspecti ve view of the closure apparatus of the first embodiment when in use;

Figure 4 shows a perspecti ve view of the closure apparatus of the first embodiment shown in a second configuration with a second end withdrawn from the container and a portion adjacent the second end secured; and

Figure 5 show's a perspective view of a closure apparatus of a second embodiment shown with a first end fitted over an alternative container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to Figure 1, a first embodiment of apparatus 10 for closing a container, such as a bucket for holding li ve bait, is shown. The closure apparatus here takes the form of a flexible tubelike body 12, that is suitably composed of a permeable elastic textile material such as elastane (a polyurethaoc-polyurea copolymer), also known as ’’Spandex” in North America and "Lycra" in the 'United Kingdom and

Australia. The tubelike body 12 of the closure apparatus 10 includes a first end »14 and a second end 16. The first end 14 of the body 12 of the embodiment includes, at a marginal edge, a hem 18 having a drawstring 20 for securing the closure apparatus to a container.

Referring now to Figure 2, the closure apparatus of the first embodiment is shown secured to a bucket 22 for holding live bait. The bucket suitable includes a handle 24 for lifting and a mouth 26 over which the first end 14 of tire tubelike body 12 has been fitted. The diameter of the first end 14 of the body is adapted to fit over the mouth 26 of the bucket 22. The body tapers inwardly over its length from the first end to the second end 16, which second end lias a relatively narrower diameter. The length of tire tubclike body 20 is suitably greater than the depth of the container, so that a lower section of the body adjacent the second end 16 can rest on a bottom surface 28 of the bucket 22.

The narrower diameter of the second end 16 of the tubelike body 12 Is selected so as to allow' passage of items, such as live bait, desired to be introduced into an interior of the bucket. When the bucket 22 is partially filled with water 30 (see Figure 3) items may simply be dropped into the first end 1.4 of the closure 10 whereby the inward taper of the tubelike body 12 tends to direct the items to the second end 16 thereof, in a way analogous to a funnel. Once items, such as live bait, find their way into tire water contained in the bucket, the inventors have found they have a substantially reduced chance of escape. This is particularly convenient when the bucket is being used for immediate storage of the live bait upon being caught, and obviates the need for removal and subsequent reattachment of a lid or other conventional closure.

Turning to Figure 3, the tubelike body 12 of the closure apparatus 10 is shown, in use, in relation to a bucket 22 containing water 30 for supporting live bait such as bait fish 32 and prawns 34. After introduction of the live bait (as described above) individual bait items, such as a prawn 34, may be manually retrieved from the bucket 22 as desired. A user passes their hand 36 through the first opening 14 (and mouth 26 of the bucket) into the interior of the bucket and out of the second end 16 of the flexible body 12 in order to grasp the prawn 34 therein. In the alternative a small scale net. spear or other tool (not shown) could be introduced into the bucket via flexible body 12 to trap an item of bait for retrieval.

In the event the user wishes to secure the second end 16 of the closure apparatus 10, the flexible body 12 may be reversed bv withdrawing the second end from the interior of the bucket 22 or other container. A knot 40 can then be made in a portion of the body 12 adjacent the second end 14, as depicted in Figure 4. This mode of use of the closure apparatus has an added advantage in that, should the bucket be bumped or (particularly) knocked over, only water contained therein will be lost due to the permeability of the elastic textile body. However, the knot adjacent to the second end 16 combined with the first end 14 secured to the mouth 26 of the bucket 22 will normally retain the contents of the bucket. Indeed, the bucket may be refilled without necessarily disturbing the knot 40. The can be particularly advantageous when the bucket is being used on board a boat and is upended by virtue of ocean swell action or waves acting on the boat.

In Figure 5, w here like reference numerals are used to denote similar or like parts, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the closure apparatus 10 in use on a container 50 in the form of a parallelepiped having two separate compartments. A first compartment 52 that can accommodate live bait, whilst a second suitably larger compartment 54 that can accommodate fish caught during a fishing expedition. Whilst the drawing shows the closure in use on the live bait compartment 52, with a first end 14 of an elastic woven body 12 being fitted over a rectangular mouth 56 and a. second end 16 disposed in an interior space of the compartment, a second closure apparatus may also be provided for the catch compartment 54 in substitution for the mesh doors 58A, 58B. To better conform to the. rectangular shape of the rectangular mouth, the body may include a plurality of panels joined by seams 60, as opposed to the continuous wall construction of the first embodiment.

Whilst a number of specific apparatus and method embodiments have been described, it should be appreciated that the apparatus and method may be embodied in many other forms. For example, the closure apparatus may find applications in closing containers for temporary storage of waste materials or rubbish. This arrangement may assist in repelling flying insects, particular if the woven body were impregnated with insect repellent and/or disguising unattractive odours if impregnated with a fragrance.

In the claims which follow, and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise" and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” arc used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments’»!’ the apparatus and method as disclosed herein.

Claims

Claims

1. A closure apparatus for a container, the closure apparatus comprising: a flexible tubelike body having a first end and a second end allowing access by live bait or aquatic wildlife; the first end of the body adapted to be fitted over a mouth of the container; and the second end adapted to provide access to an interior of the container: wherein the flexible tubelike body has a length, between said first end and said second end, greater than a depth of the container.
2. The closure apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible tubelike body tapers inwardly from a first diameter adapted to fit said mouth to a relatively narrower second diameter.
3. Th e closure apparatus as cl ai med in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible tubelike body is constructed of an elastic textile material,
4. A method for closing a container, said method comprising the steps of: providing a flexible tubelike body having a first end and a second end, the flexible tubelike body having a length greater than a depth of the container; fitting the first end of the flexible tubelike body over a mouth of the container; disposing the second end of the flexible tubelike body in an interior of the container, whereby the second end can dose upon itself by virtue of the flexibility of the flexible tubelike body.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flexible tablelike body so provided tapers inwardly from the first end to the second end.
6. The method as claimed in either claim 5 or 6 wherein the step of providing the flexible tubelike body further comprises the step of constructing the flexible tubelike body of an elastic textile material.
7. The method of any one or more of claims 4 to 6 further comprising securing the flexible tubelike body by lying a knot in an end portion of the flexible tubelike body adjacent the second end.
8. A container together with at least one closure apparatus as defined in any one or more of claims 1 to 3.
9. The container as defined in claim 8, wherein the container is adapted for holding live bait and/or captured aquatic wildlife in a body of water contained therein.
10. The container as defined by claim 9, wherein the container is a rubbish receptacle or bin.