AU640247B2

AU640247B2 - A trap

Info

Publication number: AU640247B2
Application number: AU81298/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Norman Raymond King
Original assignee: King Margaret Elizabeth
Current assignee: King Margaret Elizabeth
Priority date: 1990-08-10
Filing date: 1991-07-24
Publication date: 1993-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-24
Also published as: AU8129891A

Description

64 0 27

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

ge *0 Se COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: NORMAN RAYMOND KING and NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: NORMAN RAYMOND KING and MARGARET ELIZABETH KING NORMAN RAYMOND KING KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of, 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005,

AUSTRALIA.

"A TRAP"

E.

S

I* Se INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NOS: Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PK 1699 filed August 10 1990.

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 The present invention relates to a trap.

More particularly, the present invention is especially intended for use in trapping marine and freshwater crustaceans.

At present, traps for crayfish and other similar crustaceans are generally either of the net or box type. Both share the inconvenience of not being easy to store and/or stack.

In addition, known traps often are difficult to empty of a catch. Box traps require that a panel or side to the box is *e a 1 0 removable or hinged to allow removal of a catch. This increases the cost of a trap.

SFurthermore, a box trap requires that the crustacean climb approximately one metre before entering the trap.

Typically, box traps do not present an easily climable surface to a crustacean.

The present invention provides a trap for marine and freshwater crustaceans that is a substantial improvement over previous traps.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there 20 is provided a trap comprising a frame, a net and an opening, wherein the frame has a base member that defines an open bottom and supports a number of frame members that extend upwardly therefrom to the opening, the net extends from the opening around said base member to be releasably gathered at the open bottom, the opening having provided therein an invertable funnel.

Preferably, said invertable funnel comprises h ring approximately the same size as said opening connected to a smaller ring and joined by a flexible material.

3 The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a trap in accordance with the present invention having accessory ropes attached thereto; Figure 2 is a plan view of the trap of Figure 1 having the ropes removed; Figure 3 is a lower perspective view of the trap of Figure 2 1. 0 in an inverted position; Figure 4 is a lower perspective view of the trap of Figure 1 showing the net open; and 0 Figure 5 is a sectional side view of two traps in accordance with the present invention shown in a stacked position.

In Figure 1 there is shown a trap 10 comprising a frame 12, *vote: a net 14 and an opening 16.

"0 0 The frame 12 comprises a substantially circular base member 18 having four upright members 20 extending upwardly set therefrom. The upright members 20 join the base member 18 20 to an apex member 22. The apex member 22 is substantially e circular but of a smaller diameter than the base member 18.

The base member 18 and the apex member 22 are substantially concentric as can be best seen in Figure 2.

The apex member 22 defines the opening 16 at an uppermost point of the frame 12. The base member 18 defines a bottom 24 of the trap A number of ropes 26 are secured to the base member 18 at regular intervals. The ropes 26 extend from the base member 18 to a knot 28 where they are joined as shown in Figure 1.

4 A single rope 30 extends from the knot The net 14 is woven around the apex member 22 and passes outside and over the upright members 20 and base member 18.

The net 14 is gathered through a draw cord 32 at the bottom 24 of the trap The gathering of the net 14 means the net 14 has either a closed (as shown in Figures 1 to 3) or an open (shown in Figures 4 and 5) state.

A bait cage 34 is provided within the trap 10 fastened to

C.

10 the bottom 24 of the net 14.

oe An invertable funnel 36 is provided in the opening 16 of the trap 10. The funnel 36 comprises a first ring 38 and a second ring 40 joined by a funnel of netting 42, best seen in Figure 3.

Both the first ring 38 and the second ring 40 are woven into the funnel of netting 42. The first ring 38 is of substantially the same or slightly larger diameter as the u: apex member 22 and is attached thereto by ring fasteners 44. The second ring 40 is of a smaller diameter than that 20 of the first ring 38 to create the shape of the funnel 42.

The trap 10 is generally of a dome or cone shape in cross section.

In use, the trap 10 is positioned on either a dam or sea bed in an effort to entrap freshwater or marine crustaceans. A suitable bait is placed within the bait cage 34.

A crustacean (not shwon) wanting to get at the bait is able to climb the net 14 to gain access to the opening 16. The crustacean then enters the trap 10 through the funnel 36.

The crustacean cannot escape t ,e trap 10 because the draw 0 5 cord 32 is pulled tight whereby the net 14 is in its closed state. Also, it cannot escape through the opening 16 because of the construc' -un of the funnel 36 being narrower at the end having the second ring 40. The height of the funnel 36 from the bottom 24 of the trap 10 also contributes to the inability of a crustacean to escape.

A person (not shown) using the trap 10 is able to recover the trap 10 by way of the rope 30. The trap 10 is hauled onto shore, bank or boat by the person who is able to empty :10 the trap 10 in the following manner.

When the trap 10 is turned upside down the second ring 40 of the funnel 36 falls through the first ring 38 to invert the funnel 36, as can be seen in Figure 3.

A catch can then be poured from the trap 10 without having to remove the funnel 36. There is nothing for the catch to *Sm*S@ S" snag on and there is no requirement to open the trap 10. If mesm it was desired to use the trap 10 again immediately this S•could be done.

*.m If the trap 10 is not to be used immediately then it is 20 possible to neatly stack the trap 10 with other similar o traps.

Firstly, the draw cord 32 at the bottom 24 of the trap 10 is loosened, as shown in Figure 4. The traps 10 can then be stacked as shown in cross section in Figure The apex member 22 and a portion of the top of a lower trap are able to project into the bottom 24 of the trap being placed on top of the lower trap 10. The lowermost trap 10 need not have its draw cord 32 undone.

This stacking is possible as the net 14 is only attached to 6 the frame 12 at the apex member 22, the trap 10 is of a dome or conical shape and the net 14 and funnel 36 are flexible.

The various features of the trap 10 combine to produce a net that is inexpensive, light and easily stored. None of these features are typical of presently used traps.

The trap 10 when in use may require a weighting means to ensure the trap 10 stays in position on the river or sea bed.

The bait cage 34 may, rather than being fastened to the 10 bottom of the net 14, be strung up across the interior of the trap 10 on a wire extending between two of the upright members The funnel 36 may be tied to the apex member 22 rather than fastened with ring fasteners .44. The net 14 used is typically a multifilament net with a gauge to suit the crustaceans that are being targeted.

o The frame 12 may be formed of galvanised fencing wire or the like.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a 20 skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

2. A trap according to Claim 1, in which the opening is 10 defined by an apex member joined to the frame members, the net being joined to the apex member.
3. A trap according to Claim 2, in which the invertable ,-funnel comprises a first member and a second member each defining an opening, the circumfe:nece of the first member being larger than that of the second member, wherein the first member is releasably fixed to the apex member. r 4. A trap according to Claim 3, in which the first and second members are joined by a length of flexible material to which they are attached along a substantial portion of 20 their circumference. A trap according to Claim 4, in which the flexible material is netting material of similar type as to that used to form the net.
6. A trap according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, in which the base member and the apex member are substantially circular.
7. A trap according to Claim 6, in which both the first and second member of the invertable funnel are substantially circular. 8
8. A trap according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the net is releasably gathered by a draw cord located in an edge thereof.
9. A trap according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the trap is stackable by releasing the gathering of the net, thereby allowing the trap to be received on top of a second trap through the folding of the traps invertable funnel.
10. A method of stacking traps of the type described in any 10 one of the preceding claims, wherein the gathering of the C net of a first trap is released allowing that trap to be received on top of a second trap, whereby the invertable q. funnel of the first trap may be received in the invertable funnel of the second trap or may otherwise fold to allow stacking of the traps.
11. A method of employing a trap of the type described in Claim 4, wherein as the trap is inverted to emty a catch the second member of the invertable funnel falls through the first member to invert the funnel and form a spout through 20 which the catch may be poured.
12. A trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A method of stacking a trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure
14. A method of emptying a trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3. 9- DATED JULY 23 1991 NORMAN RAYMOND KING and MARGARET ELIZABETH KING By their Patent Attorneys KELVIN LORD AND COMPXc1Y PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 155
205. ABSTRACT A trap (10) comprising a frame a net (14) and an opening wherein the frame (12) has a base member (18) that defines an open bottom (24) and supports a number of frame members (20) that extend upwardly therefrom to the opening the net (14) extends from the opening (16) around the base member (18) to be releasably gathered at the open bottom the opening (16) having provided therein an invertable funnel (36).