AU648888B2

AU648888B2 - A hand held device for holding fish

Info

Publication number: AU648888B2
Application number: AU15115/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Douglas Triplett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-22
Filing date: 1992-04-22
Publication date: 1994-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-22
Also published as: AU1511592A

Description

S48888 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 f

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention TiIe: A HAND HELD DEVICE FOR HOLDING FISH The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

A HAND HELD DEVICE FOR HOLDING FISH The present invention relates to a device for holding fish and in particular to a convenient hand held device. The hand held device allows the user to safely hold a fish without injuring himself or the fish.

Requirements regarding the minimum legal size of fish that can be caught are becoming increasingly stringent and of course the onus is placed on the fisherman to make such a determination. This cleary necessitates handling of the fish and the objectives here are firstly to ensure that the fish can be held firmly by the fisherman while conducting the sizing procedure. Secondly, it will be necessary to hold the fish such that it is not injured during sizing and finally, the hand of the fisherman may require protection from the fins and bodies of some species of fish as such may pose a risk of injury.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hand held fish holding device allowing a user thereof to manually hold a live fish and release same when said live fish has a size below a predetermined limit characterised in that said device comprises a first and second flap, at least one of said flaps being constructed of flexible material, the first and second flaps being connected along respective one sides thereof to allow the formation of a receiving space of substantially U-shaped configuration which, in use, receives a portion of said fish, the at least one flap of flexible material being resiliently manually movable toward or away from the other flap to open and close said receiving S 20 space and enable securement and release of said fish in accordance with the pressure applied to said flaps by said user.

The hand held device is convenient to use since the construction thereof allows it to fit or be placed neatly into the palm of a hand. Preferably, the outer surfaces of the first and/or second flaps may be provided with handle means, for example, ribs or 25 straps, for the user's hand. Further, the inner surfaces of the first and/or second tiaps may be provided with gripping means for gripping the fish more effectively since the scaly surface of the fish is often slippery.

In one embodiment, the first and second flaps may be of substantially the same dimension, for example, 90 mm x 90 mm. In another embodiment, the one flap may 30 be provided with a tab, which may be attached, to a side perpendicular to said one connecting side, and extending beyond the other fla,. The tab is provided with marking(s) thereon indicating the minimur size of a particular species of fish which can legally be

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caught. Several markings can be provided for different species of fish. Further, the hand held device may be provided with aperture(s) or slot(s) in the flap(s) so that the fish which has been caught can be killed effectively whilst the head of the fish is being held within the devic3.

Conveniently, the first and second flaps are made from suitable materials, such as plastics, which may conveniently have insulating properties so that the body temperature of the user's hand does not adversely affect the fish. Further, the materials may also have water retaining properties. In practice, the hand held device may be formed by any known means as a unitary article.

The invention will be described by way of illustration with reference to the practical non-limiting embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a device for holding fish constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a view of the first side of a device for holding fish constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 is a view of the second side of a device for holding fish constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, Figure 1 shows a fish I held within an elongated U oeae° S 15 shaped receiving space 11 provided by folding the two flaps 4a and 4b of the fish holding :oio device 2 inwardly toward one another. Release of the fish 1 may be readily achieved by opening the receiving space 11 by moving the flaps 4a and 4b away from each other. The device 2 is conveniently constructed of a plastic material which, while flexible, possesses thermal insulating properties that protect the fish from adverse consequences due to the o. 20 higher body temperature of the user of the device. The material also has water retaining properties.

In the embodiment shown, the two flaps 4a and 4b are folded symmetrically about the point 12 to ensure a firm grip over the fish 1 which may be slippery. A better grip is obtained by furnishing a portion of the inside surfaces of the flaps 4a and 4b with gripping means such as rounded protrusions 3 that ensure a good frictional grip over the fish, but which are placed so as to not injure the eyes of the fish. Again the protrusions 3 are made of plastic material and are soft to avoid injury to the fish.

To ensure a firm griF of the fish holding device 2 by the user, a holding means, in this case the strap 6 is provided on flap 4a through which the user's fingers pass.

Additionally, ribs 8 are also provided on flap 4b to assist the user in gripping the fish holding device 2. This is most conveniently seen in Figure 2 wherein the user has his, fingers 7 placed between the strap 6 and flap 4a of the fish holding device 2 and Figure 3 3 where the user's thumb 14 engages the ribs 8 provided on flap 4b to ensure a tight grip.

Figure 2 also demonstrates that the device neatly sits between the fingers 7 and palm of the user thus making it convenient to use. The front of the head of the fish 1 is placed to coincide with the top surface 13 of the fish holding device 2 to enable measurement which may be achieved by using the measuring tab 9 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows a measuring tab 9 attached to flap 4b of tne fish holding device. By means of markings 10, several of which are provided to allow for different species of fish, the user can quickly assess whether the fish 1 exceeds the minimum size that can legally br caught and then dispose of the fish or kill it. Though not shown in the drawings, the fish holding device 2 may be provided with apertures or slots in the flaps 4a and 4b to ensure easy killing of the fish.

The fish holding device 2 as described above, may be formed by any known means as a unitary article.

The above description is not intended to be in any way limiting upon the invention and those skilled in the art will be aware that it is possible to depart from the drdyse described construction without departing in any way from the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

1. A hand held fish holding device allowing a user thereof to manually hold a live fish release same when said live fish has a size below a predetermined limit characterised in that said device comprises a first and second flap, at least one of said flaps being constructed of flexible material, the first and second flaps being connected along respective one sides thereof to allow the formation of a receiving space of substantially U-shaped configuration which, in use, receives a portion of said fish, the at least one flap of flexible material being resiliently manually movable toward or away from the other flap to open and close said receiving space and enable securement and release of said fish in accordance with the manual pressure applied to said flaps by said user.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device fits within the palm of a user's hand.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first or second flaps is provided on the outer surface thereof with holding means to allow a firm grip of the device by a user of said device.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner surfaces of the first or second flaps are provided with gripping means for the fish.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second flaps have the same dimensions.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one flap is provided with a tab on a side perpendicular to said side connecting said first and second flaps, said tab extending beyond the other flap and being provided with markings corresponding to the legal minimum size of various species of fish.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one S flap is provided with slots or apertures to allow killing of the fish when placed within the o device.

8. A device as claimed in any one fo the preceding claims wherein the flaps are make of material which thermally insulates the fish from the user's hand.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flaps are made of a material which retains water. A method of manufacturing a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to Q. DATED this 22nd day of April, 1992. DOUGLAS TRIPLETT WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS SUITE 18,159 ADELAIDE TERRACE, EAST PERTH, W.A. 6004. 0.. S *to:S S S S S S S S. S 5 ABSTRACT A hand held device for securely holding fish which comprises two flaps, at least one being of flexible material. The flaps are connected at one edge and may be folded at this edge to form a substantially U shaped configuration which defines a receiving space for a fish. The flexible flap is resiliently movable towards and away from the other flap to open and close the receiving space. One of the flaps may also be provided with a tab that is provided with markings indicating the minimum size of a species of fish that can legally be caught. *o :1.1.