GB2283158A

GB2283158A - A pivot device.

Info

Publication number: GB2283158A
Application number: GB9322318A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Brownlow
Original assignee: Drennan International Ltd
Current assignee: Drennan International Ltd
Priority date: 1993-10-29
Filing date: 1993-10-29
Publication date: 1995-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-29
Also published as: GB2283158B; GB9322318D0

Abstract

A pivot device for connecting an item of fishing equipment, eg a keepnet (1), to support means such as a pole (2) comprising a first component (5A) for securing to the keepnet (1) and a second component (5b) for securing to the pole (2), the two components fitting together, eg by engagement of male and female members (12, 8) of polygonal cross-section, in a plurality of specific angular positions about an axis (9) and being arranged so that the relative angular positions of the two components (5A, 5B) may be adjusted by simply axially disengaging the components (5A, 5B), rotating at least one of the components (5A, 5B) about the axis (9) and axially re-engaging the components (5A, 5B) at the desired angular position. <IMAGE>

Description

A PIVOT DEVICE This invention relates to a pivot device for connecting an item of fishing equipment, eg a keepnet or a rod rest, to support means at a variety of different angles.

A fishermanss keep net is usually supported by a pole pushed into the ground. A pivot device is provided to enable the keep net to be secured at a variety of angles about a horizontal axis with respect to the pole. Conventional pivot devices used for this purpose comprise components which can be pivoted relative to each other and secured at the selected angle by tightening a screw-threaded nut. The disadvantage of this form of device is that in order to adjust the angle of the net, the fisherman has to loosen the screw-threaded net, rotate the net and then tighten the nut again. This can be a difficult or fiddly task with cold hands and/or with wet hands.

This invention aims to provide a pivot device which allows for easier adjustment.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pivot device for connecting an item of fishing equipment to support means, the device comprising a first component for securing to the support means and a second component for securing to the item of fishing equipment, the two components being arranged so as to fit together in a plurality of specific angular positions about an axis passing therethough, the relative angular positions of the two components being adjusted by axially disengaging the components, rotating at least one component about said axis and axially re-engaging the components.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the subsidiary claims of the specification.

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1(A), 1(B) and 1(C) show a fisherman's keepnet positioned at a variety of angles with respect to a support pole pushed into a riverbank; Figure 2 shows a front view, part sectional, of an embodiment of a pivot device according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a front view of two components making up the device of Figure 2, with the components shown disengaged from each other, and Figure 4 is a plan view or a fishermanfs keepnet with a pivot device of the type illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 fitted thereto.

Figures 1(A), 1(B) and 1(C) show a fishermanfs keepnet 1 mounted on a pole 2 which is pushed into the ground 3 next to a river 4. In Figure 1(A) the top of the keepnet 1 is perpendicular to the pole 2, in Figure 1(B) it is at an angle of 450 to the pole 2 and Figure 1(C) it is in line with the pole. As shown in the Figures, the pole 2 may be pushed into the ground, either in the river bank or in mud at the edge of a river, so that it extends in a vertical direction or it may be pushed into the river bank in a horizontal direction.

As mentioned above, with known devices, it is necessary to unscrew a nut in order to adjust the angle of the keepnet 1 relative to the pole 2 and to tighten the nut again to secure the keep net 1 at the selected angle. This can be difficult with cold, stiff fingers or with wet hands.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the pivot device 5 to be described attached to a frame, eg of a keepnet. As shown in Figure 3, the device comprises two main components 5A and 5B. The first component 5A is provided with a screw threaded stud 6 for attaching the first component to the top of a support pole. The first component 5A comprises a central body portion 7 to which the stud 6 is attached with a through hole 8 of octagonal cross-section passing therethrough along axis 9. An end piece 10 is attached to one side of the central body portion 7, the end piece 10 having a through-hole 11 of circular cross-section extending therethrough as a continuation of the throughhole 8.

The second component 5B comprises a projecting part 12 of octagonal cross-section with a through-hole 13 of hexagonal cross-section passing therethough and an end-piece 14 attached to one end of the projecting part 12 having a hexagonal through-hole 15 which is a continuation of the through-hole 13. Also shown in Figures 2 and 3 is a bar 16 of hexagonal cross-section passing through holes 13 and 15 of component 5B and through holes 8 and 11 of the component 5A.

The hexagonal bar 16 is designed to be a friction fit within tubular frame members 1A and 1B of a keep net as shown in Figure 2. The first and second components 5A and SD are preferably a sliding fit on the bar 16.

The first and second components 5A and 5B are arranged so that they fit together, as shown in Figure 2, with the octagonal projecting part 12 fitted within the octagonal through-hole 8 of the central body portion 7 of the first component 5A. It will be appreciated that the first and second components can be fitted together in eight different angular orientations with respect to each other, about the axis 9, depending on the orientation of the octagonal projecting pivot 12 within the octagonal through-hole 8.

The first and second components 5A and 5B may be plastics mouldings and the bar 16 and stud 6 be made of metal. Other materials may, however, be used. As shown in Figure 1, the first and second components 5A and 5B together form a device without sharp edges and of a generally bulbous shape. This helps reduce the risk of the keep net being snagged on the device or being caught within the pivoting mechanism (as happens with known devices). The bulbous form also provides a robust device which is easily adjustable with cold and/or wet hands.

In order to adjust the angular position of the first components SA relative to the second component 5B, the components are first disengaged axially by withdrawing the octagonal projecting part 12 from the octagonal through-hole 8, rotating one or other component about the axis 9 and re-engaging the components axially by inserting the octagonal projecting part 12 at the selected angle within the octagonal through-hole 8. With octagonal parts, it will be appreciated that the eight possible angular orientations are equally spaced at 450 intervals about the axis 9.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a fisherman's keepnet with a device of the type described above fitted between tubular frame members 1A and 1B thereof. The hexagonal bar 16 is a tight friction fit within the tubular frame members 1A and 1B, which are typically formed of plastics tubing. Wheri it is desired to adjust the angle of the keepnet relative to the pole 2, it is simply necessary to pull the two components SA and 5B of the pivot device apart in the direction of arrows 17, rotate the keepnet to the desired angle and push the two components 5A and 5B together again. The movement required to separate the two components 5A and 5B can either be accommodated by flexing of the keep net frame or by sliding of one of the components 5A, 5B along the hexagonal bar 16. In the latter case, it will of course be necessary to provide a clearance between the component and the respective section of tubular frame member 1A or 1B to permit the component to move along the bar 16.

The end pieces 10 and 14 are preferably roughened or provided with other gripping means to assist a fisherman in gripping the components 5A and 5B to pull these apart.

It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the device without departing from the principle of operation described.

The projecting part 12 and through-hole 8 may have other crosssections, eg hexagonal or star shaped, to enable the components 5A and 5B to be fitted together at a plurality of different angles. Other means of attachment of the first component to the support rod, or other forms of support, may be used and, similarly, other forms of attachment between the second component and keepnet may be used.

Furthermore, the first and second component may be of other forms which fit together in a plurality of different angular positions about a given axis and which allow for adjustment by axially disengaging the components.

Such a pivot device may also be used for connecting other items of fishing equipment to a support where there is a need to be able to adjust the angle of the item relative to the support. A further example is the connection between a rod rest and a support pole on which this is mounted.

It will be appreciated that by arranging for adjustment to be effected by simple axial disengagement of two components, rather than by unscrewing a threaded nut, it is much easier for a fisherman with cold hands and/or wet hands to adjust the angle of the keepnet or other equipment.

Claims

1. A pivot device for connecting an item of fishing equipment to support means, the device comprising a first component for securing to the support means and a second component for securing to the item of fishing equipment, the two components being arranged so as to fit together in a plurality of specific angular positions about an axis passing therethough, the relative angular positions of the two components being adjusted by axially disengaging the components, rotating at least one component about said axis and axially re-engaging the components.

2. A pivot device as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the said two components comprises a male member having a polygonal cross section and the other of the said two components comprises a female member of corresponding cross-section.

3. A pivot device as claimed n claim 2 in which the male and female members have an octagonal cross-section so as to provide for eight relative angular positions of the first and second components equally spaced at 450 about the said axis.

4. A pivot device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the first component comprises a screw threaded stud for securing the component to the support means, eg support means in the form of a rod having a screw threaded hole at one end thereof.

5. A pivot device as claimed in any preceeding claim comprising a bar extending through holes in the first and second components for securing the second component to an item of fishing equipment.

6. A pivot device as claimed in claim 5 in which the bar has a polygonal cross-section so as to prevent relative rotation of the bar and the second component.

7. A pivot device as claimed in claim 6 in which the bar and the through-hole in the second component have a hexagonal cross section.

8. A pivot device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7 in which the first component and/or the second component are slidable along the bar so as to permit said axial movement for engaging and disengaging the two components.

9. A pivot device for connecting an item of fishing equipment to support means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 4 or the accompanying drawings.

10. A fisherman's keepnet connected to support means by a pivot device as claimed in any preceding claim.

11. A fisherman's keep net as claimed in claim 10 connected to support means by a pivot device as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9 in which the said bar is fitted within a tubular frame member of the keep net.

12. A fisherman's keepnet supported on a pole by means of a pivot device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.