GB2410879A

GB2410879A - Disgorging device

Info

Publication number: GB2410879A
Application number: GB0502820A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-14
Filing date: 2005-02-11
Publication date: 2005-08-17
Also published as: GB0502820D0; GB0403310D0

Abstract

The device (10)comprises a shaft (13) with a channel (11) extending substantially along at least part of the length of the shaft (13) adapted to receive a flexible line, and line retaining means adapted to retain a flexible line within the channel (11). The retaining means may be collars (15) with slots which are rotatable about the shaft.

Description

24 1 0879 Fishing Implement The present invention relates to disgorging

devices and particularly, although not exclusively, to fish disgorgers, which may be used for removal of a hook, fly, or other sharp object from a fish.

Angling is a sport and hobby that is enjoyed by a large number of people around the world. However, one of the problems which has always taxed anglers is what to do with the fish that has been caught, and whether it should be kept or an attempt should be made to place the fish back in the water.

An increasing number of anglers wish to replace the fish back in the water after they have been caught, either due to local regulations which impose this or due to a personal desire to help maintain fish stocks. The difficulty with replacing the fish comes in trying to remove the hook or fly from the fish in such a way that the damage to the fish is minimised. By minimising any damage caused in this action of removal of the hook or fly, the fish should suffer less injury and have a greater chance of survival once refloated.

However, manual release of the fish hook may be at the least difficult, and at worst dangerous for the angler.

The task of removal of the hook from the fish requires a high degree of manual dexterity from the angler which would be difficult in a benign environment. On a river bank in difficult weather it would be very demanding to limit damage to the fish. ()

One solution known in the art is the provision of a disgorging tool which has a hook engaging section at one end. The problem with this tool is that the hook is difficult to manipulate.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address the above problems and to provide a disgorged device which provides an easy-to-use way of removing a hook, fly, or other sharp object from a fish in a manner which limits damage to the fish.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disgorging device, comprising a shaft with a channel extending substantially along at least part of the length of the shaft adapted to receive a flexible line, and line retaining means adapted to retain a flexible line within the channel.

Preferably, the channel extends along the length of the shaft.

Preferably, the line retaining means comprise a collar, preferably a slotted collar, which may be receivable in a recess in the shaft. Preferably, the line retaining means comprises at least two slotted collars.

Preferably, the disgorging device further comprises hook engaging means, which are preferably adapted to engage with a hook or fly.

Preferably, the hook engaging means are situated toward an end of the shaft. Preferably, hook engaging means are situated toward both ends of the shaft. Preferably, the disgorging device comprises hook engaging means toward each end of the shaft.

Preferably, the hook engaging means comprises a chamfer cut into the shaft and extending substantially therethrough.

Preferably, the channel is an external groove.

Preferably, the channel has a depth of between 0.1 to 4mm, more preferably a depth of 0.5 to 2mm, most preferably a depth of 0.7 to 1.5mm.

Preferably, the shaft has at least two recesses around which the slotted collars are fitted.

Preferably, the slotted collars can be rotated around the shaft.

Preferably, the slotted collars comprise slots which match the recesses.

Preferably, the shaft has serrations on the exterior surface for gripping. More preferably, the shaft has a knurled finish on the exterior surface for gripping.

Preferably, the central portion of the shaft is hollow at an end towards where the chamfer is cut in to the shaft.

In an alternate embodiment, the hook engaging means preferably comprises at least one slot which extends into the shaft. Preferably, the at least one slot is substantially rectangular in plan. Preferably, a longer in) side of the rectangular slot is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Preferably, the at least one slot extends more than half way through the shaft (when viewed in section). Preferably, the at least one slot incorporates a section of the channel that extends deeper into the shaft than a remainder of the channel. Preferably, the at least one slot extends from an end of the shaft, preferably substantially along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Preferably, the at least one slot extends from an end of the shaft into the shaft.

Preferably, at an end of the at least one slot distal to the end of the shaft is an abutment wall which is preferably operable to allow an end of a hook or fly to abut thereagainst.

Preferably, the abutment wall extends between a lower internal face of the at least one slot and a lower internal face of the channel. Preferably, the abutment wall is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Preferably, the at least one slot extends into the shaft between 2 and 18mm from an end thereof. More preferably, to 15mm. More preferably 8 to 12 mm. Most preferably, about lOmm.

Preferably, the hook engaging means comprises two slots.

Preferably, the slots are situated at substantially opposite ends of the shaft. Advantageously and preferably, the disgorging device is thereby adapted to engage a hook or fly at either end of the shaft. (

Preferably, the hollow in the central portion of the shaft extends from one end of the shaft to the chamfer.

Preferably, the shaft is rigid.

Preferably, the shaft is made of a rigid material, for example aluminium, steel, or plastic.

Preferably, the shaft comprises a hole extending therethrough along an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method disgorging a fish, the method comprising placing a flexible line in a shaft comprising a channel substantially along its length, and using at least one slotted collar on the shaft to retain the flexible line in the channel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of disgorging a fish, the method comprising placing a flexible line in a channel in a shaft, the channel extending substantially along the length of the shaft, and using at least one slotted collar on the shaft to retain the flexible line in the channel.

All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional plan view of a disgorger device.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional plan view of the disgorger device.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the disgorger device in use.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the disgorger device in use.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the disgorger device.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional plan view of the disgorger device 10 comprising a shaft 13 having a grooved channel 11 extending substantially along the entire length thereof. The shaft 13 has recesses 14 along it which allow slotted collars 15 to be placed around the shaft 13. Toward an end 18 of the shaft 13, there is a chamfer 16. The slotted collars 15 are rotatable so that the slots may be aligned with the grooved channel 11 in the shaft 13. In this configuration an angler can place the disgorger device 10 on a fishing line 31 so that the said line 31 lies in the grooved channel 11. The slotted collars 15 are rotated again about the shaft 13 so the slots are no longer aligned with the grooved channel 11.

The fishing line 31 is therefore retained in the grooved channel 11.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional plan view of the disgorger device 10 as in Figure 1. The device in Figure 2 has the slotted collars 15 rotated so that the slots are not aligned with the channel 11.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the disgorger device 10 with a fishing line 31 held in the channel 11. The fishing line 31 is held in place by the two slotted collars 15 which are rotated so the slots are not aligned with the channel 11. In this configuration the disgorger device 10 can be slid along the fishing line 31, but cannot be removed from the fishing line 31 unless the user rotates the slotted collars 15 back to a position where the slots are aligned with the channel 11.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the disgorger device 10 placed on a fishing line 31. The disgorger device 10 can slide along the fishing line 31, and is placed on the fishing line 31 with the chamfer 16 pointing toward the fish. The disgorger device 10 is then slid along the fishing line 31 so that the hollow central portion 19 of the shaft 13 engages the end of the hook 45 embedded in the fish. The user can then rotate and manipulate the hook 45 embedded in the fish by manipulation of the shaft 13. The hook 45 is then released from the fish by manipulation of the disgorger device 10. The disgorger device 10 is removed from the fishing line 31 by rotation of the slotted collars 15 so that the slots are aligned with the channel 11. The fishing line 31 with the hook 45 attached can then be separated from the disgorger device 10.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the dlegorglog device 20 comprising a shaft 21 having a grooved channel 22 extending substantially along the entire length thereof. As in figures 14, the shaft 21 has two circumferential recesses 23 each disposed toward an end of the shaft. The recesses 23 allow slotted collars 24 to be placed around the shaft 21. The grooved channel 22 comprises two hook receiving sections 25 (or slots), each slot 25 being disposed at an end of the shaft 21. These slots 25 are deeper than the grooved channel 22 that extends along the rest of the length of the device 20. The slots 25 provide a hollow central portion 27 of the shaft at each end. The slots 25 comprise an abutment wall 26 at the point between the interface of the slot 25 and the shallower grooved channel 22. The disgorging device 20 can be used in the same way as shown in figure 4 with the end of the hook entering the slot 25 and abutting the abutment wall 26. The user can then rotate and manipulate the hook embedded in the fish by manipulation of the shaft 21.

In use, the end of the hook attached to the flshlog line abuts the abutment wall 26. The slot 25 thereby provides a seat fro the hook and allows a user to manipulate the hook by manipulation of the the disgorges device 20.

Figure 5 also shows the device with slotted collars 24 which are able to rotate and engage the fishing line as previously described with reference to figure 4.

A dlsgorger device 20 is formed of plastic which makes it cheaper and easier to manufacture. Also, the disgorger device 20 is simple to manufacture because the slots 25 require less effort to insert than the hook engaging means of the disgorger device 10. Also, the disgorger device 20 has hook engaging means at each end which allows an angler to quickly deploy the device about the fishing not without having to think about whether the device is correctly orientated.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. A disgorging device, comprising a shaft with a channel extending

substantially along at least part of the length of the shaft adapted to receive a flexible line, and line retaining means adapted to retain a flexible line within the channel.
2. A disgorging device according to claim 1, wherein the line retaining means comprise a collar.
3. A disgorging device according to claim 2, wherein the collar is a slotted collar, which is receivable in a recess in the shaft.
4. A disgorging device according to claim 3, wherein the shaft has at least two recesses around which slotted collars are fitted.
5. A disgorging device according to claim 4, wherein the slotted collars can be rotated around the shaft.
6. A disgorging device according to any preceding claim, wherein the disgorging device further comprises hook engaging means, which are adapted to engage with a hook or fly.
7. A disgorging device according to claim 6, wherein the hook engaging means are situated toward an end of the shaft.
8. A disgorging device according to either of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the disgorging device comprises hook engaging means toward each end of the shaft.
9. A disgorging device according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein, the hook engaging means comprises a chamfer cut into the shaft and extending substantially therethrough.
10. A disgorging device according to claim 9, wherein the central portion of the shaft is hollow at an end towards where the chamfer is cut into the shaft.
11. A disgorging device according to claim 10, wherein the hollow in the central portion of the shaft extends from one end of the shaft to the chamfer.
12. A disgorging device according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the hook engaging means comprises at least one slot which extends into the shaft.
13. A disgorging device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one slot incorporates a section of the channel that extends deeper into the shaft than a remainder of the channel and the at least one slot extends from an end of the shaft substantially along a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
14. A disgorging device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one slot extends into the shaft between 2 and 18mm from an end thereof.
15. A disgorging device according to claims 12 to 14, wherein at an end of the at least one slot distal to the end of the shaft is an abutment wall which is operable to allow an end of a hook or fly to abut thereagainst.
16. A disgorging device according to claim 15, wherein the abutment wall extends between a lower internal face of the at least one slot and a lower internal face of the channel.
17. A disgorging device according to claims 12 to 16, wherein the hook engaging means comprises two slots, each slot being situated at substantially opposite ends of the shaft, wherein the disgorging device is thereby adapted to engage a hook or fly at either end of the shaft.
18. A disgorging device according to any preceding claim, wherein the channel has a depth of between 0.1 to 4mm.
19. A disgorging device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft is made of a rigid material, for example aluminium, steel, or plastic.
20. A disgorging device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft comprises a hole extending therethrough along an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
21. A method of disgorging a fish, the method comprising placing a flexible line in a channel in a shaft, the channel extending substantially along the length of the shaft, and using at least one slotted collar on the shaft to retain the flexible line in the channel. / N:
22. A disgorging device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
23. A method of disgorging a fish, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.