GB2569825A

GB2569825A - Fishing keepnet attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2569825A
Application number: GB1800019.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robinson Michael; Freeman Alun
Original assignee: H Young Operations Ltd
Current assignee: H YOUNG (OPERATIONS) Ltd
Priority date: 2018-01-02
Filing date: 2018-01-02
Publication date: 2019-07-03
Also published as: GB201800019D0

Abstract

A keepnet fitting 301 is provided for removably and moveably attaching a keepnet to a piece of angler's equipment, the keepnet fitting 301 comprising a top clasp a, a bottom clasp c, a resilient means d (e.g. spring 510) and a tightening device b for pulling the top clasp a and bottom clasp c together against the resilient means d, wherein the top clasp a and bottom clasp c cooperate to clamp a rigid portion of a keepnet between the top and bottom clasps when pulled together by the tightening device b (figure 4), the top clasp a comprises a body part 501, a top lip 502 extending from the body part 501, such that part of the top lip 502 engages a surface of the rigid portion distal from the body part 501 when the rigid portion is between the top and bottom clasps, and the bottom clasp c comprises a bottom lip 512, such that the bottom lip engages an underside of the rigid portion when the top clasp and bottom clasp are pulled together by the tightening device.

Description

[1] The present disclosure relates to a fitting for an angler’s keepnet, and in particular to a fitting used to allow easy reconfiguration of a keepnet.

Background [2] A keepnet is a type of net used in fishing to allow anglers to retain fish within a controlled space underwater after the fish have been caught, but before the angler is either ready to return the fish back to the water or permanently remove the fish from the water. Keepnets are used to keep all caught fish together until the end of a fishing trip or during fishing competitions, where the angler may fish for a specified period of time at the end of which the number of fish caught and retained in the keepnet can be counted.

[3] Keepnets are usually positioned in the water from the bank of a river or lake or any other suitable point, most typically in the same area from which the angler will be casting a fishing rod. The example keepnet 101 shown in Figure 1 shows a typical configuration of the top section of the keepnet which is positioned outside the water. The keepnet will continue down below the water (not shown), and will be open at the top to allow fish to be placed in the net, and sealed at the bottom so that the fish do not escape. The keepnet 101 has a rigid portion 102 in usually square or circular shape, with the net 103 attached thereto.

[4] The keepnet 101 is suspended in the water by way of it being attached to either a bank stick (a pole positioned on the bank close to the edge of the water) or the angler’s seat box. The keepnet has a fitting (not shown) that attaches to the bank stick or seat box and allows it to be suspended in the water. In some prior art keepnets, the fitting is injection moulded into the rigid portion when it is manufactured so that the fitting is a strong component from which the rigid portion and net can hang. In other prior art keepnets, the rigid portion is manufactured as shown in Figure 1, and then the fitting is attached thereto by multiple small screws. In either case, the fitting is securely and permanently positioned in the centre of one side of the rigid portion, and it cannot be moved.

[5] Some fisheries limit the number of fish that can be put into a single keepnet, and so many anglers require more than one keepnet when fishing, and it would not be uncommon for as many as 8 or more keepnets to be used in these instances. The angler must therefore try to efficiently position the keepnets such that they can ideally all be suspended from the existing equipment, such as the angler’s seat box, and arranged so that they are convenient and easily accessible. When multiple nets are used, an accessory bar may be fitted to the seat box. An accessory bar is a long bar to which more keepnets can be attached. As shown in Figure 2, a problem arises when there are multiple keepnets 101 on an accessory bar 201 and there is not enough space to position another keepnet 101 as the prior art fitting 202 is fixed and positioned centrally on the rigid portion 102. In Figure 2 it can be seen that an inefficient use of the ends of the accessory bar 201 exists, and this prevents the angler from attaching the fifth keepnet 101 to the end of the accessory bar 201.

[6] Summary [7] This summary is provided to introduce concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[8] There is provided a keepnet fitting for removably and moveably attaching a keepnet to a piece of angler’s equipment, the keepnet fitting comprising a top clasp, a bottom clasp, a resilient means and a tightening device for pulling the top clasp and bottom clasp together against the resilient means, wherein the top clasp and bottom clasp cooperate to clamp a rigid portion of a keepnet between the top and bottom clasps when pulled together by the tightening device, the top clasp comprises a body part, a top lip extending from the body part, such that part of the top lip engages a surface of the rigid portion distal from the body part when the rigid portion is between the top and bottom clasps, and the bottom clasp comprises a bottom lip, such that the bottom lip engages an underside of the rigid portion when the top clasp and bottom clasp are pulled together by the tightening device.

[9] A selection of optional features is set out in the dependent claims.

[10] Brief Description of the Drawings [11] Figure 1 shows a keepnet without any fittings;

[12] Figure 2 shows an accessory bar using keepnets with prior art fittings;

[13] Figure 3 shows an example of a fitting;

[14] Figure 4 shows an example of a fitting; and [15] Figure 5 shows an example of a fitting.

[16] Detailed Description [17] Referring to Figure 3, a moveable fitting 301 for attaching a rigid portion 102 of a keepnet 101 to an angler’s equipment is shown. As described above, the angler’s equipment may be a bank stick, seat box, seat box accessory bar or any other component that could provide the required fixation for holding a keepnet 101 in place, such as a fixture on a boat. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fitting 301 is attached to, but moveable (Figure 3) along, the rigid portion 102, and removable (Figure 4) from the rigid portion 102 to allow for secure repositioning on either another keepnet 101 or a different side of the rigid portion 102. This arrangement provides improved versatility for mounting the keepnet.

[18] Referring now to Figure 5, the fitting 301 comprises a first part (top clasp), a, which has a body part 501 and a top lip 502. The body part 501 allows for attachment to angler’s equipment in standard ways known in the art, but typically by a threaded fitting. A second part, b, comprises a tightening device 504, the tightening device 504 comprises a knob 505 which can be turned by hand and a threaded bolt 506 which engages a hole 507 in the top clasp, a, and passes there-through. The fitting further comprises a third part (bottom clasp), c. The threaded bolt 506 also engages a threaded hole 509 in the bottom clasp, c, when the fitting 301 is fully assembled and in use. The final part of the assembly, part d, is a resilient means 510 positioned between the top clasp, a, and the bottom clasp, c.

[19] In the exemplary embodiment the resilient means 510 comprises two springs, however one or any number of springs may be used between the clasps a and c. Similarly, a knob 505 is used to turn the threaded bolt 506, however it will be appreciated that any shape suitable to be turned by hand and attached to the bolt 506 would have the same effect and would not differ in any material way from the disclosed invention.

[20] In the exemplary embodiment, the resilient means 510 comprises two springs, and the springs used are of suitable length and stiffness such that in the uncompressed state they are able to hold the two clasps a and c apart a distance of at least the thickness of the rigid portion 102 of the keepnet 101, such that the springs will serve to open the fitting 301 to allow it to be removed from the rigid portion 101. The resilient means 510 must however provide a low enough stiffness that a user can compress the resilient means 510 by turning the knob 505 and thus pulling together the two clasps a and c around the rigid portion 102 of the keepnet 101. There is a large number of possible resilient means and stiffnesses of resilient means which would provide this possibility for the user, and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art of mechanical product design what a suitable resilient means and/or stiffness would be.

[21] The top lip 502 is shaped to go over the rigid portion 102 of the keepnet 101 when the fitting 301 is installed, and part of it is shaped to engage a surface of the rigid portion 102 distal from the body part 501 when the fitting 301 is secured to the rigid portion 102 by turning the knob 505. A bottom lip 512 of the bottom clasp, c, is shaped to go under the rigid portion 102 when the fitting 301 is secured to the rigid portion 102 by turning the knob 505, and to tighten against the underside of the rigid portion when the knob 505 is turned. These lipped surfaces 502, 512, allow the fitting 301 to remain loosely attached to the keepnet 101 when the knob 505 is only partially loosened by the user. This provides the option for the user that he may turn the knob 505 a sufficient amount to release the fitting 301 from gripping the rigid portion 102 but such that it remains fixed to it, in that the fitting 301 cannot be removed from the rigid portion 102 without further opening the clasps a, c, by further turning the knob 505. This means that the user can quickly and easily loosen the fitting 301 and slide it along the rigid portion 102 and then tighten it in a secure manner again once it has been suitably repositioned, or the user can completely remove the fitting 301 and reposition it on a rigid portion 102 of another net 101, or on another side of the rigid portion 102 of the net 101 from which it has been removed.

[22] In the scenario shown in Figure 2, the present invention allows the last keepnet 101 to be used on the end of the accessory bar 201, simply by moving the fitting 301 along the rigid portion 102 so that it can be attached to the accessory bar 201 without the keepnets 101 overlapping.

[23] The removable aspect of the fitting 301 provides advantages over fixed permanent fittings where the fitting is secured to the keepnet 101 either by way of being integrated into the construction of the rigid portion 102 or by screw fixture. The main advantage of the modular approach to the design of the keepnet 101 and fitting 301 is that if a keepnet 101 becomes damaged, the fitting 301 can be removed and used on another keepnet 101. Similarly, if the fitting 301 breaks or is damaged, it can be replaced at a lower cost than replacing the whole keepnet 101, as would be required if the fitting 301 is integrated into the rigid portion 101.

[24] It will be appreciated that the specific arrangement chosen is only one way of performing the technical function of the invention. It would be easy for the skilled person to make simple adjustments to the configuration of parts of the fitting 301, such as changing the positioning of the knob 505 to screw from underneath the fitting 301 rather than from the top, or integrating the top clasp, a, and bottom clasp, c, into one component using, for example, a hinge. These changes would not deviate from the claimed invention in a substantial way.

[25] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiment of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A keepnet fitting for removably and moveably attaching a keepnet to a piece of angler’s equipment, the keepnet fitting comprising a top clasp, a bottom clasp, a resilient means and a tightening device for pulling the top clasp and bottom clasp together against the resilient means, wherein the top clasp and bottom clasp cooperate to clamp a rigid portion of a keepnet between the top and bottom clasps when pulled together by the tightening device, the top clasp comprises a body part, a top lip extending from the body part, such that part of the top lip engages a surface of the rigid portion distal from the body part when the rigid portion is between the top and bottom clasps, and the bottom clasp comprises a bottom lip, such that the bottom lip engages an underside of the rigid portion when the top clasp and bottom clasp are pulled together by the tightening device.

2. The removable and moveable keepnet fitting of claim 1, wherein the resilient means is a spring arrangement.

3. The removable and moveable keepnet fitting of claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient means is positioned between the top clasp and the bottom clasp.

4. The removable and moveable keepnet fitting of any preceding claim, wherein the tightening device comprises a knob and a threaded bolt, the top clasp comprises a hole for receiving the threaded bolt there-through, and the bottom clasp comprises a threaded hole for receiving the threaded bolt.