FISH-HOLDING DEVICE

Abstract

A fish-holding device, comprising a hollow tube (6) with a channel (12); a hook (1) attached to the distal end of the tube (6); a movable element (2) inserted in the hollow tube and guided along the channel by a release element (7) attached to the movable element, the movable element being guided for being slidable between a closed position, wherein an end of the movable element (2) abuts against a free and blunt end of the hook, and an open position, wherein the movable element is associated with a spring that biases the movable element towards the closed position; and wherein the channel (12) includes a plurality of lateral retaining grooves (5) configured to house the release element (7) in different positions along the channel.

Claims

1. A fish-holding device, comprising a hollow tube with a distal end, a proximal end, and a channel; a hook attached to the distal end of the tube; a movable element inserted in the hollow tube and guided, along the channel, by a release element attached to the movable element, the movable element being slidable in a direction parallel to the hollow tube between a closed position, wherein an end of the movable element abuts against a free and blunt end of the hook, and an open position, wherein the end of the movable element remains separated from the free and blunt end of the hook; the movable element is associated with a spring that biases the movable element towards the closed position; and the channel includes a plurality of lateral retaining grooves configured for housing the release element in different positions along the channel, retaining the movable element in the open position at different distances from the free and blunt end of the hook.

2. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is a straight bar having the potential of rotation within the hollow tube, enabling the insertion and removal of the release element into/from the lateral retaining grooves of the channel by means of the rotation of the movable element.

3. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein a grip is fastened to the movable element and protrudes from the hollow tube through the proximal end, enabling the movement of the release element away from the free and blunt end of the hook, causing the compression of the spring, by pulling the grip.

4. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the spring is within the hollow tube, encircling the movable element, and wherein the distal end of the tube includes, attached thereon, a cap on which an end of the spring rests.

5. The holding device according to claim 4, wherein the attachment between the cap and the distal end of the tube is configured to provide a plurality of attachment positions of the cap, at different longitudinal positions within the tube.

6. The holding device according to claim 4 wherein the holding device includes a set of caps with different lengths, the cap attached to the tube being one selected among said set of caps, and the attachment between the cap and the tube being a releasable attachment.

7. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the hook, which includes the free and blunt end of the hook, is parallel to the hollow tube and coaxial with the portion of the movable element containing the end of the movable element.

8. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tube includes a handle around the half closer to the proximal end.

9. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is closed on the distal side by means of a first nylon cap and on the proximal portion by a second nylon cap which is attached by means of a screw.

10. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the hook, the movable element, and the tube are manufactured from stainless steel.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] To complement the description that is being presented and with the object of promoting a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred example of the practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, wherein the following is displayed with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the device of the invention, wherein its essential elements are shown;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a disassembled view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a zoomed view of the channel, including the plurality of lateral retaining grooves configured for housing the release element;

[0016] FIG. 4 shows the device shown in FIG. 1, held by a user, the free ends of the hook and of the movable element, facing each other, including a protective cap;

[0017] FIG. 5 shows the device shown in FIG. 1, held by a user, and holding a fish;

[0018] FIG. 6 shows the device shown in FIG. 4 with the free end of the movable element spaced apart from the free end of the hook.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention discloses a fish-holding device for unloading medium, large or heavy fish for drawing the fish to the vessel for the removal of the fish hook in a secure way for both the fish and the fisherman, and holding it held for its measurement in sporting competitions. The device allows the holding of a fish, which has jaws, on the distal end thereof by placing portions of the device on the inside and on the outside of the mouth of the fish, closing around it.

[0020] The proposed fish-holding device comprises:

[0021] a hollow tube 6 with a distal end, a proximal end, and with a channel 12;

[0022] a hook 1 attached to the distal end of the tube 6;

[0023] a movable element 2 inserted in the hollow tube and guided, along the channel, by a release element 7 attached to the movable element, the movable element being slidable in a direction parallel to the hollow tube between a closed position, wherein an end of the movable element 2 abuts against a free and blunt end of the hook, and an open position wherein the end of the movable element 2 remains separated from the free and blunt end of the hook;

[0024] wherein the movable element is associated with a spring that biases the movable element towards the closed position; and wherein

[0025] the channel 12 includes a plurality of lateral retaining grooves 5 configured to house the release element 7 in different positions along the channel, retaining the movable element in the open position at different distances from the free and blunt end of the hook.

[0026] Therefore, the sliding of the movable element between the closed position and the open position will be guided by the sliding of the release element along the channel, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, limiting and guiding the sliding of the movable element in said direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow tube.

[0027] Therefore, it is proposed that said device have a body comprising, on its distal portion, a stainless-steel hook 1 arranged in such a way that one of its ends is attached to a stainless-steel tube 6 and the other free end abuts against a stainless-steel movable element 2 of the same thickness as the hook 1. The hook is fastened at the distal portion of the device to the tube 6 and is parallel to the hook 1, by means of a plurality of screws 3 with their respective nuts and wherein said movable element 2 is inserted at an end in a spring, for its shifting and movement within said tube 6, allowing for its release by means of a release element 7, which allows for the shifting of said movable element 2 within a release channel 12 comprising a plurality of grooves 5 arranged in the tube 6 and which serve as a guide for the compression or elongation of the spring, thereby causing the movable element 2 to shift within the release channel 12 and its end to contact the free end of the hook 1 allowing for its closure, as a ring-like shackle.

[0028] Preferably, the movable element will be a straight bar having the potential of rotation within the hollow tube enabling the insertion and removal of the release element into/from the lateral retaining grooves of the channel by means of the rotation of the movable element.

[0029] It is also proposed that a grip be fastened to the movable element and protrude from the hollow tube through the proximal end, making it possible to pull on the grip causing the compression of the spring and the distancing of the end of the movable element from the free and blunt end of the hook.

[0030] Preferably, the spring is within the hollow tube, encircling the movable element. In this case, the distal end of the tube may include, attached thereto, a cap on which a spring end rests internally, against the surface thereof contained in the tube. The movable element may exit the proximal end of the hollow tube going through said cap.

[0031] So, an end of the spring rests on a rear nylon cap 8 arranged close to the proximal portion of the hollow tube of the device which allows to keep said spring compressed within the body 6 and wherein a stainless-steel bar 2, constituting the movable element, when pulled backwards by means of the ring 10, allows for the compression of the spring, the compression of said spring being adjusted by means of the location of the release element 7 in the different grooves 5 of the release channel 12 where the spring is located, so that, the greater the traction of the bar 2, the greater the compression and the closing force, all this depending on the weight of the fish, the release channel 12 adjusting the optimal force for holding the fish without harming it.

[0032] Optionally, the attachment between the cap and the distal end of the tube can be configured to provide a plurality of attachment positions of the cap, at different longitudinal positions within the tube, allowing for the modification of the position of the surface of the cap on which the spring end rests, modifying the spring compression.

[0033] Alternatively, the holding device may include a set of caps with different lengths, the cap attached to the tube being one selected among said set of caps, and the attachment between the cap and the tube being a releasable attachment, allowing for the replacement of the cap for a different cap of the set of caps, modifying the position of the surface on which the spring end rests and thus modifying the spring compression.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the invention, the portion of the hook containing the end of the hook is parallel to the hollow tube and coaxial with the portion of the movable element containing the end of the movable element.

[0035] The body of the fish-holding device of the invention also comprises a handle 11 for handling and for the comfort of the user. The tube 6 is closed on the distal side by means of a first nylon cap 4 and on the proximal portion by a second nylon cap 8 which is attached by means of a screw 9, in such a way that said first 4 and second 8 nylon caps, ensure the water-tightness of the interior portion of said tube 6.

[0036] The device is susceptible to the exchange of the cap 8 to allow the spring pressure to vary in a more adequate adjustment and to adapt to the needs of the fisherman depending on whether the latter is conducting a sport activity at sea or in fresh water.

[0037] To hold the fish by the jaws, first of all, the release element 7 is actuated so that the spring is compressed and shifts the movable element 2, separating it from the free and blunt end of the hook, allowing for the opening of the device, going on to retain the movable element in the open position by inserting the release element in one of the grooves of the channel. Next, the free end of the hook 1 is placed on the inside portion of the mouth of the fish and the freed end of the movable element 2 on the outer part of the mouth of said fish; next, the release element 7 is actuated to remove it from the groove, causing the spring to return to its original position, in such a way that the movable element 2 is shifted, firmly holding the fish but without harming the jaws of the fish, as the system closes as a ring-like shackle; this also confers sufficient stability, since, depending on the weight of the fish, the user may compress the spring using the grooves 5 of the release channel 12 as a guide by means of the ring 10; that is, depending on the weight of the fish, the spring may adjust its elongation within the release channel 12 with the different grooves 5 and by means of the ring 10 located in the proximal portion, conferring to the spring greater or lesser compression, so that the restoring force of the spring will be greater or lesser depending on the needs of the user based on the weight of the fish.

[0038] After the fish is held, the fisherman may set the position of the bar 2 by rotating the release element 7 towards the left within the grooves of the release channel 12. This way, the fish will be firmly held in the groove corresponding to the dimensions of its mouth, without being harmed.