FISH RESTRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

A fish restraining device to restrain a fish or similar creature during the process of removing a hook from the mouth, while not further harming the fish, and making it possible to either transfer the fish to a container or tank or place the fish back in the water and release it, requiring only one-handed, simple manipulation by the person fishing.

Claims

1. A fish restraining device, to restrain a fish or similar creature, by a person fishing, during the process of removing a hook from the mouth, while not further harming the fish, the fish restraining device comprising: (i) a frame body; (ii) a frame handle mounted at an upper portion of said frame body; (iii) a pull-up bar movably connected to said frame body, adapted to be manually pulled upward into close proximity to said frame handle; (iv) two end-clamping structures adapted to restrain the head area and tail area of the fish; (v) a middle-clamping structure adapted to restrain the longitudinally middle area of the fish; (vi) at least one mechanical linkage adapted to transfer the input movements of the upward pulling and releasing of said pull-up bar into output movements of clamping and releasing of said end-clamping structures and said middle-clamping structure; where, in use, the person fishing, with one hand, aligns said fish restraining device longitudinally with the fish, places said end-clamping structures and middle-clamping structure over the fish, and pulls said pull-up bar to restrain the fish, and releases said pull-up bar to release the fish.

2. The fish restraining device of claim 1, further comprising at least one spring adapted to return said pull-up bar to a released position.

3. The fish restraining device of claim 1, where said mechanical linkage further comprises at least one link and at least one pin joint.

4. The fish restraining device of claim 1, where said frame body is made of metal.

5. The fish restraining device of claim 1, where said frame body is made of plastic.

6. The fish restraining device of claim 1, where said end-clamping structures and said middle-clamping structure are made of metal.

7. The fish restraining device of claim 1, where said end-clamping structures and said middle-clamping structure are made of plastic.

8. The fish restraining device of claim 1, where said end-clamping structures and said middle-clamping structure are provided in single compound units.

9. The fish restraining device of claim 1, where said end-clamping structures and said middle-clamping structure are provided as separate units.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the fish restraining device of the invention, in use;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the fish restraining device of the invention in an open position;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the fish restraining device of the invention in a closed position;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the fish restraining device of the invention, having springs;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the fish restraining device of the invention in an open position; and

[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the fish restraining device of the invention in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 and all of the figures generally, the fish restraining device 10 of the invention is shown. The fish restraining device 10 is used to restrain a fish or similar creature during the process of removing a hook from the mouth, while not further harming the fish, and making it possible to either transfer the fish to a container or tank or place the fish back in the water and release it.

[0025] Referring additionally to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the fish restraining device 10 provides a frame body 1 having a frame handle 2 by which the fish restraining device 10 can be manipulated with one hand by a person fishing. A pull-up bar 3 is provided in a placement allowing the person fishing to pull it up or let it go using the fingers of the same hand used to hold the frame handle 2. The pull-up bar 3 is connected to one or more mechanical linkages 4 which transfer force in one direction placed on the pull-up bar 3 to force in a different direction placed upon two end-clamping structures 7 and one middle-clamping structure 8. In preferred embodiments of the fish restraining device 10, the mechanical linkage 4 provides links 5 and pin joints 6 as the mechanism for transferring force.

[0026] With reference to the restrained fish, having an anteroposterior or longitudinal axis, a dorsoventral or up-down axis, and a transverse or left-right axis, the two end-clamping structures 7 are positioned to restrain the fish at the anterior and posterior areas. Either end-clamping structure 7 can be positioned toward either end of the fish, simplifying the placement of the fish restraining device 10 in use. The middle-clamping structure is positioned to restrain the fish at the middle area. The three-point restraining of the fish neutralizes the fish's ability to bend significantly in a left-right direction. A restraint of fewer than three points would tend to allow the fish to either escape completely or to thrash and move so much as to negate the restraint.

[0027] Referring briefly to FIG. 4, optionally, the fish restraining device can be provided with one or more springs 9 in order to more quickly and surely open the device.

[0028] Referring briefly to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, illustrating an embodiment where the two end-clamping structures 7 and middle-clamping structure 8 are connected so as to form single pieces, it is not necessary that the three points of restraint be achieved by disconnected structures. The clamping structures can be made of any of a number of sufficiently rigid and waterproof materials, such as metal or plastic. Single-piece structures can be provided with cut-outs to decrease weight while retaining sufficient strength.

[0029] The mechanical linkage 4 of the fish restraining device 10, again with reference to the restrained fish, receives an input force and movement that is aligned with the dorsoventral or up-down axis, resulting from an upward pulling or downward releasing of the pull-up bar 3. The mechanical linkage 4 functions as a kinematic chain transferring the up-down input movement into a clamping together or spreading apart output movement along the transverse or left-right axis. One, or more than one iterations of the mechanical linkage 4 can be provided in different embodiments. Where only one mechanical linkage 4 is used, the linkage should be robust enough to move the clamping structures.

[0030] In use, the fish restraining device 10 is easily manipulated with one hand by a person fishing, who will usually have the other hand occupied with other fishing gear or with navigation controls. The easy one-handed manipulation is beneficial in the sometimes challenging fishing conditions of limited space, wind, and, from a vessel or floating platform, wave movement. The upward pulling and releasing of the pull-up bar 3 is easily done with one hand. Placement of the fish restraining device 10 in use is simple, lining up the long axis of the fish restraining device with the long axis of the fish, without any concern for head-or-tail orientation. The fish is restrained while the hook is taken out of the mouth, and the fish is easily transferred to a container or back into the water.

[0031] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.