GB2290013A - Fishing net - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing net has an elongate handle (2) a frame (3), a net (5) supported from the frame (3) and a coupling (4) which connects the handle (2) and frame (3). The coupling (4) enables the frame (3) and net (5) to slide up and down the handle (2) to ease transportation and storage. The handle (2) includes a slip and twist resistant grip (6). The frame 3 is made from an extruded metallic material of oval cross section. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improved Fishing Net" This invention relates to fishing nets such as may be used when fishing for trout, salmon and the like.

Fishing nets of this type are well-known and generally comprise a handle in the form of an elongate rod having at one end a round frame supporting a net and at its other end a grip, conventionally made from a plastics material.

The round frame is connected to the handle rod by a coupling. It is well-known to manufacture the rod and coupling in metal alloys, including aluminium. The coupling conventionally grips the round frame and is slidable on the handle rod such that, when the net is in use, the handle may be slid through the coupling relative to the round frame until it overlaps the frame; thus reducing the length of the nets by up to one half of its full length in use.

There are various disadvantages and/or problems associated with conventional gye nets. These include, for example, the ease with which the net may become tangled with the handle or any other interfering article or object, the wear caused by the sliding of the coupling along the handle shaft, the tendency of the round frame to twist in relation to the handle shaft, the difficulty, at times, of preparing a net while holding a fishing rod in one hand on which a fish may have been hooked.

In the present invention, it is sought to overcome the present disadvantages by providing a novel fishing net which incorporates various inventive features.

According to the invention there is provided a fishing net comprising an elongate handle and a frame supporting a fishing net, wherein the frame is made from an extruded metallic material and is of oval cross section. Preferably the frame is of round or circular construction. The handle may be formed with a head having two receiving bores for receiving respective ends of the frame, which may be attached to the handle by the use of a strong adhesive.

Alternatively the frame may be connected to a coupling, the coupling also being connected to the handle, the coupling having two receiving bores for receiving respective ends of the frame.

In a further alternative the frame is pivotably connected to the handle where the degree of pivot is restricted between a first position where the frame is collinear to the handle to a second position where the frame is returned or folded in a direction rear ward from the net opening by an angle between 100 degrees and 170 degrees toward the end of the handle.

In a yet further alternative, the handle comprises a hinged joint enabling a main portion of the handle to pivot in respect to a second portion of the handle, the second portion being in fixed relation to the frame, wherein the degree of pivot is restricted between a first position where the frame is collinear to the elongate main portion of the handle to a second position where the frame is returned or folded in the direction rear wood from the net opening by an angle between 100 degrees and 170 degrees toward the end of the handle.

Preferably, the fishing net has a rubber grip supported at one end of the handle, the grip preferably comprising a conventional golf grip, which may be tapered to resist turning or the grip in a user's hand.

Preferably, the fishing net is connected to the handle by a coupling, the handle being slidable within the coupling, the coupling including an internal bush, which may be made from a plastics material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fishing net having a rubber grip supported at one end of a handle, the grip preferably comprising a conventional golf grip and being tapered to resist turning of the grip in a user's hand.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a fishing net comprising a handle and a round frame for supporting a net, wherein the round frame is connected to the handle by a coupling, the handle being slidable within the coupling, and wherein the coupling includes an internal bush. Preferably, the bush is made from a plastics material, such as black acetol or DELRON (TM).

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a fishing net comprising an elongate handle and a round frame supporting a fishing net, wherein the round frame is made from an extruded metallic material and is of oval cross-section. The handle may be formed with a head having two receiving bores for receiving respective ends of the rouiid frame. Preferably, the ends of the frame are attached to the handle by the use of a strong adhesive. Alternatively, the round frame may be connected to a coupling, itself also being connected to the handle, the coupling having two receiving bores for receiving respective ends of the round frame.

Alternatively, the round frame is pivotably connected to the handle, or the handle comprises a hinged joint enabling a main portion of the handle to pivot in respect to a second portion of the handle, the second portion being in fixed relation to the round frame, wherein the degree of pivot is restricted from a first position where the round frame is co-linear to the elongate main portion of the handle to a second position where the round frame is returned or folded in a direction rearward from the net opening by an angle between 100 degrees and 170 degrees toward a grip on the handle.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Fig. 1 shows a pictorial view of a fishing net; Fig. 2 shows a coupling for use in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a fishing net wherein the frame supporting the net is in a folded position; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the connecting means of the frame and handle members in the embodiment of Fig. 3.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a fishing net comprises an elongate handle 2, a round frame 3, a coupling 4 connecting the handle 2 and frame 3 and a net 5. On one end of the handle 2 is a grip 6.

The coupling 4 enables the handle 2 to slide longitudinally therethrough and relative to the frame 3. In this way, when the fishing net is in use, the handle 2 may be fully extended as shown in Fig. 1.

However, when transportation or storage of the fishing net is required the handle 2 may be slid within the coupling 4 such that it overlaps the round frame 3 and net 5.

The coupling 4 is illustrated in Fig. 2. The coupling 4 comprises, in the example embodiment, two cylindrical portions 4a, 4b which are aligned such that a central continuous bore 9 passes through both portions. This bore 9 is adapted to support the handle 2. Within the bore 9 is provided a bush (not shown) which may be made from a heavy duty plastics material such as nylon, acetol or the like. The bush is provided with an internal through-hole which is approximately equal in cross-section and area to the handle 2. The bush provides a bearing between the coupling 4 and the handle 2 and prevents metal to metal contact which has been used in the past and which has been found to expedite wear on the components.

The larger cylindrical portion 4b of coupling 4 is also provided with two further receiving apertures 8a, 8b, which are adapted to receive respective ends of the round frame 3. The apertures 8 are shaped in an oval cross-section which corresponds with the cross-section of the round frame 3. The use of oval cross-sections in relation to aluminium extrusions, and particularly in relation to round frames on fishing nets, has been found in the invention to be extremely advantageous.

This is for two reasons. Firstly, the oval crosssection prevents rotation of the round frame 3, the frame 3 therefore being prevented from twisting when torsional forces are applied to it in relation to the handle 2. Secondly, the oval cross-section of the round frame 3 provides a better strength to weight ratio in resistance to bending forces applied to the frame, such as under the weight of a fish, than does the conventional cross-sections which are round or square. This feature enables, therefore, the round frame 3 to be produced with a lighter mass than conventional round or square round frames without compromising the strength of the cantilever formed by the combination of the frame 3 and the handle 2.

The other end of the handle 2 is provided with a grip 6 which is made of rubber. The grip 6 is a conventional golf handle grip and provides a non-slip surface even in wet conditions. It has been found that conventional plastic grips can lead to slippage of the handle in the user's hand, especially in circumstances where the handle is wet which is common in fishing environments.

The grip 6 may be tapered or ribbed to provide increased resistance against turning in the user's hand.

In a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in Fig. 3, the handle 2 may include a hinged connection 7 allowing a second portion 2b of the handle 2 to fold back upon a main portion 2a of the handle. The handle also comprises a belt clip 10 which enables the net to be supported in a hands-free manner when a fisherman is tracking or angling without the requirement of use of the net.

It is known to support nets, particularly used for trout fishing in this way. However, in the past, it has been difficult to prevent the net 6 from hooking or catching on the handle and this is particularly frustrating when the net is urgently required after a fish has been hooked. An angler will hold a rod in one hand, leaving the task of preparing the net to the only one remaining hand. It is important therefore that the net is not easily tangled or caught on its handle.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the hinged connection 7 enables the handle to return not more than 150 degrees which means that even in the folded position the net 5 and round frame 3 are held separated from the main portion 2a of the handle 2 and grip 6.

Not only does this provide the advantage of preventing entanglement of the net 5 but also enables the user to bring his or her free hand onto the handle 2 without interference of the round frame 3 or net 5.

Thereafter, in a single action, one is able to prepare the net 5 for use by tipping the orientation of the handle 2 such that the round frame 3 is folded back to an in-use position, that is where it lies in the same plane as the main portion 2a of the handle. The hinged or pivot connection 7 is more clearly shown in Fig. 4 and comprises a means 11 for connection to the main portion of the elongate handle and an aperture 12 for supporting a pin or rod about which the second portion 2b of the handle 2, round frame 3 and net 5 may pivot.

The shape of the hinged connector 7 may be of any design, provided that it limits the extent of return of the net.

The embodiment also enables the use of a rubber grip, such as a golf grip and a round frame made of oval cross-section as discussed in the previous embodiment.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention herein intended. For example, the shape of the hinge connector 7 illustrated in Fig. 4 may be varied considerably and this will be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the reference to a round frame herein should not be taken to limit the shape of the frame to one which is circular as it is known that this frame can also vary in shape and size.

Claims (15)

1. A fishing net comprising an elongate handle and a frame supporting a fishing net, wherein the frame is made from an extruded metallic material and is of oval cross section.

2. A fishing net is claimed in Claim 1 wherein the frame is of round or circular construction.

3. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the handle is formed with a head having two receiving bores for receiving respective ends of the frame.

4. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the ends of the frame are attached to the handle by the use of a strong adhesive.

5. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the frame is connected to a coupling, the coupling also being connected to the handle, the coupling having two receiving bores for receiving respective ends of the frame.

6. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the frame is pivotably connected to the handle where the degree of pivot is restricted from a first position where the frame is collinear to the handle to a second position where the frame is returned or folded in a direction rear ward from the net opening by an angle between 100 degrees and 170 degrees toward a grip on the end of the handle.

7. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the handle comprises a hinged joint enabling a main portion of the handle to pivot in respect to a second portion of the handle, the second portion being in fixed relation to the frame, wherein the degree of pivot is restricted between a first position where the frame is collinear to the elongate main portion of the handle to a second position where the frame is returned or folded in the direction rear ward from the net opening by an angle between 100 degrees and 170 degrees toward a grip on the end of the handle.

8. A fishing net as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims having a rubber grip supported at one end of the handle, the grip preferably comprising a conventional golf grip.

9. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the grip is tapered to resist turning or the grip in a users hand.

10. A fishing net as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the frame is connected to the handle by a coupling, the handle being slidable within the coupling.

11. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the coupling includes an internal bush.

12. A fishing net as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the internal bush is made from a plastics material.

13. A fishing net having a rubber grip supported at one end of the handle, wherein the grip comprises a conventional golf grip and is tapered to resist turning of the grip in a users hand.

14. A fishing net comprising a handle and a round frame for supporting a net, wherein the round frame is connected to the handle by a coupling, the handle being slidable within the coupling and wherein the coupling includes an internal bush.

15. A fishing net substantially as described or illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings.