GB2268865A

GB2268865A - Fish support appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2268865A
Application number: GB9215230A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Anderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-17
Filing date: 1992-07-17
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-17
Also published as: GB9215230D0; GB2268865B

Abstract

A fish support appliance, e.g. for use by anglers, or fish specialists, is composed of a framework with a pair of side rails (1) (FIG.2) connected at their ends to pairs of legs (3) which engage on the ground with the aid of feet (5). The legs (3) can be collapsed together or swung out to assume their supportive position. A sheet of flexible material (10) is suspended from the rails (1) and from cords (6) (FIG.2) extending between the rails. The material (10) acts like a cradle to support a fish while a restraint cover (8) can be stretched over the material (10) to prevent the fish from leaping clear of the appliance. <IMAGE>

Description

FISH SUPPORT APPLIANCE This invention relates to an appliance for supporting fish to prevent damage when a hook is being removed after capture.

In angling, particularly for large specimen fish such as carp, pike etc., it is desirable to unhook, weigh and perhaps to photograph a captured fish whilst causing as little damage and stress to the fish as possible. The fish can then be returned to the water unharmed for further growth for the benefit of other anglers.

There are several unhooking mats in existence which are generally of the padded or inflatable type which simply lay on the floor. However, these do not entirely eliminate the possibility of internal and fin damage to the fish due to its own flipping actions whilst out of the water on the mat.

There is a need for an improved form of appliance for supporting fish.

An appliance constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a framework, which is preferably demounttable for ease of storage and transport, and flexible support material suspended by the framework for supporting a fish caught by an angler. Preferably a cover or restraint is superimposable over the support material to prevent the fish from jumping clear of the support.

The support material is preferably fabric or the like pervious to water and rot proof attached to the framework.

The framework can define a longitudinal support axis with the support material relatively taught at its ends across the support axis and relatively loose intermediate the ends with plenty of free movement. The appliance resembles a cradle and ensures that all movement by the fish resting on the support material is absorbed within the appliance, hence precluding both internal and external damage to the fish. Conveniently the framework is made up from several interconnected components such as tubular metal or plastics material.

It is desirable to provide support feet to engage between legs of the appliance and the ground. These support feet can be anchored to the ground with pegs or the like. To cope with uneven surfaces the legs can be adjustable in height.

Where the appliance is used in high winds there can be a danger that the support material will catch the wind and the appliance can topple over or become inverted. To preclude this, shackles or eyes or brackets can be provided on the framework to join with cables or guy ropes which can be fastened to the ground.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other aspects and features of the invention may become apparent from consideration of the following description.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an appliance constructed in accordance with the invention in an erected state; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the appliance shown in Figure 1 with the support material and cover removed to show the framework; Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line III - III of Figure 1; Figure 4a and 4b are enlarged views depicting one form of connection between one of the legs of the framework and one of the side rails; Figure 5a and 5b are enlarged views depicting another form of connection between one of the legs of the framework and one of the side rails; and Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of part of a modified appliance.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 an appliance constructed in accordance with the invention is composed of a framework with a pair of tubular side rails 1 detachably connected at their ends with joints 2 to a pair of tubular legs 3. Each pair of legs 3 are interconnected with a pivot joint 4 to provide an "X" shaped end structure. Each leg 3 has a push-fitted base member or foot 5 at its lower end for establishing ground contact. A sheet of support material 10 is mounted at its sides between the rails 1 and at its ends between a pair of cords 6. Each cord 6 is fitted through holes in the end regions of the side rails 1 and is relatively taught when the appliance is in the erected state. The cords 6 thus also stabilize and maintain the legs 3 and the rails 1 in the erected state.

The support material 10 can be secured loosely to the rails 1 and to the cords 6 with folded-over stitched side and edge portions 30 passed around the rails 1 and the cords 6. The support material 10 is stretched relatively tightly between the rails 1 at the ends where the cords 6 are located while the central region of the support material 10 hangs loosely down to form a cradle.

A cover or retainer S is fixed as by stitching along one side to one of the side portions 30 of the support material 10, The cover 8 can be somewhat shorter but wider than the support material 10. The cover 8 can be drawn over the support material 10 to close off the space in which the fish is placed. Fastening means 40 such as 11Velcro! (RTM) tape is provided on the free edge margin of the cover 8 and over the opposite folded edge 41 of the support material 10 to enable the cover 8 to be reliably secured.

During use and with the cover 8 withdrawn (Figure 1) an angler can place a fish on to the support material 10 or remove the fish thereon. The cover 8 can be placed over the supported fish and retained to prevent the fish escaping should it perform violent movements.

As shown in Figures 4a and 4b the ends of the rails 1 are bent over and form sockets 20 for receiving the ends 21 of the legs 3 as a push-fit. To lock the legs 3 in the sockets 20 a spring-loaded member 13 mounted on the legs 3 can engage in holes 22 in the associated socket 20. To dismantle the erected appliance the members 13 are disengaged and the legs 3 are withdrawn from the sockets 20. The legs 3 can then be folded up the feet 5 removed and the rails 1 the support material 10 and the cover 8 can be wrapped around one another to form a compact group of components.

Since the appliance may be used in all kinds of weather it is desirable to have some means for secure anchoring of the appliance to the ground to avoid problems with high winds. Such anchoring means can be in the form of pegs or the like driven into the ground through holes in the feet 5 and/or guy ropes which can be fitted onto the legs 3 and/or the rails 1.

Figures 5a and 5b depicts an alternative mounting between the legs 3 and the rails 1. In this construction a connector 14 is fitted between the legs 3 and the rails 1 enabling these components to be simply pivoted and collapsed (Figure 4a) or swung out for the erected state (Figure 4b).

For added stability the appliance any employ additional support legs 18 which fit into T-joints 17 on the rails 1 as depicted in Figure 6.

Claims

1. An appliance for use in supporting a fish; said appliance comprising framework adapted to be assembled and disassembled and flexible support material which is suspended by the framework when the latter is in the assembled state to support the fish.

2. An appliance according to Claim 1 and further comprising a cover which acts as a protective restraint and is superimposable over the support material.

3. An appliance according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the support material is pervious to water and rot proof.

4. An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the framework defines a longitudinal support axis when in the assembled state with the support material extending across the support axis and being relatively taught at end regions and relatively loose intermediate the end regions.

5. An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the framework is composed of a number of interconnected tubular components.

6. An appliance according to Claim 5, wherein the component include legs and support feet are provided for mounting between the legs and the ground.

7. An appliance according to Claim 6, wherein the feet are anchorable to the ground.

8. An appliance according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein the legs are adjustable in length.

9. An appliance according to Claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein the legs are pivotably interconnected in pairs at the ends of the framework to provide X-shaped structures when the framework is assembled and side rails interconnect the structures and serve to suspend the support material.

10. An appliance according to Claim 9, wherein the legs and the rails are detachably interconnected with push-in joints or pivotably interconnected with connectors.

11. An appliance according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the material is suspended from side margins by the rails and from end margins by cords extending between the side rails.

12. An appliance according to any one of Claims 9 to 11 and further comprising additional support legs intermediate the ends of the rails.

13. An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the framework is provided with means which can be coupled to cables or ropes to secure the framework to the ground.

14. A support appliance substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.