BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to devices used for capturing and holding fish and game in hunting and sport fishing activities, and more specifically to a multipurpose fishing net for assisting in the landing of fish, holding the fish at the surface of the water or removed from the water for photography or other purposes, holding line during line stripping, and other purposes as desired. The present net includes a tether attachable to the angler, dock, boat, etc., to preclude loss thereof.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Sport fishing as a hobby or recreational activity has become ever more popular with many people having increasing leisure time. Pitting oneself against the elements in an outdoor setting and learning about the habits and needs of wild animals and fish is an endlessly fascinating activity, which in addition may provide additional fresh food for anglers so inclined to keep their catch.

[0006] As a result, a vast market has grown to provide anglers with a huge variety of equipment dedicated to the sport fishing hobby. Specialized rods, reels, creels and other containers, not to mention the practically infinite number of lures available, provide an overwhelming selection of equipment for the angler. Needless to say, the ownership and carriage of even a small fraction of all of the equipment available, would be an impossible task for the typical angler.

[0007] An example of such equipment variety may be found in the field of fishing nets, where a large number of capture nets, seines, baskets, bait containers, and other devices have been developed in the past. Generally speaking, these various devices are relatively specialized in their aims and objectives, e.g., conventional landing nets having a relatively stiff frame with an extension handle which supports a deep and loosely gathered wide mesh net. Such devices are incapable of securely holding a captured fish therein, but only serve to retrieve the hooked fish from the water before depositing the fish in a creel or other holder, or releasing the fish as desired.

[0008] Other devices particularly directed to the holding of a landed or captured fish have also been developed. Such devices respond to the fact that the captured fish is very likely still alive, and can easily escape from an open net. Accordingly, such devices nearly all include some form of closure, to preclude escape of the fish.

[0009] However, these various devices do not provide for the display of a fish once caught or captured, which is an important point for many sport anglers who release fish after the catch. In many instances, the angler may wish to photograph a particularly large or impressive specimen before releasing the fish. Also, fish which are below certain predetermined size or weight limits, must be released after catching. The present multipurpose fishing net responds to these various needs, by providing a relatively shallow net extended across a rigid frame. The present net may be used for landing a hooked fish, but more importantly provides for the momentary display of the fish in the relatively shallow net. The frame is buoyant, which in combination with the slack provided in the net, ensures that a captured fish will be at least partially bathed or covered in water while the buoyant frame is floating in the water. With the present net, the angler need handle the fish very little if at all, during the catching, landing, photographing, and releasing operation, thereby reducing trauma to the fish and greatly increasing its chances of survival after release.

[0010] The present net is also useful in the specialized field of fly fishing, where line may be stripped from the reel before casting. The present net provides a floating receptacle which remains close at hand, for containing the stripped line prior to the cast. Heretofore, the line merely floated downstream after stripping, with the displaced line and drag of the water flow interfering with the casting operation. The present net thus serves as a “strip box,” ensuring that the line remains close at hand for casting.

[0011] A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 1,839,210 issued on Jan. 5, 1932 to James R. Felts et al., titled “Tobacco Basket,” describes a rigid structure with the slats of the basket being formed of metal and riveted together. As the device is a basket for carrying tobacco on land, no need for flotation or buoyancy was anticipated. Moreover, the structure is much too large (and heavy, considering the metal construction) for use as a fishing net for sport anglers, with the Felts et al. basket measuring 42 by 42 inches.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 1,841,956 issued on Jan. 19, 1932 to Herbert L. Juergens, titled “Fish Net,” describes a capture net having a circular opening defined by a flexible, buoyant tube. The net portion is quite deep for the capture of a fish therein, and the opening includes a closure net with drawstring for securely holding a fish therein. Also, no tether means is provided by Juergens for securing the net to another article or person, to preclude its drifting away in the water. The Juergens net is not adapted to the short duration display of a captured fish for photography or other purposes, but rather for the permanent capture of the fish, as evidenced by the drawstring closure net at the top of the device. In contrast, the relatively shallow present net, with no closure means, allows a fish to be placed gently thereatop for a photograph, with the net being lowered gently into the water for release of the fish.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 2,661,116 issued on Dec. 1, 1953 to Glen E. Bombarger, titled “Collapsible Fish Box,” describes a bait box having a rigid structure. The sides are formed of relatively rigid metal screen, with the top and bottom formed of perforated sheet metal. The normally closed top precludes photography of a fish captured therein, and in any event, the Bombarger box is much too deep to hold a fish on its side therein, for a photograph. Also, Bombarger does not disclose any flotation means for his fish box.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,576 issued on Mar. 19, 1963 to Harry C. Collins, titled “Fish Holder,” describes a loosely assembled structure having four rigid expanded metal panels. The intent of the device is to hold a fish relatively immobile while the hook is removed after landing the fish, or perhaps for carrying a larger fish. The device is not a net, as the rigid panels are tightened or secured completely around the fish after the catch. Moreover, no buoyancy is provided with the Collins device, while the buoyant nature of the present net, with its single net panel, allows a fish to be displayed openly thereon at the surface of the water.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,803 issued on Nov. 18, 1975 to Jerry R. Manguso, titled “Buoyant Fish Basket,” describes a basket or net more closely resembling the net of the Juergens '956 U.S. Patent, than the present invention. The Manguso basket has a solid closure panel for the top, and is intended to hold fish therein for a relatively long period (e.g., perhaps a few hours) submerged in the water for later killing and cleaning. As such, no single ply of shallow net for the short term display of a fish, is provided.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,906 issued on Jun. 16, 1981 to Gary Liebling, titled “Closeable Fish Net,” describes a net with a rigid rectangular frame and relatively deep capture net depending therefrom, as opposed to the shallow net of the present invention. The Liebling net also has a rigid handle extending therefrom with a remote lever thereon, for selectively opening and closing a transparent panel over the mouth of the net. The transparent panel would still preclude good photography of a fish captured therein, as the depth of the net precludes holding the fish extended on its side for a proper photograph. Moreover, the rigid handle teaches away from the flexible tether of the present multipurpose net, but is required by Liebling due to the closure actuating lever.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,311 issued on Nov. 7, 1989 to David L. Cano, titled “Buoyant Fishing Container,” describes a device with a rigid rectangular frame and porous lower sheet and upper cover or closure, unlike the present net. The Cano device provides for carrying various articles for fishing, as in a creel or tackle box, and thus is equipped with additional features, such as rod holders, etc. The Cano device includes a cover to preclude loss of articles therefrom. This also precludes placement of a fish therein for photography, as the closure would cover the fish. Also, Cano describes the bottom sheet as being formed of “relatively rigid Nylon netting” (column 4, line 16), whereas the present net material is a flexible, loosely applied sheet. In addition, Cano places the buoyant material within the hard frame tubes, while the soft flotation foam is placed over the structure in the present net.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,413 issued on Jan. 2, 1990 to Daniel E. Nelson et al., titled “Floating Fish Container With Adjustable Length Means And Biased Opening Means,” describes a holding net more closely related to the net devices of the Juergens '956 and Manguso '803 U.S. Patents discussed further above, than to the present multipurpose fishing net invention. The Nelson et al. net has a circular buoyant top ring, from which a generally cylindrical net depends. A rigid bottom ring extends around the bottom edge of the net, and is closed by additional net. A net top closure with drawstring extends across the circular upper edge. A sinker or other weight extends from the bottom of the device, to pull it downwardly into the water. This, along with the top closure, teaches away from the present invention, with its single ply or sheet of shallow net material which is disposed at or just beneath the surface of the water, when the device is floating in the water.

[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,404 issued on Mar. 6, 1990 to Randall J. Pasion et al., titled “Floating Fish Basket,” describes a generally cylindrical bag having net sides, for use by divers and spear fishermen. The Pasion et al. basket is more closely related to the devices of the Juergens '956, Manguso '803, and Nelson et al. '413 U.S. Patents discussed further above, particularly the device of the Manguso disclosure, than to the present fishing net. As with Manguso, Pasion et al. include a solid upper closure for their basket, precluding the taking of photographs of a fish or the like contained within the basket. Moreover, the Pasion et al. device is much too deep to hold a fish on its side for photography.

[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,989 issued on Jan. 11, 1994 to Derek W. Lumb et al., titled “Fish Handling Net,” describes a device having a rigid triangular frame and relatively deep pocketed portion. The pocket may be formed of rigid, perforated sheets or net material. A long, rigid handle extends from one apex of the triangular frame. Lumb et al. recognize the importance of keeping a fish wet, preferably immersed, between catching and weighing, in order to avoid undue trauma to the fish if it is to be released. However, the Lumb et al. device is not suitable for holding a fish while a photograph is taken of the fish, as provided by the relatively shallow holding surface of the present multipurpose fishing net invention.

[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,908 issued on Oct. 20, 1998 to Anthony P. Blanchard, titled “Fish Netting Device,” describes a net more closely resembling the device of the Liebling '906 U.S. Patent than the present net invention. The Blanchard net has a rigid rectangular frame with an elongate handle extending therefrom, including a remote lever for manipulating a net closure across the frame. Blanchard does not disclose any form of flotation for his net, as opposed to the present buoyant net. In addition, the Blanchard net is much too deep to hold a fish therein on its side for photography, as provided by the relatively shallow single ply net of the present multipurpose fishing net invention.

[0023] U.S. Pat. No. D-254,503 issued on Mar. 18, 1980 to Lupe S. Belasquez, titled “Floating Fish Holder,” illustrates a design more closely resembling the net of the Juergens, Manguso, Nelson et al., and Pasion et al. U.S. patents discussed above, than the present invention. The Belasquez design comprises a deep net bag having a V-shaped cross section, supported by a circular ring or frame at its top. A secondary net is provided within the upper opening, apparently as a closure. The frame includes an inwardly extending shelf with a series of receptacles therein. The Belasquez net cannot be used to support a fish resting upon its side, as provided by the present net invention with its single ply of net extending across the frame.

[0024] U.S. Pat. No. D-323,698 issued on Feb. 4, 1992 to Daniel E. Nelson et al., titled “Floating Fish Container,” illustrates a design based upon the device of the '413 U.S. Utility Patent to the same inventors, discussed further above. The same points of distinction between that device and the present invention, are seen to apply here as well.

[0025] Finally, French Patent Publication No. 2,700,443 published on Jul. 22, 1994 to Lucien Derrey describes (according to the English abstract) a fisherman's keep net assembly having a folding rigid frame with a net bag secured thereto. The frame may be extended to serve as a camp stool or the like, with the net depending from the upper portion thereof. The net portion may be used to hold a fish in the water. No flotation is apparent, and the net of the device is much too deep for use in supporting a fish on its side.

[0026] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The present invention comprises a multipurpose fishing net for landing a fish and holding the fish gently on its side in the water while removing the hook and perhaps photographing the fish prior to release. The present net may also be used as a landing net and as a shallow tray or container for stripping line thereinto, as may be done prior to casting when fly fishing. The present multipurpose net essentially comprises a rigid frame having buoyant flotation material applied thereto, with a net portion extending across the frame and flotation material. The net portion is preferably relatively loose, but not so loose as to provide any significant pocket or pouch; the sag may be on the order of an inch or so at the center of the net. A tether is also provided, for securing the device to an angler's clothing or equipment, or to a boat, dock, etc., to prevent the device from drifting away.

[0028] When an angler catches a fish, the fish may be placed gently within the central area of the net, where the shallow net holds the fish on its side. Yet, the slight sag of the net allows the fish to settle at least partially into the water, where the water flow continually washes over the fish to maintain the fish in good condition and reduce trauma to the fish. As the fish is resting upon its side in the present net, the fish may be photographed prior to release if so desired.

[0029] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved multipurpose fishing net for use as a landing net, display net for holding a fish therein, and as a container for stripping line thereinto prior to casting, for sport anglers.

[0030] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved multipurpose fishing net comprising a rigid frame having a single ply of net material loosely extending thereacross.

[0031] It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved multipurpose fishing net having a frame which is rectangular and formed of a series of sections of hollow tubular material.

[0032] An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved multipurpose fishing net having a frame which includes buoyancy means therewith.

[0033] Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved multipurpose fishing net including tether means for securing the net to another article.

[0034] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0035] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.