GB2412556A

GB2412556A - Apparatus for trapping fish

Info

Publication number: GB2412556A
Application number: GB0407037A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Oliver Quill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-29
Filing date: 2004-03-29
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: IE20050157A1; GB0407037D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a frame (18) having a base (20 and a housing (22) which is secured to the base (20), the housing (22) comprising a length of metal (24) which is bent to a shape which defines at least a part of the housing (22), and/or the base (20) comprising a length of metal which is bent to a shape which defines at least a part of the base (20). The base may comprise a pair of side bars welded to an infill portion comprising a length of metal bent into a repeated S-shape with the ends also forming a pair of side bars. The housing may comprise a single length of metal 36 which forms the whole housing. The frame may be covered with mesh.

Description

24 12556

APPARATUS FOR TRAPPING FISH

This invention relates to apparatus for trapping fish.

Apparatus for trapping fish is well known. The fish that are trapped are usually lobsters or crabs but other fish may be hake, cod, conger eel and whiting. The apparatus is often known as a creel or a pot, for example a lobster pot for trapping lobsters. The known apparatus comprises a frame having a base and a housing which is secured to the base.

The housing is traditionally made from five separate bars. Four of the separate bars are positioned flat on the ground to form a rectangle. The fifth bar is positioned transversely between two opposite sides. The five bars are then welded together to form a flat construction. The flat construction is then bent to the required housing shape, which is usually a part circular shape. The welding of the five individual bars is time consuming. The subsequent bending from the flat shape to the part circular shape puts unnecessary strain on the welded joints. The joints tend to fail during the bending.

The base is traditionally made from separate straight bars all welded together. The welded bars often present sharp edges which tend to catch on fishermen's oil skins and tear them. If a weld on a bar fails, the loose end of the bar soon starts to project out of the plane of the base. This often creates a gap in the base which is big enough to allow trapped fish to escape.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for trapping fish, which apparatus comprises a frame having a base and a housing which is secured to the base, the housing comprising a length of metal which is bent to a shape which defines at least a part of the housing, and/or the base comprising a length of metal which is bent to a shape which defines at least a part of the base.

The use of the length of metal avoids the above mentioned welding of single bars that would otherwise be required, and the subsequent tendency of the welds to fail at the ends of the bars. Sharp edges formed on the known apparatus may be avoided. The apparatus of the present invention lends itself to simple, economic and commercial production.

Preferably, the length of metal of the housing is such that it defines the entire housing. If desired however the length of metal of the housing may be such that it defines only a part of the entire length of the housing. In this case, the housing will comprise two or more of the lengths of metal.

Usually, the housing will be of a curved shape. The housing may be of other shapes if desired so that, for example, the housing may have straight sides.

When the housing is of a curved shape, then the curved shape is preferably a part circular shape. Other curved shapes may be employed so that, for example, the curved shape may be an elliptical shape.

Usually, the housing will include at least one longitudinally extending strengthening bar. The bar is preferably secured in position by welding.

The welding is preferably metal-inert-gas (MIG) welding. Preferably there are four of the strengthening bars. More or less than four of the strengthening bars may be employed if desired.

The housing is preferably secured to the base by welding. Other means for securing the housing to the base may be employed. The welding is preferably MlG-welding.

The length of metal of the housing is preferably of a circular crosssectional shape. Other cross-sectional shapes may be employed if desired so that, for example, the length of metal of the housing may be of a square, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal cross-sectional shape.

The metal of the housing may be a bare metal, a plastics coated metal, or a galvanised metal. The precise type of metal chosen for the housing may depend upon whether or not it is desired to stop corrosion.

Preferably the metal will be mild steel. The metal may however be high tensile steel if desired. The mild steel is preferred because it enables the apparatus of the invention to be produced more cheaply. Cost of production can be important because known apparatus is frequently lost at sea due to tides, currents, bad weather conditions, depth of water, and dredgers. For example, an organization operating with 1,500 pieces of apparatus may expect to lose up to 100 pieces of the apparatus per month in adverse conditions. With such a high loss rate, fishing organizations usually prefer the apparatus to be as cheap as possible in order to minimise the cost of operational losses of the apparatus. The operational losses do however mean that there is a continual demand for the apparatus and it is economically desirable for the apparatus to be produced as efficiently and cheaply as possible.

Preferably, the length of metal of the base is such that it defines the entire base. If desired however two or more of the lengths of metal may be used to form the entire base. Usually the base will have four straight sides.

In one embodiment of the invention, the base may have four straight sides and an infill portion, the infill portion comprising the length of metal, and the length of metal being such that it is bent back on itself to define a repeating general S-shape. The infill portion is preferably secured to the four straight sides by welding. The welding is preferably MlG-welding.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is one in which the base comprises a pair of oppositely positioned side bars secured to an infill portion comprising the length of metal, the length of metal being such that it is bent back on itself to define a repeating general S-shape, and the infill portion being such that its start and its finish form another pair of oppositely positioned side bars whereby the base then has the four straight sides.

In both embodiments of the invention, the curves of the general continuous S-shape give a relatively large area for welding to sides as appropriate. This welding area is substantially larger than existing point areas where straight bars are joined in known apparatus. The infill portion is s preferably secured to the pair of oppositely positioned side bars by welding.

The welding is preferably MlG-welding.

Usually, the apparatus will be one in which the base is made of the same metal and of the same cross-sectional shape and size as the single length of metal forming the housing. Different metals and/or cross sectional shapes and/or different cross-sectional sizes may be employed if desired.

The apparatus of the present invention may include a mesh over the housing. The mesh may be of the same type and construction as in known apparatus for trapping fish.

The apparatus may include at least one entrance. The entrance may be a bucket entrance. Alternatively the entrance may be a netting entrance which is made from netting and which is known as a soft entrance.

Generally, the entrance or entrances employed on the apparatus of the present invention can be as in known apparatus for trapping fish.

The apparatus may include a door for enabling the trapped fish to be removed. The door will usually be a removable door which is held in position by rope or other tie means.

If desired, the apparatus of the present invention may have the housing comprising the length of metal which is bent to shape, and a known base. In this case, the known base will normally comprise four bars which are welded together to form a square or a rectangle, and separate intermediate bars which are welded to the formed square or rectangle.

If desired, the apparatus may also be one in which the base comprises the single length of metal which is bent to shape, and in which the housing is a known housing. The known housing will usually be formed of the separate bars which are welded flat on the ground and then bent to shape as described above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates the manufacture of a housing forming part of a known frame for apparatus for trapping fish; Figure 2 illustrates the manufacture of a base forming part of a known frame for apparatus for trapping fish; Figure 3 shows a frame forming part of apparatus for trapping fish of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates the formation of a relatively short housing forming part of a frame of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates the formation of a longer housing than shown in Figure 4; Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the formation at one type of base of a frame forming part of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 8 illustrates the formation of another type of base forming part of a frame of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 9 shows apparatus for trapping fish utilising the frame shown in Figure 3; Figure 10 shows an alternative way of forming a base; and Figure 11 shows a further alternative way of forming a base.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown Eve separate metal bars 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 for use in forming a housing 12 of a frame (not shown) for apparatus for trapping fish. The bars 2, 4, 6, 8 are laid flat on the ground. The bar 10 is then positioned as shown between the two bars 6, 8. All the bars are then welded together at the corner positions 14 and at intermediate positions 16.

After the welding, the formed flat construction is bent to a curved partcircular shape to form a curved housing 12. During this bending, the welding at the corner portions 14 and the intermediate portion 16 tends to fail.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown four separate metal bars 1, 3, 5,7 which are welded together at corner positions 9. Intermediate separate bars 11 are then welded at their ends to the bars 5, 7. The entire welded construction then forms a known base 15.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a frame 18 forming part of apparatus for trapping fish. The frame 18 comprises a base 20 and a housing 22 which is secured to the base 20. The housing 22 is made from a single length of metal 24 which is bent to the illustrated shape which defines the housing 22. The illustrated shape is a curved shape and, more specifically, the curved shape is a part circular shape.

The housing 22 includes four strengthening bars 26 which extend longitudinally along the length of the housing 22 as shown. The strengthening bar 26 are welded to the single length of metal 24 at the illustrated cross-over points.

The single length of metal 24 forming the housing 22 is of circular cross sectional shape. The single length of metal 24 is bare mild steel.

Figure 4 shows how a housing 28 may be formed from a single length of metal 30. The single length of metal 30 has a start point 32 and a finish point 34. The single length of metal 30 is advantageously bent to a flat shape to start with. Then one end of the flat shape can be put into a holding clamp, slot or the like and then the construction bent half way to the shape shown in Figure 4 by pulling around a pipe of an appropriate diameter.

Then the other end of the partially bent structure can be placed in the clamp, slot or other device and the bending to the required shape shown in Figure 4 can then be completed from the other end.

Figure 5 shows a longer structure than Figure 4, but one that can be formed in exactly the same manner as that described above for Figure 4, except that the housing 36 shown in Figure 5 uses a longer single length of metal 38 than the single length of metal 30 in order to produce the longer housing. The single length of metal 38 has a start point 40 and an end point 42. The housing 36 shown in Figure 5 is the same as the housing 28 shown in Figure 3 before the strengthening bars 26 are added.

Figure 6 shows the formation of a base 44 which may be regarded as being the same as the base 20 shown in Figure 3. The base 44 comprises four straight sides 46, 48, 50, 52 as shown in Figure 7. These four straight sides are formed by bending a single length of metal 54 having a start point 56 and an end point 58. The start point 56 and the end point 58 can be welded together.

Another single length of metal 60 is bent in the shape of a repeating general S-shape as shown. This bent single length of metal 60 as shown in Figure 6 is then inserted into the four sided construction shown in Figure 7.

The two parts are then welded at the point where the curves 62 touch the sides 46, 48. A start point 64 and an end point 66 for the single length of metal 60 can be welded to the sides 46, 48 and/or to the sides 50, 52. The welded formation then forms the base 54.

Figure 8 illustrates the formation of an alternative base 66. The base 66 utilises the construction shown in Figure 6 and similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of explanation. In Figure 8, there are only two separate sides 68, 70. These sides 68, 70 are moved inwardly in the direction of the arrows 72 until the sides 68, 70 touch the curves 62. Welding then takes place at appropriate points as indicated above in connection with the manufacture of the base 44.

Referring to Figure 9, there is shown apparatus 74 for trapping fish.

The apparatus 74 utilises the frame 18 shown in Figure 3. Similar parts as in Figure 3 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. Figure 9 shows how the apparatus 4 is provided with a door 76 at one end of the frame. The door 76 will usually be roped or otherwise tied in position. The door 76 is opened when it is desired to remove caught fish from the apparatus 74. Figure 9 also shows how the apparatus 74 is wrapped in mesh 78 to stop the fish escaping through apertures in the frame 18. The apparatus 74 is provided with an entrance opening 80 at its end remote from the door 76. The entrance opening 80 is in the top part of the housing 22 and fish entering the housing 22 through the entrance opening 80 cannot escape back out through the entrance opening 80. The mesh 78 may alternatively be a netting. The mesh, netting or other suitable and appropriate covering may pass all around the entire apparatus 74. If the base has a sufficient number of bars that the spacing between the bars is too small for fish to escape, then there is no need to cover the base with the mesh, netting or other covering.

Figure 10 shows how a base 82 could be formed having two lengths of metal 84, 86. The length of metal 84 starts at position 88 and finishes at position 90. The length of metal 86 starts at position 92 and finishes at position 94. The ends 90, 92 can be joined together by welding if desired.

More than two lengths of metal could be employed if desired.

Figure 11 shows how a base 96 may be formed from two lengths of metal 98, 100 joined to a centrally positioned cross member 102. The length of metal 98 starts at position 104 and terminates at position 106. The length of metal 100 starts at position 108 and terminates at position 110.

The ends of the metal at positions 104 and 106 can be welded together.

The ends of the metal at positions 106, 110 can also be welded together.

Other welds can be at the bends. The bends connect to the straight sides.

Similar welding of the bends to the straight sides can be effected in the base 82 shown in Figure 10. If one of the welds at the curved ends should fail, the configuration caused by bending the metal back on itself will tend to cause the failed part to stay in line and a gap will not normally develop for allowing fish to escape, as would for example be the case if a weld failed on one of the straight bars 11 as shown in Figure 2.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the various welds are all effected by MlG-welding but other securing methods may be employed if desired. The housings 22, 28, 36 may be of different shapes to those shown. The bases 20, 44, 66 may be of different shapes to those shown. The apparatus of the invention may have a housing of the invention with a known base such for example as the known base shown in Figure 2 or, alternatively, the apparatus of the invention may have a base of the present invention and a known housing such as a housing manufactured as shown in Figure 1. The frame may be covered with a netting made of nylon or other suitable and appropriate type of plastics material. Where the frame is covered with a mesh, this may be a galvanised wire mesh which is coated with a plastics material. Galvanised wire mesh is generally more self-supporting than netting and so a mesh may require the use of less bars for the housing and/or for the base. The use of a plastic coated mesh may be advantageous in that it lets water easily run over it. There is less water resistance than with ropes and netting. This may in turn help to prevent the apparatus moving too much in bad weather and heavy currents. Usually, the metal for the frame will be chosen to make the frame heavy so that it does not tend to move too far during use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for trapping fish, which apparatus comprises a frame having a base and a housing which is secured to the base, the housing comprising a length of metal which is bent to a shape which defines at least a part of the housing, and/or the base comprising a length of metal which is bent to a shape which defines at least a part of the base.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the length of metal of the housing is such that it defines the entire housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the housing is of a curved shape.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the curved shape is a part circular shape.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the housing includes at least one longitudinally extending strengthening bar.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the strengthening bar is secured in position by welding.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which there are four of the strengthening bars.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is secured to the base by welding.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the length of metal of the housing is of a circular cross-sectional shape.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the metal of the housing is a bare metal, a plastics coated metal, or a galvanised metal.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the metal is mild steel.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the length of metal of the base is such that it defines the entire base.

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base has four straight sides and an infill portion, the infill portion comprising the length of metal, and the length of metal being such that it is bent back on itself to define a repeating general S-shape.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the infill portion is secured to the four straight sides by welding.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 -12 in which the base comprises a pair of oppositely positioned side bars secured to an infill portion comprising the length of metal, the length of metal being such that it is bent back on itself to define a repeating general S-shape, and the infill portion being such that its start and its finish form another pair of oppositely positioned side bars, whereby the base then has the four straight sides.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the infill portion is secured to the pair of oppositely positioned side bars by welding.

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base is made from the same material and of the same cross-sectional shape and size of the single length of metal forming the housing.

18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a mesh over the housing.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including at least one entrance. r

20. Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the entrance is a bucket entrance.

21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 17 in which the entrance is a neKing entrance.

22. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a door for enabling the trapped fish to be removed.

23. Apparatus for trapping fish, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 - 11 of the accompanying drawings.