WO2012173531A1

WO2012173531A1 - Catching device

Info

Publication number: WO2012173531A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/050728
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christer Lundin
Original assignee: Christer Lundin
Priority date: 2011-06-14
Filing date: 2011-06-14
Publication date: 2012-12-20

Abstract

A catching device for catching aquatic animals, comprising a net (3) which is supported by a frame structure and which is secured to an elongated frame element (6) of this frame structure. Said frame element is provided with an elongated cavity (7), which extends axially inside the frame element. A part of the net extends into said cavity through an elongated slit of the frame element, this slit extending along the cavity of the frame element and having a width which is smaller than the width of the cavity. The net is connected to one or more stop members (10) received inside the cavity, the respective stop member having a thickness which is larger than the width of the slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the cavity through said slit and thereby keeps the net secured to the frame element.

Description

Catching device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a catching device for catching aquatic animals, such as for instance fishes, lobsters or crabs, comprising a frame structure and a net supported by the frame structure, the frame structure comprising at least one elongated frame element to which the net is secured.

Catching devices of the above-mentioned type are known in several different configurations and may for instance constitute traps or cages with a net chamber formed by said net and designed to confine fishes or shellfishes that enter the net cham- ber through an entrance opening of the net chamber. Examples of fish traps with such a net chamber is for instance disclosed in AU 6606181 A1 , US 4 354 325 A and WO 2008/143582 A1 .

In a catching device of the above-mentioned type, the net is usually secured to an elongated frame element by letting the frame element extend through meshes in the net, as disclosed for instance in US 1 447 502 A. A disadvantage with this solution is that the parts of the net meshes that extend around the frame element are subjected to wear, which may result in that these net meshes are torn up so that the net comes loose from the frame element. Another alternative is to tie the net to an elongated frame element by means of a fastening line or the similar which is either wound helically along the frame element, as disclosed for instance in AU 6606181 A1 , or applied in indi- vidual rings about the frame element at different places along the frame element. A disadvantage with the last-mentioned solution is that the fastening line that extends about the frame element is subjected to wear, which may result in that the fastening line is torn up so that the net comes loose from the frame element. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to achieve a catching device of the above-mentioned type, where a net included in the catching device is secured in a new and favourable manner to an elongated frame element of a frame structure included in the catching device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, said object is achieved by means of a catching device having the features defined in claim 1 . The catching device according to the invention comprises a frame structure and a net supported by the frame structure, the frame structure comprising at least one elongated element, to which the net is secured and which is provided with an elongated cavity extending axially inside the frame element. The catching device is characterized in:

- that an elongated slit is arranged in said frame element between the cavity and the external surface of the frame element, this slit extending along the cavity of the frame element and having a width which is smaller than the width of the cavity;

- that a part of the net extends into the cavity of said frame element through said slit; and

- that the net is connected to one or more stop members received inside the cavity, the respective stop member having a thickness which is larger than the width of the slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the cavity through said slit and thereby keeps the net secured to the frame element.

In this manner, the net can be secured to the frame element without any net meshes or any fastening line having to extend about the frame element and being subjected to wear. The part of the net that is in contact with the frame element is instead received inside the frame element together with the stop member or the stop members which keeps the net secured to the frame element, whereby this part of the net is protected from wear. Hereby, the durability of the catching device is improved.

Other favourable features of the catching device according to the invention will appear from the dependent claims and the description following below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will in the following be more closely described by means of embodiment examples, with reference to the appended drawings. It is shown in:

Fig 1 a schematic perspective view of a catching device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig 2 a detailed enlargement of a part of the catching device according to Fig 1 ,

Fig 3 a cross-section through a frame element and a stop member included in the catching device according to Fig 1 ,

Fig 4 a cut perspective view of the frame element and the stop member according to Fig 3, with these shown in an unassembled state, Fig 5 a cut perspective view of a frame element and a stop member included in a catching device according to a second embodiment of the invention, with the frame element and the stop member shown in an unassembled state, a cut perspective view of a part of a catching device according to a third embodiment of the invention, a cut perspective view of a part of a catching device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, a cross-section through the frame element according to Fig 7, a cross-section through the frame element according to Figs 2 and 3,

Fig 10 a cross-section through a part of a catching device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, and

Fig 1 1 a cross-section through a part of a catching device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRI PTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig 1 illustrates a catching device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention intended to be placed in a pool of water, for instance in the form of a sea, a lake or a river, in order to catch fish. In this case, the catching device 1 is a fish trap. The catching device according to the invention may however have another design and could for instance be designed for catching shellfish, such as lobsters or crabs.

The catching device 1 comprises a frame structure 2 and a net 3 supported by the frame structure. In the illustrated example, the net 3 forms part of a net chamber 5 provided with an entrance opening, which net chamber is configured to confine fishes that enter the net chamber through the entrance opening 4. The frame structure 2 is composed of several elongated frame elements 6, and the net 3 is secured to at least one of these frame elements 6 in the manner illustrated in Figs 2 and 3. The frame element 6 illustrated in Figs 2 and 3 is provided with an elongated cavity 7 extending axially inside the frame element, an elongated slit 8 being arranged in the frame element between the cavity and the external surface 9 of the frame element. This slit 8 extends along the cavity 7 of the frame element and has a width b1 (see Fig 9) which is smaller than the width b2 of the cavity. A part of the net 3 extends into the cavity 7 of the frame element 6 through said slit 8 and is connected to a stop member 10 received inside the cavity 7 of the frame element 6. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs 2 and 3, the stop member 10 is elongated and arranged to extend along the cavity 7 of the frame element. The stop member 10 has a thickness which is larger than the width b1 of the slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the cavity 7 through the slit 8 and thereby keeps the net 3 secured to the frame element 6. The part of the net 3 that extends into the cavity 7 is consequently secured to the frame element 6 under the effect of the stop member 10.

The stop member 10 may be designed as a rod, for instance with a round cross-sectional shape, as illustrated in Figs 2-4, and with a diameter which is larger than the width b1 of the slit 8. In this case, the thickness of the stop member is equal to said diameter. The stop member 10 could also consist of an elongated rope or an elongated and rather thick line.

In the example illustrated in Figs 2 and 3, the part of the net 3 that extends into the cavity 7 is arranged to extend in a loop around the stop member 10, this part of the net 3 extending through said slit 8 into the cavity 7, around the stop member 10 inside the cavity and then back through the slit 8 out of the cavity. In this case, the net 3 is consequently connected to the stop member 10 by being clamped between the stop member and the frame element 6. The net 3, the stop member 10 and the frame element 6 are shown in an unassembled state in Fig 4. In the illustrated example, the frame element 6 is initially, i.e. before the mounting of the stop member 10 and the net 3 to the frame element, provided with a U-shaped and outwardly open channel 1 1 . The width of this channel 1 1 is somewhat larger than the thickness of the stop member 10. The stop member 10 is pushed into the channel 1 1 of the frame element with a part of the net 3 positioned between the stop member 10 and the frame element 6. Thereafter, the walls of the channel 1 1 are pressed towards each other at the opening of the channel, for instance by rolling, to the formation of the above-mentioned cavity 7 and slit 8. In this manner, the walls of the channel are clamped around the stop member 10 so that the stop member is kept in place inside the frame element 6 at the same time as the net 3 is clamped between the stop member 10 and the internal sur- face of the cavity 7. The net 3 may also be secured to the frame element 6 by nipping at the slit 8.

The net 3 could be secured to the stop member 10 before the stop member is moved into the cavity 7 of the frame element 6, for instance by having the stop member 10 extending through meshes in the net, as illustrated in Fig 5, or by having the stop member received in an elongated pocket or hem on the net. As a further alternative, the net 3 could be secured to the stop member 10 by means of a line or the similar which is either wound helically along the stop member or applied in individual rings about the stop member at different places along the stop member. When the net 3 is secured to the stop member 10 before the stop member is moved into the cavity 7 of the frame element 6, the stop member could be displaced axially into the cavity together with the net through and end of the frame element.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 6, the stop member 10' consists of an elongated edging formed on the net 3 by net material tied together along a part of the net, either along a free edge of the net 3 or between two adjacent parts of the net. The stop member could also consist of an elongated edging sewed onto the net 3 along a free edge of the net or between two adjacent parts of the net. The stop member 10' in the form of the edging arranged on the net 3 has a thickness which is larger than the width b1 of the slit 8 of the frame element and may either be introduced into the cavity 7 of the frame element 6 in the manner illustrated in Fig 4 or displaced axially into the cavity through an end of the frame element. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 7, the stop members 10" are several in number and distributed along the part of the net 3 received in the cavity 7 of the frame element 6. The stop members 10" may in this case consist of knots on the net 3, the respective knot constituting an individual stop member 10" and having a thickness which is larger than the width b1 of the slit 8 of the frame element so that the knot is prevented from passing out of the cavity 7 through said slit 8 and thereby keeps the net 3 secured to the frame element 6, as illustrated in Fig 8. The stop members 10" in the form of the knots arranged on the net 3 may either be introduced into the cavity 7 of the frame element 6 in the manner illustrated in Fig 4 or displaced axially into the cavity through an end of the frame element.

Fig 10 illustrates an embodiment where the frame structure of the catching device comprises an elongated frame element 6 provided with a first elongated cavity 7a and a second elongated cavity 7b, which extend axially inside the frame element 6 and are assigned a respective elongated slit 8 arranged in the frame element 6 between the associated cavity and the external sur- face 9 of the frame element. The respective slit 8 extends along the associated cavity 7a, 7b and has a width which is smaller than the width of the associated cavity. A first part 3a of the net 3 extends into the first cavity 7a through the slit 8 of this first cavity and is connected to one or more stop members 10" re- ceived in this first cavity, the respective stop member having a thickness which is larger than the width of said slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the first cavity 7a through said slit 8 and thereby keeps the first part 3a of the net secured to the frame element 6. A second part 3b of the net 3 extends into the second cavity 7b through the slit 8 of this sec- ond cavity and is connected to one or more stop members 10" received inside this second cavity, the respective stop member having a thickness which is larger than the width b1 of said slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the second cavity 7b through said slit 8 and thereby keeps the sec- ond part 3b of the net secured to the frame element 6.

The frame structure of a catching device according to the present invention could also comprise an elongated frame element 6 provided with more than two elongated cavities 7 of the type described above. As an example, Fig 1 1 shows an elongated frame element 6 provided with four cavities 7a-7d with associated slits 8 for receiving a respective part of a net 3.

The net 3 us preferably a flexible net of plastic or textile mate- rial, in which case the net may be of knotted or woven type. The net 3 could alternatively be a thin and flexible metal net.

The width b1 of the slit 8 of the frame element is suitably within the interval: d < b\ < 3 x d where d is the yarn diameter of the net 3. The frame element 6 is suitably of metal, preferably aluminium or stainless steel, but could alternatively be made of a suitable plastic material.

The invention is of course not in any way limited to the embodi- ments described above. On the contrary, several possibilities of modifications thereof should be apparent to a person with ordi- nary skill in the art without thereby deviating from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A catching device for catching aquatic animals, such as for instance fishes or crabs, comprising a frame structure (2) and a net (3) supported by the frame structure, the frame structure (2) comprising at least one elongated frame element (6), to which the net (3) is secured and which is provided with an elongated cavity (7) extending axially inside the frame element, characterized in:

- that an elongated slit (8) is arranged in said frame element (6) between the cavity and the external surface (9) of the frame element, this slit (8) extending along the cavity (7) of the frame element and having a width (b1 ) which is smaller than the width (b2) of the cavity;

- that a part of the net (3) extends into the cavity (7) of said frame element (6) through said slit (8); and

- that the net (3) is connected to one or more stop members (10; 10' ; 10") received inside the cavity (7), the respective stop member having a thickness which is larger than the width (b1 ) of the slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the cavity (7) through said slit (8) and thereby keeps the net (3) secured to the frame element (6).

2. A catching device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said stop member (10; 10') is elongated and extends along the cavity (7) of said frame element (6).

3. A catching device according to claim 2, characterized in that the part of the net (3) that extends into the cavity (7) of said frame element (6) extends in a loop around the elongated stop member (10).

4. A catching device according to claim 3, characterized in that the part of the net (3) that extends into the cavity (7) of said frame element (6) extends through said slit (8) into the cavity (7), around the elongated stop member (10) inside the cavity and then back through the slit (8) out of the cavity.

5. A catching device according to claim 2, characterized in that the elongated stop member (10) extends through meshes in the net (3).

6. A catching device according to any of claims 2-5, characterized in that the elongated stop member (10) consists of a rod or a line or a rope.

7. A catching device according to claim 2, characterized in that the elongated stop member (10') consists of an edging sewed onto the net (3) or formed on the net (3) by net mate- rial tied together along a part of the net.

8. A catching device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said stop members ( 10") are several in number and distributed along the part of the net (3) received in the cavity (7) of said frame element (6).

9. A catching device according to claim 8, characterized in that the stop members (10") consist of knots on the net (3). 10. A catching device according to any of claims 1 -9, characterized in that the net (3) is a flexible net of plastic or textile material.

1 1 . A catching device according to claim 10, characterized in that the net (3) is a knotted or woven net.

12. A catching device according to any of claims 1 -1 1 , characterized in that the frame element (6) is of metal. 13. A catching device according to any of claims 1 -12, characterized in: - that the frame element (6) is provided with at least two elongated cavities (7a, 7b), which extend axially inside the frame element (6) and are assigned a respective elongated slit (8) arranged in the frame element between the associated cavity and the external surface (9) of the frame element, the respective slit (8) extending along the associated cavity (7a, 7b) and having a width (b1 ) which is smaller than the width (b2) of the associated cavity;

- that a first part (3a) of the net extends into a first one (7a) of said cavities through the slit (8) of this cavity and is connected to one or more stop members (10; 10'; 10") received inside this first cavity, the respective stop member having a thickness which is larger than the width (b1 ) of said slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the first cavity (7a) through said slit (8) and thereby keeps the first part (3a) of the net secured to the frame element; and

- that a second part (3b) of the net extends into a second one (7b) of said cavities through the slit (8) of this second cavity and is connected to one or more stop members (10; 10'; 10") received inside this second cavity, the respective stop member having a thickness which is larger than the width (b1 ) of said slit so that the stop member is prevented from passing out of the second cavity (7b) through said slit (8) and thereby keeps the second part (3b) of the net secured to the frame element (6).

4. A catching device according to any of claims 1 -13, characterized in that the net (3) forms part of a net chamber (5) provided with an entrance opening (4), this net chamber (5) being designed to confine fishes or shellfishes that enter the net chamber through the entrance opening (4) of the net chamber.