US5092074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fish gripping implement
Assignee: Triangle Tool and Die and Machine Inc
•
Filing: 1991-03-18
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Granted: 1992-03-03
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Expires: 2011-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An implement for gripping a fish includes first and second lever arms, each having a jaw portion, a handle portion and an intermediate portion therebetween. A pivot member pivotally couples the first lever arm to the second lever arm at their respective intermediate poritons such that manual manipulation of the handle portions toward and away from one another causes like movement of the jaw portions. The first lever arm includes a spike element which extends outwardly from the jaw portion and is configured to pierce a body region of the fish to provide a gripping force in addition to that provided by the coaction between the jaw portions. The spike element includes an adjusting mechanism for varying the extent to which the spike element projects outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm. The gripping implement further includes a third lever arm having a jaw portion and a trigger portion. The third lever is pivotally coupled to the first and second lever arms by way of the pivot member for movement relative thereto. The jaw portions of the first and second lever arms and spike element are adapted to grip the upper lip of a fish. The third lever arm is configured to engage a lower lip of a fish to spread and hold open the mouth of a fish for removal of a fish hook or bait.
Inventors
- 👤 Milo E. Zincke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K97/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An implement for gripping a fish, comprising: a first lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a second lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a pivot member for pivotally coupling the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the intermediate portion of the second lever arm such that manual manipulation of the handle portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another causes like movement of the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another; a spike element mounted on and extending outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm, the spike element projecting toward the jaw portion of the second lever arm and being configured to pierce a body region of a fish as the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms move towards one another to provide a gripping force in addition to that provided by coaction between the jaw portions; and an adjusting mechanism for varying the extent to which the spike element projects outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
An implement for gripping a fish, comprising: a first lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a second lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a pivot member for pivotally coupling the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the intermediate portion of the second lever arm such that manual manipulation of the handle portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another causes like movement of the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another; a spike element mounted on and extending outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm, the spike element projecting toward the jaw portion of the second lever arm and being configured to pierce a body region of a fish as the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms move towards one another to provide a gripping force in addition to that provided by coaction between the jaw portions; and an adjusting mechanism for varying the extent to which the spike element projects outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The gripping implement of claim 1 wherein the adjusting mechanism includes: a threaded portion on the spike element which engages a threaded opening extending through the jaw portion of the first lever arm, whereby rotation of the spike element about its longitudinal axis causes movement of the spike element relative to the threaded opening which varies the extent to which the spike element projects outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gripping implement of claim 2 wherein the threaded portion of the spike element includes a slot that is configured to receive a tool used to rotate the spike element about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The gripping implement of claim 1 wherein the jaw portion of the second lever arm has a through aperture which freely receives the spike element as the jaw portions of the first and second levers move towards one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The gripping implement of claim 1, and further including: a third lever arm having a jaw portion, and trigger portion, the pivot member pivotally coupling the third lever arm to the first and second lever arms such that manual manipulation of the trigger portion pivots the third lever arm and causes the jaw portion of the third lever arm to move relative to the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The gripping implement of claim 5 wherein the jaw portion of the third lever arm extends distally past the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms, and wherein the spike element and the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms are adapted to grip an upper lip of a fish while the third lever is adapted to engage a lower lip of a fish to separate and hold open the lips of a fish.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The gripping implement of claim 1 wherein the handle portion of one of the first and second lever arms includes a lanyard adapted to extend about a wrist of a user of the gripping implement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
223 words
An implement for gripping a fish, comprising: a first lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a second lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a pivot member for pivotally coupling the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the intermediate portion of the second lever arm such that manual manipulation of the handle portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another causes like movement of the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another; and a spike element mounted on and extending outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm, the spike element projecting toward the jaw portion of the second lever arm and being configured to pierce a body region of a fish as the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms move towards one another to provide a gripping force in addition to that provided by coaction between the jaw portions, the jaw portion of the second lever arm including a through aperture which freely receives the spike element as the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms move towards one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
223 words
An implement for gripping a fish, comprising: a first lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a second lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a pivot member for pivotally coupling the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the intermediate portion of the second lever arm such that manual manipulation of the handle portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another causes like movement of the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another; and a spike element mounted on and extending outwardly from the jaw portion of the first lever arm, the spike element projecting toward the jaw portion of the second lever arm and being configured to pierce a body region of a fish as the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms move towards one another to provide a gripping force in addition to that provided by coaction between the jaw portions, the jaw portion of the second lever arm including a through aperture which freely receives the spike element as the jaw portions of the first and second lever arms move towards one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
An implement for gripping a fish, comprising: a first lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a second level arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween, the first and second lever arms being filled with foam flotation to allow the gripping implement to float in water; a pivot member for pivotally coupling the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the intermediate portion of the second lever arm such that manual manipulation of the handle portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from another causes like movement of a jaw portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another, the jaw portions being configured to engage a body region of a fish such that coaction between the jaw portions provides a gripping force for securely holding a fish.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
An implement for gripping a fish, comprising: a first lever arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween; a second level arm having a jaw portion at one end, a handle portion at an opposite end and an intermediate portion therebetween, the first and second lever arms being filled with foam flotation to allow the gripping implement to float in water; a pivot member for pivotally coupling the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the intermediate portion of the second lever arm such that manual manipulation of the handle portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from another causes like movement of a jaw portions of the first and second lever arms towards and away from one another, the jaw portions being configured to engage a body region of a fish such that coaction between the jaw portions provides a gripping force for securely holding a fish.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-03 | 1995-09-02 | 1996-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-03 | 1999-09-02 | 2000-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-03 | 2003-09-02 | 2004-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |