On demand-delayed buoy release
OwnerRuss Mullinsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and technique for underwater storage and deployment of a fishing line and buoy includes a cylinder coupled to a fishing apparatus. A buoy is attached to a buoy line coupled to the fishing apparatus and the buoy line and buoy are stowed within the cylinder in a first position. A holding mechanism holds a top perimeter of the cylinder closed until intentionally released. Upon release of the holding mechanism, the buoy and buoy line escape the cylinder. The buoy then pulls the buoy line to the surface where the fishing apparatus can be recovered by the fisher.
Claims20
A buoy retention and release device for a fishing apparatus, comprising:
- a cylinder having a top perimeter and a bottom perimeter, the top perimeter being blocked or closed in a first position and being open in a second position;
- a holding mechanism disposed at the top perimeter of the cylinder, the holding mechanism blocking or closing the top perimeter of the cylinder in the first position and unblocking or opening the top perimeter of the cylinder in the second position;
- a buoy line having a proximate end and a distal end, the buoy line being stowed within the cylinder in the first position and being free to extend out from the cylinder in the second position;
- a buoy attached to the distal end of the buoy line, the buoy being held within the cylinder in the first position and being released from the cylinder in the second position;
- and
- a trigger mechanism coupled to the holding mechanism, the trigger mechanism configured to hold the holding mechanism in the first position until automatically or remotely triggered and to activate the second position when triggered.
A buoy retention and release device for a fishing apparatus, comprising:
- a cylinder integral with or coupled to the fishing apparatus, the cylinder having a top perimeter and a bottom perimeter, the top perimeter being blocked or closed in a first position and being open in a second position;
- a holding mechanism disposed at the top perimeter of the cylinder, the holding mechanism blocking or closing the top perimeter of the cylinder in the first position and unblocking or opening the top perimeter of the cylinder in the second position;
- a buoy line having a proximate end and a distal end, the buoy line being stowed in a coil within the cylinder in the first position and being free to extend out from the cylinder in the second position;
- a buoy attached to the distal end of the buoy line, the buoy being held within the cylinder in the first position and being released from the cylinder in the second position;
- and
- a trigger mechanism coupled to the holding mechanism, the trigger mechanism configured to hold the holding mechanism in the first position until triggered and to activate the second position when triggered.
A method, comprising:
- providing a cylinder having a top perimeter and a bottom perimeter;
- integrating or coupling the cylinder to a fish trap or shellfish trap;
- stowing a buoy line having a proximate end and a distal end within the cylinder;
- coupling a buoy to the distal end of the buoy line, and stowing the buoy within the cylinder;
- coupling a releasable holding mechanism to the top perimeter of the cylinder, and arranging the releasable holding mechanism over the buoy line and the buoy to block or close the top perimeter;
- and
- coupling a trigger mechanism to the releasable holding mechanism to hold the releasable holding mechanism over the buoy line and the buoy until intentionally released.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.