Fish net with reduced bottom friction
AssigneeWeyerhaeuser Company
InventorEdward S. McSweeny, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a means of reducing the hauling force of a bottom contacting fish net by enclosing or draping at least the leadline of the net with a flexible bearing means. This can conveniently be a tube of flexible polyethylene film or a strip of film which wraps under the leadline. The tube has access openings at regular intervals to permit tying the leadline to the net. These openings also permit free egress of air and ingress of water when the net is in use. The tube serves as a bearing for the leadline as it rests against the substrate. This reduces the tendency to dig into the substrate and, in turn, decreases the energy required to haul the net across the bottom.
Claims8
In a bottom contacting fish net, the improvement which comprises:
- flexible tubular bearing means enclosing at least the leadline of the net, the internal diameter of the tubular bearing means being substantially larger than the maximum diameter of the leadline so as to create an open space therebetween, said means having openings permitting free ingress and egress of water into the open space, said openings also providing tying access for joining the leadline to the net, said bearing means serving to reduce frictional forces between the leadline and the bottom substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.