Device and method for measuring the length of a fish

• US 20040163267A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vincent Patrick Bini
• Original Assignee: Vincent Patrick Bini
• Inventors: Bini, Vincent Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 6,959,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/511
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/00 Accessories for angling fish stringers A01K65/00; landing-nets or landing-spoons for fishing A01K77/00

Abstract

A compact and portable measuring device that is quickly and easily attachable to a fish holding device, at an end of the fish, and provides a visually readable scale, which can be used to easily identify the length of the fish and can later be read in a photograph of the fish and measuring device, even if taken at a distance away from the fish and the device.

Claims

1. A device for measuring the length of a fish comprising:

a foldable tape section having distance indicators along the length of said tape; and

a base section attachable to a fish-holding device and to said foldable tape section.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said base is provided with a groove penetrating completely through said base and extending from an edge of said base toward a center area of said base.

3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein said base is provided with a means for obstructing the pathway of said groove.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said distance indicators are evenly-spaced lines along the length of said tape.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said distance indicators are incremented numbers.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the color of said distance indicators is selected so as to contrast with the color of said tape.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising said tape being removably attached to said base.

8. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising said tape having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, with said first end being attachable to said base and a weighted object being attached to said second end.

9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said tape is made of a washable cloth material.

10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said tape is made of a washable plastic material.

11. A method of measuring a fish comprising:

holding a fish at a first end with a holding device;

attaching a measuring device, having a base and a measuring tape, to the holder at the first end of the fish;

extending the measuring tape longitudinally in the direction of the body of the fish with the fish being positioned between the tape and an observer; and

visually determining the length of the fish by comparing a distal second end of the fish to distance indicators provided on the tape.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising taking a photograph of the fish and measuring device, with the fish being located between the tape and the camera so that the length of the fish is recorded on film.