Apparatus for measuring, weighing and counting fish

• US 5,637,838 A
• Filed: 08/03/1994
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clyde D. Arey, Rodney D. Arey, William B. Tannehill
• Original Assignee: Clyde D. Arey, Rodney D. Arey, William B. Tannehill
• Inventors: Arey, Rodney D., Arey, Clyde D., Tannehill, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/285,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 177/126, 177/127, 177/148, 177/149, 177/238, 177/245, 177/2, 177/3, 177/4, 33/511, 33/767, 33/484, 33/485
• US Class Current: 177/148
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/90 Sorting, grading, counting or marking live aquatic animals, e.g. sex determination
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/08 extensible
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring, weighing and counting fish comprising a main body portion having long parallel side edges and short parallel upper and lower edges in a rectangular configuration, the main body portion having a front face and a back face and a slot for the receipt of a slidable member therein, the main body portion also having a recess centrally formed in the upper face thereof in a generally inverted V-shaped configuration with a ledge, the apex of the V being adapted to receive the head of a fish to be measured; a generally rectangular slide member positionable within the slot of the main body portion, the slide member being in a generally L-shaped configuration with a long portion slidably positioned within the slot of the main body portion and with a short portion at right angles with respect thereto adjacent the lower edge of the main body portion adapted to receive the tail of the fish to be measured, the slide member having indicia as to a fish length formed adjacent to the front face thereof, the indicia formed in a linear array and with notches formed in the side edges of the slide member; and adjustable coupling members formed adjacent to the lower edge of the main body portion at a side thereof, the coupling members including a hinge member and, on one side thereof, a projection extending through an adjacent wall of the main body portion into a preselected notch in the slide member to lock the slide member with respect to the main body portion, the adjustable members including a spring and recesses to urge the projection into a preselected side notch.

Claims

1. A new and improved apparatus for measuring, weighing and counting fish comprising, in combination:

a main body portion having long parallel side edges and short parallel upper and lower edges in a rectangular configuration, the main body portion having a front face and a back face and a slot for the receipt of a slidable member therein, the main body portion also having a recess centrally formed in the upper face thereof in a generally inverted V-shaped configuration with a ledge, the apex of the V being adapted to receive the head of a fish to be measured;

a generally rectangular slide member positionable within the slot of the main body portion, the slide member being in a generally L-shaped configuration with a long portion slidably positioned within the slot of the main body portion and with a short portion at right angles with respect thereto adjacent the lower edge of the main body portion adapted to receive the tail of the fish to be measured, the slide member having indicia as to a fish length formed adjacent to the front face thereof, the indicia formed in a linear array and with notches formed in the side edges of the slide member;

adjustable coupling members connected by a hinge member adjacent to the lower edge of the main body portion at a side thereof, the coupling members including, on one side thereof, a projection extending through an adjacent wall of the main body portion into a preselected notch in the slide member to lock the slide member with respect to the main body portion, the adjustable members including a spring and recesses to urge the projection into a preselected side notch;

a generally cylindrical opening formed into a first upper edge of the main body portion with a removable counter with a button removably positioned within the opening;

a scale formed in a second upper edge end of the main body portion with a coil spring and a pointer positioned through the elongated slot with laterally offset indicia representative of weight of a fish; and

a hook at the upper edge of the main body portion adapted to receive and support a fish and to move the pointer downwardly in response to the weight of the fish and the depression of the spring and pointer in response thereto wherein the hook is situated on a upper edge of the main body portion.

2. An apparatus for measuring, weighing and counting fish comprising:

a main body portion having long parallel side edges and short parallel upper and lower edges in a rectangular configuration, the main body portion having a front face and a back face and a slot for the receipt of a slidable member therein, the main body portion also having a recess centrally formed in the upper face thereof in a generally inverted V-shaped configuration with a ledge, the apex of the V being adapted to receive the head of a fish to be measured;

a generally rectangular slide member positionable within the slot of the main body portion, the slide member being in a generally L-shaped configuration with a long portion slidably positioned within the slot of the main body portion and with a short portion at right angles with respect thereto adjacent the lower edge of the main body portion adapted to receive the tail of the fish to be measured, the slide member having indicia as to a fish length formed adjacent to the front face thereof, the indicia formed in a linear array and with notches formed in the side edges of the slide member; and

adjustable coupling members connected by a hinge member adjacent to the lower edge of the main body portion at a side thereof, the coupling members including, on one side thereof, a projection extending through an adjacent wall of the main body portion into a preselected notch in the slide member to lock the slide member with respect to the main body portion, the adjustable members including a spring and recesses to urge the projection into a preselected side notch.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and further including:

a generally cylindrical opening formed into a first upper edge of the main body portion with a removable counter with a button removably positioned within the opening.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and further including:

a scale formed in a second upper edge end of the main body portion with a coil spring and a pointer positioned through the elongated slot with laterally offset indicia representative of weight of a fish; and

a hook at the upper edge of the main body portion adapted to receive and support a fish and to move the pointer downwardly in response to the weight of the fish and the depression of the spring and pointer in response thereto, wherein the hook is situated on an upper edge of the main body portion.