Digital fish weighing device

• US 6,696,650 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shakespeare Company LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Role Associates, LLC
• Inventors: Muller, Max, Brady, Robert, Chartier, Joel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, RANDY W
• Application Number:
  US10/194,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 177/131, 177/148, 177/149, 177/238, D10/87, D10/89, D10/79, 43/4, 43/5
• US Class Current: 177/148
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/60 combined with fishing equipment, e.g. with fishing rods

Abstract

An electronic fish scale comprising a molded housing having upper and lower portions for supported hand grasping. An electronically controlled weight-sensing member and a viewable digital output screen are mounted within the housing. The output screen is electronically connected to the weight-sensing member whereby a weight held by gravity causes a digital numeric display on the output screen equal to the fish weight. A fish-engaging assembly extends downwardly from the weight-sensing member through an aperture formed in the bottom of the housing, and includes a pair of opposed c-shaped jaws. A longitudinally moveable jaw actuator is operably connected through a jaw control member via a rotation pin through diagonally extending aligned slots in the jaws whereby the jaws are opened when the jaw actuator is manually moved upwardly. A lower lip of a fish securely held and unhurt between the closed jaws will produce a digital display of the weight of the fish on the output screen. Housing contour facilitates hand-holding of the device and an array of unique digital data may be selectively displayed.

Claims

1. An electronic fish scale comprising:

a molded housing defining an interior volume and having upper and lower portions and adapted in exterior concaved side surface contour for supported hand grasping;

an electronically controlled weight-sensing member mounted within said interior volume;

a digital output screen held within said interior volume in close proximity to and extending over a portion of one said exterior side surface, said output screen electronically connected to said weight-sensing member whereby a weight held by gravity on said weight-sensing member causes a digital numeric display on said output screen equal to the amount of the weight;

a fish-engaging assembly connected to and extending from said weight-sensing member through an aperture formed in said lower portion, said fish engaging member including a pair of opposed jaws each having a generally c-shape, a distal end of each of said jaws touching one another when said jaws are closed in an at-rest position;

said fish-engaging assembly also including a longitudinal moveable jaw actuator which enables a user to engage and move said jaw actuator longitudinally by use of the finger or thumb, said jaw actuator spring biased downwardly when at rest to close said jaws into the at-rest position;

said jaws being opened when said jaw actuator is manually moved upwardly into said housing, a lower lip of a fish positioned between opened said distal ends being securely held and unhurt when said jaw actuator is released to close said jaws, whereupon a digital display of the weight of the fish is produced on said output screen when said fish scale is held to fully support the fish within said jaws.

2. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fish scale is buoyant and further comprises:

a molded foam flotation member sized and configured to fill a substantial portion of said interior volume.

3. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

an airtight seal for maintaining a water-impervious air chamber between a front half of said molded housing and an intermediate housing panel;

said air chamber contributing to the buoyancy of said fish scale.

4. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said flotation member contributes about 75% and said air chamber contributes about 25% in establishing buoyancy of said fish scale.

5. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said electronic circuit also selectively produces digital data viewable on said output screen related to sequential weight of up to N numbers of fish, cumulative weight of N numbers of fish, and indicia advising that the safe weight limit of said fish scale has been exceeded.

6. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said housing upper portion includes a molded-in hanging aperture whereby said fish scale may be hung or supported by a hook or rope.

7. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said housing has arcuately contoured side surfaces which define a smaller central portion and an enlarged upper portion of said housing for enhanced gripability.

8. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 7, wherein

said housing side surfaces are high friction, low slip for enhanced gripability.

9. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 8, wherein

said housing side surfaces are formed of separate contoured panels attached to said housing.

11. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fish scale is buoyant and further comprises:

a molded foam flotation member sized and configured to fill a substantial portion of said interior volume.

12. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

an airtight seal for maintaining a water-impervious air chamber between a front half of said molded housing and an intermediate housing panel;

said air chamber contributing to the buoyancy of said fish scale.

13. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said flotation member contributes about 75% and said air chamber contributes about 25% in establishing buoyancy of said fish scale.

14. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said electronic circuit also selectively produces digital data viewable on said output screen related to sequential weight of up to N numbers of fish, cumulative weight of N numbers of fish, and indicia advising that the safe weight limit of said fish scale has been exceeded.

15. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said housing upper portion includes a molded-in hanging aperture whereby said fish scale may be hung or supported by a hook or rope.

16. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said housing has arcuately contoured side surfaces which define a smaller central portion and an enlarged upper portion of said housing for enhanced gripability.

17. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 7, wherein

said housing side surfaces are high friction, low slip for enhanced gripability.

18. An electronic fish scale as set forth in claim 8, wherein

said housing side surfaces are formed of separate contoured panels attached to said housing.

10. An electronic fish scale comprising:

a molded housing formed of mating front and rear halves, said housing having upper and lower portions and adapted by exterior concaved side surfaces for hand grasping during use;

an electronically controlled weight sensing member mounted within said interior volume operably connected by a control circuit to a digital output screen held within said interior volume in close proximity to a mating viewing aperture formed through a central portion of said front half, said output screen electronically connected by said control circuit to said weight-sensing member whereby a fish held by gravity downwardly from said weight-sensing member causes a digital numeric display on said output screen equal to the weight of the fish;

a fish-engaging assembly extending downwardly through an aperture formed in said lower portion including a pair of opposed jaws each having a generally c-shape with an upwardly extending leg which is pivotally connected to a lower end of an elongated longitudinally extending actuator shaft, an upper end of said actuator shaft connected to said weight-sensing member, a lower distal end of each of said jaws touching one another when said jaws are in a closed at-rest position;

each said jaw having an elongated longitudinally extending slot formed therethrough at a lower portion of said leg, each said slot having a portion thereof acutely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of said housing, said slots being in alignment and registry and acutely oriented in opposite directions;

said fish-engaging assembly also including a jaw actuator having a longitudinal aperture therethrough and being rigidly connected to an upper end of each of two upright legs of an elongated u-shaped jaw control member, a lower end of said jaw control member having an aperture formed therethrough to receive a rotation pin, said rotation pin also passing through each said slot said jaw actuator being spring biased downwardly when at rest to close said jaws into the at-rest position;

said jaws being opened when, by sliding movement of said rotation pin along the acutely oriented portion of each said slot when said jaw actuator is manually moved upwardly into said housing, a lower lip of a fish positioned between opened said distal ends being securely held and unhurt when said jaw actuator is released to close said jaws, whereupon a digital display of the weight of the fish is produced on said output screen when said fish scale is held to fully support the fish within said jaws.