Buoy-Activated Net Fish Trap with Segmented Base

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fish traps made of rigid materials face limitations in capacity, safety, and deployment efficiency due to size and weight constraints on commercial fishing boats, making it impractical to increase their size and reducing the chances of catching larger schools of fish.

Innovation Solution

A fish trap with a buoy-activated net that includes a rigid round base with an open net surrounded by a buoy attached via a line, where the buoy is held stationary by a pin connected to fish bait, allowing the buoy to move upward and close the net when disturbed by a fish, trapping the fish and serving as a visual indicator for retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the size of rigid fish traps is increased to raise fish capacity, then the fish trap capacity is improved, but the weight and size of the trap increases creating safety hazards and storage problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefish trap capacityVSAvoidtrap weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The trap is divided into a rigid base structure and a separate flexible net portion. The rigid base provides stability and anchoring, while the net is stored in a compact state within the base and deployed only when needed. This segmentation allows the trap to have high fish capacity when deployed while maintaining low weight and compact storage dimensions when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The net is nested within the rigid base structure during storage and transport. The net can be coiled or folded inside the base, similar to nested dolls, allowing the entire trap system to occupy minimal space on the boat while still providing large capacity when the net is deployed for fishing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If the size of rigid fish traps is increased to raise fish capacity, then the fish trap capacity is improved, but the deck and trap storage capacity of the boat is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefish trap capacityVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The trap is divided into a rigid base structure and a separate flexible net portion. The rigid base provides stability and anchoring, while the net is stored in a compact state within the base and deployed only when needed. This segmentation allows the trap to have high fish capacity when deployed while maintaining low weight and compact storage dimensions when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trap transitions from a static, permanently large structure to a dynamic system that changes size. The net can be deployed to large dimensions for fishing and then collapsed back into the compact base for storage, allowing the same physical object to serve two opposite spatial requirements at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If more traps are deployed in different areas to increase fishing efficiency, then the chance of contacting schools of fish is improved, but the handling and deployment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefishing efficiencyVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The trap is divided into a rigid base structure and a separate flexible net portion. The rigid base provides stability and anchoring, while the net is stored in a compact state within the base and deployed only when needed. This segmentation allows the trap to have high fish capacity when deployed while maintaining low weight and compact storage dimensions when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trap incorporates an automatic deployment mechanism where the net is held in a compressed state within the base and can be automatically deployed when triggered, reducing the manual effort and time required for deployment and retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Increases fish trap capacity without increasing storage or handling issues, enhances trap efficiency by reducing time spent on emptying and redeploying, and improves safety by reducing the weight and size of the trap, allowing for more effective deployment in various fishing areas.

Implementation Method 1

A buoy or float is attached to the net by a line. The buoy is held stationary to an upper handle-like portion of the base using a nail or pin... allowing the buoy to quickly move upwards, closing the net surrounding the base and trapping any fish in the area.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

A second buoy serves as a visual indicator that the trap has been sprung.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVisual indication:

Data Source

PatentUS10375940B2Fish trap with buoy-activated net

Publication Date: 2019.08.13 AL FARHAN ABDULMAGEED F S

AI summary

The fish catching trap includes a substantially rigid round base having an open net surrounding it. A buoy or float is attached to the net by a line, the buoy being held stationary to an upper handle-like portion of the base using a nail or pin. The pin is attached to a string connected to fish bait placed in the bottom of the trap. When a fish disturbs or moves the bait, the string is pulled and the pin is released, allowing the buoy to quickly move upwards, closing the net surrounding the base and trapping any fish in the area. A second buoy serves as a visual indicator that the trap has been sprung.