Fish Stringer Assembly with Self-securing Holder

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fish stringers lack safe storage and operation of the needle, secure attachment to vessels or fishermen, and are prone to cracking due to material weaknesses, especially when not in use, and often require two-handed operation.

Innovation Solution

A fish stringer assembly with a holder that securely stores the needle without fasteners, allowing one-handed operation, and a floatation device that is removably coupled to the stringer line using a looped configuration to prevent slack and dislodging, featuring a design that angles the line to create tension and prevent removal of the needle from the holder.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional fish stringer uses a sharp needle for piercing fish, then the needle can easily penetrate the fish body, but the needle poses safety hazards and is difficult to store safely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle penetration capabilityVSAvoidsafety hazard from sharp needle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is extracted from the main stringer body and stored separately in a dedicated holder or pouch when not in use. This separation allows the stringer to maintain its sharp needle for effective fish piercing while providing a safe storage location that prevents accidental contact with the sharp point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The needle is nested within a protective holder or sheath that contains the sharp point. The holder is designed to securely hold the needle when not in use, preventing it from posing safety hazards while allowing quick access when needed for piercing fish.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If a conventional fish stringer uses a plastic material for the body, then the stringer can be lightweight and easy to manufacture, but the plastic frequently cracks and breaks around the base of the needle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelightweight plastic constructionVSAvoidcracking and breaking of plastic

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stringer transitions from purely plastic construction to a composite design incorporating metal or reinforced materials in high-stress areas, particularly around the needle base and attachment points. This composite approach maintains the overall lightweight advantage while eliminating the cracking and breaking issues associated with pure plastic in stress-concentration zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a conventional fish stringer requires two-handed operation for securing the line, then the attachment can be more secure, but the operation becomes less convenient and efficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachment of lineVSAvoidone-handed operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stringer incorporates a self-securing mechanism such as a friction fit, snap latch, or elastic retention system that automatically holds the line in place without requiring manual tying or complex fastening operations. This allows a single hand to securely attach and detach the line while maintaining reliable attachment during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If a conventional fish stringer lacks a secure storage mechanism for the needle, then the design is simpler, but the needle cannot be stored safely when not in use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of designVSAvoidunsafe storage of needle

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is nested within a protective holder or sheath that is integrated into or attached to the stringer body. This nested structure provides safe containment of the sharp needle point while maintaining a relatively simple overall design that does not significantly increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables safe, one-handed operation and storage of the needle, secure attachment to various objects, and prevents material failure, addressing the shortcomings of conventional stringers by providing a secure and durable solution for keeping fish alive in the water without the need for fasteners.

Implementation Method 1

The line includes a floatation device at a distal end of the line to elevate the line in the water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS10524457B2Fish stringer assembly

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 POWER TRAVIS J

AI summary

A stringer assembly for the safe storage of fish caught by a fisherman includes a stringer line having a needle, a floatation device, and a holder. The stringer assembly is configured to prevent the pushing of slack in the line in a manner to dislodge the stringer line. Additionally, the stringer line is secured without clamping or tying of the stringer line. The holder is releasably coupled to a water vessel through an attachment device configured to prevent twisting of the stringer line. The needle is inserted into a portion of the holder and the stringer line is routed under a flange of the holder in a manner that binds or wedges the stringer line to the holder and prevents removal of the needle from within the holder. Because no fasteners are needed, a fisherman is capable of operating the assembly with a single hand.