Foldable Fish Measuring Board for Accurate Use in Tight Boat Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fishermen face challenges in measuring fish length accurately and efficiently, particularly in confined boat spaces, due to limited storage and the need for multiple boards for different species, and existing tools like tape measures and rigid boards are cumbersome and difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A foldable, hinged fish measuring board composed of segments that can be rolled or folded into a compact form, featuring a nose segment with a vertical barrier and measurement markers, allowing precise length measurement of fish.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rigid wooden or plastic measuring board is used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but storage space requirements increase and portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring board is divided into multiple hinged segments that can be folded together for storage and extended for use. This segmentation allows the board to maintain its full length (e.g., 36 inches or 60 inches) for accurate measurements while collapsing into a compact form for storage in confined boat spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring board transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure through hinges and folding mechanisms. This allows the board to adapt between its extended measurement configuration and its compact storage configuration, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and storage space requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a long measuring board (e.g., 60 inches) is used to measure large fish, then measurement capability is improved, but device portability and ease of carrying deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The long measuring board is constructed from multiple hinged segments that can be folded together, transforming a 60-inch board into a compact portable unit. This segmentation enables the board to provide full-length measurement capability when needed while being easy to carry and store when not in use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple measuring boards are carried for different fish species, then adaptability to different slot limits is improved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible measuring board is designed with adjustable or removable segments that can be configured to display different slot limit markings for various fish species. This multi-functionality allows a single board to replace multiple species-specific boards, reducing the number of devices needed while maintaining adaptability to different regulatory requirements.
4Ease of operation
If a narrow tape measure is used, then portability is improved, but ease of alignment and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring board provides a wide flat surface formed by its segmented construction, offering ample area for placing and aligning fish. This wide surface significantly improves alignment accuracy compared to narrow tape measures, while the hinged segments allow the board to collapse into a compact portable form when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for measuring the length of a fish includes a plurality of board segments, each of a predetermined size, that are hingedly joined to form a fish measuring board. The segments are shaped so that the fish measuring board may be rolled or otherwise folded along its length into a compact form. In one particular embodiment, the fish measuring board may be rolled or otherwise folded in one direction only. In one embodiment, the fish measuring board includes a nose segment including a vertical barrier against which the nose of a fish may be placed during measuring. The measuring board may include a predetermined number of segments that together correspond in length to a desired species of fish. Each segment also may be sized so that a measuring board includes a predetermined width that corresponds to a desired species of fish. The board may include fish-length markers along its length, and predetermined segment(s) may be colored to show, or otherwise indicate, a desired fish slot length.