Pivoting Fish Stringer With Built-In Length Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fish stringers lack a measuring capability, restricting anglers' ability to accurately assess the size of their catch without additional tools.
Innovation Solution
A fish stringer with a spear having a tip for piercing a fish and a measuring tape pivotally coupled to the spear, featuring adjustable configurations to extend through the fish, allowing for accurate measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional fish stringer without measuring capability is used, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the measurement precision is poor and additional tools are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fish stringer spear with a measuring tape into a single integrated device. The measuring tape is pivotally coupled to the spear, allowing it to be stored along the spear's length and deployed for measuring fish. This merging eliminates the need for separate measuring tools while providing accurate measurements directly at the fishing site.
Solution Approach 2:
The spear is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the fishing spear for catching fish and as a storage mechanism for the measuring tape. The pivoting connection allows the same structure to function as both a piercing tool and a measuring device, reducing the need for additional equipment.
2Measurement precision
If a measuring tape is pivotally coupled to the spear, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation may be reduced due to the additional moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring tape is connected to the spear via a pivotal connection that allows dynamic adjustment between a stowed position (along the spear's length) and a deployed position (perpendicular to the spear). This dynamic configuration enables the user to easily switch between carrying mode and measuring mode, maintaining ease of operation while providing measurement capability.
3Measurement precision
If the measuring tape extends through the fish, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the channel and pivoting mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring tape is nested within the channel formed in the spear when in the stowed position. The channel provides a recess that accommodates the tape along the spear's length, allowing the tape to be compactly stored within the existing spear structure rather than adding external complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A fish stringer includes a spear having a tip for piercing a portion of a fish and a measuring tape pivotally coupled to the spear and including measurement markings thereon. The spear includes an axially extending channel formed therein. At least a portion of the measuring tape extends through the portion of the fish following passage of the spear through the portion of the fish. The measuring tape is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration includes a proximal portion of the measuring tape received within the channel and extending in the axial direction of the spear and the second configuration includes the proximal portion of the tape pivoted away from the channel to extend transversely relative to the axial direction of the spear.