Spring-Loaded Fish Holding Device with Blunt Gaff Hooks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fish handling devices are often heavy, difficult to use, and can harm or kill fish during unloading, especially for solo fishermen in small vessels, as they rely on sharp hooks and unidirectional mechanisms that fail to securely hold large fish without causing injury.
Innovation Solution
A fish-holding device with a stainless-steel hook and movable element guided by a spring-loaded mechanism, allowing for adjustable clamping around the fish's mouth without teeth, enabling secure holding and release without harming the fish, and accommodating varying fish weights through a channel with lateral retaining grooves for optimal force adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional single gaff hooks are used to hold fish, then the device structure is simple, but the reliability of securely holding fish is poor due to one-sided penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The single gaff hook is segmented into two opposing gaff hooks that work together. Each hook penetrates from opposite sides of the fish, creating a more reliable holding mechanism that prevents the fish from escaping by diving or unhooking its mouth, while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Two opposing gaff hooks are merged into a single integrated device structure, combining their holding functions to achieve reliable fish securing. The hooks work in conjunction with a spring-loaded mechanism that merges the opening and closing actions into a unified operational system
2Reliability
If double opposing gaff hooks are used to secure fish from both sides, then the reliability of holding fish improves, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase due to toggling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded mechanism is designed to automatically toggle the gaff hooks open and closed without requiring manual intervention. When the trigger is activated, the spring forces the hooks to open automatically; when released, the spring returns them to the closed position, making the device self-servicing and significantly easier to operate
Solution Approach 2:
The complex manual toggling mechanism is replaced with a spring-loaded mechanical system that uses elastic potential energy storage and release to automatically open and close the hooks. This substitution eliminates the need for intricate manual operation while maintaining reliable fish securing
3Reliability
If spring-loaded mechanisms with rods are used to force gaff hooks transition, then the hooks can be toggled reliably, but the device weight and difficulty of use increase for solo fishermen
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism parameters are optimized to provide sufficient force for reliable hook transition while minimizing the overall device weight. The spring constant and dimensions are carefully selected to achieve the necessary mechanical advantage without excessive mass, making the device usable by solo fishermen in small vessels
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism transitions from a static rod-based system to a dynamic spring-loaded system that adapts its force output based on the trigger position. The spring provides variable force during the toggling process, maximizing reliability while minimizing the weight of moving components compared to rigid rod mechanisms
4Device complexity
If sharp hooks and unidirectional mechanisms are used to hold fish, then the device structure is simple, but harmful factors increase as fish are harmed or killed during unloading
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using sharp hooks that penetrate and harm the fish, the invention uses blunt gaff hooks that apply distributed pressure around the fish's mouth. The holding mechanism is inverted from a piercing action to a clamping action, securing the fish without causing injury, while the spring mechanism provides controlled force application
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
The device securely holds fish of various sizes and weights without causing harm, allowing for safe unloading and measurement, improving the reliability and safety of fish handling for recreational and sport fishing.
Implementation Method 1
The known designs are largely based on spring-loaded mechanisms which use rods to force the transition of the gaff hooks from the open to the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A fish-holding device, comprising a hollow tube (6) with a channel (12); a hook (1) attached to the distal end of the tube (6); a movable element (2) inserted in the hollow tube and guided along the channel by a release element (7) attached to the movable element, the movable element being guided for being slidable between a closed position, wherein an end of the movable element (2) abuts against a free and blunt end of the hook, and an open position, wherein the movable element is associated with a spring that biases the movable element towards the closed position; and wherein the channel (12) includes a plurality of lateral retaining grooves (5) configured to house the release element (7) in different positions along the channel.