Lobster abstract
A lobster trap having a basic four sided container body, wherein
the side walls are each constructed of a central panel having open
mesh net material of widely spaced strands, which strands are composed
of a plurality of tightly spaced individual strands, with the opposite
ends of the individual strands being separated and arranged in a
fan shape for lamination between close woven fiberglass cloth forming
a quadrilateral framework, with the framework of adjacent walls
being of one piece. The side walls further have hand holds in the
framework. The bottom of the lobster trap is formed of reinforced
concrete having a securement bolt embedded therein that extends
upwardly through the top, for clamping the side wall framework between
the bottom and top. The top is held to the securement bolt by means
of a cross pin that is soluble in water so as to release the top
after a predetermined submerged time, for corresponding release
of trapped lobsters therein when the trap is lost. For this purpose,
the top is provided with floatation.
Lobster claims
What is claimed is:
1. A crustacean trap, comprising: a plurality of generally planar
walls forming the interior of said crustacean trap therebetween;
at least one of said walls being defined by a central panel and
a continuous closed peripheral frame integrally connected with and
extending outwardly from the edge periphery of said central panel;
said central panel including an open mesh net material of woven
strands with the interstices between said strands being substantially
larger than the diameter of the strands; said peripheral frame having
an inner layer of material, an outer layer of material, the peripheral
edge portion of said panel between said inner and outer layers,
and bonding means laminating said layers together with said peripheral
edge portion of said panel therebetween; said peripheral frame comprising
four straight portions serially interconnected to form a quadilateral
frame having at least two straight portions parallel to each other;
said panel being so constructed that its strands are woven in a
rectilinear grind diagonally oriented with respect to said straight
portions so that two adjacent edge portions will form with the adjacent
strands extending therebetween a series of increasing area triangles
for rigid interbracing; three further walls as defined with respect
to said one wall and forming with said one wall the four sides of
the container, with adjacent straight frame portions being of one
piece construction with each other; further including top and bottom
members forming all of the walls of the crustacean trap with said
side walls; the lower straight portion of each of said frames including
in one piece, a lower generally vertically extending flange, an
intermediate portion extending inwardly from the upper portion of
said lower flange, and an upper flange extending generally vertically
upwardly from the innermost end of said intermediate portion; said
bottom member including a reinforced concrete slab having its edge
portion, around its entire periphery, fitting within the area of
said lower flange and intermediate portion; an elongated rigid securement
member embedded at one end within said slab, extending generally
vertically upwardly between and spaced from said side walls, and
extending outwardly through said top at its opposite end; and means
coupled with said opposite end of said securement member for securing
said top tightly against the upper periphery of said sides, said
top including a central panel of open mesh net material of woven
strands with the interstices between said strands being substantially
larger than the diameter of said strands and a closed continuous
periphery frame of a downwardly opening U-shape comprising inner
and outer layers of fabric having the edge portion of said open
mesh net material laminated between said inner and outer layers,
and said cover when in its closed position having the upwardly extending
flange of said side wall frame within the interior of the downwardly
extending U-shape; the remaining portion of the interior of said
downwardly opening U-shape being filled with a closed pore synthetic
resin rigid from; said top central panel including a lobster entrance
means comprising an inwardly converging funnel extending through
said open mesh net material.
2. The crustacean trap of claim 1 wherein said coupled means includes
a pin extending through said opposite end of said securement member
immediately above and in contact with said top, and said pin being
constructed of a water soluble material, so that after a predetermined
period of being submerged, said pin will disintegrate and uncouple
said top; and said top having an average density substantially less
than that of water, so that it will open and float away from the
remainder of said container when so uncoupled from the submerged
container.
3. The crustacean trap of claim 2 wherein said top includes a
substantial amount of synthetic resin closed pore rigid foam around
its periphery.
4. A crustacean trap, comprising: four individual generally planar
side walls, a top wall and a bottom forming the interior of said
crustacean trap therebetween; at least some of said walls being
defined by a central panel and a continuous closed peripheral frame
integrally connected with and extending outwardly from the edge
periphery of said central panel; said central panel including an
open mesh net material of woven strands with the interstices between
said strands being substantially larger than the strands for the
free flow of water and too small for the passage of a grown crustacean;
each of said peripheral frames having an inner layer of synthetic
resin rigid material, an outer layer of synthetic resin rigid material,
the peripheral edge portion of its associated panel between said
inner and outer layers, and synthetic resin bonding means laminating
said layers together with said peripheral edge portion of said panel
therebetween; each of said peripheral frames further comprising
four straight portions serially interconnected to form a quadilateral
frame having at least two straight portions parallel to each other;
each of said panels being so constructed that its strands are woven
in a rectilinear grid diagonally oriented with respect to said straight
portions so that two adjacent straight portions will form with the
adjacent strands extending therebetween a series of increasing area
triangles for rigid interbracing; and at least one of said walls
having means, including an inwardly converging funnnel, for permitting
entry of grown crustaceans within the crustaceann traps and preventing
their exit.
5. The crustacean trap of claim 4 wherein the top straight portions
of at least two opposed peripheral frames include recesses forming
hand grip means.
6. The crustacean trap of claim 4 wherein said bottom is separable
from said side and top walls; and the four side walls of the crustacean
trap are each sloped inwardly toward the top so that the structure
of the four side walls and the top may be stacked with identical
structures in a nesting relationship with their tops closely adjacent
each other.
7. The crustcean trap of claim 6 wherein said bottom is concrete
slab having an edge portion; means for releasably joining said slab
edge portion around its entire periphery with adjacent lower edges
of said side walls.
8. The crustacean trap of claim 7 further including means cooperating
with said side walls or releasably joining said top wall and said
bottom normally rigidly together, and including a water soluble
link means that will dissolve after a predetermined period of being
submerged, to release at least said top wall and bottom to permit
escape of crustacean trapped therein in the event that the crustacean
trap is not recovered after said predetermined period; and floatation
means structurally connected to said top to provide said top and
its attached structure with an average density less than that of
water so that the top wall will float away from said bottom when
said water soluble link dissolves.
9. The crustacean trap of claim 4 wherein said bottom has an average
density substantially greater than that of water and substantially
greater than the average density of said side walls and top wall;
further including means cooperating with said side walls for releasably
joining said top wall and said bottom normally rigidly together,
and including a water soluble link means that will dissolve after
a predetermined period of being submerged, to release at least said
top wall and bottom to permit escape of crustaceans trapped therein
in the event that the crustacean trap is not recovered after said
predetermined period; and floatation means structurally connected
to said top to provide said top and its attached structure with
an average density less than that of water so that the top wall
will float away from said bottom when said water soluble link dissolves.
10. A crustacean trap, comprising: four individual generally planar
side walls, a top wall and a bottom forming the interior of said
crustacean trap therebetween; said side being defined by a central
panel and a continuous closed peripheral frame integrally connected
with and extending outwardly from the edge periphery of said central
panel; said central panel including an open mesh net material of
woven strands with the interstices between said strands being substantially
larger than the diameter of the strands for the free flow of water
and too small for the passage of a grown crustacean; each of said
peripheral frames having an inner layer of synthetic resin rigid
material, an outer layer of synthetic resin rigid material, the
peripheral edge portions of its associated panel between said inner
and outer layers, and synthetic resin bonding means laminating said
layers together with said peripheral edge portion of said panel
therebetween; each of said peripheral frames further comprising
four straight portions serially interconnected to form a quadrilateral
frame having at least two straight portions parallel to each other;
and at least one of said walls having means, including an inwardly
converging funnel, for permitting entry of grown crustacean within
the crustacean trap and preventing their exit.
11. The crustacean trap of claim 10 wherein said bottom is separable
from said side and top walls; and the four side walls of the crustacean
trap are sloped inwardly toward the top so that the structure of
the four side walls and the top may be stacked with identical structures
in a nesting relationship with their tops closely adjacent each
other.
12. The crustacean trap of claim 11 wherein said bottom is a concrete
slab having an edge portion; means for releasably joining said slab
edge portion around its entire periphery with adjacent lower edges
of said side walls.
13. The crustacean trap of claim 12 further including means cooperating
with said side walls for releasably joining said top wall and said
bottom normally rigidly together, and including a water soluble
link means that will dissolve after a predetermined period of being
submerged, to release at least said top wall and bottom to permit
escape of crustacean trapped therein in the event that the crustacean
trap is not recovered after said predetermined period; and floatation
means structurallly connected to said top to provide said top and
its attached structure with an average density less than that of
water so that the top wall will float away from said bottom when
said water soluble link dissolves.
14. The crustacean trap of claim 10 wherein said bottom has an
average density substantially greater than that of water and substantially
greater than the average density of said side walls and top wall;
further including means cooperating with said side walls for releasably
joining said top wall and said bottom normally rigidly together,
and including a water soluble link means that will dissolve after
a predetermined period of being submerged, to release at least said
top wall and bottom to permit escape of lobster trapped therein
in the event that the crustacean trap is not recovered after said
predetermined period; and floatation means structurally connected
to said top to provide said top and its attached structure with
an average density less than that of water so that the top wall
will float away from said bottom when said water soluble link dissolves.
15. The crustacean trap having all of its side walls and its top
wall each having a central panel and continuous closed peripheral
frame as defined in claim 10.
16. The crustacean trap of claim 10 wherein said mesh net material
comprises two woven layers with each strand bonded to its immediately
adjacent cross strands.
17. A crustacean trap, comprising: side, top and bottom walls forming
therebetween a crustacean trap; at least one of said side and top
walls having means, including an inwardly converging funnel, for
permitting entry of grown crustaceans within the crustacean trap
and preventing their exit; the center of gravity of the crustacean
trap being adjacent said bottom wall and said crustacean trap having
an average density substantially more than that of water so that
the crustacean trap will sink to an upright position when placed
to trap crustaceans; at least one of said side and top walls having
an average density substantially less than that of water; and soluble
link means forming the only connection between said one wall and
the remainder of said crustacean trap normally securely holding
said one wall in its trap forming position and that will dissolve
after a predetermined period of being submerged to release at least
said one wall and permit the escape of crustaceans trapped therein
in the event that the crustacean trap is not recovered after said
predetermined period and freely permit said at least one wall to
float away from the remaining structure of said crustacean trap.
18. A crustacean trap, comprising: four individual generally planar
side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall forming the interior of
said crustacean trap therebetween; at least one of said side and
top walls having means for permitting entry of grown crustaceans
within the crustacean trap and preventing their exit; said bottom
wall being separable from said side and top walls; releasable connector
means for selectively securing said bottom wall to said side and
top walls; said four side walls of said crustacean trap being each
sloped inwardly toward the top so that the structure of the four
side walls and the top wall may be stacked with identical structures
in a nesting relationship with their tops closely adjacent each
other; said top and side walls, in the complete trap position, being
parallel to each other; said bottom wall being of substantially
greater density than said top and side walls.
19. The crustacean trap according to claim 18 wherein said bottom
wall is a concrete slab having an edge portion; and said means for
releasably securing the bottom wall to the remainder of said walls
joining said slab edge portion around its entire periphery with
the lower edges of said side walls.
20. The crustacean trap according to claim 19 wherein said top
and side walls are primarily constructed of synthetic resin.
Lobster description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With respect to present day lobster trapping practices, the generally
used 45 foot boat, under accepted practices, has a 50 trap capacity
with a weight factor of 75 pounds per trap. After the trap has been
submerged it then has a weight factor of 125 pounds to 150 pounds,
which accounts for a limited load capacity. The area capacity of
each trap is 24 by 32 by 18 inches high, and the traps have a limitation
of stacking four high.
The traps are generally constructed of wood and wire, and are prone
to becoming fouled with marine bores so that they have a longevity
from 8 to 18 months. These traps have become an annoyance factor
to marine patrols and other enforcement agencies, because they have
caused entrapment and waste of foodstuffs due to inability to retrieve
the traps when marine bores have penetrated and destroyed the trap
framework, or when they have become lost and the lobsters within
the trap cannot escape until they die.
Lobster fishing or trapping boats are generally gone for 3 to 6
months, before they return to port. The boats come back to port
when they have no more storage capacity for the lobsters that have
been caught, with respect to either weight or volume. These boats
are quite expensive and have crews from 6 to 8 people, so it is
seen that if the storage room and weight of the lobster traps may
be reduced, the boats may stay out for a longer period of time and
take on more lobsters before they must make the long trip back to
port.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aobject of the present invention to produce a lobster
trap that is lightweight, has a long life, small storage room requirements,
low cost, and ability to release trapped lobsters when lost.
A lobster trap is basically a container that has four side walls
constructed of wide mesh net material having the strands of its
outer edge unraveled to arrange the plurality of individual strands
for each main strand in a fan shape that is laminated between tightly
woven glass cloth of a quadrilateral framework, with the framework
of adjacent sides being integral. The mesh is arranged diagonally
with respect to the frame, so that the resulting triangulation will
increase the overall rigidity of the container. The bottom is cheaply
constructed of reinforced concrete having an embedded securement
bolt to clamp the side framework between the top and bottom. When
the lobster boat is far from port and has taken on a large quantity
of lobsters, to the point where storage capacity and storage weight
become the limiting factor for continued fishing, the bottoms may
be thrown away from retrieved traps and the remaining side and top
structure is so constructed that it may be stacked to increase the
capacity of a 45 foot boat from 50 traps to 350 traps according
to the present invention. The tops are preferably constructed with
the same open mesh net material laminated on a diagonal between
inner and outer layers of glass cloth forming a rectangular framework,
with the sides of the framework having a generally downwardly opening
U-shape for receiving therein the upturned edge of the side walls
and synthetic resin closed pore rigid foam material that will provide
the top with a density considerably less than that of water. The
top is held on by a soluble pin, so that if the trap is lost, the
pin will dissolve after a predetermined period of time being submerged
to release the top which will float away and in turn release any
lobsters trapped therein.
For the present invention, the standard weight of 125 to 150 pounds
has been reduced to 25 pounds. The lifetime of an average trap,
8 to 18 months, has been increased to a period in excess of 10 years.
Further, the cost of one trap according to the present invention,
is very little more than the annual replacement cost for conventional
traps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become more clear from the following detailed description of
a preferred embodiment, as shown in the attached drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lobster trap constructed according
to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, with portions broken away, of
the lobster trap according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on a vertical plane through
one of the sides of the trap, with the center portion broken away
to reduce the overall illustrated height;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken through the double woven
mesh material of the walls;
FIG. 5 is a cross section through the container structure of the
present invention used as a liquid tank or closed storage container;
and
FIG. 6 shows the means for laminating the mesh material with the
material of the framework.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1 the lobster trap comprises
a basic four sided framework 1 a top 2 a bottom 3 and securement
means 4 for clamping the framework 1 between the top and bottom.
Each one of the sides forming the framework 1 has vertical frame
members 5 an upper frame member 6 and a lower frame member 7
all of which are integrally connected together to form a quadrilateral
frame. In horizontal cross section, each of the vertical frame members
5 would have an equal side right angle cross section, with a rounded
corner. The cross sectional configuration of the upper frame member
6 and the lower frame member 7 is shown in FIG. 3 and will be described
in more detail hereinafter. Each of the sides further has a central
panel of an open mesh net material of double woven strands, with
the holes in the net material being approximately 1 1/4 inch square.
The strands of the net material 8 are preferably constructed of
a plurality of individually closely packed, twisted or the like
individual strands of fiberglass. As will be described in more detail
later, the peripheral edge of the net material 8 is securely laminated,
embedded or the like within the frame members 5 6 7 with the
strands of the net material extending diagonally between adjacent
frame members to form therewith traiangles of increasing area with
adjacent strands, which triangulation provides for a particularly
rigid structure. This basic four sided framework 1 has been found
to easily support a 6000 pound deflection, when the framework is
constructed so as to have a length of 30 inches, a width of 24 inches,
and a height of 18 inches. THe weigh of such a framework is less
than 6 pounds, so that its capacity is approximately 1000 times
its weight. It is seen that the central panel of the net material
8 and the frame members 5 6 7 forming a peripheral rigid frame
together define a planar wall.
The above described basic planar wall construction is substantially
the same for the top 2 which top 2 has the quadrilateral rigid
frame 9 that laminates or has embedded therein the open mesh net
material 11. However, the top has a central portion of the net material
removed to form a hole, and the strands of the adjacent hole bonded,
laminated or otherwise rigidly secured to a funnel shaped member
10. The funnel shaped member 10 has a transverse cross section that
decreases inwardly, so as to provide an entrance for the lobsters,
but to generally prevent their exit from the trap container.
The laminated structure of the net material 8 and frame members
6 7 is more clearly shown in FIG. 3 wherein it is seen that the
lower frame member 7 comprises an outer layer of material, which
is preferably 40 ounce tightly woven fiberglass cloth; the inner
layer 13 is preferably also constructed of 40 ounce tightly woven
fiberglass cloth. As shown, the net material 8 is laminated between
the outer layer 12 and the inner layer 13 preferably with a suitable
bonding resin therebetween. The bonding resin preferably is an isophthallic,
slightly resilient polyester, although any of the known resins employed
for bonding fiberglass may be used. The net material 8 may extend
entirely between the outer and inner layers 12 13 or only partially,
so long as a secure and rigid engagement is obtained. As seen, the
lower frame member 7 includes a lower vertically extending flange
joined at its upper end with an inwardly and horizontally extending
intermediate portion, which is in turn joined at its inner end with
an upwardly extending flange.
As further shown in FIG. 3 the upper frame member 6 comprises
outer and inner fiberglass cloth layers laminated with the net material
8 which lamination and basic construction is identical to that
of the lower frame member 7 and also is identical to the laminated
and material structure of the vertical frame member 5.
The cross section of the top frame member 9 is substantially the
same around its entire periphery and has the shape of an inverted
U, which receives within its channel the upwardly extending flange
of the upper frame member 6 and has the remaining portion of its
channel filled with a closed pore, rigid foam synthetic resin, such
as, polystyrene. The frame member 9 is preferably also constructed
of inner and outer 40 ounce fiberglass cloth bonding therebetween,
with a bonding resin, the net material 11 although specific details
are not shown in the drawing since they would be similar to those
shown with respect to the upper and lower frame members 6 7. However,
with respect to the top frame member 9 it is seen that the outer
layer would only extend from the outer flange across the web, because
of the entrance of the net material 11 into the lamination.
The bottom 3 is constructed of a slab of reinforced concrete, which
has embedded therein the terminal end 17 of a bolt securement member
4 which bolt extends upwardly within the spaced from the side walls
of the basic container 1 to its upper end that extends through and
beyond the net material 11 of the top 2. The upper end of the bolt
4 is provided with a cross hole 18 having therein a cross coupling
pin 19 which pin 19 is preferably constructed of a water soluble
material that will have a solubility time such that after a predetermined
time of being submerged, the pin will release the cover 2 from the
bolt 4. Usually, lobster traps are submerged for a maximum predetermined
time before they are retrieved to gather in the caught lobsters.
If for some reason, the trap cannot be found within that time or
it becomes separated from its retrieval line, the trap is considered
lost and heretofore lobsters therein have died and been wasted.
With the present invention, the pin 19 will dissolve after this
predetermined time when it is considered that the trap is lost,
to uncouple the top 2. When the top 2 is uncoupled, actual tests
have shown that it will be released from the basic container structure
1 so rapidly that it appears to be exploded off of the remaining
structure due to the average density of the top being considerably
less than that of water, because of the rigid foam 16. Considerable
force is thus generated, when it is realized that the traps may
be generally placed at a depth of 200 feet.
As shown in FIG. 4 the net material 8 and 11 is cut from indeterminate
lengths of fiberglass strand mesh, that is double woven so as to
provide cross strands, and the points at which these strands cross
are bonded, for example with the use of resin 23. Preferably, the
bonding 23 is provided in the stock cloth before it is cut to size
and laminated with the frame members 5 6 7 9. After lamination,
the entire structure is preferably dipped in further resin, so as
to coat all joints and further add to the rigidity of the structure,
without closing the holes between the strands of the net material.
In FIG. 6 there is shown the specific form of lamination for the
lower frame member 7 although this lamination would be identical
for the other frame member 5 6 9. As shown, the net material has
its strands bonded at 20 where they cross each other, so that the
cut ends of the strands that are free and extend beyond the bonds
20 may be blown, brushed or the like so as to separate the individual
small fiberglass strands that make up the composite strands of the
net material 8. As shown, these individual strands 21 are thus formed
in general flat fan shape and placed between the fiberglass cloth
layers 12 and 13 with the bonding resin 22 further placed between
the layers 12 13. Thereafter, the entire structure is pressed tightly
together within a mold and cured to form a rigid integral laminated
bond between the net material and the frame members.
The basic frame structure of the present invention has further
uses, other than as a lobster trap, as shown in FIG. 5 in cross
section. The basic framework structure of FIG. 5 is substantially
identical to that previously described and for this reason, like
numerals have been used for like parts, except with the addition
of primes to indicate a modification. In addition, an impermeable
sheet material 24 has been added interiorly of the net material
8', to be coextensive therewith and thus bonded between the inner
and outer layers 12', 13' of the lower frame member, and to be further
bonded between the inner and outer layers 14', 15', as well as elsewhere
around the framework. In addition, impermeable tops and bottoms
may be provided so that the overall container may hold a liquid,
such as gasoline for storage on boats, or the container may be provided
with a totally removable top so as to form a storage container for
boats or the like that may also serve the function of a seat.
In using the lobster trap of the present invention, it is contemplated
that the basic framework 1 and top 2 will be sold along with a generous
supply of securement members 4 19. Many fisherman like to design
their own entrances 10 which may be easily added by cutting the
appropriate size hole within the net material 11 and bonding the
funnel pipe 10 to it by any commercially available resin. Since
the primary strength of the container structure is provided in the
framework 1 this weakening of the top 2 is not of particular importance.
The entrance pipe 10 may be constructed of polyvinylchloride or
other easily obtainable material, which may be cut from stock lengths
or the like.
Further, it is contemplated that the bottom slab 3 will be poured
by the users, so that the bottom may be thrown away whenever storage
becomes a problem onboard ship, while far from port. After throwing
away the bottom 3 together with its securement bolt 4 it is seen
that the remaining trap structure 1 2 will readily stack due to
the particular shape of the framework 1 which has its side walls
sloping inwardly toward the top so that the framework 1 will nest
with a similar framework 1 with the tops in place. Further, it
is seen that the entrances 10 will nest together with such stacking.
As bottoms are thrown away and the remaining trap structure nested,
the boat may stay out for a longer period of time with the remaining
intact traps, until the boat is filled with lobsters, since the
stacked traps will take up a negligible amount of room. This is
extremely important, since the primary limitation for the amount
of time that a boat stays out and the number of lobsters caught
has been the difficulty of storing the traps, which when stacked
without nesting have considerably raised the center of gravity of
the boat to where there is a danger of tipping together with the
weight of the lobsters onboard. It is seen that with throwing away
of the bottom slab 3 which forms the ballast and uprighting feature
of the present invention, the remaining trap structure is a fraction
of the total weight of former traps, and further with nesting of
the stacked traps, the center of gravity of the stacked traps is
considerably lower than that of previously stacked traps. In addition,
there is an obvious space saving. After reaching shore, it is an
easy and cheap matter to pour new bottoms for the next trip.
Further, the present invention includes the provision of a unique
bait container and bait for trapping lobsters. According to the
present invention, standard commercially available cans of sardines
are procured. When the traps are placed in position, these sardine
cans are pierced with an icepick or the like and readily attached
to the interior of the trap structure, for example by being lashed
to any of the net material 8 11 or the securement means 4. It has
been found that the lobster is primarily attracted and will enter
the trap due to the smell of the bait, so that it is not necessary
that the lobster actually be able to eat any of the bait. The bait
of the present invention further has the advantage of being sealed
until use, being extremely cheap, and being prepackaged so that
there is no particular amount of labor involved on the part of the
fisherman.
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been
described in detail, along with a modification, further modifications,
embodiments and variations are contemplated according to the broader
aspects of the present invention, all as defined by the spirit and
scope of the following claims. |