Kurt Charles Swanson

US Patent:

6065239, May 23, 2000

Filed:

Sep 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/406340

Inventors:

Kent R. Thomas - Signal Hill CA
Kurt Swanson - Bainbridge Island WA

International Classification:

A01K 7100
A01K 7400
A01K 7900

US Classification:

43 45

Abstract:

An automatically closing drop fishing net is provided for commercial fishing operations. The drop net assembly includes an upper float ring, a lower weight ring, and a net formed in a generally tubular configuration. The upper end of the net is attached to the float ring and the lower end of the net is attached to the weight ring. The drop net assembly has several torque lines that extend from locations on the float ring on the outside of the net to locations on the weight ring that are initially angularly offset at least one hundred eighty degrees relative to their points of attachment to the float ring. The torque lines are shorter than the vertical length that the net would assume in a stretched condition with the float ring buoyed upon the surface of a body of sea water and with the weight ring suspended therebeneath and held only by the structure of the net. As gravity pulls the weight ring downwardly from the float ring in the water, tension is exerted on the torque lines. This tension causes the weight ring to rotate relative to the float ring above it.