1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to floating fish baskets, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved floating fish basket for use by divers and spear fishermen to contain and protect from predators the day's catch of fish, lobster and other sea crustaceans. Spear fishing divers currently use plastic bottles, PVC plumbing pipe, inner tubes, foam tubes, bamboo trees, surf boards and a variety of other flotation devices attached to stringers or nylon nets to secure the day's catch of fish. A serious drawback of these types of stringer supports is that the catch is open to predators such as barracuda, sharks and eels. Nylon nets are disadvantageous because while although containing the catch, they are still susceptible to predator damage. Additionally, the above described devices are difficult to tow through the water. In order to overcome these problems, the present invention provides a lightweight, inexpensive, durable and easily transportable floating fish basket which utilizes a collapsible metal net to provide protection from predators.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of floating fish baskets are known in the prior art. A typical example of such a floating fish basket is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,241,314, which issued to P. Mohler on May 6, 1941. This patent discloses a mesh bag suspended by lacing from a flotation ring. U.S. Pat. No. 2,739,410, which issued to F. Budnick on Mar. 27, 1956, discloses a collapsible container having an accordion fold bag suspended from a flotation ring. U.S. Pat. No. 2,790,266, which issued to L. Williamson on Apr. 30, 1957, discloses a floating live bait container which has a door secured by a spring extending between an inner surface of the door and the bottom of the container. U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,463, which issued to L. Ruter on Nov. 18, 1969, discloses a floating fish basket in which a wire mesh bag is suspended from a flotation ring and is adapted for quick release therefrom by removal of a plurality of retention clips. U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,278, which issued to H. Wolfe on Aug. 18, 1970, discloses a floating fish basket in which a wire mesh bag is suspended from a flotation ring. A pivotal door having a spring closure is provided. U.S. Pat. No. D. 257,377, which issued to D. Andrews on Oct. 14, 1980, discloses a floating live bait container with a generally hexagonal configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,374, which issued to G. Baxley on Feb. 18, 1986, discloses a floating fish basket suspended from a molded foam flotation frame. A plurality of inclined baffles within an opening of the frame retain fish therein.
While the above mentioned devices are suited for their intended usage, none of these devices disclose a floating fish basket which utilizes a collapsible wire mesh bag suspended from a frame removably secured to a flotation ring and having a socket for supporting a diving flag. Additionally, none of the aforesaid devices disclose a floating fish basket having a mechanism for retaining a pivotal door closed and operative upon opening the door for partially axially collapsing a wire mesh bag. Inasmuch as the art is relatively crowded with respect to these various types of floating fish baskets, it can be appreciated that there is a continuing need for and interest in improvements to such floating fish baskets, and in this respect, the present invention addresses this need and interest.