Granted Patent B1

US 12,317,875 · App. 18/198,574 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Inventors: James Aloysius Garrett (San Diego, CA); Jonathon Piel Garrett (San Diego, CA); Kyle Pendergrass (San Diego, CA)

A01K83/06

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A fish attachment apparatus, comprising:

a first attachment structure;

a second attachment structure; and

an intermediate structure coupled to the first attachment structure and the second attachment structure,

wherein the intermediate structure includes a front end and a back end, and

wherein the first attachment structure is coupled to the front end of the intermediate structure,

wherein the second attachment structure is coupled to the back end of the intermediate structure,

wherein the first attachment structure is configured to secure a first portion of the fish attachment apparatus to a front portion of a fish, and

wherein the second attachment structure is configured to secure second portion of the fish attachment apparatus to a back portion of the fish,

wherein: the first attachment structure includes a first arm, a second arm, a first protrusion with a sharp end and a second protrusion with a sharp end;

the first protrusion extends from the first arm in a first direction towards the second protrusion;

the second protrusion extends from the second arm in a second direction towards the first protrusion; and

the first arm and the second arm are movably coupled to each other or to the intermediate structure so as to allow the first protrusion to move in the first direction towards the second protrusion when a first directional pressure is applied to the first arm and the second protrusion to move in the second direction towards the first protrusion when a second directional pressure is applied to the second arm,

wherein: the first protrusion includes a first locking feature extending from a first surface of the first protrusion;

the second protrusion includes a second locking feature-extending from a second surface of the second protrusion;

the first arm and the second arm are movably coupled to each other or to the intermediate structure so as to allow the first locking feature to (a) move with the first protrusion in the first direction towards the second locking feature of the second protrusion, (b) make contact with the second locking feature, and (c) pass by the second locking feature;

the first arm and the second arm are movably coupled to each other or to the intermediate structure so as to allow the second locking feature to (a) move with the second protrusion in the second direction towards the first locking feature of the first protrusion, (b) make contact with the first locking feature, and (c) pass by the first locking feature; the first locking feature is configured to prevent the first protrusion from moving in the second direction opposite the first direction after the first locking feature has passed by the second locking feature and is in contact with the second locking feature; and

the second locking feature is configured to prevent the second protrusion from moving in the first direction opposite the second direction after the second locking feature has passed by the first locking feature and is in contact with the first locking feature.

2. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first attachment structure has an open configuration and a closed configuration; and

the first and second locking features are configured to prevent the first attachment structure from returning to the open configuration after moving to the closed configuration.

3. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment structure comprises a tie with a pawl and teeth.

4. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least part of a bottom of the intermediate structure includes a curved shape.

5. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second protrusions are configured to penetrate anatomy of a fish and secure a first portion of the fish attachment apparatus to the fish.

6. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion is configured to penetrate a first side of a fish through an eye socket of the fish; and the second protrusion is configured to penetrate a second side of the fish through an eye socket of the fish.

7. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a buoyant structure disposed between the front end and the back end of the intermediate structure.

8. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment structure comprises a wire configured to wrap around the fish.

9. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment structure comprises a rubber band.

10. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment structure comprises a slip noose.

11. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a barbed hook separate from the first attachment structure, the second attachment structure and the intermediate structure.

12. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate structure includes a buoyant portion or is coupled to a buoyant structure along a top of the intermediate structure.

13. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the buoyant portion or buoyant structure is configured to float a fish near a surface of a body of water when the fish attachment apparatus is attached to the fish.

14. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first wing and a second wing coupled to or integral with the intermediate structure.

15. The fish attachment apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first and second wings are configured to float.

Continuity (1)

References Cited (64)

Cited By (1)

US 12,458,005