US2118147A - Folding barb fish gaff - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1938. w. s. BLODGETT Er AL 2,118,147

FOLDING BARB FISH'GAFF Filed May's, 1937 Snventor WILLIAM 5. BLooeE'rT LEONARD R. BLonefJr ,anzi/LL (ttorneg Patented May 24, 1938 FOLDING BARB VFISH GAFF wiuiam s. Blodgett and Leonard R. Budgett,

. Portland, Oreg.

Application May 5, 1937, Serial No. 140,920

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to a gaf provided with a barb proximate its point which can be caused to recede within the body of the gaff to permit remov-al of a fish. l

The object of the invention is to provide a fish gaff having a folding barb which normally rests within the body of the gaff and does not interfere with the gang of la sh, but which will open out and effectively prevent' the fish from loosening itself from the gaff.

The object of the invention is to provide a gaff with a folding barb which folds into the g-aff and means for positively causing the barb to fold, which means may be operated by the hand of a person in which the gaff is being held. v

An object of the invention is to embody simple construction and few parts in the manufacture of the gaff in order to reduce manufacturing expenses and to eliminate as far as possible the chances of breakage.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent upon a study of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the fish gaff which shows it being employed for gading a sh.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation with portions in section in order to disclose the internal construction of the gai.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, vertical sectional det-ail of the point of the gaff. This View shows the construction of the folding barb and the means for folding the barb.

Figure 4 is a plan of a straight type of gaff.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral I indicates the gaff in its entirety, consisting of a shank 2, a hook portion 3 which terminates in a penetrating point 4. The gaff is made of tubular stock, or of solid stock and then bored to provide a longitudinal bore 5 which, of course is closed at point 4. The end of the shank has a larger bore 6 communicating with bore 5, and where these two bores meet there is consequently formed a shoulder or ledge l which serves as a sp-ring seat as will presently appear. Carried within the shank and hook portions is a flexible rod 8. On the inside of the hook portion and proximate point 4 is a slot 9 leading into bore 5, and in this slot is seated a barb I pivotally mounted on pin Il. Pin Il has its ends secured in opposite sides of the hook portion, and the pivotal connection of the barb thereto (Cl. L3-5) is within bore 5. Barb ill has its point I2 slightly curved, outwardly, and this point normally rests upon the exterior portion of the hook forming the rearward end of the slot, as indicated by engage dog I4 and will move ittoward the point 4. yThis will pivot the barb i6 rearwardly until the curved end I2 rests upon the portion i3 of the gaff. The rod is normally out of engage- PATNT FiiiE- y.

ment with the dog, thus allowing it to pivot back and forth. In order to secure this normal disengagement there is provided a spring i coiled about the opposite end Il of rod il. One end of this spring seats upon shoulder 'i while the opposite end seats upon a sleeve Iii which is solidly secured about rod 8. Hence when the rod is moved forwardly to fold the barb it compresses the spring, and when the rod is released the spring returns it to normal non-engaging position which allows the barb to move out of the slot. In order to hold the sleeve i8 in engagement with the end of spring It, there is` provided a cap I9 which threads on the end of shank 2 holding the sleeve therein. The end of rod 8 projects through the cap and is provided at the end with a button 2B. To this button is applied thumb or finger for moving rod S against spring I6 in order to fold the barb.

The gaif is mounted on a handle or pole as desired. For this purpose it is provided with a sleeve 2| about the end of the shank. Projecting from this sleeve, radially, is a flat support member 22 provided with fastening holes 23. In order to fasten the ga to a handle, such handle is provided at its end with a suitable slot to receive the member 22, and holes therethrough corresponding to holes 23. Thereupon fastening members are inserted through the corresponding holes. Figure 1 illustrates a handle 24 so secured to the gaff.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the invention which may be used for spearing sh. This consists of an elongated tubular body 25. In every respect it is similar to gaif I, with the exception that it does not have sleeve 2|, member 22, and hook portion 3. The body 25 may be made as long as is practicable.

In operation gaff I is employed as any other gaff, sh being gaffed by inserting point 4 in their flesh. In the event that the fish has a tendency to slip 01T the gaff, such movement will cause its flesh to engage the outturned end I2 of the barb. This will cause the barb to open out thus effectively preventing the sh slipping off the gaf. It is to be understood that when the fish is gaffed the barb is in closedY position, thus it will not tear the flesh. When it is desired to remove the sh from the gai, the button 20 is pressed, thus moving rod 8 toV a position Where it closes the barb. Thereafter the sh can be readily removed. Y

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the Yspirit of the invention.

Having described our invention, we claim- 1. A gaf, comprising a tubular body having a shank portion and a hook portion terminating in a penetrating point, a slot proximate the point, a barb pivotally mounted Within the slot and movable in and out thereof, a flexible rod slidable back and forth in the shank and hook, a dog projecting from the barb and engageable by Vone end of the rod and when so engaged pivoting the barb into the slot, and spring means for maintaining the rod in normal disengagement with the dog. Y

2. A gaff, comprising a body having a shank portion and a hook portion terminating in a penetrating point, and a slot proximate the point, a barb pivotally mounted to move in and out of the slot and provided with a projecting dog, a member movable back and forth in the shank and hook and when moved in one direction engaging the dog and moving the barb into the slot, and spring means for maintaining the member in normal disengagement with the dog.

3. A gaif, comprising a body having a shank portion and a hook portion terminating in a pene- Vforth in the shank and hook and when moved in one direction engaging the dog and moving the barb in the slot to a position wherein the curved end rests upon the face of the hook, and spring means for maintaining the member in normal disengagement with the dog.

4. A gaif, comprising a body having a shank portion and a hook portion with a penetrating point and a slot proximate the point, a barb pivotally mounted to move in and out of the slot and provided With a dog, a member movable back and forth in the shank and hook and when moved in one direction engaging the dog and moving the barb into the slot, and means yieldably maintaining the member in normal disengagement with the dog.

5. A gaff, comprising a body having a shank and a hook portion and a, point and a slot proximate the point, a barb pivotally mounted to move in and out of the slot and provided with a dog, a member movable back and forth in the shank and hook and when moved in one direction engagging the dog and moving the barb into the slot,

means yieldably moving the member in the opposite direction to disengage the dog, and means for manually moving the member into engagement with the dog.

6. A gaif, comprising a body having a penetrating point and a slot proximate the point, a :in

barb mounted to pivot in and out of the slot, and a normally disengaged member engageable with the barb to move it into the slot.

WILLIAM S. BLODGETT. LEONARD R. BLODGETT.

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