FI ELD OF THE I NVENTION AN D PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a catching device for catching aquatic animals, such as for instance fishes, lobsters or crabs, comprising :

- a net chamber formed by net sections and provided with at least one entrance opening and at least one discharge opening , the net chamber being designed to confine animals that enters the net chamber through the entrance opening and animals confined in the net chamber being dischargeable from the net chamber through the discharge opening ;

- a framework for keeping said net sections stretched ; and

- a closing device for closing the discharge opening .

Catching devices of the above-mentioned type are known in several different configurations. Such a catching device is for instance disclosed in US 4 354 325 A. In the catching device according to US 4 354 325 A, the discharge opening is closable by means of a drawstring , which can be pulled in order to close the discharge opening and extended in order to open the discharge opening . A disadvantage with such a drawstring is that it runs the risk of jamming and/or becoming slippery due to dirty- ing , whereby the drawstring consequently will be difficult to handle. The drawstring also runs the risk of getting caught on different objects in connection with the transportation and use of the catching device, which may make the handling of the catching device difficult and in worst case result in a tearing of the drawstring or the net chamber. As an alternative to such a drawstring , a catching device of the type here in question may be provided with a zipper for closing a discharge opening of the catching device. However, also such a zipper runs the risk of jamming and/or becoming slippery due to dirtying , whereby the zipper consequently will be difficult to handle. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to achieve a catching device of the above-mentioned type, where a discharge opening of the catching device is closable in a new and favourable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, said object is achieved by means of a catching device having the features defined in claim 1 .

The catching device according to the invention is characterized in:

- that the framework that is intended to keep the net sections of the net chamber stretched comprises a frame, which surrounds the discharge opening and which comprises an elongated first frame element and an opposite elongated second frame element;

- that a first net section of the net chamber is attached to said first frame element and a second net section of the net chamber is attached to said second frame element; and

- that the closing device comprises a closing member, which is pivotally connected to the frame and arranged on the outside of the second net section, this closing member being pivotable in relation to the frame to an fro between a lowered closed position, in which the closing member keeps the second net section pressed down over the discharge opening and thereby keeps the discharge opening closed, and a raised open position, in which the second net section is allowed to leave the discharge opening free to enable confined animals to be discharged from the net chamber by passing between said first frame element and the second net section and further out through the discharge opening. The discharge opening of the catching device according to the invention is kept closed under the joint effect of a net section included in the net chamber and the pivotally arranged closing member, which in its lowered closed position makes contact with the outside of the net section and keeps this net section in place over the discharge opening. An opening of the discharge opening and a subsequent reclosing thereof can be achieved in a simple and rapid manner by pivoting the closing member. According to an embodiment of the invention, the closing member is in its longitudinal direction and against the action of a spring element displaceable in relation to the frame from an advanced locking position, in which the closing member by engagement with a locking device is prevented from pivoting from the lowered closed position to the raised open position, to a retracted releasing position, in which the closing member is free to pivot from the lowered closed position to the raised open position. Hereby, the closing member may in a rapid and simple manner be released in order to be moved from the lowered closed position to the raised open position and may in a rapid and simple manner be locked after a movement to the lowered closed position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the locking device comprises a lower locking member and an upper locking member, the closing member comprising an engagement part which is arranged to be received in a space between said lower and upper locking members when the closing member is in the locking position so as to thereby prevent the closing member from pivoting in relation to the frame. Hereby, a retention of the closing member in the lowered closed position is achieved in a simple manner.

A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in:

- that the framework comprises a frame-shaped and essentially rectangular first framework part and a frame-shaped and essen- tially rectangular second framework part, which is rotatably connected to the first framework part;

- that said first and second framework parts cross each other and are rotatable in relation to each other about an axis of rota- tion extending across the framework parts at the middle thereof, the framework parts being rotatable in relation to each other to and fro between an erected position, in which the framework parts are arranged to keep the net sections of the net chamber stretched, and a collapsed transport and storing position; and - that the frame that surrounds the discharge opening is arranged at one end of the first framework part and forms an elongation thereof.

Hereby, the catching device may in a rapid and simple manner be folded in order to occupy a minimal space during transporta- tion and storing, at the same time as the discharge opening in a simple and functional manner can be integrated in one of the framework parts.

Other favourable features of the catching device according to the invention will appear from the dependent claims and the description following below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will in the following be more closely described by means of embodiment examples, with reference to the appended drawings. It is shown in:

Fig 1 a schematic, partly cut perspective view of a catching device according to en embodiment of the present invention, with a closing member included in the catching device shown in a lowered closed position,

Fig 2 a partly cut detail enlargement of a part of the catch- ing device according to Fig 1 , with the closing member shown in a raised open position, Fig 3 a planar view of parts included in the catching device according to Fig 1 , Fig 4 a partly cut detail enlargement of parts included in the catching device according to Fig 1 ,

Fig 5 a planar view of parts included in the catching device according to Fig 1 , and a schematic perspective view of the framework of the catching device according to Fig 1 in a collapsed transport and storing position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig 1 illustrates a catching device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention intended to be placed in a pool of water, for instance in the form of a sea, a lake or a river, in order to catch fish. In this case, the catching device 1 is a fish trap. The catching device according to the invention may however have another design and could for instance be designed for catching shellfish, such as lobsters or crabs. The catching device 1 comprises a net chamber 5 formed by net sections 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and provided with at least one entrance opening 6 and at least one discharge opening 7. The catching device 1 further comprises a framework 8 for keeping said net sections stretched. The net chamber 5 is configured to confine fishes that enters the net chamber through the entrance opening 6, and fishes confined in the net chamber may then be discharged from the net chamber through the discharge opening 7.

In the illustrated embodiment, the net chamber 5 consists of two net sections 2a, 2b forming two opposite end walls of the net chamber, a lower net section 3a forming a bottom of the net chamber, an upper net section 3b forming a roof of the net chamber and two net sections 4a, 4b forming two opposite side walls of the net chamber.

Figs 1 and 2 show the net chamber 5 with the net section 2a and the net section 4a partly cut in order to clearly show the net section 3a that forms the bottom of the net chamber. In the illustrated example, one of the net sections that forms one of the end walls of the net chamber is cornet-shaped and the entrance opening 6 of the net chamber is in this case located in the centre of this net section 2a and surrounded by a rigid frame-shaped element 9, for instance of metal , which is at- tached to the net section in question . In the longitudinal direction of the net chamber, the net section 2a is kept stretched by means of lines 1 0, which are attached to the frame-shaped element 9 and which in the illustrated example converge towards the opposite net section 2b, to which these lines 1 0 are at- tached . The cornet-shaped net section 2a is narrowing in the direction towards the opposite net section 2b.

The framework 8 comprises a frame 20, which surrounds the discharge opening 7 and which comprises an elongated first frame element 21 and an opposite elongated second frame element 22. The second frame element 22 extends along and at a distance from the first frame element 21 . The discharge opening 7 is formed between these frame elements 21 , 22, which in the illustrated example are mutually parallel and bar-shaped . In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 20 also comprises a bar- shaped third frame element 23, which extends between the first and second frame elements 21 , 22 at a first end thereof, and a bar-shaped fourth frame element 24, which extends between the first and second frame elements 21 , 22 at a second end thereof. A first net section 3a of the net chamber is attached to the first frame element 21 and a second net section 2a of the net cham- ber is attached to the second frame element 22. In the illustrated embodiment, said first net section 3a is constituted by the net section that forms the bottom of the net chamber, and said second net section 2a is in this case constituted by the net sec- tion that forms one of the end walls of the net chamber. In this case, the discharge opening 7 is consequently located between the net section 3a that forms the bottom of the net chamber and the net section 2a that forms one of the end walls of the net chamber. In the illustrated example, these net sections 3a, 2a are fastened to the respective frame element 21 , 22 by means of ring-shaped fastening members 25 extending about the frame element, but they could instead be tied to the respective frame element 21 , 22 or fastened to the frame element in any other suitable manner.

The catching device 1 is provided with a closing device 30 for closing the discharge opening 7. This closing device 30 comprises a closing member 31 , which is pivotally connected to the frame 20 and arranged on the outside of the second net section 2a. The closing member 31 is located outside the net chamber 5 and is pivotable in relation to the frame 20 to and fro between a lowered closed position (see Fig 1 ), in which the closing member 31 keeps the second net section 2a pressed down over the discharge opening 7 and thereby keeps the discharge opening closed, and a raised open position (see Fig 2), in which the second net section 2a is allowed to leave the discharge opening 7 free to enable confined fishes to be discharged from the net chamber 5 by passing between the first frame element 21 and the second net section 2a and further out through the discharge opening 7. The closing member 31 is suitably arranged to be in level with the frame 20 when the closing member is in the lowered closed position, as illustrated in Figs 1 and 3. The second net section 2a is not attached to the closing member 31 . In the lowered closed position, the closing member 31 makes contact with the outside of the second net section 2a. In the illustrated embodiment, the closing member 31 consists of an elongated yoke, which extends between the above-mentioned third and fourth frame elements 23, 24 of the frame 20. This yoke comprises an elongated part 32 , which extends in parallel with the first frame element 21 and which in the lowered closed position of the closing member is located just opposite the first frame element 21 at a close distance therefrom , as illustrated in Figs 1 and 3. A first end 31 a of the closing member is rotatably mounted in a first seat 26a (see Fig 3) that is rigidly connected to the frame 20, and an opposite second end 31 b of the closing member is rotatably mounted in a second seat 26b that is rigidly connected to the frame 20. These seats 26a, 26b define the axis of rotation A1 of the closing member, which axis of rotation extends in parallel with and at a distance from the first frame ele- ment 21 and the elongated part 32 of the closing member. I n the illustrated embodiment, the respective seat 26a, 26b consists of a sleeve, in which the associated end 31 a, 31 b of the closing member is rotatably and axially displaceably received. In the illustrated example, one sleeve 26a is rigidly connected to the third frame element 23 and protrudes therefrom in the direction towards the fourth frame element 24 , whereas the other sleeve 26b is rigidly connected to the fourth frame element 24 and protrudes therefrom in the direction towards the third frame element 23.

The closing member 31 is retainable in the lowered closed position by means of a locking device 40 which is connected to the frame 20, as illustrated in closer detail in Figs 3 and 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the closing member 31 is in its longitu- dinal direction and against the action of a spring element 33 (see Fig 4) displaceable in relation to the frame 20 from an advanced locking position (see Fig 3), in which the closing member 31 by engagement with the locking device 40 is prevented from pivoting from the lowered closed position to the raised open po- sition , to a retracted releasing position (see Fig 5), in which the closing member 31 is free to pivot from the lowered closed posi- tion to the raised open position. In the illustrated example, said spring element 33 consists of a compression spring fitted between a support surface 27 inside the sleeve 26a and a support surface 34 in the bottom of a recess 35 at the first end 31 a of the closing member.

In the illustrated embodiment, the locking device 40 comprises a lower locking member 41 and an upper locking member 42. The locking members 41 , 42 may for instance consist of mutually parallel plates, which are rigidly connected to the fourth frame element 24 and protrudes therefrom in the direction towards the third frame element 23, as illustrated in Figs 3 and 5. The closing member 31 comprises an engagement part 36, which is arranged to be received in the space between said lower and up- per locking members 41 , 42 when the closing member 31 is in the locking position so as to thereby prevent the closing member from pivoting in relation to the frame 20 from the lowered closed position to the raised open position. The lower locking member

41 protrudes beyond the upper locking member 42 so as to form a shoulder 43 for the engagement part 36, which shoulder prevents the closing member 31 from pivoting downwards past the lowered closed position when the closing member is in the releasing position. When the closing member 31 has been displaced axially from the locking position illustrated in Fig 3 to the releasing position illustrated in Fig 5, the engagement part 36 consequently overlaps the shoulder 43 of the lower locking member 41 , whereas it is free to pass the upper locking member

42 so that the closing member 31 thereby can be pivoted upwards in the direction away from the first frame element 21 from the lowered closed position towards the raised open position. The pivoting motion of the closing member in the direction away from the first frame element 21 is limited by second frame element 22. The closing member is at its first end 31 a provided with a coupling sleeve 37 in order to facilitate the mounting of the closing member 31 in the sleeves 26a, 26b. In connection with the mounting of the closing member 31 to the frame 20, the coupling sleeve 37 is, while being disconnected from the rest of the closing member, inserted into the sleeve 26a and the second end 31 b of the closing member is inserted into the other sleeve 26b. Thereafter, the coupling sleeve 37 is connected to the rest of the closing member 31 and secured to the first end 31 a of the closing member, for instance by means of a locking pin 38 or by welding.

The locking member 31 is provided with a gripping part 39. When moving the closing member 31 , a user is intended to grip this gripping part 39 with the hand in order to move the closing member in the desired direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, the framework 8 is collapsible and comprises a frame-shaped and essentially rectangular first framework part 50 and a frame-shaped and essentially rectangular second framework part 60, which is rotatably connected to the first framework part 50. These framework parts 50, 60 cross each other and are rotatable in relation to each other about an axis of rotation A2 (see Fig 6) extending across the framework parts at the middle thereof. The framework parts 50, 60 are rotatable in relation to each other to and fro between an erected position (see Fig 1 ), in which the framework parts are arranged to keep the net sections 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b of the net chamber stretched, and a collapsed transport and storing position (see Fig 6). In the collapsed position, the catching device 1 is essentially flat and thereby easy to handle at the same time as it occupies a limited space. Owing to this flat configuration in the collapsed position, several collapsed catching devices 1 may also in a simple and space-saving manner be piled on each other. For the sake of clarity, the framework 8 is in Fig 6 shown without the associated net sections 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b. The respective framework part 50, 60 comprises two mutually parallel side bars 51 , 52, 61 , 62 and two or more cross bars extending between the side bars. The frame 20 that surrounds the discharge opening 7 is arranged at one end of the first frame- work part 50 and forms an elongation thereof. The first frame element 21 of the frame 20 constitutes a cross bar that extends between the side bars 51 , 52 of the first framework part at a first end of the first framework part 50 in parallel with the axis of rotation A2 of the framework parts. A further cross bar 53 extends between the two side bars 51 , 52 at the opposite second end of the first framework part 50 in parallel with the axis of rotation A2 of the framework parts. The third frame element 23 of the frame 20 forms an elongation of one side bar 51 of the first framework part and the fourth frame element 24 of the frame 20 forms an elongation of the other side bar 52 of the first framework part. The frame elements 21 -24 of the frame 20 and the side bars 51 , 52 and the cross bar 53 of the first framework part are suitably in level with each other. A first cross bar 63 extends between the side bars 61 , 62 at a first end of the second framework part 60 in parallel with the axis of rotation A2 of the framework parts, and a second cross bar 64 extends between the two side bars 61 , 62 at the opposite second end of the second framework part 60 in parallel with the axis of rotation A2 of the framework parts.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second framework part 60 is arranged within the first framework part 50 and received inside the net chamber 5, whereas the side bars 51 , 52 of the first framework part extends on the outside of the net chamber 5. In the illustrated example, the net section 3b that forms the roof of the net chamber and the net section 2b that forms one end wall of the net chamber are attached to the upper cross bar 53 of the first framework part, whereas the cross bars 63, 64 of the sec- ond framework part 60 are not connected to any of the net sections of the net chamber, on the contrary the last-mentioned cross bars lie loosely against the adjacent net sections. One side bar 51 of the first framework part is at its central section articulately connected to a central section of one side bar 61 of the second framework part through a first joint L1 , whereas the other side bar 52 of the first framework part at its central section is articulately connected to a central section of the other side bar 62 of the second framework part through a second joint L2. These joints L1 , L2 define the axis of rotation A2 of the framework parts.

Two elongated elastic elements 70, 71 , for instance in the form of elastic bands or cords, are arranged between the upper cross bar 53 of the first framework part and the upper cross bar 63 of the second framework part and are at their respective ends at- tached to these cross bars, as illustrated in Fig 1 . Two elongated elastic elements 72, 73, for instance in the form of elastic bands or cords, are in the corresponding manner arranged between the first frame element 21 of the first framework part and the lower cross bar 64 of the second framework part and are at their respective ends attached to this framework element and this cross bar. The two framework parts 50, 60 are rotatable in relation to each other from the erected position to the collapsed transport and storing position against the action of the spring force of these elastic elements 70-73, and these elastic ele- ments are consequently preloaded when the framework 8 is in the collapsed position and thereby facilitate a return of the framework from the collapsed position to the erected position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the catching device 1 rests against an underlying surface through the second frame element 22 of the frame 20, and the frame 20 thereby contributes to keep the bottom of the net chamber at a distance from the underlying surface, which will reduce the risk for wear on the net chamber 5. The framework parts 50, 60, the closing member 31 and the locking members 41 , 42 are suitably of metal, for instance aluminium. The net sections 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b of the net chamber 5 may be made of a flexible net of plastic or textile material, in which case the net may be of knotten or woven type. The net sections are suitably made of a net of strong material, for instance DYNEEMA ^® , in order to resist attacks from seals.

The invention is of course not in any way limited to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, several possibilities of modifications thereof should be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without thereby deviating from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.