CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 63/213,837, filed June 23, 2021 , the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention pertains to the field of fishing traps. Specifically, this invention relates to a novel crab trap and method that allows the crab trap to be deployed on the seafloor without the need for vertical lines connected to a surface buoy.

[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information

[0005] Currently, crab traps are normally deployed as individual traps to the seafloor by lowering them with a line connected to a surface buoy. The surface buoy serves to allow for retrieval of the traps at a later date, identify the presence of the submerged trap to other fishers, and identify the owner of the submerged trap. However, the line and surface buoy have been known to cause harm and death to marine mammals due to entanglement. This invention addresses entanglement concerns by removing the components that cause entanglement (vertical line and surface buoy) while replicating the functionality provided by these components, without impeding or altering the effectiveness of the trap.

[0006] In the current method of recovery, the crab fishing vessel retrieves the surface buoy and attached line and begins hauling. It is important to note that a constant, sustained hauling force must be maintained throughout the recovery process. This includes leaving the bottom, ascending through the water column, and surfacing. The trap must then be hauled up in the air and over onto the deck. Any pause or stoppage in this sequence while submerged can result in a reduced catch due to the crabs floating up and out of the trap. [0007] Therefore, a need exists for an improved crab trap and method that eliminates the use of vertical lines attached to surface buoys and is capable of rising to the water surface without losing the catch contained within the crab trap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention solves the problems associated with ropeless crab fishing and provides a reliable and efficient ropeless crab trap device and method.

[0009] The ropeless crab trap comprises a trap having an aperture in an upper surface and a rim fitted within the aperture and extending into the trap, a plurality of tether lines secured to the trap, and an actuation and recovery system secured to the tether lines, the actuation and recovery system comprising an inflation control unit in electronic communication with a solenoid valve and a floatation bag and a compressed gas source in fluid communication with the solenoid valve, wherein the actuation and recovery system is positioned substantially above the aperture.

Further, the inflation control unit may include an underwater acoustic actuator- transponder unit or an electronic timer.

[0010] The present invention is also directed to a trawl of ropeless crab traps. The trawl of ropeless crab traps wherein a plurality of ropeless crab traps are connected to form a trawl.

[0011] The present invention is also directed to a method of ropeless crab fishing. The method comprises a first step of providing a ropeless crab trap comprising a trap having an aperture in an upper surface and a rim fitted within the aperture and extending into the trap, a plurality of tether lines secured to the trap, and an actuation and recovery system secured to the tether lines, wherein the actuation and recovery system is positioned substantially above the aperture. The actuation and recovery system comprises an inflation control unit in electronic communication with a solenoid valve and a floatation bag and a compressed gas source in fluid communication with the solenoid valve. Further, the inflation control unit has a transducer and a valve control unit. A second step includes deploying the ropeless crab trap into the ocean and allowing it to sink to the seafloor. A third step includes generating an acoustic interrogation signal from a surface vessel. A fourth step includes receiving and processing the acoustic interrogation signal with the inflation control unit. A fifth step includes actuating the solenoid valve and permitting compressed gas within the compressed gas source to inflate the floatation bag. A sixth step includes inflating the floatation bag to a sufficient volume to enable the ropeless crab trap to ascend to the surface and to provide sufficient contact with the rim to substantially seal the aperture of trap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a traditional crab trap deployed on the seafloor.

[0014] FIG. 2. is a cross section view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0016] FIG 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0018] FIG 6 is a side view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention floating at the surface of a body of water.

[0019] FIG 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0020] FIG 8 is a cross section view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0021] FIG 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0022] FIG 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention. [0023] FIG 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0024] FIG 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

[0025] FIG 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present ropeless crab trap device and method is directed to the problem of ropeless crab fishing. Specifically, the present invention provides a ropeless crab trap device and method that eliminates traditional vertical lines attached to buoys and provides a method of use that allows for retrieval of the ropeless crab trap from the seafloor.

[0027] The present invention addresses the problems surrounding ropeless crab fishing. Vertical lines and surface buoys are known to be dangerous to marine mammals. In addition, due to the inherent buoyance of crabs, care must be taken to ensure that the crabs do not float out of the crab trap while the crab trap is being retrieved from the seafloor. The present invention provides both a ropeless crab trap that eliminates vertical lines attached to surface buoys and a means for sealing the opening in the crab trap when the crab trap is being retrieved from the seafloor.

[0028] T urning to FIG. 1 , one version of a crab trap from the prior art is depicted. The crab trap includes an aperture in the upper surface, with a rim fitted within the aperture and extending into the crab trap. The rim can be made of a variety of materials but is usually solid and formed from a material with low friction so that once crabs swim or climb onto the rim they are directed into the crab trap and are unable to climb out again. Attached to the upper portion of the crab trap are tether lines, which are traditionally positively buoyant such that the tether lines float above the crab trap. As depicted, the tether lines may be attached to the crab trap in four locations and secured to a surface line.

[0029] Turning to FIGS. 2-6, an embodiment of a ropeless crab trap 100 of the present invention is depicted. As described in connection with the traditional crab trap, the trap 10 portion of the ropeless crab trap 100 includes an aperture 20 in the upper surface, with a rim 30 fitted within the aperture 20 and extending into the trap 10. A plurality of tether lines 40 are attached to the trap 10 and further attached to an actuation and recovery system 50. The actuation and recovery system 50 provides the ability to retrieve the ropeless crab trap 100 without the need for traditional surface lines and is comprised of platform 51 , a floatation bag 52, a compressed gas cylinder 54, and an inflation control unit (ICU) 60. In some embodiments, the tether lines 40 are routed through sleeves 56, which help control the direction of expansion as the floatation bag 52 inflates.

[0030] When the ropeless crab trap 100 depicted in FIGS. 2-6 is deployed on the seafloor in the fishing state, the actuation and recovery system 50 floats above the aperture 20 in the upper surface of the trap 10. In some embodiments, the actuation and recovery system 50 is positively buoyant and floats above the trap 10. In other embodiments, static floatation elements 42 are attached to the tether lines 40 above the actuation and recovery system 50 to provide the buoyancy required to float the actuation and recovery system 50 above the trap 10.

[0031] Retrieval of the ropeless crab trap 100 is controlled by the ICU 60, which comprises a waterproof housing containing a valve control unit. The valve control unit controls the inflation of the floatation bag 52 through the actuation of a solenoid valve 70. In one embodiment, the ICU 60 includes an electronic timer in electronic communication with the valve control unit. The electronic timer can be set to a specific duration, at the conclusion of which, the timer will cause the valve control unit to send a signal to actuate the solenoid valve 70, thereby inflating the floatation bag 52. In addition, in some embodiments, the ICU 60 will be configured as an underwater acoustic actuator-transponder unit (UAAT). Where the ICU 60 is configured as a UAAT, the UAAT may be configured to receive acoustic interrogation signals or the UAAT may be configured to both receive acoustic interrogation signals and transmit acoustic reply signals. Further, in embodiments where the ICU 60 is configured as a UAAT, the ICU 60 may also include an electronic timer.

[0032] The ability of the ICU 60 to receive acoustic interrogation signals when configured as a UAAT is enabled by the inclusion of a transducer. In addition, in embodiments where the UAAT is configured to both receive acoustic interrogation signals and transmit acoustic reply signals, the receiving and transmitting functionality may be performed by a single transducer or the UAAT may utilize a first transducer for receiving acoustic interrogation signals and a second transducer for transmitting acoustic reply signals.

[0033] In embodiments that include a UAAT, the valve control unit includes the functionality required to process acoustic signals. For example, the valve control unit may include a microcontroller and one or more electronic components that process the electronic signals received from and, in relevant embodiments, transmitted to the one or more transducers.

[0034] The solenoid valve 70 may be located within the ICU 60 or the solenoid valve 70 may be external to the ICU 60, provided that the solenoid valve 70 is in electronic communication with the valve control unit and in fluid communication with both the compressed gas source 54 and the floatation bag 52. Depicted in FIGS. 2-6 are embodiments of the invention where the solenoid valve 70 is external to the ICU 60 and the solenoid valve 70 is in electronic communication with the valve control unit via a communication cable 72 and in fluid communication with the floatation bag 52 via an air hose 74. Upon receiving the appropriate electronic signal from the valve control unit, the solenoid valve 70 is actuated, allowing gas to flow from the compressed gas source 54 and into the floatation bag 52. As the floatation bag 52 inflates, the floatation bag 52 contacts the rim 30, thereby substantially sealing the aperture 20 in the trap 10.

[0035] Substantially sealing the aperture 20 in the trap 10 through the inflation of the floatation bag 52 provides several advantages over existing systems. For example, the sealing process is performed entirely by the inflation of the floatation bag 52 and does not require any alteration of the aperture 20 in the trap 10. In addition, once the aperture 20 is substantially sealed, any catch located within the trap 10 is contained and there is no risk that the catch can escape the trap 10 in the event that a pause or stoppage occurs as the trap 10 is ascending to the surface. Further, because the aperture 20 in the trap 10 is substantially sealed, the ropeless crab traps of the present invention may be connected as trawls.

[0036] The volume of the floatation bag 52 and the compressed gas source 54 can be varied to create sufficient lifting forces to bring the submerged subsystem to the surface for retrieval. For example, a typical 19 cu. ft. compressed gas SCUBA cylinder would provide enough air to fully inflate a 500-pound floatation bag at a depth of 80 feet of seawater, while a standard 80 cu. ft. compressed gas SCUBA cylinder would provide the ability to inflate the same size 500-pound floatation bag to a depth of 338 feet of seawater. However, often the floatation bag 52 does not need to be fully inflated to leave the bottom and begin ascent. Instead, the expansion of air due to reduction of hydrostatic pressure can cause full inflation of the flotation bag 52.

[0037] Once the floatation bag 52 is inflated with a sufficient volume of gas, the ropeless crab trap 100 will begin to float to the surface for recovery. As the ropeless crab trap 100 ascends to the surface, the floatation bag 52 may continue to expand until it substantially contacts the rim 30, thereby substantially sealing the aperture 20 and ensuring that the catch located within the trap 10 cannot escape. Alternatively, the flotation bag 52 may substantially contact the rim 30, thereby substantially sealing the aperture, prior to, or simultaneous with, the ropeless crab trap 100 beginning to float to the surface for recovery. In addition, as depicted in FIG. 6, once the ropeless crab trap 100 reaches the surface, the ropeless crab trap 100 will preferably possess sufficient floatation to ensure that the ropeless crab trap 100 is visible from a surface vessel. In embodiments where static floatation 42 in included, the static floatation 42 provides a means to easily capture the ropeless crab trap 100 and haul the ropeless crab trap 100 onto a surface vessel.

[0038] In addition to containing the acoustic signal processing and valve control elements, the ICU 60 may also include an electronic beacon, The electronic beacon may rely on any known wireless technology to improve the efficiency of identifying the location of the ropeless crab trap 100 once it ascends to the surface. Further the ICU 60 may include a GPS module connected to the electronic beacon so that GPS information may be provided in the signal emitted from the electronic beacon.

[0039] As depicted, the floatation bag 52 is substantially cylindrical in shape once inflated. However, the floatation bag 52 may be any shape, provided that the floatation bag 52 possesses sufficient floatation to enable the ropeless crab trap 100 to ascend to the surface and to provide sufficient contact with the rim 30 to ensure that aperture 20 of trap 10 is substantially sealed. FIGS. 7-9 depict two exemplar alternative floatation bag 252, 352 shapes.

[0040] Turning to FIGS. 9-13, alternative embodiments of the ropeless crab trap are shown. The elements of the actuation and recovery system are separated such that the compressed gas source and the ICU are positioned on a platform that is secured to the side of the trap. In addition, in place of the tether lines, a handle 353, 453 is attached to the trap and the floatation bag 352, 452 is secured to the handle. Upon actuation of the solenoid valve, compressed gas is released, and the floatation bag inflates, and the handle rotates due to the increased buoyancy of the floatation bag. As the floatation bag continues to inflate, the floatation bag expands toward the aperture and contacts the rim, substantially sealing the aperture. As depicted, the handle is secured in a manner that permits the handle to rotate to the side of the trap. Flowever, the handle may be secured in a fixed manner such that the handle is positioned substantially above the aperture. Where the handle is secured in a fixed manner, the floatation bag will simply expand toward the aperture as it inflates.

[0041] The handle may be made of any material possessing sufficient strength. However, preferably the handle is made of metal. In addition, the handle may possess a connecting rod to enable connection with static floatation elements or additional lines. As depicted in FIGS. 9-11 , the connecting rod may terminate in an eye 359, 459.

[0042] Turning to a method of using a ropeless crab trap, a first step includes providing a ropeless crab trap. A second step includes deploying the ropeless crab trap by placing the ropeless crab trap into the ocean and allowing it to sink to the seafloor. A third step includes generating an acoustic interrogation signal from a surface vessel. A fourth step includes receiving the acoustic interrogation signal with the transducer, converting the acoustic interrogation signal into an electronic signal and processing the electronic signal with the acoustic signal processor. A fifth step includes communicating an electronic signal to the valve control unit. A sixth step includes actuating the solenoid valve and permitting the compressed gas to inflate the floatation bag. A seventh step includes inflating the floatation bag to a sufficient volume to enable the ropeless crab trap to ascend to the surface and to provide sufficient contact with the rim to ensure that aperture of trap is substantially sealed. With regard to the seventh step, the inflation of the floatation bag may result in the ropeless crab trap initiating the ascent to the surface before the floatation bag has been inflated to a sufficient volume to provide contact with the rim. An eighth step includes generating a signal with an electronic beacon once the ropeless crab trap reaches the surface.

[0043] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.