Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Holder
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-18
2003-09-16
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Holder
C224S623000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06618981
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tackle boxes, and, more particularly, to an ergonomic chest-worn box for the organization and storage of fishing tackle or other items.
b. Background Art
Because of the gear intensive nature of fishing, it is common for fishermen to employ a tackle box for the storage and organization of their various paraphernalia such as lures, flies, weights, leaders, and other tackle. Typically, these tackle boxes are large, cumbersome affairs containing a myriad of complex trays, drawers, slots, and fold out compartments intended to systematically arrange the gear for quick, easy access. However, because of the size and complexity of these tackle boxes, they are usually deposited in one spot near the fishing source, e.g., on the shore, and the user must constantly return to the box to change lures, reconfigure the leader, or alter rigging to adapt to changes in fishing conditions. For serious fishermen, this is a major inconvenience which detracts from the gear in remote locations. While these devices may have addressed the portability issue, their functionality remains deficient in several areas.
First, the portable tackle boxes found in the prior art typically comprise a rectangular box shaped enclosure which is ergonomically deficient for an article that is intended to be worn by a person. Whether slung over the shoulder or mounted on the chest, the sharp corners and abrupt edges inevitably bear against the user's body and cause discomfort. This discomfort is accentuated as the wearer articulates his body, such as when casting or stooping down to release a fish.
The instability of many of these units further aggravates the discomfort issue. For instance, the shoulder borne variety of portable tackle boxes are inherently unstable. They tend to swing on the shoulder of the wearer, banging against the body or sliding off the shoulder with every false step or sudden movement. Considering the mobility and agility required for negotiating a stream crossing or bushwhacking a wooded bank, the shoulder worn tackle boxes are simply inappropriate.
While the chest worn tackle boxes provide better securement, many of them protrude excessively from the chest, causing instability and magnifying their discomfort. Because of the protrusive designs, the centers of gravity on these boxes are excessively outboard of the wearer's body. This makes them prone to lateral swinging, and the cantilever effect causes the body supported edges to dig in to the wearer's chest. With any sort of abrupt or bouncy movement, this detrimental effect is augmented. In addition, many of these boxes have flip out compartments which, when opened, extends the center of gravity even farther from the chest, thus further reducing the comfort level.
Another deficiency common among many of the portable chest borne tackle boxes is the cluttered, complex arrangement of lids, flaps and drawers which must be negotiated in order to access the stored items. Many of these units share the complex construction typical of their larger, non-portable brethren, yet, for many situations, these “bells and whistles” are undesirable on a portable unit. For instance, when balanced in a rocking boat or thigh deep in a frigid stream, access to the gear should be quick and simple. The dexterity and patience required to access many of the portable units found in the prior art is excessive in these types of situations. In addition, the complex arrangement of flip top access lids and fold out trays, common on many of these units, presents numerous opportunities for line entanglement. Aside from the functionality issues, the complexity of many portable tackle boxes drives up the cost and increases the weight, both of which should be minimized to enhance commercial success.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a portable chest mounted tackle box that is ergonomically designed such that, even during dynamic activities, it remains stably supported and comfortable to wear. Furthermore, there exists a need for such a device that is sleek and uncluttered, allowing quick and easy access to its contents and reducing the risk of line entanglement. Still further, there exists a need for such a device which maintains design simplicity, allowing reduced weight for enhanced portability, and part consolidation for low cost production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has solved the problems cited above, and is an ergonomic chest mounted tackle box for the organization, storage and deployment of fishing tackle or other items. Broadly, the invention comprises, (a) a breast panel member, anatomically contoured to the general shape of a person's chest region, providing comfortable, stabilizing support means for substantially vertical stowage or substantially horizontal deployment of a housing element by means of a pivotal connection, (b) a housing element, pivotally supported from the breast panel member and providing a containment for a compartmentalized receptacle member, (c) a receptacle member providing storage for tackle or other items and comprising a partitioning element for dividing the receptacle member into one or more storage bins, (d) a lid element comprising a tamboured closure for containment of items stored in the receptacle member, (e) a latch member for securing the housing element in a substantially vertically disposed position against the breast panel member when stowed, (f) a harness system providing securement of the tackle box assembly to the users upper torso by means of shoulder strap elements affixed to the breast panel member.
The breast panel member of the present invention serves as a stabilizing and load bearing element which comfortably supports and distributes the load of the tackle box assembly and stored contents on the wearer's chest. Accordingly, the breast panel may comprise a substantially rectangular and vertically disposed semi-rigid sheet of material, sized and contoured to anatomically conform to the general shape of a person's chest region. The corners of the sheet may be “softened” by rounding them, and the width and vertical length of the breast panel may be generously specified to assure lateral stability and adequate surface area for load bearing comfort. By using a semi-rigid sheet material, the breast panel may yielding deflect and conform as the wearer articulates his body. Unlike other portable tackle boxes found in the prior art, in which rigid box-like structures with corners and edges bear against the body, the chest panel of the present invention provides a conformal, semi-compliant protective barrier which serves as an intermediate load bearing surface between the user's body and tackle box load. Load is transferred into the breast panel through a pivotal connection with the tackle box housing and receptacle assembly. Towards the lower end of the breast panel, two parallel, vertically oriented hinge tabs may extend forward proximate either side edge. Each hinge tab may include a circular aperture, thus providing means for pinned pivotal connection of the housing and receptacle assembly.
The breast panel may be secured to the wearer's chest by means of a harness system that may comprise left and right shoulder straps. The left shoulder strap may connect to the breast panel proximate its upper left corner, pass over the wearer's left shoulder, pass under the left arm and reconnect to the breast panel proximate its lower left corner. The right shoulder strap may connect to the breast panel proximate its upper right corner, pass over the wearer's right shoulder, pass under the right arm and reconnect to the breast panel proximate its lower right corner. To assure that the shoulder straps remain seated on the wearer's shoulders during dynamic activities, a substantially horizontally disposed lateral stabilizing strap may connect between the two shoulder straps across the wearer's upper back.
The housing element mounts to the breast panel via the panel'
Hathaway Todd N.
Piascik Susan
Poon Peter M.
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