Lobster trap with ring guard assembly

Abstract

A lobster trap that promotes entry of lobsters into the trap while restricting lobsters from exiting the trap. Accordingly, a lobster trap comprises at least one head including an opening for entry into an interior of the trap, and a shield member mounted to the trap adjacent the opening. The shield member extends into the interior of the trap away from a plane of the opening and shields the opening from egress from the interior of the trap from at least one direction while not restricting entry to the interior of the trap. The lobster trap can further include a guard member extending from the shield so as to further restrict exit from the trap via the head.

1 . A gate assembly for an opening of a lobster trap comprising:
 a shield member mountable to the lobster trap such that it extends into the interior of the trap away from a plane of the opening and at least partially shields the opening from egress from the interior of the trap while not restricting entry to the interior of the trap.   
     
     
         2 . A gate assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the shield member including a shield portion having at least one opening for allowing water to pass through the shield portion and a mount portion extending rearwardly from a proximal end of the shield portion adjacent the opening of the lobster trap, wherein the mount portion is configured to mount the shied member to the lobster trap. 
     
     
         3 . A gate assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the shield member is mounted to a ring defining an opening in a head of the lobster trap. 
     
     
         4 . A gate assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the mount portion includes a plurality of openings for mounting the shield to the lobster trap in a plurality of positions. 
     
     
         5 . A gate assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the shield portion includes a generally planar central portion configured to shield an opening of the lobster trap from at least one direction when mounted thereto. 
     
     
         6 . A gate assembly according to  claim 5 , the shield portion further including at least two downwardly turned edge flap portions extending from respective sides of the central portion.