Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-28
2001-08-07
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
C119S233000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269582
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an artificial structure for attracting fish, and more particularly to an artificial floating weed line for attracting fresh or salt water fish of all types.
2. Description of Related Art
Artificial structures used to attract fish are known in the art. Generally speaking, the existing artificial fish attracting structures are bottom anchored and fully submerged in the water. Submerged structures are used because it is known that fish congregate around submerged structures.
For example, McIntosh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,552; Layson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,518; Hill et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,672; Roberts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,829; and Fussell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,779 all provide bottom anchored submerged artificial structures that are intended to attract fish. Fisherman also know that fish congregate around and under floating objects, such as floating weed lines. None of the prior art references disclose a floating artificial fish attracting habitat.
McIntosh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,552, ('552) at column 1, lines 9-12, discloses that pelagic fish congregate around floating objects. One embodiment of '552 discloses a planar two dimensional fish attracting device submerged below a surface buoy within the first 20 feet of water depth. ('552 at col. 2, lines 27-35). However, the device of the '552 reference is a submerged, bottom moored, three dimensional artificial structure. There is no disclosure in the prior art of a floating artificial structure used to attract fish.
Fisherman often fish around weed lines because of the likelihood of catching fish. Because of wind, current, and tides, weed lines cannot always be found. Therefore, there exists a need for a floating artificial weed line that fisherman can easily use to attract fish.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a floating artificial weed line that can be easily used by fishermen to attract various species of fresh or salt water fish. The artificial weed line imitates floating sea weed in fresh water, salt water, brackish water, or anywhere fish can be found. The weed line attracts fish as a source of shade and shelter or protection, and a source of food.
The essential structure of the present invention is a floating material which provides shade and an attraction to fish, and is easy to transport and handle.
One embodiment of the present invention utilizes a floating light-weight frame that can be made from any buoyant material, such as plastic that is water resilient. The frame itself can be held together by suitable fasteners such as stainless steel screws, staples, rivets, or dowels. While the frame is not necessary to the invention as the floating material can be buoyant by itself, it has been found to be convenient to utilize a frame.
The interior of the frame is filled with a material that can be made to resemble sea weed and provides shade to fish. The material can be made of a thin sheet of water resilient plastic or vinyl. The material can be strips of material fastened side to side and/or end to end to cover the frame. The material can be planar sheets and have a plurality of apertures therethrough. The apertures can be of an irregular pattern and can be small holes or cuts in the material. Although color is not limiting, the material is preferably opaque and can be green, or brown and green colored such as the material used to cover duck blinds. The material can be attached to the frame by any suitable fastener such as plastic cable ties, commonly called tie wraps, or stainless steel staples.
While shape is not important to operation of the invention, the plastic frames can be rectangular in shape and built in panels of any size. Panels of 18″×36″ or 24″×48″ have been found to be effective sizes. The panels can be tied together, by any suitable means such as line or plastic tie wraps, to form large simulated weed lines of any desired size. The panels can be stacked, carried offshore by small boat, and tied together as they are deployed to form large weed lines.
The artificial weed lines can be used in several different ways depending on the environmental conditions and the type of fish being sought. One method is to set out the floating weed line and let it drift on the surface while following or trolling around the weed line in a fishing boat.
The weed line can be tied to the boat with the weed line and the boat drifting along together or the fishing boat can be anchored to the bottom.
Alternately, the weed line can be anchored to the bottom. The weed line can be left in place for a period of time depending on the conditions. The area can be fished repeatedly as the fish will continue to be attracted to the same area near the artificial weed line.
The artificial weed line can also be used for surf fishing. On an outgoing tide, a few panels are placed as far out into the surf as possible with a line securing them to shore.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a floating artificial weed line to attract fish, which can be used in any body of water in which fish can be found.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an artificial weed line that is easy to transport and use from small boats.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide an artificial weed line that is economical and easy to construct.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3186120 (1965-06-01), Layson
patent: 3540415 (1970-11-01), Bromley
patent: 3638615 (1972-02-01), Budge et al.
patent: 4471552 (1984-09-01), McIntosh et al.
patent: 4550518 (1985-11-01), Layson
patent: 4727672 (1988-03-01), Hill et al.
patent: 4876817 (1989-10-01), Hill
patent: 5272829 (1993-12-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5315779 (1994-05-01), Fussell
Hail III Joseph J.
Malin Haley & DiMaggio, P.A.
Ojini Anthony
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