Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Line-attached bodies – hooks and rigs
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-30
2004-07-27
Rowan, Kurt (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Line-attached bodies, hooks and rigs
C043S043160, C043S044800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06766608
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
None.
REFERENCE TO A MICRO-FICHE APPENDIX
None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bait harnesses for commercial or sport fishing applications. Existing regulations proscribe bait harnesses using barbed-type fishing hooks for certain commercial and sport fishing, such as salmon fishing. These regulations were adopted to reduce the numbers of fish killed or injured as a result of damage to the mouths of the fish resulting from barbed fishing hooks. Barbless-type bait harness hooks, however, present numerous problems for commercial or sport fishermen. Prolonged fighting by fish hooked on a rigid type bait harness also seriously damages the mouth of the fish. Additionally, a rigid bait harness often deforms or bends from extreme force vectors presented during prolonged fish fighting periods. Such harness deformation often results in loss of the badly injured or dead fish and destruction of the harness. The improved bait harness of the present invention solves the problem and limitations of the prior art by providing swivel dynamics at the point of attachment to the harness of the barbless type hook. By use of the present invention, damage to hooked fish is minimized. At the same time, the present invention reduces the likelihood of hooked fish being lost as damaged or killed. Finally, the present invention presents a more durable bait tackle under present commercial or sport fishing regulations.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98
A search of the prior art located the following United States patents which are believed to be representative of the present state of the prior art: U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,806, issued Mar. 21, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,851, issued Sep. 21, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,316, issued Apr. 6, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,491, issued Mar. 16, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,584, issued Mar. 2, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. D404,795, issued Jan. 26, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,089, issued Jan. 5, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,726, issued Oct. 28, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,917, issued Feb. 11, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,774, issued Jul. 23, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. D370,048, issued May 21, 1996.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved bait harness with three dimensional pivotal characteristics.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bait harness that complies with present sport fishing and commercial fishing regulations for barbless type hooks.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a bait harness that improves the potential for landing a fish that is hooked by the harness assembly.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bait harness that provides minimal damage to the mouth and/or snout of fish hooked thereby.
It is yet a further aspect of the present invention to provide a bait harness which can remain rigid for insertion into the bait but still be able to swivel at the point of hook attachment to the harness.
In a further aspect of the present invention to minimize the mortality to juvenile fish or protected species of fish inadvertently hooked by a bait harness so that these fish can be released back to the environment.
In a still further aspect of the present invention novice sport fishermen will be more likely to land a fish hooked by the bait harness.
It is still a further object of the present invention to present a bait harness that is less damaging to inadvertently hooked waterfowl, thus allowing easier release thereof and minimized injury thereto.
It is another and further objective of the present invention to provide a bait harness safely applicable to a full range of fish sizes and species.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1055104 (1913-03-01), Van Norsdall
patent: 1152698 (1915-09-01), Bonner
patent: 2865131 (1958-12-01), Ellis
patent: 5113616 (1992-05-01), McManus
patent: 5537774 (1996-07-01), Muhammad
Rowan Kurt
Thoeming Charles L.
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