Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Disgorgers and gags
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2001-06-05
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Disgorgers and gags
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240673
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a device for removing hooks from fish. More particularly it relates to a fish hook removing device for causing a minimum of damage to a caught fish while removing a hook.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The concept of fishing goes back before the beginning of recorded history, and man has continued to fish to provide food to eat and, today, as a recreational sport. As time has past, we have developed more and more refined fishing equipment and techniques to attract and catch fish. However, as more and more fisherman are drawn to the sport, we have begun to endanger some species of fish. In order to preserve endanger species and prevent other species from becoming endangered, limits have now been imposed fisherman as to size, type and quantity of fish they may keep. Catch and release fishing, where a fisherman releases fish, has become the single most important conservation tactic for the average fisherman.
However, the catch and release tactic may not actually save the fish which have been caught. A fish which has been hooked and released may very well be fatally injured. The hook removing process is particularly dangerous to the fish. During this time the fish is generally out of the water where they cannot breath; and, for a novice, the hook removing process may take long enough to endanger the life of the fish. Even more often, however, the process of removing the hook causes severe trauma to the area where the fish was hooked. Especially, if the hook was in the esophagus or close to vital organs, the wound and associated trauma may eventually kill the fish. An additional danger is created when the fisherman is removing the hook from the fish. The removal process frequently disturbs the mucus which protects the fish from germs. When this protective coating is disturbed or removed, the fish is more likely to sicken and die.
A further danger, in this case to the fisherman, is damage to the hand being used to release the hook. Some fish have characteristics which may injure the fisherman. These characteristics include such things as sharp teeth, aggressiveness, sharp gill plates, and dangerous thorns, spikes or fins. These characteristics increase the chances that a fish may wound a fisherman who is trying to release a hook from the fish's flesh.
Therefore, it is clear that there is need in the industry for a device which removes a hook from a fish while causing a minimum of damage and trauma to the fish and helps protects the fisherman from injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with the foregoing discussion, the objective of the present invention is to provide a hook removing device which quickly, effectively, and with minimal damage to the fish, removes a hook from a fish. Optimally, this should be done without requiring the fisherman to hold and/or manually manipulate the fish, thereby keeping the mucus of the fish generally intact and protecting the fishermanÕs hands from spikes, bites, etc.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which can remove a hook from virtually any part of a fish, including the lips, mouth, throat, esophagus, tongue, and gill plate.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a fish hook removing device which can remove a hook from many types of fish including those who have lockjaws, small mouths, large mouths, sharp teeth, aggressive natures, sharp gill plates, bony mouths, and dangerous thorns, spikes, and fins.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to remove both single and treble hooks from a fish no matter where the hook has been taken by the fish. The present invention may be used with both bait and fly fishing, including the use of flies, streamers, etc.
A further objective of the present invention is to allow a fisherman to remove a hook from a fish without lifting the fish out of water.
In keeping with these objectives, the present invention takes the form of a fish hook remover having a handle for a user to manipulate and a hook engagement member. Between the handle and hook engagement member are two rods. One side of the handle is attached to the first rod, at a spaced apart location the handle is also attached to the second rod. One side of the hook engagement member is attached to the first rod and the other side of the hook engagement member is attached to the second rod. These connections give the hook remover an action similar to a four-bar linkage. When the handle is rotated one direction, the hook engagement member is rotated the same direction, thereby allowing the user to remotely control the motion of the hook engagement member.
The hook engagement member has a slot through which the fishing line is placed. This allows the user to use the fishing line as a guide to properly place the fish hook remover. The hook engagement member is slid downward until the fish hook slides into a notch located in the bottom of the hook engagement member. At this point the fish hook is locked into the fish hook remover and the hook may be removed. There are several ways to remove the hook, but the most basic is to rotate the handle using your middle finger and the palm of your hand so that the hook engagement member rotates 170° which removes the fish hook by backing the hook out of the flesh of the fish in the direction it entered, thereby causing the minimum amount of trauma possible. Other objects and advantages of the invention will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings.
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Ark Darren W.
Leary James J.
Titus Carol D.
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