Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Line-attached bodies – hooks and rigs
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-12
2001-02-20
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Line-attached bodies, hooks and rigs
C043S017200, C043S026200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189256
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of fishing equipment, and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus for remote signaling and releasing snagged fishing lures by releasing remotely-operable hooks or hook assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Those familiar with and skilled in the arts of fishing, both freshwater and saltwater fishing with the use of fishing lures, will recognize the common problem of inadvertent snagging or hanging-up of such fishing lures on submerged brush, roots, docks, or other underwater structures. There are many types of fishing lures that are vulnerable to being snagged during typical cast and retrieve operations practiced in lure fishing. For example, bottom hugging and deep diving lures, often termed crank baits, become lodged on submerged rocks, roots, tree stumps, and so on. Surface lures become snagged in waterline brush, weeds, Lilly pads, etc. Snagging is almost always by hooking a structure with hooks or hook assemblies attached to the lures.
Although some lure designs incorporate some form of snag protection such as weed guards or the like, virtually any hook-bearing fishing lure is vulnerable at some point to becoming snagged.
Typically, to free a snagged lure, a fisherman has to move his boat over the lure (if submerged), and to the side opposite where the boat was when the lure snagged in an attempt to pull the lure's hook out the same way it became lodged. Even then, more often than not, a line will break or have to be cut, and an expensive lure will be lost. Similarly, lures may be lost in dense brush or cover above or at the waterline where it is difficult for a boat to gain access, such as in shallow brush-covered backwaters. Often a decision to break the line is made by an angler faced by such a problem. Lakes, rivers, streams and in many cases salt water fishing areas have some type structure present that is capable of entrapping a fishing lure.
Many professional fisherman, particularly bass fisherman spend a considerable sum replacing lures lost by break-off or cut line. As lures become more expensive, the prospect of losing them becomes increasingly intolerable. Novice and professional alike will attest to the frustration of losing a valuable fishing lure to underwater structure or dense brush.
What is clearly needed is a method and apparatus for remotely freeing a snagged fishing lure without breaking line or requiring extensive de-entanglement efforts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a fishing apparatus is provided comprising a body having an interface for attaching a fishing line; a controller including a signal monitor within the body; and a normally-closed, remotely-operable hook clasp for retaining a hook or hook assembly. In response to receipt of a release signal by the signal monitor the controller causes the hook clasp to open to release the hook. In some embodiments the controller and clasp are housed in a neutral module, and a lure may have a bore or other interface to engage the module. Signals may be sonic, electrical, or electromagnetic, such as RF radio. There may be a single or multiple hook clasps.
In another aspect of the invention a hook release module for a fishing lure is provided, comprising a casing for housing and supporting internal components; a controller within the casing including a signal monitor; and a normally-closed, remotely-operable hook clasp extending from the casing for retaining a hook or hook assembly. In response to receipt of a release signal the controller causes the hook clasp to open to release the hook. The signal monitor may respond to low-frequency sound, electrical, or wireless signals. There may be single or plural hooks and clasps.
In another aspect of the invention a fishing lure system is provided, comprising an apparatus comprising a body having an interface for attaching a line, a controller including a signal monitor within the body, and a normally-closed, remotely-operable hook clasp for retaining a hook or a hook assembly; and a remote signaling apparatus. In response to receipt of a release signal from the signaling apparatus the controller causes the hook clasp to open to release the hook. The clasps and controller may be housed in a neutral module adapted to a lure or bait holder. There may be a single or multiple clasps for hooks.
A signaling system in embodiments of the invention comprises a user input for initiating a signal; a signal generator for providing a signal in water; and a signal controller responsive to the user input for driving the generator to generate at least one of plural possible signals. In another aspect a signaling system for sending a hook-release signal to a fishing lure is provided, comprising a user input for initiating a signal; a sonic signal generator for providing a low-frequency signal in water; and a signal controller responsive to the user input for driving the generator to generate at least one of plural possible signals. In some embodiments the signal generator is submersible, and generates sonic signals in water. In some embodiments the signaling system is integrated with a fish-finder system.
In yet another aspect a method for releasing a snagged fishing lure is provided, comprising steps of (a) generating a signal to the snagged fishing lure; (b) receiving the generated signal at a snagged releasable lure; and (c) activating a normally-closed remotely-operable hook clasp in response to the received signal, thereby releasing a hook or hook assembly and releasing the snagged lure. The signal may be a wireless signal or a sonic signal generated in water.
In yet a further aspect of the invention a fishing apparatus is provided comprising a body having an interface for attaching a fishing line, and a sound or electromagnetic wave-emitting module, wherein the sound or electromagnetic wave-emitting module emits a sound or electromagnetic wave for attracting fish. There may be in this embodiment a remote signaling apparatus, wherein the remote signaling apparatus sends signals defining different sounds or electromagnetic waves to drive the sound or electromagnetic wave-emitting apparatus to emit.
With this invention for the first time a lure hook-release capability controllable by a fishing person is provided allowing expensive lures and the like to be remotely released from snags so the lures may be retrieved and reused. Embodiments of the invention are taught in enabling detail below.
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Ark Darren W.
Boys Donald R.
Central Coast Patent Agency
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