Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Artificial bait
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-06
2001-07-03
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Artificial bait
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253485
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combination of a fish hook and a weed guard device that is provided to avoid entanglements between the fish hook and weeds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The habitat of certain fish includes bodies of water that are populated with weeds or other growth. When fishing, using one or more fish hooks, a fish hook can become entangled in the weeds. This makes it difficult to catch fish or move the hook through the weeds. The fish hook can be so entangled that the fishing line breaks or must be broken in order to retrieve the fishing line, which results in a loss of the fish hook and part of the fishing line.
The problem of encountering weeds during fishing has been addressed in a number of patents. Numerous solutions have been advanced over the years. It is known to connect a weed guard to the fish hook or hooks for the purpose of preventing the fish hook from being caught in the weeds found, for example, in lakes or ponds. The weed guard is also movable so that, when a fish strikes, the weed guard is moved relative to the fish hook or hooks. Once moved out of the way, one or more of the fish hooks become embedded in the fish.
Although the prior art has generally satisfied these two main objectives in connection with employing a weed guard, it would nevertheless be advantageous to provide a combination fish hook and weed guard device that better meets all desired features associated with such a fishing assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a fishing assembly is provided that includes one or more fish hooks and a weed guard device. In one embodiment, the fish hook is a conventional design in that it includes an eyelet for receiving fishing line, a shank that extends from the eyelet, a hook section with a hook tip for engaging or hooking the fish, and usually a barb integral with the hook section. In one particular embodiment, a treble hook configuration is utilized having essentially three fish hooks that are joined together. In another embodiment, the fish hook has a novel hook tip construction.
The weed guard device of the fishing assembly includes a center member having a slot. At each of the opposite ends of the slot, a tab or anchor member extends from the center member. The slot is sized or dimensioned to adequately receive the eyelet of the fish hook. Integrally formed with and extending from a periphery of the central member is at least a first leg member. The first leg member includes an extension or attachment section and a guard section. In one embodiment, the guard section includes an elongated opening or loop. The guard section including opening is substantially wider than the attachment section. The width of the attachment section is also substantially less than the width of the center member, with the width of the attachment section being no greater than one-fourth that of the center member. This dimensional attribute is intended to enhance the hydrodynamic characteristics of the fishing assembly including a positive effect on the drag coefficient. That is, it is desirable to avoid any unwanted change to how the fish hook moves through the water due to the addition of the weed guard device. In other related embodiments, a number of leg members are part of the weed guard device and are integrally formed with the center member. For example, when the weed guard device is used with a treble hook, three leg members are integrally formed with the center member. Such leg members radially extend from the center member and are typically spaced equi-distant from each other.
In making the fishing assembly, the eyelet of the fish hook is inserted through the slot in the center member. The anchor members extend in a direction towards the eyelet. A securing or bonding material, such as an epoxy or other adhesive, is applied to the center member that is located at the base of the eyelet. The eyelet extends from one side of the center member, while remaining portions of the fish hook extend from the bottom side of the center member. The securing material fills or substantially fills the slot after the eyelet has been inserted such that a mound is created just high enough to cover or substantially cover tabs of the center member. The securing material affixes the weed guard device to the fish hook and prevents the weed guard device from rotating or moving relative to the fish hook. With respect to locating a first leg member and any other leg member relative to the fish hook, the first leg member is made of a malleable material that enables it to be bent downwardly in a direction away from the eyelet, with the bend being made at the point or area where the attachment section is joined to the center member. When the first leg member is bent, the guard section is located adjacent to the hook tip. The leg members are also made of a resilient material in order to function properly without permanent deformation, particularly related to releasing and guarding fish hook tips whenever appropriate. Material selection (e.g. spring temper) and geometry (thickness, width and shape) of the weed guard device are important in its performance.
With regard to creating a guard against weed entanglements, in one embodiment, the guard section is bent to define an upper portion and a lower portion of the guard section. The upper portion is that portion joined to the attachment section. The lower portion extends from the upper portion. The hook tip or point is contained within the circumference of the portion of the weed guard device immediately above such hook tip. Preferably, the hook tip is within the circumference by at least one hook wire diameter associated with the fish hook that is being used with the particular weed guard device. An angle is formed at the juncture between the upper and lower portions. Additionally, the upper portion usually has a greater length than the lower portion. For each hook of the particular fishing assembly, such assembly steps are conducted in locating the particular leg member of the weed guard device relative to the hook section, primarily the hook tip.
In another embodiment, the weed guard device includes a guard section without an opening. Instead, the guard section has a center fold or crease that defines first and second side walls. An angle is formed at the junction of these two side walls. The hook tip is positioned within the two side walls, or the valley of this V-bend, of this guard section when the device is acting as a barrier or guard against weed entanglements. In still another embodiment, the guard section is generally spoon-shaped and its convex surface is able to receive and desirably hold the fish hook tip until a fish strikes the fishing assembly. Each of these two embodiments employs a structure that assures release of the guard section relative to the hook section when a fish strikes the fishing assembly even under circumstances where the pressure or force applied by the fish is at the side of the guard section. Stated another way, the guard section configuration properly enables the hook section to be separated from the guard section including when the fish bites the guard section at its side, instead of directly on. The designs of these other embodiments are also useful in providing initial location of the hook tips or points within the spoon-shaped or creased guard sections, which acts as a centering or guiding function.
Each of the weed guard devices of the various embodiments can also be formed with its center member slot having an open end that is closable using a closable member or a viscous material such as an adhesive. The fish hook eyelet is inserted through the open end before it is closed. This feature reduces the footprint of the center member.
When in operation or use, when the fish strikes the fishing assembly, the first leg member is caused to move more inwardly away from being inside the circumference of the portion of the weed guard device to thereby expose the fish hook, particularly the hook section and its tip. Once exposed, the fish h
Bartell Joseph E.
Henderson Rodney A.
Jilling John
Pflock Kurt
Wiselogle Roger L.
Price Thomas
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
Wright & McGill Co.
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