Abstract
A fish tail fin connectable to a trailing hook of a lure, wherein the fish tail fin has a body, which has a first end directed towards a main body of the lure when connected to the lure, an opposite distal end, a longitudinal axis defined therebetween, an upper tail side and a lower tail side, said upper tail side and lower tail side diverging from each other towards the distal end, wherein the fish tail fin is configured to have a buoyancy.
Claims
1. A fish tail fin connectable to a trailing hook of a lure, wherein the fish tail fin has a body, which has a first end directed towards a main body of the lure when connected to the lure, an opposite distal end, a longitudinal axis defined therebetween, an upper tail side and a lower tail side, said upper tail side and lower tail side diverging from each other towards the distal end, wherein the fish tail fin is configured to have a buoyancy.
2. Fish tail fin according to claim 1, wherein the fish tail fin is configured to have a buoyancy to make the fish tail fin float on water.
3. Fish tail fin according to claim 1, wherein the fish tail fin further comprises a floating member attached to the body of the fish tail fin, wherein the fish tail fin is configured to have a buoyancy greater than the total gravity force acting on the lure to which it is connectable, thereby making the lure float on water.
4. Fish tail fin according to claim 1, wherein the fish tail fin further comprises a hook support member attached to the body of the fish tail fin and wherein the hook support member is configured to be connectable to the trailing hook.
5. Fish tail fin according to claim 4, wherein the hook support member comprises a hollow tube-shaped member with a longitudinal slit, wherein the hollow tube-shaped member is configured to form a cavity into which the trailing hook can be snapped.
6. Fish tail fin according to claim 5, wherein the hollow tube-shaped member is made of PVC.
7. Fish tail fin according to claim 4, wherein the hook support member comprises a first part having a substantially U-shaped form and configured to receive the trailing hook, and a second part configured to slide along the exterior part of the lateral walls of the first part in order to form a hollow cavity holding the hook in place.
8. Fish tail fin according to claim 4, wherein the floating member is interposed between at least two body parts.
9. A fish tail fin according to claim 8, wherein the at least two body parts are substantially symmetrical in shape.
10. A fish tail fin according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the body is fork-like shaped.
11. A fish tail fin according to claim 1, wherein the body has a general triangular shape and the distal end of the body has a concave circular shape connecting said upper tail side and lower tail side.
12. A fish tail fin according to claim 1, wherein the body is made of flexible plastic material.
13. A fish tail fin according to claim 3, wherein the floating member has a density of between 0.10-0.90 g/cm.sup.3.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0036] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical weight attached to a trailing hook.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a side view of a fish tail fin connected to a trailing hook of a lure according to the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a side view of a fish tail fin according to the present invention, more particularly illustrating a fish tail fin comprising a floating member.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a side view of a fish tail fin according to the present invention, more particularly illustrating a fish tail fin comprising a hook support member in the form of a hollow tube, and a trailing hook.
[0041] FIG. 5 is a side view of a fish tail fin according to the present invention, more particularly illustrating a fish tail fin comprising a floating member, a hook support member in the form of a hollow tube, and a trailing hook.
[0042] FIGS. 6a and 6b is a lateral top view of a fish tail fin according to the present invention, more particularly illustrating a fish tail fin comprising two body parts, and a slidable or pressable hook support member.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a top view of a fish tail fin according to the present invention, taken facing towards the first end of the body directed towards a main body of a lure.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0044] FIG. 1 is a typical example of the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional weight (101) attachable to a trailing hook (102) according to the prior art is illustrated. The weight, or keel, stabilizes the hook and makes the hook's point, i.e. tip, travel in a direction generally parallel to the water surface. The hook itself can be connected to any conventional trailing equipment used for fishing, such as an artificial lure, skirts or any other equipment known to the skilled person. However, as previously explained, a solution such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1 adds significant drag and weight to both the fishing line and on the fisherman that uses such an equipment.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, in an embodiment of the invention a fish tail fin 1 is preferably made of a soft and flexible plastic material, such as hollow or porous liquid silicone rubber (LSR). The fish tail fin 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 has a body 4 of a general triangular shape and is connected, via a trailing hook 2, by a fishing line to a main body 6 of a lure 3. The main body 6 of the lure 3 can exhibit different shapes and sizes. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 the lure 3 has a fish-like shape. However, the lure 3 can also be of other types known to a skilled person. The fish tail fin 1 further comprises a first end 5 directed towards the main body of the lure 3, and an opposite distal end 7. Further, the fish tail fin illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises an upper tail side 8 and a lower tail side 9, wherein said upper tail side 8 and lower tail side 9 diverges from each other towards the distal end 7, thus creating a triangular shape. The upper tail side 8 and lower tail side 9 are connected to each other by the distal end 7. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 the fish tail fin 1 is connected to the trailing hook 2 of the lure 3, and the fish tail fin according to the present invention enables a trailing hook to travel in a stable manner when dragged through water, meaning that a point 26 of the hook is directed towards the water surface, and not towards the water bottom. As has been previously explained, this is because the synergistic effect between the hook's weight and the buoyancy provided by the fish tail fin.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the fish tail fin 1 is illustrated with a floating member 10 attached to the body of the fish tail fin 1. The floating member 10 is configured to have a buoyancy to make the fish tail fin 1 float on water, and is preferably made of a soft plastic material. In FIG. 3 the floating member 10 is illustrated as an oval shape, but other shapes are possible as well such as square, circular, triangular etc. As illustrated in FIG. 3 the floating member 10 is located towards the first end 5 of the fish tail fin 1. However, the floating member can also be located anywhere on the body 4 of the fish tail 1.
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the fish tail fin 1 is illustrated with a hook support member 11. As can be seen, the shank of a trailing hook 2 has been inserted in the hook support member 11 through a longitudinal slit (not shown) to hold said trailing hook 2 in place. The trailing hook 2 is attached through a fishing line to an arbitrary trailing lure 3 known to the skilled person. In FIG. 4. The hook support member 11 is placed at the lower tail side 9 of the fish tail fin 1. More precisely, the hook support member 11 is placed at an L-shaped recess 91, or substantially L-shaped recess of the lower tail side 9 directed towards the first end 5 of the fish tail fin 1.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the fish tail fin 1 is illustrated with a hook support member 11 similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 4, but also comprises a floating member 10 located towards the first end 5 of the fish tail fin 1. In some embodiments of the present invention, the hook support member 11 and the floating member 10 are in communication with each other, meaning that they are in direct contact with each other.
[0049] Referring now to FIGS. 6a and 6b of the drawings, the fish tail fin 1 is illustrated with another type of hook support member 11. As illustrated in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b, the fish tail fin 1 comprises two body parts 4 substantially symmetrical in shape. Interposed between the two body parts 4, is a hook support member 11 comprising two parts forming a hollow cavity. A first part 13 of the hook support member 11 has a substantially U-shaped form and is configured to receive the shank of a trailing hook 2. A second part 14 is configured to snap on, pressed on, or slide along the exterior part of the U-shaped lateral walls of the first part 13, thus creating a hollow cavity wherein the trailing hook 2 can be hold in place. Other shapes of the first 13 and second 14 parts are possible as well, such as O-shaped or square-shaped. Similarly to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the hook support member 11 comprising the first 13 and second 14 part is placed at an L-shaped recess 91, or substantially L-shaped recess of the lower tail side 9 directed towards the first end 5 of the fish tail fin 1. In FIG. 6a, the hook support member comprising a first part 13 and a second part 14 is shown in an open manner, wherein a hook shank can be inserted in the first part 13. In FIG. 6b, the second part 14
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the fish tail fin 1 is illustrated in a manner facing towards the first end 5 of the body 4 directed towards the main body 6 of a lure 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the fish tail fin 1 comprises two body parts 4, and a hook support member 11 and a floating member 10 are interposed between the two body parts 4. The two body parts 4 can be substantially symmetrical in shape. Also illustrated in FIG. 7, is the longitudinal slit 121 of a hollow tube-shaped 12 hook support member 11. When a user wants to connect a trailing hook 2 of a lure 3 to the fish tail fin 1, the shank of the hook is pushed into said longitudinal slit 121 and is thus inserted into the hollow tube and kept in place. This snapp type of mechanism gives the user the possibility to in an easy manner, change the type of trailing hook 2 connected to the fish tail fin 1 depending on the desired scope.
