Abstract
A fish hook assembly that includes a rounded bead affixed in the notch between the eye of the hook and an intermediary object, such as a weed guard, fish attractor component, weighted head, or bend. Underwater obstructions that would normally get snagged in the notch will roll away over the bead.
Claims
1. A fish hook assembly consisting of: a hook with a hook end and an eye end; an eye disposed proximate to said eye end of said hook; a weighted head both disposed at said eye end of said hook and attached to said eye such that a notch is formed between said weighted head and said eye; and a spherical bead disposed only in said notch such that said spherical bead contacts only said eye and said weighted head, wherein: said weighted head has a hemispherical shape; said eye end of said hook is attached to a flat portion of said hemispherical shape; and said spherical bead is attached to a round portion of said hemispherical shape.
2. The hook assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bead is hollow.
3. The hook assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bead is filled with a light gas.
4. A fish hook assembly kit, comprising: a fish hook assembly consisting of: a hook with a hook end and an eye end; an eye disposed proximate to said eye end of said hook; a weighted head both disposed at said eye end of said hook and attached to said eye such that a notch is formed between said weighted head and said eye; and a spherical bead disposed in said notch such that said spherical bead contacts only said eye and said weighted head, wherein: said weighted head has a hemispherical shape; said eye end of said hook is attached to a flat portion of said hemispherical shape; and said spherical bead is attached to a round portion of said hemispherical shape; and fishing line sized to fit through said eye of said fish hook assembly.
5. The fish hook assembly kit as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a fishing pole.
6. The fish hook assembly kit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bead of said fish hook assembly is hollow.
7. The fish hook assembly kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bead of said fish hook assembly is filled with a light gas.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIGS. 1a and 1b are side views of a prior art fish hook assembly with a flat weed guard.
(2) FIGS. 1c and 1d are side views of a fish hook assembly of the present invention similar to the prior art fish hook assembly provided in FIGS. 1a and 1b.
(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b are side views of a prior art fish hook assembly with a curved weed guard.
(4) FIGS. 2c and 2d are side views of a fish hook assembly of the present invention similar to the prior art fish hook assembly provided in FIGS. 2a and 2b.
(5) FIGS. 3a-3c are side views of a prior art fish hook assembly with a weighted head.
(6) FIGS. 3d-3g are side views of a fish hook assembly of the present invention similar to the prior art fish hook assembly provided in FIGS. 3a-3c.
(7) FIGS. 4a and 4b are side views of a prior art fish hook assembly with an offset bend.
(8) FIG. 4c is a side view of a fish hook assembly of the present invention similar to the prior art fish hook assembly provided in FIGS. 4a and 4b.
(9) FIG. 5 is a side view of a fish hook assembly of the present invention.
(10) FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of the method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(11) Now referring to FIGS. 1c and 2c, side views of hook assembly 12 of the present invention are provided. Like the prior art assemblies shown in FIGS. 1a and 2a, the hook assemblies 12 shown in FIGS. 1c and 2c have intermediary objects 16 that are weed guards 6. Unlike the prior art assemblies, however, the hook assemblies 12 of the present invention also include bead 9 disposed in notch 10. Instead of becoming lodged in notch 10, as shown in FIGS. 1b and 2b, obstructions 5 are prevented from entering notch 10 by the presence of bead 9. As shown in FIGS. 1d and 2d, the obstructions 5 are simply shed off of or roll off of bead 9.
(12) FIGS. 3d-3g disclose hook assemblies 12 with an intermediary object 16 that is weighted head 2 or a weed guard 6. In FIGS. 3d and 3e, eye end 32 includes a weighted head 2, but weed guard 6 is intermediary object 16. These embodiments are similar to the prior art assembly shown in FIGS. 3a-3c, except that the hook assemblies 12 of the present invention include beads 9. As shown in FIGS. 3d and 3f, obstruction 5 cannot get into notch 10 because bead 9 is disposed therein. As shown in FIGS. 3e and 3g, obstruction 5 simply rolls away from or off of bead 9.
(13) FIG. 4c discloses hook assembly 12 of the present invention including bend 8 as the intermediary object 16. Hook assembly 12 is similar to the prior art assemblies shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, except that hook assembly 12 of the present invention includes bead 9. Obstruction 5 cannot get snagged in notch 10 and simply rolls off of bead 9. Bead 9 is at or above eye level 14, as explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 5.
(14) Now referring to FIG. 5, a side view of hook assembly 12 where the intermediate object 16 is fish attractor component 28 is provided. Although fish attractor component 28 is shown as a rubber worm, it is understood that this component 28 may take many forms, such as a shiny or shining object or a small fake fish, and each of these forms is contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. Eye 4 of hook assembly 12 is at eye level 14. Bead 9 is preferably disposed in notch 10 so that at least top 22 of bead 9 is at or above eye level 14. Bottom 20 of eye 4 is the point on eye 4 that is closest to eye end 32 of hook 1. For many hook assemblies 12, such as the one shown, this will be the intersection of eye 4 and eye end 32 of hook 1. Top 18 of eye 4 is the point on eye 4 that is farthest away from bottom 20 of eye 4. If there were a plane perpendicular to the shank of hook 1 (where the shank is straight, as shown), then eye level 14 would be a parallel plane to that plane, where eye level 14 intersects top 18 of eye 4. Bottom 26 of hook 1 is the point on hook 1 farthest away from eye 4. Bottom 24 of bead 4 is the point on bead 4 closest to bottom 26 of hook 1. Top 22 of bead 9 is the point on bead 9 farthest away from bottom 24 of bead 9. Top 22 of bead 9 is preferably at or above eye level 14. In this context, “above” means in the direction of fishing line 3 if fishing line 3 were threaded through eye 4 and hook assembly 12 were dangling from fishing line 3 in air. FIG. 5 also shows kit 300 of the present invention in its most basic form. Kit 300 includes hook assembly 12 and fishing line 3 that is of a size that can fit through eye 4. A fishing pole (not shown) may also be included in kit 300.
(15) Now referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart illustrating the steps of method 200 of the present invention is provided. Method 200 for preparing to fish includes the following steps: determining a desired buoyancy 202 of a fish hook assembly, where the fish hook assembly is any of the present invention, notably including a bead for affixation in the notch; determining a weight 204 of the hook, the eye, and the weighted head of the fishing hook assembly; determining characteristics of a round bead 206 that will effect the desired buoyancy when affixed to the notch; supplying a round bead 208 with the characteristics determined in step 206; and affixing the round bead 210 supplied in step 208 to the notch of the fishing hook assembly. The step of determining characteristics of the round bead 206 may include any or all of determining the weight 212, specific gravity 214, and/or density 216 of the bead.
(16) Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the description should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
