Abstract
A fishing hook has a shank, hairpin loop portion formed at an end of the shank, and a fastener at an opposite end of the shank. The hairpin loop portion extends downwardly from the end of the shank. The hairpin loop portion is flattened and has a width less than a diameter of the shank. The hairpin loop portion has an end extending away from the shank. The shank and the hairpin loop portion define a line-receiving slot therebetween. The fastener selected from the group consisting of a hook, a ring clip, a lobster clasp, another hairpin loop portion, and a weight.
Claims
1. A fishing hook comprising: a shank; a hairpin loop portion formed at an end of said shank, said hairpin loop portion extending down from the end of said shank, said hairpin loop portion being flattened and having a width less than a diameter of said shank, said hairpin loop portion having an end extending away from said shank, said shank and said hairpin loop portion defining a line-receiving slot therebetween, the end of said hairpin loop portion defining a funnel area toward the line-receiving slot; and a fastener at an opposite end of said shank, said fastener selected from the group consisting of a hook, a ring clip, a lobster clasp, another hairpin loop portion and a weight.
2. The fishing hook claim 1, said hairpin loop portion continuously narrowing from the opposite end of said shank toward the end of said hairpin loop portion.
3. The fishing hook of claim 1, said hairpin loop portion continuously narrowing in width or diameter from the opposite end of said shank.
4. The fishing hook of claim 1, said hairpin loop portion having a longitudinal axis coplanar with a longitudinal axis of said shank.
5. The fishing hook of claim 1, the end of said hairpin loop portion extending downwardly at an obtuse angle from a remainder of said hairpin loop portion.
6. The fishing hook of claim 1, said fastener being hook, the hook being a treble hook.
7. The fishing hook of claim 6, the treble hook having barbs, at least one of the barbs extending outwardly of said shank on a same side of said shank as said hairpin loop portion.
8. The fishing hook of claim 1, said fastener being the ring clip, the ring clip comprising a ring formed at the opposite end of said shank, the ring having a split in a circumference thereof, the split opening to an interior of the ring.
9. The fishing hook of claim 8, the ring having a guide member extending outwardly thereof from one side of the split, the guide member angling upwardly and outwardly away from said shank, the guide member adapted to funnel toward the interior of the ring.
10. The fishing hook of claim 1, said fastener being the lobster clasp, the lobster clasp defining a ring at the opposite end of said shank, the lobster clasp having an arm extending into an interior of the ring, the arm adapted to open and close the ring.
11. The fishing of claim 1, said fastener being the ring clip, the ring clip having an elongated shape, the ring clip having a split adjacent said shank, the ring clip having a guide member extending outwardly from one side of the split, the guide member angling upwardly and away from said shank.
12. The fishing hook of claim 1, said fastener being the lobster clasp, the lobster clasp being of an elongated oval shape, the lobster clasp having an arm extending into an interior of the elongated oval shape, the arm adapted to open and close the lobster clasp.
13. The fishing hook of claim 1, said fastener being the another hairpin loop portion, the another hairpin loop portion extending upwardly from the opposite end of said shank.
14. The fishing hook of claim 13, the another hairpin loop portion being flattened and having a width less than a diameter of said shank, the another hairpin loop portion having an end extending away from said shank, said shank and the another hairpin loop portion defining a line-receiving slot therebetween, the end of the another hairpin loop portion defining a funnel area toward the line-receiving slot.
15. The fishing hook of claim 13, further comprising: a lure affixed to said shank in a position between the hairpin loop portions.
16. The fishing hook of claim 15, said lure being selected from the group consisting of a spinnerbait, a scoop, a reflective surface, a spoon and a plug.
17. The fishing hook of claim 1, said fastener being the weight, the weight having a circular configuration.
18. The fishing hook of claim 17, the weight having another shank extending upwardly therefrom, the weight and the another hairpin loop portion extending downwardly from an opposite end of the another shank opposite the weight, the another hairpin loop portion adapted to engage with said fastener.
19. The fishing hook of claim 17, the weight having another shank extending upwardly therefrom, the weight having another lobster clasp affixed to an end of the another shank opposite the weight, the another lobster clasp adapted to engage with said fastener.
20. The fishing hook of claim 17, the weight having another shank extending upwardly therefrom, the weight having another ring clip affixed to an end of the another shank opposite the weight, the another ring clip adapted to engage with said fastener.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 side elevational view of a prior art fishing hook.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a frontal view showing the hairpin loop portion and shank of the fishing hook of the prior art.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the shank and hairpin loop portion of the prior art fishing hook.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the fishing hook of the present invention with a treble hook.
[0043] FIG. 5A is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the fishing hook of the present invention with a ring clip.
[0044] FIG. 5B is a side elevational view of the fishing hook of the present invention having a lobster clasp.
[0045] FIGS. 6A and 6B are side elevational view showing the fastener as being, respectively, an elongated ring clip and an elongated lobster clasp.
[0046] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the fishing hook of the present invention as having a lure thereon.
[0047] FIGS. 8A-C show alternative embodiments of a weight as used in the fishing hook of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 9 shows another alternative embodiment of the fishing hook of the present invention showing, in particular, a single hook.
[0049] FIG. 10 a side elevational view of still further embodiment of the fishing hook of the present invention and, in particular, showing a lure that can be secured to the fishing hook.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0050] FIG. 4 shows the fishing hook 50 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The fishing hook 50 has a shank 52 having a hairpin loop portion 54 extending downwardly from an upper end 56 of the shank 52. A treble hook 58 is affixed to the lower end of the shank 52. Treble hook 58 has barbs 60, 62 and 64 extending outwardly therefrom. Barb 64 will be on the same side of the shank 52 as the hairpin loop portion 54. Since the barb 64 is on the same side of the shank 52 as the hairpin loop portion 54, it facilitates the ability to secure bait on the fishing hook 50. It can be seen that the end 66 of the hairpin loop portion 54 extends at an obtuse angle with respect to the remaining portion of the hairpin loop portion 54. This type of angling of the end 56 facilitates the ability to secure bait to the treble hook 58. In other words, if bait is used, a portion of the bait can be secured to the barb 64 and to the end 66. The bait can be live bait, lures, plastic worms, or other synthetic bait.
[0051] The treble hook 58 has barbs 60, 62 and 64 extending at evenly radially spaced positions. The hairpin loop portion 54 will have a configuration similar to that described in FIGS. 1-3 hereinbefore. As used herein, the treble hook 58 will be considered a “fastener” in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0052] In many circumstances, it is desired to use the fishing hook so as to secure other items thereto, such as weights, lures, other hooks, and bait thereto. As such, FIGS. 5A and 5B show alternative embodiments 70 and 80 of the present invention. In FIG. 5A, fishing hook 70 has a shank 71 with a hairpin loop portion 72 extending downwardly from an upper end 73 of the shank 71. A ring clip 74 is formed at the lower end 75 of shank 71. Ring 74 has a split 76 formed therein. Split 76 forms an opening to the interior 77 of the ring clip 74. A guide member 78 extends upwardly and outwardly from one end of the split 76. As such, guide member 78 will serve as a funnel toward the interior 77 through the split 76. The guide member 78 will be on a side of the shank 71 opposite the hairpin loop portion 72.
[0053] FIG. 5B shows the fishing hook 80 as having a shank 81 and a hairpin loop portion 82 extending downwardly from the upper end 83 of the shank 81. A lobster clasp 84 is formed at the end 85 of the shank 81. Lobster clasp 84 will have an arm 86 extending into the interior 87 of the lobster clasp 84. The arm 86 is used to slidably open and close an opening formed in the circumference of the lobster clasp 84. As such, a lure, another hook, or other items can be received within the interior 84 by simply applying a force to the arm 86 so as to open the lobster clasp 84. After the item is installed, the arm 86 can be released so as to close the lobster clasp 84.
[0054] FIGS. 6A and 6B show an alternative embodiments of the fishing hooks 70 and 80 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In particular, FIG. 6A shows fishing hook 90 similar to the teachings shown in FIG. 5A. However, FIG. 6A has an elongated ring clip 92 at the end of shank 94. The elongated ring clip 82 is in the nature of an elongated oval. The guide member 96 extends upwardly and outwardly so as to provide a funnel into the interior 98 of the elongated ring clip 92.
[0055] FIG. 6B shows a the fishing hook 100 as a variation of that shown in FIG. 5B. In particular, FIG. 6B shows an elongated lobster clasp 102 formed at an end 104 of shank 106. The lobster clasp 102 will have an elongated oval configuration. Arm 108 extends into the interior 110 of the lobster clasp 102.
[0056] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment 120 of the fishing hook of the present invention. Initially, fishing hook 120 has shank 122 with hairpin loop portion 124 extending downwardly from an upper end 126 of the shank 122. Similarly, there is another shank 128 that has another hairpin loop portion 130 extending upwardly from an end 132 of shank 128. A lure 134 is positioned between the hairpin loop portions 128 and 130. Lure 134 can be a spinnerbait, a scoop, a reflective surface, a spoon or a plug. The hairpin loop portion 124 will have a configuration similar to that described herein previously. The shanks 122 and 128 can be continuous of each other (with the lure 134) affixed thereto, or the shanks 122 and 128 can be separate with the lure 134 flexibly, hingedly, or fixedly joining the shanks 122 and 128 together. The another hairpin loop portion 130 is suitable for receiving bait thereon, a weight thereon, or other fishing attachments. Each of the hairpin loop portions 128 and 130 are on the same side of the respective shanks 122 and 128 so as to reduce visibility by the fish. There are no outwardly extending surfaces (other than the lure 134) that could warn the fish of the fishing hook 120.
[0057] FIG. 8A shows a weight 140 that can be used with the present invention. Weight 140 has a shank 142 with a hairpin loop portion 144 extending downwardly from an upper end 146 of the shank 142. Circular weight 148 is affixed to the bottom end 150 of the shank 142. As such, weight 140 can be joined with the another hairpin loop portion 130 of the fishing hook 120 shown in FIG. 7 or can be joined to the lobster clasp or ring clip of the previous embodiments of the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 8B shows an alternative embodiment 160 of the weight of FIG. 8A. In FIG. 8B, the weight 160 has a lobster clasp 162 at an upper end of the shank 164. The circular weight 166 is at the opposite end of the shank 164 from the lobster clasp 162. Lobster clasp 162 can be joined to the ring clip, to the lobster clasp, or to the another hairpin loop portion of the previous embodiments of the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 8C show still another alternative embodiment 170 of the weight shown in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8C shows a ring clip 172 at an upper end of the shank 174. A circular weight 176 is at the opposite end of the shank 174 from the ring clip 172. Ring clip 172 has a split 178 formed in the circumference of the ring 180. A guide member 182 extends downwardly and outwardly from one side of the split 178. Guide member 182 will facilitate the ability to thread the ring clip, the lobster clasp, or the another hairpin loop portion of the previous embodiments of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 9 shows still a further embodiment of the fishing hook 200 of the present invention. The fishing hook 200 is similar to that of FIG. 4 but shows a single hook. In particular, fishing hook 200 includes a shank 202 with a hairpin loop portion 204 at one end thereof and a single fishing hook 206 at an opposite end thereof. The hairpin loop portion 204 extends downwardly from the end of the shank 202. The hairpin loop portion 204 is flattened and has an end 206 that extends away from the shank 202. The shank 202 and the hairpin loop portion 204 define a line-receiving slot 208 therebetween. The end 206 of the hairpin loop portion 204 extends in an upward direction away from the shank 202. There is a tapered area 210 in the hairpin loop portion 204 that acts as a funnel toward the line-receiving slot 208. The end 206 facilitates the application of bait onto the fishing hook 200. The hook 206 a is considered to be the “fastener” of the present invention. Hook 206 includes a barb 212 and a point 214 suitable for capturing a fish.
[0061] FIG. 10 shows a lure 300 that can be used with the fishing hook of the present invention. The lure 300, shown in FIG. 10, is in the nature of a minnow-type lure. This type of lure has a head portion 302, a body portion 304 and a tail portion 306. Importantly, in this embodiment, there are clasps 308, 310 and 312 that extend outwardly of the lure 300. In particular, clasp 308 extends outwardly of the forward portion of the head portion 302. Clasp 310 extends outwardly from the tail portion 306. Clasp 312 extends outwardly of the body portion 304. These clasps can easily be secured to the clasps or receptacles of any of the previous embodiments of the present invention. The orientation of the various clasps 308, 310 and 312 allows the fisherman to selectively choose one of the clasps so as to properly orient the lure 300 in relation to the fishing line and the hook. The lure 300 is in the nature of a minnow-type lure. However, it will be appreciated that lure 300 can also be in the nature of a spinnerbait, a scoop, reflective surface, a spoon or a plug.
[0062] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
