Abstract
A fishing hook has a shank portion with a hook at one end, and a hairpin loop portion formed on an opposite end of the shank portion. The hairpin loop portion extending downwardly from the opposite end of the shank portion. The hairpin loop portion has a width or diameter that is less than a width or diameter of the shank portion. The hairpin loop portion has an end extending at an angle away from the shank. The hairpin loop portion has a longitudinal axis coplanar with a longitudinal axis of the shank portion. The shank portion and the hairpin loop portion define a line-receiving slot.
Claims
1. A fishing hook comprising: a shank having a hook at one end thereof, the hook extending in a direction from the one end of said shank portion; and a hairpin loop portion formed at an opposite end of said shank and extending in the direction of the hook, said hairpin loop portion extending downwardly from said opposite end of said shank, said hairpin loop portion being flattened and having a width that is less than a diameter of said shank, said hairpin loop portion having an end extending at an angle away from said shank, the width of said hairpin loop portion continuously narrowing from said opposite end of said shank toward the end of said hairpin loop portion, said shank and said hairpin loop portion defining a line-receiving slot, the end of said hairpin loop portion defining a funnel area toward the line-receiving slot.
2. The fishing hook of claim 1, said hairpin loop portion continuously narrowing in width or diameter from the opposite end of said shank.
3. The fishing hook of claim 1, said hairpin loop portion having a longitudinal axis coplanar with a longitudinal axis of said shank.
4. The fishing hook of claim 1, said end of said hairpin loop portion extending downwardly at an obtuse angle from a remainder of said hairpin loop portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a prior art easy-tie fishing hook.
(2) FIG. 2 is a frontal view of a first embodiment of the easy-tie fishing hook of the present invention.
(3) FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of the easy-tie fishing hook of the present invention.
(4) FIG. 4 is a frontal view of a first alternative embodiment of the easy-tie fishing hook of the present invention.
(5) FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the first alternative embodiment of the easy-tie fishing hook the present invention.
(6) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the easy-tie fishing hook in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present invention.
(7) FIG. 7 is a transparent frontal view of they easy-tie fishing hook of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.
(8) FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the shank portion of the easy-tie fishing hook of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(9) Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the easy-tie fishing hook 30 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As used herein, the term fishing hook includes fish hooks, jigs, swivels, lead weights, or fishing lures. The easy-tie fishing hook 30 has a shank portion 32 having a hook at one end thereof. The hook of the shank portion 32 will be identical to that of the hook 14 shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, the curvature of the shank portion 32 at the lower end thereof adjacent to the hook will be identical to the configuration shown in FIG. 1. Importantly, the improvement of the present invention that is shown in FIG. 2 is the configuration of the hairpin loop portion 34 that is formed at an opposite end of the shank portion 32 from the hook. The hairpin loop portion 34 is illustrated as extending downwardly from the opposite end 36 of the shank portion 32. It can be seen that the hairpin loop portion 34 has a width or diameter that is less than a width or diameter of the shank portion 32. The hairpin loop portion 34 has an end 38 that extends at an angle away from the shank portion 32.
(10) In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the hairpin loop portion 34 has a longitudinal axis that is coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the shank portion 32. Since the hairpin loop portion 34 has a width or diameter that is less than the width or diameter of the shank portion 32, the hairpin loop portion has no surfaces that extend outwardly beyond the sides of the shank portion 32. As such, this hairpin loop portion 34 is more concealed from viewing by a fish. Unlike the prior art shown in FIG. 1, the hairpin loop portion 34 is not spread out and does not present sharp edges or structures that can be more easily visible by the fish.
(11) During the manufacturing process, the hairpin loop portion 34 can be suitably flattened prior to bending. After the hairpin loop portion 34 is flattened, it can be bent over in a conventional manner so as to reside in close proximity to the shank portion 32. As such, a line-receiving slot would be defined between the hairpin loop portion 34 and the shank portion 32.
(12) FIG. 3 is a side view of the easy-tie fishing hook of the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the hairpin loop portion 34 extends outwardly in relation to the shank portion 32. In particular, the hairpin loop portion 34 extends downwardly from an upper end 36 of the shank portion 32. The hairpin loop portion 34 will gradually move inwardly so as to be in close proximity to a surface of the shank portion 32. As such, a line-receiving slot 40 is defined between the shank portion 32 and the hairpin loop portion 34.
(13) The end 38 of the hairpin loop portion 34 extends downwardly at an obtuse angle from the remainder of the hairpin loop portion 34. As such, a funnel-type opening 42 will lead into the line-receiving slot 40. This funnel-type opening 42 facilitates the ability to introduce the fishing line into the line-receiving slot 40. The bending of the end 38 can occur during the manufacturing process when the hairpin loop portion 34 is flattened. The tying of the fishing line onto the fishing hook 30 will be similar to that described in association with FIG. 1 hereinbefore.
(14) FIG. 4 shows the easy-tie fishing hook 50 in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the easy-tie fishing hook 50 includes a shank portion 52 and a hairpin loop portion 54. The hairpin loop portion has an end 56 which is opposite to the end 58 of the shank portion 52. The hairpin loop portion 54 has a generally constant diameter extending downwardly from the end 58 of the shank portion 52. Once again, this configuration allows the hairpin loop portion to reside within the area defined by the width or diameter of the shank portion 52. This creates a certain amount of invisibility to fish.
(15) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the easy-tie fishing hook 50 in accordance with this first alternative embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows that the hairpin loop portion 54 extends downwardly from the end 58 of the shank portion 52. The end 56 of the hairpin loop portion 58 extends at an acute 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 a bait to the fishing hook 50. In other words, if bait is used, a portion of the bait can be secured to the barb 14 and to the upwardly turned end 56. The bait can be live bait, lures, plastic worms, or other synthetic bait. FIG. 5 also shows that the hairpin loop portion 54 has been flattened in the manufacturing process. This flattening of the hairpin loop portion 54, along with the narrow width or diameter of the hairpin loop portion 54, enhances flexibility when securing a line thereto. Unlike the prior art, the hairpin loop portion 54 provides great flexibility so as to assist the fisherman in tying the line to the fishing hook 50.
(16) FIG. 6 shows the easy-tie fishing hook 70 in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the easy-tie fishing hook 70 has a shank portion 72 and a hairpin loop portion 74. The hairpin loop portion 74 and the shank portion 72 define a line-receiving slot 76 therebetween.
(17) Importantly, in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the hairpin loop portion 74 is formed of a polymeric material. The polymeric material is molded onto the upper end 78 of the shank portion 72. In particular, the upper end 78 of the shank portion 72 slightly curves outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the shank portion 72. This curvature enhances the ability to secure the polymeric material of the hairpin loop portion 74 onto the upper end 78 of the shank portion 72. The polymeric material of the hairpin loop portion 74 extends along at least a portion of the length of the shaft portion 72 so as to further enhance the attachment forces between the polymeric material of the hairpin loop portion 74 and the shank portion 72. The hairpin loop portion 74 has an end 80 that extends outwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the remaining portion of the hairpin loop portion 74.
(18) FIG. 7 shows how the hairpin loop portion 74 is molded to the shank portion 72. In this embodiment, the hairpin loop portion 74 will have a width or diameter that is greater than the width or diameter of the shaft portion 72. This molding process can help to enhance the flexibility of the hairpin loop portion 74. The polymeric molding of the hairpin loop portion 74 also can be of various colors which can be attractive to fish. It is believed that the molding of the hairpin loop portion 74 to the shank portion 72 can be carried out in a very easy manufacturing process and with minimal costs. As such, the flattening processes associated with forming the fishing hook of the previous embodiment can be avoided.
(19) FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the shank 72 without the polymeric material of the hairpin loop portion 74 thereon. It can be seen that there is a curved portion 82 at the upper end 78 of the shank portion 72. This curvature creates a grasping area 84 so as to enhance the attachment forces between the polymeric material of the hairpin loop portion 74 and the shank portion 72.
(20) The foregoing disclosure and description of the present 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.
