Jig head

Abstract

One object is to provide a jig head including a sinker head and a hook readily replaceable with new one. A jig head includes: a sinker head including an eye to which a fishing line is to be attached; and a hook portion including a shank fixed on the sinker head at one end thereof, and a bend continuous to the other end of the shank and bent in a predetermined direction. The hook portion includes a wide portion widened to form a plane at the one end of the shank. The sinker head includes: an intermediate member having a hook engagement portion configured to be removably engaged with the wide portion; an intermediate member-receiving hole portion configured to receive therein the intermediate member; and an intermediate member-fixing means configured to removably fix the intermediate member in the intermediate member-receiving hole portion.

Claims

1. A jig head comprising: a sinker head including an eye to which a fishing line is to be attached; and a hook portion being fixed to the sinker head, the hook portion comprising a shank and a bend, the shank having a first end and a second end, the first end including a wide portion that is widened to form a plane thereat and the second end being continuous into the bend of the hook portion, the bend being bent in a predetermined direction; wherein the sinker head further comprises an intermediate member and an intermediate member-receiving hole portion, the intermediate member having a hook engagement portion that surrounds the wide portion of the first end of the shank; the intermediate member further comprising a tapered surface that narrows towards the bend in the shank of the hook portion; the intermediate member-receiving hole portion comprising a tapered through hole, the tapered through hole having a first end and a second end, the tapered through hole extending along a width of the sinker head and tapering from the first end to the second end in a longitudinal direction such that the second end is narrower than the first end, and both of the first end and the second end opening to an outer peripheral surface of the sinker head; wherein the tapered through hole receives the tapered surface of the intermediate member therein such that the tapered surface is engaged with a surface of the tapered through hole, and wherein the intermediate member comprises a crimped surface at an end of the tapered surface of the intermediate member, the crimped surface fixing the intermediate member in the intermediate member-receiving hole portion, and the crimped surface being provided at the first end of the tapered through hole of the intermediate member-receiving hole portion.

2. The jig head of claim 1, wherein the wide portion is constituted by a ring formed of a bent end of the hook portion opposite to a point, and the hook engagement portion has a groove shape to be engaged with the ring.

3. The jig head of claim 1, wherein the crimped surface of the intermediate member extends over the first end of the tapered through hole of the sinker head.

4. The jig head of claim 1, wherein the tapered surface and the tapered through hole have the same angle of inclination.

5. The jig head of claim 1, wherein the intermediate member comprises two halves that engage with the wide portion.

6. The jig head of claim 5, wherein the intermediate member has linear grooves into which at least part of the shank is inserted.

7. The jig head of claim 6, wherein the wide portion comprises a ring, and wherein the hook engagement portion has a groove-like shape for receipt of the ring therein.

8. The jig head of claim 5, wherein the wide portion comprises a ring, and wherein the hook engagement portion has a groove for receipt of the ring.

9. The jig head of claim 1, wherein the hook engagement portion has a complimentary groove for the wide portion.

10. A method of forming a jig head, the jig head comprising: a sinker head including an eye to which a fishing line is to be attached and a tapered through hole extending along a width of the sinker head, the tapered through hole having a first end and a second end each opening to an outer peripheral surface of the sinker head and tapering from the first end to the second end in a longitudinal direction such that the second end is narrower than the first end; a hook portion comprising a shank and a bend, the shank having a first end and a second end, the second end of the shank being connected to a bend of the hook portion, the bend being bent in a predetermined direction; and an intermediate member having a hook engagement portion that surrounds a portion of the first end of the shank and a tapered surface; and the method comprising: engaging the first end of the shank of the hook portion with the hook engagement portion of the intermediate member such that the tapered surface of the intermediate member is positioned to narrow towards the bend of the hook portion; inserting the tapered surface of the intermediate member into the tapered through hole of the sinker head; driving the intermediate member into the tapered through hole of the sinker head; and forming a crimped surface on an end of the intermediate member to fix the intermediate member in the tapered through hole, the crimped surface being provided at the first end of the tapered through hole, and the hook portion extending through the second end of the tapered through hole.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first end of the shank of the hook portion includes a wide portion that is widened to form a plane therat, and wherein the engaging of the first end of the shank comprises surrounding the wide portion of the first end of the shank with the hook engagement portion of the intermediate member.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wide portion at the first end of the shank has a ring, and wherein the hook engagement portion has a groove shape to be engaged with the ring, and wherein the engaging of the first end of the shank comprises inserting the ring into the groove shape.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate member comprises two halves with opposing surfaces that are configured to enclose the wide portion of the shank, and wherein the engaging of the first end of the shank comprises enclosing the opposing surface of the two halves together to engage the wide portion.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the hook engagement portion has a groove therein that is complimentary to a shape of the first end of the shank of the hook portion, and wherein the engaging of the first end of the shank comprises inserting the shank into the groove of the hook engagement portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1a is a perspective view showing a tenya jig head according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the tenya jig head being suspended with a fishing line; and FIG. 1b is an exploded perspective view showing the components in FIG. 1a.

(2) FIG. 2a is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the tenya jig head in FIG. 1a; and FIG. 2b is a sectional view showing the tenya jig head as viewed from the right side.

(3) FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a part of the components of the tenya jig head in FIG. 1a.

(4) FIGS. 4a to 4d show a process of fabricating the tenya jig head shown in FIG. 1a.

(5) FIG. 5a is a perspective view showing a variation of the tenya jig head wherein the components are exploded; and FIG. 5b is a perspective view showing a part of the components of the tenya jig head in FIG. 5a.

(6) FIG. 6a is a perspective view showing a variation of the tenya jig head; and FIG. 6b is an exploded perspective view showing the components in FIG. 6a.

(7) FIG. 7a is a perspective view showing a variation of the tenya jig head; and FIG. 7b is an exploded perspective view showing the components in FIG. 7a.

(8) FIG. 8a is a perspective view showing a variation of the tenya jig head; and FIG. 8b is a perspective view showing a part of the components of the tenya jig head in FIG. 8a.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a jig head suspended with a fishing line.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a variation of the jig head.

(11) FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one example of a conventional tenya jig head.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(12) An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the attached drawings. Reference will be made to FIGS. 1a to 10. FIGS. 1a to 4d show a first embodiment, FIGS. 5a and 5d show a second embodiment, FIGS. 6a and 6b show a third embodiment, FIGS. 7a and 7b show a fourth embodiment, FIGS. 8a and 8b show a fifth embodiment, FIG. 9 shows a sixth embodiment, and FIG. 10 shows a seventh embodiment.

First Embodiment

(13) As shown in FIG. 1a, the tenya jig head 10 according to the first embodiment may include a sinker head 20 and a hook portion 30. A sinker head 20 is a fishing weight formed of a metal having a high specific gravity such as lead, a zinc alloy, or tungsten and including an eye (line eye) 21 to which a fishing line 11 is attached. The fishing line 11 connected to the eye 21 may run along the fishing rod and may be wound around the fishing line reel. The tenya jig head 10 under water is positioned such that the lower left part of the FIG. 1a faces the surface of the water.

(14) In the embodiment, the hook portion 30 may be a wire rod formed of steel and provided with a coating for reduce friction and may include a shank 31 having a substantially linear shape and a bend 32 bent toward the lower right part of FIG. 1a. One end of the shank 31 may be removably fixed on the sinker head 20, and the other end of the shank 31 may be continuous to the bend 32.

(15) In the embodiment, the hook portion 30 may be a conventional hook commercially available. The hook (hook portion 30) shown in FIG. 1b may have a ring 35 formed by bending the end of the hook opposite to the point. The ring 35 may serve as a line eye when the hook is used singly. The hole portion 36 in the ring 35 is oriented substantially orthogonally to the direction in which the bend 32 is bent. Additionally, the orientation of the hole portion 36 in the ring 35 is not particularly limited. The present invention may be applied to a hook having the hole portion 36 oriented in substantially the same direction as the bend 32 is bent.

(16) The tip end (the point) of the bend 32 may constitute a hook 33 for piercing a fish biting the bait and may have a barb 34. For example, when a shrimp is put on the hook portion 30 to catch a porgy, the tail of the shrimp may be cut off to leave one segment, and the point is pierced into the center of the tail through the abdomen and let out from the middle of the abdomen.

(17) The tenya jig head 10 according to the present invention may be characterized in that the hook portion 30, or a conventional hook, is removably fixed on the sinker head 20. That is, the sinker head 20 may include a hook attachment mechanism 40 which is removable and can be engaged with the ring 35 of the hook portion 30.

(18) As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the tenya jig head 10 may include a sinker head 20 and a hook portion 30. The hook portion 30 may include a shank 31 having a substantially linear shape and a bend 32 bent forward in a predetermined direction. The shank 31 may have a ring 35 in one end thereof, the ring 35 having a hole portion 36 oriented substantially orthogonally to the direction in which the bend 32 is bent. The ring 35 may constitute a wide portion widened to form a plane.

(19) The sinker head 20 may include the hook attachment mechanism 40 described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 1b, the sinker head 20 may include an intermediate member 50 having hook engagement portions 51 to be removably engaged with the ring 35, an intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42 into which the intermediate member 50 is to be inserted, and an intermediate member-fixing means 60 for removably fixing the intermediate member 50 in the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42.

(20) The outer shape of the intermediate member 50 may include a tapered surface 52 narrower toward the bend 32 of the hook portion 30, or toward the lower part of the FIG. 1b. As shown in FIG. 2a, the intermediate member 50 may be vertically divided into two halves, and in the opposing surfaces of the two halves may be formed hook engagement portions 51 for engagement with the ring 35, as well as grooves 53 into which the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 is to be inserted.

(21) The above two halves may be put together so as to fit the ring 35 and the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 into the hook engagement portions 51 and the grooves 53. As shown in FIG. 2b, the ring 35 and the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 may be fixed in the intermediate member 50. The intermediate member 50 may be positioned vertically in the longitudinal direction and have a circular section. The intermediate member 50 may also have a tapered surface 52 narrower toward the lower part of FIG. 2b. Supposing that the intermediate member 50 has a diameter A at the upper end thereof and a diameter B at the lower end thereof, the diameters hold the relation A>B, and the tapered surface may have an angle of inclination .

(22) As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42 may have a tapered hole 43 extending through the sinker head 20 and capable of receiving the tapered surface 52 of the intermediate member 50. Supposing that the tapered hole 43 has a diameter C at the upper end thereof and a diameter D at the lower end thereof, the diameters hold the relation C>D, and the tapered surface may have the same angle of inclination as in the intermediate member 50.

(23) The intermediate member-fixing means 60 may be a fixing means for crimping the tapered surface 52 of the intermediate member 50 on the tapered hole 43 of the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42.

(24) That is, as shown in FIG. 4a, the ring 35 and the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 may be inserted from below into the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42 of the sinker head 20. The hook portion 30 projected through the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42 may be nipped at the ring 35 and the shank 31 by the two halves of the intermediate member 50.

(25) FIG. 4b shows the intermediate member 50 being moved downward and inserted into the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42 of the sinker head 20. The tapered surface 52 of the intermediate member 50 may be fitted on the tapered hole 43 of the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42.

(26) FIG. 4c shows the intermediate member 50 being knocked with a hammer at the top end thereof and driven into the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42 in the sinker head 20.

(27) FIG. 4d shows the intermediate member 50 knocked and crushed at the top end thereof to crimp the intermediate member 50 on the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42. Since the hook portion 30 may be fixed in the sinker head 20, the hook portion 30 may not waver or rotate idly even under a large force when a porgy is caught.

(28) The intermediate member 50 deformed can be pulled out with a tool such as a nipper and replaced with a new hook portion 30. The new hook portion 30 can be fixed in the sinker head 20 using a new intermediate member 50 as described above.

Second Embodiment

(29) Next, a variation of the hook attachment mechanism 40 will be described based on FIG. 5. In FIG. 5a, the shapes of the intermediate member 50a and the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42a may be different from those shown in FIG. 1b. That is, as shown in FIG. 5b, the intermediate member 50a may be a tube having a tapered surface 52a narrower downward and a vertical groove 56. The intermediate member 50a may also have a shank-receiving hole portion 55 into which the ring 35 and the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 can be inserted. Supposing that the tapered hole 43a in the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42a has an angle of inclination and that the intermediate member 50a has a diameter E at the upper end thereof and a diameter E at the lower end thereof, the diameters hold the relation E>F, and the tapered surface 52a may have an angle of inclination .

(30) Additionally, in the upper portion of the intermediate member 50a may be formed hook engagement portions 51a to be engaged with the ring 35 of the hook portion 30. The hook engagement portions 51a may be vertical through-holes formed in the tube at opposed positions such that the widthwise ends of the ring 35 project outward beyond the outer circumference of the intermediate member 50a.

(31) In the embodiment, the intermediate member 50a may be formed of a flexible thermoplastic resin, but may be formed of other desired materials.

(32) The intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42a may have a tapered hole 43a extending through the sinker head 20 and capable of receiving the tapered surface 52a of the intermediate member 50a. In the upper surface of the tapered hole 43a may be formed grooves 44 for receiving the widthwise ends of the ring 35.

(33) The operation of the second embodiment may be substantially the same as described for the above embodiment with reference to FIGS. 4a to 4d. That is, as shown in FIG. 5a, the ring 35 and the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 may be inserted from below into the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42a of the sinker head 20. The intermediate member 50a may be attached to the ring 35 and the shank 31 projected through the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42a.

(34) That is, the ring 35 and the shank 31 may be inserted into the shank-receiving hole portion 55 in the intermediate member 50a. The ring 35 may be moved through the vertical groove 56 in the intermediate member 50a, and the widthwise ends of the ring 35 may be inserted into the hook engagement portions 51a (the vertical through-holes) in the intermediate member 50a. The hook portion 30 may be fixed in the intermediate member 50a. This operation can be readily implemented since the intermediate member 50a may be formed of a plastic material.

(35) Then, the intermediate member 50a may be inserted into the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42a such that the tapered surface 52a of the intermediate member 50a may be fitted into the tapered hole 43 of the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42a. The intermediate member 50a may be knocked with a hammer at the top end thereof and driven into the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42 for crimping. In other respects, this embodiment may be the same as the embodiment described above.

Third Embodiment

(36) Another variation of the hook attachment mechanism 40 will be described based on FIGS. 6a and 6b. In FIGS. 6a and 6b, the shapes of the intermediate member 50b and the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42b may be different from those shown in FIG. 1b. That is, as shown in FIG. 6b, the intermediate member 50b may include a tube 54 having a vertical groove 56a and a fixing engagement portion 57 disposed on the top end of the tube 54. The tube 54 may also have a shank-receiving hole portion 55 into which the ring 35 and the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 can be inserted. Additionally, in the upper portion of the tube 54 may be formed hook engagement portions 51b to be engaged with the ring 35 of the hook portion 30. The hook engagement portions 51b may be vertical through-holes formed in the tube 54 at opposed positions such that the widthwise ends of the ring 35 project outward beyond the outer circumference of the tube 54.

(37) In the embodiment, the fixing engagement portion 57 may have a substantially rectangular shape and have a vertical groove 56b communicating with the vertical groove 56a in the tube 54.

(38) The intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42b may have a through-hole extending through the sinker head 20 and capable of receiving the tube 54 of the intermediate member 50b. In the upper portion of the through-hole may be formed a fixing hole portion 45 capable of receiving the fixing engagement portion 57 having a substantially rectangular shape. The fixing hole portion 45 may have a size for press-fitting the fixing engagement portion 57.

(39) The operation of the second embodiment may be substantially the same as described for the above embodiment with reference to FIGS. 4a to 4d. That is, as shown in FIG. 6b, the ring 35 and the shank 31 of the hook portion 30 may be inserted from below into the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42b of the sinker head 20. The intermediate member 50b may be attached to the ring 35 and the shank 31 projected through the intermediate member-receiving hole portion 42b. The ring 35 and the shank 31 may be inserted into the shank-receiving hole portion 55 in the tube 54 of the intermediate member 50b. The ring 35 may be moved through the vertical groove 56a in tube 54 of the intermediate member 50b, and the widthwise ends of the ring 35 may be inserted into the hook engagement portions 51b (the vertical through-holes) in the intermediate member 50b. The hook portion 30 may be fixed in the intermediate member 50b.

(40) Then, the tube 54 of the intermediate member 50b may be inserted into the intermediate member-receiving hole 42b, and the fixing engagement portion 57 having a substantially rectangular shape may be securely press-fitted into the fixing hole portion 45 in the sinker head 20. Since the fixing engagement portion 57 has a substantially rectangular shape, the hook portion 30 may not waver or rotate idly even under a large force. In other respects, this embodiment may be the same as the embodiments described above.

Fourth Embodiment

(41) FIGS. 7a and 7b show a variation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b. The differences are as follows. In the intermediate member 50c, the fixing engagement portion 57a provided on an end (the upper end in the figures) of the tube 54 has a star-shaped section in a plane view. In the intermediate member-receiving hole 42c, the fixing hole portion 45a capable of receiving the fixing engagement portion 57a having a star-shaped section may be formed in the upper end of the through-hole capable of receiving the tube 54 of the intermediate member 50c. The fixing hole portion 45a may have a size for press-fitting the fixing engagement portion 57a.

(42) In the fourth embodiment, since the fixing engagement portion 57a has a star-shaped section, the hook portion 30 may not waver or rotate idly even under a large force. In other respects, this embodiment may be almost the same as the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 6a and 6b.

Fifth Embodiment

(43) FIGS. 8a and 8b show a variation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b. The differences are as follows. In the intermediate member 50d, a lower portion of the tube 54 may constitute a protrusion protruding downward from the sinker head 20, and the protrusion may have a large number of needle-like projections on the circumference thereof, as shown in FIG. 8b. In other respects, this embodiment may be the same as the above embodiment.

(44) As shown in FIG. 8a, these members may be assembled such that the hook portion 30 protruding downward from the sinker head 20 may have a large number of needle-like projections 54a on the circumference thereof. For example, when a shrimp is put on the hook portion 30 to catch a porgy, the shrimp is also put on the large number of projections 54a. This may make it more unlikely that a soft shrimp comes off from the hook portion 30 piercing the shrimp, the hook portion 30 provided with a coating for reducing the friction.

(45) Welding is not required in fixing the hook portion 30 on the sinker head 20 in the embodiments 1 to 5. This may prevent reduction in specific gravity due to welding and may support the demand for sinker heads having a small volume and a high specific gravity obtained by using an expensive material such as tungsten.

Sixth Embodiment

(46) The embodiments described above may be in the form of a tenya jig head 10 as an example, but the technique according the present invention can be applied to a jig head 70.

(47) An application to the jig head 70 may be as follows. FIG. 9 shows the jig head 70 including a weight 71 having a spherical shape. The weight 71 may have an eye 72 to which a fishing line 11 is attached. The weight 71 may also include a hook attachment mechanism 40 which is removable and can be engaged with, e.g., the ring 35 as a wide portion of the hook portion 30. The hook attachment mechanism 40 may be the same as in the above embodiments, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Seventh Embodiment

(48) FIG. 10 shows a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9. The only difference may be that the weight 71a of the jig head 70a may have a hemispherical shape.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(49) The present invention can be applied in the fields of manufacture, dealing, and rental business of fishing gears and instructor business of outdoor sports, etc.