Hook clasps for fishing lures and jig heads
09717225 ยท 2017-08-01
Inventors
Cpc classification
A01K85/16
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
Double bent metal wires having a spring loaded configuration forming clasps, devices, apparatus, systems and methods for easily attaching and detaching hooks to fishing lures, feather hooks, jig heads, fishing lines, and the like. The clasp can have screw type threads for being threaded into an end of a fishing lure. The opposite end has a hook with a spring catch for closing the hook and allowing the clasp to attach to a loop end of a fishing hook. The spring catch is formed from two legs each having bent ends attached to a base of the hook by a crimp ring. To open the loop on the clasp, the spring catch can be pushed away from the hook opening, for attachment to loop ends of fishing hooks, and the like. The clasps can be used with attaching jewelry strands such as necklaces, bracelets, chains, and anklets together.
Claims
1. A clasp for attaching fishing hooks thereto, comprising in combination: a clasp hook having a fixed elongated member, the fixed elongated member having a base end with a shaft extending therefrom which is fixably attached to a support, and the fixed elongated member having an opposite curved end having a tip, with an opening formed between the tip and the base end of the fixed elongated member; a spring catch member formed from a single elongated piece of metal, the catch member consisting of a single first bent end forming a free end of the catch member, and a pair of parallel opposite bent ends, which runs to a pair of parallel stem portions, the stem portions being perpendicular to both the single bent end and the pair of parallel opposite bent ends, the spring catch member being attached to the support by being press fit with the support; and a fishing hook, wherein the free end of the catch member is biased to close off the opening formed between the tip and the base end of the fixed elongated member, and the free end of the catch member requires pressure to move the free end to an open position to allow for the fishing hook to be attached to the clasp hook and the spring catch member.
2. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the parallel stem portions extend outward generally midway between the first bent end and the opposite bent ends of the catch member.
3. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the free bent end of the catch member is bent in a different plane from the opposite bent ends.
4. The clasp of claim 3, wherein the free bent end of the catch member is bent in a perpendicular plane to the opposite bent ends.
5. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the support is a fishing lure and the shaft is press fit in the lure.
6. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the support is a jig head lure and the shaft is press fit in the lure.
7. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a loop.
8. The clasp of claim 1, further comprising: a second clasp hook having a second fixed elongated member, the second fixed elongated member having a second base end with a second shaft extending therefrom which is fixably attached to the support, and the second fixed elongated member having a second opposite curved end having a second tip, with a second opening formed between the second tip and the second base end of the second fixed elongated member; and a second spring catch member formed from a second single elongated piece of metal, the second catch member consisting of a second single first bent end forming a free end of the second spring catch member, and a second pair of parallel opposite bent ends which runs to a second pair of parallel stem portions, the second pair of parallel stem portions being perpendicular to both the second single bent end and the second pair of parallel opposite bent ends, the second pair of parallel stem portions being attached to the support being being press fit with the support; and a second fishing hook, wherein the free end of the second catch member is biased to close off an opening formed between the tip and base of the hook end of the second elongate member, and the free end of the second catch member requires substantial pressure to move the free end to an open position to allow for the second fishing hook to be attached to the second hook clasp and the second spring catch member.
9. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the support includes a fishing line.
10. A method of attaching fishing hooks to clasps, comprising the steps of: providing a clasp hook having a fixed elongated member, the fixed elongated member having a base end with a shaft extending therefrom which is fixably attached to a support, and the fixed elongated member having an opposite curved end having a tip, with an opening formed between the tip and the base end of the fixed elongated member; providing a spring catch member formed from a single elongated piece of metal, the catch member consisting of a single first bent end forming a free end of the catch member, and a pair of parallel opposite bent ends, which runs to a pair of parallel stem portions, the stem portions being perpendicular to both the single bent end and the pair of parallel opposite bent ends which are press fit with the support; biasing the free end of the catch member to close off the opening formed between the tip and the base end of the fixed elongated member, pushing the single first bent end of the spring catch member toward the lure to open the opening adjacent to the tip of the clasp hook; providing a fishing hook with a loop end; inserting the loop end of the fishing hook over the tip of the clasp hook; and closing the opening adjacent to the tip of the clasp hook by allowing the single first bent end to bias back to the closed position.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) Screw-in Clasp
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19) Pressed in Clasp
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
(26) Feed-Through Hook Shaft with Clasps
(27)
(28)
(29)
(30)
(31) Feed-Through Hook Shaft with Crimp-on Clasp
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35)
(36) Jewelry Clasp on Chain/Necklace/Bracelet
(37)
(38)
(39)
(40)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(41) Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.
(42) In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.
(43) A list of components will now be described. 10 Lure assembly with screw-in clasp. 20 Screw-in clasp with spring catch snap assembly. 30 Screw-in hook. 32 base of hook 35 opening in hook 40 Crimp style spring catch/hook retainer/hook guard 42 first bent end 43 parallel members 44, 46 opposite bent ends 45, 47 bent stem portions (prongs) 50 Crimp ring (crimped). This part attaches the spring catch to the screw-in hook. 55 Crimp ring (uncrimped). 60 Lure. 62 opening(s) in lure 70 Screw eye 80 Fishing hook 85 loop on fish hook 90 Threaded shaft of screw-in hook. 95 Jig head with press-in spring catch. 100 Press-in style spring catch. 110 Feed thru hook shaft for jig head without spring catch crimp. 112 hook end 114 elongated body 116 loop end 120 Feed thru jig head for press-in spring catch. 122 opening in tip of jig head lure 130 Holes in jig head to accommodate the straight wire portions of the press-in spring catch. 140 Hole in jig head to accommodate the feed thru hook shaft. 150 Lure assembly with feed-thru hook shaft and attached auxiliary snap assembly. 155 Auxiliary clasp assembly. 160 Feed-thru hook shaft for lure. 162 hook end 164 elongated member 166 loop end 170 Auxiliary hook shaft. 172 hook end 174 elongated member 176 loop end 180 Lure with end holes for feed-thru shaft and auxiliary hook shaft. 190 Hole in lure for feed-thru shaft. 200 Hole in lure for auxiliary hook shaft. 210 Lead jig head lure with feed-thru hook shaft and crimped on spring catch. 220 Feed-thru hook shaft for lead jig head with spring catch crimp. 222 hook end 224 elongated member 226 loop end 230 Lead jig head with hole for feed-thru hook shaft. 240 Hole in jig head lure for feed-thru hook shaft. 250 Spring clasp snap system configured for use as a jewelry clasp. 260 chain/bracelet/necklace/anklet, 270 Loop portion of clasp. 280 Hook portion of clasp. The hook employs the same spring catch and crimp as described above.
Screw-in Clasp Embodiment
(44)
(45) Referring to
(46) The lure 60 can be attached to fishing lines not shown by attaching the lines to an eye portion of a screw-in eye 70 on the lure 60.
(47)
(48) Referring to
(49)
(50) Referring to
(51) The spring catch 40 can be formed from a single elongated tubular member having a first bent end 42 forming a free end of the catch 40, the parallel members 43 of the single tubular member form a pair of parallel opposite bent ends 44, 46, each having bent stem portions 45, 47 which extend rearwardly from a portion generally midway between the first bent end and the opposite pair of bent ends 44, 46.
(52) To form the spring clasp assembly 20, the screw in end of the threaded shaft 90 is inserted between the parallel members 43 and above the stem portions 45, 47 through the inside the crimp ring 55. The crimp ring 55 is pushed to abut against the bent portion of the stem portions 45, 47 over the base 32 of the hook portion 30, followed by crimping the crimp ring 55 into a crimped ring 50, which locks hook 30 and threaded shaft 90 to the catch member 40.
(53) Components 30, 90, 40 and 55 can be formed from metal, such as but not limited to stainless steel, and the like. Additionally, the components can be formed from other types of metal, such as but not limited to galvanized metal, aluminum, plastics, compositions of both metal and plastic, and various combinations, and the like.
(54) While the embodiment above describes and shows a screw-in version, the invention can be used with the stem portions 45, 47 of the spring catch 40 pressed into an the opening(s) 62 in the lure 60 with a pressed fit attachment, with or without a crimp/crimped ring 50, 55.
(55) Pressed in Clasp Embodiment
(56)
(57) Referring to
(58) For example, the user, can grip the fishing hook 80 and push the loop end 85 against the free bent end 42 of the spring catch 100, and with their fingers push the free bent end 42 with pressure until the loop 85 fits over the tip of the hook 30 allowing the loop 85 to pass over the tip of the hook 30 and opening 35 adjacent to the tip of the hook 30. Next, the loop 85 is slipped over the tip of the hook 30 and pulled back away from the hook 30 of the clasp 100. While the loop 85 is slipped over the tip end of the hook 30, the free bent end 42 of the spring catch biases back to its' initial position generally locking the hook 80 to the lure 120. To remove the hook 80, the user can push the free bent end 42 with pressure toward the lure 120 (as shown in
(59) Feed-Through Hook Shaft with Clasps Embodiment
(60)
(61) Referring to
(62) In this embodiment an auxiliary clasp assembly 155 can be positioned in a hole 200 in the lure 180. The auxiliary clasp assembly 155 can include an auxiliary hook shaft 170 having a loop end 176 which can slide along the elongated member 164 of the feed through hook shaft 160. An elongated member 174 can attach the shaft 170 to a bottom hook 172, which can be formed into another clasp by spring catch 40 and uncrimped ring 55 as described in previous embodiments.
(63) Additional fishing hooks can be attached and detached to the hook ends 162, 172 of their respective clasps as described in the previous embodiments.
(64) Feed-Through Hook Shaft with Crimp-on Clasp Embodiment
(65)
(66) Referring to
(67) The fishing hook 80 can be attached and detached to the assembled clasp 222, 40, 50 similar to the steps described in the previous embodiments.
(68) Jewelry Clasp on Chain/Necklace/Bracelet/Anklet Embodiment
(69)
(70) Referring to
(71) Although the novel clasps show and describe attaching hooks to the clasps, the invention can be used to attach loop ends of other fishing components, such as for attaching lures to fishing lines, or lures to each other, and the like. Different fishing line attachments such as lures and/or feathered hooks and/or jigs, and/or jig heads can be interconnected with one another by using the novel clasps.
(72) Additionally the invention can be used with the novel clasps attached to ends of fishing lines for directly attaching fishing hooks and/or lures to the fishing lines.
(73) Although some embodiments reference using crimp rings to attach some components together, other types of fastening techniques, such as but not limited to using metal nuts, welding parts together, soldering parts together and the like.
(74) While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.