HOLLOW BODY FISHING LURE, HOOK AND ACCESSORY FOR THE SAME
20250228220 ยท 2025-07-17
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
Disclosed herein are fishing lures and replacement hook assembly kits for the same. In one example, a single hook assembly is provided that includes a single hook, and first and second stays. The single hook has a shank terminating at an eye, and a bend connecting the shank to a point. The bend and the shank both reside a reference plane. The first and second stays each have an elongated body. The elongated body of the first stay disposed on a first side of the reference plane and the elongated body of the second stay disposed on a first side of the reference plane. The elongated bodies have a resiliency sufficient to substantially return to an original position after deflecting the second end against the single hook.
Claims
1. A single hook assembly, comprising: a single hook having a shank terminating at an eye, a bend connecting the shank to a point, the bend and the shank both residing a first reference plane; a first stay having an elongated body, the elongated body having a first end connected to the single hook and a second end extending away from the shank towards the bend of the single hook, the elongated body disposed on a first side of the first reference plane; the elongated body having sufficient resiliency to substantially return to an original position of the elongated body after deflecting the second end against the single hook; and a second stay having an elongated body, the elongated body of the second stay having a first end connected to the single hook and a second end extending away from the shank towards the bend of the single hook, the elongated body of the second stay disposed on a second side of the first reference plane; the elongated body of the second stay having sufficient resiliency to substantially return to an original position of the elongated body of the second stay after deflecting the second end of the second stay against the single hook.
2. The single hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the first stay and the second stay are symmetrical relative to the first reference plane.
3. The single hook assembly of claim 2, wherein the first stay and the second stay form an arrow shape.
4. The single hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the first stay and the second stay are sufficiently rigid to support the first reference plane of the single hook assembly in a substantially vertical orientation when the first and second stays are placed on a horizontal surface with the point disposed over the shank of the single hook.
5. The single hook assembly of claim 4, wherein the first stay and the second stay have an orientation perpendicular to the first reference plane of the single hook assembly.
6. The single hook assembly of claim 4, wherein the second ends of the first and second stays are disposed on a side of a second reference plane that is opposite the point of the single hook, the second reference plane having an orientation perpendicular to the first reference plane, the shank residing in both the first and second reference planes.
7. The single hook assembly of claim 4, wherein the second ends of the first and second stays do not extend beyond a total length of the single hook when deflected against the single hook.
8. The single hook assembly of claim 4, wherein the second ends of the first and second stays do extend past a barb of the single hook when deflected against the single hook.
9. The single hook assembly of claim 4, wherein the second ends of the first and second stays do not overlap the bend of the single hook when deflected against the single hook.
10. The single hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the single hook has a size from 1/0 to 6/0.
11. A hollow body fishing lure hook replacement kit comprising: a packaging container; and the single hook assembly of claim 1 disposed in the packaging container.
12. The hollow body fishing lure hook replacement kit of claim 11 further comprising: an adhesive backed weed guard disposed in the container, the adhesive backed weed guard comprising: a pad; a plurality of projections extending a distance from a first side of the pad, the distance being at least half a diameter of the shank and less than 2.5 times the diameter of the shank; an adhesive disposed on a second side of the pad; and a peel-away backing disposed over the adhesive.
13. A single hook assembly, comprising: a single hook having a shank terminating at an eye, a bend connecting the shank to a point, the bend and the shank both residing a first reference plane, the single hook has a size from 2/0 to 6/0; a spacer having a first eye and a second eye connected by a link, the first eye connected to the eye of the hook; a first stay having an elongated body, the elongated body having a first end connected to the single hook and a second end extending away from the shank towards the bend of the single hook, the elongated body disposed on a first side of the first reference plane; the elongated body having sufficient resiliency to substantially return to an original position of the elongated body after deflecting the second end against the single hook; and a second stay having an elongated body, the elongated body of the second stay having a first end connected to the single hook and a second end extending away from the shank towards the bend of the single hook, the elongated body of the second stay disposed on a second side of the first reference plane; the elongated body of the second stay having sufficient resiliency to substantially return to an original position of the elongated body of the second stay after deflecting the second end of the second stay against the single hook, the first stay and the second stay are symmetrical relative to the first reference plane, wherein the first stay and the second stay are sufficiently rigid to support the first reference plane of the single hook assembly in a substantially vertical orientation when the first and second stays are placed on a horizontal surface with the point disposed over the shaft of the single hook, and wherein the second ends of the first and second stays do extend past a barb of the single hook when deflected against the single hook.
14. The single hook assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second stays are fabricated from a polymer, each of the first and second stays having a sectional area great than or equal to a sectional area of the shank.
15. A hollow body fishing lure hook replacement kit comprising: a packaging container; and the single hook assembly of claim 13 disposed in the packaging container.
16. The hollow body fishing lure hook replacement kit of claim 15 further comprising: an adhesive backed weed guard disposed in the container, the adhesive backed weed guard comprising: a pad; a plurality of projections extending a distance from a first side of the pad, the distance being at least half a diameter of the shank and less than 2.5 times the diameter of the shank; an adhesive disposed on a second side of the pad; and a peel-away backing disposed over the adhesive.
17. The hollow body fishing lure hook replacement kit of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of projections of the adhesive backed weed guard further comprises: a proximal end coupled to a distal end by an elongated shaft, the proximal end coupled to the pad, the distal end having a cap that overhangs the shaft.
18. The hollow body fishing lure hook replacement kit of claim 17, wherein the cap has a sectional area greater than a sectional area of the shaft of the projection.
19. A hollow body fishing lure comprising: a hollow body having a first aperture formed through a front end of the hollow body and a second aperture formed through a back end or bottom of the hollow body; a hook disposed though the second aperture such that a point of the hook is disposed on an exterior of the hollow body and a shank of the hook is disposed within an interior of the hollow body; and a weed guard disposed on the exterior of the hollow body, the weed guard comprising a plurality of projections receiving the point of the hook therebetween and extending a distance beyond the point when the hollow body is in a non-deformed state, the hollow body sufficiently flexible to allow the weed guard to move clear of the point of the hook when the hollow body is deformed in a direction away from the point of the hook and the hollow body is sufficiently resilient to return to the non-deformed state in which the point of the hook is disposed between the projections of the weed guard.
20. The hollow body fishing lure of claim 19, wherein weed guard is affixed to hollow body via an adhesive.
21. The hollow body fishing lure of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of projections further comprises: a proximal end coupled to a distal end by an elongated shaft, the proximal end disposed adjacent the hollow body, the distal end having a cap that overhangs the shaft, the cap having a sectional area greater than a sectional area of the shaft of the projection.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[0022]
[0023]
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[0036]
[0037] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized in other embodiments without specific recitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Disclosed herein are fishing lures and replacement single hook assemblies for the same. The single hook assembly described herein utilizes a single hook for improved hook sets as compared to traditional double hook designs. For example, the single hook assembly is advantageously configured to allow the single hook assembly to replace double hook assemblies commonly utilized in convention hollow body fishing lures, such as but not limited to the hollow body fishing lure described above with reference to
[0039]
[0040] The single hook assembly 500 includes a single hook 506 and at least two stays, shown in
[0041] The first and second stays 570, 572 of single hook assembly 500 are disposed on opposite sides of the first reference plane 502. The first and second stays 570, 572 may be arranged as an arrow pointing towards the eye 532 of the hook 530. The first stay 570 includes an elongated body 512 having a first end 510 and second end 514. The first end 510 is coupled to the shank 534 of the hook 530 near the eye 532. The elongated body 512 extends from the first end 510 away from the eye 532 towards the bend 536 of the hook 530 to the second end 514. The elongated body 512 also extends from the first end 510 away from the shank 534 of the hook 530 to the second end 514. The second end 514 of the elongated body 512 is spaced a distance 564 in the Z direction away from the shank 534 of the hook 530 to the second end 514. The distance 564 may be, but is not limited to, to about 1.0 inches.
[0042] The similar to the first stay 570, the second stay 572 includes an elongated body 522 having a first end 520 and second end 524. The first end 520 is coupled to the shank 534 of the hook 530 near the eye 532. The elongated body 522 extends from the first end 520 away from the eye 532 towards the bend 536 of the hook 530 to the second end 524. The elongated body 522 also extends from the first end 520 away from the shank 534 of the hook 530 to the second end 524. The second end 524 of the elongated body 522 is spaced a distance 564 in the Z direction away from the shank 534 of the hook 530 to the second end 524. The distance 564 may be, but is not limited to, to about 1.0 inches.
[0043] The first ends 510, 520 of the first and second stays 570, 572 may be coupled to a common base 516. The base 516, when used, provides a common attachment point for the first and second stays 570, 572 to the shank 534 of the hook 530. In one example, the base 516 and the stays 570, 572 are formed from a contiguous mass of material. For example, the base 516 and the stays 570, 572 may be overmolded, 3-D printed, snapped-on, adhered or otherwise affixed to the shank 534 as a single one piece element. In other examples, the base 516 and the stays 570, 572 may be two or more separate piece elements. Additionally, the stays 570, 572 may be separately or jointly connected to the shank 534 of the hook 530 without a common base 516.
[0044] As discussed above, the elongated body 512 of the first stay 570 and the elongated body 522 of the second stay 572 are disposed on opposite sides of the first reference plane 502. The elongated body 512 of the first stay 570 and the elongated body 522 of the second stay 572 may be disposed in an orientation that is symmetrical relative to the reference plane 502 and relative to the shank 534. In one example, the elongated body 512 of the first stay 570 and the elongated body 522 of the second stay 572 are disposed in a second reference plane (not illustrated) that has an orientation perpendicular to the reference plane 502. The second reference plane (i.e., the X/Z plane in
[0045] The elongated bodies 512, 522 are also sized to allow the hook 530 and stays 570, 572 to pass through the aperture 202 of the hollow body 102 (as later shown in
[0046] The elongated bodies 512, 522 of the first and second stays 570, 572 are formed from a resilient material, such as spring steel, stainless steel, or resilient polymer. The resilient material of the elongated bodies 512, 522 allow the second ends 514, 524 of the bodies 512, 522 to be defected against the shank 534, then return substantially to its original position, that is, to at least 90% of its original position, when in a new unused condition.
[0047] The material of the elongated bodies 512, 522 of the first and second stays 570, 572 is also sufficiently rigid enough to support the bend 536 of the single hook 530 in a substantially vertical orientation (i.e., the first reference plane 502 is disposed in the X/Y plane) when the first and second stays 570, 572 are placed on a horizontal surface (i.e., the X/Z plane) with the point 538 disposed over the shank 534 of the single hook 530.
[0048] The rigidity and resiliency of the material of the elongated bodies 512, 522 of the first and second stays 570, 572 are generally selected to allow the stays 570, 572 to flex and pass through the aperture 202 of the hollow body 102, then to spring outwards once the second ends 514, 524 of the elongated bodies 512, 522 are completely within the interior volume 208 of the hollow body 102. Once within the hollow body 102, the spread orientation of first and second stays 570, 572 against the sides and bottom walls of the hollow body 102 supports the hook 530 in an upright position (i.e., in the X/Y plane) which promotes hook penetration when a fish strikes the lure by maintaining the point 538 of the hook 530 clear of the body 102.
[0049]
[0050] The hollow body 102 is configured as described above with reference to
[0051] Turning first to the top view of the hollow body fishing lure 700 depicted in
[0052] Referring now to the bottom view of the hollow body fishing lure 700 depicted in
[0053] As discussed above, the stays 570, 572 of the hook assembly 500 spring outward within the interior volume 208 of the hollow body 102 to maintain the hook 530 in an upright position. In one example, the stays 570, 572 of the hook assembly 500 contact the interior side of the bottom 210 of the hollow body 102. In one example, the stays 570, 572 of the hook assembly 500 contact the interior side of the sides of the hollow body 102. The stays 570, 572 advantageously keep the hook 530 from tipping over within the hollow body 102.
[0054]
[0055] In one example, the plurality of projections 1010 are arranged in rows. The rows of projections 1010 are sufficiently spaced to allow the point 538 of the hook 530 to be received between the projections 1010. In some examples, the plurality of projections 1010 are arranged in rows and columns. Alternatively, the plurality of projections 1010 may be arranged differently. The plurality of projections 1010 are arranged across the pad 1012 such that at least two projections 1010 are disposed beyond the point 538 of the hook 530 to prevent weeds from fouling the hook 530.
[0056]
[0057] Once a bite force (shown by arrow 402) is applied to the hollow body 102 as shown in
[0058] Moreover, even with the hollow body 102 deformed and the point 538 of the single hook 530 free and clear of the weed guard 710, the stays 570, 572 continue to support the point 538 of the single hook 530 vertically relative to the hollow body 102 so that the point 538 of the single hook 530 does not rotate to a position where the hollow body 102 can shield the point 538, but rather the point 538 of the single hook 530 remains in a position clear of the weed guard 710 and the hollow body 102 such that the point 538 of the hook 530 can freely engage the striking fish without obstruction, resulting in higher hook up ratios.
[0059]
[0060]
[0061]
[0062] The single hook assembly 1500 is generally the same as the hook assembly 500 except herein the single hook assembly 1500 does not utilize a spacer 110, but rather a single hook 1530 of the hook assembly 1500 has a stepped front portion 1502 disposed between the stays 570, 572 (only one stay is shown in the side view of
[0063] The stepped front portion 1502 includes a first portion 1504 and a second portion 1506. The first portion 1504 connects the second portion 1506 to the shank 534 of the hook 1530. The first portion 1504 generally extends at a 90 degree or greater angle from the shank 534 generally in the same but opposite direction as the bend 536, as shown in
[0064] Thus, a single hook assembly having stays that allow a hook to be maintained in an desirable orientation that promotes in provided hook up ratios has been disclosed above. The single hook assembly can be effortlessly installed through an aperture of the hollow body, easily replacing conventional double hook assemblies. An adhesive backed weed guard has also been disclosed that can be readily mounted on the exterior of a lure. The weed guard may optionally be included with the single hook assembly as part of a replacement kit. The single hook assembly may also be utilized as original equipment on lures seeking to improve penetration over double hook designs.
[0065] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.