Patents Examined by Maria E Graber
  • Patent number: 11344016
    Abstract: A storage case (1) for storing fishing rods (2) and reels (3) in a dry controlled atmosphere to prevent rust, corrosion and mildew from forming on the fishing rods (2) and reels (3) stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Samuel R. Foisie, Christopher T. Gorski
  • Patent number: 11344015
    Abstract: A fishing rod case is provided for holding a rigged fly (or other) fishing rod. The case includes a sleeve, with distal and proximal sections and a flexible middle section, and, optionally, a reel housing on one end of the proximal section. With the reel housing open, a rigged rod may be inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve is bunched in the middle section and the rod grasped through the sleeve on opposite sides of a ferrule of the rod. The two sections of the rod may then be pulled apart at the ferrule and the sleeve folded so that the distal and proximal sections of the sleeve are adjacent and parallel to each other. One or more straps may be used to hold the two sections of the sleeve together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: David Alan Zieg
  • Patent number: 11337416
    Abstract: A mechanical rodent trap has a jaw mounted to a base, with a trigger therebetween which is activated by the incidence of a rodent. An acceleration sensor is mounted in a case in the base in a sensor module that logs and transmit a signal indicating activation of the trap. Alternatively a magnet holder secures a magnet to the trigger, and a Hall effect sensor is used in the sensor module. The sensor modules are sealed within a compartment formed with the base beneath the trigger and closed by a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Bell Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Walsh, Patrick J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 11330807
    Abstract: The invention is a fishing lure that attracts predatory fish including pelagic fish such as istiophoriformes including without limitation billfish, tuna, mackerel, wahoo, sailfish and marlins, by mimicking an injured flying fish. The lure includes a head comprising a fish mask that has two eye sockets on its exterior on which are affixed artificial eyes, and an interior cavity. The lure also includes a body comprising a first squid skirt, and a first wing and a second wing such that each wing is coupled to the head. The head also comprises an opening that is adapted to receive a fishing line therethrough, the opening is shaped to allow the angle of the line to change in the opening so that the lure moves back-and-forth and up-and-down when pulled in water. The action of the wing mimics an injured flying fish when breaking the water's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Galon H Johnson
  • Patent number: 11324193
    Abstract: A small animal habitat in the form of, e.g., an automobile and a method for coupling respective halves of a small animal habitat. The small animal habitat includes a top shell portion, the top shell portion including a plurality of top wheel portions, each of the top wheel portions forming a top half of a respective wheel section. The habitat also includes a bottom shell portion, the bottom shell portion having a plurality of bottom wheel portions, each of the bottom wheel portions forming a bottom half of a respective wheel section. Additionally, a plurality of assembly rings are provided, wherein each assembly ring is configured to couple the top wheel portion to the bottom wheel portion of a respective wheel section so as to hold the top shell portion and the bottom shell portion of the small habitat in engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Tamulewicz
  • Patent number: 11297818
    Abstract: An insect bait station, for example an ant bait station, for deploying a toxicant includes a housing with a body portion covered by a cover. The body portion includes first and second reservoirs. Entryways having a converging outer portion and an upright tubular portion provide insect access into the housing. The upright tubular portion extends from the converging outer portion, through a bait in the second reservoir. An entry port is provided in the tubular portion above the bait. A first bait is disposed in the first reservoir and a second bait is disposed in the second reservoir. For example, the first bait may include a protein-based food and a pesticide, and the second bait may include a sugar- or lipid-based food with or without a pesticide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sterling International Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Chapin, Qing-He Zhang, Rodney G. Schneidmiller
  • Patent number: 11266121
    Abstract: A self-exercise device that provides resistance to tugging, and is operable to intermittently change the resistance so as to mimic an actual tug-of-war game. The device includes ball gallery and ratchet structures that cooperate to provide additional intermittent resistance to provide action to the device that mimics an actual tug-of-war experience wherein the opposing resistance is randomly changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Davante Amir Rowe
  • Patent number: 11266136
    Abstract: A spinner bait lure includes a wire harness having a line eye. A fishing hook is coupled to the wire harness. A spinner blade is rotatably coupled to the wire harness. A bead is rotatably coupled to the wire harness. Retrieval of the spinner bait lure through a water body causes the spinner blade and the bead to rotate. The spinner blade and the bead rotate about a common axis of rotation and a path of rotation of the bead intersects with the spinner blade. Therefore, the bead knocks into the spinner blade, causing deflection and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Chris Allen Choate
  • Patent number: 11240998
    Abstract: A live bait rig for adding motion to live bait as it moves through the water. The live bait rig generally includes a leader with a fixed loop adapted for attachment to a fishing line, the leader also being attached to or including a fishhook. The rig also includes a float on the leader positioned between the fixed loop and the fishhook, the float having a flat front surface toward the fixed loop and a curved rear surface toward the fishhook, and having an opening that extends from the flat front surface to the curved rear surface, wherein the opening is asymmetrically positioned on the float, wherein the leader passes through the opening such that the float is free to rotate on the leader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Curt R. Reeff