Patents by Inventor Herman P. Firmin

Herman P. Firmin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7735257
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention involves a single, continuous, unbroken, one-piece strand of wire that may be bent, twisted and distorted into a hook-hanging implement for rigging a hook or hooks on fishing lure bodies. Another aspect of the invention involves a plurality of wire strands or segments that may be bent, twisted, distorted and conjoined into a hook hanging implement for rigging a hook or hooks on fishing lure bodies. The orientation, size, shape, weight and number of twists, bends and distortions of these hook-hanging implements may be changed to alter or adjust the action of a fishing lure, or to repair or replace damaged parts of a fishing lure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 6564499
    Abstract: A removable, adjustable attachment for fishing lures slows down and adds fish attracting movements to the motion of the lures to which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 6446381
    Abstract: A fish lure body has integral gussets that hold protruding fins at a predetermined angle to the lure central axis when the lure is moved through water. Molds and methods of molding soft plastic artificial fishing lures in which air is trapped in a blind cavity in a mold and compressed in such a cavity by molten plastic to a pressure that causes the compressed air to eject the finished lure from the mold when the mold is opened after the molten plastic hardens, and artificial fishing lures molded by such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 6293779
    Abstract: A fish lure body has integral gussets that hold protruding fins at a predetermined angle to the lure central axis when the lure is moved through water. Molds and methods of molding soft plastic artificial fishing lures in which air is trapped in a blind cavity in a mold and compressed in such a cavity by molten plastic to a pressure that causes the compressed air to eject the finished lure from the mold when the mold is opened after the molten plastic hardens, and artificial fishing lures molded by such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing, Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 6115956
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lure that provides a unique combination of a bubble action, undulating motion, light reflection, and scent dispensing potential, for attracting fish. The lure is characterized by an elongate, generally cylindrical body having a head at one end and a tail at an opposite longitudinal end. There is also a honeycomb structure longitudinally arrayed along the body between the ends. The honeycomb structure has a central elongated longitudinal bore connected to a series of radially directed honeycomb channels that extend to the radial periphery of the body. The lure is designed so that when it is dragged through water the water can pass radially inward through a honeycomb channel and tailward along the longitudinal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Uncle Josh Bait Company
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 6073386
    Abstract: An adjustable fishing rig comprises a unitary, streamlined, hollow, double barreled sinker through which a fishing line is threaded. The sinker can be moved to any location along a fishing line without untying the line or tying new knots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 6063324
    Abstract: A fish lure body has integral gussets that hold protruding fins at a predetermined angle to the lure central axis when the lure is moved through water. Molds and methods of molding soft plastic artificial fishing lures in which air is trapped in a blind cavity in a mold and compressed in such a cavity by molten plastic to a pressure that causes the compressed air to eject the finished lure from the mold when the mold is opened after the molten plastic hardens, and artificial fishing lures molded by such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 6009658
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lure that provides a unique undulating motion for attracting fish. The lure is characterized by a body having two heads that when joined together produce a ripple in the body. This causes the lure to undulate when pulled through water. In a preferred form the lure is formed from two halves joined together at a middle point. Each half has a head and a tail. In a non-fishing configuration, the lure body is flat with the heads having an overlapping/crossing relationship. When the heads are joined together in a fishing configuration, a ripple forms in the lure body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Uncle Josh Bait Company
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 5894692
    Abstract: Soft bodied flexible resilient supple plastic fishing lures have a multitude of closely spaced interconnected thin longitudinal fins that automatically produce fishing attracting sounds, motions, and light reflections when the lures are moved through the water. The lure bodies store energy when the lures are retrieved and then release the stored energy so as to produce game fish attracting motions when the retrieving ceases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 5832760
    Abstract: Apparatus for clamping a wheel of a wheeled vehicle to prevent or deter theft of the vehicle comprises (a) a first arm and a second arm, each of the arms having a middle portion, a clamping end portion and a locking end portion, the arms being rotatably connected to each other at their respective middle portions; (b) a cross bar having a free end portion and a connecting end portion, the connecting end portion being rotatably connected to the locking end portion of the first arm; (c) a first flange member extending from the locking end portion of the second arm and defining and including a first notch for receiving the free end portion of the cross bar; and (d) a second flange member detachably attachable to the free end portion of the cross bar. The clamping end portions are brought into proximity with one another when the locking end portions are brought into proximity with one another to thereby enable clamping of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fred D. Parnell, Jr.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 5058309
    Abstract: A steerable fishing lure (10) for reaching areas of water covered or shaded by overhanging structures comprises lure bait assembly (12), hook assembly (14), and rudder mechanism (16). Rudder mechanism comprises rudder dish (28) and harness (30). Rudder dish (28) includes concave face (32) for receiving water and directing water so as to stabilize steerable lure (10) as it moves in water. Rudder dish face (32) is sufficiently large to produce rudder action for lure (10). Harness (30) integrally attached to fishing lure (10) and firmly holds rudder dish (28). Harness (30) permits position adjustment of rudder dish (28) for a right, center, or left steering orientation. Rudder dish (28) also includes bottom bias points (56, 58, 60) to bias steering orientation of rudder dish (28) in harness (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 4516352
    Abstract: An artificial crawfish lure. The lure (10) comprises a resilient body (12) and a hook assembly (14). The resilient body (12) is shaped and dimensioned to resemble a crawfish and comprises a head portion (28), a midbody portion (30) and a cantilevered tail portion (32). The cantilevered tail portion (32) is an arcuate member extending in a spiral manner, downwardly, inwardly then rearwardly of the midbody portion. The tail portion terminates in a fin member (44) which is disposed substantially perpendicular to the midbody portion. A fabrication seam (46) is disposed on the ventral side of the head (28), midbody (30) and tail portions (32) and a fabrication seam (52) is disposed on the dorsal side of the head (28), midbody (30) and tail (32) portions. The fabrication seams (46) and (52) allow lateral movement of the tail portion (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: 4317305
    Abstract: An artificial lure (10) is provided which simulates the natural motion of a living creature as the lure is drawn through water. The lure (10) comprises a resilient body (12) having a head portion (26), a mid-body portion (28) and a tail portion (30). The mid-body portion narrows in a first direction to form a hinge section (38) and protrusions (40, 42) extend outwardly from opposite sides of the mid-body portion (28) adjacent the hinge section (38). Recesses (44, 46) are formed by the protrusions. As the lure is drawn through water, the flow along the lure induces oscillation in the tail portion (30) which resembles the motion of the living creature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1982
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: D518140
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: D414543
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: D418899
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: D422335
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: D422671
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: D424656
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin
  • Patent number: D432201
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Knight Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Herman P. Firmin