Weighted shank fish hooks
Weighted fish hooks having a hook shank having a bend at one end and a hook eye at an opposite end. A double-tapered weight is provided on the hook shank between the bend and the hook eye. The double-tapered weight has a top weight taper and a lower weight taper. The weighted fish hooks are at least partially embedded in a lure.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/654,825 filed Sep. 4, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/407,807 filed Sep. 4, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fishing lures and more particularly, to specially designed fish hooks, each having a low profile, double-tapered weight on the hook shank for use with flexible plastic fishing lures. These lures are impaled on an offset shank and reverse shank bend of the fish hooks, such that the tip and barb of the fish hooks may be embedded in or positioned against the plastic fishing lures to render the lures weedless for retrieval in a waterbody using a rod and reel. According to one embodiment, a low profile, double-tapered weight is applied to a straight shank of a fish hook to facilitate passage of the weight through the impaled lure with minimum lure damage during rigging and sinking of the hook and impaled lure to a desired depth determined by the lure design and speed of retrieval of the lure. According to another embodiment, a low profile, double-tapered weight is applied to a curved shank of a fish hook, and the hook is adapted for partial embedment in a flexible plastic fishing lure to achieve the same result.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One of the most effective lures in taking game fish, including the fresh water variety such as large mouth and small mouth bass, crappie and the like, as well as saltwater varieties, including red fish, speckled trout and similar fish, is the flexible plastic lure which can be molded in substantially any desired size, shape, color and consistency. A popular technique for retrieving plastic fishing lures at a desired depth in a waterbody is to embed a hook in the soft plastic of the fishing lure and place a weight or sinker on the line or on the hook shank, typically at the very top or bottom thereof, to cause the flexible plastic fishing lure to sink to a desired depth before and during retrieval. Retrieval of flexible plastic fishing lures rigged in this manner is typically effected by initially lifting, and subsequently lowering the tip of the fishing rod and intermittently operating the reel to facilitate raising and falling of the lure, causing the flexible plastic fishing lure to assume a swimming appearance. Accordingly, the action of the weight on the hook allows the lure to be fished directly on the bottom of the waterbody, where the lure is typically bounced off the bottom in a swimming or crawling simulation, or fished at the surface or an intermediate depth, depending upon the lure design and speed of retrieval. Problems with conventional sinkers and weights attached to the fishing line and the shanks of the hooks in prior art hooks include snagging or catching of the sinker on underwater obstacles such as moss, rocks, tree limbs, stumps, grass, weeds and the like when a lure is fished on the bottom and improper balancing of the impaled lure in the water during retrieval. The balancing problem includes excessive rate of sinking in the case of slip sinkers placed on the fishing line and excessive weight of improper shape placed on the hook shank in the wrong place.
Typical of the prior art weighted hook devices is the “Mustad FFN-ACKY”™ which includes a straight shank that curves to a reverse bend for embedment in the plastic fishing lure and includes a weight added to the top of the hook shank for causing the weighted fishing lure to sink to a desired depth in a waterbody. An early fishing line hook and sinker is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 83,681, patented Nov. 3, 1868. Other patents detailing various types of hooks with sinkers include U.S. Pat. No. 148,926, patented Mar. 24, 1874 to M. V. Cahon; U.S. Pat. No. 1,295,370, patented Feb. 25, 1919 to F. A. Porter; U.S. Pat. No. 167,687, dated Sep. 14, 1875, to Pitcher; U.S. Pat. No. 2,185,666, patented Jan. 2, 1940 to A. D. Hill, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,842, dated Jan. 1, 1957, to T. McCade; U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,366, patented Apr. 11, 1989 to J. T. Manno; U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,743, dated Jun. 22, 1993, to McClellan; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,494, dated May 11, 1999 to Herb Reed.
It has been found in the course of this invention that a low-profile, double-tapered weight can be applied to a curved or straight shank fishing hook to facilitate embedment of portions of the hook in a flexible plastic fishing lure, and fishing of the hook and lure at a desired depth in an easily controlled manner. Preferably, the low-profile, double-tapered weight is applied to the shank of the hook at a location between a bend in one end of the shank and the opposite end of the shank from the bend. It has further been found that the low profile, double-tapered weight located on the shank serves the purpose of improving the lure rigging and preventing, or at least greatly minimizing, snagging of the lure and the partially embedded hook on underwater obstacles such as moss, weeds, rocks, tree limbs and the like and facilitates a much smoother retrieval, whether the lure is being bounced off the bottom in heavy brush, rocks or the like, or retrieved on the surface or at an intermediate depth through the waterbody. Furthermore, placement of the streamlined, low-profile double-tapered weight on the hook shank near the end of the shank opposite the bend in the shank effects a surprisingly natural sinking of the hook-impaled lure, slightly head-down and with a slow descent, as well as a more natural “swimming action” of the lure due to minimum water resistance from the double-tapered, low profile weight.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide new and improved, fish hooks comprising a double-tapered weight attached to the shank for causing the hooks and lures in which the hooks are partially embedded, to sink at a desired rate to a desired retrieval depth, which depth is determined primarily by the weight size and speed of retrieval of the hooks and lures through a waterbody.
Another object of this invention is to provide a straight shank fish hook for embedment in the body portion of a flexible plastic fishing lure such as a flexible plastic worm, which hook includes a straight shank fitted with a low profile, double-tapered weight, an extended shank bend provided at one end of the straight shank to define an extended shank, a reverse bend provided in the extended shank to define a reverse bend neck, a hook tip and a hook barb. At the opposite end of a straight shank above the weight there is provided an offset shank defined by a shank offset bend that defines the shank offset and a shank neck bend that terminates in a hook eye.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a curved shank fish hook for partial embedment in flexible plastic fishing lures such as flexible plastic worms, which fish hook includes a curved shank segment fitted with a low profile, double-tapered weight. A reverse bend terminates the curved shank to define a reverse bend neck, which terminates in a hook tip and a hook barb. The opposite end of the curved shank, like the straight shank fish hook, terminates in a shank offset bend, a shank offset, a shank neck bend and a shank neck, which terminates in a hook eye.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThese and other objects of the invention are realized in new and improved weighted fish hooks which include, according to one embodiment, a straight shank weighted fish hook for partial embedment in the head and body portion of a flexible plastic fishing lure such as a flexible plastic worm, which hook includes a straight shank fitted with a streamlined, low profile, double-tapered weight, an extended shank bend provided at one end of the straight shank to define an extended shank, with a reverse bend provided in the extended shank to define a reverse bend neck, hook tip and hook barb. At the opposite end of the straight shank and above the weight there is provided a shank offset bend that defines a shank offset, a shank neck bend and a shank neck that terminates in a hook eye.
According to another embodiment, a curved shank weighted fish hook is provided for partial embedment in flexible plastic fishing lures such as flexible plastic worms, which fish hook includes a curved shank segment fitted with a streamlined, low profile, double-tapered weight. A reverse bend terminates one end of the curved shank to define a reverse bend neck, which terminates in a hook tip and a hook barb. The opposite end of the curved shank, like the straight shank weighted fish hook, terminates in a shank offset bend, a shank offset, a shank neck bend, and a shank neck, which terminates in a hook eye.
According to either the curved hook shank or the straight hook shank embodiment, the weight is located on the shank of the hook between the bend at one end of the hook shank and the hook eye at the opposite end of the hook shank. The preferred location of the weight will depend on the size of the hook and the amount of the weight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In each of
Referring initially to
As further illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring again to
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the straight shank weighted fish hook 1 and the curved shank weighted fish hook 24 can be constructed in any desired size or “number”, as fish hooks are numbered in the art, with a double-tapered weight 15 (typically, but not necessarily constructed of lead) of corresponding size and weight provided on the straight shank 2 and the curved shank 25, respectively. For example, either of the straight shank weighted fish hook 1 or the curved shank weighted fish hook 24 can be made in sizes including but not limited to 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0 sizes. Similarly, double-tapered weight 15 can be provided in weights including but not limited to 1/32 oz., 1/16 oz., and 3/32 oz. Exemplary embodiments of a straight hook weighted shank and a curved hook weighted shank where at least the low-profile double-tapered weights are provided in a heavier weight are illustrated in
Referring now to
As illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Regardless of the selected size or weight of the double-tapered weights 15 and 150, double-tapered weights 15 and 150 are provided with a top weight taper 16 and 160, respectively, and a bottom weight taper 17 and 170 respectively, to facilitate weedless action of the plastic worm lure 19 illustrated in
Referring now to all of
Furthermore, under circumstances where the straight shank weighted fish hooks 1 and 100 and curved shank weighted fish hooks 24 and 240 encounter moss, weeds or underwater obstacles such as limbs and the like, the top weight tapers 16 and 160, and the bottom weight tapers 170 on the double-tapered weights 15 and 150 in each case, facilitate a low profile for easy slipping through the weeds or moss, and over and around limbs to minimize entanglement of the plastic worm lure 19, the straight shank weighted fish hooks 1 and 100, and the curved shank weighted fish hooks 24 and 240 in the underwater obstacles. This streamlined, low profile of the double-tapered weights 15 and 150 in each case also facilitates a more natural retrieval of the plastic worm lure 19, since it offers minimum resistance to water pressure and does not materially interfere with the natural “swimming” action and movement of the plastic worm lure 19 through the water.
Referring again to the drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a primary consideration of the straight shank weighted fish hooks 1 and 100, and the curved shank weighted fish hooks 24 and 240, is the positioning and location, as well as the streamlined profile and shape of the double-tapered weights 15 and 150 in each case. The double-tapered weights 15 and 150 include a top weight taper 16 and 160, respectively, and a bottom weight taper 17 and 170 respectively. Furthermore, the position of the double-tapered weights 15 and 150, where the top weight tapers 16 and 160 in each case terminate slightly below the shank offset bend 10 in the straight shank weighted fish hooks 1 and 100 illustrated in
Accordingly, when cast and before retrieval, the plastic worm lure 19 illustrated in
It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that either of a straight shank or a curved shank fish hook of the embodiments disclosed herein may be mounted on a wide variety of plastic fishing lures, including worms, lizards, grubs, crawfish, shad and other lures and baits of all descriptions, in non-exclusive particular, typically, but not necessarily, in the manner illustrated in
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A fish hook comprising:
- a hook shank having a first end, a second end and a weight-bearing portion intermediate said first end and said second end, said hook shank further comprising: a hook eye at said first end; a hook tip at said second end; an offset bend between said weight-bearing portion and said hook eye; an offset portion between said offset bend and said hook eye; a neck bend between said offset portion and said hook eye; a neck between said neck bend and said hook eye; and a reverse bend between said weight-bearing portion and said hook tip; and
- a weight disposed about said weight-bearing portion of said shank, said weight having a middle portion, a first end and a second end, wherein said weight tapers from said middle portion to said first and second ends thereof, respectively.
2. The fish hook of claim 1, wherein said hook shank is curved from said offset bend to said reverse bend.
3. The fish hook of claim 2, wherein said reverse bend further comprises a barb.
4. The fish hook of claim 1, wherein said hook shank further comprises a bend between said weight-bearing portion and said reverse bend and wherein said hook shank is substantially straight between said offset bend and said bend.
5. The fish hook of claim 4, wherein said reverse bend further comprises a barb.
6. A fish hook comprising:
- a hook shank;
- a curved portion at a first end of said hook shank, said curved portion having a first end and a second end;
- a hook tip at a first end of said curved portion;
- a hook eye at a second end of said hook shank;
- a shank offset bend between said second end of said curved portion and said hook eye;
- a shank offset between said shank offset bend and said hook eye;
- a shank neck bend between said shank offset and said hook eye;
- a shank neck between said shank neck bend and said hook eye; and
- a weight provided on said curved portion between said shank offset bend and said hook tip, said weight having a middle portion, a first end and a second end, wherein said weight symmetrically tapers from said middle portion to said first and second ends thereof, respectively.
7. The fish hook of claim 6, wherein said curved portion further comprises a reverse bend intermediate said first and second ends thereof.
8. The fish hook of claim 7 wherein said reverse bend further comprises a barb.
9. A lure comprising:
- a lure body;
- a hook at least partially embedded in said lure body, said hook comprising: a hook shank; a curved portion at a first end of said hook shank, said curved portion having a first end and a second end; a hook tip at a first end of said curved portion; a hook eye at a second end of said hook shank; a shank offset bend between said second end of said curved portion and said hook eye; a shank offset between said shank offset bend and said hook eye; a shank neck bend between said shank offset and said hook eye; a shank neck between said shank neck bend and said hook eye; and a weight concentrically disposed about said curved portion, said weight having a middle portion, a first end and a second end, wherein said weight symmetrically tapers from said middle portion to said first and second ends thereof, respectively; wherein said hook eye, said shank neck, and said shank neck bend are at least partially embedded in said lure body.
10. The lure of claim 9 wherein said curved portion further comprises a reverse bend between said first and second ends thereof.
11. The lure of claim 10 wherein said reverse bend is at least partially embedded in said lure body.
12. The lure of claim 10 wherein said reverse bend extends alongside said lure body.
13. The lure of claim 10 wherein said reverse bend further comprises a barb.
14. The lure of claim 13 wherein said barb is spaced from said hook tip.
15. The lure of claim 13 wherein said barb is at least partially embedded in said lure body.
16. The lure of claim 13 wherein said barb extends alongside said lure body.
17. The lure of claim 9 wherein said shank offset, said shank offset bend, and said weight are not embedded in said lure body.
18. The lure of claim 9 further comprising a fishing line tied to said hook eye.
19. The lure of claim 9 wherein said weight is not embedded in said lure body.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2006
Inventor: Wayne Falcon (Lafayette, LA)
Application Number: 11/414,850
International Classification: A01K 83/00 (20060101);