Automatic fishing hook setting device

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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engaging line can comprise monofilament line, nylon

AUTOMATC FSHING HOOK SETTING DEVICE line, or wire line.

The fishing rig is particularly useful for still fishing

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION for pan fish with a bobber, such as from a pier, the bank, This invention relates to fishing equipment and, more 5 shore, or an anchored or drifting boat. For still fishing, particularly, to a fishing rig. it is preferred to use a single or weedless hook. Natural Fishing is a very popular pastime, hobby, and sport bait such as worms, night crawlers, maggots, bee-moth, among men, women, and children alike. Throughout peelers, crayfish, leaches, salmon eggs, shiners, or min the United States, Canada, and other areas of the world, 10 nows are preferred in fresh water streams, rivers, ponds, people enjoy fishing. and lakes. Shrimp and squid are preferred in salt water. There are many methods of fishing: still fishing, drift Heavier gauge wire should be used when fishing for fishing, floatfishing with a bobber, bottom fishing, troll bass, salmon, trout, muskie, northern pike, catfish, and ing, and casting from the shore, a pier, or a boat, to other freshwater and saltwaterfish over two pounds. If name a few. desired, in order to counterbalance the current, one or Enthusiastic and avid fisherman have invested time 15 more split shots, rubber cored leaded weights, slidable and money to purchase better, new, and improved fish barrel weights, pyramid weights, or other weights can ing equipment in an effort to catch more fish. The de be attached to the hook-engaging line or the fishing mand for fishing equipment and supplies has become so rod-line to lower the fishing rig to the desired depth. great that the fishing industry has grown to a multi-bil The fishing fig can also be used for ice fishing. lion dollar industry. 20

The fishing rig is also useful for casting and trolling

Over the years a variety of fish hook-setting devices, either a naked hook, baited with pork rine or a natural angling devices, and other fishing equipment have been developed. Typifying some of the prior art fish hook bait, or a lure, such as a lead headed jug or plug with one or more hooks, such as a treble hook, doulbe hook, setting devices, angling devices, and other fishing single hook, or weedless hook. The fishing rig can be equipment are those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,203,618; 25 trolled from a rod or outriggers along the surface with 2,504,822; 3,559,326; 4,043,069; and 4,141,168. These a weight or planing board. The rig can also be trolled by prior art fish hook-setting devices, angling devices, and fishing equipment have met with varying degrees of aleaded boat below the surface with a downrigger, wire line, line or a Dipsy Diver or Pink Lady type diving

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board.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved or #00, #0, 30 A fish attractor such as a polished metal flasher fishing rig which is easy-to-use, convenient, and effec dodger or #1 size silver, orange, or green metal tive. can be attached in proximity to the fish rig when trolling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A more detailed explanation of the invention is pro vided in the following description and appended claims

A improved fishing rig is provided which is effective 35 taken and efficient to catch more fish. Advantageously, the in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. improved fish rig is fun, easy-to-use, convenient, com BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS pact, and inexpensive.

To this end, the novel fishing rig has a leg assembly FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of still fishing from a with a line-attachment portion, such as a spring loop pier with a fishing rig in accordance with principles of with a rounded apex, for attachment to a line connected the present invention;

to a fishing rod. The leg assembly has pivotable legs, FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the fishing rig in preferably spring biased wire legs, which move from a a closed, cocked, latched position; FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the fishing rig in closed, cocked, latched position to a diverging, nor a diverging, spread, normally open position; and mally open position for hooking a fish. The lower or 45 distal ends of each of the legs can terminate in a station fishing FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of trolling with the ary foot comprising a rigid loop. rig.

A ring or ringlet, preferably a split ring, is slidably DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE and pivotally connected to one of the legs, preferably to PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS the leg's foot or rigid loop. A guide member, preferably 50 in the form of a snap swivel or barrel swivel, is slidably Whether a fishing rod 10 (FIG. 1) is held in the fisher and pivotally connected to the same leg, most prefera man's hand, or placed in a rod holder, or on the shore or bly to the leg's foot or rigid loop. The guide member or a pier 12 when still fishing with a bobber 14, the number swivel is spaced away and separately moveable from of fish caught and the enjoyment of fishing can be the split ring and has an eyelet positioned below the 55 greatly increased with the special fishing rig 16. The split ring. fishing rig 16, which is also sometimes referred to as a Pivotally attached to the other leg, preferably to the speed hook, bait saver, fish hook setting device, angling other leg's foot or rigid loop, is a latch assembly to latch device, assembly, or unit, is tied, attached, or clipped the ring when the rig is in the cocked latched position. directly, or by means of a swivel, to the fishing line 18 The latch assembly preferably has a latch at one end, an 60 between the bobber 14 and fishing rig. The fishing line end loop providing a pivot point at the other end, and a 18 is connected to the reel 20 of the fishing rod. The rig central intermediate loop for attachment to a hook 16 can be raised and lowered by cranking (turning) the engaging line. The hook-engaging line passes through handle 22 of the fishing reel 20 of the fishing rod. the eyelet of the guide member or swivel and is fixedly As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fishing rig 16 has connected and securely attached at one end to the latch 65 a resilient, semi-rigid, wire, n-shaped, or inverted U assembly, preferably to the central intermediate loop, shaped or V-shaped, unitary, flexible leg assembly 24. and at its other end to a hook, such as a single hook, The leg assembly 24 has an upper central spring loop or double hook, treble hook, or weedless hook. The hook coil 26 which is connected and attached by a knot 28 or

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swivel to the fishing line 18 and has symmetrical, bend the hook-engaging line 58. The snap member 62 can be able, bifurcated, elongated legs 30 and 32 which diverge opened to insert or remove the line 58. The line 58 can outwardly and are integrally connected to the spring be inserted or threaded, however, in the guide without loop 26. The legs 30 and 32 are moveable from an arcu opening the snap member 62.

ate convex, outwardly bulging, bent, retracted, cocked, 5 The hook-engaging line 58 slidably extends through biased, spring-loaded, latched, and trapping, closed the eyelet of the swivel 56 and is securely tied and position as shown in FIG. 2 to an expanded, spread, fixedly connected at its upper end to the intermediate diverging, released, normally open hook-setting posi line-engaging loop 52 of the latch assembly 46 near the tion for hooking a fish as shown in FIG. 3 and vice left leg 30. The lower end of the hook-engaging line 58 versa. The spring loop 26 biases and urges the legs 30 10 is securely tied and fixedly connected to a single hook and 32 to the normally open hook-setting position. In 64, or other type of hook such as a weedless hook, the preferred embodiment, the legs 30 and 32 are the double hook, or treble hook 66 (FIG. 4). same size and are substantially straight in the open posi tion. The legs include a left leg 30 and a right leg 32. fish understilltwo

When fishing with a bobber 14 (FIG. 1) for pan

The left leg 30 has a lower end portion 34 which termi 15 brook trout, etc.,pounds, such as for bluegill, crappie, nates in a left annular foot comprising a latch-support leg assembly 24 (FIG. 2) of thefor it is preferred best results that the ing wire loop 36. The right leg 32 has a lower end por structed of 0.041 inch gauge spring steel, rig fishing 16 be con that the hook tion 38 which terminates in a right annular foot com engaging line 58 and fishing line 18 be from about 1 to prising a swivel-supporting wire loop 40.

The upper portions 42 and 44 of the legs 30 and 32 are pound test monofilament line, and that the hook 644 20 8 pound test monofilament line, most preferably positioned about 60 degrees from each other in the comprise a single number 6 hook. When still fishing closed position (FIG. 2) and the lower portions 34 and with a bobber 14 (FIG. 1) for freshwater fish over 2 38 of the legs are positioned from about 10 to 25 degrees pounds, such as for salmon, steelhead trout, German from each other in the closed position. In the open position (FIG. 3), the legs 30 and 32 are positioned from 25 Brown trout, muskie, northern pike, bass, etc., or for about 75 to 90 degrees from each other. For best results, saltwater fish over 2 pounds, such as red snapper, sea bass, drum, cobia, mackerel, bluefish, etc., or when the legs 30 and 32 are formed of 0.041 inch to 0.067 inch casting or trolling the rig 16 for such fish as in FIG. 4, gauge spring steel music wire or piano wire. If desired, it is preferred that the leg assembly 24 of the fishing rig other gauge steel or other materials can be used.

Pivotally connected to the latch-supporting loop 36 30 16 be constructed of 0.067 inch gauge wire, that the of the left leg 30, is a unitary substantially rigid wire hook-engaging line 58 and fishing line 18 be from 10 to latch assembly 46. The latch assembly 46 can be made 20 pound test line, most preferably 15 to 17 pound test of the same gauge wire as the leg assembly 24. The latch line, and that a stronger single, double, treble, or weed assembly 46 has a terminal loop or coil 48 at its left end less hook or ice hook be used. The hook-engaging line and a hooked finger at its right end comprising an L-35 58 can be of a stronger pound test line than the fishing shaped latch 50. In order to facilitate smooth tripping of line 8, if the hook-engaging line 58 is to serve as a shock the rig and unhooking (unlatching) of the latch 50, it is leader. Monofilament line, nylon line, or wire line can preferred that the latch have a substantially deburred be used as desired for the hook-engaging line 58 and/or rounded, tapered, bullet-shaped head or a chamfered the fishing line.

head. The latch assembly 46 also has a downwardly 40 A lure 70 (FIG. 4), such as a lead head jig with a extending, central intermediate line-engaging loop 52, single hook or a plug, such as a J-plug, Rapala or Rebel which is positioned between and integrally connected type diving or floating plug, Northport Nailer or other to the terminal loop 48 and the latch 50. The latch 50 is spoon, skirted buzz baits, flies, squids, Mepps-type spin cantilevered and extends from the line-engaging loop 52 ner, etc, can be tied or otherwise secured to the hook and latches and lockingly engages a moveable metal 45 engaging line 58 with one or more single or treble hooks split ring 54 or ringlet when the rig 16 is in the closed 66, when trolling or casting the jig 16. A fish attractor latch position (FIG. 2). The latch 50 can be bent, if 72, such as a polished metal flasher or dodger can be desired, with a pliers, slitted roll pin, or other tool to attached to the fishing line 18 above the rig 16 when adjust the latching force or releasability of the latch 50. trolling the rig 16 at a desired depth below a boat 74 The split ring 54 is slidably linked and pivotally con 50 with a downrigger 76 and/or downrigger ball or weight nected to the swivel-supporting loop 40 of the right leg 78.

32. The split ring 54 is latchingly connected and lock In use, when the fishing rig 16 is used for still fishing ingly engaged to the latch 50 when the rig 16 is in the with a bobber 14, such as shown in FIG. 1, the rig 16 is closed latched position as shown in FIG.2 and is spaced squeezed, bent, or otherwise moved to the retracted away and unlatched from the latch 50 when the rig 16 55 cocked closed position as shown in FIG. 2 and the latch is in the open position as shown in FIG. 3. 50 is latched (hooked) to the split ring 54. The hook 64 Slidably positioned adjacent the split ring 54 on the can be baited with natural or artificial bait, either before swivel-supporting loop 40 of the right leg 32, is a guide or after the rig 16 is moved to the cocked closed posi member 56. The guide member 56 preferably comprises tion. After the hook 64 is baited and the rig 16 is moved a metal swivel. The swivel 56 can be a barrel swivel, but 60 to the cocked closed position, the rig is cast or placed at most preferably comprises a snap swivel for ease of its desired location in the water. When a fish strikes the insertion and removal of the hook-engaging line 58. The baited hook 64, it will pull the hook-engaging line 58 via swivel 56 has an upper ringlet 60 which is slidably the hook 64 causing the latch 50 to be pulled out of the linked and pivotally connected to the swivel-supporting split ring 54. Thereafter, the rig 16 will instantly spring loop of the right leg 32. The swivel 56 also has a down- 65 and trip to its expanded open position as shown in FIG. wardly extending snap member 62 or latch which closes 3, jerking the hook upwardly to simultaneously hook to form a lower line-receiving eyelet that provides a the lip or jaw of the fish. Once the fish is hooked, the guide to annularly surround, guide, and slidably receive presence and force of the fish is transmitted through the

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fishing line 18 to the fisherman and the fisherman can devices. Among the many advantages of the novel fish reel up the fish. ing rig are:

In order to cast or trolled the fishing rig 16 from a 1. Superior fish catching ability. boat, such as shown in FIG. 4, the rig 16 is squeezed, 2. Outstanding hook-setting device. bent, or otherwise moved to the retracted, cocked, 3. Quality construction.

closed position and the latch 50 is latched to the split 4. Economical ring 54 as described above. The hook may or may not 5. Simple to use.

be baited as desired by the fisherman, if a lure 70 is used. 6. Fun.

The fishing rig is then cast or lowered with a downrig 7. Easy to store.

ger 76 to the desired depth. When the fish strikes the O 8. Convenient.

hook 66, it will pull the hook-engaging line 58 causing 9. Efficient.

the latch 50 to be pulled out of the split ring 54, so that 10. Effective.

the rig 16 will snap open to its expanded position caus Although embodiments of the invention has been ing the hook to jerk towards the rig 16 and hook the lip shown and described, it is to be understood that various or jaw of the fish in a manner similar to that described 15 modifications and substitutions, as well as rearrange previously. Once the fish is hooked, the force of the fish ments of parts, can be made by those skilled in the art will release the fishing line 18 from the downrigger wire without departing from the novel spirit and scope of line 80, causing the tip of the rod 0 to jerk or move, this invention.

signaling the presence of a fish and the fisherman can What is claimed is:

reel up the fish. 20 1. A fishing rig, comprising: It was unexpectedly and surprisingly found that the leg means for attachment to a fishing rod-line, said leg fishing rig 16 caught much more fish and had many means having pivotable legs, said legs being biased more strikes than a similar rod, reel, and fishing line from a cocked latched position whereby the latch used without the rig but with a similar hook and bait. position connects the base end of said biased legs to The fishing rig was extensively tested over a period of 25 a diverging normally open position for hooking a time and achieved (caught) seven times more fish than fish;

the same rod, reel, line, hook, and bait without the rig. ring means slidably connected to one of said legs; EXAMPLE 1. latch means pivotally connected to the other leg for latching said ring in said latched position;

A six foot, two piece fiberglass fishing rod with six 30 guide means pivotally connected to said one of said metal guides and a cork handle, equipped with a John legs, said guide means defining an eyelet positioned son spin casting closed face reel, Sabra model 545, eight below said ring means;

pound monofilament Trilene line, and a single number 6 hook means; and

True-Tun hook was tested for still fishing with a bobber hook-engaging line means passing through said eye with and without a fishing rig 16 in fishing waters of 35 let, said line means having one end fixedly con Indiana, as was a 53 foot single piece pistol grip graphite nected to said latch means and another end fixedly rod equipped with a Shimano open face reel, eight connected to said hook means. pound monofilament Trilene line, and a single number 6 2. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein True-Tun hook and a 5 foot single piece Spiral graph said leg means has a spring loop with a rounded apex for ite rod equipped with a Garcia Mitchell open face reel, attachment to said fishing rod-line. model #300A, eight pound monofilament Trilene line, 3. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein and a single number 6 True-Tun hook. The leg assembly each of said legs has a stationary foot comprising a rigid was constructed of 0.041 inch gauge spring steel music loop, one of said loops being pivotally connected to wire as was the latch assembly. Plastic ball bobbers and both said ring means and adjacent said guide means and vertical, slidable, balsa wood bobbers were used. The 45 the other loop being pivotally connected to said latch rods were tested over 75 times during a period of three S.

months. During the test period, numerous bluegill, sun 4. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein fish, large and/or small mouth bass, rock bass, carp, said latch means has one end defining a pivot point, catfish and bull head were caught. The fishing rig 16, another end providing a latch, and an intermediate cen however, caught over 7 times more fish than a similar 50 tral portion positioned between said pivot point and said similar same rod, reel, line, hook and bait without the latch comprising a loop securely connected to said line rig. On some occasions, when fishing with b-moth (bee S.

moth larvae), over 15 fish per hour were caught with 5. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rig 16. said said ring means comprises a ringlet.

EXAMPLE 2

55 6. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein said said ring means comprises a split ring.

A Japanese fish catcher was constructed to have the 7. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein structure described in Nishi U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,168. said said guide means comprises a swivel selected from The Nishi Japanese fish catcher and applicants fishing the group consisting of a snap swivel and a barrel rig 16 were constructed of the same gauge wire and swivel.

were tested on the said day and location with the equip 8. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein ment and under the conditions of Example 1. Similar said wherein said hook means is selected from the group types of fish were caught. Applicants' fishing rig, how consisting of a single hook, a double hook, a treble ever, caught over three times as many fish than a similar hook, and a weedless hook.

rod, hook, bait, and line equipped with the Nishi Japa 65 9. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 1 wherein nese fish catcher. In conclusion, applicants have in said wherein said line means is selected from the group vented a novel fishing rig which is enjoyable and suc consisting of monofilament line, nylon line, and wire cessful in catching more fish than prior art methods and line.

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10. A fishing rig, comprising: upper end connected to said intermediate line a resilient wire leg assembly having an upper central engaging loop of said latch assembly. spring loop for attachment to a line of a fishing rod 11. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 10 wherein and substantially symmetrical elongated legs inte said latch comprises a substantially L-shaped latch with grally connected to said spring loop, said legs being 5 a substantially rounded deburred head. moveable from an expanded spread released nor mally open hook setting position for hooking a fish said12.resilient

A fishing rig in accordance with claim 10 wherein wire leg assembly comprises from about to an arcuate convex bent cocked biased closed 0.041 inch to about 0.067 inch gauge spring steel music latched trapping position, said spring loop urging We said legs to said open position, said legs being sub 10 stantially the same size and including a left leg and said13.wire

A fishing rigin accordance with claim 12 wherein latch assembly and said resilient wire com a right leg, said left leg having a lower end portion terminating in a latch-supporting loop, and said prise similar gauge spring steel wire. right leg having a lower end terminating in a swiv said14.legs A fishing rigin accordance with claim 10 wherein comprises bifurcated legs with upper portions,

a unitary wire latch assembly pivotally connected to said upper portions of said leg being positioned about 60 said latch supporting loop, said unitary wire latch degrees from each other in said closed position, said assembly having a terminal loop at one end pivot lower ends of said legs being positioned from about 10 ally and slidably linked to said latch-supporting degrees to about 25 degrees from each other in said loop, an intermediate line-engaging loop integrally 20 closed position, and said legs being spaced from about connected to said terminal loop, and a hooked open 75 degrees to about 90 degrees from each other in said finger at the other end comprising a latch cantilev position.

ered and integrally extending from said intermedi 15. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 10 includ ate line-engaging loop; ing a bobber connected to the line above said upper a moveable split ring comprising a ringlet slidably 25 central spring loop, said resilient wire leg assembly linked and pivotally connected to said swivel-sup comprising substantially 0.041 inch gauge spring steel porting loop, said split ring latchingly connected wire, said hook-engaging line comprising from about 1 and lockingly engaging said latch in said closed pound to about 8 pound monofilament line, and said position and being spaced from said latch in said hook comprising a single number 6 hook. open position; 30 16. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 10 includ a swivel having an upper swivel ringlet slidably ing a a lure connected to said hook, said resilient wire linked and pivotally connected to said swivel-sup leg assembly comprising substantially 0.067 inch gauge porting loop in proximity to said split ring and wire, said hook engaging line comprising from about 10 having a lower line-receiving eyelet providing a pound to about 20 pound line.

guide, said eyelet being positioned lower than said 35 17. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 16 wherein split ring and said intermediate line-engaging loop said lure comprises a plug and said hook comprises a in said closed position; treble hook.

a hook; and 18. A fishing rig in accordance with claim 16 wherein a hook-engaging line slidably extending through said said lure comprises a lead headed jig and said hook eyelet of said swivel, said hook-engaging line hav- 40 comprises a single hook.

ing a lower end connected to said hook and an sk k