Patent Application
20210029980
The present disclosure pertains to the field of alligator fishing or hunting for either commercial or recreational/sport purposes. More specifically, the present disclosure pertains a luminous weighted snag/snatch hook and a quick release snare.
Alligator fishing (or hunting) is a popular past time in many areas, especially in the Southeastern United States. Generally, alligator fishing is either for commercial purposes or for sport. The method of fishing is often dependent on the purpose, for example, commercial fishing often involves a bait and hook method wherein the alligator is shot and killed before harvest. Sport fishing may involve a casted hook and line wherein a large hook is used to snag the alligator and the alligator is eventually subdued using rod and reel. If a sport fisherman is fishing at night, it would be desirous to have a visual indicator of where the hook has been cast to determine whether the hook will be in position to snag the alligator. Likewise, especially in sport fishing where the number and size of legal alligators may be tightly controlled, it is desirable to have a method to secure the alligator after it is subdued to determine whether the alligator should be harvested or released. It is also desirable to have a method of quickly and safely releasing the alligator should it be determined that it will not be harvested while securely retaining the alligator while that decision is made. Additionally, restraint by a rope or a cable is often required by law prior to harvesting. The present disclosure provides both a luminous weighted snag/snatch hook and a quick release snare.
To further illustrate the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings are not to be considered limiting in scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Now referring to
Fishing hooks are sized on a scale wherein a 1/0 hook is considered the middle of the scale. Smaller hooks are given a size designation of #1, #2, etc. while larger hooks are given a designation of #2/0, #3/0, etc. The luminous weighted snag/snatch hook 10 of the present disclosure needs to be of sufficient size and strength to withstand the forces encountered when an alligator has been snagged. Accordingly, as would be recognized by one of skill in the art, a hook size of #8/0, #10/0 or #12/0 is preferred, but other sizes may be appropriate in certain conditions or locations. Additionally, a treble hook with three (3) separate hooks is preferred as well to increase the odds of snagging an alligator. Each independent hook also has a hook bend 14 and a barb 16. The luminous weighted snag/snatch hook 10 also includes a body 18 positioned between the hook bends 14 and the eyelet 12.
The body 18 may be made out of any suitable material to provide both weight to the luminous weighted snag/snatch hook 10 (which aids in casting among other things) and a bonding surface 18a for the coating agents 18b. For example, as shown in
Also provided by the present disclosure is a method of making the luminous weighted snag/snatch hook 10. The preferred embodiment is described below, however, as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, the claimed method should not be limited to the description below.
First, a treble hook is placed into a mold in which molten lead is poured around the treble hook's shank. As the molten lead solidifies, the body 18 is formed. The mold is then inverted and opened releasing the weighted hook 10 from the mold wherein the hook bends 14 are in contact with a cool, preferably wetted surface to prevent heat from the hot lead conducting past the hook bend 14 to the barb 16. The luminous weighted snag/snatch hook 10 is then immersed, while the lead is still hot, in one or more coating agents 18b. In one embodiment, there is a series of coating agents 18b used which are applied sequentially. In this embodiment, the first coating agent 18b is a white or other opaque color powder coat material in a fluid bath (optionally the color of this first coating agent is similar or identical to the desired luminescent color of the finished body of the hook) to provide a base coat. The hot lead body 18 will melt and liquify the white or other color powder coat material which will then adhere to the lead body 18. Then, immediately after extracting from the white or other color powder coat material, the weighted hook 10 is immersed in a second fluid bath containing a second clear colored powder coating material mixed with a light emitting luminescent material or agent. Again, there is sufficient residual heat from the now solidified, but still hot, lead to melt or liquify second coating agent adhering it to the first coating agent. The luminous coated hook 10 is then extracted from fluid bath and allowed to cool and cure before use.
Now referring to
At the end of the cable portion 24, the snare 20 includes a loop generating element 30. As will be described below, the loop generating element 30 creates a loop 32 that may be expanded or collapsed during the use of the snare 10 as shown in
The loop generating element 30 includes a fixed loop 34, a washer 36 and a securement means 38. The washer 36 is modified in the following manner. First, a series of additional openings are made within the washer 36 to allow the cable portion 24 to pass through the washer 36 and to allow the securement of the cable portion 24 to the washer 36 via the securement means 38. These openings may be made using a drill bit or other suitable means. There may be more than one opening of different size. For example, the fixed loop 34 is secured to the washer 36 via opposing openings of identical size. Additionally, the securement means 38 securing the cable portion 24 to the washer may or may not use a different sized opening. Finally, the cable portion 24 passes through yet another opening 40 that may or may not be the same size as other openings. In one embodiment, the opening through which the cable portion 24 passes (and through which the cable portion 24 forms the loop 32) is of a different size than the other openings on the washer 36. In one preferred embodiment, this opening is smaller than the other openings as will be described below.
As will be seen in the attached figures such as
The fixed loop 34 is secured to the washer 36 by bending a portion of cable and securing it to the washer by any suitable means known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the fixed loop 34 may be secured by welding, using crimps and/or pop rivets.
The angles created by bending the washer 36 and the passage of the drill bit (or other suitable boring means) as described above to create opening 40 are critical to the operation of the snare 20. When not under tension, the cable portion 24 may pass freely through the opening 40. However, when under tension, the cable portion 24 is held via friction such that it cannot pass through the opening 40. Thus, the loop 32 may be expanded or collapsed during use. Once the loop 32 is collapsed around an alligator, friction forces will hold the cable portion 24 in place thus maintaining the desired loop 32 size. If it desired to expand the loop 32 and thereby release the alligator, a generally upward force applied with the fixed loop 34 will change the angle through which the cable portion 24 passes through the opening 40 (and thereby the washer 36) reducing the friction between the washer 36 and the cable portion 24 allowing the cable portion 24 to pass through the opening 40.
Although particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this disclosure except as set forth in the claims.
This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/880,129 filed Jul. 30, 2019.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62880129 | Jul 2019 | US |
