CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS
This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefits of provisional application Ser. No. 29/564,961 filed May 17, 2016.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to securing a worm (real or artificial) in close proximity to a fish hook but not directly on the shaft of the fish hook.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the traditional method and apparatus used to thread a worm W onto a hook 1. First the worm W is threaded down its length over a needle 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The fisherman holds a handle 3 that secures the needle 2. The needle 2 has a distal hole 4 that receives the tip T of the hook 1 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1. The hook 1 is tied to the string 5.
In FIG. 2 the fisherman has pushed the worm W off the needle 2 up and over the hook 1 so as to position the worm W over a shank of the hook and up over the string 5. How much of the worm W that remains on the hook 1 is determined by the fisherman. The design idea is to get the fish to bite the worm W, and the hook tip T cuts into a segment of the fish's mouth.
A problem with this design is that the fish may detect the hook 1 and decide not to bite the worm W. What is needed in the art is a system that keeps the worm separate from the worm so that the fish is not afraid to bite the worm. What is further needed is a system that pulls the hook into the fish's mouth as the fish swims away with the worm. The present invention offers several systems that thread the worm onto the string while keeping the hook away from the worm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary aspect of the present invention is to provide a worm threader that is separate from the hook.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a threader on the fishing line that can be pushed through a worm lengthwise while allowing a chosen length of the fishing line to be separate from the hook so that a fish biting the worm will cause the worm to slide down to the hook, thus hooking the fish when the fish swims away with the worm.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an embodiment that clamps the worm and optionally slides down the fishing line to force the hook into the fish's mouth as the fish swims away.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide for an adjustable length of fish line between the worm threader/clamp and the hook.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a lock means functioning to lock the worm threader/clamp anywhere along the fish line.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide enough fish line to allow a fisherman to sew his hook multiple times through the worm that is on either the threader or the clamp.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide an attachment of a lure on the clamp so as to camouflage the clamp.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a float on the fish line that is either attached to the clamp or detached from the clamp.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a first mode that allows the fish line and the hook to slide through the clamp and the float and a second mode that locks the fish line and hook a set distance from the float.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a power bait nut to be attached to the float in a first mode or be locked separate from the float in a second mode.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a sliding mount for the power bait nut to allow the nut to slide down the fish line and hook the fish.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an attachment that secures a float to an anchor for a prior art lure.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a surface float that suspends either a worm clamp or a worm clamp and float a chosen depth underwater.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a heavy sinker weight in combination with a worm clamp and float combination to allow fishing a chosen distance off the bottom with a worm.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose fixture embodiment to allow a lure to be attached below it and a float above it and provide for the line to have a hook at its distal end.
Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 (prior art) is a side perspective view of a worm threader ready to thread the worm over the hook.
FIG. 2 (prior art) is the same view as FIG. 1 with the worm threaded over and beyond the hook.
FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of a slidable worm threader.
FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the slidable worm threader of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C is a rear plan view of the slidable worm threader of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2D is a front plan view of the slidable worm threader of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2E is an exploded view of the slidable worm threader of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2F is a top perspective view of the slidable worm threader of the FIG. 2A in use.
FIG. 3A is an exploded view of a worm clamper.
FIG. 3B is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper in use.
FIG. 3C is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper in use in an alternate manner.
FIG. 3D is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper in use with an artificial lure attached.
FIG. 3E is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper attached to small float.
FIG. 3F is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper attached to a large float.
FIG. 3G is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper in use with the float separated from the worm clamper.
FIG. 4A is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper connected directly to a float.
FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view of the worm clamper connected directly to a float and shown in use.
FIG. 4C is the same view as FIG. 4B using a large float.
FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a power bait nut connected to a float.
FIG. 5B is a bottom perspective view of the FIG. 5A embodiment in use.
FIG. 5C is an exploded view of the power bait nut connected down line from a float.
FIG. 5D is a bottom perspective view of the FIG. 5C embodiment in use.
FIG. 5E is a side elevation view of a power bait nut in use hooking a fish.
FIG. 6A is an exploded view of a lure fixture embodiment connected to a float.
FIG. 6B is a bottom perspective view of the FIG. 6A embodiment in use.
FIG. 7A is a side elevation view of the FIG. 3B embodiment in use on the bottom without any floats.
FIG. 7B is a side elevation view of the FIG. 4B embodiment in use on the bottom without any floats.
FIG. 7C is a side elevation view of the FIG. 3B embodiment in use with a bottom sinker with the worm clamp attached to a float.
FIG. 7D is the same view as FIG. 7C with the float separated from the worm clamp.
Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring next to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F a worm brush 100 is shown to have a longitudinal axis A. The fish line is labeled 5 and the hook 1. A brush shaft 101 extends along axis A from the bait body 102. Optionally a brush nut 103 may be threaded onto the bait body 102 to allow affixing a variety of brush shafts.
The brush shaft 101 secures a spiraled brush 104. A tip 105 of the brush shaft 101 is sharp so as to easily be thrust up through a longitudinal axis of a worm W as seen in FIG. 2F. A groove G runs along the bait body 102 and through the threads T to enable the line 5 to pass under the line nut 106 and out the distal end D of the bait body 102. In operation when the line nut 106 is loose, the bait body 102 can slide along the fish line 5. When the line nut 106 is tightened, the bait body 102 is locked on the fish line 5. An O-ring 107 helps keep the fish line 5 in the grove G. The distance dl is set by the fisherman nominally from an inch to several feet.
Referring to FIG. 2F the fisherman has mounted the worm W on the brush shaft 101 by piercing an end of the worm W with tip 105 and then pushing the worm W over the brush 104. The fisherman has sewn the worm W with the hook 1 at area 55 in his chosen manner. Many loops of line 5 around the worm W will impede the sliding capability of the bait body down the line 5 when the fish swims away. But the fisherman can choose to keep distance dl short and plan that the fish will swallow both the worm W and the hook 1 in one bite. In this scenario the bait body 102 does not need to slide down the line 5.
Referring to the FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C a worm clamp 300 comprises a line body 301 that has a groove G to receive a line 5. The line 5 rests in the groove G in threaded upper end T1 and threaded lower end T2. O-rings 107 hold the line 5 in groove G. A lock nut 106 passes over the line 5 on upper end T1. Generally the lock nut 106 is set to allow the line body to slide down the line 5 as the fish bites the worm W and swims away. This action sets hook 1 in the fish as depicted in FIG. 5E.
The worm clamp compartment 302 comprises a top 303, a hinge 304 and a bottom 305. There are interlocking teeth 306 in both the top 303 and bottom 305. A nut is attached to the bottom 305 so as to enable the bottom 305 to be threaded onto bottom end T2 of the line body 301.
As shown in FIG. 3A generally the fisherman will thread the line 5 to exit the nut 307 at its bottom 308. Thus, the line segment 555 is set at a chosen distance dl so as to keep the hook 1 away from the worm W.
Referring next to FIG. 3C the fisherman has threaded the line 5 through the top 303 and bottom 305 so as to exit the worm clamp 300 at the distal end 309. He then has sewn the worm W at point 310 on the worm's body. The line 5 will slide in groove G and between top 303 and bottom 305 unless the fisherman chooses to lock the nut 106 against the 5 at the bottom of threaded end T1. In this mode he would shorten dl to place the hook next to the worm W so the fish bites the hook 1 with the worm W.
Referring next to FIG. 3D the lower O-ring has been replaced with an artificial lure O-ring 1070 having a skirt 1071 that camouflages clamp top 303 and bottom 305.
Referring next to FIG. 3E a float F1 has been attached to line body 301 using the common nut 106. Lower threaded end T4 screws into nut 106. Upper threaded end T3 has the continuous groove G and is capped with nut 106 U. The assembly F1 and worm clamp 300 can slide on line 5. FIG. 3F shows an identical setup with a larger float F2. In either embodiment the line body 301 can be eliminated. Then the top 303 and bottom 305 clamps assembly can be threaded directly to the float F1, F2.
Referring next to FIG. 3G the float F1 is mounted on line 5 separate from the worm clamp 300. An upper nut 106U and a lower nut 106L secure the line 5 in the groove G or float F1. When the fish hits worm W the float F1 will remain stationary on line 5.
Referring next to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C the line body 301 has been eliminated. The bottom 305 with its nut 307 threads directly onto lower threaded end T4 of float F1. Upper threaded end T3 can have either a nut 106U or just an O-ring 107 to secure line 5 in groove G. As shown the line 5 is wrapped around upper threaded end T3 and lower threaded end T4 to lock the assembly float F1 and bottom 305 fast onto line 5. Thus, the hook 1 must be set to be swallowed with the worm W as shown. The fisherman could remove the line wraps on T3, T4 so the assembly floats F1 and bottom 305 slide on line 5. The line could exit under O-ring 107F. The line segment 555 could be made several feet long.
In FIG. 4B the fully assembled combination of the float F1 and the bottom 305 is shown. The fisherman has wound his line 5 around threaded end T4 of float F1. In FIG. 4C the fisherman has chosen a larger float F2 and threaded his line 5 under the lower O-ring 107F to allow the assembly of the float F2 and bottom 305 to slide on line 5. The upper nut 106U would not be locked against line 5.
Referring next to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E a variety of power bait embodiments are shown where the fisherman has chosen to use power bait rather than a worm. A power bait lure PB100 comprises a shaft 560 with an upper threaded end T5 and a lower threaded end T6. The same continuous groove G is formed in shaft 560. A common nut 106X joins threaded end T2 to threaded end T5. The powerbait nut threads onto lower threaded end T6. The power bait PB is squeezed onto the power bait nut 561 as shown in FIG. 5B. The sliding assembly of the float F1 and the line body 301 connected to the power bait lure PB100 slides along line 5 to allow the hook 1 to rest far away from the power bait lure PB100 as shown.
Referring next to FIGS. 5C, 5D the fisherman has separated the power bait's lure PB100 from the float FIG. 1. In FIG. 5C he has threaded the line 5 to come out under O-ring 107. In FIG. 5D he threaded the line 5 all the way through the power bait's lure PB100.
Referring next to FIG. 5E the power bait lure PB100 is attached to line 5 without any float. The fish F has bitten the power bait lure PB100, as the fish swims away he slides the power bait lure PB100 down the line segment 555, and arrow OUCH shows how the hook 1 snags the fish shown by dotted hook 1000.
Referring next to FIGS. 6A, 6B line body 301 can also serve as a support for a prior art lure 602. Lower threaded end T2 receives a nut anchor 600 which has an anchor hole 601 to secure the lure 602. In FIG. 6B the float F1 is separate from the line body 301. When using the lure 602, the hook 1 is secured in hole H since it is not in use.
Referring next to FIG. 7A the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B is shown suspended from a surface float 700. In FIG. 7B the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B is shown lying on the bottom. A small sinker weight 701 has been added on the line 5.
Referring next to FIG. 7C the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B is shown floating up from a bottom sinker 800 that is on line 5. In FIG. 7D the embodiment shown in FIG. 3G is shown floating up from a bottom sinker 800 that is on line 5.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the disclosed embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.
Patent Application
20180213759
