GB2267423A

GB2267423A - Hooks for use by anglers.

Info

Publication number: GB2267423A
Application number: GB9211916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ross Keightley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-05
Filing date: 1992-06-05
Publication date: 1993-12-08
Also published as: GB9211916D0

Abstract

A hook for use by anglers comprises a shank 2 terminating in a contoured point 3, the angle made between the end of the contoured point remote from its tip and the shank as the point end approaches and merges with the shank being no less than 90 DEG . <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in and relating to Hooks for use by Analers This invention relates to hooks for use by anglers.

Conventionally the point of a fish hook is formed with a barb at its end remote from its tip to assist retention of bait on the hook and to minimise the possibility of a fish, having taken a bait, breaking free from the hook.

The presence of the barb on the hook point does, however, tend to make it more difficult for an angler to release a fish from a hook before it is returned to the water. Indeed particularly when used by inexperienced anglers a barbed hook can cause serious harm to the mouth of a fish The present invention sets out to provide a hook for use by anglers which can readily be removed from the mouth of a fish without causing serious damage thereto.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a hook for use by anglers which comprises a shank terminating in a point which is contoured to include a diverging tip section which merges smoothly into a converging section which in turn merges smoothly into the shank of the hook.

In another aspect. the invention provides a hook for use by anglers which comprises a shank terminating in a contoured point, the angle made between the end of the contoured point remote from its tip and the shank as the point end approaches and merges with the shank being no less than 900 . Thus, the end face of the point remote from its tip may be round to the shank or may sub tend an angle greater than 900 to the shank.

The point may be formed symmetrically about a straight line defining an extension of the longitudinal axis of the end of the shank adjoining the point; alternatively the point may be formed symmetrically about a curved line which defines an extension of the longitudinal axis of the end of the shank adjoining the point.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagramatical drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a conventional fish hook not in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a hook in accordance with the invention; and Figures 3 and 4 are side views of alternative hooks in accordance with the invention.

The conventional fish hook illustrated in Figure 1 includes an eye 1, a shank 2 and a point 3. The shank is turned through approximately 1800 such that the point 3 is directed towards the eye 1. The point 3 is formed with a sharp tip 4 and a rearwardly pointing barb 5. In use the tip and barb of the point are passed through a maggot, worm or other bait to retain the bait firmly on the hook.

When a fish takes the bait, the barb becomes embedded in the lip or mouth of the fish so holding the fish firmly on the hook.

When it comes to remove the hook from the mouth of the fish, considerable damage can be caused particularly by the inexperienced angler through the barb tearing the mouth of the fish.

As will be seen from Figure 2, fish hooks in accordance with the invention do not include an equivalent of the barb 3. Thus, the hook illustrated in Figure 2 has a diverging tip, section 6 which merges smoothly into a converging neck section 7 which in turn merges smoothly with the adjacent end of the shank 2.

In user a bait is retained on the hook behind the neck section 6 and a fish taking the bait will be retained on the hook simply through the presence of the neck section. When it comes to remove the fish from the hook, the point can be withdrawn from the mouth of the fish without causing the damage which can be experienced when using a barbed point.

The hook illustrated in Figure 2 has a point which is uniformly contoured about a straight line 8 which defines an extension of the longitudinal axis of the point. The hook illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings are essentially similar to that of Figure 2 except that in Figure 3 the point is uniformly contoured about an outwardly extending curved line 9 and the point of the hook illustrated in Figure 4 is uniformly contoured about an inwardly inclined curvilinear line 10.

The hooks illustrated are simply examples of hooks in accordance with the invention and other shapes can be adopted. The important feature of all such hooks is the absence of a barb. Thus, any such hook will include a point with a converging section remote from its point or the end face of the points diverging section will lie in a place substantially normal to the shank where it joint the point.

The hooks may be produced from steel (preferably a stainless steel) and may be manufactured by a forging or shaping process.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of fish hooks in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto with out departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hook for use by anglers which comprises a shank terminating in a point which is contoured to include a diverging tip section which merges smoothly into a converging section which in turn merges smoothly into the shank of the hook.

2. A hook for use by anglers which comprises a shank terminating in a contoured point, the angle made between the end of the contoured point remote from its tip and the shank as the point end approaches and merges with the shank being no less than 900.

3. A hook as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the point is formed symmetrically about a straight line defining an extension of the longitudinal axis of the end of the shank adjoining the point.

4. A hook as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the point is formed symmetrically about a curved line which defines an extension of the longitudinal axis of the end of the shank adjoining the point.

5. A hook substantially as herein described and as described with reference to Figure 2 or Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.