Patent ID: 6301825
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A safety device adapted for use with a fishing hook having a shank portion and a sharp or barbed end to protect the hook and/or to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of the hook causing damage or injury, including a receptacle for receiving at least the sharp end of the fishing hook, said receptacle being able to adopt an open configuration for receiving the hook and a closed configuration in which at least the sharp end of the hook is enclosed within the receptacle, said receptacle being further provided with a positive retaining means for positively retaining the hook in position in the receptacle when located in the receptacle, when the receptacle is in the closed configuration or in the open configuration, said positive retaining means being in the form of three spaced-apart posts, said three posts being positioned such that a plane passes through all three of said posts, a first and a second of said posts each having a proximal end attached to said receptacle, intermediate portions on one side of said plane and end portions on an opposite side of said plane, a third of said posts having a proximal end attached to said receptacle, an intermediate portion on said opposite side of said plane and an end portion on said one side of said plane, said positive retaining means retaining the hook against inadvertent or accidental displacement from the receptacle when the receptacle is in the open configuration or in the closed configuration, thereby protecting the sharp end of the hook from being damaged or from causing injury or damage.