Patent ID: 8020337
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
1. An automatically setting fishing hook assembly, comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first and second ends are configured for interconnection; a plurality of plates, the plates forming a first arm and a second arm pivotally disposed upon the shaft and extending radially therefrom, each of the arms having a distal end; a first hook and a second hook, each of the hooks having a shank and a bend, the shank of each said hook having an eye opposite the bend, the shank of each of the hooks being attached to the distal end of the respective first arm and second arm, the bend of the first hook being oriented in mirror image to the bend of the second hook, wherein the distal end of each arm is attached to the shank of the respective hook at a shaft attachment point, the shaft attachment point separating the shank into a bend portion and an eye portion opposite the bend portion; a coil spring disposed about the shaft between the first arm and the second arm, the spring having a first end engaging the shank of the first hook and a second end engaging the shank of the second hook, the spring urging the bend of the first hook apart from the bend of the second hook, wherein the first end of the spring engages the shank of the first hook below the eye portion and above the distal end of the first arm and the second end of the spring engages the bend portion of the shank of the second hook below the distal end of the second arm; and a latch affixed to and extending from the shank of the first hook, the latch having a distal end defining a catch for selectively engaging the shank of the second hook, the latch being located adjacent the hooks and spaced below the shaft attachment point, thereby securing the shank and the bend of the first hook and the shank and the bend of the second hook adjacent to one another, the shank and the bend of the second hook springing apart from the shank and the bend of the first hook when the distal end of the catch is released from the shank of the second hook.