Fishing hook rig and lure container

A fishing hook rig and lure container for safely and conveniently storing and transporting fishing hook rigs and lures. The container is configured for one-handed manual operation for opening a movable cover section to gain access to a compartment. The compartment is configured to receive a fishing hook rig or lure, which is tied on a fishing line and the movable cover section closes for enclosing the fishing hook rig or lure within the container. The compartment includes a lower line port and the movable cover section includes an upper line port, both of which cooperate to form a bore for protectively confining the fishing line. A securing hook is provided on the exterior of the compartment for engaging a stationary fitting on a fishing rod and reel set to retain the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to recreational fishing equipment and more particularly to a fishing hook rig, and lure container which encloses fishing hooks and lures in a conveniently accessible container to prevent injury and tangled lines resulting from exposed fishing hook rigs and lures contacting individuals and equipment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Recreational fishermen typically use fishing rod and reel sets together with an assortment of fishing equipment, which is stored and carried in a tackle box or other container. Fishing equipment includes fishing hook rigs and lures, each of which has one or more barbed fish hooks attached. Inside a tackle box fishing hook rigs and lures with exposed fish hooks tend to become entangled with other fishing hook rigs, lures, and other equipment. The barbed hooks commonly used for fishing readily become engaged with other objects. Untangling the barbed hooks is a tedious and frustrating process.

For convenience, recreational fishermen often leave a fishing hook rig or lure attached to a fishing line, on a fishing rod and reel set. The fishing hook rig or lure may have multiple fish hooks. Typically, an exposed fish hook is engaged with a guide loop, of the fishing rod and the reel is operated to draw the fishing line taught, so that the fishing hook rig or lure is retained, under tension, adjacent to the fishing rod. The fish hook, which is engaged with the guide loop and other fish hooks, on the fishing hook rig or lure, are exposed. The exposed fish hooks are likely to contact skin or clothing of fishermen and are likely to become entangled with the fishing line on other fishing rods or other equipment.

The difficulty with exposed fish hooks contacting skin, clothing and other fishing equipment has been addressed by designing containers for storing a relatively small number of fishing lures or fishing hook rigs. The containers completely enclose the fishing hook rigs or lures and prevent individuals and equipment from contacting the exposed fish hooks. Containers have also been designed to enclose a single fishing hook rig or lure, which is attached to a fishing line on a rod and reel set. The containers serve to house fishing hook rigs and lures when not in use, as well as when the fishing equipment is being transported.

When containers of the prior art are used to enclose a fishing hook rig or lure, which is attached to a fishing line on a rod and reel set, the fishing line must pass into the container where the fishing hook rig or lure is stored and the container must be closed. The closures typically have opposed overlapping edges, which obstruct free passage and crimp of chafe the fishing line, weakening the affected area. The fishing line may fail during use, causing the loss of the fishing hook rig or lure, together with the potential catch. Containers have been provided with an opening through which the fishing line may be threaded before the container closure has been engaged but the openings tend to be relatively small and difficult to thread. If the fishing line does not remain in position, within the opening, when the closure is engaged, the fishing line will be crimped.

Fishing lures are produced in a range of sizes from minnow shaped plugs to larger lures, such as large lipped plugs, top water lures, large cone head lures, jet head lures, magnum trolling plugs, and other relatively large lures and rigs. Containers of the prior art are not available in a range of sizes so as to accommodate the full range of fishing lures used by recreational fishermen.

While the prior art containers are convenient for storing fishing hook rigs and lures inside a tackle box, the most advantageous use is in enclosing the fishing hook rigs and lures, which are attached to a fishing line on a rod and reel set. A fisherman typically uses both hands to maneuver the container to receive the fishing hook rig or lure and to operate the closure mechanism for enclosing the fishing hook rig or lure. Some means must be devised to suspend the fishing hook rig or lure from the fishing line, in a relatively static position, so that it may be received into the container. The process is somewhat inconvenient. Also, in removing a fishing hook rig or lure, a fisherman must use both hands to open the container, making it difficult to steady the fishing rod and reel set, and avoid having the fishing hook rig or lure swing freely and snag clothing, equipment or a fisherman. Containers of the prior art often include a tensioned clip to retain the container in engagement with the fishing rod. The clips have a tendency to slide along the rod and can scratch the rod, bend the guide loops, or cause the inserts to fail.

Accordingly, there is a need for a fishing hook rig and lure container, which is configured to conveniently receive the fishing line into an unobstructed bore for passing the line into the container, without crimping. There is a need for containers constructed in a range of sizes for containing fishing hook rigs and lures in the full range of sizes. There is a need for a container configured for one-handed operation to open the container, insert the fishing hook rig or lure, and close the container. There is a need for a container having a fitting for engaging with a fishing rod or other equipment, which will not slide and scratch the rod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a fishing hook rig and lure container, which is configured for convenient one-handed operation to receive and enclose one or more fishing hook rigs or lures. The container has an inner storage space and an exterior surface. Cover means are provided to enclose the fishing hook rigs or lures within the inner storage space. Cover means are operable to selectively allow access to the inner storage space. A straight bore is provided for maintaining an unobstructed passage for the fishing line attached to the fishing hook rig or lure, in the container. A securing hook is mounted on the exterior surface, of the container, for engaging the fishing rod and reel set.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container having manually operable cover means configured for one-handed operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a container having a straight bore to allow unobstructed passage of a fishing line.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide containers in a range of sizes to accommodate the full size range of fishing hook rigs and lures.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a container having a securing hook which can engage a portion of a fishing rod without causing cosmetic or structural damage to the fishing rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown throughout the drawings, the present invention is generally directed toward fishing hook rig and lure container that is configured for one-handed operation to conveniently enclose a fishing hook rig or lure in a compartment, for storage or transport; thereby; eliminating injury, tangling and snagging from exposed fish hooks. The present invention may be used to enclose fishing hook rigs or lures, which are not attached to a fishing line, but the primary benefit is obtained when the present invention is used to enclose fishing hook rigs or lures, which are attached to a fishing line, on a fishing rod and reel set. The conventional method of securing a fishing lure is shown inFIG. 1, which includes an inset circle shown as a close-up view inFIG. 2. A fish hook, on the fishing lure is engaged inside a guide loop of the fishing rod and the fishing reel is operated to apply tension to the fishing line and secure the fishing lure adjacent to an intermediate portion of the fishing rod. The fishing lure is secure but the fish hook is exposed.

The fishing hook rig and lure container100of the present invention is shown, perspectively, inFIGS. 3-13. The container100is configured to have and exterior surface and an inner storage space. The container100comprises a cover means, a compartment300, and a securing hook400. Cover means preferably comprises a movable cover section200, and a stationary cover section200′. The movable cover section200comprises an elongated generally rectangular movable cover section top210, a pair of movable cover section sides220, extending downward from the longer edges of the movable cover section top210, and a movable cover section front230, extending downward from a one of the shorter sides of the movable cover section top210. Each of the movable cover section sides220is joined at adjacent edges to the movable cover section front230to define a downward periphery in spaced apart relation to the movable cover section top210, as shown inFIG. 7. The stationary cover section200′ comprises a stationary cover section top210′, a pair of stationary cover section sides220′ and a stationary cover section back240, all formed in complementary character as a uniform extension of the movable cover section200, as shown inFIG. 8.

The compartment300, as shown inFIG. 7, preferably comprises a generally rectangular base (not shown), a pair of compartment sides320, extending upward from the longer edges of the base, a compartment front330, extending upward from a one of the shorter edges of the base, and a compartment back340extending upward from the other of the shorter sides of the base. Each of the compartment sides320is joined at adjacent edges to the compartment front330and to the compartment back340to define an upward periphery in spaced apart relation to the base, as shown inFIG. 7.

The upward periphery and the downward periphery are configured to align in mated relation to engage the movable cover section200, and the stationary cover section200′ with the compartment300, to enclose and define the inner storage space. It is preferred that the stationary cover section200′ be permanently bonded to the compartment300. Alternatively, the stationary cover section200′ may be formed so as to be integral with the compartment300.

The movable cover section200, is connected to the stationary cover section200′ by hinge means, as shown inFIGS. 7, and10-12. The hinge means may be operated to raise the movable cover section200, for providing access to the inner storage space. Hinge means are preferably formed of a pair of integral tabs254on the movable cover section sides220, extending toward the cover back240. Each of the pair of tabs254is provided with one of a pair of outwardly extending pivot pins256. A pair of holes258is provided on each of the pair of stationary cover section sides220′, and positioned to receive the pair of pivot pins256in rotatable engagement therewith. It is also preferable that a pair of slots260be provided in the stationary cover section top210′, aligned with the pair of tabs254to allow freedom of movement of the tabs254. The movable cover section200may be raised to provide access to the inner storage space, as shown inFIG. 9and lowered to close the container, as shown inFIG. 8. It is preferred that the downward periphery, of the movable cover section200be provided with a first flange262and that the upward periphery be provided with a second flange350configured to meet the first flange262in resting engagement, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 9. When the movable cover section200is lowered to a closed position, the first flange262and the second flange350act as a guides to align the movable cover section200with the compartment300.

The container100may be formed of plastic, rubber, injected molded plastic, natural and synthetic materials such as vinyl, combinations thereof, or any of a variety of other known rigid and flexible materials. It is preferred that the container100be formed of transparent or semi-transparent material to facilitate viewing of the contents. It is preferred that the container100be provided with releasable coupling means to retain the movable cover section200in closed position.

The releasable coupling means may comprise a squared ledge360on the upward periphery and a resilient hitch266with a tapered catch268, on the downward periphery, as shown ifFIGS. 7 and 9. The movable cover section200may be pressed onto the compartment300to engage the catch268on the ledge360, for closing the container100, as shown inFIG. 19and the compartment sides320may be depressed to release the catch268from the ledge360, as shown inFIG. 18, for opening the container100. Both procedures may be practiced one-handed so that a fishing lure, which is attached to a fishing line may be maneuvered into the compartment by a user's other hand. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other conventional coupling means may be incorporated with the present invention.

The compartment front330is provided with a lower line port362on the upward periphery, as shown inFIG. 14, and the movable cover section front230is provided with an upper line port270on the lower periphery, as shown inFIG. 15. The lower line port362includes a first channel364of generally semi-circular cross section positioned in transverse relation to the upward periphery. The lower line port362includes pair of wells366straddling the first channel364and located proximate to the upward periphery. The upper line port270includes a second channel272of generally semi-circular cross section positioned in transverse relation to the lower periphery. The upper line port270includes a pair of studs274straddling the second channel272, located proximate to the lower periphery and sized to be received in snug fitting engagement within the wells366. The upper line port270and the lower line port362are configured and positioned such that when the movable cover section200is closed, the studs274enter the wells366and serve to align the first channel364with the second channel272to form a straight unobstructed bore, which is accessible from outside the container100and communicates with the inner storage area, as shown inFIG. 13.FIGS. 16 and 17depict a side view showing the upper line port270and the lower line port362, with the movable cover section200raised inFIG. 16and closed inFIG. 17.

The securing hook400is attached on the exterior surface of the container100, as shown inFIGS. 20 and 21. The securing hook400preferably comprises a J-shaped load bearing portion410with an integral straight shank420formed of the same rigid and flexible material used to form the compartment300, movable cover section200and the stationary cover section200′. The distal end of the shank420is provided with a plug430and the proximal end of the shank430is provided with a detent440. An aperture368is provided in the compartment back340, which is sized to receive the shank420. The plug430is preferably tapered so that in may be forced through the aperture368and retained therein, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. The detent440serves to prevent further advance of the shank420through the aperture440. The J-shaped load bearing portion410may be engaged with a stationary fitting of a rod and reel set and is formed to have sufficient flexibility to bend and free itself in the event that a degree of tension likely to damage fishing rod guide loops or to extract guide loops from the fishing rod inserts is applied.

In use, the compartment300may be manually squeezed to release the coupling means and allow the movable cover section200to rotate to the open position. A fishing hook rig, or lure, as shown inFIG. 3, may be inserted into the compartment300. The attached fishing line is to be laid into the first channel364, as shown inFIG. 4, before the movable cover section200is returned to the closed position. The first channel364and the second channel272may be uniformly tapered to aid in positioning the fishing line within the bore and avoid kinking. The cover200may be manually pressed to engage the coupling means, as shown inFIG. 22and enclose the fishing lure within the container100, as shown inFIG. 5. The securing hook400may be engaged on a stationary fitting of the fishing rod and reel set, and the reel may be operated to tension the line and position the container100adjacent to the fishing rod, as shown inFIG. 6. The fish hooks on the fishing lure are enclosed within the container100and are not exposed to contact with individuals, clothing or other fishing equipment. The fishing rod and reel set may be hand carried, stored or transported in a vehicle without the inconvenience of tangling or injury resulting from contact with an exposed fish hook. Chemical fish attractants may be applied to a fishing lure resting in the compartment300and the movable cover section200may be closed to capture and isolate the attractant material. The container100of the present invention may be produced in a full range of sizes to accommodate fishing hook rigs and lures of all sizes.