Fish line to hook shank snap on and release connector

An easy connect and disconnect two piece fishhook structure is provided with the hook portion having a stem shank with an annular cold formed or machined depression adjacent its free end. The other portion of the two piece fishhook structure is a spring connect member with two opposite side extensions from a coil spring loop that also serves as the fish line tie on loop. One of the two opposite side extensions is a mounting spring reaction force anchor end with a tightly coiled end that is an open sliding fit on the hook shank. The other extension is a spring arm from the coil spring loop with an end hook stem engaging hook "V" that is resiliently deflected inwardly to permit passage of the hook stem therethrough and resilient coil spring force engagement against the annular depression in the stem shank when so positioned with release by the hand. When hook portion release is desired from the connected state the two opposite side extensions are squeezed toward each other against the resilient resistive force of the coil spring loop for quick release of the hook portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates in general to fishhooks, and more particularly, to 
an easy connect and disconnect fishhook with a fish line to hook shank 
spring snap on and release connector. 
Many fish when landed by a fisherman using fishing gear with a line and 
hook are quite active flipping and flopping around making it quite 
difficult to remove the barbed fishhook from the mouth of the fish at that 
time. The fisherman is subject to being bitten by some fish and/or 
sometimes getting hurt by the barbed hook with the difficulties 
encountered in removing the hook from the fish-'s mouth. If the fisherman 
has to wait until the fish has stopped moving to remove the fishhook he 
may have to wait an undesired length of time or cut the line to fasten it 
to another hook. In this situation most fishermen do not like cutting the 
line but the more time he can have a baited hook in the water the more 
fish he is likely to catch. Another problem is that if a fishhook is not 
securely set in the fish's mouth with the various movements of the fish 
and reaction forces imposed on the hook it may break loose and the fish 
become lost. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide an easy 
connect and disconnect connector for fishhooks that makes release of the 
connector and fish line from the hook easier, quicker and much safer than 
extracting a fishhook from the mouth of a still active fish. 
Another object is to eliminate having to cut a fish line to free the 
fishing equipment from direct connection to a newly landed fish. 
A further object is to provide a fishing hook system where extra hook 
sections can be pre-baited for hook shank snap on connection to a fish 
line hook connector. 
Still another object with such a fishhook structure is to increase the time 
a fisherman is able to have baited hook and line in the water. 
Features of the invention useful in accomplishing the above objects 
include, in a fish line to hook shank snap on and release connector 
system, an easy connect and disconnect two piece fishhook structure with 
the hook portion having a stem shank with an annular cold formed or 
machined depression adjacent its free end. The other portion of the two 
piece fishhook structure is a spring connect member with two opposite side 
extensions from a coil spring loop that also serves as the fish line tie 
on loop. One of the two opposite side extensions is a mounting spring 
reaction force anchor end with a tightly coiled end that is an open 
sliding fit on the hook shank. The other spring arm extension is an arm 
from the coil spring loop with an end hook "V" portion. The spring arm 
with the hook "V" is resiliently deflected inwardly to permit passage of 
the hook stem through the hook "V" and resilient coil spring force 
maintained engagement against the annular depression in the stem shank 
when so positioned with release by the hand. When hook portion release is 
desired from the connected state the two opposite side extensions are 
squeezed toward each other against the resilient resistive force of the 
coil spring loop for quick release of the hook portion. 
Specific embodiments representing what are presently regarded as the best 
modes of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the accompanying 
drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
The easy connect and disconnect two piece fishhook 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is 
shown to include a spring connect member 11 and a hook portion 12 with a 
pointed end 13 with a barb 14 out of an intermediate portion 15 from stem 
shank 16 having an annular cold roll formed connector engaging depression 
17 adjacent stem shank end 18. The spring connect member 11 has first and 
second sides 19 and 20 from a coil spring loop 21 that also serves as the 
fish line 22 tie on loop. Second side 20 serves as an anchoring leg with a 
tightly coiled end 23 that is a free sliding fit on the stem shank 16 of 
the hook portion 12. First side 19 is a spring leg from the coil spring 
loop 21 with an end stem engaging "V" or "U" shaped hook 24 that is 
resiliently deflected inwardly to permit passage of the hook stem 16 
therethrough and resilient coil spring force backed engagement of the stem 
engaging hook 24 against the annular depression 17 in the stem shank 16 
when so positioned with release by the hand. When hook portion 12 release 
is desired from the connected state the two opposite legs 19 and 20 of 
spring contact member 11 are squeezed toward each other against the 
resilient force of the coil spring loop 21 for quick release of the hook 
portion 12. It should be noted that hook portion 12 and the spring connect 
member 11 may rotate relative to each other and still maintain the 
connected state thereby lessening some reaction forces that may otherwise 
be imposed on the spring connect member as translated therefrom to and 
through the hook portion 12. This helps minimize breaking loose of a hook 
from its hold set state in the mouth of a fish in spite of various fish 
movements that otherwise could impose reaction forces on the hook that 
could break hook portion 12 loose resulting in loss of the fish. 
Referring now to the hook embodiment of FIG. 3, the annular groove 17' is a 
machined groove, in place of the annular cold roll formed connector 
engaging depression 17 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the hook portion 12' shank 16'. 
Everything else in this embodiment is the same as with the embodiment of 
FIGS. 1 and 2 with connect and disconnect essentially the same end with 
relative rotation between the spring connect member 11 and the hook 
portion 12 the same. 
Whereas this invention has been described with respect to two embodiments 
thereof, it should be realized that various changes may be made without 
departure from the essential contributions to the art made by the 
teachings hereof.