Abstract:
A bait cage assembly is provided for use in fishing. The assembly includes a cage that is fixedly mounted on the hook in such a way that the cage does not hinder the hooks ability to impale game fish. The cage includes a pivotal back cover user to open and close the cage for refilling with bait. In addition, the cage is made up of material that is durable enough to withstand the underwater environment, but is also permeable enough to release the scent of the bait contained inside.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/243514, filed Oct. 19, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In fishing, there are many methods of attracting game fish, including live bait, artificial lures, and a combination of both. Often, artificial lures are used to imitate live prey and are designed to be drawn through the water. Other times, live bait is impaled on a hook and plunged into the water with hopes that its movement will attract predators. The use of live bait has proven to be more effective with certain types of game fish, such as catfish, because of its genuine smell and taste. A modification of this method has seen that it is advantageous to attach minced bait to the hook to minimize the chance that the bait will be lost to weeds or predators, while accentuating the authentic taste and smell. 
         [0003]    When a fisherman desires to use live bait, the bait is typically impaled on a hook. However, by forcing the hook through the bait, the bait is thereby injured and will die relatively quickly. Once dead, the bait in incapable of independent movement and will not exhibit the distress signals that attract fish. Forcing a hook through the bait also weakens the tissue of the bait which makes the bait susceptible to falling off the hook. 
         [0004]    In addition to the visual attraction of the bait, the scent and also the distress signals given off by small animals or insects are used by fish to locate food sources, and hence can be used to attract fish to a baited hook. A wide variety of pellets, which contain various scents intended to attract different fish are now available to fishermen. However, this bait is relatively expensive and difficult to retain on a conventional hook. 
         [0005]    The present inventor has recognized the need to provide a fishing lure in which the bait is securely retained, and which improves the attractiveness of the bait to the fish. 
         [0006]    If a bait animal or insect can be retained alive then it will continue to emit distress signals, e.g. vibrations of various frequencies which may or may not be audible to the human ear, that attract appropriate game fish. The present inventor has recognized the need to provide a fishing lure or bait holder in which live bait remains alive and intact for a lengthy period. 
         [0007]    It is known to use an attachment apparatus, such as a permeable bag or basket, near the hook to secure the bait while releasing the desired attractants. Such apparatuses are described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 856,867; 2,780,021; and 5,319,875. 
         [0008]    One problem with prior known bait devices is with the manual dexterity associated with placing the bait on the hook or in the cage or cavity while in a boat or standing in a stream in weather that is less than perfect. A fisherman&#39;s hands can get cold, wet and slippery from repeated dunking in the water or in releasing fish from the hook. Snapping and unsnapping the parts of a lure can be a difficult and a time-consuming operation. 
         [0009]    Lures can undergo much stress during casting of the lure, reeling it through the water, and fighting a captured fish. In each of these situations, great stress is placed on the lure, especially on the assembled parts. The present inventor has recognized the need for a rugged and reusable bait device or lure. 
         [0010]    The present inventor has recognized the desirability for a bait attachment cage that does not interfere or obstruct the effectiveness of the hook. In prior known bait bags, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 856,867 and 2,780,021, the bag engulfs the hook and may, on occasion, reduce the hook&#39;s likelihood of snaring the desired game fish. 
         [0011]    The present inventor has recognized the desirability for providing a bait attachment cage that is easy to repeatedly open, refill and close, or open to clean. In prior known bait bags, the bag needs to be untied and retied in order to change the bait or to clean the bag. This is not an effortless task, especially when doing so after the bait has been dipped in cold water and exposed to muck and weeds. 
         [0012]    The present inventor has recognized the desirability for a bait attachment cage that has significant longevity regardless of getting caught in weeds and being submerged in water for extended periods of time. Prior art bait bags, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,875 that are made of metal or contain metal parts may have reduced usability if extended exposure to water has caused rusted parts. 
         [0013]    The present inventor has also recognized the desirability for a bait cage that is easily opened, filled and closed by a fisherman with limited manual dexterity, such as an elderly fisherman or one who has lost effective use of a hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The invention provides a rugged bait cage and hook combination. The invention provides a bait cage that can be filled with live bait or with bait food product. The invention provides a bait cage that is easily refilled by fishermen with limited manual dexterity. 
         [0015]    The present invention provides an improved bait cage and hook combination comprising a cage for holding bait material and a hook connected to the cage. According to the invention the cage includes a pivotal back cover providing a re-closeable opening. 
         [0016]    According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a bait cage and hook combination includes a cage having a water permeable cage body with a re-closeable opening. A fishhook includes a hook shaft and a hook end portion extending from the hook shaft. The hook shaft is connected to the cage body with the hook end portion extending upward toward from the cage body. 
         [0017]    Although the present invention is particularly advantageous for fishing catfish, it could also be advantageous for other type fishing as well such as commercial fishing, trout lines, etc. 
         [0018]    Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the present invention bait cage and hook combination with the cage in the closed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the bait cage and hook combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the bait cage and hook combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the bait cage and hook combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the bait cage and hook combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the bait cage and hook combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a back view of the bait cage and hook combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a portion of the combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the portion shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the portion shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken generally along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a front view of a keeper portion of the combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a rear view of the keeper portion of the combination of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  a front view of a back portion of the combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken generally along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a rear view of back portion of the combination of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  is side view of the back portion of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view taken from  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 20  is a is an enlarged sectional view taken from  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 21  is a rear view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  showing an opened position of the back cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bait cage and hook assembly  20  having a cage body  22  and a hook  24 . The cage body  22  comprises a perforated, soft material, such as silicone or nitrile. Alternately, the cage body could be a woven bag. The hook  24  includes dual hook barbs  30   a,    30   b  and a hook eye  32  for attaching fishing line. Although the hooks are shown with blunt ends, it is to be understood that the ends would be sharp with barbs as known in the art. The cage body  22  is mounted to a keeper or frame  36 . A back cover  40  is held by the keeper  36 . The hook can be a metal hook such as stainless steel molded into the back cover. A ceramic hook is also possible. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 2-20  illustrate the assembly  20  of  FIG. 1  in more detail. The cage body  22  has holes or perforation  22   a  on a front face  22   b  thereof. The side walls  22   c  and bottom wall  22   d  are solid but could also have perforations. The back side of the cage body  22  has an opening  22   e  for insertion of bait. 
         [0043]    The cage body  22  has an approximate inverted L-shaped side profile and an upper portion  22   f  is sized and shaped and has an outwardly turned flange  22   g  to fit snugly into a compatibly shaped, counter sunk opening  36   a  in the keeper  36 . The upper portion is fit through the back of the keeper such that the flange  22   g  of the portion  22   f  fits into the counter sunk opening  36   a  to be flush with a back surface of the keeper. The cage body upper portion  22   f  is secured within the counter sunk opening  36   a  by adhesive or other means. 
         [0044]    The keeper  36  includes a front surface  36   b  that reveals on one side a curved longitudinal slot  36   c  and a bottom aperture  36   d.  The keeper has a hook clearance notch  36   i  on the bottom adjacent the aperture  36   d.  A collar portion  36   e  is formed on a top of the keeper  36 . The collar portion  36   e  has a longitudinal passage  36   f  intersecting a lateral slot  36   g  that also extends longitudinally. The passage  36   f  can be circular, rectangular, rounded-rectangular, or other compatible shape. The lateral slot  36   g  allows the bushing portion  40   b  of the back cover (described below) to resiliently snap into the collar for assembly and to be held thereby. The keeper  36  includes a longitudinally elongated and curved stop wall  36   h  on a back side thereof, hidden beneath a cover wall portion  36   q,  and adjacent to the slot  36   c.    
         [0045]    The back cover  40  includes a perforated plate portion  40   a  having perforations  41   a  molded with the bushing portion  40   b  at a top end. The bushing portion  40   b  has a circular longitudinal passage  40   f  intersecting a lateral slot  40   g  that also extends longitudinally. The lateral slot  40   g  allows the eye portion  32  of the hook to snap into the bushing portion  40   b  for assembly. Alternately, the eye portion of the hook can be molded into the bushing portion or molded with the bushing portion. The bushing portion  40   b  can be molded around a hook shaft  32   c  by a central, longitudinal rib  40   m,  or the hook can be molded integrally with the back cover  40 , i.e., no actual hook shaft within the rib  40   m.  The back cover  40  includes a longitudinal, curved stop wall  40   j  on a front side thereof, hidden beneath a cover wall portion  40   q,  and adjacent a longitudinal, curved slot  40   k.    
         [0046]    A hinge pin or rivet  50  is used to rotatably connect the back cover  40  to the keeper  36 . The illustrated hinge pin is tubular. The hinge pin  50  can be a separate piece that is snapped to the back cover  40  using prongs, or adhesively or otherwise secured to the back cover  40  or can be molded with the back cover  40 . The illustrated embodiment shows a back end of the hinge pin  50  having two curved tangs  50   a  that are fit into curved slots  40   t  in the back cover and secured thereto by adhesive. The front end of the hinge pin  50  has hooks or prongs  50   b  that can be snap fit into the aperture  36   d  of the keeper  36  when the back cover  40  is assembled to the keeper  36 . 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 21 , when the back cover  40  is closed to the keeper  36 , the cover  40  is pivoted about the hinge  50  in the rotary direction β in  FIG. 21 . A portion of the adjacent side edge  40   p  of the cover  40  fits beneath the cover wall portion  36   q  and contacts the wall  36   h  of the keeper  36 . Simultaneously, the adjacent side edge  36   p  of the keeper  36  fits beneath the cover wall portion  40   q  of the back cover  40  and contacts the wall  40   j  of the back cover  40 . Simultaneously, the bushing portion  40   p  of the back cover  40  resiliently snaps into the collar  36   e  of the keeper. The gripping of the bushing portion  40   p  by the collar  36   e  keeps the back cover  40  in the closed position with respect to the keeper  36  after bait is loaded into the housing body  22 . 
         [0048]    The keeper  36  and back cover  40  can be a rigid material, such as a plastic, such as polypropylene material. 
         [0049]    The function of the slot  36   c  on the keeper  36  and the slot  40   k  on the back cover  40  is to provide openings for muck to be flushed away to prevent muck from building up between the keeper and the back cover. Alternately, a raised curved ridge can be provided on the surface opposite each slot  36   c,    40   k  that, when the back cover is closed to the keeper, snaps into the respective slot  36   c,    40   k  to provide additional latches to hold the cover  40  in the closed position to the keeper  36 . 
         [0050]    According to one exemplary embodiment, the cage body  22  has a height H ( FIG. 11 ) of about 1.6 inches, a width W ( FIG. 10 ) of about 0.8 inches, a volume of about 0.4 cubic inches within the cage body  22 , and the rear opening  22   e  into the cage body has an open area of about 0.7 square inches. On a front face, the cage body  22  has about 90 apertures  22   a,  each aperture having a diameter D of about 0.06 inches. The rear cover  40  has about 54 apertures  41   a  into the cage body, each aperture having a diameter of about 0.06 inches. 
         [0051]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.