Abstract:
A bait bag and hook combination is provided for use in fishing. The bait bag and hook combination includes a bag that is fixedly mounted on the hook in such a way that the bag does not hinder the hooks ability to impale game fish. The bag includes an easy-opening and re-closing apparatus for efficient refilling of the bag. In addition, the bag 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:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    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. 
         [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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. Making snapping and unsnapping the parts of a lure a difficult and a time-consuming operation. 
         [0008]    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 bit device or lure. 
         [0009]    The present inventor has recognized the desirability for a bait attachment bag that does not interfere or obstruct the effectiveness of the hook in prior known bait bags, such as in U.S. Patents  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. 
         [0010]    The present inventor has recognized the desirability for providing a bait attachment bag 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. 
         [0011]    The present inventor has recognized the desirability for a bait attachment bag 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. 
         [0012]    The present inventor has also recognized the desirability for a bait bag that is easily opened, filled and closed by a fisherman with limited manual dexterity, such as an elderly fisherman or one who has lost the use of a hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    The invention provides a rugged bait bag and hook combination that is easily cleaned and filled. The invention provides a bait bag that can be filled with live bait or with bait food product. The invention provides a bait bag that is easily refilled by fishermen with limited manual dexterity. The invention provides a bait bag and hook combination that includes provision to prevent interference by the bag of the hook-function of the hook or hooks. 
         [0014]    The present invention provides an improved bait bag and hook combination comprising a bag for holding bait material and a hook connected to the bag. According to the invention the bag includes a re-closable opening, preferably a slit-like opening closable by a slide fastener, such as a zipper. Furthermore the hook can include a mechanism to prevent movement of the bag on the hook to prevent blocking of the hook by the bag. 
         [0015]    According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a bait bag and hook combination includes a bag having a water permeable bag body with a re-closable opening. A fishhook includes a hook shaft and a hook end portion extending from the hook shaft. The hook shaft is connected to the bag body with the hook end portion extending away from the bag body. 
         [0016]    According to one aspect of the invention, one or more stoppers are arranged on the hook to prevent the bag from sliding axially on the hook shaft. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the invention, at least one wing is carried by the hook shaft to prevent rotation of the bag body about the hook shaft. Accordingly, the hook has a hook shaft with a first end and second end and a hook end portion extending out from the hook shaft at the second end to a free end of the hook end portion. The hook shaft and the hook end portion, and an imaginary straight line drawn between the free end of the hook end portion and the first end of the hook shaft define a plane area. The bag and wing are carried on the hook shaft in such a way that the bag is prevented from entering the plane area. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the invention the wing and stopper are formed together and carried by the hook shaft to prevent rotation of the bag body about the hook shaft and to also prevent sliding of the bag body in a direction parallel to a length of the hook shaft. Preferably, the hook shaft, the wing and the stopper are all formed together as a cast steel piece. 
         [0019]    According to another aspect of the invention the slide fastener comprises first and second rows of plastic interlocking teeth aligned across the slit-like opening, and a slide fastener slider arranged to slide on the rows of interlocking teeth to engage or disengage the teeth. 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the invention the bag body is composed of a mesh material. Preferably, the mesh material is made of a woven nylon. 
         [0021]    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. 
         [0022]    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  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of the present invention bait bag and hook combination with the bag in the closed position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the bait bag and hook combination of  FIG. 1  with the bag in the open position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the bait bag and hook combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of the bait bag and hook combination of  FIG. 3  with the bag omitted 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the bait bag and hook combination of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of the bait bag and hook combination of  FIG. 4  with the bag omitted; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is an front view of an alternate embodiment bait bag and hook combination with the bag omitted; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken generally along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    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. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bait bag and hook combination  20  having a bag  22  and a hook  24 . The bag includes a bag body  26  with an attached slide fastener  30 . The bag body comprises a mesh or other strong but water permeable material, such as woven nylon. The slide fastener  30  is shown in a closed position. 
         [0034]    The slide fastener  30  includes a first row  32  and a second row  34  of engageable elements, and a slide fastener slider  36  having a pull tab  38 . The slide fastener is preferably of a non-metallic construction such composed of polymer or plastic materials. Plastic slide fasteners are well known. Examples of such slide fasteners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,230,373; 4,112,553; and 4,651,389, all herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates the combination  20  of  FIG. 1  with the slide fastener  30  in an open position, with the rows  32 ,  34  of engageable elements disengaged. The opened rows  32 ,  34  reveal a slit-like opening  42  in the bag body  22 . Through this opening  42  bait material, such as minced bait food or worms, is placed within the bag and the bag can be re-closed to the configuration of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 3 and 3A  illustrate the hook  24  in more detail. The hook  24  includes a hook shaft  24   a  having a first end  24   b  and a second end  24   c . One or more hook end portions  24   d  extends from the second end  24   c  to a free end  24   e . According to the exemplary embodiment two hook end portions  24   d  are provided. A hook eye portion  24   f  extends from the first end  24   b . The eye portion provides an eye  24   g  for attachment by a fishing line (not shown). The bag body  26  includes attachment threads forming woven bands  46 ,  48  that encircle the hook shaft  24   a  to attach the bag  22  to the hook  24 . 
         [0037]    Stoppers  54 ,  56  are formed with or are attached to hook shaft  24   a  beneath the bands  46 ,  48  prevent sliding of the woven bands  46 ,  48  down the hook shaft  24   a . The hook eye portion  24   f  also prevents the top band  46  from sliding up the hook shaft  24   a . The stoppers can be different shapes but a ring shape is suitable for performing the function. Preferably the stoppers are devoid of sharp corners to avoid damaging the bag. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 4-5  illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein the illustrated stoppers are replaced by wings  62 ,  64 . The wings  62 ,  64  are shown in profile in  FIG. 5  and comprise elongated plates. The wings are formed with or attached to the hook shaft  24   a . The wings are long enough in the direction transverse to the length of the hook shaft  24   a  to prevent the bag body  26  from rotating about the hook shaft  24   a  and interfering with the hook end portions  24   d . The hook end portions  24   d  and the hook shaft  24   a  generally define two vertical planes  66 ,  68 . The wings  62 ,  64  prevent the bag body  26  from entering these planes, particularly a plane area  66   a ,  68   a  ( FIG. 4A ) within each plane  66 ,  68 . The plane areas  66   a ,  68   a  are bounded by the hook shaft  24   a , the hook end portion  24   d  and an imaginary line  66   a ,  68   a  ( FIG. 4A ) drawn between the free end  24   e  of each hook end portion  24   d  and the first end  24   b  of the hook shaft  24   a . By preventing the rotation of the bag body  26  to enter the plane areas  66   a ,  68   a  an entanglement with the hook end portions  24   d  is prevented, as well as blockage of the hook end portion  24   a  which could inhibit snaring of the hook end portions  24   d  to the mouth of the fish. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate an alternate embodiment hook  100 . The hook  100  includes a hook shaft  100   a  having a first end  100   b  and a second end  100   c . One or more hook end portions  100   d  extends from the second end  100   c  to a free end  100   e.  According to this embodiment two hook end portions  100   d  are provided. A hook eye portion  100   f  extends from the first end  100   b . The eye portion provides an eye  100   g  for attachment by a fishing line (not shown). The bag body  26  (not shown) is mounted to the hook shaft as described above in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0040]    Retainers  104 ,  106  are formed with or fixedly attached to hook shaft  100   a . Each retainer  104 ,  106  includes a ring shaped stopper  110  and two extending wings  112 ,  116 , the stopper and wings formed in unitary fashion. The wings  112 ,  116  are shown in profile in  FIG. 7  and comprise elongated plates or tabs. The wings are long enough in the direction transverse to the length of the hook shaft  100   a  to prevent the bag body  26  from rotating about the hook shaft  100   a  and interfering with the hook end portions  100   d.    
         [0041]    The stoppers  110  and wings  112 ,  116  preferably are devoid of any sharp corners which could damage the bag  22 . Each retainer  104 ,  106 , including a stopper  110  and wings  1   12 ,  116 , is preferably formed in unitary fashion with the hook or hooks, as a cast steel part. 
         [0042]    The stoppers  110  and wings  112 ,  116  function in the same fashion as the stoppers and wings heretofore described and act to prevent axial sliding of the bag body  26  and support of the bag body on the hook shaft and prevent rotation of the bag body  26  about the hook shaft  100   a.  This prevents interference between the bag body and the hooks. 
         [0043]    Although the illustrated embodiment discloses a slide fastener, such as a zipper, other mechanisms to close bags are encompassed by the invention including hook and loop fastener strips arranged on opposite sides of the slit-like seam, buttons, snaps or a ZIP LOCK bag closure or closures such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,461,845; 4,617,683 or 4,894,975, herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0044]    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.