Abstract:
Embodiments of the present technology relate to stackable fishing assemblies. In on embodiment, a fishing assembly includes a first buoyant section, a second buoyant section that is spaced apart from the first buoyant section to form a groove that is configured to spool fishing line, and a tubular handle extending from the first and second buoyant sections, the tubular handle having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is sized to mate with a second tubular handle of a second fishing assembly that is constructed substantial similar to the fishing assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/889,088, filed on Oct. 10, 2013, titled “STACKABLE FISHING JUG ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF USE”, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including all references cited therein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE PRESENT TECHNOLOGY 
     The present technology is directed to fishing assemblies, and more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to jug fishing assemblies that are stackable. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present technology include a fishing assembly, comprising: (a) a first buoyant section; (b) a second buoyant section that is spaced apart from the first buoyant section to form a groove that is configured to spool fishing line; and (c) a tubular handle extending from the first and second buoyant sections, the tubular handle having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is sized to mate with a second tubular handle of a second fishing assembly that is constructed substantially similar to the fishing assembly. 
     In one embodiment, each of the first and second buoyant sections comprises an octagonal shape that defines contacting edges that releaseably receive a hook. 
     In another embodiment, any of the first and second buoyant sections comprises a notch that is configured to receive a weight that is attached to fishing line. 
     In yet another embodiment, the fishing assembly further comprises a protective film for covering the notch. 
     In some embodiments, the second end of the tubular handle comprises two substantially T-shaped apertures that receive fishing line and position a weight at a desired depth. 
     In one embodiment, the first end is smaller in diameter than the second end. 
     Embodiments of the present technology include a fishing assembly, comprising: (a) a first buoyant section; (b) a second buoyant section that is spaced apart from the first buoyant section to form a groove that is configured to spool fishing line; (c) a first handle extending from the first buoyant section, the first tubular handle having a first end with a first diameter; and (d) a second handle extending from the second buoyant section, the second tubular handle having a second end with a second diameter, the second diameter is larger than the first diameter of the first end, the second tubular handle extending through the first buoyant section to form a collar, and a second end of the first handle being coupled to the collar. 
     Embodiments of the present technology include a fishing assembly, comprising: a pair of fishing assemblies, comprising: (a) a first fishing assembly that comprises: (i) a first buoyant body with a first flange and a second flange, the first flange and the second flange being spaced apart from one another to form a groove that spools fishing line; (ii) a first handle extending from the first buoyant section, the first tubular handle having a first end with a first diameter; (iii) a second handle extending from the second buoyant section, the second tubular handle having a second end with a second diameter, the second diameter is larger than the first diameter of the first end; (b) a second fishing assembly that is substantially identical to the first fishing assembly, wherein the second fishing assembly is stacked onto the first fishing assembly such that a second end of the second fishing assembly is mated with the first handle of the first fishing assembly in such a way that the first handle of the first fishing assembly is inserted within the second end of the second fishing assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain embodiments of the present technology are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the technology or that render other details difficult to perceive, may be omitted. It will be understood that the technology is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an example fishing assembly, constructed in accordance with the present technology; 
         FIG. 1B  is a partial perspective view of an example fishing assembly, with no fishing line; 
         FIG. 1C  is a side elevational view of an example fishing assembly, in operation, in a flagged configuration; 
         FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of a second portion of a handle of a fishing assembly; 
         FIG. 1E  is a side elevational view of an example fishing assembly, in operation, in an un-flagged configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of two fishing assemblies, illustrated in a stacked configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of an example fishing assembly, illustrating notches in a buoyant member for holding fishing line or hooks. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present technology relates to a popular fishing technique that is commonly referred to as “jug” fishing. Jug fishing derives its name from the fact that empty plastic bottles or jugs are used as floats from which a fishing line extends into the water. The line attached to the float is attached to a weight at the end and hooks are positioned between the weight and the float. When a fish strikes a hook on the line, the movement of the jug provides an easy indication of a strike with the handle being visible above water. The handle makes the jug much easier to see, hold on to, retrieve from the water, spool the line, and stack for storage without tangling, sliding, or taking up space. A hard plastic coating may be applied to the foam to extend the life of the foam substantially. 
     In some embodiments, the present technology is directed to a fishing device or assembly. In accordance with the technology, a float takes the form of a plurality of flat octagonal shaped members that are each constructed of buoyant foam and a handle made of plastic tubular section of material. The flat octagonal members are made into two different sizes: two larger members and two smaller members. They are stacked in a desired order over the handle to create a groove that receives fishing line when wound around the float. The handle is made of two different size pipes cut into equal size lengths allowing for handles to nest with one another for stacking of a plurality of jugs. The handle portions are secured together with fasteners leaving a large base and smaller top attached together. The handle is located in the center of the octagonal members and provides a solid grip for retrieving the jug from the water, this will allow for spooling of the line around the float much easier. A lower portion of the jug is flat with the addition of two flat cable clips (or other securement members) on opposing sides to provide catches for the line to be set at any depth. The handle is used as a strike indicator by placing the handle face down in the water while the flat side is facing up showing the flat cable clips allowing the line to hang over the side into the water. Once a fish strikes, the jug will flip over showing the handle side up for an easy retrieval and strike indication. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , a fishing assembly  100  of the present technology is shown as comprising a buoyant body  105  (e.g., float). The buoyant body  105  is constructed from any suitable buoyant material such as foam. In some embodiments, the buoyant body  105  is covered with a protective outer coating that prevents degradation of the foam due to exposure of the foam to the elements, as well as damage caused by ordinary use of the fishing assembly  100 . The coating applied to the buoyant body  105  is reflective or colored with a conspicuous or highly visible color such as orange. Coloring of the buoyant body  105  will function to make the buoyant body  105  highly visible against natural backgrounds such as water, brush, and the like. 
     In one embodiment, the buoyant body  105  comprises a first buoyant section  110  and a second buoyant section  115 . In some embodiments, the first buoyant section and the second buoyant sections are shaped and sized similarly to one another. For example, the first buoyant section  110  and the second buoyant section  115  can have a substantially octagonal shape. It will be appreciated that the buoyant sections can have differing shapes relative to one another. It will also be appreciated that the buoyant sections can have shapes other than octagonal such as square, triangular, rectangular, irregular, or otherwise polygonal. 
     According to some embodiments, the first buoyant section  110  and the second buoyant section  115  are spaced apart from one another to form a groove  120  that acts as a spool that receives fishing line  125  therein. In some embodiments, the groove  120  is octagonal in shape (see  FIG. 1B ). In another embodiment, the groove  120  has a sidewall  120 A ( FIG. 1C ) that is rounded. 
     The polygonal shape of the first buoyant section  110  and the second buoyant section  115  create contacting edges that releaseably receive a hook, which is coupled to the fishing line  125 . The first buoyant section  110  can have contacting edges  190  and the second buoyant section  115  can also have contacting edges  195 . A hook  197  is illustrated as being inserted into one of the contacting edges  190  of the first buoyant section  110 . In some embodiments, the material selected for the first buoyant section  110  and the second buoyant section  115  allows for hooks to be releaseably associated with a contact edge and removed from the contacting edge without tearing or gouging sections from the contacting edge. 
     In some embodiments, the first buoyant section  110  comprises a notch  110 A that receives and retains a weight  155 . The weight  155  is coupled to the fishing line  125 . The weight  155  functions to ensure placing of the fishing assembly  100  in a deployed or pre-strike position, where a first end of a handle of the assembly is visible when the fishing assembly  100  floats on water  160  (see  FIG. 1C ). In one embodiment, the notch  110 A is covered with a protective cover  165  that prevents the weight  155  from disassociating with (e.g., being removed from) the notch  110 A. 
     The fishing assembly  100  also comprises a tubular handle  125  that comprises a first end  130  and a second end  135  ( FIG. 1C ). In one embodiment, the first end  130  extends normally to an upper surface  140  of the first buoyant section  110 . In one embodiment, the first end  130  is a cylinder that has a first diameter D1. In some embodiments, the first end  130  is inserted into an aperture  145  ( FIG. 1B ) that extends through the buoyant body  105 . The first end  130  is secured inside the aperture  145  by an adhesive or other fastening means. 
     The second end  135  ( FIG. 1C ) extends normally from a lower surface  150  of the second buoyant section  115 . The second end  135  may also extend in linear alignment with a handle axis A that extends through a center point P of the first end  130 . 
     In some embodiments, the second end  135  comprises a second diameter D2 ( FIG. 1D ). The second diameter D2 of the second end  135  is larger than the first diameter D1 of the first end  130  so as to allow a first end of one fishing assembly to be inserted into the second end of a second fishing assembly (see  FIG. 2 ), allowing two or more fishing assemblies to be placed in a stacked configuration. 
     In one embodiment, the second end  135  is provided with two substantially T-shaped grooves  170  and  175 . These grooves  170  and  175  are positioned on opposing sides of the second end  135 . The grooves  170  and  175  function to provide a catch. A user can wind a portion of the fishing line  125  through the grooves  170  and  175  to select an operational depth  180  ( FIG. 1C ) for the fishing assembly  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the operational depth  180  is a distance measured from approximately the second end  135  to the weight  155 , when the fishing assembly  100  is deployed into the water  160 . 
     According to some embodiments, the second end  135  extends through both the first buoyant section  110  and the second buoyant section  115  such that a portion  185  of the second end  135  extends from the upper surface  140  of the first buoyant section  110  to form a collar. The first end  130  is inserted within and secured inside the collar. 
     In some embodiments, the first end  130  and the second end  135  are formed as an integrated or monolithic member, referred to generally as a tubular handle. It will be understood that the first and second ends  130  and  135  can have shapes other than cylindrical, such as square, hexagonal, triangular, or another shape so long as a first end  130  of a first fishing assembly is sized for insertion into a second end of a second fishing assembly so that the first and second fishing assemblies can be placed in stacked (e.g., mating) configuration. 
     In operation, the fishing line  125  is connected to the first end  130  proximate the collar of the second end  135 , where the first end  130  meets the upper surface  140  of the first buoyant section  110 . The fishing line  125  is looped around the groove  120 . Hooks, such as hook  197  extend from the fishing line  125 . As the fishing line  125  is looped around the groove  120 , hooks are secured to either the contacting edges  190  of the first buoyant section  110  or the contacting edges  195  of the second buoyant section  115 . While only two contacting edges  190  and two contacting edges  195  are show in  FIG. 1A , it will be understood that each edge of the octagonal first and second buoyant sections  110  and  115  are contacting edges. 
     The plurality of hooks is located at a different position along the fishing line  125 . As the fishing line  125  is spooled into the groove  120  and a hook is encountered, the hook is placed into one of the contacting edges. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1A , once the fishing line  125  is spooled completely into the groove  120 , the weight  155  is placed into the notch  110 A of the first buoyant section  110 . 
     To deploy the fishing assembly  100  in the water  160 , the weight  155  is removed from the notch  110 A and placed into the water  160 . The fishing line  125  is unspooled from the groove  120 , which requires removal of the hooks from the contacting edges as the fishing line  125  is unspooled. 
     For example, when the weight  155  contacts a bottom surface  160 A (e.g., such as a bottom of a lake or other body of water), unspooling of the fishing line  125  is terminated and the fishing line  125  is wrapped into the two substantially T-shaped grooves  170  and  175  of the second end  135  to define the operational depth  180 . 
     When a fish is caught on one of the hooks, the force of the fish pulling on the fishing assembly  100  will, in some instances, cause the fishing device  100  to flip over to a flagged position, illustrated in  FIG. 1C .  FIG. 1E  illustrates a fishing assembly  100  in an un-flagged position. 
     If the operational depth  180  is less than a length of the fishing line  125 , the fishing assembly  100  will float on the water  160  in a pre-strike (e.g., unflagged) position. 
     In another example, if the depth of the water  160  is greater than the length of the fishing line  125 , the fishing assembly  100  will float on the water in the flagged position, regardless of whether a fish has been caught on one of the hooks or not. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a pair of fishing assemblies disposed in a stacked configuration. A first fishing assembly  200  is constructed similarly to the fishing assembly  100  of  FIGS. 1A-E , described in greater detail supra. The second fishing assembly  205  is substantially identical in construction to the first fishing assembly  200 . The second fishing assembly  205  is stacked onto the first fishing assembly  200  such that a second end  210  of a handle  210 A of the second fishing assembly  205  is mated with the first handle  215  of the first fishing assembly  200 . The first handle  215  of the first fishing assembly  200  is inserted within the second end  210  of the second fishing assembly  205 . Additional fishing assemblies can be stacked with and below the first fishing assembly  200  or stacked on top of the second fishing assembly  205 . 
     Referring now back to  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a fishing assembly  300  that is constructed similarly to the fishing assembly  100  of  FIGS. 1A-E , with the exception that the contacting edges  190  of the first buoyant section  110  are provided with a plurality of slits  305 . Each of the plurality of slits  305  is configured to receive either the fishing line  125  or a hook  197  therein. For example, a final section of the fishing line  125  can be threaded through one of the slits  305  before the weight  155  is placed into the notch  110 A. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. The descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth herein. To the contrary, the present descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.