Abstract:
A device for fishing in a body of water includes a first generally extended member having a first end and second end, a second member including a generally resilient material having a first portion connected with the first member and a second portion operable with a second fishing attachment, and a sleeve slidably operable with the first member and the second member to retain the second member disposed proximate and generally in alignment with the first member. A method of making a fishing rig includes forming a loop in a medial portion of a first generally resilient wire member, and securing a first end of a second generally resilient wire member to the first member proximate the loop, wherein the second member depends from the loop, and a first end and a second end of the first member are disposed spaced from one another and spaced from the second member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/143,369, filed on Jan. 8, 2009 and is incorporated herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to fishing devices, systems, and methods. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Like many outdoor sports, angling is a pastime enjoyed by many individuals. Typically, an angler selects from among various pieces of equipment specifically designed to attract and catch one or more selected specie(s) of fish. Accordingly, anglers may obtain, store, and transport many different pieces of equipment for use in attracting and catching different species of fish, such as species of fish having different patterns of behavior. For certain fish species, a piece of angling equipment may include many different components with a specific arrangement and configuration that is designed to facilitate a preferred presentation of bait or lure, provide supplemental or alternative attractants, or the like. 
         [0004]    For anglers, however, a source of frustration may be encountered when their equipment performs inadequately. Among other reasons, angling equipment may not perform as expected or desired due to tangles and/or snags of the equipment. Particularly, during use, hooks frequently become entangled with debris or with other pieces of equipment with which the hook is used, such as leaders, fishing line, weights, or the like. Thus, reducing snags and tangles is beneficial for improved angling. Particularly where equipment has multiple components, the opportunity for encountering tangles may be increased, causing reduced performance and increased frustration among users. 
         [0005]    Another source of frustration may be encountered when storing and/or transporting angling equipment. In such circumstances, angling equipment may similarly become tangled with other pieces of equipment, or with other components of the equipment. Additionally, storage and transportation of angling equipment may be inconvenient due to the size and configuration of the equipment. Accordingly, an angler may wish to reduce a size necessary to store and transport a piece of equipment. Doing so, however, may increase a likelihood of the equipment becoming tangled due to the close proximity of different components, such as hooks. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for angling equipment adapted to reduce snags and/or tangles during use. Additionally, there is a need for angling equipment that may conveniently be stored and transported. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In a first aspect, a device for fishing in a body of water includes a first generally extended member having a first end and a second end, the second end operable with a first attachment, a second member comprising a generally resilient material having a first portion connected with the first member and a second portion operable with a second fishing attachment, the second member being biased in a position angularly disposed relative to the first member, and a sleeve slidably operable with the first member and the second member to retain the second member disposed proximate and generally in alignment with the first member. 
         [0008]    The device may include one or more additional features. For example, the second member may include a first end, a second end, and a medial portion, the second end being biased in a position angularly disposed relative to the first member and adapted to be retained proximate and generally in alignment with the first member by the sleeve. The medial portion may include a loop formed in the second member, and the second member may be connected with the first member proximate the loop and proximate the first end of the first member. Additionally, a distance from the medial portion to the first end of the second member may be unequal to a distance from the medial portion to the second end of the second member. The device may include the second fishing attachment, and the second fishing attachment may be operable with the second member such that the second fishing attachment is prevented from engaging the first member when the second member is in the position angularly disposed relative to the first member. Furthermore, the first member may include a joint at a proximal portion thereof and the first member may be operable to fold about the joint. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, a fishing rig includes a first wire member having a first end and a second end, at least one arm connected to the first member proximate the first end of the first member, and a sleeve disposed around the first wire member. The at least one arm is adapted to receive a fishing implement on a distal end thereof and is collapsible for storage. The distal end is spaced from the first member when the arm is not collapsed, and when the arm is collapsed, the sleeve is disposed around the arm to retain the arm in a collapsed position. 
         [0010]    The device may include one or more additional features. For example, the at least one arm may include a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion may have a length unequal to a length of the second portion. Additionally, the first wire member may include a medial hinge. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, a method of making a fishing rig includes forming a loop in a medial portion of a first generally resilient wire member and securing a first end of a second generally resilient wire member to the first member proximate the loop such that the second member depends from the loop, and such that a first end and a second end of the first member are spaced from one another and spaced from the second member. 
         [0012]    The method may include one or more additional features, For example, the method may include hingedly securing a third member to the second member proximate a second end of the second member. The method may include disposing a sleeve surrounding the first member and the second member. Additionally, the disposing may include sliding the sleeve over the first end and the second end of the first member, and bending the first member to dispose the first end and the second end spaced from one another after the sliding. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, a method of using a fishing rig having at least one collapsible arm secured to and extending generally laterally from a first member includes collapsing the at least one collapsible arm to dispose the at least one arm proximate and generally parallel to the first member, and sliding a collar over the at least one collapsible arm to retain the at least one collapsible arm proximate and generally parallel to the first member. 
         [0014]    The method may include one or more additional features, For example, the method may include releasing the at least one collapsible arm from proximate and generally parallel to the first member by sliding the collar over the at least one collapsible arm. 
         [0015]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation of an exemplary fishing rig. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1   a  is a front elevation of the fishing rig of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 2-6  are front elevation views of alternative implementations of a fishing rig. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Like reference symbols in the various figures indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a fishing device, for example, a fishing rig  100 , that may be used in combination with, for example, a fishing rod, reel, line, weight, float, hook, bait, lure, attractant, and/or other angling equipment for attracting and catching one or more selected fish specie(s). Specifically, the rig  100  includes a first generally resilient member  110  and a second generally resilient member  120  engaged therewith. One or both of the first member  110  and the second member  120  may be formed from a resilient wire, such as a stainless steel leader wire. Alternatively, the first member  110  and/or the second member  120  may be formed from other materials, including other metals, plastics, and combinations thereof. 
         [0021]    The first member  110  includes a segment  111  having a first end  113  and a second end  115 , and is generally arranged along a first linear axis (X-X). The first end  113  of the first member  110  includes a loop  117  secured by a sleeve  191  crimped therearound. The loop  117  may, however, be secured by alternative devices, such as one or more tie(s), strap(s), wrapped wire(s), adhesive(s), welding, or the like. A first attachment, for example a fishing weight W, is operable with the first end  113  to provide desired mass, such as to assist in sinking the rig  100  during use. Additionally, another attachment, such as a swivel hook  193  is engaged with the loop  117 , if desired, to facilitate engagement and disengagement of, for example, the weight W or other angling equipment or accessory, such as an attractant. 
         [0022]    In the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the second end  115  of the first member  110  is secured to at least a portion of the second member  120 . More specifically, the second member  120  includes a segment  121  having a first portion  121   a , a second portion  121   b , and a third portion  121   c . The first portion  121   a  includes a first end  123  and extends from the first end  123  to a loop  125 . Similarly the third portion  121   c  includes a second end  127  and extends from the second end  127  to the loop  125 . Thus, the loop  125  is formed in the second portion  121   b  of the segment  121 . The second member  120  may be joined to the first member  110  proximate to the loop  125  of the second portion  121   b  of the segment  121  by a crimped sleeve  191  disposed around the segment  121  and the second end  115  of the segment  111 . One or both of the first end  123  and the second end  127  may include, for example, a respective loop  128 ,  129  secured by a respective sleeve  191 , a respective swivel hook  193 , and/or a respective accessory  195 , such as a bead, a rattle, or other fish attractant. A hook H may be engaged with one or both of first end  123  and second end  127  by attachment to the swivel hooks  193 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , swivel hooks  193  may be replaced by leaders  141 , which may be formed from a natural or a synthetic material, such as a synthetic string. 
         [0023]    Each of the first portion  121   a  and the third portion  121   c  extends away from the medial portion  121   b  at angles (A, B, respectively) relative to the first member  110 , whereby the first end  123  and the second end  127  is each spaced laterally from the first member  110 . Due to such spacing, an attachment, such as a hook H, operable therewith may be less likely to interact with, and potentially tangle with, the first member  110  and/or any accessories or other structures depending therefrom. Due, however, to a resilient nature of the second member  120 , the first end  123  and/or the second end  127  may be disposed adjacent to the segment  111  of the first member  110 , if desired, by application of an adequate collapsing force. When collapsed, the first portion  121   a  and/or the third portion  121   c  is/are disposed in a position and orientation generally parallel to and adjacent to the segment  111  of the first member  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1   a . Such a configuration takes up less space when storing the rig  100  in, for example, a tackle box, and helps to limit tangles and snags while stored in the tackle box. 
         [0024]    In order to maintain the rig  100  in such a storage configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1   a , and because the resilient nature of the second member  120  will cause return of the first end  123  and/or the second end  127  to the position spaced from the first member  110  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) upon release of the collapsing force, a bead  197  surrounding the first member  110  and surrounding at least a portion of the second member  120  is provided. The bead  197  may be disposed, such as by sliding, in a position proximate to the first end  123  and/or the second end  127  to maintain the first end  123  and/or the second end  127  in a position proximate first member  110 . Alternatively, the bead  197  may be engaged with the first end  123  and/or the second end  127  and the first member  110 , for example by a snap-fit engagement, in which case sliding of the bead  197  may not be necessary. Additionally, the bead  197  may not completely surround the first end  123  and/or the second end  127  and the first member  110 , but may partially surround the first end  123  and/or the second end  127  and the first member  110  such that they are captured by the bead  197 , at least when the bead is engaged by the end  123  and/or the second end  127  and the first member  110 . 
         [0025]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , the first portion  121   a  of the segment  121  may have a different length than the third portion  121   c  of the segment  121 . For example, first portion  121   a  may be shorter than third portion  121   c , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this configuration, the first end  123  is closer to the loop  125  than the second end  127 . Alternatively, the first portion  121   a  may be longer than the third portion  121   c , and therefore, the first end  123  is farther from the first end  113  of the first member  110  than is the second end  127 . When the first portion  121   a  and the third portion  121   c  have different lengths, bait carried by the first end  123  and the second end  127  may be positioned at different positions during use. The different lengths of the first portion  121   a  and the second portion  121   c  may additionally cause the rig  100  to be unbalanced, whereby the longer third portion  121   c  tends to rotate to a lower position when the first member  110  is not aligned vertically during use. Alternatively, though, the rig  100  is not necessarily unbalanced due to the first portion  121   a  having a different length than the third portion  121   c.    
         [0026]    While the second member  120  has been described as a single segment  121 , the second member  120  may, instead, include two or more segments  221  and  231 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , each including a respective loop  223  and  233 . More specifically, the rig  200  includes first member  210 , which is similar to first member  110  of  FIGS. 1-3 , having a loop  217  formed at a first end  213 . The second end  215  of the first member  210  includes a loop  219 . The loop  219  is secured with a crimped sleeve  291 . Additionally, the first segment  221  is engaged with the first end  215  of the first member  210  by the crimped sleeve  291 . A bead  297  is included surrounding the first member  210  and the first segment  221 . The second segment  231  is engaged with a medial portion  210   a  of first member  210 , at a location between the first end  213  and the second end  215 , by crimped sleeve  292 . A bead  298  is included surrounding the medial portion  210   a  of the first member  210  and the second segment  231 . Alternatively, the rig  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , may be formed by replacing the portion of the first member  210  between the crimped sleeves  297  and  298  with a medial portion of the second member such that the second end  215  of the first member engages the second member at the crimped sleeve  298 . As described above, the first segment  221  and the second segment  231  may be collapsed and retained in the collapsed position by the beads  297  and  298 , respectively, for storage, and or transport of the rig assembly. 
         [0027]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , in another implementation, a rig  300  includes a first member  310  having a first segment  311  and a second segment  312 , and a second member  320 . The first member  310  has a loop  317  formed at first end  313 . A weight W, or other attachment, is engaged with the first member  310  at the first end  313 . First member  310  includes a second end  315  to which the second member  320  is engaged. Additionally, the first segment  311  engages the second member  312  by interlocking loops  314  and  316 . The loops  314  and  316  provide a hinge and allow the first segment  311  to fold relative to the second segment  312 . Thus, the length dimension of the first member  310  may be reduced for storage. The second member  320  includes a loop  328  at a first end  323  and a loop  325  at a second end  327 . The second member  320  may be collapsed for storage, as described above, and secured in the collapsed position with a bead  397 . 
         [0028]    In some implementations, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a distal end  411  of an arm  410  of a rig  400  is releasable to allow convenient removal of a swivel  421  and/or a hook H. When desired, a sleeve  431  is disposed around both medial portion  410   a  and a distal portion  410   b  of the arm  410 . The sleeve  431  can be crimped for more durable securing of an accessory within a loop of the distal end  411 . Alternatively, friction may be relied on to secure the distal end  411  in a loop configuration to retain an accessory. 
         [0029]    As also illustrated in  FIG. 6 , various other accessories can be included in the rig  400 . For example, a releasable clasp  441  is included on a central leg  450 . The hook  441  can slide along the central leg, and an accessory, such as a spinner  461  can be engaged with the clasp  441 . 
         [0030]    A number of embodiments of the claimed invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. For example, first member  110  may be fixedly engaged with second member  120 , or first member  110  may be removably engaged with second member  120 , such as by a threaded coupling or other releasable coupling. Additionally, while second member  120  has been described including loop  125  formed in medial portion  121   b , loop  125  may be replaced by a loop formed in second end  115  of first member  110 , and medial portion  121   b  may be joined to first member  110  at a location proximate to and medial of second end  115 . Furthermore, a sleeve, a tie, a strap, a clip, or other fastening device may be substituted for, or used in conjunction with, the bead  197  in order to retain the rig  100  in the storage configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1   a . Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.