Abstract:
A novel tackle box is disclosed which employs hook attaching means comprising a vertical slot adapted to receive the hooks of artificial fishing bait. The hook attaching means are secured to the top inside of the tackle box or to one or more horizontal shelves in said box so that any bait stored is suspended during storage. Suspension allows for drying of the tackle and prevention of rust. The tackle may be easily inserted and easily removed from the slots. The box provides an effective storage means and method especially for unwieldy and cumbersome baits.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to storage of artificial fishing lures and hooks. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Fishing is a popular sport and commercial venture, and specialized lures for attracting fish are widely used. Many of these lures are fairly unwieldy and susceptible to tangling during transport to the fishing site. In addition, the hooks employed in lures should be secured to prevent injury to the human users of these devices. So called “spinners” are particularly difficult to store due to one or more dangling components. 
   Consequently, several designs for tackle boxes have been reported in the art. Where some organizational features have been provided in tackle boxes, a need continued for a tackle box that would allow lures to dry, and provide ease of insertion and removal. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In an embodiment, the invention is a storage system for artificial fishing bait attached to a hook, comprising a container and one or more horizontal planar surfaces attached to said inside wall so that said horizontal planar surface extends across said container. Hook securing members comprising a top plane and a vertical plane extending downwardly from said top plane are attached to said horizontal planar surfaces. The vertical plane of the hook securing member defines a slot adapted to receive fishing hooks of artificial bait, whereby said hooks may be removably hung on said slot so that the hook will be nearer the top of said container than the remainder of said bait. This allows the bait to be stored in a suspended fashion. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred tackle box, showing two rows of hook attaching members inside the tackle box and a door comprising two sections opening outwardly from a generally central line; 
       FIG. 2A  is a partial perspective view of a tackle box illustrating hook attaching members slidably disposed in a bracket attached to horizontal panels; 
       FIG. 2B  is a partial perspective view of a tackle box illustrating hook attaching members secured to a horizontal plane; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a tackle box illustrating alternative components that may be employed in addition to or instead of the components illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the tackle box illustrating a user hooking a treble hook onto the hook attaching member; and 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of a tackle box illustrating optimal storage conditions. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A novel tackle box is herein disclosed which provides for suspension of artificial fishing lures and ease of insertion and removal of these lures. 
   The invention comprises a tackle box which may be of any configuration but which is preferably generally a rectangular container. Other configurations can be used such as a cylindrical container or a circular container as long as it is possible to provide for the suspension of baits. 
   The tackle box comprises an opening and a door or lid which may be opened and closed and which in open position provides access to the tackle and which in closed position covers the tackle box opening and secures the contents of the tackle box for transport and the like. It is convenient to provide a handle secured to the outside of the box for ease of transport. 
   Inside the tackle box are provided one or more horizontal shelves which comprise horizontal planes to which hook attaching members can be secured. The hook attaching members are generally “T-shaped” and comprise a top plane and a vertical plane extending downward from the top plane. The vertical plane comprises a slot which is horizontal in nature and which generally extends from the tackle box door opening to the rear of the tackle box. The slot is adapted to receive the hooks of artificial lures. The top plane of the hook attaching members can be firmly and statically attached to the horizontal plane of the tackle box, or can be slidably disposed in a bracket adapted to receive the top plane of the hook attaching member. One or more rows of hook attaching members can be provided on each shelf in the tackle box. In a preferred embodiment, 5-6 hook attaching members are provided on each shelf, and each shelf allows for a 4-inch clearance for the baits to suspend downwardly from the hook attaching members. 
   Optionally, the horizontal planes may be slidably disposed in brackets provided in the tackle box interior or may be attached in a static manner. Multiple brackets may optionally be provided so that the area in which the baits will be suspended can be adjusted by the user. The tackle box may also be provided with a drawer for keeping miscellaneous items. As another optional feature, an attaching means may be provided on the outside of the tackle box that can engage with a receiving means which may be installed on a boat or dock. This feature allows the user to transport the box to the fishing location and to secure it in an upright position during fishing. The attaching means can slide into or lockingly engage with the receiving means. 
   In another embodiment, a portable tackle box suitable for holding 1-10 artificial lures may be provided with a means for attachment to a belt or waistband of the user. In this embodiment, one to two hook attaching means would be provided. 
   The tackle box may be made of any material, but preferably is made from molded plastic so that it is lightweight yet sturdy. Techniques for molding the component parts of the tackle box are well known in the art. 
   Now referring to the Figures illustrative of the invention.  FIGS. 1 and 3  are versions of preferred embodiments, a vertically oriented tackle box  5  with rows of hook attaching members  20  inside the box. The tackle box  5  is comprised of a top  2  and bottom  8 , two opposing side panels  4  and  6 , a door  12  or  70 , and a back panel  10 . The tackle box also preferably has a handle  3  for carrying, located on the top panel  2 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , the door is comprised of two panels  12 A and  12 B hinged on vertical axis  15 . The panels swing out to the side in opposite direction and close in the center and may be secured with latches  14 . Alternately,  FIG. 3  shows the door as a single panel  70  on a horizontal axis  72 , opening by dropping down perpendicular to side panels  4  and  6  and away from the top  2 . Door  70  may be secured to top  2  with latches  14  when in closed position. 
   Also shown in  FIG. 3  is an optional side bracket  62 , attached to the outside surface of side panel  4  and/or side panel  6  (not shown). Side bracket  62  has a corresponding mounting bracket  60 . The mounting bracket  60  can be attached to a vertical surface, such as on a boat or a dock. The user can attach side bracket  62  to mounting bracket  60 , to secure the tackle box and prevent tipping. 
   Also shown in  FIG. 3  is optional sliding drawer  68  to hold miscellaneous items. 
   The inside of tackle box  5  has at least one horizontal shelf  18 . The underside of the shelf  18 , and/or inside of the top panel  2 , comprise the horizontal planes  16  to which the hook attaching members  20  can be secured. The horizontal interior planes  16  run the entire length and width of the inside dimensions of the tackle box. Hook attaching members  20  hang perpendicularly from each of these horizontal planes. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the entire horizontal shelf  18  can also be mounted on brackets  64 , to allow the user to slide out the shelf for removal and replacement of the shelf as a whole. 
     FIGS. 2 and 4  show the hook attaching members  20  in greater detail. The hook attaching members are “T-shaped” and generally extend the depth of the tackle box  5 . The top plane  21  of the members attaches in a parallel fashion to the underside of the horizontal interior planes  16 . The vertical plane  23  of the members hangs perpendicularly downwards from plane  21  and consequently from the horizontal interior planes  16 . A slot  22  in the vertical plane  23  is adapted to receive hooks for various fishing tackle, including but not limited to baits and hooks  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  and  36 . When the tackle is hooked onto slot  22 , it is stored in a suspended manner which allows for thorough drying of the tackle and the prevention of rusting. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2A , the hook attaching members  20  can be attached to the horizontal plane  16  by brackets  40 , which allow the user to slide the hook attaching members in and out for easy access. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the hook attaching members  20  can be fastened directly and immovably to the horizontal plane  16 . 
     FIG. 4A  shows a user hooking a treble hook  35  onto the hook attaching member  20 . In this example, one prong  39  is placed inside the slot  22 .  FIG. 4B  demonstrates how the treble hook  35  hangs, with a prong  39  through the slot  22  in the same manner as hooks  36 . 
     FIG. 5  shows how a tackle hook  35  or  36 , when a prong  39  is placed through the slot  22  in the hook attaching member, can be slid along the hook-attaching member  20 . This would allow the user maximum space for hanging multiple tackle in a similar fashion.