Patent Abstract:
The fishing device of the present invention provides a parachute on the fishing line for use with large game fish. The parachute is enclosed in a container and released upon hooking a fish. The parachute provides a drag for the fish. The drag slows the fish and tires it more quickly. The slower speeds of the fish caused by the drag help prevent loss of the fish due to line breakage, hook release, or lack of line. The fishing device may also function as a lure.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to fishing equipment. More particularly, it relates to a parachute assisted fishing device for large game fish.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of Related Art  
         [0004]     There are many difficulties involved in catching large game fish, such as such as bluefin and bigeye tuna, marlin, swordfish, or shark. When fishing for large game fish, anglers typically employ multiple rods that rest in rod holders. When a fish is hooked on a particular rod, the angler removes that rod from the holder and makes his way into a fighting chair to assist in the capture of the fish. These fighting chairs are well known in the art. Typical fighting chairs provide the angler with a place to sit while reeling in the hooked fish. They also provide support for the rod and reel. To bring in a large hooked fish, anglers cannot usually simply reel in the fish. The weight and strength of the fish cannot be overcome by the cranking arm on the reel. Furthermore, the fishing line typically is not strong enough to hold the fish if it makes a sudden dart away from the direction of the pole.  
         [0005]     In order to capture a hooked fish, anglers use a combination of several motions to slowly bring the fish towards the boat. The angler pulls the rod toward his body so that it pivots about the butt of the rod. This motion moves the fish towards the boat. The angler then reverses the motion by quickly lowering the tip of the rod and reels in the slack in the line. This motion requires a great deal of strength to pull in a large fish. It becomes easier as the fish tires, but the angler also tires over time.  
         [0006]     In order to prevent line breakage, the reel that holds the line is fitted with a friction drag. Any pull on the line greater than the set amount causes the reel to play out line. When a fish darts quickly away from the boat, the drag is exceeded and the line plays out. The line may also play out simply from a large, strong fish swimming in the opposite direction. As line plays out, the angler has to continue the process to reel in all of the line which has gone out. Additionally, if all of the line on the reel plays out, the line will break and the fish is lost. Many large fish keep away from the fishing boats. In order to catch them, lots of line must be let out before the fish is hooked. A strong fish may be able to pull the rest of the line out.  
         [0007]     Other problems may result in losing a hooked fish. Often a fish will jump out of the water. The stresses on the line and hook change as the fish leaves the water. These changes may allow the hook to come lose and the fish to escape. Also, a fish can change direction fairly quickly. When a fish changes direction, the line bows forming an arc behind the fish. The arc of line is pulled sideways through the water. The stresses created by this movement can exceed the strength of the line causes the line to break.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The fishing device of the present invention avoids many problems involved with large game fishing by connecting a parachute to the fishing line near the fish. According to one aspect of the invention, the parachute is enclosed in a container until after a fish is hooked. The container then opens and the parachute is engaged. The parachute provides additional resistance to the fish swimming to limit its speed and tire it more quickly. The lower speed of the fish reduces the changes of a break in a bowed line. The parachute further limits the ability of the fish to break the surface and the associated dislodging of the hook. According to an aspect of the invention, the parachute is unidirectional. It provides resistance to the fish swimming, but not to the line being pulled in by the angler.  
         [0009]     According to one aspect of the invention, the container is positioned near the hook and is designed to function as a lure. According to another aspect of the invention, the container is positioned in the line away from the hook. According to one aspect of the invention, the line passes through the parachute. According to another aspect of the invention, the line does not pass through the parachute, but the top of the parachute is tethered to the line. According to another aspect of the invention, the parachute is packed within the container to allow easy deployment and to prevent tangles in the line and the parachute. According to another aspect of the invention, the parachute includes swivels to allow rotation of the parachute about the line. According to another aspect of the invention, the parachute includes a design to limit rotation of the parachute as it passes through the water. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a fishing device in a closed position according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a fishing device in an open position according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an interior view of a fishing device in a closed position according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a parachute attachment swivel according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a fishing device in an open position according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a fishing device in a closed position according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The present invention provides a parachute along a fishing line. The parachute provides a drag on the fish. This drag slows the fish down and tires it more quickly. The slower speed of the fish limits many of the problems involved in fishing for large game fish. The fish cannot pull out the line as fast. Thus, the line is less likely to run out. When the line bows, the slower speed reduces the stresses on the line to limit breakage. The slower fish speed also prevents the fish from leaving the water, which limits the chances for the hook to come loose. These advantages improve the chances of landing a fish once hooked.  
         [0017]     A fishing device  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in closed and open positions, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectfully. The fishing device  10  includes a container having two parts  20 ,  30 . The two parts  20 ,  30  of the container  10  are connected together in the closed position so that a desired level of force is necessary to separate the two parts. According to an embodiment of the invention, the connection is made by passing cords  21 ,  22  in one part  20  of the container through holes  31 ,  32  in the other part  30  of the container. The cords  21 ,  22  are sized to create friction within the holes  31 ,  32 . Thus, a force is necessary to overcome the friction and allow the two parts  20 ,  30  of the container to separate. The amount of force required to separate the parts depends upon the relative sizes of the cords and holes and upon the number of them. The amount of force should be such that the drag of the hook and bait through the water will not open the container, but that the forces caused by the fish pulling against the line will.  
         [0018]     Rings  24 ,  34  are positioned on opposite ends of the two parts  20 ,  30  of the container. One ring  24  is attached to the hook  11 . The other ring  34  is attached to the fishing line  12 . A line  50  extends within the container between the rings  24 ,  30 . A parachute  40  is connected to the line  50 . According to an embodiment of the invention, the line  50  is formed of twisted wire cable having a test strength of 800 lbs. The parachute  40  is formed of rip-stop nylon and treated so as to not be permeable. Alternatively, the parachute  40  may be formed of spiderwire. According to an embodiment of the invention, the parachute  40  is 14 inches in diameter. A parachute of this size sufficiently slows most large game fish. According to another embodiment, the parachute  40  has a diameter of 24 inches.  
         [0019]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the parachute is domed in the direction of the fishing line  12 . In this manner, when the line  12  is pulled in, the parachute  40  collapses and moves easily through the water. When the fish pulls the line  12 , the parachute  40  catches water and provides drag to the fish. The amount of drag depends, to some degree, on the speed of the fish. As the speed of the fish increases, so does the drag. However, at a certain speed, the amount of drag levels off. The speed at which the drag levels off depends upon the dimensions of the parachute.  
         [0020]     The outer edge of the parachute  40  is connected by suspension lines  42  to a swivel  41 . The suspension lines  42  may be directly attached to the parachute or connected to grommets, loops or other connectors. The suspension lines  42  may be formed of fishing line or spiderwire. Five suspension lines of 20 lb test is sufficient to support the parachute  40  in connection with the speeds of most large game fish. The swivel  41  allows the parachute to rotate without tangling the suspension lines  42  or the line  50 . In the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the line  50  passes through the top of the parachute  40 . A swivel  48  in the top of the parachute  40  is attached to the line  50 . The swivel  48  keeps the parachute  40  properly positioned on the line  50 .  
         [0021]     As the parachute  40  is pulled through the water, it tends to rotate. Holes  46  can be placed near the top of the parachute. The use of three holes limits the rotation of the parachute  40  without significantly limiting the drag of the chute.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment for attaching the swivel  41  to the line  50 . The swivel  41  is formed of a flat metal disk  141 . The disk  141  has a hole (not shown) in the center through which the line  50  passes. The hole is large enough that the disk  141  can move freely on the line  50 . Additional holes are positioned around the periphery of the disk  141 . The suspension lines  42  connect to these additional holes. The number of holes corresponds to the number of suspension lines  42 . Two additional disks  142 ,  143  are positioned on either side of the first disk  141 . These disks also have holes through the middle sized to accommodate the line  50 . Metal bands  145 ,  146  are attached to the line  50  on either side of the three disks  141 ,  142 ,  143 . The bands  145 ,  146  limit movement of the disks along the line. A similar structure can be used for the swivel  48  at the top of the parachute  40 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an interior view of the fishing device in the closed position. The line  50  is coiled within the container. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the line  50  is coiled in a figure 8 pattern. The number of loops in the line  50  depends upon the length of the wire and the size of the container. Using the figure 8 pattern allows the line to unwind without tangling or kinking. The parachute  40  is trash packed in one of the parts  30  of the container. The rings  24 ,  34  are connected to swivels within the container. The ends of the line  50  connect to the other side of the swivels.  
         [0024]     The container may be formed to function as a lure. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the container is shaped to appear as a squid. The cords  21 ,  22  form a part of the image. Additional cords  26 ,  27  are placed in holes within a part  20  of the container to add to the image. The other part  30  of the container may include details  35  to provide the desired appearance.  
         [0025]     A second attachment mechanism  150  for the parachute  152  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The parachute  152  is of similar size, shape and material to that of the first embodiment. Suspension lines  155  of fishing line or spiderwire connect the periphery of the parachute  152  to a swivel  151 . The swivel  151  is attached to the line  50  in the same manner as for the first embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In the second embodiment, the line  50  does not pass through the parachute  152 . Instead, the parachute  152  moves separately from the line  50 . In order to keep the parachute properly positioned to provide drag for the fish but not for the angler, the top of the parachute  152  is tethered to the line  50 . A tether line  153  connects the top of the parachute  152  to the line  50 . The tether  153  is long enough to allow the parachute  152  to fully open without interference from the line. Swivels  154 ,  155  are used to connect both ends of the tether. The swivels  154 ,  155  allow the parachute  152  to freely rotate about the line  50 .  
         [0026]     Another embodiment of the fishing device  110  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the container does not function as a lure. As in the first embodiment, the container includes two parts  120 ,  130 . The fishing device  110  includes a parachute within the container as in the first embodiment. One part  130  of the container is connected to the fishing line  112  which goes to the rod and reel. The other part  130  of the container attaches to a length of line  113 . The length of line  113  attaches to the hook  111 . The length of line  113  is approximately 8 to 10 feet long. In this embodiment, bait is used on the hook. As in the first embodiment, when the fish is hooked, the two parts  120 ,  130  of the container open to release the parachute.  
         [0027]     Having disclosed at least one embodiment of the present invention, various adaptations, modifications, additions, and improvements will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such adaptations, modifications, additions and improvements are considered part of the invention which is only limited by the several claims attached hereto.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0