Abstract:
Systems directed to the art of setting a hook in a fish mouth have an activation member assembly removably interfaced with a spring-loaded plunger assembly. A fish hook is attached via fishing lines to both the activation member assembly and the plunger assembly. Pulling the hook releases the plunger assembly from the activation member assembly and pulls the line attached to the plunger assembly, setting the hook in the fish&#39;s mouth.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/953,457, filed 14 Mar. 2014, and entitled “Fish Hook System,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Fishing is an activity predicated on patience and timing. When a fish snatches the bait offered on an unassuming hook or takes a bite of an attractive lure, the angler must be ready to set the fishing hook in the mouth of the fish to ensure the capture of the water faring beast, or else embrace the fate of being the losing party in another epic fishing saga. Setting a hook is generally accomplished by pulling back on the fishing rod in a quick jerking motion. If poorly timed, either too early or too late, the fish may escape as the hook has either not yet entered the fish&#39;s mouth or the fish has already taken the bait and swam away. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, anglers would benefit from a device capable of more consistently setting a hook in a fish&#39;s mouth at a more advantageous time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a hook setting device configured to set a hook in a fish&#39;s mouth with more consistency and with a greater rate of success. The present invention comprises an activation member assembly which, when triggered by a fish, will release an arm of a plunger assembly retained under pressure by a spring. The arm is attached to the fish hook via a fishing line and as the arm moves in a direction away from the fish, the hook is set in the fish&#39;s mouth. 
         [0005]    An embodiment of a fish hook system according to the present invention includes a sleeve extending between a sleeve first end and a sleeve second end, the sleeve second end including a base member. A plunger assembly is at least partially disposed and translatable within the sleeve. The plunger assembly includes a rod and an arm pivotally coupled to the rod within the sleeve. A trigger finger is rotatably attached to the base member and releasably engageable with the arm. A biasing member is arranged within the sleeve between the rod and the base member. The biasing member may be configured to bias the rod towards the sleeve first end. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of a fish hook system according to the present invention, the rod has a rod first end and a rod second end, the rod second end supporting an annular collar surface, and the biasing member is arranged between the base member and the annular collar surface. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of a fish hook system according to the present invention, the rod may further include a rod first end and a rod second end, and the arm comprises an arm proximal end (which is preferably pivotally coupled to the rod second end) and an arm distal end, the arm distal end having an offset bulb formed thereon. The trigger finger may include a pocket, which is configured to receive the offset bulb of the arm. The rod first end may protrude from the sleeve first end and the rod second end may be disposed within the sleeve. 
         [0008]    According to still another aspect of a fish hook system according to the present invention, the trigger finger may include a finger proximal end and a free finger distal end, the finger proximal end being rotatably attached to the base, the finger being rotatable from a first stationary position substantially perpendicular to the sleeve to a second stationary position disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first stationary position. The trigger finger is configured to secure the bulb within the pocket when the finger is in the first stationary position and to release the bulb from the pocket when the finger is in the second stationary position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hook setting device according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away view along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the hook setting device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is close-up partial cut-away view of the hook setting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a close-up partial cut-away view of the hook setting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A-9C  are views of the hook setting device according to the present invention of claim  1  in use. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10A  is a first partial cut-away view of a second embodiment of a hook setting device according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10B  is a second partial cut-away view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10A . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0018]    A first embodiment  100  of a hook setting device is shown in  FIG. 1 . The hook setting device  100  comprises a sleeve  110 , a plunger assembly  130  (see  FIG. 2 ), an activation member assembly  180 , and a biasing member  240  (see also  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0019]    The sleeve  110  preferably comprises a tubular pipe  112  with a plurality of sleeve apertures  120 . The pipe  112  has a pipe first end  114  and a pipe second end  116  opposite the pipe first end  114 . The sleeve apertures  120  decrease the overall weight of the pipe  112  and allow fluid that may have entered the hook setting device  100  when submerged to exit upon activation of the hook setting device  100 . The sleeve apertures  120  also allow air that may be trapped within the hook setting device  100  when submerged, potentially making the hook setting device  100  buoyant, to exit the hook setting device  100 . The sleeve apertures  120  may take any shape including, but not limited to, circles and/or slots. 
         [0020]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3  in which the hook setting device  100  is shown in greater detail.  FIG. 2  is a cut-away view of the hook setting device  100  according to the present invention and illustrates the otherwise interrelationships of the sleeve  110 , the plunger assembly  130 , and the activation member assembly  180 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the hook setting device  100  to better illustrate the specific elements of the hook setting device  100 . 
         [0021]    The partial cut-away view of the sleeve  110  in  FIG. 3  illustrates pipe internal threads  118  extending inward from both the pipe first end  114  and the pipe second end  116 . 
         [0022]    The activation member assembly  180  comprises a base  182 , a finger  200 , a knuckle  214 , a pocket  220  defining a pocket surface  222 , and a stopper  230 . The base  182  comprises base external threads  184 , a base collar  186  having an inwardly facing surface  188  and an outwardly facing surface  190 , a base bore  192  defining a base bore surface  194  (see  FIG. 5B ), and a cantilever  196 . The base external threads  184  interface with the pipe internal threads  118  of the pipe second end  116 . 
         [0023]    The finger  200  preferably comprises a finger proximal end  202 , a finger medial portion  206 , and a finger distal end  208 . The finger proximal end  202  is rotatably attached to the base  182  at the knuckle  214 . The stopper  230  is rotatably attached to the finger medial portion  206  and may extend into the base bore  192  and positioned alongside the cantilever  196 . The finger  200  extends from the finger medial portion  206  to the finger distal end  208  forming a finger lever  210 . The finger lever  210  preferably comprises a plurality of holes  212 . 
         [0024]    The plunger assembly  130  as shown here preferably comprises a rod  132 , a fitting  150 , and an arm  160 . The rod  132  has a rod first end  134  with a rod first end collar  136  and a rod second end  138  with a rod second end collar  140 . The rod second end collar  140  has a rod second end collar first surface  142  and a rod second end collar second surface  144 . The arm  160  comprises an arm proximal end  162  and an arm distal end  164 . The arm proximal end  162  is pivotally attached to the rod second end  138 . Shown here, the arm proximal end  162  is pivotally affixed to the rod second end collar second surface  144  by pin  146 . The arm distal end  164  terminates in an offset bulb  166 . The offset bulb  166  comprises a catch surface  168  and a bulb aperture  170  extending through the offset bulb  166 . 
         [0025]    The fitting  150  comprises a fitting collar  152  with a collar through-hole  154 , fitting external threads  156  and a fitting bore  158 . The rod  132  is positioned through the fitting bore  158  and the fitting external threads  156  interface with the pipe internal threads  118  of the pipe first end  114 . 
         [0026]    Additionally or alternatively, a dampener  172 , shown here as a coil spring, may be included between the fitting  150  and the rod second end collar first surface  142 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4A  shows the hook setting device  100  in an engaged state with the offset bulb  166  of the arm  160  within the pocket  220  of the activation member assembly  180 . In the engaged state, the offset bulb  166  of the arm  160  is positioned within the pocket  220  and the stopper  230  is between the arm  160  and the base bore surface  194 . 
         [0028]    To place the hook setting device  100  into the engaged state, the finger lever  210  is rotated away from the sleeve  110 , thus removing the stopper  230  from the base bore  192  (see  FIG. 7B ). Preferably, the periphery  204  of the finger proximal end  202  is shaped to provide an interference between the finger proximal end  202  and the outwardly facing surface  190  of the base collar  186 , thus limiting rotation of the finger  200  past a predetermined angle and preferably before the stopper  230  travels completely beyond the cantilever  196 . 
         [0029]    The bulb  166  of the arm  160  may then be passed through the base bore  192  and into the pocket  220 . The biasing member  240  is compressed during this transition as it is located between the base  182  and the rod second end collar second surface  144 , thus inducing a compression spring force opposing the movement of the rod second end collar  140  towards the second end  116  of the pipe  112 . In order to retain the bulb  166  within the pocket  220 , the finger lever  210  is rotated back towards the sleeve  110  and the stopper  230  guides the arm  160  into a position in which the catch surface  168  of the bulb  166  abuts the pocket surface  222 . Thus, the stopper  230  forces the arm  160  to interface the pocket surface  222  and the catch surface  168  to prevent the arm  160  from movement encouraged by the compressed biasing member  240 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4B  further illustrates the knuckle  214  and the cantilever as viewed from above the orientation of the hook setting device  100  in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5A-9B  illustrate the operation of the hook setting device  100  according to the present invention.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  show the hook setting device  100  in the engaged position as described earlier with respect to  FIGS. 4A and 4B . It can be seen that the offset bulb  166  is positioned within the pocket  220  and the stopper  230  is between the arm  160  and the base bore surface  194 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 5A , a first fishing line  10  extends from a fishing pole  40  to the pipe first end  114 , on which the first fishing line  10  is secured through the collar through-hole  154 . A second fishing line, or leader,  20  is secured on one end to one of the plurality of lever holes  212  and is secured to a fishing lure, here a hook  50 , on the other end. A third fishing line, or leader,  30  is secured to the bulb aperture  170  and is tied in with the second fishing line  20 , or lure  50 , in a manner known to one skilled in the art. It should be noted that the first fishing line  10  may be attached to a BEAVER DAM TIP-UP® or any other fishing device, and the hook  50  may be of any type including, but not limited to, an EAGLE CLAW hook and NORTHLAND FISHING TACKLE® jigging lures. 
         [0033]    The third fishing line  30  is preferably longer than the second fishing line  20 . Briefly looking to  FIG. 8A , it is preferred that the third fishing line  30  have a minimum additional length approximately greater than the combined distance traveled D of the finger lever  210 , at the moment of activation of the hook setting device  100  and the length of the second fishing line  20  between the selected lever hole  212  and the connection point of the second fishing line  20  and the third fishing line  30 . The distance D will be variable as it depends on which of the plurality of lever holes  212  is chosen. 
         [0034]    It is also preferred that the third fishing line  30  have a maximum additional length longer than the second fishing line  20  approximately substantially less than the distance L (see  FIG. 2 ) between the fitting  150  and the rod second end collar first surface  142  when the hook setting device  100  is in the engaged state. 
         [0035]    In  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a fish  60  approaches and bites the hook  50 . The second fishing line  20  is pulled tight as the finger lever  210  rotates about the knuckle  214 . The plurality of lever holes  212  allow an angler to set the amount of force needed for a fish  60  to release the plunger assembly  130 . If less force is preferred, the angler may attach the second fishing line  20  in one of the plurality of lever holes  212  farther away from the knuckle  214 . If more force is preferred, the angler may attach the second fishing line  20  in one of the plurality of lever holes  212  closer to the knuckle  214 . 
         [0036]    Looking now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the fish  60  has rotated the finger lever  210  farther thus pulling the stopper  230  out of the base bore  192  and allowing the offset bulb  166  to exit the pocket  220 . 
         [0037]    In  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the offset bulb  166  is completely out of the pocket  220  and the spring force induced by the compressed biasing member  240  is released, pulling the third fishing line  30  tight and setting the hook  50  in the fish  60 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C , the rod  132  travels through the sleeve  110  until the rod second end collar first surface  142  makes contact with the fitting  150  or dampener  172 . In the embodiment shown, a dampener  172  is employed as alternatively described above with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , allowing the rod  132  to be brought to a stop in a more controlled fashion. 
         [0039]    It is further contemplated by the present invention that the hook setting device  100  may comprise different sizes for various size fish  60 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a second embodiment  1000  of the hook setting device. Here, the arm distal end  164  abuts the cantilever  196  and the offset bulb catch surface  168  is in contact with the pocket surface  222 . The finger proximal end periphery  204  has a lobe-like profile  1002  with a flat spot  1004 . According to this embodiment, when a fish  60  (as shown in  FIG. 6A ) triggers the hook setting device  1000 , the finger  200  rotates relative to the arm offset bulb  166 , and due to the lobe-like profile  1002  of the proximal end periphery  204 , the flat spot  1004  will rotate to a position substantially alongside the offset bulb  166 , thus releasing the arm  160 . As the arm  160  would not necessarily need to pivot out of the pocket  220  according to this embodiment, the rod  132  and the arm  160  may be formed from one piece of material. 
         [0041]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.