Abstract:
A fish hook design for providing sound, the audible sound device integrated to the shank portion. A user can sleeve bait over the shank portion, including the sound device. The user uses the hook as normal with the production of sound by the audible sound device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/853,082, filed Mar. 28, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to fish hooks, specifically to fish hooks equipped with rattles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Fish hooks are commonly used with baits. Examples of baits include live fish such as shad, worms, non-live food such as shad, chicken, various catfish doughs and punch baits, and artificial lures such as soft plastics. The baits are enhanced by strategic add on devices to include weight, illumination, audible sound and secondary attachment devices for baits. 
         [0004]    Rattles in particular are desirable to use when fishing. As the baited hook is moved in the water, the rattle produces noise. Water is an excellent sound conductor. Fish are attracted to the noise. However, strategic add on devices, such as rattles, can cause several problems for the purpose applying the bait to the hook. Baits such as soft plastics are primarily thread from the sharp end of the hook; a portion of the bait is sleeved over the sharp end of the hook along the shank of the hook until it reaches a resting place usually near the line tie eyelet. The same bait may then be attached again to the sharp end of the hook in a manner consistent to accomplish the strategic natural presentation of the chosen bait and provide a weed guard which is strategic in helping to prevent snags and hang ups of the hook. Strategic add on devices such as illumination, weight and audible sounding devices that significantly alter the diameter of the hook shank can encumber the user&#39;s ability to sleeve the bait increasing risk of personal injury and bait damage or loss of bait. Recreation of fishing is time for one to enjoy life and well intentioned anglers have used add on devices that can cause complexity issues as well as unnecessary expense and risk. 
         [0005]    In the prior art, rattles have been attached to hooks. In Hoyt, U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,178, a jig head has a hook. Attached to the jig head is a rattle that extends adjacent to the hook shank. Together, the rattle and the shank enlarge the size of the hook in cross-section. Many baits cannot be used on such a hook because they cannot be secured to the hook. In addition, using soft plastic lures on such a hook would result in damage to the lure so it could not be reused. 
         [0006]    Huppert, U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,996 attaches a rattle to the bend portion of the hook by way of a wire. The hook also includes a weight on the shank. 
         [0007]    Thus what is needed is a hook having a more streamlined rattle that can be used with a wide variety of baits and without damage to the baits. 
         [0008]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,535 Trembone, et al. 2006, shows illumination feature, which is a coveted strategy in catching fish. The light unit is located along side the shank. Together, the light unit and the shank enlarge the size of the hook, which limits the bait choice. The light unit interferes with securely attaching a bait to the hook. While a few specialized baits could be used, these baits cannot be rigged as weedless where the hook tip is inside the bait. A weedless rigged bait reduces snags and hang ups thereby reducing the frustrations and time that go along with trying to disengage the snag or hang up which many times end in an environmental problem of littering our lakes ponds and streams with dangerous sharps and excess fishing line. This problem affects all aquatic life and human life and other fisherman lines as they could become entangled. 
         [0009]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,266 Falcon 2006, shows weighted hook shank with a significant increase in the diameter, although it is complimentary to show the needed reduction in as far as the tapered ends of both top and bottom beginning and ending of the weight for applying baits. The weight is concentrically fitted onto the shank but not secured and held in position by the tapered ends of the weight. The weight could at the same time take advantage of the space used for the weight by adding a component of the audible sound device however this is not present. The selection of creating the space along the hook for purposes of audible sound naturally adds the weight from weighted members within, and thereby combining strategic benefits. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the hook of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, showing the rattle in cross-section. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is detailed cross-sectional view showing the rattle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the hook as may be used with a bait. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    As shown in the drawings, the fish hook  11  is equipped with a rattle portion  15  in such a manner that a wide variety of baits can be securely attached to the hook. For example, a soft plastic lure  17  can be inserted onto the hook. The rattle portion  15  only slightly increases the diameter of the hook so that the soft plastic lure can be reused on the same hook or on another hook without having to retie a knot. The lure is not destroyed or modified significantly when inserted onto the hook. By embedding the rattle in the fish hook, less expensive baits can be used. A rattle equipped bait is typically more expensive than a non-rattling bait. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the fish hook  11  has a shank  21 , a bend  23 , a point  25  or tip and a line connector  27 . The point  25  can be barbed as shown or barbless. Some fishing locations require the use of barbless hooks. The bend  23  connects the point  25  to the shank  21 . The shank  21  extends from the bend  23  to the line connector  27 . In the embodiment shown, the line connector is an eye  27 . However, the line connector could be any device used to connect a hook to a line such as a swivel, jig head, clip, etc. The shank  21  need not be straight and may contain one or more bends  29  or turns. While the hook generally has the shank, bend and point fiat so as to lie in a plane, the hook can be shaped so that one or more sections lay outside of the plane. For example, the bend and point may be bent to one side of the plane. Also, the hook can be of various designs. For example as shown, the bend is about  180  degrees, where the point generally points back towards the line connector. However, circle hooks have a larger bend so the point may point in the direction of the shank. 
         [0015]    The rattle portion  15  is part of and in line with the shank  21  of the hook. The rattle portion  15  has a chamber  31  and a rattle  39 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the chamber  31  has a side wall  33  and ends  35 . The chamber  31  is elongated and extends along a portion of the shank length. Thus, the shank has non-chamber portions  37  located in line with the chamber. The chamber has a first diameter, while the non-chamber portions  37  have a second diameter. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter. The outside ends of the chamber are tapered  38 . This eases the insertion of a lure or bait onto the hook. 
         [0016]    In the preferred embodiment, the chamber  31  is watertight so that water does not enter the chamber when the hook is in use. 
         [0017]    Inside the chamber  31  is one or more rattles  39 . In the preferred embodiment, the rattle  39  is a metal cylinder. However, the rattle could be a bead or other shape and made of other material such as plastic. Using a metal cylinder as a rattle serves to add weight to the hook and may reduce the need for an angler to add weight to the bait or lure. 
         [0018]    The length of the chamber  31 , which is the distance between the ends  35 , is sufficient to allow the rattle  39  to move from one end  35  in the chamber to the other end. The rattle  39  generally makes noise when contacting an end  39  of the chamber. The rattle may make noise as well when moving inside of the chamber as it moves along the side wall  33 . The diameter of the rattle is sized relative to the inside diameter of the chamber so that the rattle can freely move between the ends  35  of the chamber. In some embodiments, the chamber may be sized somewhat larger than the rattle so as to allow the rattle to move in a transverse direction and make noise when contacting the side wall of the chamber. As used herein, the longitudinal direction of the chamber is the direction the rattle moves inside of the chamber between the ends  35 , which is generally collinear with the shank. 
         [0019]    To make the hook, a length of the tubing is used for the chamber. Conventional hooks are made of wire. If a conventional hook is being modified, a length of the shank is cut out and removed so as to leave a gap. The sleeve or tubing is inserted into the gap and the ends of the tubing are joined to the hook pieces by soldering, brazing, welding, etc. The rattle is located inside of the sleeve before the tubing is joined to the hook pieces. The outside ends  38  of the chamber are tapered. 
         [0020]    In such an embodiment, the chamber is integral with the non-chamber portions  37  and the remainder of the hook. However, in the alternative, the rattle portion can be removably coupled to the hook, for example, by way of threaded connections. 
         [0021]    The hook is used as an ordinary hook is used. As shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, a soft plastic lure  17  has been inserted onto the hook in accordance with conventional techniques. For example, the point of the hook is inserted into the foreign end of the lure and the lure then follows the bend and the shank until it contacts the line connector  27 . The hook shown in the figure is rigged in a weedless manner, but it may also be rigged in an exposed manner. 
         [0022]    By providing the rattle in line with the remainder of the hook shank, any type of bait or lure can be easily inserted onto the hook. When used during fishing as the lure moves in the water, the rattle  39  moves inside of the chamber  31  making noise which is then conveyed into the surrounding water. Fish are highly attracted to such a configuration. 
         [0023]    The foregoing disclosure and showings made in the drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.