Improvements in Fish Hooks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fish Hooks.
I, FRANK MASTERS ROBINSON, resident of Pawling, in the County of
Dutchess, and State of New York, United States of America, Dentist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to fish hooks and the object thereof is to provide a double,
spring or snap fish hook, composed of a single piece of wire formed into a loop or
eye at or near the central portion thereof, and the shanks of the hooks being
straight or substantially so for a portion of their lengths and provided with a ring.
adapted to slide thereon, and the curved portion of the hooks being formed in a
peculiar manner, whereby when the shanks of the separate hooks are held together
by the sliding ring the point and barb of one of said hooks will lie adjacent to the
base of the curve of the other and be concealed or partially so thereby.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which, the
accompanying drawing forms a part, and in which ;-
Fig. 1, represents a side view of my improved combination spring hook, the
shanks thereof being held together by the ring mounted thereon;
Fig. 2, a similar view in which the ring has been raised to the highest point and
the shanks are separated by the spring action thereof,
Fig. 3, is a side view with the ring in the position shown in Fig. 1, and
Fig. 4, represents a modification.
In the practice of my invention I employ a highly tempered spring steel wire A.
in which is formed an eye or loop B at or near the middle thereof, by bending the
wire as shown in Fig. 2. From the eye or loop B, to about the point designated
by C, the shanks of the hooks D, and E, are straight or substantially so, and
mounted thereon is a ring F, which is adapted to hold the shanks together when in
its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 4. the shanks are provided with
shoulders C', to prevent the ring from being pressed too far down.
The curves of the hooks D, and E, as will be seen in Figs. 1, and 2, are such
that when the ring F, is in the lower position as shown in Fig. 1, the point G, and
the barb H, of the hook E, will lie close to and parallel with the inner portion of
the hook D, which is practically straight at this point, as shown in Fig. 1, by
means of which construction, as will be observed, the point and barb of the
hook E, are concealed as will be understood by the inner or base portion of the
said curve of the hook D.
It will be observed also that when the line J, is attached to the ring F, and
passes through the eye or loop B, aud in operation the ring F, is pressed down to
the lowest possible position as shown in Fig. 1, and if a fish should be caught on
the hook D, the strain thereof on the line J, would draw the ring F up over the
sbanks of the hooks into the position shown in Fig. 2, when the concealed hook E,
would immediately spring out as will be readily understood and also bury itself in
the mouth of the fish, whereby as will be apparent, the escape of the fish would be
impossible, the hooks operating at different points when being securely held from
displacement by the spring operation thereof.
My improved hook is particularly adapted for use in catching what are known
as game fish, and which frequently become detached and succeed in releasing

page_text: themselves from a single hook, and, as is evident it may be used in, connection with
artificial flies, or within any other form or kind of bait and when constructed and
applied in the manner herein shown and, described my invention is perfectly
adapted to accomplish the object for which it is intended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A spring snap fish hook composed of a single piece of spring wire bent to form
an eye or loop at or near the middle thereof, and said end of the wire being formed.
into a hook the points of which, extend in different. directions and a ring mounted
on the shanks thereof and adapted to slide thereon and when in its lowest position,
to hold the shanks together, the curves of the hooks being such that when the ring
is in its lowest position the point of one of the hooks will lie adjacent to the curve
of the other hook, substantially as shown and described.
2. A fish hook formed from a single piece of spring wire and having an eye B
at the middle thereof, a hook formed one each end of the wire, the straight portions
adjacent to the eye and a ring arranged on said straight portion to be connected to
the line and adapted when in its lower position to leave one of the hooks wholly
exposed and retain the other hook in a concealed position. alongside a straight
portion in rear of the bar b and point of the exposed hook, substantially as
described.
Dated this 24th day of February 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.