Improvements in Safety Fish Hooks
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
CUMI LEID CLE
Improvements in Safety Fish Hooks
I, DAVID MACARN KITTLE, of Canajohane, County of Montgomery, State of
New York, Mechanic, 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
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My invention relates to improvements in fishing books, and has for its object the
production of a simple device, which practically supports the bait, prevents its
undue removal and firmly and effectively engages the fish, and to this end it
consists, essentially, in separated movable shanks, each provided with a hook, and
a cross bar movable lengthwise of said shanks for engaging the bait, and moving
the free extremities of the shanks toward and away from each other
The invention also consists in a second cross bar supported by the shanks and
having its intermediate portion arranged above the corresponding portion of the
former cross bar, and in the general construction and arrangement of the
component parts
In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings,
forming a part of this Specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding
parts in all the views
Figs 1 and 2 are respectively, side elevations and top plan view of the
preferable form of my improved fishing hook, a minnow being indicated by dotted
lines as operatively engaged thereby, and the cross bai for moving the shanks of
the hook toward and away from each other being indicated in proximity to the free
extremities of said shanks, and Figs 3 and 4 are respectively, top plan view and
side elevation of my improved fishing hook, the cross bar for moving the shanks of
the hook toward and away from each other being indicated as engaged with the
central portions of said shanks, the second cross bar being indicated as moved
forward to its position assumed when the bait is engaged with the hook, and the
fishing hook being shown by dotted lines at Figs 3 in its position assumed when the
bait is operatively engaged thereby
It is well known that considerable difficulty is experienced in practically
supporting minnows, ciabs, fiogs, &c, when fishing, and that fish sometimes remove
the same without engaging the hook, or else are so ineffectively engaged that they
readily escape
My invention is designed to obviate this undesirable resul+
My improved fishing hook consists, essentially of two separated shanks A A¹
each provided with a hook a a', an additional hook A² for engaging the bait, and the
cross bais B B for also engaging the bait, one of said cross bars operatively to move
the shanks toward and away from each other The shanks A A', although here
illustrated as of essentially the same length may be formed of unequal length
and they are preferably more or less flexible and are inclined from each other
Their opposite
toward their free extremities which are provided with hooks a a¹
extremities are fixed or secured to a head A³ provided with an engaging end a³ to
which a snell or line C is suitably secured
The head A³ is preferably soldered to the shanks A A' which are usually formed
separable from each other, but may evidently be formed of a single piece of wire
or other material bent to the desired form
The hooks a a are of any suitable form, and are here illustrated as slightly
outturned, and as provided with barbs a³, and, as the shanks A A' are moved
toward and away from each other, the hooks a a¹ or approximated or separated

page_text: The additional hook A' for engaging the bait is suitably secured to the head A³,
and, in order to clearly illustrate its operation, I have indicated a minnow D by
dotted lines at Figs 1 and 2 as operatively engaged with my improved hook
Any suitable portion of the minnow, as its head, may be engaged with the hook A³,
and the cross bars B B' immediately described hold the minnow in its designed
position, with an opposite portion as its tail interposed between the hooks a a¹
The cross bar B, in addition to engaging the bait, operates to move the
shanks A A' toward and away from each other, and, as preferably constructed, it
consists of a flexible strip or piece of wire having an outturned intermediate
portion b and opposite eyes 6' 6³ engaged with the shanks A A¹ and movable
lengthwise thereof When arranged in proximity to the free extremities of the
shanks A A¹ the cross bar B holds the hooks a a¹ in close proximity to the
adjacent sides of the bait and its intermediate portion is formed with a substantially
smooth face which engages the underside of the bait as clearly illustrated at Figs 1
and 2 and by dotted lines in Fig 3, and when said bar B is engaged with the
intermediate portions of the shanks A A', the hooks a a¹ e separated as seen by
full lines at Fig 3 to permit ready securement of the bait The cross bar B¹ is
also preferably formed of a flexible strip or piece of wire for permitting of its ready
adjustment lengthwise of the shanks A A¹ and is provided with eyes 63 63 movable
lengthwise of said shanks
The intermediate portion 6 of the cross bar B' which
is bent into the form of a loop, is passed over the minnow and is formed with a
substantially smooth face engaged therewith directly back of its dorsal fin
In placing the minnow in position the cross bar B is engaged with the inter-
mediate portions of the shanks A A' and the cross bar B₁ is swung or moved
forwardly, so as to permit ready engagement of the head of the minnow with the
hook A, and said cross bars are then forced to their position illustrated at Figs 1
and 2 The minnow is thus readily engaged with my improved hook and, although
free to move, is practically and effectively held in position, and, whenever a fish
strikes at the minnow or endeavours to feed upon the same its engagement with one
of the hooks a a¹ is practically certain, and such engagement is evidently effectual
and sufficient to permit landing of the fish if ordinary care is exercised
Instead of the cross bar B' I sometimes use an additional cross bar of
substantially the same form as the bar B, but of slightly greater length, and
arrange this additional cross bar, which it is unnecessary to illustrate, nearer the
hooks a a' than the cross bar B, and consequently the intermediate portion of said
cross bar, is above the corresponding portion of the bar B The bait is then
interposed between the two corresponding cross bars, which are moved along the
shanks A A' until engaged with the upper and lower sides of the bait
It is evident to one skilled in the art that crabs and small frogs may also be
engaged with my improved hook when desired to use the same instead of a minnow
When a crab is used its tuil portion is engaged with the hook A3 and its front or
head portion is interposed between the cross bars B B', and, when a frog is used,
its head portion is engaged with the hook A2, its under side by the cross bar B,
and the upper portions of its haunches by the cross bar B¹
The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing
description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings, and it will be readily
apparent that the same is simple in construction, practically supports the bait,
prevents its undue removal, and firmly and effectually engages the fish
As the exact detail construction and arrangement of my invention may be
somewhat varied I do not herein specifically limit myself to such exact detail
construction and arrangement
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is
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1 A fishing hook comprising separated shanks each provided with a hook, a
cross bar secured to the shanks for engaging the under surface of the bait, and a

page_text: second cross bar secured to said shanks for engaging the upper surface of the bait,
substantially as and for the purpose described
2 A fishing hook comprising separated movable shanks each provided with a
hook, a cross bar movable lengthwise of the shanks for engaging the under surface
of the bait, and a second flexible cross bar secured to said shanks for engaging
the
upper surface of the bait, substantially as and for the purpose specified
3 A fishing hook comprising separated movable shanks each provided with a
hook, a flexible cross bar for engaging the under surface of the bait, and a second
Closs bar movable lengthwise of the shanks for engaging the upper surface of the
bait, substantially as set forth
4 A fishing hook comprising separated shanks each provided with a hook, a
cross bar secured to the shanks and having its intermediate portion deflected
outwardly beyond said shanks for engaging the under surface of the bait, and a
second cross bar secured to the shanks and having its intermediate portions deflected
outwardly beyond said shanks and arranged normally above the former cross bar
for engaging the upper surface of the bait, substantially as and for the purpose
specified
5 A fishing hook comprising separated flexible shanks each provided with a
hook, a flexible cross bar movable lengthwise of the shanks for engaging the under
surface of the bait, and a second flexible cross bar movable lengthwise of the
shanks for engaging the upper surface of the bait, substantially as described
.ננט.נ.מ
V-1005
HUGHES, SON & Co,
38 Chancery Lane, WC, Agents for the Applicant
HUGHES, SON & Co,
38 Chancery Lane, WC, Agents for the Applicant