Improvements in Fish Hooks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Fish Hooks.
We, WILLIAM FRANKLIN EVANS, of 1533, Ramsay Street, Boiler Maker, and FRANK
MARION BLANEY, of 201, South Gilmor Street, Druggist, both of the City of Baltimore,
State of Maryland, and United States of America, 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 by the following statement :--
This invention relates to improvements in fish hooks in which two hooks are
employed to operate in unison, each hook being used as a bait hook.
The invention will be first described and then pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 shows the improved fish hooks in one of the "set" positions, and also
in broken lines indicates the position the two hooks assume when "sprung" by a
fish biting.
Figure 2 shows the appearance of the two hooks as "set" in Figure 1, when
viewed in a transverse direction.
sprung" from the "set"
Figure 3 shows the position the hooks take when "
position seen in Figure 1. This is also the normal relaxed position.
Figure 4 shows another "set" position of the same hooks. When "sprung"
the two hooks close toward each other.
Figure 5 shows a view of the toggle.
The form of the improved device, as shown in the drawing, comprises a jointed
toggle-arm; two hooks each one of which has the extremity of its shank attached
rigidly to a different section of the toggle-arm; and a spring having two prongs
each loosely attached to a different section of the toggle-arm.
The toggle-arm has two sections, a, a¹, jointed together; each section has a
socket or hole, b, to receive the end or extremity of the shank of one of the hooks.
These holes are not in allinement in the two sections as will be seen in Figure 5;
in section, a, the said hole, b, is nearest one side of the toggle, while in section, a¹,
the hole, b, is nearest the opposite side of the toggle. The effect of this construction
on the hooks will be presently explained.
The two hooks may be alike, but their points project in opposite directions, as
shown. One hook, c, has the end, d, of its shank inserted in the socket or hole, b,
of the toggle-section, a, and when the device is in the normal relaxed position, as
in Figure 3, the point of this book will project outward; the other hook, c', has its
end, d¹, in the socket or hole, b, of the toggle-section a¹, and its hook-point projects
outward in the direction opposite from the first hook. By having the shank-ends
of the two hooks fixed rigidly by insertion in holes that are nearest opposite sides
of the toggle, the hooks may be crossed the reverse way when set as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, so as to produce a slight binding effect or friction where they are
in cross contact that will retain them in that position-the toggle sections being
held substantially straight. It will be seen that whenever the sections of the
toggle move, however slight, the hooks must move correspondingly.
"
The spring comprises a coil, e, and projecting therefrom are two prongs, f, ƒ¹³,
each of which is loosely jointed to a different section of the toggle; the end of each

page_text: toggle section has a hole, g, (see Figure 5) for attachment of the spring-prong.
These spring-prongs are normally relaxed when closed together, as in Figure 3,
where the toggle is bowed, and are under tension when spread apart, as in Figures 1
and 4, where the toggle is approximately straight. The line, h, is attached in
the eye or coil, e. Only two hooks are used and both are bait hooks; it may be
said that either hook acts as a trigger to throw the other into play.
In operation the hooks are to be baited as usual, and "set" in either one of
the two positions as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 4. When the fish takes the
hooks set as in Figure 1, the substantially straight position of the toggle will be
disturbed and the tension of the spring comes into play and the two hooks will
instantly spring apart in the fish's mouth, as indicated by broken lines, and one or
both hook-points will make inside engagement; and the toggle-sections will have
an elbowed position. When the fish takes either one of the hooks set as in Figure 4
the toggles' position will be disturbed and the tension of the spring will come into
play and the hook-points will instantly close toward each other and one hook will
engage inside the fish's mouth and the other hook engage on the outside. In both
cases the hooks will have a certainty of action that ensures catching the fish.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A twin fish-hook having in combination a toggle with two jointed sections
two hooks each one of which has the extremity of its shank attached rigidly to a
different section of the toggle; and a spring separate from the hooks which acts
directly on the two toggle-sections and allows the hooks to be "set" in either of
two positions so as to move apart when sprung, or to close toward each other
when sprung, as set forth.
2. A. twin fish-hook having in combination a toggle with two jointed sections; a
hook attached rigidly to each section; and a spring having a coil for the attachment
of a line and from which two prongs project, each prong being loosely jointed to
the end of a different toggle-section, as set forth.
;
3. A twin fish-hook having in combination a toggle with two jointed sections;
two hooks each of which has its shank attached rigidly to a different section of the
toggle and nearest opposite sides thereof, whereby in setting the hooks they may
be crossed on each other the reverse way and there will be a binding or friction
effect where they are in contact; and a spring having two prongs which connect
directly with the toggle-sections, as set forth.
4. A twin fish-hook having in combination a toggle with two jointed sections ;
two bait hooks each being attached to a different section of the toggle and capable
of being set in either of two positions in one of which the hooks move apart when
sprung, and in the other the hooks close toward each other when sprung; and a
spring separate from the hooks, whereby either one of the hooks when taken in the
mouth of a fish will act as a trigger to throw the other hook.
Dated this 4th day of January 1808
WILLIAM FRANKLIN EVANS.
FRANK MARION BLANEY.