Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to a fishhook and securing means for an attachment to a fishhook, specifically to ensure that the attachment is maintained in a selected position. Background to the invention

The inventor is aware that in the art of fishing it is often advantageous to attach a secondary hook or a series of hooks, in addition to a primary fishhook. Furthermore, it is sometimes necessary to attach fishing line, wire or other secondary objects used for fishing to a fishhook. These attachments may however reduce the integrity and strength of the primary fishhook and it may also be difficult to secure them in a selected position.

Similar attempts to modify fishhooks such as described in US patent application 4,232,470 by Steffick has the effect of weakening the structural integrity of the fishhook. The inventor proposes a number of alternatives which do not have the same disadvantage.

It is an object of the invention to provide securing means for attachments to fishhooks which overcomes the difficulties described above.

General description of the invention According to the invention there is provided a fishhook including a shank portion, a hook portion which is configured to extend substantially from the one end of the shank portion, an eyelet arranged on the opposite free end of the shank portion and securing means arranged in a region of a junction of the shank and hook portions for allowing an attachment to be secured thereto.

The securing means may be in the form of an eyelet which can be co-planar with or in a plane transverse to the shank and hook portions. A secondary fishhook may also extend from the eyelet.

The securing means may be in the form of a substantially C-shaped member wherein an opening is defined between the shank portion and a free end of the C-shaped member or between the hook portion and a free end of the C-shaped member. The opening may also be defined between free ends of the C-shaped member.

The securing means may be in the form of an arcuate member which defines an opening substantially between the shank and hook portions. The arcuate member may have an extension configured to extend inwardly and beyond the hook portion. Furthermore, a retaining member may be provided to co-operate with the extension and an opposing end of the arcuate member to allow the opening to be closed. Furthermore, the securing means may be in the form of a clip member which is configured to extend substantially co-axially from the shank portion. The clip member is generally U-shaped and defines an elbow to which an attachment is attachable in use. The free end of the U-shaped member extending from the elbow can be arranged on the side of the hook portion or on the side opposite the hook portion. The free end free end of the U-shaped member may also have a hook formation to allow an opening defined by the U-shaped member to be closed in use.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of an eyelet which is co-planar with the shank and hook portions, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of an eyelet arranged in a plane transverse to the shank and hook portions, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of a secondary hook attached to the eyelet, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of an C-shaped member, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of an arcuate member, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of an arcuate member with an extension and clip co-operating with the extension and the opposing end of the arcuate member, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of a U-shaped clip of which the curved free end is arranged on the side opposite the hook, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of a U-shaped clip of which the straight free end is arranged on the side opposite the hook, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 9 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of a U-shaped clip of which the curved free end is arranged on the same side as the hook, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 10 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of a U-shaped clip of which the free end has a hook formation which engages with the shank, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 11 shows a side view of the fishhook with securing means in the form of a U-shaped clip of which the free end has a hook formation which engages with the portion of the clip extending from the shank portion, in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings now, the fishhook, in accordance with all the embodiments of the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The fishhook 10 has an eyelet 12, a shank portion 14, a hook portion 16 and securing means 18 arranged on the connecting area between the shank 14 and hook 16 portion. The securing means is used to secure attachments to the fishhook.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the fishhook 10. The securing means in this embodiment is in the form of an eyelet 18.1 which is co-planar with the shank 14 and hook 16 portions. The eyelet 18.1 can also be arranged in a plane transverse to the shank 14 and hook 16 portions as can be seen in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the fishhook 0 where a secondary hook 20 extends from the eyelet 18.1.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the fishhook 10 where the securing means is in the form of a C-shaped member 18.2 which defines an opening 22 between the free end 24 thereof and the shank portion 14. The opening 22 can also be defined between the free end 24 of the C-shaped member 18.2 and the hook portion 6 or between the two free ends of the C-shaped member 18.2 (not shown). The securing means is in the form of an arcuate member 18.3 in Figure 5. The arcuate member defines an opening 26 between the shank 14 and hook 16 portions. Figure 6 shows the arcuate member 18.3 with an extension 28 extending inwardly and beyond the hook portion 16. A clip 30 which co-operates with the extension 28 and the opposing end 32 of the arcuate member 18.3 may be used to allow closure of opening 26 .

The securing means can also be in the form of a clip member 18.4 which is configured to extend substantially co-axially from the shank 14 portion as can be seen in figures 7 to 11. The clip member 18.4 is generally U-shaped and defines an elbow 34 to which an attachment can be attached. Figures 7 and 8 show embodiments where the free end 36 of the clip member 18.4 extending from the elbow 34 is arranged on the opposite side of the hook 16 portion. The free end 36 is curved in figure 7 and linear in figure 8. Figure 9 shows an embodiment where the free end 36 of the clip member 18.4 extending from the elbow 34 is arranged on the side of the hook 16 portion.

Figures 10 an 11 show an embodiment of the clip member 18.4 where the free end 38 has a hook formation 40 arranged on it to allow the opening thereof to be closed after attaching an attachment. Figure 10 shows an embodiment where the hook formation 40 engages with the shank 14 portion. Figure 11 shows an embodiment where the hook formation 40 engages with the portion of the clip member 18.4 extending from the shank 14 portion.

It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.