Background Art A variety of fishhook cases to contain fishhooks therein to store them have been developed and claimed as intellectual properties. However, conventional fishhook cases are problematic in that they provide only the simple function of containing fishhooks to store them, without providing other functions.

In other words, conventional fishhook cases do not have any structure capable of storing fishhooks with fishlines in the fishhook cases, in which the fishlines tied to the fishhooks are wound around or inserted into the

fishhook containers.

Furthermore, the conventional fishhook cases do not have any means for measuring the length or weight of a fish, so that the user must estimate the length of the fish with the eye and estimate the weight of the fish through guesswork.

In addition, the conventional fishhook cases do not have a radio, a lighter and a flashlight, thus forcing users to separately carry radios, lighters and flashlights.

Another problem with the conventional fishhook cases is that the lid of the fishhook case does not have a one- touch opening structure, so that the user must open the lid forcibly with one hand while holding the main body of the case with the other hand. Furthermore, the conventional fishhook cases do not have any hanging loop, thus being lost often.

Disclosure Technical Problem Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose fishhook case, in which: first, a plurality of fishhook containers is provided to efficiently store fishhooks with fishlines by winding or inserting the

fishlines tied to the fishhooks around or into the fishhook containers; second, a measuring tape is provided at a predetermined position to measure the precise length of a fish; third, a weight measuring means is provided at a predetermined position to measure the precise weight of a fish; fourth, a radio, lighter and flashlight are provided at predetermined positions to allow a user to avoid the necessity of separately carrying the radio, lighter or flashlight; and fifth, a one-touch opening structure is provided to easily open the lid from the main body of the case, and a hanging loop is provided at a predetermined position to prevent careless loss of the case.

Technical Solution In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a multipurpose fishhook case, comprising: an upper case part and a lower case part each of which defines a space therein. In detailed description, the fishhook case comprises: the lower case part comprising both a first actuation button and a hanging loop; the upper case part coupled by a hinge to the lower case part to be opened by means of a restoring force of a spring, with a window provided on a predetermined position of the upper case part to allow the interior of the fishhook case to be checked ; a weight measuring means provided in a predetermined portion of the upper case part and comprising

a weight display which is viewed from an outside of the upper case part and a hook which is able to be retracted into the upper case part; at least one of large-sized and small-sized fishhook containers to be detachably attached in the lower case part at a predetermined position to regularly store a plurality of fishhooks therein at an incline; an inner case part comprising an inner case body provided on another predetermined position in the lower case part, with a plurality of containing cells defined in the inner case body and a second actuation button provided on the inner case body, and a cover coupled to the inner case body by a hinge with a spring to be opened and closed; and a fishline binding device container defined at a predetermined position in the lower case part, with a fishline binding device to be stored in the device container and a measuring tape provided at a predetermined position around the fishline binding device container.

Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a multipurpose fishhook case according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled multipurpose fishhook case of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view showing the use of the multipurpose

fishhook case of the present invention to measure the weight of a fish ; Fig. 4 is a view showing the use of the multipurpose fishhook case of the present invention to measure the length of a fish; Figs. 5 through 11 are views showing multipurpose fishhook cases according to further embodiments of the present invention, in which: Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a multipurpose fishhook case provided with fishhook containers to store fishhooks for freshwater and/or saltwater fishing; Fig. 6 is a view of the multipurpose fishhook case of Fig. 5 in a closed state; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a multipurpose fishhook case constructed to store fishhooks for fly- fishing; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a multipurpose fishhook case constructed to contain a fishhook container therein to store fishhooks for fly-fishing; Fig. 9 is a front view of the multipurpose fishhook case of Fig. 8 in use; Fig. 10 is a view of a multipurpose fishhook case constructed to contain a fishhook container therein to store fishhooks for fly-fishing, with a drying unit provided on the fishhook case; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a multipurpose fishhook case constructed to store fishhooks for middle depth fishing (Naerim fishing); Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a fishline binding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 13 is a plan view of the fishline binding device of Fig. 12.

Best Mode Herein below, the present invention will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 through 4, a multipurpose fishhook case which is constructed to store fishhooks therein according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an upper case part and a lower case part each of which defines a space therein, with at least one fishhook container provided in the space of either the upper or lower case part. The upper and lower case parts are coupled to each other so that the case can be opened.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lower case part 10 is provided with a first actuation button 11 which is backed by a plate spring lla. Thus, the upper case part 12, which is coupled by a hinge 13 with a torsion spring 14 to the lower case part 10, opens around the spring-biased hinge 13

in response to a one-touch operation of the first actuation button 11. A transparent window 16 is provided on a predetermined position of the upper case part 12 to allow a user to view the interior of the fishhook case 1 from the outside.

A steel plate 23 is securely mounted to a side of the bottom surface of the lower case part 10, with a plurality of large-sized and small-sized fishhook containers 20 and 20a magnetically attached to an upper surface of the steel plate 23 by means of magnets 22. The fishhook containers 20 and 20a are constructed to regularly store a variety of fishhooks therein at an incline. The fishhook containers 20 and 20a also have magnet seat slits 21 on the lower surfaces thereof to hold the magnets 22 therein.

The steel plate 23 of the lower case part 10, to which the magnets 22 are attached, causes the permanent magnets 22 to act as anisotropic magnets in place of isotropic magnets, thus preventing a variety of magnetic cards of the user from being magnetically damaged by the magnets 22 while the user carries the fishhook case 1 along with the magnetic cards.

The magnets 22 may be replaced with rubber magnets or plastic magnets which are provided on the large-sized and small-sized fishhook containers 20 and 20a.

Furthermore, the fishhook case 1 has an inner case part 30 that comprises an inner case body 31 provided on a

predetermined position in the lower case part 10, with a second actuation button 34 provided on the inner case body 31. A cover 33, which is coupled to the inner case body 31 by a hinge 35 with a torsion spring 36 to close the body 31, opens around the hinge 35 biased by the spring 36 when the user pushes the second actuation button 34. Defined in the inner case body 31 is a plurality of containing cells 32.

A fishline binding device container lOa is defined at a predetermined position in the lower case part 10 to contain therein a fishline binding device 19 which is used to tie a desired fishline to a desired fishhook taken out of the fishhook containers 20 and 20a.

In a detailed description, a magnet (not shown) is attached to the fishline binding device 19, thus easily magnetically taking a desired fishhook out of the fishhook containers 20 and 20a. Furthermore, the fishline binding device 19 has a cutting edge (not shown) to allow the user to easily and conveniently cut a fishline.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a weight measuring means 17 having a hook 17b is provided at a predetermined position on the upper case part 12 so that the user can measure the weight of a fish by suspending the fishhook case 1 with the fish caught by the hook 17b in the air. The measured weight of the fish is displayed on a weight display 17a.

Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4, a measuring tape 18 is provided at a predetermined position around the fishline binding device container lOa to allow the user to measure the length of a fish.

A hanging loop 40, having a jack assembly 41 comprising a male jack and a female jack, is coupled to a predetermined position of the fishhook case 1, thus allowing a user to easily carry the fishhook case 1 without carelessly losing it.

The use of the above fishhook case 1 will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the multipurpose fishhook case according to the present invention, with the upper and lower case parts 12 and 10 opened by a user who wants to use the case.

To open the case 1, the first actuation button 11 of the lower case part 10 is pressed by the user to push the plate spring lla inwards, thus unlocking the upper case part 12 to allow the case part 12 to rotate around the hinge 13 into an open position by the restoring force of the spring 14.

After opening the fishhook case, the user takes the fishline binding device 19 out of the container lOa and takes a desired fishhook out of the large-sized and small- sized fishhook containers 20 and 20a using the device 19 prior to tying a fishline to the selected fishhook. In the

fishhook case, large fishhooks are stored in the cells of the large-sized fishhook containers 20, while small fishhooks are stored in the cells of the small-sized fishhook containers 20.

In the present invention, a magnet 22 is mounted to the lower portion of each of the fishhook containers 20 and 20a, so that the containers 20 and 20a are detachably attached to the steel plate 23 provided in the lower case part 10. Thus, the user conveniently uses the fishhook containers 20 and 20a.

In the fishhook case 1 of the present invention, the inner case part 30 is provided to store a variety of fishhooks and a variety of fishing accessories therein.

That is, the inner case part 30 comprises the inner case body 31 which is partitioned into the plurality of containing cells 32. The cells 32 separately and neatly store a variety of fishhooks and a variety of fishing accessories (for example, blades, spinners, weights and floats) therein. To open the inner case part 30, the user presses the second actuation button 34 provided on the inner case part 30. Thus, the cover 33, which has been locked to the second actuation button 34, elastically rotates around the hinge 35 by the restoring force of the spring 36 into an open position.

The window 16 is provided at a predetermined position of the upper case part 12, so that the user can view the

contents of the case 1 from the outside. In addition, the hanging loop 40 is connected to a predetermined position of the fishhook case 1, so that the user hangs the fishhook case 1 around his neck while fishing. Thus, the user conveniently fishes without losing the fishhook case 1.

The fishhook case of the present invention allows the user to measure the weight or length of a fish at a fishing site as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

That is, to measure the weight of a fish, the fish is placed on the hook 17b of the weight measuring means 17, and thereafter, the fishhook case 1 with the fish is suspended in the air. Thus, the weight measuring means 17 measures the weight of the fish, while the weight display 17a provided on the outer surface of the upper case part 12 shows the weight of the fish. Due to the above weight measuring means 17, the fishhook case 1 of the present invention allows the user to measure the precise weight of a fish at a fishing site as desired.

On the other hand, to measure the length of a fish, the measuring tape 18 is extended from the interior of the lower case part 10 and measures the precise length of the fish. When the measuring tape 18 is released from a hand of the user after using the measuring tape 18, the measuring tape 18 is automatically retracted into the lower case part 10 and wound around a bobbin.

Figs. 5 through 11 show multipurpose fishhook cases

according to further embodiments of the present invention, in which Figs. 5 and 6 show a multipurpose fishhook case provided with fishhook containers to store fishhooks for freshwater and/or saltwater fishing. In the embodiment, the fishhook case is particularly designed to store fishhooks tied to fishlines in the cells of fishhook containers.

That is, a sub-seating cell lOf is provided at a predetermined position within the lower case part 10, with a rubber magnet lOg provided in the sub-seating cell lOf. A first seating area lOd, having a seating rib lOe, is provided at another predetermined position within the lower case part 10,. with at least one fishhook container 50 seated in the first seating area 10d. The fishhook container 50 is provided with a fishline winding portion 51, around which a saltwater fishline 52 is wound. The fishhook container 50 is also provided with a magnet 22 on its lower portion.

In the embodiment, the saltwater fishline wound around the fishhook container 50 preferably has about 30 cm length, but it should be understood that the length of the fishline may be changed as desired without being limited to the above-mentioned length.

Another fishhook container 50a is removably seated in the first seating area lOd and is used for storing a plurality of twin hook rigs in its cells. In the fishhook container 50a, the fishlines of the twin hook rigs pass

through fishline holes 50d of the container 50a so as to be stored in the container 50a. The twin hook rigs are particularly used for freshwater fishing.

Furthermore, a second seating area 15a having a seating rib 15b is provided in the upper case part 12 at a predetermined position. At least one fishhook container 50c, used for storing a plurality of large fishhooks for catching large fishes, is removably seated in the second seating area 15a.

Furthermore, an additional lower case unit 80 is coupled by a hinge to a bottom edge of the lower case part 10, so that the lower case unit 80 opens around the hinge as desired. This additional case unit 80 is partitioned into a plurality of cells used for separately storing a variety of fishing accessories. A radio 60, comprising an on/off switch 61, a channel switch 62, a volume switch 63 and a speaker 64, is provided on the upper case part 12 at a predetermined position. In addition, a lighter 70 and a flashlight 90 are provided on the upper case part 12 at positions opposite the radio 60. The lighter 70 has an actuation button 71.

The operational effect of the above-mentioned fishhook case 1 will be described herein below.

The process of opening or closing. the fishhook case 1 according to the embodiment remains the same as that described for the primary embodiment of the present

invention. However, in the fishhook case 1 of this embodiment, the fishline winding portion 51 is formed on the lower portion of the saltwater fishhook container 50 to allow a user to easily store a fishline 52, tied to a fishhook, by winding the fishline 52 around the fishline winding portion 51.

In the meantime, a plurality of twin hook rigs, to which fishlines are tied, is stored in the cells of the freshwater fishhook container 50a, with the fishlines of the twin hook rigs passing through the fishline holes 50d formed on the lower portion of the freshwater fishhook container 50a. Thus, the fishhook case 1 of this embodiment allows the user to fish more conveniently.

In addition, a plurality of large fishhooks for catching large fishes is stored in the cells of the fishhook container 50c. In the fishhook case 1, the two types of fishhook containers 50 and 50a are removably seated on the seating rib lOe provided in the first seating area lOd, while the remaining fishhook container 50c is removably seated on the seating rib 15b provided in the second seating area 15a.

Furthermore, each of the cells of the fishhook container 50a is provided with a rubber magnet, and thus the cells easily and firmly hold the fishhooks. The additional lower case unit 80, coupled to the bottom edge of the lower case part 10, separately stores a variety of

fishing accessories (for example, artificial baits) therein, so that the fishhook case 1 is conveniently used.

In the embodiment, the upper case part 12 is provided with the radio 60 at a predetermined position, so that the user can listen to the radio 60 for news or weather reports. Furthermore, the user can use the lighter 70 and the flashlight 90 which are provided on the upper case part 12. Thus, the usefulness of the fishhook case 1 is enhanced.

Fig. 7 shows a multipurpose fishhook case constructed to store fishhooks for fly-fishing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the fishhook case of this embodiment, one or more fishhook containers 20a'and 20b'to store fishhooks for fly-fishing therein are detachably arranged in at least one of the upper and lower case parts 12 and 10 while being spaced out at regular intervals. In the embodiment, the fishhook containers 20a'to store dry flies (fishhooks decorated to look like insects on the water surface) therein are detachably arranged in the lower case part 10 while being spaced out at regular intervals. The fishhook containers 20b'to store nymphs (fishhooks decorated to look like larvae in the water) therein are detachably arranged in the upper case part 12 while being spaced out at regular intervals.

Figs. 8 through 10 show multipurpose fishhook cases

each constructed to contain a fishhook container therein to store fishhooks for fly-fishing according to further embodiments of the present invention.

To easily carry a fishhook container 20a'which stores fishhooks for fly-fishing after the fishhook container 20a'is removed from a fishhook case 1, a cylindrical case 100 having a clip 110 on an outer surface thereof is provided to contain the removed fishhook container 20a'therein. A plurality of vent holes lOOa is formed on the sidewall of the cylindrical case 100, with two guide grooves lOOb longitudinally formed along an inner surface of the case 100 from an upper end to a lower end at diametrically opposite positions. A sliding carriage body 120, which has two guide protrusions 120a on opposite sides of a lower end thereof, is movably set in the case 100 so that the sliding carriage body 120 longitudinally slides in the case 100, with two fly-fishing fishhook containers 20a' detachably seated in front and rear surfaces of the sliding carriage body 120.

While carrying fly-fishing fishhooks using the cylindrical case 100, the fly-fishing fishhooks stored in the case 100 are maintained in a desirably dry state due to the vent holes lOOa formed on the sidewall of the case 100.

As shown in Fig. 9, because a stopper lOOb'is provided on the upper end of the cylindrical case 100, the sliding carriage body 120 does not become detached from the upper

end of the case 100.

Fig. 10 shows a cylindrical case 100 with a drying unit 130 provided on the upper end of the case 100 to be connected to the sliding carriage body 120, and a flashlight 140 mounted on a lower end of the sliding carriage body 120.

In the present invention, the drying unit 130 may comprise a conventional rotary fan (not shown) operated by a motor (not shown). Of course, it should be understood that the drying unit 130 may be freely designed without being limited if the drying unit has the construction connected to the upper end of the sliding carriage body 120 and is able to dry the fishhooks stored in the fishhook containers.

The above-mentioned construction of the fishhook cases quickly dries the fishhooks to efficiently store the fishhooks in the cases.

Fig. 11 shows a multipurpose fishhook case which is constructed to store fishhooks for middle depth fishing (Naerim fishing) according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In the fishhook case according to this embodiment, fishhook containers 20"to store the fishhooks for middle depth fishing (Naerim fishing) are securely mounted to each side of the inner surface of each of the upper and lower case parts 12 and 10. Furthermore, a fishline support member 23 is securely provided on an

intermediate portion of the inner surface of each of the upper and lower case parts 12 and 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 show a fishline binding device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the fishline binding device 19 comprises a main body 190 with a storing space 192 defined therein. A fishline binding blade 194 and a magnifying glass 196 are coupled by a hinge 193 to an end of the body part 190 so that the binding blade 194 and the magnifying glass 196 are folded into the space 192 of the body 190.

The magnifying glass 196 comprises a circular cutter 196a which is provided on a side of the magnifying glass 196 and a pressure plate 196b which is coupled by a hinge to the magnifying glass 196. The pressure plate 196b is smoothly inserted into the circular cutter 196a when being pressed so that the fishline is cut by the circular cutter 196a when the pressure plate 196b is pressed into the cutter 196b.

The above-mentioned fishline binding device 19 is advantageous in that the user easily checks, using the magnifying glass 196, the state of a fishline which is tied to a fishhook by means of the fishline binding blade 194.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a multipurpose fishhook case capable of efficiently storing

fishhooks with fishlines, in which the fishlines tied to the fishhooks are wound around fishhook containers or inserted into the fishhook containers. Furthermore, the fishhook case allows a user to easily measure the length and weight of a fish using a measuring tape and a weight measuring means which are provided at predetermined position in the fishhook case. In addition, the fishhook case is constructed to be opened by means of a one-touch opening structure, while a hanging loop is provided on the fishhook case to allow the user to conveniently use the case without losing the case.