Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Background of t~e Inyention
The present invention relates to storage structures for
fishin~ lures, and more particularly to a container for
storing and transporting a plurality of artificial, fly-type
lures.
"Fly-type" lures, such as flies and jigs, are typically
constructed of a rigid, single hook, wherein the body of the
lure is formed by wrapping or otherwise attaching various
decorations, such as ~eathers or the like, to the shank of
th~ hook to disguise the same and impart an alluring appearance
thereto. Such lures are relatively small, lightweight, and
delicate, and are typically used in fly fishing. Due to the
small size of fly-type lures, it is important to store them
in a secure and organized fashion. It is further advantageous
to store these lures in a compact fashion for easy transport,
and preferably without a leader attached thereto, particularly
when a long, tapered fly leader is used.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage container
for the spacial storage and tranSpOrtatiQn of artificial,
fly-type fishing lures. A pair of relatively shallow,
rectangular trays or sections with a partition therebetween
are cooperatively, hingedly interconnected along one longitudinal
side, and form a storage container or case. A clasp is
provided on the partition and the mating portions of the
tray section to securely close the storage structure for
transportation.
The principal objects of the present invention are: to
provide a storage structure to store and transport a plurality
of spaced, artificial, fly-type fishing lures so as to
protect the same and prevent entanglin~ thereof; to provide
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such a storage structure which will hold the lures in a
space apart arrangement to permit the same to dry more
quickly and consequently alleviate deterioration; to provide
such a structure which is adapted to hold and retain a
plurality of fishing lures in such a manner that each one
the flies may be selectively removed from the storage structure
as needed without disturbing the remaining lures; to provide
such a structure which i~ relatively small and lightweight,
~nd which may be easily carried by one hand or in the pocket
of a fisherman; to provide such a structure which will
securely retain the flies therein in a safe manner and
thereby preclude accidently snagging the hook component of
the lure in the fisherman's clothing or flesh; to provide
such a structure which provides ready access thereto by a
fisherman so that he may easily transport and store the
lures about his person and have them readily available when
needed in fishing; and to provide such a storage structure
which is economical to manufacture, attractive in appearance,
durable in construction, and particularly well adapted for
~0 the proposed use.
According to the invention there is provided a storage
s~ructure for artificial fly~~ype fishing lures, said storage
structure comprising: (a) a container having a base and an
upstanding side wall; said side wall having a free edge
defining an open end of said container; (b) a closure shaped
for mating with and sealing the open end of said container;
(c) a plurality of pegs mounted in said container and arranged
in a plurality of elongate rows such that the pegs in adjacent
rows are laterally in-line; each of said pegs having one end
thereof connected with the base of said container, and a free
end thereof extending substantially normally thereof; each
of said pegs being semi-rigid, and having a frustroconical
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shape which tapers inwardly from the one end to the free
end thereof, whereby adjacently disposed pegs are adapted
to receive and frictionally retain a rigid hook portion of
one of said lures thereinbetween for detachably and wedgingly
locking said lure in said container.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will
become apparent from the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawin~s wherein are set
forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments
o this invenkion.
_ief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a storage structure
embodying the present invention, shown in a fully opened
position.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the storage structure,
shown in a fully opened position and with lures retained
therein.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal cross-
sectional view of the storage structure, taken along line 3-
3, Fig. 2.
Descri~ion of the PreEerred Embodiment
As re~uired, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are dislcosed herein, however, it is to be underskood that
the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention
and may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for
teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the
present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed
structure.
For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper",
"lower", "right", "left", "rear", '!front", "vertical",
"horizontal", and derivitives thereof, shall relate to the
invention as oriented in Figs. 1 and 3, however, it is to ~e
understood that the invention may assume various alternative
orientations.
The reference numeral 1 generally designates a storage
structure for artificial, fly-type fishing lures, and includes
a container 2 having two storage compartments 3 and 4 which
are interconnected for positioning in a overlying relation.
1~ A plurality o posts or pegs 5 are mounted in each of the
compartments, and are arranged in elongate rows 6. Each of
the pegs 5 is rigidly resilient or semi-rigid, and tapers
inwardly from a base portion 7 of the peg to a free end 8
thereof, whereby an adjacently disposed pegs are adapted to
receive and frictionally retain a hook portion of the lure
thereinbetween for detachably and wedgingly locking the lure
in the container.
Each of the storage compartments 3 and 4 includes a
base 13 and an upstanding sidewall 14 which extends around
the periphery of the base, and includes a free edge 15 which
deines an open end of the container. In the illustrated
structure, the storage compartments 3 and ~ are substantially
identical in shape, and the description of the same shall
therefore be limited to one side to avoid repetition. The
base 13 includes an interior surface 16 and an exterior
surface 17, and is generally planar and rectangular in
shape. The sidewall 14 includes front, rear, and opposing
side portions 18, 19, 20 and 21 respectively, which are
preferably of the same height, and cooperate at the free
edge 15 thereof to form the open end of the container.
Preferably, the side wall portions have rounded corners, are
integrally interconnected, and extend above the peg free
ends a predetermined distance for accomodating a variety of
differently shaped lures and retaining the same in the
container.
The two ~torage compartments 3 and ~ are pivotally
interconnected, whereby the same may be rotated into a
closed position wherein the compartments overly each other.
In this example, the compartments 3 and 4 are interconnected
along the upper portion of the rear walls l9 by a hinge
member 25 having the plurality of tubularly shaped segments
26 connected alternately with the two compartments, and
extending thereinbetween. An elongate shaft or hinge pin 27
extends coaxially within the central aperture of each of the
tubular segments 26 and interconnects the same. In the
illustrated structure, a divider or partition 28 is pivotally
connected with each of the storage compartments 3 and ~
along the hinge ~5 and is rotatable therewith. The compartments
are relatively small such that the structure folds closed
into a compact design, capable of storage in a shirt pocket,
and having an overall length, width and thickness in the
2n nature of 5 3/l~ inches, and l 3/8 inches respectively.
A hook shaped clasp member 22 is connected with the
front sidewall 18 of each of the storage compartments 3 and ;
4. In the illustrated example, the clasp members 2~ are
longitudinally spaced apart on the respective storage compartments
3 and 4, and each includes a concave, arcuately shaped
retainer portion 23 which is oriented inwardly toward the
rear sidewall 19, and extends upwardly a spaced apart distance
from the sidewall free edge 15. The clasp members 22 are
preferably construct:ed o~ a resilient material, such as a
30 polypropylene, whereby the retainer portion 23 can pivot
slightly for purposes to be described in detail hereinafter.
The partition 28 includes ~n inner ed~e 32 which is
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disposed along the hinge 25, and is connected to the hinge
pin 27 by a tubular member 33. The partition 28 also includes
opposing side edges 34, and a front edge 35. The partition
~8 has a substantially planar shape, and the side edges 34
thereof are spaced apart a distance substantially coextensive
with the distance between the side walls 20 and 21 of each
of the storage compartments 3 and 4, whereby the same overlies
each other in a sandwich fashion when the storage structure
is in a closed position. The partition front edge 35 is
positioned between and abuts the side wall free edge 15
along the front portion 18 when the structure is in the
closed position. The partition 28 includes a handle member
36 which protrudes outwardly of the partition front edge 35
at a central portion thereof, and has a double convex
longitudinal cross-sectional shape which tapers inwardly and
is adapted for grasping by the user. Adjacent each end edge
o the handle 36 is a rounded protuberance 37 which extends
outwardly of the partition front edge 35, and is shaped to
mate in a snap-lock manner with the retainer portion 23 of
an associated one of the clasps 22. In the illustrated
structure, the partition 28 is constructed of a transparent
material, whereby the user may readily observe the location
of a de5ired lure.
The pegs 5 are mounted in the stora~e compartments 3
and 4, and each peg includes a side surface ~0 which tapers
. inwardly from the base end 7 to the free end 8. The illustrated
pegs 5 extend substantially perpendicularly from the interior
surface 16 of the base 13, and have a frustroconical shape,
whereby the base and free ends 7 and 8 respectively of the
peg are circular. Each of the pegs 5 is rigidly resilient or
semi-rigid, whereby adjacently positioned pegs receive and
frictionally retain a hook portion of the lure thereinbetween.
In this example, the pegs 5 have a substantially identical
dimensional confi~uration, and are molded integrally with
the base 13 and side wall 14 from a very durable plastic
material which will not react with the lures, such as vinyl,
polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like. The rows 6 of
pegs 5 are preferably laterally ali~ned from the rearwall 19
to the front wall 18 to form a rectangular array in which
selected lures may be positioned in either a longtudinally
or laterally extending orientation. ~he base end 7 of
adjacently disposed pegs are spaced apart a predetermined
distance to form a gap 41 to facilitate the storage of
variously sized lures. An exemplary dimension for the gap
is in the nature of .020 inches, which has been found to be
slightly less than the smallest gauge of the barbed end of
typical artificial fly-type fishing lures. The taper of the
pegs S is from the circular base 7 to the free end 8, and
the distance between the free ends of adjacent posts is
slightly larger than the barbed portion of the hook whereby
the same may pass therebetween. ~ distance in the nature of
.042 inches has found to be satisfactory. In the illustrated
structure, the peg base 7 has a diameter in the nature of
7/64 inches, a free end diameter in the nature of 3/32
inches, and a height in the nature of 5/16 inches. However,
it is to be understood that the taper and size of the pegs
may be varied in accordance with the size of the lures to be
retained therein.
The pegs 5 in each of the illustrated storage compartments
3 and 4 are arranged in first and second groups 45 and 46
separated by an open alley or channel 47, devoid of pegs,
and shaped for receiving protruding portions of the lures
therein. In this example, the rows 6 of pegs 5 extend
longitudinally in the storage compartments between the
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opposing sidewalls 20 and 21 thereof, and each row contains
a full complement of equally and regularly spaced pegs, as
schematically illustrated by the parallel longitudinally
extending lines. The width of the channel 47 is at least as
wide as a single row of pegs, and in the present example is
substantially coextensive with the width of five rows of
pegs.
In user a typically sized fishing fly, such as that
illustrated in Fig. 3, and designated by the reference
10 numeral 50, is stored in the structure 1 by positioning the
barbed end 51 of the hook 52 in a downwardly position between
the rows of pegs 5 in a longitudinal or a lateral direction
as shown in Fig. 2. A slight downward pressure is exerted
by the user on the fly 50 until the barbed end 51 of the
hook 52 is frictionally engaged by the side surfaces 40 of
adjacent pegs. The point or points of frictionally engagement
along the side surfaces 40 of the associated pegs varies a
distance from the interior surface of the base 13 according
to the diameter or gauge of the hook component. Thus, small
gauge hooks will frictionally engage at a point along the
side surfaces nearer to the base 7 of the pegs. At least
one pair of adjacent pegs frictionally engages the barbed
; end of the hook 52, and as illustrated in Fig. 3, the hook
is typically engaged by two or more pairs of adjacent pegs.
With the average size fly 50, the body portion 53 thereof is
typically disposed above the free end 8 of the peg, and may
therefore be oriented either late:rally or transversely in
the storage compartment.
For very small or unusually shaped flies, such as that
illustrated in Fig. 3 and designated by the reference numeral
57, the point of engagement between the hook 58 and associated
pegs 5 may be such that the body portion 59 and eyelet
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portion 60 Qf the lure are disposed below the ~ree end 8 o~
the pegs. To assist in the enga~ement and removal of such
fishin~ flies, the ~ly ~7 is positioned transversly in the
compartment, whereby the forward most eyelet portions 60 o~
the fly extends outw~rdly into the channel 47. The channel
47 thereby allows the user to securely seat the fly 57
between the associated pegs, and to grasp the fly with thumb
and forefinger for the removal of the fly without interference
with the pegs 5.
Other fly-type fishing lures, such as the illustrated
jig 63 have protrusions thereon such as the illustrated
ovate, bulbous flotation portion or head 64, and/or of such
a dimension that same are too large to be received between
the uppermost portion of the gap 41 between adjacent pegs.
Under these circumstances, the jig 63 i3 inserted into the
compartment in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the
jig is oriented transversely in the compartment, and the
head portion 6~ thereof extends into the channel 47. The
hook portion 65 of the jig extends rearwardly thereof,
engages the associated pegs in the aforementioned manner,
and retains the jig securely in the storage structure.
When the storage structure is in the fully closed
position, the partition 28 overlies both of the storage
compartments 3 and 4. The distance between the free end 8
of the pegs and the associated surface of thé partition is
such that the same abuts the body portion of those lures
which extend outwardlymost of the pegs, and is also positioned
adjacent to the remaining lures, for preventing outward
translation of the lures, and maintaing Erictional engagement
between the hook portion of the lures and the pegs. To
remove a lure from the storage structure, the user selects
that compartment in which the particular lure is located,
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grasps the handle 36 with one hand and the chosen compartment
in the other hand, and pulls the same apart. The clasp 22
is thereby released from the mating lip 37, and the chosen
compartment is separated from the partition 28 and the non-
selected compartment which remain interconnected to prevent
the flies in the non-selected compartment from becoming
dislodge from the pegs 5. Slight upward pressure is applied
to the body portion of the s~lected lure, and the hook
portion of the lure is consequently pulled outwardly from
inbetween the associated pegs, and is separated therefrom.
In this manner, the artificial fishing lure may be removed
from the selected storage compartment without disturbing the
remaining lures, and the structure may again be returned to
its fully closed position for storage and transport.
It is to be understood that while I have illustrated
and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be
limited to these specific forms or arrangement of parts
herein described and shown.
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