Granted Patent B2

US 12,369,574 · App. 18/207,506 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Inventor: Douglas M. Reed (Bridgeton, NJ)

A01K93/00A01K85/10

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A hookless float attachable to an artificial lure, comprising:

a hookless elongated buoyant body having a positive buoyancy and comprising:

a first end;

a second end;

an outer wall connecting the first and second ends; and

a centerline extending between the first and second ends in a direction in which the hookless elongated buoyant body is elongated;

a corkscrew extending outward from the first end of the hookless elongated buoyant body, the corkscrew configured to screw into a polymeric artificial lure to attach the hookless elongated buoyant body to the polymeric artificial lure in such that the first end of the hookless elongated buoyant body abuts the artificial lure, wherein the hookless float is configured to completely suspend the artificial lure within a water column without being acted upon by external forces.

2. The hookless float of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the hookless elongated buoyant body encloses a hollow cavity.

3. The hookless float of claim 1 , wherein the hookless elongated buoyant body comprises a hardened plastic material.

4. The hookless float of claim 1 , wherein the corkscrew is co-axial with the centerline of the hookless elongated buoyant body that extends between the first and second ends.

5. The hookless float of claim 1 , wherein the hookless elongated buoyant body further comprises:

a first cylindrical portion at the first end;

a second cylindrical portion at the second end; and

a rounded portion connecting the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion.

6. The hookless float of claim 1 , wherein the hookless elongated buoyant body further comprises an oval shape.

7. The hookless float of claim 1 further comprising:

a pilot pin extending out from the hookless elongated buoyant body axially through the corkscrew.

8. A float configured to be coupled to an artificial lure, the float consisting essentially of:

a hookless elongated buoyant body having a positive buoyancy, the hookless elongated buoyant body elongated between first and second ends defining a major axis; and

a keeper extending on the major axis from the hookless elongated buoyant body, the keeper configured to attach the hookless elongated buoyant body directly to a polymeric artificial lure, wherein the float is configured to completely suspend the artificial lure within a water column without being acted upon by external forces.

9. The float of claim 8 , wherein the hookless elongated buoyant body is formed from a hardened plastic material.

10. The float of claim 8 , wherein the keeper is a corkscrew.

11. The float of claim 8 , wherein the keeper is a corkscrew having a pilot pin extending longitudinally outwardly from the hookless elongated buoyant body axially through the corkscrew.

12. A bait assembly, comprising:

an artificial lure; and

a hookless elongated buoyant body having a positive buoyancy and comprising:

a first end;

a second end;

an outer wall connecting the first and second ends; and

a centerline extending between the first and second ends in a direction in which the hookless elongated buoyant body is elongated;

a corkscrew extending outward from the first end of the hookless elongated buoyant body, the corkscrew screwed into the artificial lure and attaching the hookless elongated buoyant body to the artificial lure in such that the first end of the hookless elongated buoyant body abuts the artificial lure, wherein the hookless float is configured to completely suspend the artificial lure within a water column without being acted upon by external forces.

13. The bait assembly of claim 12 further comprising:

a pilot pin extending longitudinally outwardly from the hookless buoyant body axially through the corkscrew.

14. The bait assembly of claim 12 , wherein the hookless buoyant body further comprises an oval shape.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (51)