Abstract:
A fishing lure includes a body, a cartridge suitable for insertion into the body, and a removable head securable to the body. The removable head is configured to either facilitate diving or maintain a desired level as the fishing lure is pulled through surrounding water. The cartridge is adapted to house a vibration producing assembly that imparts vibrations to the body. The fishing lure further includes an attractant delivery system and a noise making device. The vibration producing assembly is further sufficiently lightweight so as to enable the body and attached removable head to float at or near the surface of a surrounding body of water. The attractant delivery system dispenses fish attractant responsive to the vibrations imparted to the body by the vibration producing assembly. The noise making device produces sound responsive to the vibrations imparted to the body by the vibration producing assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/535,880, which was filed Mar. 28, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to fishing lures and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a fishing lure that is particularly designed to take advantage of each sense used by fish to hunt for food (i.e., vibration detection, hearing, smell, and sight) without sacrifice of one principle for another.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Fish generally prefer live or freshly killed food. As a result, they have become adapted to utilize their senses of vibration detection, hearing, smell, and sight to focus their hunts toward live foodstuffs. Capitalizing on this knowledge, many sporting goods manufacturers have proposed fishing lure designs in which an element of the lure is adapted to provide a vibration, a sound, a smell or a look that simulates live food. For example, many if not most lures incorporate a vibration effect, wherein the lure wobbles, to resemble a vital organism, as it is pulled through the water. Similarly, other lures have been formed in shapes that resemble baitfish, crawfish, worms or other components of a normal fish diet. Likewise, manufacturers have incorporated sound and smell into their designs as means for initially attracting fishes&#39; attention. Particularly, lures include steel shot or other rattles within for making noises as the lure is vibrated through the water, and/or aromatic liquid fish attractants are applied to the exterior of the lure or are injected into cavities within the lure just prior to deployment.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, one element of the lure design must often be traded for effective implementation of another. For example, most lures look nothing like ordinary fish foodstuff. This failure to fully capitalize on one of the fish&#39;s senses, however, is not due to its unimportance. Rather, it is generally because the shape of the lure is most often dictated by the fluid dynamics involved in making the lure vibrate as it is pulled through the water, which is necessary for simulating vitality as well as for operating any internal rattle. As a further frustration atop the sacrificed look, it turns out that the generation of motion in this manner also suffers the drawback of requiring the fish to act immediately. If the fish hesitates to strike, the lure will be pulled out of reach and, usually, out of mind. The foregoing also applies to the employment of fish attractant in that the lure ejects the fish attractant as it is pulled through the water, which results in the fish attractant attracting fish to a location already vacated by the lure.  
           [0007]    As a result of this deficiency, lures have been developed to incorporate an internal vibration mechanism generally consisting of an electrically operated motor for driving an eccentrically weighted shaft. Operation of the motor causes the lure to wobble according to the eccentric weight on the motor&#39;s shaft, obviating the need to draw the lure through the water to achieve the jerking motion that might be expected of a small bait fish or the like. Unfortunately, the internal vibration mechanisms of previous designs were inefficient and bulky, which rapidly depleted battery power and, worse, resulted in extremely heavy lures unable to float. The lures thus sank to or at least very near the bottom, which rendered them largely ineffective in attracting fish.  
           [0008]    With the deficiencies of the related art in mind, it is therefore a primary object of the present invention to improve over the related art by providing a fishing lure adapted to play to each sense used by hunting fish, without necessity for sacrifice of one principle for another. The fishing lure is therefore capable of producing vibration and sound and dispersing fish attractant without the necessity of pulling the lure through the water. Further, the fishing lure resembles common live foodstuffs fed upon by fish. Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a fishing lure that either floats or is capable of diving before returning to the surface.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In accordance with the present invention, a fishing lure includes a body, a cartridge suitable for insertion into the body and adapted to house a vibration producing assembly, and a removable head securable to the body. The body includes a chamber for receiving the cartridge therein. The fishing lure further includes an attractant delivery system and a noise making device. The body, removable head, cartridge, and vibration producing assembly are sufficiently lightweight so as to enable the body and attached removable head to float at or near the surface of a surrounding body of water. The body and the removable head are shaped to resemble fish foodstuff. The removable head is configured to either facilitate diving or maintain a desired level as the fishing lure is pulled through surrounding water.  
           [0010]    The vibration producing assembly imparts vibrations to the body and includes a battery and an electric motor. The cartridge includes a compartment that contains the electric motor and a chamber that receives the battery therein. The electric motor includes a shaft having an eccentric weight attached thereto, which is positioned on the shaft off the central axis of the fishing lure. The vibration producing assembly further includes a first terminal connected to the electric motor and disposed in the chamber for engagement with the battery and a return line terminating in a second terminal attached to the cartridge. The removable head includes a contact plate that engages the battery and the second terminal, thereby facilitating the delivery of power from the battery to the electric motor.  
           [0011]    The attractant delivery system dispenses fish attractant responsive to the vibrations imparted to the body by the vibration producing assembly. The attractant delivery system includes a length of tubing positioned adjacent the body. The length of tubing includes an aperture for receiving fish attractant and an outlet therefrom for dispensing fish attractant responsive to the vibrations imparted to the body by the vibration producing assembly. The length of tubing attaches to the body to resemble a dorsal fin of a baitfish.  
           [0012]    The noise making device, which is preferably a bell, produces sound responsive to the vibrations imparted to the body by the vibration producing assembly. The body includes a compartment housing the noise making device therein.  
           [0013]    A method of catching fish includes inserting into a fishing lure a cartridge adapted to house a vibration producing assembly; activating the vibration producing assembly, thereby imparting vibrations to the fishing lure; and casting the fishing lure into a body of water. The method of catching fish further includes delivering fish attractant into the water from an attractant delivery system operated responsive to the vibrations imparted to the fishing lure. The method of catching fish still further includes producing sound using a noise making device disposed in the fishing lure and operated responsive to the vibrations imparted to the fishing lure.  
           [0014]    Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description, and appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, a first preferred embodiment of the fishing lure of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 illustrates, in a cut away side view, the fishing lure of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 illustrates, in a cut away side view, a cartridge of the fishing lure of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 illustrates, in a cut away side view, a removable head of the fishing lure of FIG. 1; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 illustrates, in a side view, a second preferred embodiment of the fishing lure of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the lure  10  of this first preferred embodiment is shown to generally comprise a body  11  with a removable head  27 . The body  11  generally comprises a hull  12 , which includes a bulkhead  13  and a chamber wall  22 . The hull  12  of the body  11  preferably comprises two halves that are secured together to form the hull  12  using any suitable means, such as friction or an adhesive. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many techniques to form the hull  12 . The body  11 , in this first embodiment, is shaped to resemble a small bait-type fish. Nevertheless, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the body  11  may comprise any shape and particularly any shape similar to fish foodstuff, such as frogs, grasshoppers and certain other insects, worms, and the like. Consequently, the lure  10  resembles typical fish foodstuff to capitalize on fishes&#39; sense of sight. As will be better understood further herein, the lure  10  resembles typical fish foodstuff without sacrificing the other fish attraction aspects of vibration detection, hearing, and smell.  
         [0023]    As shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bulkhead  13  and the chamber wall  22  define a chamber  24  that removably receives a cartridge  18  therein. The chamber wall  22  includes protrusions  22 A and  22 B that frictionally engage the cartridge  18  to aid in preventing movement of the cartridge  18  about the chamber  24 . The cartridge  18  provides a housing for a vibration producing assembly  14 , which generally comprises an electric motor  15  and a battery  19 . The cartridge  18  defines a compartment  20  that receives the motor  15  therein. The compartment includes bulkheads  20 A and B that secure the motor  15  within the cartridge  18 . Likewise, the cartridge  18  defines a chamber  25  that receives the battery  19 , which is secured therein by the removable head  27 . The vibration producing assembly  14  further comprises a terminal  23 A connected to the motor  15 , which serves as the positive input, and a return line  23 B connected to the motor  15  and terminating in terminal  23 C. As will be better understood further herein, the vibration producing assembly  14  is particularly adapted to take advantage of a fish&#39;s sense of vibration detection.  
         [0024]    The electric motor  15  comprises a shaft  16  having an eccentric weight  17  attached thereto. The eccentric weight  17  preferably attaches to the shaft  16  off the central axis of the lure  10 . Thus, as the motor  15  rotates the eccentric weight  17  via the shaft  16 , the eccentric weight  17  causes the lure  10  to wobble or vibrate, thereby resulting in the lure  10  imparting vibrations into the surrounding water that are detectable by fish. Consequently, the lure  10  capitalizes on fishes&#39; sense of vibration detection in an improved manner in that the lure  10  produces detectable vibrations without the necessity of the lure  10  being pulled through the water, thereby drawing fish to the exact location of the lure.  
         [0025]    As shown particularly in FIGS.  1 - 4 , the removable head  27  in this first preferred embodiment defines a cavity  42  and includes a curved surface  40 . The curved surface  40  of the removable head  27  permits the lure  10  to perform dives when it is desirable to pull the lure  10  through the water before returning to a normal floating level. Particularly, water flowing over the curved surface  40  drives the lure  10  downward followed by the lure  10  returning to a normal floating level, thereby providing the lure  10  with motion that simulates certain live fish foodstuff. The removable head  27 , in this first embodiment, is shaped to resemble a head of a small bait-type fish. Nevertheless, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the removable head  27  may comprise any head shaped similar to fish foodstuff, such as frogs, grasshoppers and certain other insects, worms, and the like.  
         [0026]    The removable head  27  further includes threads  43  that engage threads  28  of the hull  12  to permit removable attachment of the removable head  27  to the body  11  as well as an O-ring  44  that prevents water leakage into the chamber  25 . Eye-hooks  41 A and B attach to the nose and the upper portion of the removable head  27 , respectively, using any suitable means, such as integral formation therewith during a molding process, to allow securing of the lure  10  to a fishing line.  
         [0027]    The removable head  27  still further includes a contact plate  45  attached at its rear using any suitable means, such as integral formation therewith during a molding process for the removable head  27 . The contact plate  45  forms a terminal for the vibration producing assembly  14 . The contact plate  45  further maintains the battery  19  engaged with the terminal  23 A when the removable head  27  is completely engaged with the body  11 . As such, the positive terminal  21 A of the battery  19  engages the terminal  23 A, and the contact plate  45  engages the negative terminal  21 B. In addition, the contact plate  45  engages the terminal  23 C of the return line  23 B. Accordingly, a complete circuit is formed that allows the battery  19  to provide power to the electric motor  15 . As long as the removable head  27  is secured to the body  11 , the electric motor  15  operates to impart vibrations into the surrounding water that are detectable by fish. Although this first embodiment discloses a removable head  27 , those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the lure  10  may include a removable tail section that operates in place of the removable head  27 .  
         [0028]    The inclusion of the cartridge  18  in the lure  10  provides the advantage of allowing replacement of the motor  15 . Damage to a fishing lure motor ruins the lure and results in the necessity of a costly replacement of the entire lure. However, in the event of damage to the motor  15 , the cartridge  18  is removed and replaced with a new one, thus allowing continued use of the body  11  and the removable head  27 . Furthermore, a single cartridge  18  may service multiple lures, thus eliminating the necessity of purchasing multiple more expensive lures.  
         [0029]    As also shown in FIG. 2, the body  11  includes a compartment  31  having a noise making device therein, which according to this first preferred embodiment, is a bell  30 . Those of ordinary skill in the art, however, will recognize many substantially equivalent embodiments for the noise making device. It should be noted, however, that the bell embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is preferred for its light weight and propensity to make noise as a consequence of the vibrations imparted to the lure  10  through the rotation of the eccentric weight  17 . Consequently, the lure  10  capitalizes on fishes&#39; sense of hearing in an improved manner in that the lure  10  produces detectable sounds without the necessity of the lure  10  being pulled through the water, thereby drawing fish to the exact location of the lure  10 .  
         [0030]    Finally, as particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lure  10  of this first embodiment also comprises a unique attractant delivery system  32 . The attractant delivery system  32  generally comprises a length of tubing  33  attached to the body  11  and configured to resemble the dorsal fin of a small bait-type fish. Nevertheless, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the tubing  33  may comprise any shape and particularly any shape related to a body part of fish foodstuff, such as frogs, grasshoppers and certain other insects, worms, and the like. The tubing  33  is attached to the body  11  using any suitable means, such as integral formation therewith during a molding process for the body  11 .  
         [0031]    The tubing  33  includes an aperture  34  positioned towards its front and an outlet  35  therefrom positioned at the rear of the tubing  33 . Fish attractant is delivered into the tubing  33  at the aperture  34  using a bottle including a tube sized to fit within the aperture  34 . The fish attractant remains within the tubing  33  and does not readily exit the outlet  35  due to capillary action within the tubing  33 . However, upon engagement of the motor  15  and the rotation of the eccentric weight  17 , the vibrations imparted to the lure  10  overcome the capillary action within the tubing  33 , thereby facilitating a controlled release of the fish attractant into the surrounding water. Consequently, the lure  10  capitalizes on fishes&#39; sense of smell in an improved manner in that the lure  10  releases fish attractant without the necessity of the lure  10  being pulled through the water, thereby drawing fish to the exact location of the lure  10 . Although not critical for successful use of the lure  10 , it has been found that the use of a red colored attractant contributes to the success of the lure  10  by giving the appearance of wounded fish foodstuff.  
         [0032]    As particularly shown in FIG. 5, a lure  100  of the second preferred embodiment is identical to and includes each feature of the lure  10  of the first preferred embodiment, except a removable head  50  has been substituted for the removable head  27 . The removable head  50  is identical to and includes each feature of the removable head  27 , except the curved surface  40  of the removable head  27  has been eliminated. As such, the removable head  50  does not facilitate diving of the lure  100  when it is desirable to pull the lure  10  through the water. Water flows evenly around the removable head  50 , resulting in the lure  100  traveling straight at a desired floating level, thereby providing the lure  100  with motion that simulates certain live fish foodstuff. The removable head  50 , in this second embodiment, is shaped to resemble a head of a small bait-type fish. Nevertheless, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the removable head  50  may comprise any head shaped similar to fish foodstuff, such as frogs, grasshoppers and certain other insects, worms, and the like. Although this second embodiment discloses a removable head  50 , those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the lure  10  may include a removable tail section that operates in place of the removable head  27 .  
         [0033]    The weight of lures  10  and  100  is of extreme importance in their designs. Particularly, the lures  10  and  100  must float at or very near the surface of surrounding water to be effective in attracting fish. Consequently, the lures  10  and  100  are constructed from light weight materials, and, more importantly, the motor  15  must be sufficiently small and light weight that it allows the lures  10  and  100  to float at or very near the surface of surrounding water. Furthermore, the motor  15  must draw minimal current from the battery  19 , which conserves the charge on the battery  19  and prevents the battery  19  from adding weight to lures  10  and  100  that would prevent the lures  10  and  100  from floating at or very near the surface of surrounding water.  
         [0034]    It should be understood that the weight of the lures  10  and  100  may be adjusted by manipulating the weight of the removable heads  27  and  50  through filling of their respective cavities with additional material. As such, the lure  10  may be constructed to float at the surface of the surrounding water, just below the surface of the surrounding water, or even deeper depending upon the type of fish desired for attraction. Furthermore, as previously described, the removable head  27  is designed to permit diving of the lure  10  when it is desirable to pull the lure  10  through the surrounding water before returning to float at or very near the surface of the surrounding water. Alternatively, the removable head  50  is designed to maintain lure  10  floating at or very near the surface of the surrounding water when it is desirable to pull the lure  10  through the surrounding water.  
         [0035]    While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto. For example, various eyehooks  36  and treble hooks  37  may be provided according to the size and type of fish to be attracted by the lure  10 . In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.