Abstract:
A fishing lure has a hollow body that contains a battery and a selected recipient device (eg. a light emitting device, horn, vibrator motor). A switch interrupts a circuit to deactivate the light emitting device (or other recipient device) when the lure body is moved from a generally horizontal, “swimming” position to a more inclined position. The apparatus has a rechargeable battery that can be charged by connecting to hook eyelets on the lure body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/256,785, filed Dec. 19, 2000, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to fishing lures, more particularly to battery powered fishing lures. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved battery powered fishing lure that has a switch that closes a circuit to provide battery power for a selected “recipient”, device such as a light emitting source, sound producing source or vibrating motor when the lure body is in a swimming position, for example, generally horizontally extended for a bait fish simulating lure body. The circuit is interrupted when the lure body is not in the swimming position, such as when the lure body is oriented generally vertically. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Light or sound and/or vibration can-be used to attract a fish when fishing with an artificial lure retrieved by a rod, reel and line. One approach is to fish within a lighted area. Another approach is to fish with a lure that is illuminated. Several fishing lures that contain a light source have been patented. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,681 issued to Raoul Fima. 
     The LeRoy patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,213, issued Jun. 2, 1987 discloses a fishing lure that illuminates with electrically conductive eyelets providing a-means to recharge the cell. 
     A self propelled preprogrammable fishing lure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,985. 
     The Livingston U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,857 discloses a fishing apparatus that includes an electronic device. 
     An electrified fishing lure is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,773. 
     The Rodgers U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,282 discloses a fishing lure that contains a light source which can be turned off to on with a switch. Another Rodgers patent is U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,185. 
     Yet another Rodgers patent is U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,182. 
     The Yokogawa U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,388 discloses a light emitting fishing lure. 
     The Young U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,450 discloses a laser illuminated lure. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a fishing lure that can be of any artificial lure type (eg. crank bait, worm, buzz bait, ratl-trap, hula-popper, minnow, shad or other selected lure type or related tackle). The apparatus is internally powered with its own battery or battery pack. This battery pack can operate with a selected internal “recipient” device, such as illumination device, sound effect device and/or motorized movement device. 
     The present invention powers a selected lure or other like artificial fishing tackle. The apparatus includes generally three components: a rechargeable power supply, a switch, and a selected “recipient” (eg. light source, horn, vibrator). 
     A motion sensor can also be a “recipient”, thereby guarding the battery from uncontrollable discharge. This energy saving feature greatly increases fishing time when fishing style requires extended time periods while the lure is submerged in the water. Power supply is more than ample for any desired or known effect “recipient” under normal casting styles of fishing. 
     The lure of the present invention swims when retrieved by a rod, reel, and line to cause to a provided switch to activate to a positive(+) power feed on position. A switch housing or cylinder is positioned very near to, perpendicular to water level when the battery is switched “on” to power a selected “recipient” device (eg. light, horn, vibrator motor). 
     Magnetic lay-in current stabilizers can be placed on the switch&#39;s four quadrants, where contact with the ball bearing establish the “on” and “charging/resting” positions that are optimum or perpendicular to water and 180 degrees from each other. 
     The metal ball bearing in the switch housing cylinder rests solidly, with its full weight on the magnetic contacts, continuing positive (+) current flow to the recipient device during lure retrieval. This assures smooth current flow during cast retrieval and also during recharging. Once the cast is retrieved and the lure is pulled from the water, the lure comes to the “Hanging On Line” position at end of rod. The ball bearing falls free, off the contacts and “recipient” (light source, horn, vibrator motor) now cannot be positively charged and “resetting” occurs. 
     By design, the lure turns on and off, while in use or while fishing, conserving valuable battery drain and extends life. Overheating or undesirable current flow are also eliminated. 
     The rear hook eyelet feeds only the rechargeable battery&#39;s positive post. The front (lower) hook eyelet is the ground or the negative for every component of the system. 
     The charging position (See FIGS. 10-11) exists only when the lure is placed in the designated slot in the designed recharging apparatus. The “easy clips” can now knowingly be attached to the hook eyes and recharge the battery cells. This position is “resting/charging position” and the housing of the “switch” is again at or near perpendicular to the water level. but the ball bearing rests solidly on the magnetic contacts for the recharging circuit (as opposed to the contacts for the light circuit) effecting a continuing positive (+) current flow from the rear hook eyelet to the positive connection of the sealed battery unit. 
     The purpose of the present invention is to supply fishermen with their desire of all fishing lures, or other tackle that achieve two major accomplishments of the design: the rechargeable power supply and control of that power supply. Given this, the fisherman is asked to only choose what technology he wants in his desired lure/tackle. That desired recipient or his chosen technology is put with our invention and implemented into desired lure/tackle. The fisherman has to do nothing else but fish with his lure, as he would fish with any other lure. 
     The fisherman&#39;s act of fishing will operate the present invention of switching power back and forth between “on” and “off” positions. Once power supply is depleted the user must only then position his or her lure/tackle in the provided charging apparatus and connect the hook eyelets to the provided easy clips. 
     The present invention enables a fisherman to incorporate his or her choice of vehicle (lure body) and recipient device (eg. light, horn, vibrator motor). 
     The parameters of that equation are the application of one or more of the following; all available and all to be created effects of microchip technology which operate with 3.6 volts or less and the fisherman&#39;s desire for his chosen effect(s), and all fishing lures/tackle physically capable of receiving the power source, the gravity switch and that desired effect. This establishes one of the true values of this invention; that the invention incorporates the desires of the fisherman. 
     Water, heat and gravity are forces at work out of our control. It can be attempted to overcome the forces to design a system but that is not the purpose of this design. The design of this invention does exactly the opposite. Until the forces are embraced and implemented into the design, the design will fail one goal or another. The achievement of this invention is its use of these forces to reach all our goals. Physics must be applied. Fishing and resulting forces of fishing set the parameters in which any design must operate successfully. This invention can only function properly inside these unchangeable parameters. 
     The parameters are the range of motion set forth by fishing. That is casting a lure into the water and retrieving the lure to the rod and repetition of that cycle. 
     The present invention provides an improved fishing lure that includes a lure body that simulates a swimming aquatic animal when the lure body is pulled through the water in an upright, swimming position. 
     The lure body has a light emitting device that illuminates at least a portion of the lure body. A battery powers the light emitting device. 
     A switch is interconnected between the battery and the light emitting device, the switch deactivating the light emitting device when the lure body is reoriented so that it is not in the upright, swimming position. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the switch includes a moving contact member that shifts position when the lure body is reoriented so that it is not in an upright, swimming position. 
     The switch can include a motion sensor that shuts off battery power to the light emitting device when a switch member generates motion that is sensed by the motion sensor. 
     The light emitting member can be a light emitting diode. 
     The light emitting member can be a laser. 
     The light emitting member can be an incandescent bulb. 
     The lure body can be hollow, and the light emitting member and battery contained within the hollow interior. 
     The lure body interior can also provide a switch element for switching electricity between the contained battery and the light emitting member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway, perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view and an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing use of a sound emitting device as part of the fishing lure.; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a vibration inducing device as part of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 7A is a fragmentary view illustrating the vibrating device of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the body and switch portions in an operating, retrieval position; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the lure in a vertical, rod racked resting position; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial elevation view of the charger that is used to recharge the battery portion of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the charger that can be used to recharge. the battery of the apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-3 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10 . Fishing lure  10  has a body  11  with front  12  and rear  13  portions. The front  12  portion of body  11  can optionally be equipped with a diving blade  14 . A line eyelet  15  can be provided on the body  11  at the front  12  portion of the body, or be attached to the diving-blade as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 . 
     The body  11  preferably provides a pair of hook eyelets  16 ,  17 . These hook eyelets  16 ,  17  not only enable hooks  18  to be carried by the body  11 , the hook eyelets  16 ,  17  also enable the apparatus  10  to be recharged after its internal battery  21  has lost its charge (see FIGS.  10 - 11 ). The battery will lose charge after lengthy use of the device during fishing. The forward hook eyelet  16  can carry a single, double or treble hook arrangement, a treble hook  18  being shown in FIG.  2 . Likewise, the rear hook eyelet  17  can carry a single, double or treble hook arrangement, a treble hook being shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, the core of electrical components shown include a switch  22  having lower contacts  38  (one positive, one negative) and upper contacts  39  (one positive, one negative), battery  21  wiring  55 ,  56 ,  57 ,  58  and circuit board  28 . A positive leaf  55  extends from the positive terminal of battery pack  21 . A negative lead  56  extends from the negative terminal of battery  21  as shown in FIG.  3 . Negative wire lead  56  communicates with forward hook  16  and with circuit board  28 . Positive wire lead  57  communicates between one of the upper contacts  39  of switch  22  and the rear hook  17  as shown in FIG. 3. A positive lead  58  extends between one of the lower contacts  38 , namely the positive contact and circuit board  28 . A desire “recipient” can then be connected to the circuit board  28  as shown in FIGS. 4,  6 , and  7 . 
     The hook eyelet  16 ,  17  provide contacts that enable the battery pack  21  to be recharged. Body  11  has an outer surface  19  that can be covered with a simulated bait fish pattern that can include scales, coloration, gills, eyes  27  or the like. 
     Body cavity  20  has a core of components that include. wiring (see FIG.  3 ), battery pack  21  and switch  22 . Body cavity  21  can also carry a. “recipient” device and an interfacing circuit board  28 . The “recipient” device can be a light source  29 , horn  30 , or motor drive  31  having a shaft  32  with an eccentric weight  33  for producing vibration (see FIGS. 4-5,  6 ,  7 ,  7 A) . In this fashion, the apparatus  10 ,  10 A of the present invention can be used as a fishing lure which is illuminated, having an internal light source  29  as shown in FIG.  4 . The lure  10 ,  10 A of the present invention can provide an internal sound producing horn  30  or a vibrating motor when equipped with motor  31 , shaft  32  and eccentric weight  33 . 
     An alternate construction is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, designated generally by the numeral  10 A. The same basic core of electrical components of FIG. 3 can be used for the embodiment designated as  10 A. As with the preferred embodiment, the alternate embodiment  10 A includes a body  11 A having a body cavity  20  and an outer surface  19 A. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the fishing lure  10 A provides a plurality of illuminated structures that can include for example, tail  24 , fins  25 ,  26  and eye  27 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the body  20  outer surface  19 A would preferably be painted or otherwise covered with opaque material. The fins  25 ,  26  and tail  24  would be of a translucent or transparent material that would light up when the device  10 A is operated. Similarly, the eye  27  or other selected structure could be clear or translucent so that it would be illuminated when light source  29  is activated during use. 
     In order to operate the apparatus  10  or  10 A of the present invention, a fishing line  41  that is typically part of a rod and reel has a free end that is attached to line eyelet  15  as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The fishing, retrieval position is shown in FIG. 8. A fisherman casts the lure  10  in the direction of a selected body of water and then uses the rod and reel to retrieve the lure  10  in the direction of arrows  42  in FIG.  8 . When the user retrieves the lure  10  in the direction of arrows  42 , the body  11  is oriented generally horizontally as shown in FIG. 8 which generally vertically orients switch  22 . This operating, swimming position of the lure  10  is also shown in FIGS. 1-7. 
     In FIG. 8, the components other than switch  22  have been removed from body cavity  20  for purposes of clarity. In the position shown in FIGS. 1-8, switch  22  provides a switch housing  35  having an interior  36 . Metal ball bearing  37  falls to the bottom of switch housing  35 , resting upon contacts  38  and closing a circuit that activates the selected “recipient” device that can be a light source  29 , sound producing device (eg. horn  30 ), or vibrator motor  31 . 
     In FIG. 9, a racked position of the fisherman&#39;s rod and reel is shown. In this position, the lure  10  or  10 A is typically affixed to a portion of the fishing rod and the rod is stored generally vertically in a rod rack on the fisherman&#39;s boat. This same position is achieved when the rod is held by the user in a generally vertical position. In this position, the ball bearing  37  rolls to the upper end of switch housing  22 , passing next to motion sensors  40 . When this occurs, power to the selected “recipient” such as light source  29  is interrupted so that the battery  21  is conserved. The battery  21  is only supplying power to the selected recipient (such as light source  29 ) when the lure  10  or  10 A is in the swimming position of FIG.  8 . Likewise, if a horn  30  (FIG. 6) is to be activated, activation only occurs when in the swimming position of FIG. 6, wherein metal ball bearing  37  rests upon the lower contacts  38 . Similarly, in FIGS. 7 and 7A, when metal ball bearing  37  rests upon lower contacts  38 , battery  21  supplies power to motor drive  31  for rotating shaft  32  and eccentric weight  33  which rotates as indicated by the arrow  34  in FIGS. 7 and 7A. Because the weight  33  is eccentric, it produces a vibrating action which enhances the simulation of a swimming bait fish. 
     A charger for recharging battery  21  is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Charger  43  can includes a base  44  that supports a pair of sections  45 ,  46  connected together including vertical section  45  and upper horizontal section  46 . The combination of base  44 , vertical section  45  and upper horizontal section  46  provides a structure that can support the lure  10 ,  10 A during charging of the battery  11 . In the charging position, the lure body  11  is inverted, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. By inverting the lure body  11 , metal ball bearing  37  engages contacts  39  for closing a circuit that enables charging of the battery pack  21 . In order to charge the battery pack  21 , a transformer  50  is provided having a power cord  51  that communicates with wires  53 ,  54 . The wire  53  is a positively charged wire for communicating with eyelet  17  via clip  47 . The wire  54  is a negatively charged wire that communicates with eyelet  17  via clip  48 . The clips  47 ,  48  can be alligator type clips that both convey power to battery pack  21  via eyelets  16 ,  17  and also grip and hold the lure body  11  in the inverted position of FIGS. 10 and 11. In order to further support the lure body  11  in the inverted position, a diving blade holder  49  can be provided that extends from vertical section  45  in a generally horizontal direction as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     The charger  43  can be activated by using switch  52  after the lure  10  is in the selected position shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PART NO. 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   10 
                    fishing lure 
               
               
                      10A 
                 fishing lure 
               
               
                 11 
                 body 
               
               
                      11A 
                 body 
               
               
                 12 
                 front 
               
               
                 13 
                 rear 
               
               
                 14 
                 diving blade 
               
               
                 15 
                 line eyelet 
               
               
                 16 
                 forward hook eyelet 
               
               
                 17 
                 rear hook eyelet 
               
               
                 18 
                 hook 
               
               
                 19 
                 outer surface 
               
               
                      19A 
                 outer surface 
               
               
                 20 
                 body cavity 
               
               
                 21 
                 battery pack 
               
               
                 22 
                 switch 
               
               
                 23 
                 recipient device 
               
               
                 24 
                 tail 
               
               
                 25 
                 dorsal fin 
               
               
                 26 
                 fin 
               
               
                 27 
                 eye 
               
               
                 28 
                 circuit board 
               
               
                 29 
                 light source 
               
               
                 30 
                 horn 
               
               
                 31 
                 motor 
               
               
                 32 
                 shaft 
               
               
                 33 
                 eccentric weight 
               
               
                 34 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 35 
                 switch housing 
               
               
                 36 
                 switch interior 
               
               
                 37 
                 metal ball 
               
               
                 38 
                 lower contacts 
               
               
                 39 
                 upper contacts 
               
               
                 40 
                 motion detector 
               
               
                 41 
                 fishing line 
               
               
                 42 
                 direction of retrieval 
               
               
                 43 
                 charger 
               
               
                 44 
                 base 
               
               
                 45 
                 vertical section 
               
               
                 46 
                 upper horizontal section 
               
               
                 47 
                 charger clip 
               
               
                 48 
                 charger clip 
               
               
                 49 
                 diving blade holder 
               
               
                 50 
                 transformer 
               
               
                 51 
                 power cord 
               
               
                 52 
                 switch 
               
               
                 53 
                 wire 
               
               
                 54 
                 wire 
               
               
                 55 
                 wire 
               
               
                 56 
                 wire 
               
               
                 57 
                 wire 
               
               
                 58 
                 wire 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.