Abstract:
A fishing lure apparatus includes a lure structure or frame with a hook and a first spinner blade retained on a connector member rotatably connected to the frame for spinning when the lure is drawn through water and a second spinner blade retained on the same connector member whereby the second blade periodically engages the first blade when the lure apparatus is drawn through water to thereby affect spinning motion of the first spinner blade. Engagement of the first and second spinner members may create noise or currents in water, in addition to a visual appearance, to attract fish.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is broadly concerned with improvements in equipment for fishing and, more particularly, with improvements in spinnerbait types of fishing lures. 
         [0002]    Fishing is an ancient practice which is principally pursued to provide food for human consumption. Commercial fishing gathers large numbers of fish at a time, usually by drawing nets through schools or other groups of fish. In recreational or sport fishing, the aim is to entice a single fish at a time to strike at, and get snagged by, a hook. The hooked fish may then be harvested for consumption or unhooked and released alive. Typically, a hook is embedded into or through live or food baits or attached to artificial lures to motivate a fish to strike or bite at the bait or lure and, thus, become hooked. 
         [0003]    Fishing lures are designed to attract a fish&#39;s attention by the use of movement, vibration, flash, appearance, and color. Many lures are equipped with one or more hooks that are used to catch fish when they strike the lure. Most lures are attached to the end of a fishing line and have various styles of hooks attached to the body or frame and are designed to elicit a strike by a fish. Various types of lures have been used since ancient times. 
         [0004]    A particular type of lure is referred to as a spinnerbait. The term spinnerbait encompasses a family of fishing lures that employ one or more metal blades shaped to spin when the lure is in relative motion to water, creating varying degrees of flash, water currents, and vibration that mimic small fish or other prey. Spinnerbaits attract predatory fish primarily by activating a special sense organ called the lateral line system by the action of the spinning blade. The lateral line is a system of sense organs found in many aquatic vertebrates which are used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. The lateral line system allows the detection of movement and vibrations in the water surrounding an animal, providing spatial awareness and the ability to navigate in space. This plays an essential role in orientation, predatory behavior, and social schooling. Spinnerbaits can also stimulate other senses of fish, such as sight, to mimic prey by creating flashes in the water. 
         [0005]    A common type of spinnerbait lure is referred to as a “safety-pin” or overhead blade spinnerbait. A safety-pin spinnerbait includes a framework formed by a spring wire bent to form upper and lower legs at an angle of about 60 to 90 degrees. The lower leg has a weighted hook secured thereto, with a barb of the hook oriented upwardly. A lead weight is positioned at an end of the hook opposite the hook and may have an image of an eye applied thereto to give the arrangement the look of a fish. The hook may be surrounded by a skirt formed of flexible fringes, feathers, or the like. The upper leg of the frame has a spinner blade connected thereto, usually by a swivel, to enable the spinner to spin freely as the lure is drawn through water. The spinner blade is typically convex/concave and often has a teardrop shape. A fishing line is tied to the lure at the vertex between the upper and lower legs of the wire. The weight of the weighted hook side of the hook exceeds that of the spinner blade side of the lure such that, when in water, the hook side assumes a lower position with the spinner blade above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides embodiments of an improved spinnerbait lure apparatus. In general, the apparatus of the present invention provides a spinnerbait lure having spinner blades thereon which are configured and mounted in such a manner that they interact when the lure is drawn through water. 
         [0007]    An embodiment of the lure apparatus includes a lure structure or frame, a first spinner member connected to the lure frame to enable spinning motion thereof when the lure apparatus is drawn through water, and a second spinner member connected to the lure frame in spaced relation to the first spinner whereby movement of the second spinner when the lure apparatus is drawn through water affects the spinning motion of the first spinner member. The apparatus may include a connector member rotatably connected to the lure frame in such a manner as to enable rotation of the connector relative to the lure frame, and the first spinner member and the second spinner member are retained on the connector member and rotate therewith. The connector member may include a swivel to facilitate spinning the first and second spinner members. Alternatively, the connector member may include a clevis. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment of the lure apparatus of the present invention, the second spinner member is positioned on the lure frame in such a manner relative to the first spinner member as to periodically engage the first spinner member when the lure apparatus is drawn through water. Such engagement of the first and second spinner members affect the spinning motion of the first spinner member and create noise and vibrating currents in the water as the lure apparatus is drawn therethrough. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the lure apparatus, the second spinner member is angularly bent to form an inner spinner segment and a outer spinner segment, the inner spinner segment being connected to the lure frame. The outer spinner segment may be positioned at a bend angle within an angular range of 90 to 170 degrees relative to the inner spinner segment. Ordinarily, the angular range may be about 120 to 150 degrees. The first spinner member has curvature in a three-dimensional space and has a convex side and an opposite concave side. In an embodiment of the apparatus, the second spinner member is positioned on the concave side of the first spinner member with the outer segment angled away from the first spinner member. In such an orientation, impingement of water with the outer spinner segment causes the second spinner member to be driven toward the first spinner member, as the lure apparatus is drawn through water, thereby “kicking” or engaging the first spinner member creating noise and currents in the water and affecting the spinning motion of the first spinner member. 
         [0010]    The body or frame of the lure apparatus may be in the form of a resilient wire bent at a desired angle, such as from 60 to 90 degrees to form upper and lower legs. The lower leg may have a weighted hook joined thereto and may include a skirt of fringed material or filaments. The weight and skirt may give the lower leg the look of a type of fish to thereby lure a predator to strike the apparatus. The upper leg has the first and second spinner members connected thereto to enable spinning motion, such as by a swivel or a clevis. A fishing line may be tied to the wire at a vertex between the upper and lower legs. 
         [0011]    Various objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
         [0012]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a fishing lure incorporating interacting spinner blades according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the lure illustrating features of the interacting spinner blades. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a greatly enlarged side elevational view of interacting spinner blades according to the present invention, shown connected to a wire component by a clevis. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a further enlarged outer plan view of an angled spinner blade according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which 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 the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0018]    Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral  1  generally designates an embodiment of an improved lure apparatus according to the present invention. In general, the apparatus  1  includes a lure structure  2  having a pair of spinner blades or spinners  4  and  5  which are configured and mounted on the lure structure in such a manner as to interact during spinning motion when the lure structure is drawn through water to thereby enhance the attraction of fish to the apparatus. 
         [0019]    The illustrated lure structure  2  includes a lure frame  8  formed by a wire  9  bent at a vertex or bend  10  to form an upper leg  11  and a lower leg  12 . The angle between the upper leg  11  and lower leg  12  may be within a range of about 45° to 90°. In  FIG. 1 , the illustrated angle between the upper and lower legs is about 75°. The spinner blades  4  and  5  are connected to a rear end  14  of the upper leg  11 , as will be described further below. A rear end  16  of the lower leg  12  has a weighted hook assembly  18  secured thereto. A fishing line  20  is typically connected to the lure frame  8  at the bend  10  to enable the apparatus  1  to be drawn through water. The illustrated lure apparatus  1  is of the type that is referred to as a “safety pin” style of lure because of the appearance of the bent wire frame  8 . The apparatus  1  is also referred to as an overhead blade style spinnerbait since the weighted hook assembly  18  tends to assume a lower position relative to the spinner blades  4  and  5 . 
         [0020]    The lower leg  12  of the lure frame  8  angles downwardly and rearwardly from the bend  10  in the wire  9  and has the weighted hook assembly  18  secured to the rear end  16  of the lower leg  12 . The illustrated weighted hook assembly  18  is formed by a fish hook  23  with a barb  24  which has a weight  25 , such as a lead weight, secured to an end of the hook opposite the barb  24 . The weight  25  may have features  26  formed thereon, such as eyes and or a gill slit, to give the assembly  18  the appearance of an aquatic animal. The assembly  18  may include a skirt  27  formed by filaments, feathers, or the like to complete the appearance of the assembly as a small animal. The skirt  27  surrounds the hook  23  and may provide some resistance to the hook snagging on weeds, underwater brush, and the like. 
         [0021]    The upper leg  11  of the lure frame  8  angles upwardly and backwardly from the bend  10  of the wire  9 . The spinner blades  4  and  5  are connected to the rear end  14  of the upper leg  11  in such a manner as to enable spinning motion of the blades when the apparatus  1  is drawn through water. In the illustrated apparatus  1 , the rear end  14  has a loop  30  formed therein. The spinner blades  4  and  5  are both positioned on a connector ring  33 . The ring  33  is connected to one end of a swivel  35  which is connected to the loop  30  at the rear end  14  of the upper leg  11 . The swivel  35  is a conventional type of swivel device used in fishing tackle and enables the spinner blades  4  and  5  to rotate freely relative to the rear end  14  of the upper leg  11 . 
         [0022]    The spinner blade  4  is a conventional type of spinner used on spinnerbait types of lures. The blade  4  is somewhat cupped which causes the blade to spin when the lure apparatus  1  is drawn through water. The blade  4  may have a teardrop shape, referred to as a Colorado or Indiana blade depending on the proportions. Alternatively, the blade  4  may have a long, narrow shape, referred to as a willow or willowleaf blade. The illustrated spinner blade  4  is of a willowleaf shape. The blade  4  is typically larger than the blade  5 . 
         [0023]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the illustrated spinner blade  5  is of a somewhat teardrop shape and includes a inner spinner blade segment  40  and an outer spinner blade segment  42 . The inner segment  40  has an aperture  44  formed therethrough to receive the connector ring  33 . The outer segment  42  joins the inner segment  40  at a linear bend  46 , and the outer segment  42  is angled away from the inner segment  40 . The angle between the outer segment  42  and the inner segment  40  may range from about 90° to 170°. An angular range about 120° to 150° is typical. 
         [0024]    Because the blades  4  and  5  are secured on the same connector or ring  33 , the blades  4  and  5  spin together, with the larger “driver” blade  4  providing a major portion of the spinning reaction. The angled orientation of the outer segment  42  causes the blade  5  to be periodically pivoted toward and away from the blade  4  when the lure  1  is drawn through water, as indicated by the arrow  48  in  FIG. 3 . Because of this, the blade  5  may be referred to as a “kicker” blade, since the blade  5  is periodically kicking against the blade  4 . Engagement of the blade  5  with the blade  4  generates sound and vibrating currents in the water as the lure  1  is drawn therethrough and affects the spinning motion or the blade  4 . The sound and currents generated, in addition to the flickering appearance of the spinning blades  4  and  5  is an attraction to various types of predatory fish which may motivate them to strike at the lure apparatus  1 . 
         [0025]    The lure apparatus  1  may have additional elements to attract the attention of fish. The illustrated apparatus  1  has an additional spinner blade  50  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) which is mounted on the upper leg  11  of the lure frame  8 . The blade  50  is referred to as a tandem blade because of its in-line relationship to the main spinner blades  4  and  5 . The illustrated blade  50  is engaged with the upper leg  11  by a clevis  52  which enables the blade  50  and clevis  52  to spin about the leg  11 . The blade  50  is spaced from the end  14  of the upper leg  11  by one or more spacer beads  54 . The clevis  52  and beads  54  fit somewhat loosely on the upper leg  11  so that they may slide and pivot freely. The clevis  52  may be prevented from becoming entangled with the bend  10  of the wire  9  by a retainer bead  56 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , it is foreseen that the tandem blade  50  may be replaced with a combination of driver blade  4  and kicker blade  5  connected to the clevis  52  along the upper leg  11  and spaced from the end  14 . In such an arrangement, the actions of the blades  4  and  5  are similar to the actions of the blades  4  and  5  secured by a ring  33  and swivel  35  to the loop  30  at the end  14  of the leg  11 , with the driver blade  4  providing most of the spinning reaction to being drawn through water and the kicker blade  5  periodically engaging the blade  4  to generate sounds and currents and to affect the spinning motion of the blade  4 . It is foreseen that the apparatus  1  can be provided with a set of blades  4  and  5  can mounted by a clevis  52  on the upper leg  11  in combination with a set of blades  4  and  5  connected by a swivel  35  to the end  14  of the leg  11  or, alternatively, with out a set of blades  4  and  5  connected to the end  14 . 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.