Abstract:
A fish attractant dispensing lure includes a housing with at least one (1) ejection channel, a dispenser unit, and a power source. The lure housing encases the dispenser unit, which is configured to retain a volume of a fish attractant in a liquid state. A dispensing mechanism is in electrical communication with the power source. When the dispenser unit is activated, the fish attractant is dispensed into the surrounding environment via the dispensing mechanism through at least one (1) ejection channel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation-in-part of, was first described in, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/907,183, filed Nov. 21, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fishing lure that automatically dispenses fish attractant via a controlled dispensing process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The technology used by anglers to catch fish has become increasingly complex in nature. Fishermen no longer rely solely on the traditional hook and worm approach to attract their game. Instead, a broad range of products have hit the market, designed to aid the fisherman to catch more fish quickly. One (1) of the more popular aids is that of various liquids that is applied to lures in an effort to attract fish based upon scent or smell. While such aids have generated some success, they do suffer from the fact that insertion in water tends to quickly wash the attractant off. This forces the fisherman to frequently remove the lure from the water and re-apply the liquid. This results in a reduced period of time that fishing is actually taking place, and may scare fish away due to the noise of frequent lure removal and re-casting. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which the advantages of using chemical style attractants to attract fish can be enhanced to ensure that more fish are caught. The development of the present invention fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a fishing lure that automatically dispenses an attractant for fish, for the purposes of aiding in the catching fish. Such a dispensing device includes a hollow, fluid-tight casing. The casing is capable of receiving a soluble fish attractant therein. A dispensing mechanism is powered by an on-board power source to dispense the attractant out into the water via at least one (1) conduit. In at least one (1) embodiment, the casing is shaped generally like a cylinder tapering to a conical point at a first end thereof. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide such a reservoir having an inlet end terminating in a fill nipple exiting out the casing second end. A cap is removably attachable to the nipple. The outlet end of the reservoir is in fluid communication with a chamber, which the dispensing mechanism is in fluid communication therewith. A check valve exists at the outlet end to provide one-way flow of attractant through the reservoir. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such a dispensing mechanism having a solenoid in electrical communication with the power source. The solenoid drives a shaft of plunger relative to the chamber. The outlet of the chamber is in fluid communication with each conduit. Upon activation of the solenoid, the plunger draws attractant from the reservoir, in to the chamber, and into each conduit for dispensing out in to the water. 
     Yet another object of the present invention provides for a control means to control the dispensing mechanism. A preferred embodiment utilizes a control switch disposed on a surface of the casing to selectively activate the dispensing mechanism. Another embodiment involves the use of a timer circuit placed in electrical communication with the solenoid and control switch. The timer circuit activates the solenoid to drive the shaft of the plunger at a set frequency, thereby dispensing attractant from the reservoir at the set frequency. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide at least one (1) fastening mechanism affixed to an exterior surface of the casing. The fastening mechanisms are capable of providing a place to fasten a treble hook, a trolling line, or other similar fishing accessories. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening mechanisms are eyelets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a fishing lure  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view along a line A-A as shown on  FIG. 1  of the fishing lure  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is an electro-mechanical schematic of the fishing lure  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  fishing lure 
               20  housing 
               25  first end 
               30  cone 
               35  second end 
               40  first fastener 
               45  second fastener 
               50  battery compartment 
               55  access cover 
               60  power source 
               65  electrical circuit 
               70  timer 
               75  electrical wiring 
               80  control switch 
               85  solenoid 
               100  dispensing unit 
               110  reservoir 
               115  inlet port 
               120  cap 
               122  fill nipple 
               125  check valve 
               130  piston 
               135  piston chamber 
               140  shaft 
               145  ejection channel 
               150  ejection port 
               200  attractant 
               205  trolling line 
               210  hook 
               215  sinker 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a fishing lure (herein referred to as the “device”)  10 , which has a dispensing unit  100  encased within a housing  20  that automatically draws an attractant  200  from a reservoir  110  and expels that attractant  200  through ejection ports  150  to create an allure for fish within the vicinity of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view, and  FIG. 2 , a section along line A-A as seen in  FIG. 1 , of the device  10 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  primarily comprises a housing  20  with an internal dispensing unit  100  and a reservoir  110  configured to contain a user-supplied fish attractant  200 . The housing  20  is preferably constructed of a plurality of injection-molded thermoplastic pieces fitted together in a manufacturing process necessary to yield the finished product in the shape of a cylinder having a conical first end  25 . Other materials, such as a metal, or a composite material, as well as other shapes, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The first end  25  terminates in a cone  30  which may be defined by a linear function yielding a uniformly increasing diameter, or as an elliptic paraboloid, or some combination thereof, so as to conform to some stylized profile. The housing  20  is provided with a first fastener  40  located at the cone  30  of the first end  25  as a means to be connected to a user&#39;s trolling line  205 . The first fastener  40  may be formed as a part of the housing  20  or inserted into the cone  30  in a subsequent operational procedure and as such may be composed of a metal eyelet or other such annular ring. 
     The device  10  is envisioned to be mistakenly viewed by a fish as a source of nutrition, and taken in, as a whole, by a fish&#39;s mouth. The incorporation of at least one (1) hook  210 , borne on an exterior portion of the device  10 , is foreseen as necessary to provisionally attach the device to some interior portion of a fish. The device  10  may be deemed more functional with the addition of supplementary weights in the form of traditional sinkers  215 , comprised of lead weights, at the discretion of a user. The device  10  will preferably be equipped with a plurality of second fasteners  45  for the attachment of at least one (1) hook  210  of any style and sinker  215  for angling. The second fasteners  45  are configured to be eyelets, similar to the first fastener  40 , to which the hook(s)  210  and sinker(s)  215  may be clipped, tied, or otherwise attached. In alternate embodiments, the size and location of such second fasteners  45  may vary according to the preference of an individual user. 
     The reservoir  110  is configured to be a cylindrical void within the housing  20 . It is understood that other geometric configurations for the reservoir  110  may be utilized according to any manufacturing process as may be employed without limiting the scope of the device  10 . An inlet port  115  located at a first end of the reservoir  110  and coincidentally at a second end  35  of the housing  20  provides access to the reservoir  110  from the exterior of the housing  20 . The inlet port  115  extends through a fill nipple  122  which extends from the housing  20 . The inlet port  115  enables a user to refill the reservoir  110  after the attractant  200  has been depleted due to normal use. A cap  120  is further provided to cover the inlet port  115 . The cap  120  is configured to be a closure device for the reservoir  110  which may be operationally threaded onto the fill nipple  122 , or secured by some other appropriate means so as to prevent the unintended escape of the attractant  200 . 
     The attractant  200  is preferably a liquid solution that incorporates a particular scent and flavor creating an allure toward the device  10  and incites a fish to attempt to consume the device  10 . Some fish will hit on a lure  10  merely due to the scent, while others will nibble before biting to determine an affinity towards the lure  10 . Nonetheless, a liquid form of the attractant  200  is important to the operability of the device  10 . 
     A second end of the reservoir  110  leads to a piston chamber  135 , via a check valve  125 . The piston chamber  135  is configured to be a cylindrical chamber for the accommodation of a disk-shaped piston  130 . The piston chamber  135  provides a passageway for the attractant  200  to at least one (1) ejection channel  145  leading to each ejection port  150 . In a preferred embodiment, there exists two (2) ejection channels  145  and ejection ports  150  arranged symmetrically about the housing  20 . The check valve  125  is a commercially available hydraulic fitting capable of permitting a flow of attractant  200  to exit from the reservoir  110  while prohibiting any return flow into the reservoir  110 . The piston  135 , when actuated, traverses the piston chamber  135  in a reciprocating manner. The piston  135  is connected to a solenoid  85  via a cylindrical shaft  90  so that when the solenoid  85  acts upon the shaft  90  the piston  135  is forced to execute the reciprocating motion. As the piston  135  moves away from the reservoir  110  in the piston chamber  135 , the attractant  200  is drawn into the piston chamber  135  through the check valve  125 . As the piston  135  moves toward the reservoir  110 , the check valve  125  disallows the attractant  200  from reentering the reservoir  110 , rather forcing the attractant  200  to exit the piston chamber  220  through each ejection channel  145 . Each ejection channel  145  is a configured to be a conduit directing fluid flow toward an ejection port  150 . The housing  20  is provided with at least one (1) ejection port  150  located in proximity to a second end  35 . As attractant  200  is forced into each ejection channel  145 , the attractant  200  is dispensed through the ejection port  150 . The check valve  125  is configured to be spring biased in a closed position so as to retain the attractant  200  in the reservoir  110  unless acted upon by the piston  135 . 
     The housing  20  is further provided with a battery compartment  50  equipped with electrical contacts (not shown), which place a source  80  into electrical communication with the electrical circuit  65  of the device  10 . A battery compartment access cover  55  encloses and seals the battery compartment  50  in a watertight manner. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an electro-mechanical schematic of the device  10 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The electrical circuit  65  of the device  10  is configured to place the electrical contacts (not shown) into electrical communication with a control switch  80  and the electrical circuit  65  via the electrical wiring  75 . The control switch  80  is preferably an “ON/OFF” slide switch. Other types of single-pole, single-throw switches, such as rocker switches, may also be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . In an “ON” position, electrical power is supplied from the power source  60  to the timer  70  and ultimately the solenoid  85 . When energized, the timer  70  begins an oscillatory cycle of electrical connectivity. The timer  70  is placed within the electrical circuit  65  between the electrical contacts and the solenoid  85  so that electrical power is supplied to the solenoid  85  when the oscillatory cycle of connectivity commences. The timer  70  is configured to be a CMOS integrated circuit producing oscillatory connectivity; however, other timers  70  may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The repetitive, oscillating signal supplied to the solenoid  85  actuates the piston  130  in an oscillatory manner mimicking the frequency of the oscillating signal. As the piston  130  actuates, it draws attractant  200  from the reservoir  110  as previously described. 
     In use, a trolling line  205  is affixed to the first fastener  40 , the control switch  80  is set to an “ON” position, and the device  10  is cast into the water. The dispenser unit  100  gradually dispenses attractant  200  over a period of time as previously cited to maintain a consistent and continuing allure for fish within the vicinity of the device  10  until the device  10  has depleted the attractant  200  within the reservoir  110 . The device  10  may be removed from the water to be refilled with attractant  200  via the inlet port  115 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device  10  having a style to suit the preference of a user; ensuring the control switch  80  is in an “OFF” position; opening the access cover  55  of the battery compartment  50  and inserting a power source  60  within the battery compartment  50 ; closing the access cover  55  and ensuring that a proper seal has been made between the access cover  55  and battery compartment  50 ; removing the cap  120  and filling the reservoir  110  with attractant  200 ; replacing the cap  120 ; fastening a trolling line  205  to the first fastener  30 ; ensuring that a desired number and style of hooks  210  and sinkers  215  are attached to the second fastener  45  as desired; manipulating the control switch  80  so as to electrically energize the electrical circuit  65 ; casting the device  10  in waters that are to be fished; allowing the dispensing unit  100  to expel attractant  200  through each ejection port  150  to create an allure and affinity towards the device  10 ; and, removing the device  10  from the water and placing the control switch  80  in an “OFF” position when it is desired to stow the device  10  for later use. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.