Abstract:
Fishing lures and assemblies that include magnets having pole faces mounted to an axial support to normally repel each other. Lure movement induces axial movement of the magnets and cooperating lure pieces to induce contact and separation and thereby audible sounds. Rattle chambers and/or sound enhancing structures can be provided to amplify created sounds. Magnets of differing shapes are disclosed that are arranged in different lure constructions (e.g. snelled assemblies, crank baits, spoon baits, wire form baits—bottom bouncers and spinner baits, jig lures and bell weights).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fishing lures with noise making capabilities and, in particular, to a variety of lures and/or fishing accessories (e.g. snell, spoon bait, spinner bait, crank bait, bottom bouncer, jig, dropper weight) outfitted with repelling magnets that rattle or click with lure movement to create noise. 
     Noise has been well documented in fishing literature as an attractant to fish. In actual practice, however, water can mute sounds emitted from a lure. Attendant fluid and aerodynamic properties of a lure can affect the emitted sound. Capillary action between adjacent lure parts and lure motion can also cause any sound making parts that are exposed to the water to stick together or move slowly. Parts mounted in watertight chambers overcome the foregoing, but the sounds are muted by the sound insulating properties of the surrounding chambers. 
     Lures of numerous designs with alternative solutions to the problem have been developed. Such lures include pieces and accessories that are positioned to physically contact each other to emit sounds with lure movement. Many presentations provide capsules or chambers that support rattles. Others provide metal weights and/or glass beads that are mounted to slide to and fro to physically strike each other. 
     Magnets have also been used in fishing lures. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,114,305 and 5,987,802 disclose lures with magnetic switches. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,758 and 4,878,310 disclose lures with magnetic accessory retainers and hook retainers. 
     More relevant to the subject invention is U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,236 and which discloses a lure having a rotating magnet that alternately repels and attracts pivoting fins that contain other magnets. 
     In distinction to the foregoing lures, the present lures were developed to provide a number of alternative lure constructions wherein the magnets are supported in a linear or co-axial permanent repelling relation to one another. Normal lure movement alternately overcomes the natural repulsive forces to cause the magnets to strike one another before the pole pieces are repelled apart until the next movement of the lure. The opposed magnetic fields particularly overcome capillary and/or gravitational attraction and adhesion forces between adjoining lure pieces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a fishing lure outfitted with at least one pair of magnetic pole pieces that are mounted in permanent repulsive relation to one another and that strike and repel from each other with normal lure movement. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide snell type lures wherein magnet pieces are arranged for reciprocating motion along a filamentary support. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide bored magnets, such as beads that either include magnetic core pieces or are magnetized, and that can be attached to snells, crank baits, spoon baits and wire forms. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide lures with magnet containing pieces that are constrained to move in a defined association to each other, for example, pivot or flutter in relation to a common anchor point or reciprocate into and out of contact along a common filamentary support. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide crank bait lures wherein lure pieces having adjoining magnetic pole pieces are mounted for axial movement along a common support. 
     Many of the foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are obtained in a number of alternative lures and/or fishing accessories. Various arrangements disclose bored magnet pieces that are arranged along a filamentary support for reciprocating motion, such as in “Carolina” rigs or other snell type baits. Other magnetic pole pieces that arc mounted in axial (e.g. linear or arcuate) repelling relation to each other are shown at body parts of crank baits, wire form baits, spoon baits, jig heads, flutter baits and a dropper weight. 
     Still other objects, advantages, distinctions and alternative constructions and/or combinations of the invention will become more apparent from the following description with respect to the appended drawings. Similar components and assemblies are referred to in the various drawings with similar alphanumeric reference characters. The description should not be literally construed in limitation of the invention. Rather, the invention should be interpreted within the broad scope of the further appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a prior art Carolina rig outfitted with repelling magnets. 
     FIG. 2 shows an improved Carolina rig outfitted with repelling magnets. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing showing a snell containing a number of magnetic beads arranged to repel each other. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing showing a multi-section crank bait lure fitted to a sliding support and wherein the body parts are arranged to repel each other. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing showing a fishing lure wherein repelling magnets are supported to a member at a bill piece. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective drawing showing a spoon lure containing magnets arranged for reciprocating motion on a sliding support. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective drawing showing a fishing lure with a pair spoons having repelling magnetic pieces. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective drawing to a bottom bouncer outfitted with repelling magnetic beads. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing to a spinner bait having repelling magnetic pieces fitted to a weighted body and spinner blade. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective drawing to a jig head having repelling magnetic pieces mounted to a sliding support. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective drawing showing a weighted live bait rig having repelling magnetic pieces fitted to the hook and sliding weight. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective drawing showing a bell sinker having repelling magnetic pieces. 
     Similar structure at the drawings is referred to with the same reference numerals and/or characters. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art Carolina rig  2  is shown. The rig  2  provides a relatively heavy forward weight  4  that is mounted to slide along a filamentary support  6 , such as a wire or fish line, in relation to any preferred arrangement of beads  8  and  10  and disk spacers  12  or other accessory pieces that are also secured to the support  6 . The weight  4  can be constructed to any desired shape from any of a variety of materials, for example, lead, brass or stainless steel. A swivel  14  and hook  16  are also secured to the support  6 . A peg  18  can be used to secure the weight at desired location along the support  6 . In normal use, the sliding of the weight  4  and consequent contact with and between the beads  8  and spacer  12  creates audible sounds. 
     FIG. 2 shows an improved Carolina rig  20  of the present invention outfitted with magnets  22  at a filamentary support  21 . The support  21  is threaded through bores  23  in the magnets  22 . Plastic or glass beads  9  are threaded onto the support  21  between the magnets  22 . The “north” and “south” poles of the magnets  22  are positioned to repel each other. A separate magnet piece  24  is secured to a forward weight  26 . 
     As the rig  20  is drawn through the water, the weight  26  slides back toward the hook  16 , which forces the magnets  24  and  22  together, and creates a clicking or clacking sound as contact is made with the beads  9 . With each release of line tension, the beads  8  and magnets  22  and  24  are repelled to assure sufficient separation to create noise with the next intermittent pull on the support  21 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a snell assembly  30  wherein a clevis  32  secures a spinner blade  34  to a support  36  that terminates in a hook  16 . A swivel  14  can be used or not in front of the hook  16  as desired. A series of beads  34  are threaded to the support  36 . A magnetic core piece  38  is provided at each bead  34 . The poles of the core pieces  38  are arranged to repulse each other with any release of line tension. A bead  40  is also shown that includes a number of rattle pieces  42 . Alternating contact and repulsion between the beads  34  and  40  produces audible sounds to attract fish. The sound and flash qualities of the assembly  30  are enhanced by the presence of the spinner blades  34 . Live bait can also be secured to the hook  16 . It is to be appreciated that a variety of shapes of commercially available rattle capsules can be used with or instead of the bead  40 . 
     Although the beads  34  are constructed with tubular magnetic cores  38 , the beads  34  can be constructed entirely of magnetic materials. For example, metallic beads can also be provided that are appropriately magnetized. The beads  34  can also be molded with several discrete magnets and to any of a variety of shapes. Non-magnetic, glass or plastic beads  8  or  9  or other types of sound enhancing devices can also be strung along the support  36 . 
     FIG. 4 discloses a crank bait  50  that has two body pieces  52  and  53  that slide along a filamentary support  54 . Magnets  56  are secured to the body pieces  52  and  53  such that the pieces  52  and  53  are normally repelled from each other. The magnets  56  can be secured to the exterior surfaces of the body pieces  52  and  53  or can be mounted internal to the body pieces  52  and  53 , as preferred. Rattle pieces  42  can also be contained within chambers at the body pieces  52  and  53 . 
     FIG. 5 discloses another crank bait  60  that supports a bill piece  62  and treble hooks  63 . The bill piece  62  causes the bait  60  to submerge and wobble side-to-side as the bait  60  is drawn through the water by a fish a line attached to the ring  66 . Bead-type magnets  34  are supported to a wire support  64  at the bill piece  62  and create audible sounds with the wobbling movement. Other rattle pieces  42  can be mounted inside the bait  60  in conventional fashion. 
     A spoon-type lure  70  is shown in FIG. 6 that contains solid magnetic beads  72  that are strung to a filament support  74  in an aperture  75  through the spoon  70 . The beads  72  are mounted to provide repulsive, reciprocating motion along the sliding support  74  as the lure body  76  wobbles and spins when drawn by a fishing line  78 . A rattle bead  40  (shown in dashed line) or other sound enhancing spacer can be mounted between the beads  72 . 
     FIG. 7 shows another construction of a spoon-type lure  80  that has concave spoon pieces  82  and  84  secured to pivot and flutter from a common split ring  85 . Hooks  88  trail from the pieces  82  and  84 . Magnets  86  secured to the spoon pieces  82  and  84  have their poles aligned to repel each other as the spoon pieces  82  and  84  are constrained by the ring  85  to flutter and contact each other. The size, shape, number and mounting location of the magnets  86  can be varied as desired. The spoon pieces  82  and  84 , which are typically metallic, can also be selectively magnetized and oriented to achieve the desired repelling forces without having to attach separate magnets  86 . The spoon pieces  82  and  84  might also include a support  74  and beads  72  in the fashion of FIG.  6 . 
     An audible wire form assembly  90  is shown at FIG. 8 such as might be found in a bottom bouncer. A bent wire support  92  is appropriately formed and outfitted with an ovular weight  94  and magnetic beads  34 . A swivel  96  and snap clip  98  attach to a hook-containing lure not shown that trails from the clip  98 . A fishing line mounts to the bend  100  and motion of the assembly  90  causes the beads  34  to interact with each other and the weight  94  or any other pieces fitted to the support  92  above the stop bend  102 . The length of the support  92  can be sized as desired and the weight  94  can be attached to move or not as desired. 
     Other appropriately shaped wire forms that support magnetic pieces  12 , magnetic beads  34  or  72  and/or solid beads  8  or  9  or rattle beads  40  can be constructed for other types of lures. Such wire forms might, for example, be included as part of a variety of known types of spinner baits and/or buzz baits. 
     FIG. 9 shows a drawing of a spinner-bait  104  that has a wire support  106 , a body piece  108  and a treble hook  63 . The body  108  can be constructed from a weighted or buoyant material. A clevis  32  secures a spinner blade  110  to the support  106 . Magnets  114  and  116  are attached to the blade  110  and body  108  to repel each other as the blade moves around and along the support  106 . Multiple magnets  116  can be mounted around the body  108  to enhance the repelling and sound producing action between the blade  110  and body  108 . 
     A jig-type lure  120  that has a head  122  molded to a hook  124  is shown at FIG. 10. A support  126  extends from the head  122  to a moveable headpiece  128 . The head  128  is constrained to move back and forth along the support  126 , although the support and head  128  can be made to both reciprocate relative to the head  122 . Magnets  132  and  134  are secured in repelling relation to each other at the jig heads  122  and  128  to obtain reciprocating movement of the jig heads  122  and  128  along the support  126 . A fish line  78  attached to an eye  136  induces interaction of the heads  122  and  128  as the jig  120  is drawn along a creek or lake bottom. Any of a variety of natural and artificial dressings can be attached to the lure  120 . The headpieces  122  and  128  can also be formed to support rattle pieces  42  or capsules that contain rattles. 
     Still another hybrid variation of the lure assembly  20  and the lure  120  is shown at the lure  140  of FIG. 11. A weighted head  142  supports a magnet piece  144  that interacts with a repelling magnet piece or collar  146  that is attached around the eye  147  of a hook  148 . Live bait can be mounted to the hook  148  or an artificial dressing  150  such as a plastisol tailpiece can be threaded onto the hook  148 . Rattle pieces  42  can also be mounted within a sound chamber of the head  142 . 
     Lastly, FIG. 12 shows a bell sinker  152  that includes a bent wire stem  154  and to which repelling magnetic pieces  156  and  158  are mounted for reciprocating motion within a cavity space  160 . Although a bell-shaped sinker is shown, the magnet pieces  156  and  158  can be mounted in a comparable fashion to sinkers of any other shape. The sinker body  162  might also be constructed to include rattle pieces  42  or from a material and/or shape to amplify the sounds produced by the magnet pieces  156  and  158  and/or rattle pieces  42 . 
     The invention has been described with respect to a number of presently preferred constructions and considered improvements or alternatives thereto. However, still other constructions may be suggested to those skilled in the art. Selected ones of the foregoing features can also be applied alone or be arranged in different combinations at still other lures and/or assemblies. The foregoing description should therefore be construed to include all those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims.