Fishing lure

This fishing lure comprises two elliptical plates which intersect to form a cross, in section, and with the plates set at right angles to each other. The lure may be case in one piece but it is preferably formed of two identical pieces, each of which comprises a flat plate, of elliptical shape in plan, and which is provided with a slot extending along its major axis and from an end portion to the mid portion thereof. Also, a groove extends along each side or face of the plate, along said major axis, and from the end of the slot to the other end of the plate. Each of the slots in a plate is of a width to slidingly and tightly receive the edge portion of the groove in the other plate. If two plates are involved, they may be brazed together after assembly, if desired. Also, the lures may be made of brass, plated, and be decorated with a layer of diffraction material secured to the plated surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a fishing lure which may be used under a 
multitude of fishing conditions. It may be trolled, or it may be jigged, 
or cast. It is a relatively heavy and very sturdy lure and may be cast 
against rocky shores or beaches and then drawn back to the caster in 
attracting fish to the lure and fishhook connected with the lure. Also, 
the lure may be cast and allowed to "Jig" downwardly or it may be trolled. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a fishing lure comprising two intersecting 
plates, each of which is elliptical in plan. The two plates intersect and 
with the plates at right angles to each other and, in the completed lure, 
the forward end and rearward end portions of the two plates are, 
respectively, aligned. Also, the lure may be constructed of two identical 
plates, each of which is elliptical in plan and with a slot extending 
along its major axis and from one end to a mid portion thereof. Also, on 
each plate and on both surfaces thereof, grooves extend which grooves are 
aligned with such slots and extend along the major axis. The width of each 
slot is the thickness of the plate between the bottom of two aligned 
grooves. Thus, the grooves on each side of a plate function to brace and 
support the material of the plate adjacent the slot in the other plate. 
Also, the fishing line is attached means carried by one plate and the 
fishing hook is attached to means carried by the other plate and with the 
opposing pressures between the line and the fishing hook urging the plates 
into assembled position. Preferably the lure is made of brass and the 
surfaces are plated and then the surfaces are decorated by an overlay of 
diffraction grating foil. 
The above-mentioned objects, advantages, and characteristics of my 
invention will become implicit and explicit as the description of my 
invention proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings which 
illustrate and clarify preferred forms of my invention and throughout 
which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The lure of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 comprises two plates 10 and 12 and each is 
substantially elliptical in plan. The plate 10 has a slot 14 extending 
along its major axis and from its rear end portion to its mid or central 
portion (rear end, mid portion, and forward end portion of plates 10 and 
12 refer to the relative positions of the plates as they travel through 
the water when in use) and a groove 16 extending along both surfaces of 
plate 10, along its major axis, and from its mid portion to its forward 
end portion. The plate 12 has a slot 18 extending along its major axis and 
from its forward end portion to its mid portion and a groove 20 extends 
along the major axis of plate 12 and from its mid portion to its trailing 
end portion. Each of the grooves 16 and 20 is of substantial U-shape, with 
the legs and bottom of the U forming right angles, and of a width only 
slightly larger than the width of a slot 14 or 18. A groove 16 or 20 is 
formed in both the bottom and top faces of a plate 10 or 12 and with the 
grooves in each plate aligned. The width of a slot 18 in a plate 12 is 
only slightly larger than the thickness 21 (see FIG. 4) of the material of 
a plate 10 which is the distance between the bottoms of two aligned 
grooves 16 in a plate 10. Also, the width of the slot 14 in the plate 10 
is only slightly larger than the thickness 22 (see FIG. 5) of the material 
of the plate 12 which is the distance between the bottoms of two aligned 
grooves 20 in a plate 12. These dimensions provide for an extremely snug 
sliding dry fit after the slot 14 of plate 10 is slid into the slot 18 of 
plate 12 and the sliding continues until the slot 14 of plate 10 continues 
and slides in the grooves 20 of plate 12 and the slot 18 of plate 12 
slides in the grooves 16 of plate 10. This continues until the forward end 
of plate 12 (with the slot 18 therein) is aligned with the forward end of 
plate 10 (having grooves 16 therein) and the rear end of plate 10 (with 
slots 14 therein) is aligned with the rear end of plate 12 (having grooves 
20 therein). 
The plates 10 and 12 are identical in structure, which aids in their 
manufacture, but they are turned relative to each other to assume the 
positions shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the drawings. Also, such plates 
10 and 12 can be readily manufactured by a stamping process from a 
suitable material, as brass sheets. Thereafter, they are preferably plated 
as by gold, silver, or chromium. Thereafter, preferably, a strip or layer 
or diffraction grating foil is adhered to partially cover the plated 
surfaces--thus, plated surface 23 is partially covered by diffraction 
material layer 24 with a portion of the surface 23 exposed (see FIGS. 1, 
4, and 5). 
After plates 10 and 12, shown separated or exploded in FIG. 2, have been 
moved to assume the positions of FIG. 1, the hole 26 in plate 12 is 
connected with a fishing line 28 and the hole 30 in plate 10 is connected 
with a fishing hook, as treble hook 32. The hole 26 is preferably on the 
upper side of plate 12 (when the same is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 
and 2) and the hole 30 is preferably on the lower side of plate 10 (when 
the lure is in the same position) as this provides for a tendency of the 
lure of FIG. 1 to dive and move angularly downwardly as it is towed by a 
fishing line 28. Also, as the forward thrust on the fishing line 28 urges 
the plate 12 forward and any strain on the hook 22 or potential fish 
carried thereby provides for a reverse thrust, the two plates 10 and 12 
are urged into relatively retained positions during usage while fishing. 
Thus, a relatively tight sliding fit between the two plates 10 and 12 is 
all that is necessary to maintain the assembled position shown in FIG. 1 
of the drawings. 
The lure of FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 represents a modified form of my invention. 
Here the additional and more deluxe features of plating and providing a 
layer of diffraction grating foil are not provided. The two plates 34 and 
36 are provided with the counterparts of plates 10 and 12, respectively, 
and have the same arrangement of slots and grooves corresponding to the 
slot 14 and grooves 16 of plate 10 and slot 18 and grooves 20 of plate 12. 
Also, the same holes 26 and 30 are provided for the same purposes. Plate 
34 has the same grooves in both faces as grooves 16 in plate 10 to provide 
the thickness (FIG. 6) of material 38 (corresponding to the thickness 21 
of plate 10). Thus, the slot in the forward half portion of plate 36 
disposed along its major axis snugly and slidingly fits against the 
thickness of the material 38 between the grooves in both faces of the 
plate 34 and disposed along the major axis and in the forward half portion 
of plate 36. Similarly, the plate 36 has the same grooves in both faces as 
grooves 20 in plate 12 to provide (FIG. 7) the thickness 40 (corresponding 
to the thickness 22 in plate 12) between the bottoms of aligned grooves 20 
in plate 12. Thus, a slot in the rear half portion of plate 34 disposed 
along its major axis snugly and slidingly fits against the thickness of 
material 40 and in the grooves in both faces of plate 36 and disposed 
along its major axis and in the front half portion of plate 36. 
After each plate 34 and 36 has been provided by stamping, the surfaces and 
edge portions can be readily buffed and polished. Thereafter, the two 
plates can be readily assembled as explained in detail regarding the 
counterparts shown and described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5. 
Also, if it is desired to prevent the lure from being disassembled after it 
has been assembled to the construction of FIGS. 1 or 3, the plates 10 and 
12 of FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, or the plates 34 and 36 of FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 
may have such plates joined by brazing the plates together, such as at the 
area of the open end portions of the slots 14 and 18 to the adjacent parts 
of the grooves 20 and 16. 
During operation of the lure comprising plates 10 and 12 or 34 and 36, it 
will be apparent that when the lure is trolled, it will tend to dive as 
the hole 26, connected with the fishing line 28, is disposed above the 
intersection substantially between the elliptical plates which are 
disposed at 90.degree. to each other. Also, as the lure is cast or thrown, 
it has body and weight and thus suitable for casting and fishing with it 
after being cast. Once it is cast, due to its configuration and line 
attachment, it can be allowed to "jig" downwardly in a zig-zag pattern 
until stopped by strain on the fishing line. 
The invention has been, thus far, described as constituting two identical 
plates provided with slots and grooves. However, a similar construction 
can be provided by casting the assembled construction in one piece. This 
will have some of, but not all of, the advantages of the construction 
previously described and illustrated. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It will now be obvious that I have provided a fishing lure comprising two 
intersecting plates 10 and 12 or 34 and 36 of elliptical shape forming a 
cross in section and with the plates disposed substantially at right 
angles to each other. When the lure is assembled or is cast in one piece, 
the forward end portions of the plates 10 and 12 or 34 and 36 and the 
rearward end portions of the plates 10 and 12 or 34 and 36 are aligned. 
When the two intersecting plates 10 and 12 or 34 and 36 are employed, each 
of such plates has a slot, such as the slot 14 of plate 10 or 18 or plate 
12 extending along its major axis and from an end portion to a mid portion 
thereof. Also, each of the two plates, such as 10 and 12 or 34 and 36, has 
one of such plates, as 12, provided with means, such as the hole 26, for 
engagement with a fishing line, as 28, and the other plate, as 10, is 
provided with means, as the hole 30, for engagement with a fishing hook, 
as treble hook 32. Also, two plates, as 10 and 12, have grooves 16 or 20 
in each face thereof and the slot in one plate, as the slot 14 in plate 
10, or the slot 18 in plate 12, will slidingly and snugly interfit with 
the grooves 20 in plate 12 and the grooves 16 in plate 10. Also, if 
desired, the slot 18 in a plate 12 may be permanently secured to another 
plate 10 at the forward end of the lure by brazing or by the use of 
appropriate adhesives and the slot 14 of the plate 10 at the rear end of 
the lure by such means. If desired, the surface of the lure may be 
embellished by such decorations as gold, silver, or chromium surface plate 
23 and a diffraction grating or other decorative or reflecting layer 24 
may be added. 
Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, arrangements and parts of my 
invention without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting 
forth only preferred forms of embodiment of my invention.