Fishing lure with interchangeable disks

The fishing lure with changeable disks is adapted for use in fishing. Specifically, the fishing lure with changeable disks is designed to allow a fisherman to change the appearance of a lure without having to the physically untie and retie lures as part of the change process. This is done through the use of an interchangeable disk selected from a plurality of disks. Each interchangeable disk selected from the plurality of disks can be mounted within a lure housing. Each interchangeable disk selected from the plurality of disks is designed to give the lure housing a different appearance to a fish. The interchangeable disks selected from the plurality of disks can be substituted for any interchangeable disk remaining within the plurality of disks. The fishing lure with changeable disks comprises a mimic, a plurality of disks, and one or more hooks.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of fishing and angling, more specifically, an artificial lure for use in fishing.

One of the challenges of fishing is anticipating the type of lure that a game fish will be attracted to on any given day. Most fisherman use a trial and error method of determining the most appropriate lure by trying several lures to test which lure seems most attractive to the game fish. Unfortunately, changing lures often requires removing the prior lure from a fishing line and replacing the prior lure and a new potential lure. This tying and untying of lures is both an inconvenient and troublesome procedure that interferes with the enjoyment of fishing.

Clearly, a method to change lures without requiring the untying and retying lures would be of benefit to fisherman.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The above shortcomings of fishing lures is addressed in this disclosure. The fishing lure with changeable disks is adapted for use in fishing. Specifically, the fishing lure with changeable disks is designed to allow a fisherman to change the appearance of a lure without having to the physically untie and retie lures as part of the change process. This is done through the use of an interchangeable disk selected from a plurality of disks. Each interchangeable disk selected from the plurality of disks can be mounted within a lure housing, also known as a mimic. Each interchangeable disk selected from the plurality of disks is designed to give the mimic a different appearance to a game fish. The interchangeable disks selected from the plurality of disks can be substituted for any interchangeable disk remaining within the plurality of disks.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks in detail, it is to be understood that the fishing lure with interchangeable disks is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The fishing lure with changeable disks100(hereinafter invention) comprises a mimic101, a plurality of disks102, one or more hooks103. The invention100is adapted for use in fishing. Specifically, the invention100is designed to allow a fisherman to change the appearance of a fishing lure without having to the physically untie and retie fishing lures as part of the change process. This is done through the use of an individual interchangeable disk121selected from a plurality of disks102. Each individual interchangeable disk121selected from the plurality of disks102can be mounted within the mimic101. Each individual interchangeable disk121selected from the plurality of disks102is designed to give the mimic101a different appearance to a game fish. The individual interchangeable disk121selected from the plurality of disks102can be substituted for any individual interchangeable disk121remaining within the plurality of disks102.

The mimic101is the base structure upon which the invention100is built. The mimic101comprises a hollow housing111, a disk slot112, a first line hole113, a second line hole114, and a pivot bar115. Optionally, the mimic101can further comprise one or more control surfaces116. The hollow housing111is a shell with a hollow interior117that is generally formed in a shape that emulates a bait fish or other bait-like object (hereinafter baitfish). The hollow housing111is formed from a transparent material thereby allowing an individual interchangeable disk121to determine the color and pattern of the invention100during use. By exchanging the individual interchangeable disk121selected from the plurality of disks102, the appearance, including the pattern and color, of the invention100is changed which changes the allure of the invention100to game fish. The hollow interior117of the hollow housing111is accessed through the disk slot112.

As shown most clearly inFIGS. 1 and 4, the disk slot112is a rectangular aperture that is formed in the hollow housing111such that the hollow interior117can receive an individual interchangeable disk121. As shown most clearly inFIG. 1, the pivot bar115is a cylindrical structure that is formed in the hollow interior117by the disk slot112. The purpose of the pivot bar115is to help hold the individual interchangeable disk121in the hollow housing111during use. The operation of the pivot bar115is discussed elsewhere in this disclosure. The first line hole113and the second line holes114are holes formed within the hollow housing111that allow the hollow housing111to be attached to a fishing line131. Specifically, the fishing line131is threaded into the first line hole113, through the hollow interior117and out of the second line hole114. The end of the fishing line131that is threaded out of the second hole is tied to a fishing hook selected from the one or more hooks103. The use of one or more control surfaces116is optional. Each of the one or more control surfaces116is a rudder, flap, or aileron that is used to control the motion of the invention100as it moves through the water. The purpose of the one or more control surfaces116is to: 1) enhance the appearance of the invention100such that the invention100will more closely emulate the bait fish the hollow housing111is intended to emulate; and 2) to control the motion of the invention100when in water. For example, the control surface selected from the one or more control surfaces116that is shown inFIG. 1is designed to bring the invention100to the bottom of a body of water such that the invention100will attract the game fish that prefer such a location.

The location of the disk slot112, the first line hole113, and the second line hole114on the hollow housing111are dependent on the shape of the bait fish the hollow housing111is intended to emulate. The first line hole113and the second line hole114are positioned such that when the invention100is pulled by a fishing line131the motion of the invention100as it appears to the game fish will emulate the bait fish the hollow housing111is intended to emulate. If used, the shape and the location of the one or more control surfaces116on the hollow housing111are dependent on the shape and natural motions of the bait fish the mimic101is intended to emulate.

The plurality of disks102further comprises a collection of individual interchangeable disks121. Each individual interchangeable disk121further comprises a line slot122and a pivot catch123. Each individual interchangeable disk121is further defined with a top edge124. Each of the individual interchangeable disks121is shaped to fit within the hollow interior117of the hollow housing111. Each of the individual interchangeable disks121is decorated with a combination of colors and patterns. When an individual interchangeable disk121this decoration is intended to make the invention100appear to a game fish as a bait fish.

The line slot122is a groove that is formed in each individual interchangeable disk121in the top edge124. Each individual interchangeable disk121is inserted into the hollow interior117such that the line slot122faces out through the disk slot112. As shown most clearly inFIGS. 1 and 3, to insert an individual interchangeable disk121into the hollow housing111the fishing line131is first pulled out of the hollow interior117such that the individual interchangeable disk121is inserted into the hollow interior117such that the fishing line131runs between the individual interchangeable disk121and the disk slot112. The fishing line131is then pulled taut such that the fishing line131runs through the line slot122during use. The theory of operation of the line slot122is a follows: when the invention100is drawn through the water, the drag of the water on and the invention100places a load on the fishing line131. This load places a tension on the fishing line131that pulls the fishing line131taut during use. This tension on the fishing line131is used to hold the individual interchangeable disk121contained within the hollow interior117during use.

As shown most clearly inFIGS. 3 and 5, the pivot catch123is an indentation that is formed in the top edge124of each individual interchangeable disk121. The pivot catch123is shaped, sized and positioned such that when any individual interchangeable disk121is inserted properly into the hollow interior117, the pivot catch123fits around the pivot bar115which further secures the individual interchangeable disk121within the hollow interior117. Methods to attach objects to bars are well known and documented in the mechanical arts.

To use the invention100, the invention100is attached to the fishing line131as described above. The invention100is then used as a normal fishing lure.

In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the mimic101is formed from a transparent molded plastic. Suitable plastics include, but are not limited to, poly(methyl methacrylic) and polycarbonate. Each individual interchangeable disk121is formed from a molded plastic. Suitable plastics include, but are not limited to, poly(methyl methacrylic), polycarbonate, or polyethylene. Each individual interchangeable disk121can be dyed during the molding process, or, can be subsequently processed to form the specific external patterns and shades of the individual interchangeable disk121. Methods to apply patterns and colors to plastic components are well known and documented in the manufacturing arts. Hooks are readily and commercially available. Methods to attach hooks to lures are well known and documented in the fishing arts if more than one hook103is used with the invention100.