Elastomeric cover for the weighted head of a jig-type fishing lure

A head cover for a jig fishing lure or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure is disclosed which can prevent a fish from directly contacting the hard, weighted jig head of the fishing lure. The head cover can be permanently attached to the fishing lure or it can be a separate removable member. The head cover can combine a soft, elastomeric membrane along with one or more fish-attracting elements. The head cover can also include a flat surface to orient the jig fishing lure at a different angle when resting on the bottom underwater surface.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

This disclosure generally relates to artificial fishing lures. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a a soft, elastomeric head cover for a jig fishing lure or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure.

A jig fishing lure (also referred to as a “jig”) is a common type of fishing lure and is typically constructed by partially embedding a hook shank into a metal weight. This metal weight is also known as the jig head, and it is usually made from a dense metal such as lead, steel, brass, or tungsten. The jig hook is comprised of a hook eyelet, a hook shank, a hook barb, and a hook point. A jig barb or wire mount is commonly used to help retain a soft elastomeric lure body that is either slid forward along the hook shank and onto the jig barb or is attached to the wire mount which protrudes from the jig head. The jig can also be made “weedless” by the addition of a hook guard feature, which can protrude from the jig head of the jig fishing lure and protect the hook point. The fishing line knot connects one end of the fishing line to the hook eyelet. The other end of the fishing line is attached to a rod and reel, which the angler uses to cast, flip, or pitch the jig fishing lure into a body of water. After the heavy jig head causes the jig to sink to the bottom or to a depth chosen by the angler, the angler then uses the rod to intermittently lift and twitch the lure while reeling in any slack fishing line in hopes of attracting a fish.

A combination jig and rotating member fishing lure contains some or all of the same elements as the aforementioned jig fishing lure, but with the addition of at least one spinning element or vaned element. Examples of fishing lures that fall into this category are spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, propeller baits, and the like. A combination jig and rotating member fishing lure is typically retrieved at a much faster speed than a jig fishing lure, because the retrieve speed must be fast enough to cause rotation of the spinner, vane, blade, or propeller in order for the lure to emit the desired sound and/or vibration.

The preferred embodiments of this disclosure have several advantages over related art. One drawback of common jig fishing lures is that while the body of the jig is typically created by sliding a soft elastomeric body along the hook shank and onto the jig barb, the head of the jig remains exposed as a hard metal surface, and this hard metal surface does not have the same feeling as a fish's natural prey. A variation of the soft body described above is an elastomeric tube-shaped sleeve body that surrounds both the jig head and hook shank and sometimes also extends beyond the bend of the hook. In either case, however, an advantage of this disclosure is that a separate head cover can provide an angler with the ability to interchange a soft body and a head cover independently of each other in order to achieve a more desired lure appearance.

Lures with entirely interchangeable heads exist wherein the various heads are meant to change the action or movement of the lure in the water. However, if such a removable lure head is not attached, then the desired action or movement of the lure can be lost. As a result, there exists the need for the jig head of a jig fishing lure to remain attached for proper lure action and for the jig head also to be covered with a soft membrane in order to make it feel more lifelike to a fish.

Research has shown that due to their extreme sensitivity to touch and pressure, some fish can distinguish between a hard object and a soft object in a fraction of a second, and that the average retention times for soft lures are far greater than the average retention times for hard lures. Additionally, when water temperatures drop during the winter season, an angler retrieves a fishing lure more slowly in order to tempt a less-aggressive fish. During these months, a softer feeling head cover becomes even more advantageous, because sluggish and lethargic fish often take longer to feel and evaluate the hardness and texture of a lure. Thus, just as the body of the jig is made soft by adding a soft trailer, there is a need to make the head of the jig also soft by adding a soft head cover. The greater the amount of the lure surface area that is soft, the more lifelike the overall tactile experience will be to a fish. This will increase the fish's retention time of the lure and increase the angler's time window for hooking the fish.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The soft, elastomeric membrane of the head cover envelops the jig head of the jig fishing lure, and the head cover allows for separate soft bodies or soft trailers to be attached to the jig hook shank, jig barb, and/or wire mount. The soft membrane of the head cover can be permanently molded around or attached to the metal jig head, or the soft membrane can be a separate removable member that the angler can assemble. If the soft membrane is removable, then the soft membrane can include at least one aperture for stretching and fitting the soft membrane over the jig head. The fishing line can either threaded through a second small aperture at the front nose area of the soft membrane, or the soft membrane can be slightly cut to allow passage of the fishing line. In either case, the fishing line can then be tied to the hook eyelet. The elasticity of the soft membrane can provide the retention force necessary to keep the head cover attached to the jig head. Also, the exiting fishing line can act to help stabilize and orient the head cover onto the weighted jig head. Additional fish-attracting elements can be attached to the soft membrane, thus making the overall head cover even more lifelike. One or more of these fish-attracting elements can be moved independently of the jig head and jig body by twitching or jiggling the fishing line. The soft membrane can also include a substantially flat side, which can help orient a jig fishing lure at a different angle when resting on a bottom underwater surface. One or more preferred embodiments can be removable without having to break and re-tie the fishing line knot. Furthermore, these removable preferred embodiments can also be compatible with combination jig and rotating member fishing lures.

Objects and advantages of this head cover are as follows:1. The jig fishing lure head cover or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure head cover provides a softer feeling membrane over the jig head instead of a normally hard metal jig head surface, making the tactile feedback of the soft-covered jig head more pleasing and more palatable to a fish.2. The jig fishing lure head cover or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure head cover can be permanently attached to the jig head of the lure, which would allow the angler to purchase a lure with the soft head cover already in place.3. The jig fishing lure head cover or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure head cover can be easily removable and interchangeable without having to also change the soft body member or trailer body member of the lure.4. The jig fishing lure head cover or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure head cover can be removed or added and not significantly affect the overall buoyancy, action, or movement of the original lure.5. The jig fishing lure head cover or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure head cover can easily be sized and manufactured to fit pre-existing lures or lures that an angler has already purchased.6. In one or more of the removable head cover preferred embodiments, the jig fishing lure head cover or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure head cover can be attached or removed without having to break and re-tie the fishing line knot on the hook eyelet.7. The jig fishing lure head cover or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure head cover can contain additional fish-attracting elements to further entice a fish to strike the lure.8. The jig fishing lure head cover can contain additional features that act as a hook guard to help avoid snagging the hook point of the lure on underwater objects.9. The jig fishing lure head cover can orient or position the jig fishing lure at a different angle when the jig fishing lure is resting on a bottom underwater surface.10. The jig fishing lure head cover can protect the fishing line knot from being frayed or cut due to contact with underwater objects.11. One or more fish-attracting elements of the jig fishing lure head cover can be made to move independently of the jig fishing lure by twitching or jiggling the fishing line.

These and other objects and advantages will become readily apparent upon review of the following specification and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments, as illustrated inFIGS. 2-15, describe a head cover20that envelops a weighted jig head22of a jig fishing lure24or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure26. The head cover20can be permanently joined to the jig head22or it can be a separate removable member. The head cover20shown inFIGS. 2-15provides a means for an angler to substantially cover the jig head22with an elastomeric membrane28.

FIG. 1illustrates the primary components of a common jig fishing lure24. The jig head22is typically made from a dense material. A jig collar30with jig barb32or other means for securing a soft body member34to the jig fishing lure24can be integrated with or separately attached to the jig head22. A hook36is partially embedded in the jig head22, and the hook36consists of a hook eyelet38, a hook shank40, a hook barb42, and a hook point44. Fishing line46is then attached to the jig fishing lure24by tying a fishing line knot48to the hook eyelet38. It should be understood here that the hook eyelet38is considered a first protruding member of the jig head22and that the hook shank40is considered a second protruding member of the jig head22.

FIGS. 2A and 2Bshow a preferred embodiment wherein the soft membrane28is permanently bonded to an outer surface50of the jig head22. Such a permanent bond could be obtained by molding an elastomer cover directly onto the jig head22itself through a process such as rubber overmolding, two-shot injection molding, dip molding, pouring, or similar. This would allow the lure to be sold with the soft membrane28already enveloping the jig head22. In this preferred embodiment, the soft membrane28would not be removable by an angler.

As shown inFIG. 3, the soft membrane28is not permanently bonded to the outer surface50of the jig head22; thus, an angler could attach and detach the soft membrane28as desired. The soft membrane28also covers the hook eyelet38and fishing line knot48, thus creating a small cavity52inside the soft membrane28between the outer surface50of the jig head22and an inner surface54of the soft membrane28. In this same preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the soft membrane28also acts to protect the fishing line knot48from nicks, scrapes, and cuts. The angler can cut a small slit in the front of the soft membrane28for threading the fishing line46through in order to tie the fishing line knot48onto the hook eyelet38.

InFIG. 4A, a first aperture56is shown that is large enough to allow the soft membrane28to stretch and fit over the jig head22. An example of a first fish-attracting element58is shown inFIG. 4Aas well. Again, making the soft membrane28removable allows anglers to add or remove the entire head cover20as desired. Also shown inFIG. 4A, the soft membrane28can contain a second aperture60that allows the fishing line46to pass through the front of the soft membrane28in order to tie the fishing line knot48to the hook eyelet38. Such a second aperture60would prevent the angler from having to cut a slit in the soft membrane28in order to insert the fishing line46and tie the fishing line knot48.

The exploded views ofFIG. 4BandFIG. 4Cshow the general components of a jig fishing lure24likeFIG. 1, but with the third preferred embodiment of the head cover20included. In these views, the first aperture56and second aperture60of the head cover20are clearly visible.

The enlarged cross sectional view ofFIG. 4Dshows the third preferred embodiment in greater detail. One can see that the size of the second aperture60is small enough to still protect the fishing line knot48from nicks, scrapes, and cuts.

As shown inFIG. 5, the second aperture60can be larger and surround the hook eyelet38rather than cover the hook eyelet38. A primary advantage of this preferred embodiment is that a new fishing line knot48can be tied without having to remove the head cover20in order to access the hook eyelet38.

As shown inFIG. 6, the wall thickness of the soft membrane28of the head cover20is not constant. One or more grooved cuts62are added to the inner surface54of the soft membrane28. Such recesses or indentations allow for further improvements in softness without having to increase the wall thickness of the soft membrane28. In addition to the grooved cuts62, other recess shapes and patterns can be used such as slots, dimples, rings, and the like.

As shown inFIG. 7A, a third aperture64can be added to surround an additional protruding member66of the jig head22. An example of this additional protruding member66that is sometimes included in a jig fishing lure24is a weed guard, a coil wire soft body mount, a barbed wire soft body mount, and the like. InFIG. 7A, the additional protruding member66is represented by a weed guard. InFIG. 7B, the additional protruding member66is represented by a coil wire soft body mount. Note that inFIG. 7B, the jig fishing lure24does not include a jig collar30and jig barb32, because the coil wire soft body mount provides the retention force necessary to secure a soft elastomeric body such as a grub, worm, lizard, and the like.

A variation of the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 7Ais shown inFIG. 8. InFIG. 8, the size and location of the first aperture56is positioned such that the first aperture56surrounds both the hook shank40and the additional protruding member66. This eliminates the need for the third aperture64as described inFIG. 7A.

FIG. 9is also a variation of the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 7A. InFIG. 9, the size and location of the first aperture56are selected such that the first aperture56surrounds both the additional protruding member66and hook eyelet38. The preferred embodiment ofFIG. 9also eliminates the need for the third aperture64ofFIG. 7A. Note that in the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 9, the head cover20can be removed and reattached without having to re-tie a new fishing line knot48. However, this would not be practical inFIG. 9, since, to remove the head cover20without re-tying the fishing line knot48, the head cover20must be slid around the soft body member34and down the entire length of the hook36. A much easier way to remove and reattach a head cover20without re-tying the fishing line knot48is shown by the preferred embodiment inFIGS. 10A and 10B.

Some jig lures have the hook eyelet38exiting closer towards the top of the jig head22, in which case the first aperture56of the head cover20can surround both the hook eyelet38and hook shank40, as shown inFIG. 10A. This preferred embodiment of the head cover20, shown again inFIG. 10B, also eliminates the need for the third aperture64ofFIG. 7A. Furthermore, likeFIG. 9, the preferred embodiment ofFIGS. 10A and 10Ballows for removal and reattachment of the head cover20without having to re-tie the fishing line knot48. Note that compared toFIG. 9, removing the head cover20ofFIG. 10Bwithout having to re-tie the fishing line knot48is much easier since the first aperture56can also extend to surround the hook eyelet38. This allows the angler to remove the head cover20by simply pulling forward on the head cover20until it slides off of the jig head22.

FIG. 10Cfurther illustrates how a continuous edge82of the shaped aperture56simultaneously surrounds both the hook shank entrance78into and hook shank exit80from the weighted jig head22. The continuous edge82of the shaped aperture56is defined by a generally circular portion84and a generally slotted portion86extending therefrom which simultaneously circumscribes both the hook shank entrance78, with the slotted portion86of the aperture, into the weighted jig head22near the hook eyelet38and the hook shank exit80, with the circular portion84of the aperture, from the weighted jig head22near the beginning of the generally long portion of the hook shank40. It should be noted that the hook shank entrance78into the weighted jig head22is adjacent to the hook eyelet38, while the hook shank exit80from the jig head22is adjacent to the generally long portion of the hook shank40. The generally long portion of the hook shank40, hook barb42, and hook point44of the pre-existing jig fishing lure24all desirably remain exposed after attachment of the head cover20.

As shown inFIG. 11A, the fishing line46passes through a second fish-attracting element68at a predetermined distance in front of the jig head22. When the fishing line46is twitched or jiggled, the second fish-attracting element68can flutter. This allows for movement of the second fish-attracting element68without moving the jig head22of the jig fishing lure24. This independent movement of one or more additional fish-attracting elements can further entice a fish to strike. Note that in the cross sectional view shown inFIG. 11B, the fishing line46is threaded through a pair of apertures70contained within the second fish-attracting element68of the head cover20. This pair of apertures70is just one example of a means for creating contact between one or more fish-attracting elements and the fishing line46.

As shown inFIG. 12, the head cover20of any preferred embodiment can comprise one or more fish-attracting features and elements such as, but not restricted to, an eye, a mouth, antennae, tentacles, pinchers, and the like in order to cause the jig fishing lure24to more accurately mimic the natural prey of a fish.

If the weed guard is not present on the jig fishing lure24, then an alternate protector of the hook point44can be made from an extension member72of the soft membrane28, together forming the head cover20, as shown inFIGS. 13A and 13B. The hook point44is inserted into the extension member72such that the extension member72is secured in place by the hook barb42. This extension member72protects the hook point44and helps prevent the jig fishing lure24from being snagged on underwater objects. It should be understood that this extension member72can also serve as an additional fish-attracting element. It should also be noted that the head cover20inFIGS. 13A and 13Bcan be made, if desired, to be removable without having to re-tie the fishing line knot48, similar to the preferred embodiment of the head cover20shown inFIG. 10B. In fact, one can see that making any preferred embodiment easily removable can be accomplished by extending the first aperture56such that it also surrounds the hook eyelet38.

The exterior shape of the soft membrane28does not necessarily have to conform to the shape of the jig head22. As shown inFIG. 14, the head cover20has a substantially flat surface74on one side. This substantially flat surface74can help the jig fishing lure24stand upright or achieve any other desired orientation when the jig fishing lure24is resting on an underwater surface.

As shown inFIG. 15, the removable jig head cover20can be attached to the weighted jig head22of a combination jig and rotating member fishing lure26, such as a spinnerbait or buzzbait. Because the first aperture56surrounds the locations where the wire frame88enters the weighted jig head22and hook36exits the weighted jig head22, the head cover20can be easily interchangeable. Thus, the shape of the first aperture56in the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 15is similar to the shape of the first aperture56in the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 10B. The rotating member76can be a spinner, vane, blade, propeller, or similar. It should be noted that the jig head cover20for such a combination jig and rotating member fishing lure26could also be permanently attached, similar to the preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

The soft membrane28of the head cover20can be made from a soft elastomeric material that is commonly used in making artificial fishing lures. However, it should be recognized that some or all of the head cover20can be made from one or a combination of the following materials: open cell foam, closed cell foam, leather, felt, fabric, heat shrink tubing material, natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic vulcanizate, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic olefin, a thermoplastic polymer, plastisol, and the like. Multiple durometers of a given material can also be combined to make the head cover20. Also, one advantage of using an absorbable material for the soft membrane28such as open cell foam is that chemical fish attractants can be applied to the absorbable material, providing a means for the chemical attractants to slowly disperse in the water surrounding the lure.

Many features can be considered fish-attracting elements, such as any exterior anatomical feature found on worms, grubs, baitfish, insects, crayfish, lizards, salamanders, snakes, frogs, crabs, eels, shrimp, squid, and other natural prey of a fish. In addition, the head cover20can be made of different colors and can include plastic or metallic reflective elements, an embedded rattle, a rattle attachment, and the like.

Again, the head cover20consists of an elastomeric membrane28which can also include one or more apertures to assist with assembly, one or more fish-attracting elements to entice a fish, one or more extension members72to protect the hook point44, and any other feature to make the head cover20or fishing lure look and feel more appealing to a fish. In all of the preferred embodiments of the head cover20, it should be emphasized that the soft membrane28and soft body member34remain separate from each other. The soft body member34, such as skirt, sleeve, tube, grub, worm, lizard, crayfish, and the like, can be attached and replaced independently of the head cover20. Also, it should be understood that the jig collar30and jig barb32can be replaced by a different type of mount for the soft body member34, such as a coil wire soft body mount, a barbed wire soft body mount, and the like. It should also be readily apparent that further means to help anchor the head cover20to the jig head22can include having additional protrusions extend from the jig head22and pass through additional apertures in the head cover20.

The shape and texture of the soft membrane28can also vary. While the soft membrane28can conform to the same shape as the jig head22or the soft membrane28can also include a substantially flat surface74, it can also be concave, convex, or any other shape. These surfaces can help achieve a desirably different behavior and/or orientation of the jig fishing lure24or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure26. It is also readily apparent that the exterior surface of the soft membrane28can be engraved with any texture or pattern so as to create a desirably different tactile feeling as compared to a smooth exterior surface. In addition, it is possible for the soft membrane28to be modular in construction or made of more than one member or section.

It should also be understood that one or more preferred embodiments of the head cover can be added to any pre-existing jig fishing lure24or combination jig and rotating member fishing lure26simply by attaching the head cover20. In other words, an angler would not need to throw away any existing lures that he or she already owns in order to be able to use one or more of the preferred embodiments.

While certain preferred embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such preferred embodiments are merely illustrative of, and not restrictive on, the broad invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that this invention shall not be limited to the preferred embodiments shown and described, as various modifications or changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the preferred embodiments as claimed. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.