Flexible fishing lure

A fishing lure with separable sections for a head, a body extension, a main body, and a tail can be easily assembled and disassembled to provide the flexibility to make different types and lengths of lures. The present invention has provisions for securing various attachments to the head, the body extension, the main body, and the tail. The body extension is a device for changing the length of the lure. Both the head and the body extension have a chamber into which either a rattler or some kind of weight can be inserted. The rattler makes a rattling sound which will attract fish. The weight can keep the lure at a certain depth in the water to imitate a suspended bait fish. At least two of the head, the body extension, the main body, and the tail can be connected by a special securing device to create relative motion between them, thus imitating an injured fish being retrieved from the water. The head or the tail, when used with an attachment such as a plastic worm, can be used alone as a lure known as a jig. The main body can also be used alone as a lure known as a surface popper. Various attachments include treble hooks, weedless hooks, spinner blades, propeller blades, crank bait lips, wobbler blades, plastic skirts, and the like. Using the separable sections of the head, the body extension, the main body, and the tail with various attachments, an angler can assemble at least thirty (30) different combinations of lures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention generally relates to fishing lures and more specifically to 
a lure with the flexibility to make different types and lengths of lures 
using separable parts and various attachments. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
A preliminary patentability search located the following pertinent prior 
art references in Class 43, Subclass 42.09: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 
______________________________________ 
1,477,864 Bolton 12/18/1923 
1,867,458 Keuper 07/12/1932 
2,573,399 Cannon 10/30/1951 
2,883,785 Croft 04/28/1959 
3,009,279 Jacobson 11/21/1961 
3,172,227 Mackey 03/09/1965 
3,359,674 Strumor 12/26/1967 
4,619,067 West 10/28/1986 
5,070,639 Pippert 12/10/1991 
5,182,875 Righetti 02/02/1993 
5,331,762 Banks 07/26/1994 
______________________________________ 
Of all the references cited above, only five previous inventions are 
somewhat similar to the present invention. As it will become apparent in 
the sections to follow, the present invention has more diversity and 
interchangeability than the other cited inventions. 
For example, the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,762 to Banks 
relates to a fishing lure with interchangeable heads. This fishing lure 
does not have a single head with provision for securing various 
attachments. Thus, this arrangement is not convenient for fishermen to 
carry because many combination lures require many different heads. The 
body of the Banks' invention cannot be used by itself as a fishing lure 
due to its extending helical ramp and also cannot have any extension, thus 
further limiting any diversified use of the body. Additionally, there is 
no separable tail section for the Banks' invention to produce a fishing 
lure, such as an injured minnow. Moreover, the lure body of Banks does not 
have any provision for inserting either a rattler to produce a 
fish-attracting sound or some kind of weight to keep the lure at a certain 
water depth to imitate a suspended bait fish. Furthermore, the single 
split ring of Banks is not so easy to use to interchange hooks. 
In the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,867,458 issued to Keuper, 
there is disclosed a fishing lure with detachable body sections that have 
tapered dovetail-shaped tongues and grooves to alter only the length of 
the lure. In Keuper's invention, there is no provision either for securing 
different attachments to make many combinations of lures or for using each 
part of the body as an individual lure, such as either a jig, a surface 
popper, or the like. 
In the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,647 issued to Strumor, 
there is disclosed a fishing lure with adjustable sections. This lure 
provides for inserting weights into cavities in the body sections, but 
these cavities are not suitable for inserting rattlers to produce rattling 
sounds. Although the length of Strumor's invention is adjustable, it does 
not have any provision for securing various attachments to make many 
combinations of lures. Each adjustable body piece of Strumor's invention 
cannot be used as individual lure because of its extended studs, whereas 
the head, the main body, and the tail section of the present invention can 
be used as individual lures. Additionally, Strumor's lure does not provide 
any means for interchanging different kinds of hooks. 
In the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,279 issued to Jacobson, 
there is disclosed a fishing lure with interchangeable mounting means for 
hooks. The mounting mechanism in Jacobson's lure is very complicated 
whereas, in the present invention, interchangeability can be accomplished 
by securing different kinds of hooks to different parts of the lure using 
simply the combination of a threaded eye screw and a split ring. 
In the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,573,399 issued to Cannon, 
there is disclosed a fishing lure with separable head and body portions 
and a hook-mounting strip. However, the hook-mounting strip does not 
provide any interchangeability for using different kinds of hooks. Also, 
the two separable head and body parts are configured for inserting some 
kind of weight, but do not have any provision for securing various 
attachments to make many combinations of lures. Furthermore, the two 
separable head and body parts of Cannon cannot be used as individual lures 
due to the axially extending screw-threaded portion in the head. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
By the present invention, an improved fishing lure is made. Accordingly, 
one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a lure which 
allows for flexibility and diversity in making many combinations of lures 
by using separable sections of a head, a body extension, a main body, a 
tail, and a plurality of separable body extension sections with various 
attachments, such as spinner blades, propeller blades, wobbler blades, 
crank bait lips, treble hooks, and single weedless hooks. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which gives 
an angler the option of using one or more body extensions to vary lure 
lengths. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which 
includes securing devices to ensure that, when connected together, the 
head, body extension, main body, and tail maintain their proper relative 
alignment with one another and prevent any separation from each other. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which gives 
the angler the option of using only the head. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which gives 
the angler the option of using only the tail. 
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which 
gives the angler the option of using the combination of only the main body 
and the tail together. 
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which 
includes devices for securing various attachments to the head, body 
extension, main body, and tail without using any tools. 
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which 
includes devices for securing different types of hooks to the body 
extension, main body, and tail without using any tools. 
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which has 
a chamber in the head and in the body extension for inserting a rattler to 
produce a fish-attracting sound. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which has a 
chamber in the head and in the body extension for inserting some kind of 
weight to keep the lure at a certain depth in the water in order to 
imitate a suspended bait fish. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lure in which at 
least two of the head, the body extension, the main body, and the tail can 
be connected by a special securing device to create relative motion 
between them to imitate an injured fish. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lure in which 
the head, body extension, main body, and tail can be made of wood or 
plastic to give positive buoyancy and can be painted in different 
fish-attracting colors and patterns. 
A final objective of the present invention is to provide a lure which is 
inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended 
purpose of catching fish. 
With these and other objectives which will become more readily apparent, 
the invention includes the combination and arrangement of parts 
hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, the present invention is 
torpedo-shaped to resemble the shape of a fish and to provide the ability 
for the fishing lure to swim in the water. The lure comprises a head 1, a 
body extension 2, a main body 3, and a tail 4. Contacting surfaces 8 
between the head 1 and the body extension 2, between the body extension 2 
and the main body 3, and between the main body 3 and the tail 4, are 
smooth and flat. The surfaces 8 together with securing devices described 
below provide positive contact between different sections of the lure. 
Outside diameters at the large end of the head 1, at both ends of the body 
extension 2, and at the large end of the main body 3, are exactly the 
same. The purpose for having the same outside diameter is to allow for 
matching interchangeability between the head 1, the body extension 2, and 
the main body 3. Also, there is better alignment of the different 
contacting surfaces 8 of the head 1, the body extension 2, and the main 
body 3, particularly between the contacting surfaces 8 of the head 1 and 
the main body 3 either when the body extension 2 is not used or when more 
than one body extension 2 is used. The head 1 is bullet-shaped to resemble 
a fish head and forms a front part of the torpedo-shaped lure. The back 
end of the head 1 is larger than the front end. The head 1 has painted 
eyes 5. Small diameter threaded holes 6 are provided at the front end and 
the back end of the head 1. A first threaded insert 10 is permanently 
embedded into hole 6 at the front end and at the back end of the head 1. A 
threaded connecting pin 7 can be turned into a second threaded insert 10 
at the back end of the head 1 for the purpose of connecting the head 1 
either to the large front end of the body extension 2 or to the large 
front end of the main body 3. At a lower underside of the head 1, another 
small threaded hole 15 is provided. A third threaded insert 10 is 
permanently embedded into the hole 15 for the purpose of securing an 
attachment thereto. A nonthreaded hole 9 is provided in the back ends of 
the head 1 and the body extension 2. The hole 9 serves as a chamber into 
which a rattler 25 is inserted to make a fish-attracting sound when the 
lure is being retrieved from the water. Alternatively, a weight can be 
inserted into the hole 9 to keep the lure at a certain depth to imitate a 
suspended bait fish. The body extension 2 is cylindrical in shape with the 
outside diameter at the front end and the back end being the same. This 
outside diameter is the same as the diameter at the back end of the head 1 
and at the front end of the main body 3. The purposes for using the same 
outside diameter are twofold: first, to maintain the torpedo shape of the 
lure; and second, to provide proper alignment when any two of the head 1, 
the body extension 2, and the main body 3 are connected together. Threaded 
holes 6 are provided at the front end and at the back end of the body 
extension 2. Threaded inserts 10 are permanently embedded into these holes 
6. The threaded hole 6 at the front end of the body extension 2 is used to 
connect with the head 1 via the threaded connecting pin 7. The threaded 
hole 6 at the back end of the body extension 2 is used to connect with the 
main body 3 via another threaded connecting pin 7. The lure can be made 
longer when the body extension 2 is connected between the head 1 and the 
main body 3. Multiple body extensions 2 can be used for the same purpose. 
The body extension 2 has another threaded hole 15 on its underside. A 
fourth threaded insert is permanently embedded in the threaded hole 15. If 
two body extensions 2 are used, the back end of the first extension mates 
with the front end of the second extension. The main body 3 is connected 
with the body extension 2 at its front end and is connected with the tail 
4 at its back end. The large end and the small end of the main body 3 
taper towards each other to form another part of the torpedo-shaped lure. 
At the large end of the main body 3, a slightly concave hole 13 is 
provided to make a popping action in the water when the main body 3 alone 
is used as a surface popper. At the front center of the main body 3, 
another threaded hole 6 is provided. A fifth threaded insert 10 is 
permanently embedded into this hole 6 for the purpose of connecting either 
the head 1 or the body extension 2 with the main body 3 via the threaded 
connecting pin 7. Another threaded hole 6 is provided at the back end of 
the main body 3. A sixth threaded insert 10 is permanently embedded into 
this hole 6 for the purpose of connecting the main body 3 with the tail 4 
via another threaded connecting pin 7. Another threaded hole 15 is 
provided at the lower center belly of the main body 3. A seventh threaded 
insert 10 is permanently embedded to this hole 15 for the purpose of 
connecting various attachments to the main body 3. The tail 4 has a large 
front end and a small back end. The purpose of the large end and the small 
end is to resemble a fish tail and to form the rear part of the 
torpedo-shaped lure. The large front end of the tail 4 has the same 
outside diameter as the back end of the main body 3. Again, the purpose 
for using the same outside diameter is to ensure that the main body 3 and 
the tail 4 are properly matched when connected together. The front end of 
the tail 4 mates with the back end of the main body 3 when they are 
connected together via the threaded connecting pin 7. At the front end of 
the tail 4, a threaded hole 6 is provided. The hole 6 at the front end is 
used to secure the tail 4 with the main body 3 via the threaded connecting 
pin 7. Another threaded hole 15 is provided at the back end of the tail 4. 
Another threaded insert 10 is permanently embedded into the hole 15 for 
the purpose of connecting a trailing attachment thereto. 
In FIG. 2, the lure is illustrated in an exploded side elevational view in 
which the head 1, the body extension 2, the main body 3, and the tail 4 
are aligned along a central longitudinal axis passing through the 
connecting pins 7. At the front end of the head 1, a first threaded eye 
screw 11 is attached for the purpose of tying a fish line thereto. At a 
lower underside of the head 1, crank bait lips 18 are attached thereto by 
a second threaded eye screw 11. At undersides of the body extension 2 and 
the main body 31 threaded eye screw pieces 12 are used to attach treble 
hooks 19 thereto. Also, at the rear of the tail 4, another threaded eye 
screw piece 12 is used to attach a single weedless hook 20 thereto. 
In FIG. 3, the head 1 is shown in a perspective view with the eye 5 painted 
thereon. Threaded holes 6 are shown at the front end and at the back end 
of the head 1. The connecting pin 7 is inserted into the threaded hole 6 
illustrated in phantom lines in the back end of the head 1. Another 
threaded hole 15 is shown in the lower underside of the head 1. 
In FIG. 4, the body extension 2 is shown in a perspective view with 
threaded holes 6 in the front end and in the back end thereof. The 
connecting pin 7 is inserted into the hole 6 shown in phantom lines at the 
back end. Another threaded hole 15 is shown in the underbelly of the body 
extension 2. 
In FIG. 5, the main body 4 is seen in a perspective view with threaded 
holes 6 in the front end and in the back end thereof. The connecting pin 7 
is inserted into the hole 6 seen in phantom lines in the back end. The 
concave hole 13 is illustrated in the front end of the main body 3. Also, 
another threaded hole 15 is shown in the lower center belly of the main 
body 3. 
In FIG. 6, the tail 4 is shown in a perspective view with the threaded hole 
6 at its large end and with another threaded hole 15 shown in phantom 
lines at its rear end. 
In FIG. 7, the threaded eye screw piece 12 is shown to include the threaded 
eye screw 11 and a split ring 26. 
In FIG. 8, threaded holes 6 and 15 are shown to be identical with the 
threaded insert 10 ready to be turned therein. The threaded insert 10 has 
internal threads 16 and external threads 17. The external threads 17 on 
the insert 10 ensure that the insert 10 is permanently embedded into the 
holes 6 or 15. 
In FIG. 9, a double-jointed connecting eye screw 14 is shown secured at 
both ends into holes 6 located at the back end of the main body 3 and at 
the front end of the tail 4 to provide relative motion therebetween to 
imitate an injured fish being retrieved from the water. 
Although not shown in either FIG. 9 or any of the other drawings, the 
double-jointed connecting eye screw 14 may also be secured at both ends 
into at least two facing holes 6 located at the back end of the head 1 
shown in FIG. 3, the front end and the back end of the body extension 
shown in FIG. 4, and the front end of the main body 3 shown in FIG. 5 to 
provide relative motion therebetween to imitate an injured fish. 
FIG. 10 to 19 show ten different combinations of lures that the present 
invention can make. 
In FIG. 10, a stick bait is shown with a head 1, a main body 3, and a tail 
4. At the front of the head 1, the threaded eye screw 11 is secured for 
attaching a fishing line thereto. At the lower center belly of the main 
body 3, the threaded eye screw piece 12 is secured and has attached 
thereto the treble hook 19. At the rear end of the tail 4, another 
threaded eye screw piece 12 is secured with another treble hook 19 
trailing therebehind. 
FIG. 11 shows the same combination as FIG. 10 except that crank bait lips 
18 are secured by a second threaded eye screw 11 to the front underside of 
the head 1. 
FIG. 12 shows a surface popper formed by the main body 3 and the tail 4. At 
the front end of the main body 3, the threaded eye screw 11 protrudes from 
the concave hole 13. At the rear end of the tail 4, the weedless hook 20 
is secured thereto by the threaded eye screw piece 12. 
FIG. 13 shows a lure that resembles an injured fish with the head 1, the 
main body 3, and the tail 4. This lure is identical to the lure 
illustrated in FIG. 11 except for the substitution of the flexible 
double-jointed connecting eye screw 14 in FIG. 13 in place of the rigid 
connecting pin 7, not shown in FIG. 11 but shown in FIG. 2. 
FIG. 14 shows another lure identical to the lure shown in FIG. 11, except 
for two differences: first, the main body 3 in FIG. 14 does not have any 
treble hook 19 secured by the eye screw piece 12 of FIG. 11; and second, 
the weedless hook 20 at the rear end of the tail 4 in FIG. 14 is 
substituted for the treble hook 19 of FIG. 11. 
FIG. 15 shows a lure with the head 1, the main body 3, and the tail 4. At 
the front of the head 1, the eye screw 11 secures a spinner blade 21 from 
a blade-connecting wire 25. At the rear end of the tail 4, the threaded 
eye screw piece 12 secures a propeller blade 22 thereto and the single 
hook 20 trails therebehind with a plastic skirt 27 attached thereto. 
In FIG. 16, there is shown a lure identical to the lure shown in FIG. 11, 
except that a wobbler blade 23 in FIG. 16 is substituted for the crank 
bait lips 18 in FIG. 11. 
FIG. 17 shows a surface popper identical to the popper shown in FIG. 12 
except in two respects. First, the popper in FIG. 17 has the treble hook 
19 in place of the single weedless hook 20 in FIG. 12. Second, the popper 
in FIG. 17 has another treble hook 19 attached by the eye screw piece 12 
to the underbelly of the main body 3 whereas the popper in FIG. 12 does 
not have such an additional attachment. 
FIG. 18 shows a flexible surface popper identical to the popper shown in 
FIG. 17, except for the substitution of the double-jointed connecting eye 
screw 14 in FIG. 18 in place of the rigid connecting pin 7, not shown in 
FIG. 17 but shown in FIG. 2. 
FIG. 19 shows a lure known as a jig in which the head 1 has the eye screw 
11 at its front end and the threaded eye screw piece 12 at its back end 
has attached thereto a plastic worm 24 to trail and to wiggle therebehind. 
The plastic worm 24 in FIG. 19 can also be attached to the large end of 
the tail 4 to serve as the same type of lure. 
All the attachments, such as the spinner blade 21 shown in FIG. 15, the 
wobbler blade 23 shown in FIG. 16, the crank bait lips 18 shown in FIG. 
11, the propeller blade 22 shown in FIG. 15, the weedless single hook 20 
shown in FIG. 12, the treble hooks 19 shown in FIG. 10, and the plastic 
worm 24 shown in FIG. 19, can be attached to either the head 1, the body 
extension 2, the main body 3, or the tail 4 by using the threaded eye 
screw piece 12 which includes the threaded eye screw 11 and the split ring 
26 shown in FIG. 7. The spinner blade 21 can be attached to either the 
front end of the head 1 or the front end of the main body 3. The propeller 
blade 22 can be attached to either the front end of the head 1 or the back 
end of the tail 4. The wobbler blade 23 and the crank bait lips 18 are 
always attached to the front underside of the head 1. The eye screw 11 of 
the threaded eye screw piece 12 mates with the internal threads 16 of the 
threaded insert 10 which is permanently embedded into the holes 6 or 15 in 
either the head 1, the body extension 2, the main body 3, or the tail 4. 
The attachment of either the treble hook 19 or the single hook 20 is 
secured to the threaded eye screw piece 12 by using the split ring 26 
shown in FIG. 7. The threaded eye screw piece 12 allows an easy and quick 
change of any attachment and really makes all of the various attachments 
interchangeable. 
The head 1 including the eyes 5, the body extension 2, the main body 3, and 
the tail 4 can be painted in different colors and patterns to attract 
fish. 
By using the various attachments to the head 1, the body extension 2, the 
main body 3, and the tail 4, at least thirty (30) different combinations 
of lures can be obtained. This interchangeable feature means that anglers 
can make their own lures for different fishing conditions, such as water 
clarity, depth, temperature, climatic season, and size of the fish species 
being sought. 
The head, the body extension, the main body, the tail, and all attachments 
can fit into a small tackle box. Thus, this lure can help eliminate the 
trouble of carrying many different types of lures for fishing at different 
conditions. 
It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments 
within the scope of the following claims.