MAGNETIC WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR A FISHING LURE

A weight distribution system for a fishing lure with front and rear ends includes a cavity within the fishing lure having a long axis parallel to a long axis of the fishing lure; a movable weight freely movable within and along the long axis of the cavity; a weight magnet associated with the movable weight and having a positive pole and a negative pole; a rear magnet mounted adjacent to a rear end of the cavity and having a positive pole and a negative pole; and wherein the rear magnet and the weight magnet are arranged such that their respective like poles face one another to exert a repulsive force biasing the movable weight away from the rear magnet and the rear end of the fishing lure. A fishing lure including the weight distribution system is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to fishing lures and, more particularly, to an improved magnetic weight distribution system for fishing lures.

BACKGROUND

Movable weight systems are used in lures in an effort to provide for both better casting and water movement. Weight transfer provides improved performance of the lure during casting and during retrieval. During casting, having the weight, and as a result the center of gravity, biased toward the rear of the lure helps minimize tumbling of the lure, which allows for longer and more accurate casting. During retrieval, having the weight biased toward the middle or front of the lure produces a more desirable movement pattern for the lure while in water. Examples of systems used to produce weight movement include springs and single magnet systems. Known single magnet systems use only a front magnet configured to exert an attraction force on the weight(s) within the lure.

Each of these systems suffers from inherent weaknesses. Spring based systems are limited by the inevitable wear that occurs with a mechanical system. The spring force in the system can change over time as the spring wears, which may alter the weight movement in an undesirable manner. Further, spring systems are more susceptible to breakage. Current magnetic systems are inconsistent due to the limited forces that can be applied to the movable weight, and they tend to underperform in strong weather conditions or with lures or fishing conditions that require aggressive movement of the lure.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a weight distribution system that is more robust and provides for more consistent and accurate weight movement in a variety of conditions and fishing techniques.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a weight distribution system for a fishing lure having a front end and a rear end and a lure long axis between the front end and the rear end that includes a cavity defined within the fishing lure and having a cavity long axis oriented parallel to the lure long axis; a movable weight freely movable within the cavity and along the cavity long axis; a weight magnet associated with the movable weight and having a positive pole and a negative pole; a rear magnet fixedly mounted at a rear end of the cavity and having a positive pole and a negative pole; and wherein the rear magnet and the weight magnet are arranged such that their respective like poles face one another to exert a repulsive force biasing the movable weight away from the rear magnet and the rear end of the cavity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight distribution system includes a front magnet fixedly mounted at a front end of the cavity and having a positive pole and a negative pole and wherein the front magnet and the weight magnet are arranged such that their respective unlike poles face one another to exert an attraction force biasing the movable weight toward the front magnet and the front end of the cavity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight magnet and movable weight are distinct pieces and the weight magnet is secured at a rear end of the movable weight facing the rear magnet.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the movable weight is composed of a ferromagnetic material and is magnetized by the weight magnet with a polarity orientation identical to a polarity orientation of the weight magnet.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight distribution system includes a front magnet fixedly mounted at a front end of the cavity and having a positive pole and a negative pole, wherein the front magnet and the weight magnet are configured with their respective unlike poles facing one another; wherein the movable weight is composed of a non-ferromagnetic material; a piece of ferromagnetic material secured to a front end of the movable weight facing the front magnet; and wherein the piece of ferromagnetic material is magnetized by the weight magnet with the same polarity orientation as the weight magnet.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the movable weight is composed of a ferromagnetic material and the weight magnet is integral with the movable weight.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight distribution system includes a shaft mounted within the cavity and oriented parallel to the cavity long axis and wherein the movable weight is slidably mounted on the shaft and configured to slide along the shaft.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the movable weight has an axial channel and a shaft passes through the axial channel.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the movable weight has a first cross-sectional shape and the cavity has a second cross-sectional shape and the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape are the same. The first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape may be ellipses.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the movable weight is a cylinder.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight distribution system includes a front magnet fixedly mounted at a front end of the cavity and having a positive pole and a negative pole; wherein the front magnet and the weight magnet are configured with their respective unlike poles facing one another; wherein the movable weight is composed of a non-ferromagnetic material; a piece of ferromagnetic material secured to a front end of the movable weight facing the front magnet; and wherein the piece of ferromagnetic material is magnetized by the weight magnet with the same polarity orientation as the weight magnet.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a fishing lure includes a weight distribution system including a cavity defined within the fishing lure and having a cavity long axis oriented parallel to the lure long axis; a movable weight freely movable within the cavity and along the cavity long axis; a weight magnet associated with the weight and having a positive pole and a negative pole; a rear magnet fixedly mounted at a rear end of the cavity and having a positive pole and a negative pole; and wherein the rear magnet and the weight magnet are arranged such that their respective like poles face one another to exert a repulsive force biasing the movable weight away from the rear magnet and the rear end of the cavity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the fishing lure includes a front magnet fixedly mounted adjacent to a front end of the cavity and having a positive pole and a negative pole and wherein the front magnet and the weight magnet are arranged such that their respective unlike poles face one another to exert an attraction force biasing the movable weight toward the front magnet and the front end of the cavity.

These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present disclosure and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. The following definitions and non-limiting guidelines must be considered in reviewing the description of the technology set forth herein.

The citation of references herein does not constitute an admission that those references are prior art or have any relevance to the patentability of the technology disclosed herein. All references cited in the “Detailed Description” section of this specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the technology, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the technology. Moreover, recitation of multiple embodiments having stated features is not intended to exclude other embodiments having additional features, or other embodiments incorporating different combinations of the stated features. Specific examples are provided for illustrative purposes of how to make and use the apparatus and systems of this technology and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are not intended to be a representation that given embodiments of this technology have, or have not, been made or tested.

“A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. “About” when applied to values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters. In addition, disclosure of ranges includes disclosure of all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range.

FIGS.1-3illustrate embodiments of a magnetic weight distribution system30for a lure10according to the present disclosure. The lure10includes a body20having a cavity22therein. The cavity22contains the magnetic weight distribution system30that includes a movable weight34configured to slide relatively freely within the cavity22between the front and rear of the cavity22. The movable weight34may be steel, tungsten, brass, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the movable weight34may comprise a cylinder shaped piece having a cross-sectional shape of an ellipses, for example, an oval or circular cross-sectional shape. However, the movable weight34may be provided in any cross-sectional shape that allows for free movement along the length of the cavity22, but preferably, although not exclusively, having a cross-sectional shape of the cavity22to minimize movement of the movable weight34in a direction other than along or parallel to the axis of the cavity22.

In some embodiments, the movable weight34may be constrained or directed in its movement solely by the wall(s) of the cavity22as shown inFIG.3. In other embodiments, such as the embodiments illustrated inFIGS.1and2, a shaft32extends within the cavity22parallel with the axis of the body20between its front end24and rear end26and fixed in place at each end. The movable weight34may be connected with the shaft32, for example, by providing the movable weight34with an axial channel through which the shaft32passes during assembly of the magnetic weight distribution system30such that the movable weight34is able to freely move along at least a portion of the length of the shaft32between the front end24and the rear end26of the body20within the cavity22.

Movement of the weight34between the front end24and the rear end26of the body20provides for a transfer of weight resulting in improved performance of the lure10during casting and during retrieval. During casting, having the movable weight34, and as a result the center of gravity, biased toward the rear of the lure10helps minimize tumbling of the lure10, which allows for longer and more accurate casting. During retrieval, having the movable weight34biased toward the middle to front of the lure10produces a more desirable movement pattern for the lure10while it is in the water.

The magnetic weight distribution system30within the cavity22provides improved control of this weight transfer. A weight magnet36is associated with the movable weight34. The weight magnet36may be a part distinct from and connected to the movable weight34or integrated with the movable weight34as a single piece. If the weight magnet36is distinct from and connected to the movable weight34, it may be positioned at an end of the movable weight34facing the rear end26of the body20and cavity22. The weight magnet36may be secured to the movable weight34by magnetic force in embodiments using a movable weight34made of steel or another ferromagnetic material. In embodiments using movable weights34of other, non-ferromagnetic materials, the weight magnet36may be attached with an adhesive or other suitable means. In other embodiments, the movable weight34and the weight magnet36may be integral with one another; for example, the weight magnet36itself may be sufficient to serve as the movable weight34as well.

A rear magnet38is secured at the rear end26of the cavity22. The rear magnet38may be, but is not required to be, secured on the shaft32in those embodiments having a shaft32. The rear magnet38may alternatively be secured at the rear end of the cavity22. The orientation of the polarities of the weight magnet36and rear magnet38relative to one another provide for controlled movement of the movable weight34within the cavity22. The weight magnet36and rear magnet38are configured such that like polarities of the weight magnet36and the rear magnet38face one another, i.e., the positive pole of the weight magnet36faces the positive pole of the rear magnet38or the negative pole of the weight magnet36faces the negative pole of the rear magnet38, to create a repulsive force when the weight magnet36and the rear magnet38are in close proximity to one another. The repulsive force between the weight magnet36and the rear magnet38biases the movable weight34away from the rear magnet38. In the illustrated embodiment, the weight magnet36is positioned with its positive polarity side facing toward the rear magnet38and the positive polarity side of the rear magnet38is accordingly positioned to face the weight magnet36. Therefore, when the movable weight34slides toward the rear magnet38, the rear magnet38and the weight magnet36act to repel one another. The polarities of the weight magnet36and the rear magnet38may be reversed so long as the like polarities of the weight magnet36and the rear magnet38face one another.

During casting, the momentum of the lure10will cause the movable weight34to slide on the shaft32toward the rear magnet38. The casting momentum is sufficient to overcome the repulsive force created by the weight magnet36and rear magnet38relative to one another. This movement of the movable weight34moves the center of gravity of the lure10towards the rear end26of the lure10. However, as the cast is completed and the forward momentum of the lure10reduces, the repulsive force generated by the proximity of the weight magnet36and rear magnet38again biases the movable weight34away from the rear magnet38and toward the front end of the cavity22and, as a result of that movement, adjusts the center of gravity of the lure10to the middle to front of the lure10where it remains while the lure10is in the water.

In some embodiments, such as shown inFIG.1, the magnetic weight distribution system30may also include a front magnet40secured adjacent to the front end24of the cavity22. The front magnet40may alternatively be secured to the shaft32, adjacent to the front end of the shaft32, if provided. The front magnet40may be, but is not required to be, mounted on the shaft32.

In embodiments in which the movable weight34is made from a ferromagnetic material, for example, steel, the weight magnet36, which is magnetically attached to the ferromagnetic movable weight34, magnetizes the movable weight34with a polarity opposite to that of the front magnet40. In embodiments in which the movable weight34is a non-ferromagnetic material, for example, brass, tungsten, or lead, a piece of ferromagnetic material42, such as iron or steel, may be attached, for example, with an adhesive, to the front end of the movable weight34as shown in the embodiment ofFIG.2. Similarly to embodiments where the movable weight34itself is a ferromagnetic material, the front piece of ferromagnetic material is magnetized by the weight magnet36.

The front magnet40is positioned such that the front magnet40and the weight magnet36, magnetized movable weight34, and/or the front piece of ferromagnetic material have their unlike polarity sides facing one another, i.e., the positive pole of the front magnet40faces the negative pole of the weight magnet36, magnetized movable weight34, and/or the front piece of ferromagnetic material, or the negative pole of the front magnet40faces the positive pole of the weight magnet36, magnetized movable weight34, and/or the front piece of ferromagnetic material. This creates an attraction force between the weight magnet36, magnetized movable weight34, and/or the front piece of ferromagnetic material and the front magnet40. This attraction force biases the movable weight34toward the front of the cavity22and assists in moving the movable weight34toward the front of the lure10as the momentum of a cast lessens. This attraction force holds the movable weight34at the front of the cavity22, which is near the middle to front of the lure10, to maintain a desired action balance while the lure10is in the water.

In lures having a smaller weight transfer distance, it may be beneficial to omit the front magnet40. In such cases, the repulsive force between the weight magnet36and rear magnet38is sufficient to hold the movable weight34at the front end24of the cavity22.

The magnetic weight distribution system of embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageous in a variety of lure types. For example, with lures having standard movable weights and that are typically used with strong jerks during retrieval, such as Egi lures, jerk baits, or top water lures, the forces exerted on the lure may force the movable weight toward the rear or tail of the lure, which can result in the lure dropped to the bottom of the body of water and becoming snagged. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for more consistent weight transfer, which results in longer and more accurate casting with the weight in the rear position, and, with the weight in the middle to front position, reduced diving at water impact and better movement of the lure in water.

The preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. However, as various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings, including all materials expressly incorporated by reference herein, shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.