INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED FISHING LURE

Abstract: A fishing lure (10) has an elongated body (12) to be pulled through the water that carries an LED (32) or other electrically energized light source. Within the body is a chamber (50) in which a contact (54), preferably a metal ball (54) or mercury drop, is freely movable in all directions. Upon simultaneously engaging two stationary contacts (46) in the chamber (50), the movable contact (54) completes a circuit to cause the LED to be energized by a battery (34).

Description: INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED FISHING LURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to illuminated fishing lures and, more particularly, to lures that are illuminated intermittently as they are pulled through the water. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has -been recognized that fishing lures are potentially more effective in attracting fish if they are illuminated intermittently. One such lure is described in the inventor's previously issued patent No. 4,347,681, entitled "Intermittently Illuminated Fishing Lure with Traveling Electrical Contact". The inventor has determined that the rate at which the lure flashes is of considerable importance. It is believed that a lure that flashes with a regular periodicity produces an unnatural effect that does not help to maximize its attractive power. Instead, the flashing of a lure should be related in some way to its action in the water. The flash rate should be neither too fast nor too slow and the flashing should continue regardless of the speed or attitude of the lure. Previous attempts to meet these objectives have not been entirely satisfactory. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the above objectives are met by a lure having a body that contains a chamber in which a contact is freely movable in all directions. Preferably, the contact is OMPI a metal ball that bounces off the sides of the chamber and remains in constant motion as the lure is pulled through the water. Alternatively, a drop of mercury may be used as the movable contact member. A pair of stationary contacts are spaced apart at such a distance that they can be engaged simultaneously by the movable contact, thus completing a circuit to energize a light source, preferably an LED, carried by the body. The lure may include a spoon projecting from the front end or other provisions to cause constant oscillation of the body as it is pulled through the water, thereby keeping the movable contact active. In one form of the invention, the chamber is cylindrical, preferably having its longitidunal axis disposed generally vertically. The floor of the chamber is flat and circular, and the stationary contacts project upwardly from the floor. The length of the chamber is sufficient that the movable contact can pass over the stationary contacts without engaging the stationary contacts. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of a fishing lure that embodies the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lure taken vertically and longitudinally along the center as indicated by the line 2-2 in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the chamber taken horizontally as indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the chamber taken vertically as indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A fishing lure 10, shown pictorially in FIG. 1, has an elongated plastic body 12 of a generally fish-like configuration. A spoon 14 projects forwardly and downwardly from the front of the body 12, the spoon having a concave top surface and producing an oscillating movement of the lure 10 as it is pulled through the water by a line 16, as is well known in the art. Two sets of hooks 18 and 20 hang from the body 12 near the front and at the rear. The body 12 is hollow and is molded in the form of two plastic halves that form a seam running along the top and bottom of the lure 10 from front to back. Thus, the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 is taken along this seam and shows only one half 12(a) of the body 12. The illustrated half (12(a) defines sockets that receive pins 22 projecting from the unshown half to hold the lure 10 together. Recesses 24 and 26 defined by the body 12 facilitate attachment of the hooks 18 and 20, respectively, and a larger recess 28 facilitates attachment of the spoon 14. The lure 10 has two transparent eyes 30 that can be illuminated by an LED 32 mounted within the body 12. Fiber optic cables (not shown) connect the LED 32 to the eyes 30. It will be understood that other areas of the lure 10 can be illuminated in the same manner. Power for the LED 32 is supplied by two small batteries 34 contained within a chamber 36 that opens downwardly through the bottom of the body 12. A plug 38 and an O-ring 40 seal the cavity in a water-tight manner after the batteries 34 have been inserted. The batteries 34 are engaged by a pair of ' contacts 42 and 44 that form part of a circuit by which the batteries are connected to the LED 32. To complete the circuit and energize the LED 32, it is necessary to bridge the gap between two stationary contacts 46 that extend upwardly through a floor 48 of a chamber 50 within the body 12. The chamber 50 is cylindrical and is supported within the body 12 by a horizontal plate 52. When the lure 10 is in its normal "in use" position, the longitudinal axis of the chamber 50 is vertical and the chamber projects upwardly through an aperture in the plate. The floor 48 of the chamber 50 is formed by a separate disc-like plastic member and is flat and circular. Within the chamber 50 is a spherical movable contact, preferably a steel ball, 54. Being considerably smaller than the chamber 50, it is freely movable in all directions and can pass over the stationary contacts 46 without engaging them. It cannot, however, pass between the stationary contacts 46 and is thus capable of engaging both stationary contacts simultaneously to complete the circuit. This optimal relationship of the ball to the size and shape of the chamber produces the sought-after intermittent illumination. As an alternative OMPI construction, the steel ball 50 can be replaced by mercury drop that is of generally the same dimensions. As the lure 20 is pulled through the water, the ball 54 bounces about the interior of the chamber 50 in a substantially random manner. When it strikes the two stationary contacts 54, it causes the LED 32 to be illuminated. The illumination is thus some¬ what erratic in a natural and desirable manner, but the flash rate that results is directly related to the speed of the lure through the water and to the frequency of oscillation of the lure 10. When the lure 10 is not in use, it is simply positioned upside down so that the movable contact 54 moves to the top of the chamber 50 and does not touch the stationary contacts 46, thus avoiding a drain on the batteries 34. It will be noted that the lure 10 of the present invention is extremely simple, rugged and trouble free. Manufacturing costs are minimized because there is no need to maintain close tolerances It operates effectively at a wide variety of lure speeds and with a variety of types of lure actions. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that, while a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: I CLAIM; 1. A fishing lure comprising: a body to be pulled through the water? an electrical light source carried by said body; a battery disposed within said body; a chamber disposed within said body; a contact member freely movable in all directions within said chamber; at least two stationary electrical contacts disposed within said chamber, said stationary contacts being spaced apart by a predetermined distance such that said movable contact member can engage both of said stationary contacts simultaenously; and circuit means for intermittently energizing said light source in response to simultaneous engagement of said stationary contacts ' by said movable contact member. 2. The fishing lure of Claim 1 wherein said chamber is cylindrical having its longitudinal axis disposed generally vertically. 3. The fishing lure of Claim 1 wherein said movable contact member is a sphere. 4. The fishing lure of Claim 1 wherein said movable contact member is a mercury drop. 5. The fishing lure of Claim 1 wherein said stationary contacts project upwardly into said chamber. 6. The fishing lure of Claim 5 wherein the height of said chamber is such that said movable O PI contact member can pass over said stationary contacts without engaging said stationary contacts. 7. The fishing lure of Claim 5 wherein said chamber has a flat floor from which said stationary contacts project upwardly. 8. The fishing lure of Claim 1 wherein said chamber is cylindrical having a flat circular floor from which said stationary contacts project upwardly, the height of said chamber being such that said movable contact member can pass over said stationary contacts without engaging said stationary contacts. 9. The fishing lure of Claim 8 wherein said movable contact member is a sphere. 10. The fishing lure of Claim 9 wherein said predetermined spacing between said stationary contacts is such that said movable contact member cannot pass between said stationary contacts. 11. The fishing lure of Claim 8 wherein said movable contact member is a mercury drop. 12. The fishing lure of Claim 11 wherein predetermined spacing between said stationary contacts is such that said movable contact member cannot pass between said stationary contacts. 13. The fishing lure of Claim 1 further comprising means for causing said body to oscillate as it is pulled through the water, thereby causing movement of said movable contact member. 14. A fishing lure comprising: an elongated plastic body to be pulled through the water; means for causing said body to oscillate as it is pulled through the water; an LED disposed within said body; a battery disposed within said body; a cylindrical chamber with a flat circular floor disposed within said body; a spherical metal contact member disposed wi th in s aid chamber and freely movable in al l directions therein in response to oscillation of said body; a pair of stationary electrical contacts projecting upwardly from said floor, said stationary contact s being spaced apart by a predetermined distance such that said spherical contact member can e ng ag e bot h o f s aid s ta t i on ary con t acts simultaneously, said spherical contact member being dimensioned such that it cannot pass between said st ationary contacts but it can pas s over s aid stationary contacts without engaging said stationary contacts; and circuit means for intermittently engaging said LED in response to simultaneous engagement of said stationary contacts by said spherical contact member to energize said LED. 15. A fishing lure comprising: an elongated plastic body to be pulled through the water; means for causing said body to oscillate as it is pulled through the water; an LED disposed within said body; a battery disposed within said body; a cylindrical chamber with a flat circular floor disposed within said body; a mercury drop to serve as a contact member disposed within said chamber and freely movable in all directions therein in response to oscillation of said body; a pair of stationary electrical contacts projecting upwardly from said floor, said stationary contacts being spaced apart by a predetermined distance such that said mercury drop can engage both of said stationary contacts simultaneously, said mercury drop being dimensioned such that it cannot pass between said stationary contacts but it can pass over said stationary contacts without engaging said stationary contacts; and circuit means for intermittently engaging said LED in response to simultaneous engagement of said stationary contacts by said mercury drop to energize said LED.

Inventors: FIMA RAOUL G, FIMA, RAOUL, G.
Applicants: FIMA RAOUL G, FIMA, RAOUL, G.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A01K85
IPC codes: A01K85