Abstract:
An aquatic life simulation apparatus having a highly detailed and life like finish. The apparatus further contains a waterproof component having a battery and sound chip combination capable of producing various patterns of acoustical signals. The sound chip may be activated upon impact of the apparatus with a body of water and repeat various desired patterns there after. Embodiments of the present apparatus contain LED&#39;s in the eye members and along the body of the lure. These embodiments are thought to be particularly useful in simulating live bait sun reflection features.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to an aquatic life simulation apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an aquatic life simulation apparatus that closely replicates the behavior of live bait species and other aquatic species, both with regard to physical appearances and sound patterns. The present invention is particularly useful in that it is capable of producing various life-like acoustical signals to strongly attract surrounding fish.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Early on, mankind relied on fishing as a means of survival; however, over the years fishing has evolved from solely a means of survival to a sport. And, while the reasons for fishing itself have changed, so have the methods employed. While the first fisherman may have relied on rudimentary spears, nets, or even their bare hands to capture fish—today anglers heavily rely on live bait or artificial lures.  
         [0005]     There is a variety of live bait available for use, and even a much wider array of surprisingly sophisticated fishing lures available to bolster the success of any fisherman. These lures come in a surprisingly wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. This, in part, is a result of the fact that each size, shape, and color scheme of a particular lure strongly affect the success or failure of a fisherman under particular conditions. For example, a lure having reflective properties may be particularly useful for top water use on a sunny day. That is, as the lure is reeled in it will shimmer in the sun in a manner to attract surrounding fish.  
         [0006]     An overwhelming majority of anglers agree in one very important aspect—artificial lures are far superior in catching fish and ease of use when compared to natural bait. It is estimated that out of all the professional or semi professional fish anglers, ninety percent prefer the use of artificial lures over live bait. Such is the result for several reasons. Artificial lures can be easily switched out with one another to maximize productivity according to changing conditions. Also, artificial lures are generally cheaper than live bait. Finally, artificial lures are extremely durable—they can be used over an over again, while live bait obviously has a short operating life.  
         [0007]     The development of better lures is further spurred on by the ever-increasing popularity of fishing as a sport. In fact, there is a constantly growing number of publications dedicated to the sport of fishing. Morever, it is not uncommon to come across television programming dedicated solely to fishing. In light of the growing popularity of the sport, and the endless combinations for lure design, a tremendous amount of time and effort is devoted to producing the very best lure. It is not uncommon for a company to spend several thousands of dollars on the research and development of a single artificial lure alone.  
         [0008]     Despite the tremendous variety in available lures and their technological advances in recent years, all currently available lures are limited in view of Applicant&#39;s invention. That is, while a staggering amount of time and effort has been dedicated to developing the most effective size, shape, and color combination for particular lures, each of these lures lacks an important dimension provided by the present apparatus.  
         [0009]     Applicant&#39;s invention provides an artificial lure that may be configured to have an effective appearance and produce acoustical signals to entice surrounding fish. Such acoustical signals alert fish to the lure and help the fish determine lure location. Finally, embodiments of the lure are equipped with a programmable microprocessor and are capable of mimicking specific live bait species.  
         [0010]     In view of the limitations associated with available lures, mostly their inability to produce acoustical signals and resulting limited ability to attract fish, a great need exists for an artificial lure that offers the same benefits as available lures and additionally attracts fish via acoustical signal patterns. Applicant&#39;s invention, as will be fully discussed in the specification to follow, through its numerous embodiments, provides such a lure. More specifically, the present invention provides a lure that is capable of attracting fish through both sight and sound.  
         [0011]     Applicant&#39;s invention provides an alternative to particular types of bait. One such type of bait the current invention replaces is that of the “croaking” bait, or “croaker” fish. Currently, the only option a fisherman has when using Croaker fish as bait is to purchase actual, live bait. Typically, these types of bait are purchased by a standard size bucket-full at a cost of approximately twenty dollars per bucket. With typical use, a bucket-full of such bait lasts about a half day. As such, a full day of fishing while using this type of bait costs approximately forty dollars for bait alone. On the other hand, the cost associated with the present invention is approximately nine dollars for months or even years of use.  
         [0012]     Benefits associated with the present invention include use of a lure that is the product of a sound engineering and manufacturing processes. Also, the current invention is associated with the highest quality units of production, several available feature combinations, and relatively straightforward and efficient manufacturing process. Moreover, the invention has near perfect acoustic rhythm and is capable or reproducing the behavioral characteristics of the specific species of which it is to simulate. Such is the result as the apparatus of the present invention is designed to be extremely precise in duplicating bait species movement and sound as it is being reeled in. Particular versions of the present invention will provide a lure having sound emitting qualities. Other versions will also contain LED&#39;s as eye members and LED&#39;s along the lure body to simulate the natural sun light reflecting from the scales of a bait species.  
         [0013]     Another useful need served by Applicant&#39;s invention comes within the realm of aquatic life observation. That is, particular embodiments of the present invention will be equipped with a sound chip (microprocessor) capable of accurately replicating the acoustical patterns of various aquatic species of interest. As such, both the simulated species and surrounding species may be observed in their natural state more easily.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus capable of producing various acoustical patterns.  
         [0015]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus having a speaker member.  
         [0016]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus that closely replicates the behavior of any number of predetermined aquatic species.  
         [0017]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus that may activate upon impact with a body of water.  
         [0018]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus that is extremely durable.  
         [0019]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus that is cost effective.  
         [0020]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus that emits light from its body.  
         [0021]     It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic life simulation apparatus that emits light from its eyes.  
         [0022]     In view of the foregoing and other related objectives, Applicant&#39;s invention provides a highly innovative aquatic life simulation apparatus. Most embodiments generally have a very soft and durable exterior body and are air brushed to the likeness of a particular species. That is, the air brush finish adds detail to the apparatus so that the it can take on several appearances—any of which can be selected according to conditions and desires.  
         [0023]     Perhaps the most novel feature of the claimed invention is its inner capsule and combination of components contained therein. In most preferred forms, the inner capsule is waterproof and contains a “sound chip,” capable of producing acoustical patterns very closely resembling those of any number of aquatic species. The desired result may be to entice surrounding fish or simply to replicate a particular species within its natural environment. In the preferred form, this sound chip is operationally coupled with a power source and a speaker member. Remarkably, this sound chip is embedded with acoustical information associated with any number of specific aquatic species.  
         [0024]     Further, the sound chip may be programmed to begin its acoustical pattern as soon as the apparatus makes contact with the water. This is accomplished as the sound chip may be further coupled to a motion sensing means and configured to activate upon impact.  
         [0025]     As mentioned, the sound chip may receive and perform several distinct acoustical patterns, and in one preferred form, the apparatus of the present invention will be able to accurately reproduce the sounds and movements associated with creatures eaten by game fish. For example, a particularly effective embodiment of the present invention is capable of performing the sound and pattern of “croaking” associated with species commonly preyed upon by game fish. By way of further example, the sound chip may repeat a pattern where it emits acoustical signals for a period of ten seconds and then remain dormant for ten seconds. Such a pattern may be preferred in that it allows for the “jerk and reel” procedure commonly preferred by fisherman.  
         [0026]     Certain embodiments of the present invention include other novel features such as realistic appearing eyes and body members. That is, these embodiments include LED&#39;s throughout the apparatus eye figures and along the body. Such characteristic is particularly useful in replicating the effect of the sun reflecting from aquatic life. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the aquatic life simulation apparatus of the present invention is generally designated by numeral  10 . Apparatus  10 , in the preferred embodiment, is one of three primary colors: copper, bronze, or chrome. In addition, apparatus  10  may be finished with some material to further enhance the reflective value of apparatus  10 . While the preferred embodiment is thought to be most beneficial when having a metallic-type finish as mentioned above, other useful embodiments are envisioned where apparatus  10  may be of other bright color scheme. For instance, a neon color combination scheme is thought to be particularly useful for attracting fish under certain conditions.  
         [0029]     Apparatus  10  is characterized by inner capsule  12 . In the preferred embodiment, inner capsule  12  houses and protects speaker member  14 , microprocessor  16 , battery member  18 , and motion sensing means  90 . Inner capsule  12  holds speaker  14 , microprocessor  16 , battery  18 , and motion sensing means  90  in a water-free environment, and further acts as an impact absorbing means for these components. As such, the components contained within capsule  12  are protected from both water and incident forces by virtue of being contained within capsule  12 .  
         [0030]     In the preferred embodiment, inner capsule  12  may be primarily composed of rubber, plastic, fiberglass, or some combination thereof. Other embodiments are particularly useful where speaker  14  is not housed within capsule  12 , but is adjacent to capsule  12  and remains in combination with the other referenced components contained with capsule  12 . In such embodiments, speaker  14  is a water resistant or waterproof speaker appropriately sized to fit within apparatus  10 . Such speaker members are known, and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.  
         [0031]     As mentioned, operation of apparatus  10  involves the components housed within capsule  12 . Upon some trigger event, such as impact with water or relative motion of apparatus  10 , microprocessor  16  performs according to its stored programming. That is, embodiments are envisioned where microprocessor  16  is operationally coupled with motion sensing means  90 . In such embodiments, sensing means  90  reacts to changes in velocity of apparatus  10 . Upon sufficient reaction, sensing means  90  signals microprocessor  16  to initiate performance. Microprocessor  16  then acts according to the reaction of sensing means  90 . This action may be carried out for a determined time and then cease, or continue in repeated fashion. Finally, one of the most novel aspects of the present invention if the ability of microprocessor  16  to accurately and precisely replicate the acoustical patterns of a variety of aquatic life. This replication is carried out according to stored programming of microprocessor  16 .  
         [0032]     Microprocessor  16  is further operationally coupled with, and powered by, battery  18 . In the preferred embodiment, battery  18  is a relatively small, low voltage battery. Such is preferred as the target weight of apparatus  10  is less than one half ounce.  
         [0033]     Microprocessor  16  is electronically coupled with speaker member  14 , where speaker  14  emits acoustical patterns according to signals received from microprocessor  16 . In the preferred embodiment, speaker  14  is of a “micro speaker” variety as known to those skilled in the art, typically having a diameter of less than one inch.  
         [0034]      
         [0035]     Finally, other useful embodiments are envisioned where some light emitting means, such as a series of LED&#39;s, is further in combination with microprocessor  16 . In such embodiments, these LED&#39;s are activated upon signals received from microprocessor  16 . The most beneficial arrangement of such light emitting means is envisioned where LED&#39;s are dispersed along the peripheral body of apparatus  10  and/or placed as eye members. Such arrangement is thought to be most beneficial in simulating real-life behavioral characteristics.  
         [0036]     Apparatus  10  is further characterized by support member  30 . In the preferred embodiment, support member  30  aligns with capsule  12  and is configured to ensure apparatus  10  remains engaged with a fishing line. Support member  30  imparts rigidity and strength to apparatus  10  and may be configured to directly receive and mate with a hook member  32 .  
         [0037]     Support member  30  may also receive a hook member connection means  34 . Hook connection means  34  may be a fishing line of sufficient strength to withstand the force exerted by an expected fish snared by hook  32 . In each of these embodiments, support member  30 , in combination with hook member  32 , or in combination with both hook member  32  and hook connection means  34 , provide a mechanism whereby a fish may take apparatus  10  within its mouth and then become snagged by hook member  32 . As the fish attempts to retreat, support member  30 , hook  32 , and possibly connection means  34 , hold the fish engaged with apparatus  10  while apparatus  10  remains secured to a fishing line. Finally, other useful embodiments are envisioned where capsule  12  is further configured to replace support member  30 . That is, by ensuring capsule  12  is of sufficient strength, capsule  12  may directly receive and mate with hook member  12  or hook connection means  34 .  
         [0038]     Apparatus  10  further has an outer member  40 . Outer member  40  surrounds and substantially covers capsule  12  and support  30 . Also, member  40  primarily provides apparatus  10  with its actual, final physical appearance. As such, in it most preferred form, member  40  is comprised mostly of plastic or rubber, or some composite thereof and finished with metallic-type appearing finish. Such a finish, is particularly useful as it reflects sunlight to further attract predator attention. As mentioned, particularly useful embodiments are envisioned where member  40  contains LED&#39;s or some other light-emitting means (such as micro-bulbs or fiber optics members) along its length and along eye members  44 . Such embodiments, through their light-emitting quality, and in combination with acoustical signals sent from apparatus  10 , further attract the attention of surrounding fish.  
         [0039]     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.