Abstract:
A fishing lure cleaner for scouring the exterior surface of Kwikfish® and Flatfish® style of fishing lures, has a removable top section that traps the nose of the fishing lure in a slot or a wedge depending upon the size of the lure. A retractable hook extends from the top section and further secures the lure from one of its eyelets. The hook is plunged into the bottom section, which houses a cylindrical array of stiff bristles that scours the lure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Pacific Northwest and Alaska are known worldwide for trout, steelhead, and salmon fishing. While numerous types of lures exist for enticing a fish to strike, two lures in particular produce unparalleled results when it comes to eliciting savage strikes from trout, steelhead, and salmon. Specifically, the Kwikfish® and the Flatfish® are staple lures of hobby fisherman and fishing guides alike. Known for their high-action, these lures they can be used at all trolling speeds, but can be just as effective when plunked or backtrolled. Years ago, fisherman discovered that wrapping their Kwikfish or Flatfish lures with baitfish fillets, such as smelt, herring, anchovies, and sardines greatly increased the number of strikes they received. Very simply, the scent emitted from the baitfish combined with the movement of the lure proved irresistible to fish. While there is some debate in the “best” way to wrap lure, it basically involves cutting a fillet from the baitfish of your choice, wrapping all or part of the fillet around the midsection of the lure, and then securing the baitfish to the lure with thread. While trout, steelhead, and salmon may be attracted to the smell of the baitfish, people are not. Once the fishing day is over, the lure is oily and smelly, and the fisherman or guide has no quick or convenient way of cleaning the lure, other than scrubbing it with a toothbrush over the side of the boat, possibly hooking his finger on the treble hooks in the process. What is needed is a compact, portable fishing lure cleaner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a compact, portable fishing lure cleaner. The lure cleaner securely holds a wide range of lure sizes and effectively removes the oil and scent of baitfish. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of the lure cleaner of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of the lure cleaner of the present invention with the cap removed; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevated cross-sectional perspective view of the lure cleaner of the present invention with the cap removed; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevated perspective view of a large fishing lure; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated perspective view of a small fishing lure; 
         FIG. 6  is an elevated cross-sectional perspective view of the lure cleaner of the present invention with a large fishing lure secured within the cap (the fishing lure is not shown in cross-section); and 
         FIG. 7  is an elevated cross-sectional perspective view of the lure cleaner of the present invention with a small fishing lure secured within the cap (the fishing lure is not shown in cross-section). 
         FIG. 8  is an elevated cross-sectional perspective view of the lure cleaner of the present invention with a small fishing lure secured within the cap and the cap frictionally engaged with the main body; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevated perspective view of an alternate embodiment of lure cleaner of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the cap of the fishing lure cleaner of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a left-side view of the cap of the fishing lure cleaner of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom, perspective view of the cap of the fishing lure cleaner of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the cap of the fishing lure cleaner of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a back view of the cap of the fishing lure cleaner of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Looking at  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary preferred embodiment of the portable fishing lure cleaner  10  of the present invention is illustrated. A generally cylindrical, elongated container  4  having a closed distal end  6  and open proximate end  8 , and forming an inner chamber  20  (See  FIG. 3 ) is shown. Container  4 , as depicted in  FIG. 2  comprises two distinct sections: a main body  11  and neck portion  12 . A peripheral edge  14  and shoulder  16  delineate main body  11  from neck portion  12 , with neck portion  12  extending from shoulder  16  and having a reduced diameter from that of main body  11 . The reduced diameter is sized to matingly conform at the intersection of the lure nose retention means  28  of cap  2  into the cylindrical lure cleaning chamber  22  within the inner chamber  20  for rotational movement about neck  12 . Draining orifice  18  is located on shoulder  16  and extends therethrough. Only visible in cross-section (See  FIG. 3 .), neck portion  12  extends into inner chamber  20 , maintaining its reduced diameter and creating an elongated, cylindrical lure cleaning chamber  22 , and terminating in second open end  24  that resides above the inner-face of distal end  6  of container  4 . An array of cleaning bristles  26  is affixed about the interior wall of cleaning chamber  22 . The arrangement, number, and attachment of cleaning bristles  26  is matter of design and not considered an essential part of the invention herein. The only requirements are that cleaning bristles  26  be attached in a manner so that they are not easily dislodged with use and that they are sufficient in number to adequately clean a fishing lure. Ideally, container  4  is made of a durable polymer; however, any durable material, such as stainless steel would be acceptable. 
     The elements of cap  2  are most clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 10-14 . Cap  2  comprises a lure nose retention means  28 , concentrically nestled within a lid  30 . Lid  30  is a cylinder closed at a proximate end and open at a distal end. Lure nose retention means  28  is rigidly affixed at its proximate end to the inner face  36  of lid  30 &#39;s proximate end, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The inner diameter of lid  30  is sized for mating engagement about the exterior surface of the neck portion  12 . The lure nose retention means  28  is sized such that its outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of neck portion  12 . In this way, when cap  2  is placed on neck portion  12  of container  4 , lure nose retention means  28  can reside inside neck portion  12 , illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     Looking at  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 11-14 , lure nose retention means  28  is made of an open cylinder  29  with a partial cutaway, beginning at its approximate midpoint and extending to its distal, open end, and a concave wedge plate  58  extending from the inner face  62  of the open cylinder  29  at an angle downward towards its distal, open-end, so as to form a lure nose-securing gap  64  between inner face  62  of the open cylinder  29  and the convex face of the wedge plate  58 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The cutaway of the open cylinder  29  removes approximately 180° of material from the right cylinder configuration of the open cylinder  29 . A capture slot  44  is cut through open cylinder  29  adjacent its distal end and is designed to help secure the nose of a smaller sized fishing lure within the portable fishing lure cleaner  10  of the current invention. 
     Looking at FIGS.  3  and  11 - 13  it can be seen that plunger member  46  extends normally from top face  34  of lid  30 , and extends through lid  30  and lure nose retention means  28 . Plunger member assembly  45 , comprises a plunger member  46 , with a hook  48  formed at a distal end  49  and a button  50  at a proximate end  51 . A first plunger member seal  52  surrounds plunger member  46  and resides on top face  34 , preventing liquid from passing through the orifice (not visible) through which plunger member  46  passes. A second plunger member seal  54  also surrounds plunger member  46 , residing below the bottom face  36  of lid  30 . First plunger member seal  52  and second plunger member seal  54  (See  FIG. 6 ) work in conjunction to prevent liquid from passing through the orifice (not visible) through which plunger member  46  passes when the device is utilized. 
     Spring  56  surrounds plunger member  46 , residing between first plunger member seal  52  and button  50 . Spring  56  provides the retractable plunger-action allowing plunger member  46  to descend further towards lure cleaning chamber  22  and then return to its un-sprung position.  FIG. 6  illustrates the sprung position, while  FIG. 7  illustrates the un-sprung position of plunger member  46 . 
     Portable fishing lure cleaner  10  is designed to accommodate both large fishing lures as illustrated in  FIG. 4  as well as smaller lures, of which one is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Large fishing lure  66  is substantially similar to small fishing lure  68 , having the same component parts. Lures  66  and  68  only vary in dimensions and generally reside within the size specifications denoted K12-16 by Kwickfish. Lures  66  and  68  have an oblong body  70 , with a pointed nose  71 , a rounded bottom end  73 , two treble hooks  72 , and a screw-eyelet  74 . 
     To use the portable fishing lure cleaner  10 , the user first fills a portion of inner chamber  20  (which in turn fills a portion of lure cleaning chamber  22 ) with a combination of water and a suitable detergent. Second, the user attaches small fishing lure  68  to the hook  48  of plunger member  46  via the screw-eyelet  74 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Depressing button  50 , causes plunger assembly  45  to extend downward, allowing the user more physical space to secure lure  68  to hook  48 . Next, pointed nose  71  is placed in slot  44 , again illustrated in  FIG. 7 . For larger lure  66  the pointed nose  71  is placed not within slot  44  but simply resides wedged in lure nose-securing gap  64 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Releasing button  50 , then “locks” lure  68  into place. Once the fishing lure is secured within cap  2 , open portion  28  is placed within neck portion  10 , such that the fishing lure resides within lure cleaning chamber  22  as is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The user can now move cap  2  up-and-down, up-and-down, such that lure nose retention means is sliding in, and almost out of lure cleaning chamber  22 , where the friction from bristles  26  combined with the water and detergent remove the oily residue and smell the baitfish created. Additionally, the user could also rotate cap  2  about neck  12 , where the friction from bristles  26  combined with the water and detergent remove the oily residue and smell the baitfish created. Should the user desire to drain the water/detergent mixture from main body  4 , drainage orifice  18  allows the user to do so without removing cap  2  from main body  4 . 
     Finally,  FIG. 9  illustrated an alternate embodiment fishing lure cleaner  13 . Fishing lure cleaner  13  is of a singled-wall construction, creating a single interior chamber, from which cleaning bristles  26  are affixed about the interior wall of the chamber. A bottom screw-cap  15  allows the user to drain the cleaning fluid. This embodiment operates functionally identical to that of the preferred embodiment, only employing a slightly different container design. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes might be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.