Abstract:
A fishing lure comprises a rear end enabled to be attached to a fishing line or leader and a front end having a plurality of outer tines with wires for attaching bait and a plurality of inner tines for retaining a fishing hook. The lure further comprises an attached spring-loaded weed guard. A lure skirt is placed over the tines and hook. The body of the lure is reflective and combines with the bait and lure skirt to catch the attention of nearby fish.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Mar. 12, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to fishing lures, and more particularly, to a fork-shaped fishing lure adapted for use with various types of lure skirts and baits. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A great number of people around the world enjoy fishing. Whether fishing for food or for the sport of it, the calmness and serenity of the sport coupled with the excitement of landing “the big one” makes fishing a popular pastime. As would be expected with the wide spread popularity and lengthy history of fishing, there also exists a wide variety of different kinds of natural and artificial fishing lures. Artificial bait and lures are typically designed to mock a fish&#39;s natural food and entice the fish to strike. While artificial lures offer many advantages over such natural or “live” bait, it is commonly accepted that catching fish is easier to accomplish with natural bait. Therefore there is a continuing need to develop more life-like artificial bait which provides higher and higher levels of attraction various types of fish. 
     Additionally, the majority of lures available are for smaller fish, making fishing for bass or other large fish more difficult. While smaller lures work, they suffer from some distinct disadvantages. Often there is a decreased chance of the large fish striking due to the small size and if the fish does strike the smaller lure, there is a diminished chance of setting the hook. The lightweight construction of the hook and interconnecting components can also increase the risk of losing the fish while trying to reel it in and increase the risk of getting the lure caught on submerged plants or other debris. 
     Various types of artificial lures intended for use with different sizes and types of fish and for use in varying fishing conditions exist, including jigs, surface lures, spoon lures, plugs, artificial flies, spinnerbait, and swimbait. Each attempts to provide a more effective way to attract the fish, appear more life-like, conceal the hook, or a combination of each. Examples of some of these lures can be seen by reference in several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,804, issued in the name of Creason, Sr., et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,337, issued in the name of Kress; U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,588, issued in the name of Hindermyer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,931, issued in the name of Marshall; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,220, issued in the name of King. 
     Additionally, various designs for fishing lures exist as can be seen by example in U.S. Pat. Nos. D 255,703, issued in the name of Kent; D 278,926, issued in the name of Bagley; and, D 409,271, issued in the name of Norton. 
     While these devices may accomplish their specific intended purpose, each suffers from one (1) or more disadvantage or deficiency with respect to design, function, or effectiveness. In particular, the previous solutions typically lack the ability to modify the lure for a specific situation or setting. Furthermore, many of the prior attempts fair to provide effective means to prevent entanglement of the lure during the casting and reeling in process performed to attract the fish. Accordingly, there remains a need for a means by which a fishing lure, particularly for large fish, can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the current lack and inherent problems in the art, the inventor has recognized the need for a novel fishing lure device for attracting and catching fish and thus, an object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is provides a more realistic and “life-like” appearance. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is designed especially for use with larger fish, such as bass. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is easily and quickly modified with various other ancillary artificial or live baits to increase its attractiveness as a lure. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which less likely to become entangled in water debris during casting and reeling. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is simple and intuitive to use with little to no training. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is durable and economical to manufacture. 
     One (1) or more of these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a fishing lure comprising a generally fork-shaped body including a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, a sinker aperture, a pair of parallel inner tines extending from the body, a pair of outer tines parallel to the pair of inner tines, and a tapered end having a line aperture for attachment to a fishing line. A hook is removably attached to the body including a hook shank having a bent end terminating in a point, a hook eye opposite the bent end, and a barb adjacent to the point. A weed guard is attached to the hook and includes a pair of guard arms joined at a proximal end and extending at an upward and outward angle from the hook eye and terminating in a bend substantially parallel to and above the hook. The lure also includes a bait attachment member having a rod pivotably attached between end portions of the pair of outer tines and a pair of parallel bait attachment arms extending outwardly from the pair of outer tines. A sinker is removably attached to the body and includes a sinker weight, a sinker wire extending from the weight, and a sinker eye opposite the sinker wire. A mechanical fastener is used for removably attaching the hook and the sinker to the body. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the invention may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The invention can be practiced without one or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a fork-shaped fishing lure  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the fork-shaped fishing lure  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the fork-shaped fishing lure  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is another bottom perspective view of the fork-shaped fishing lure  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the fork-shaped fishing lure  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the fork-shaped fishing lure  10  illustrating an alternate depiction of the utilization of a hook  40 , a first bait attachment  44 , and a second bait attachment  46 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7   a  is a side view of the first plastic bait  70 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7   b  is a side view of the second plastic bait  75 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 fork-shaped fishing lure 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 top surface 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 bottom surface 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 first outer tine 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 second outer tine 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 first ringlet 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 second ringlet 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 first inner tine 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                 second inner tine 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 hook 
               
               
                   
                 41a 
                 hook eye 
               
               
                   
                 41b 
                 barb 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 weed guard 
               
               
                   
                 43a 
                 weed guard proximal end 
               
               
                   
                 43b 
                 weed guard distal end 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 first bait attachment 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 second bait attachment 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 bait attachment means 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 screw 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 lock nut 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 washer 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 sinker 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 sinker eye 
               
               
                   
                 57 
                 sinker wire 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 first aperture 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 second aperture 
               
               
                   
                 65 
                 fishing line snap connector 
               
               
                   
                 67 
                 bell 
               
               
                   
                 68 
                 loop 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 first plastic bait 
               
               
                   
                 71 
                 skirt 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 head 
               
               
                   
                 73 
                 aperture 
               
               
                   
                 75 
                 second plastic bait 
               
               
                   
                 76 
                 tail 
               
               
                   
                 77 
                 upper body 
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 fishing rod 
               
               
                   
                 105 
                 fishing line 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5  and alternately within  FIGS. 6 through 7   b . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a forked-shaped fishing lure (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a fishing lure preferably utilized for catching large fish. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a form which resembles the body of a dinner fork with the handle portion removed. The device  10  is attached to a fishing line  105  of a fishing rod  100  in a conventional manner. The device  10  generally comprises a top surface  20 , a bottom surface  25 , a hook  40 , a weed guard  42 , a sinker  55 , a fishing line snap connector  65 , and a bell  67 . The device  10  is fabricated from a rust-proof material such as, but not limited to: stainless steel, plastic, or the like and may be manufactured in various colors and patterns which incorporate reflective painted designs common to luring fish. The device  10  enables a user to catch larger fish such as, but not limited to: bass, northern pike, muskie, or the like and also set the hook  40  on the desired fish more effectively. The device  10  may be utilized in desired locations such as, but not limited to: a boat, a shoreline, wading, or the like and casted in a desired body of water such as, but not limited to: a lake, a pond, an ocean, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top perspective view of the device  10 ,  FIG. 3 , a bottom perspective view of the device  10 , and  FIG. 4 , another bottom view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  comprises a planar body, the body further comprising a first outer tine  30 , a second outer tine  32 , a first inner tine  37 , and a second inner tine  39 . The first outer tine  30  and second outer tine  32  each comprise a first ringlet  34  and a second ringlet  36 , respectively, thereby providing an attachment means to a bait attachment means  47 . Each ringlet  34 ,  36  is downwardly curved against a bottom surface of each respective outer tine  30 ,  32 , thereby securing the bait attachment means  47  therein. The bait attachment means  47  comprises a “U”-shaped form having a first bait attachment  44  and a second bait attachment  46  in parallel orientation, enabling insertion of various desired conventional plastic baits (see  FIG. 6 ). Each bait attachment  44 ,  46  comprise slightly bent end portions to secure the desired plastic bait. The inner tines  37 ,  39  extend beyond each ringlet  34 ,  36  and also provide an attachment means to other various desired plastic baits. The tines  30 ,  32 ,  37 ,  39  are equally spaced in a parallel orientation and are integrally molded into the device  10 . 
     An intermediate portion of the inner tines  37 ,  39  provides a securing means to a hook  40 , a weed guard  42 , a screw  50 , and a sinker  55  (also see  FIG. 5 ). The screw  50  is upwardly inserted with respect to the bottom surface  25  between the inner tines  37 ,  39 , thereby enabling a hook eye  41   a  on the hook  40 , a washer  52 , a sinker eye  56  on the sinker  55 , and a lock nut  51  to be inserted with respect to a top surface  20  and secured against the top surface  20  and bottom surface  25 , respectively. 
     An attachment end of the device  10  opposite the hook end comprises an inwardly and upwardly tapering curvature extending the body of the device  10 . A first aperture  60  is located at a distal intermediate portion providing a means for attaching a fishing line snap connector  65  and bell  67  to the device  10 . The fishing line snap connector  65  is a conventional fishing device utilized in connecting fishing lures to fishing lines  105  and comprises a single wire which is curved in on itself to form a continuous loop body portion. The fishing line  105  is tied to the fishing line snap connector  65  in a common manner. The bell  67  comprises a loop  68  on an upper surface for slidably attaching the bell  67  onto the fishing line snap connector  65 , thereby enabling an audible sound to alert a fish that the device  10  is in the water. The bell  67  produces at least one (1) type of sound. When the bell  67  comes in contact with the top or bottom surfaces  20 ,  25  of the device  10  another type of sound is produced. The two (2) distinct sounds are intended to acquiring the fish&#39;s attention to further lure the fish to the device  10 . The bell  67  is a circular signaling device preferably fabricated from a stainless steel material. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a sinker  55  utilized to increase the weight and casting distance of the device  10 . The sinker  55  further comprises a sinker eye  56  at a distal end and a sinker wire  57  at a proximal end. The sinker eye  56  is positioned at an intermediate portion of the device  10  between the inner tines  37 ,  39 . The sinker wire  57  is inserted into a second aperture  62  from the bottom surface  25  and bent downwardly against the top surface  20 , thereby securing the proximal end of the sinker  55 . 
     The hook  40  is a large-sized fishing hook comprising a barb  41   b  on a distal end and a hook eye  41   a  on a proximal end, thereby increasing the ability to hook the desired fish. Once the fishing hook  40  impales a fish, the barb  41   b  becomes snagged into the fish&#39;s mouth region. The hook eye  41   a  provides an attachment means to the weed guard  42  and the screw  50 . The weed guard  42  provides a means to prevent the hook  40  from becoming caught on debris, seaweed, lily pads, or other obstacles in the desired body of water. The weed guard  42  comprises a weed guard proximal end  43   a  and a weed guard distal end  43   b . The weed guard proximal end  43   a  is attached to the hook  40  by bending the weed guard proximal end  43   a  through the hook eye  41   a  and around the shaft of the hook  40 . The weed guard distal end  43   b  comprises a slight bend positioned above the barb  41   b  of the hook  40 , thereby guarding the hook  40  to prevent entanglement to undesirable obstacles in the water. The weed guard  42  is fabricated from a stainless steel wire, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the functions of the device  10 . 
     An appropriately sized washer  52  is inserted onto a screw  50  and each are inserted upwardly from the bottom surface  25  between the inner tines  37 ,  39 . The hook eye  41   a  and attached weed guard  42  are inserted on the screw  50  from a top surface  20 . The sinker eye  56  is attached superjacent to the hook eye  41   a  on the screw  50 . An appropriately sized lock nut  51  threadably engages the screw  50 , thereby screwing the sinker eye  56 , hook  40 , and weed guard  42  between the lock nut  51  and top surface  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , is a perspective view of the fork-shaped fishing lure  10  illustrating an alternate depiction of the utilization of a hook  40 , a first bait attachment  44 , and a second bait attachment  46 ,  FIG. 7   a , a side view of the first plastic bait  70 , and  FIG. 7   b , a side view of the second plastic bait  75 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  may be utilized as abovementioned, yet may alternately comprise conventional plastic baits used for attracting fish. The device  10  is preferably packaged with the first plastic bait  70  and a pair of second plastic baits  75 , yet the plastic baits  70 ,  75  may also be purchased as after market accessories. Existing plastic baits  70 ,  75  may also be utilized with the device  10  without limiting the functions thereof. 
     The hook  40  provides an attachment means to the first plastic bait  70  which is preferably comprises a skirt  71  and a head  72 . The skirt  71  resembles a flamboyant fish tail to lure the hunted fish to the device  10 . The head  72  comprises an aperture  73  on an upper surface providing an attachment means to the hook  40  and inner tines  37 ,  39 . The hook  40  is inserted through the aperture  73  and positioned around the inner tines  37 ,  39 , thereby securing the first plastic bait to the device  10 . The barb  41   b  exits from the skirt  71  and is hidden within the skirt  71  enabling a fish to be caught. The first plastic bait  70  in preferably fabricated from a plastic material, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the functions of the device  10 . The first plastic bait is also fabricated in a variety of colors and patterns to lure fishes thereto. 
     The first bait attachment  44  and second bait attachment  46  may also be utilized for the placement of the pair of second plastic baits  75  for additionally luring fish to the device  10 . The second plastic bait  75  is preferably comprised of tube baits further comprising a curled tail  76  and a tubular upper body  77  for luring the hunted fish, yet other devices may be utilized without limiting the functions of the device  10 . The upper body  77  of the second plastic bait  75  is slidably inserted onto a desired bait attachment  44 ,  46  and the tail  76  emulates a swimming motion in the water which lures fish. The second plastic bait  75  is fabricated in a variety of colors and patterns to further lure fish to the device  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 2 through 4  and alternately in  FIGS. 6 through 7   b.    
     The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; attaching an existing fishing line  105  to the fishing line snap connector  65 ; casting the fishing rod  100  in a conventional manner in a desired body of water; reeling the fishing rod  100  in a desired fashion; enabling the hook  40  to hook onto a fish; enabling the weed guard  42  to prevent the hook  40  from getting caught on undesirable obstacles in a body of water; enabling the sinker  55  to force the device  10  into the body of water; and enabling the device  10  to increase the chance of not only catching larger fish, but enabling a user to increased their ability to set the hook  40  and land a fish as well. 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  in an alternate method may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; attaching a first plastic bait  70  onto the device  10  via slidably engaging the aperture  73  around the hook  40  and fitting the aperture  73  around the inner tines  37 ,  39 ; inserting a desired second plastic bait  75  to the bait attachment means  47  via slidably inserting the upper body  77  into a desired bait attachment  44 ,  46 ; attaching an existing fishing line  105  to the fishing line snap connector  65 ; casting the fishing rod  100  in a conventional manner in a desired body of water; reeling the fishing rod  100  in a desired fashion; enabling the skirt  71  on the first plastic bait  70  and tails  76  and upper body  77  on the second plastic bait  75  to lure desired fish to the device  10 ; enabling the hook  40  to hook a fish; enabling the weed guard  42  to prevent the hook  40  from getting caught on undesirable obstacles in a body of water; enabling the sinker  55  to force the device  10  into the body of water; and enabling the device  10  to increase the chance of not only catching larger fish, but enabling a user to increased their ability to set the hook  40  and land a fish as well. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.