Abstract:
This fishing invention applies a kinetic energy-storing device along a fishing line to provide additional resistance to short-term stress applied to the line when the fish is tugging. The kinetic energy-storing device reduces occurrences of fishing line breakage, allows fishermen to use a lighter fishing line, and creates a means for fishing lures to snap themselves off of undersea objects. This invention, when secured between the fishing line and lure, allows fishermen to change lures without the need to retie the lure. Ultimately, this invention makes it more difficult for a fish to escape once hooked.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention claims priority as a continuation-in-part application, based upon patent application Ser. No. 09/709,104 filed Nov. 11, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to the field of recreational and commercial fishing apparatus. Specifically to an improved fishing lure.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This invention applies to the recreation of fishing. The well-known practice of recreational fishing involves a fisherman, a fishing rod and reel, a fishing line, a fishing lure, and, with any luck, at least one fish. A fisherman uses the rod, reel and line to cast the lure into the water. When a fish bites the lure, the fisherman uses the rod and reel to pull on the line and retrieve the lure with the fish in tow.  
           [0004]    This simplified, traditional method of fishing contains several hurdles. One hurdle for fishermen is keeping the fish from getting away. Once the fish is hooked, the fish will normally begin pulling on the line. This pulling on the line can cause the line to break, the line to disengage from the lure, or the fish to disengage from the lure. Any of these results will allow the fish to get away, thereby frustrating the fishermen.  
           [0005]    Breaking the line while casting is another problem fishermen can have. The lighter the fishing line, the less force the line can withstand. Fishermen put a challenging load on a fishing line when trying to cast a great distance and depending on the weight of the lure and the size of the fishing line, the line can snap under the force of casting. As fishermen prefer to be able to cast a great distance, the limitation imposed by the strength of the line can be a detriment to casting distance.  
           [0006]    One method of overcoming the possibility of the fishing line breaking is getting a thicker, stronger fishing line. However getting a thicker, stronger fishing line means the line is also heavier. The heavier the fishing line, the shorter the distance a fisherman can cast her line. The shorter the distance the fisherman can cast her line, the lower her range to cast circumferentially. Fishermen prefer to be able to sit still when fishing and hit any visible location in the water where they suspect the fish are apt to be. Therefore, this method of overcoming the fishing line breakage problem frustrates most fishermen.  
           [0007]    Another problem fishermen have is the hooks of the lure getting caught on undesirable undersea objects, such as rocks. When the lure gets caught on these undersea objects, the fisherman must tug on the lines in hopes of freeing the lure. If the lure is sufficiently secured to the undersea object, the fisherman will either break the line tugging or must cut the line to free his rod and continue fishing. Either method results in the loss of the lure and some portion of the line. In an ideal situation, the fishing lure could avoid being caught in this situation.  
           [0008]    A final problem fishermen have is trying to change lures while fishing. Recreational fishing is often performed before dawn and in a wide range of temperatures. When the fish are not responding to one type of lure or a fisherman simply wants to try out another lure, the lure in use must be cut from the fishing line and a new lure tied. It can be difficult to thread and tie the new lure when lighting conditions are poor and a fisherman&#39;s hands are partially numb from the temperature. Changing lures would be easier if it did not require tying on the new lure. This is a problem for fishermen. Presently there are line snaps on the market, which are intended to alleviate this problem, but they exist on the outside of the lure and tend to detract from the performance of the lure. Preferably, a fishing lure could be changed from a fishing line without needing to retie the new fishing lure and without detracting from the performance and/or appearance of the lure. Ideally the fishing lure could be modified and customized, with weights and other accessories, without needing to retie the lure to the fishing line.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    This invention results from the realization that tying and retying lures to fishing lines, while fishing, is an unnecessary inconvenience that can be alleviated by using an elastic member in the lure to reduce the stress on the fishing line, protecting the leader, and devising an intermediary to connect the lure to the fishing line without retying the fishing line.  
           [0010]    It is therefore an object of one embodiment of this invention to reduce the occurrence of breaks in fishing lines as a result of fish tugging on the line.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of one embodiment of this invention to reduce the occurrence of breaks in fishing lines as a result of fishing lure getting caught on undersea objects.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of one embodiment of this invention to make changing lures on fishing lines easier.  
           [0013]    It is a further object of one embodiment of this invention to allow fishermen to cast their lines further.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of one embodiment of the present invention to protect the leader. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of an insert.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of an insert.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    This invention is a fishing device  10 , FIG. 1, for eliminating the need to continually retie fishing lures to fishing lines while fishing. The fishing device  10  includes an elastic member  12 . The elastic member  12  is primarily a spring in the attached drawings, but other devices with similar mechanical properties are known to those skilled in the art. The fishing device  10  further includes a first securing member  14  attached to the elastic member  12  and attachable to fishing line  16 . The first securing member  14  is a leader in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Finally, the fishing device  10  includes a second securing member  18  attached to the elastic member  14  and directly, removably fastenable to a fishing lure  20 .  
         [0024]    The fishing device  10  avoids simply tying and retying the fishing lure  20  to the fishing line  16  in a number of ways. The most obvious way the fishing device  10  avoids tying and retying is through the second securing member  18 . While the fishing device  10  remains tied to the fishing line  16 , the second securing member  18  can be fastened and unfastened to a variety of fishing lures  20  without ever needing to tie additional fishing line  16 . In one embodiment, the second securing member  18  is threadably fastened to the fishing lure  20 , although those skilled in the art are capable of devising other tactile fastening means. The removable fastening ability between the second securing member  18  and the fishing lure  20  is one way this fishing device  10  avoids tying and retying fishing line while fishing.  
         [0025]    Another way the present invention avoids tying and retying fishing line while fishing is through the elastic member  12 . While fishing, it is not unusual to have the fishing line  16  break or otherwise detach from the fishing lure  20  when a fish is caught on the lure  20  or the lure  20  is caught on something at the bottom of the water. With the present device, the elastic member  12  prevents these types of mishaps. When a fish is caught, it pulls on the fishing lure with quick, strong bursts of force. Instead of the fishing line  16  bearing the brunt of this force, the elastic member  12  absorbs the tugs, which reduces the strain on the fishing line  16  and the likelihood of the fishing line snapping. Also, if the lure  20  is caught on an inanimate object, pulling the fishing line  16  tight will engage the elastic member  12  and releasing the fishing line  16  will cause the fishing lure  20  to lurch from the inanimate object like a slingshot. This feature reduces the likelihood of the fishing line  16  breaking while caught on the inanimate object and also reduces the need to cut the fishing line  16  as a result of being caught on an inanimate object. Therefore, the elastic member  12  avoids the requirement of tying and retying the fishing line  16 .  
         [0026]    An additional embodiment of the present invention protects the fishing line  16  on the first securing member  14 . In this embodiment, a slideable chamber  22  overlaps the first securing member  14 . Preferably the chamber  22  is connected to the elastic member  12  and slides relative to the first securing member  14  by engaging the elastic member  12 , as shown in FIG. 2. When the elastic member  12  is at rest,. chamber  22  overlaps the first securing member  14 . By overlapping the first securing member  14 , the chamber  22  protects the first securing member  14  from damage and protects the fishing line  16  at the first securing member  14 . Also, the first securing member  14  may distract the fish from the lure  20  if not hidden by the chamber  22 .  
         [0027]    An additional embodiment of the present invention involves attaching a balance point weight  24  to the fishing device  10 . The balance point weight  24  is used when the lure  20  is likely to be touching and/or dragged along the bottom of the water. In that circumstance, the balance point weight  24  will be the fishing device  10  and lure  20  and, thereby, stay lowest to the ground, propping the hook  26  on the lure  20  off the water bottom. Dragging the lure  20  along the water bottom in this position reduces the chance of catching the hook  26  on an inanimate object. One method of attaching the weight  24  to the fishing device  10  would be threadably attaching it to the second securing member  18  before the lure  20 , using the securing member threads  19  and the lure threads  21 . The fishing device  10  could also have a tactile securing element for receiving the weight  24 , which could easily be constructed by one skilled in the art. Preferably, the elastic member  12  is loosely inserted through an opening in the weight  24  and the weight  24  is removably secured when the lure  20  is fastened to the second securing member  18 .  
         [0028]    Additional attachments may be designed and similarly secured to the fishing device  10 . One additional attachment would be a weed protector  25 , as portrayed in FIG. 3, a slender attachment that protrudes as far as the lure  20  for the purpose of keeping the lure  20  from catching on underwater weeds.  
         [0029]    To utilize the present invention, a fishing lure  20  must be used that is adapted or manufactured with the ability to fasten to the second fastening member  18 . A soft body lure  27  can be easily adapted to fasten to the second fastening member  18  by using an insert  28 . The insert  28  is designed for tactile connection to the soft body lure  27  and is mateable with the second fastening member  18 . FIGS. 4 and 5 show two prospective insert embodiments. FIG. 4 shows an insert  28  with deep threads  30  for twisting into and gripping the soft body lure  27 . FIG. 5 shows an insert  28  with a smooth outer surface  32  and a hook  26  on one end of the insert  28 . The insert  28  shown in FIG. 5 slides into the soft body lure  27  and uses the hook  26  to keep the soft body lure  27  from sliding off. Other inserts  28  may be designed by those skilled in the art.  
         [0030]    In another embodiment, the elastic member  12  is insertable within the fishing lure  20 . By inserting the elastic member  12  inside the fishing lure  20 , the elastic member  12  is not a distraction to the fish and is less likely to be damaged. This arrangement is also more aesthetically pleasing to the fisherman because it visually resembles the traditional arrangement of tying the lure  20  directly to the fishing line  16 .  
         [0031]    The present invention is also a novel method  50  of using a fishing lure. The first step in the novel method  50  is tying  52  a fishing line to an elastic member. The next step is directly, removably attaching  54  a first fishing lure to the elastic member. The step of attaching  54  does not require separate fishing line or other extra parts that are not permanently connected to the elastic member or the fishing lure.  
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the method  50  further includes the step of removing  56  the first fishing lure from the elastic member and directly, removably attaching  58  a second lure to the elastic member.  
         [0033]    In another embodiment, the method  50  further includes the steps of removing  56  the first fishing lure from the elastic member, sliding  60  a balance point weight along the elastic member and securing  62  the weight by directly, removably reattaching  64  the first fishing lure to the elastic member. This novel embodiment allows fishermen to efficiently, nonpermanently customize their lures while fishing, allowing them to adapt their lures to the elements.  
         [0034]    In another embodiment, the method  50  further includes a few additional steps. The first additional step is removing  56  the first fishing lure from the elastic member. The next step is modifying  66  a soft body lure with an insert to create a modified fishing lure. The final additional step is directly, removably attaching  68  the modified fishing lure to the elastic member.  
         [0035]    In another embodiment, the step of attaching  54  involves threadably attaching the first fishing lure to the elastic member.  
         [0036]    In another embodiment, the step of attaching  54  further includes sliding  70  a substantial portion of the elastic member into the first fishing lure.  
         [0037]    Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.