Abstract:
A fishing lure and kit are set forth which includes a first member to be secured to the fishing line and a trailing, second member. A capture structure is provided on the first member for removably coupling a selected trailing member thereto. An elastic sleeve is shaped to constrict about the first member to maintain the coupling between the first and second members.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fishing lures and more particularly to fishing lures which can be quickly assembled and disassembled and to kits therefor to enable the fisherman to create a lure having a desired characteristic. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fishing lures and kits therefor have been known as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,289 issued May 20, 1997, to the application herein. Lures according to this patent include a head having an eye adapted for connection to a fishing line. The head includes a fish hook. A flexible, plastic body is secured over the hook to nest at the head such that the hook emerges from the side of the body. A barbed shaft, connected to a hackle or other component attractive to fish is inserted into the body to secure the hackle to the head-body construction to define the lure. 
     Repeated removal of the barbed shaft from the body to change the hackle can damage the body requiring replacement thereof. Further, the barbed shaft may be forcibly torn from the body on a snag or by a forceful strike by a fish resulting in loss of the hackle. 
     There is a need to provide an assembleable lure to more positively secure the hackle or other member to a head member to resist loss of the hackle. There is also a need to provide a kit of components which can be selected to assemble a lure having a desired characteristic be it color, shape or hydrodynamic performance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There is, therefore, provided according to the present invention a fishing lure having a removable trailing member. A first member includes a forward end, means for connecting the first member to a fishing line, a hook and a forward opening notch. The trailing member for the lure has a loop adapted to be received in the notch to couple the trailing member to the first member. An elastic sleeve is adapted to be removably received over the first member to constrict at said notch to secure the selected trailing member to the first member and define the lure. 
     Also provided is a kit for fashioning a lure which has one or more first members each including a forward end and means for connecting the first member to a fishing line, a hook and a forward opening notch. One or more trailing members are provided each including a loop to be received in the notch to couple the trailing member to the first member. One or more elastic sleeves are provided, each adapted to be removably disposed to constrict at the notch to secure the trailing member to the first member and define the lure. 
     The trailing members for the kit may include hackles, worm-form members, minnow-form members or any other desired shape or configuration thought to be attractive to fish. Furthermore, the first members and/or trailing members may be of a variety of shapes and colors as well as providing different hydrodynamic performance in the water. Still further a plurality of elastic sleeves may be provided of different colors and shapes whereby the fisherman can assemble a lure of desired characteristics. As can be appreciated, by providing the loop-notch connection as well as the elastic sleeve, the connection between the hackle or other trailing component is positive in nature resisting loss of the trailing member or hackle on a snag, through repetitive use or upon a forceful strike by a fish. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features and advantages will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the specification, claims and drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a lure according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial section, assembled view of the lure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a lure according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial section, assembled view of the lure of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a lure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the lure of FIG. 5 shown in the position for coupling of a trailing member; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial section, assembled view of the lure of FIGS. 5 and 6; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a kit for fashioning a lure of desired characteristics; 
     FIG.9 illustrates a further embodiment of a lure according to the present embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 12 shows the assembled lure of FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2 one embodiment of a lure  10  according to the present invention is shown. The lure  10  includes a first member  12  having at a forward end a head  14  for the lure  10 . While the head  14  is shown as being a rounded, conical shape, it is understand that the head  14  could have any desired shape and could include a shape to impart hydrodynamic performance to the lure  10  such as by including a scoop, spoon or the like. At the head  14  are included means for securing the lure  10  to a fishing line which may be embodied as an eyelet  16 . While the eyelet  16  is shown as being attached to one side of the head  14  it is to be understood that it could also be attached to the forward end of the head  14 . Secured to and extending rearwardly from the head  14  is a hook  18  of known construction including a shaft  20  which transitions to the arcuate hook segment  22  including at its end a barb  24 . The hook  18 , as is known, is preferably fashioned from stainless steel or the like. 
     According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first member  12  includes a body  26  extending along the hook shaft  20  from the head  14  approximately half way along the length of the shaft  20 . The head  14  and a body  26  are preferably fashioned from lead, a rigid plastic material or other suitable material molded about the hook  18 . If desired, the hook  18  may provide at its end opposite the barb  24  the eyelet  16  whereupon the first member  12  would be molded about the hook so as to expose the eyelet  16  for connection to the fishing line. As shown in the drawings, the body  26  is of a larger diameter than the shaft  20  for the hook  18  but a smaller diameter than the head  14 . 
     Proximate the end of the body  26  there is provided a capturing structure defined according to this embodiment as a notch  28  which may be, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, fashioned by a finger  30  extending outwardly from the body  26  and angled forwardly toward the head  14 . Preferably the finger  30  extends the radial distance from the hook shaft  20  comparable to the radius of the head  14 . It is to be understood that the notch  28  could also be fashioned by enlarging the diameter of the body  26  and providing a forwardly directed, angular slit or by a wire stirrup molded into and extending from the body  26 . 
     With continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lure  10  also includes a trailing member  32  which may be a hackle, a worm-form or minnow-form or any other desired shape thought attractive to fish. The trailing member  32  includes a loop  34  which may be, as shown in the drawings, circular or oval in form but could also be in the shape of a hook or the like. Preferably a continuous loop-form is preferred for the loop  34  to prevent inadvertent release from the first member  12  when the lure  10  is assembled. The loop  34  may be wire or plastic and is configured to be received in the notch  28  as by passing it over the finger  30  to attach the trailing member  32  to the first member  12 . Where the body  26  is formed to have a slit defining the notch  28 , the loop  34  would be passed into the slit for connection of the trailing member  32  to the first member  12 . Accordingly it is to be understood that the fisherman would select a first member  12  and desired trailing member  32  and connect the trailing member loop  34  to the notch  28  to make the connection there between. 
     To maintain engagement between the trailing member  32  and first member  12 , lure  10  includes an elastic sleeve  36  fashioned from rubber, polymeric material or any other suitable elastic material. The sleeve  36  is cylindrical having an outside diameter comparable to that of the head  14  and an axial bore  38  comparable to the diameter of the body  26 . Preferably the diameter of the bore  38  is slightly less than the diameter of the body  26  so that the sleeve  36 , as hereinafter described, would elastically constrict against the body  26 . At one end the sleeve  36  may include an integrally fashioned cap  40  which may be spherical in shape. The axial length of the sleeve  36  is preferably comparable to the distance from the head  14  to the most distal location of the hook segment  22  as shown in FIG.  2 . While the exterior of the sleeve  36  may be smooth, it is to be understood that it could also be provided with circumferential ridges to impart an appearance similar to that of a worm, larvae or other configuration. Furthermore, the sleeve  36  need not have a cylindrical exterior wall but could be rounded as in the shape of a barrel or the like as shown in FIG.  2 . Still further the sleeve may be embodied as an elastic band having a suitable axial dimension to envelop the notch  28 . To enhance the attraction of the lure  10 , the sleeve may be impregnated with a fish attractant or suitable to be impregnated with attractant. 
     To assemble the lure  10 , the sleeve  36  is passed over the hook  18  with the barb  24  piercing the cap  40 . The sleeve  36  is positioned with the hook  18  passing from the bore  38  or piercing the side of the sleeve  36  as shown in FIG.  2 . Thereafter the loop  34  of a selective trailing member  32  is inserted through the bore  38  and is received in the notch. In this position the elastic nature of the sleeve  36  constricts about the body  26  to cover and envelop the notch  28  to retain the engagement between the loop  34  and notch  28 . As can be appreciated the forwardly directed orientation of the notch  28  resists release of the trailing member  32  from the first member  12  should the trailing member  32  be pulled in a rearward direction which typically is the direction of forces which would be imposed upon the trailing member  32 . The constriction of the sleeve  36  about the body  26  otherwise retains the engagement between the loop  34  and notch  28 . As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the loop  34  may be such that the hackle of the trailing member  32  may be partially received in the bore  38  further securing the trailing member  32  thereto. Thereafter the lure  10  may be connected to the fishing line and used or the lure configuration changed while attached to the fishing line. 
     Where the sleeve  36  is embodied as an elastic band, the sleeve  36  is passed over the hook  18  to a position forward of the notch  28 . The trailing member loop  34  is positioned in the notch  28  and the sleeve  36  is moved or rolled to constrict over and envelop the notch  28  and prevent disengagement of the loop  34 . 
     Should a fisherman believe that a different configuration of the lure  10  is required, he may change trailing members  32  by simply urging the trailing member  32  forwardly and twisting to disengage the loop  34  from the notch  28  and pulling it from the bore  38  of the sleeve  36 . A new trailing member  32  is thereafter connected to the first member  12  in the manner described above. 
     Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment of the lure  10  according to the present invention is shown. According to this embodiment, the first member  12 ′ is embodied as a hook  18  having at one end the eyelet  16  formed by bending a leg  42  180 degrees about the axis of the shaft  20 . Alternatively the leg  42  can be secured to the hook shaft  20  by soldering, welding, brazing, adhesive bonding or by a clip. The leg  42  at its end and located proximate the midpoint of the shaft  20 , includes the finger  30  defining the capture structure representing the notch  28 . To assemble the lure  10  according to this embodiment, the sleeve  36  is passed over the barb  24 , with the barb  24  passing through the bore  38 , the sleeve  36  passed along the length of the shaft  20  over the leg  42  to nest the cap  40  against the rearward most extremity of the eyelet  16 . Thereafter the loop  34  of the trailing member  32  is inserted through the bore  38  and connected to the notch  28  in the manner described above. As shown in FIG. 4, the length of the sleeve  36  may be such as to envelop a portion of the trailing member  32  within the bore  38  whereby the sleeve  36  constricts about the hackle as shown. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5-7 yet another embodiment of the lure  10  according to the present invention is shown. According to this embodiment, the sleeve  36 ′ is embodied as having a hydrofoil front face  44  adapted to impart certain hydrodynamic characteristics to the lure  10 . According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7, the front face  44  is configured to provide a surface popping characteristic to the lure  10  comparable to that of popping type plugs and lures. 
     To provide the capture structure, a leg  42  of separate construction is linked to the eyelet  16 . As shown in FIG. 5, the leg  42  can swivel about the eyelet  16 . The leg  42  includes at its end the finger  30  defining the notch  28 . According to this construction, the hook  18  can be of conventional construction with the separate leg  42  linked to the eyelet  16 . Further, the sleeve  36 ′ according to this embodiment may include that the bore  38  extend therethrough. 
     To assemble the lure  10  of FIGS. 5-7, the leg  42  is attached to the eyelet  16 . The end of the leg  42  coupled through the eyelet  16  may have a hook or a loop construction to be easily received through the eyelet  16 . The leg  42  is thereafter positioned against the shaft  20  of the hook  18  and the loop  34  of the selecting trailing member  32  and the notch  28 . Thereafter the sleeve  36  is passed over the eyelet  16  and leg  42  to constrict there against, as shown in FIG. 7, to retain the connection between the loop  34  and notch  28 . The eyelet  16  may then be used to connect the assembled lure  10  to the fishing line. 
     Where the hook  18  is already attached to a fishing line, the fisherman passes the sleeve  36 ′ over the hook, with the hook  18  passing through the bore  38 , and the sleeve  36 ′ is moved to a position along the fishing line as shown in FIG.  5 . Thereafter the leg  42  is connected to the eyelet  16  in the manner described above, is swivelled to a position against the shaft  20  to receive the loop  34  of the trailing member  32 . When the loop  34  is positioned in the notch  28 , the sleeve  36 ′ is moved down the fishing line, over the eyelet  16  to envelop and constrict against the leg  42  to retain the loop  34  within the notch  28 . 
     Turning to FIG. 8 there is shown one embodiment of a kit  46  by which a fisherman may assemble a lure  10  of desired characteristics. The kit  46  includes a plurality of first members  12  each of which, or at least a plurality of which, include different characteristics which may include color, shape, design or hydrodynamic performance inducing configurations. The kit  46  shown in FIG. 8 illustrates a plurality of first members  12  each of which would have different colors while being of identical shape. The kit  46  also includes a plurality of sleeves  36  each of which, or a plurality of which, include different characteristics. The kit  46  shown in FIG. 8 illustrates that the sleeves  36  may be of different colors while of the same construction; however, it is to be understood that the sleeves  36  could be configured to have different shapes or hydrodynamic performance inducing configurations such as, for example, illustrated by the sleeve  36 ′ of FIGS. 5-7. The kit  46  also includes a plurality of trailing members  32  shown as hackles. While the kit  46  of FIG. 8 illustrates that the trailing members  32  are of similar hackle design of different colors, it is to be understood that the trailing members  32  could be of different forms, colors, designs and characteristics, each including the loop  34  for connection to the notch  28  of the first member  12 . 
     Accordingly, a fisherman provided with the kit  46  of FIG. 8, could select the desired first member  12 , trailing member  32  and sleeve  36  to assemble a lure  10  having the desired characteristics of shape, size, color or desired hydrodynamic performance. 
     Turning to FIG. 9 yet another embodiment of the lure  10  is shown. This embodiment is like the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the capture structure rather than being embodied as a notch  28  is fashioned by a wire stirrup  50  molded into the body  26 . The trailing member  32 , instead of including the loop  34  has a clip  52  adapted to be received over the stirrup  50  to secure the trailing member to the body  26 . After the sleeve  36  has been disposed about the body  26  with the hook  22  emerging from the bore  38  or side of the sleeve  36 , the trailing member clip  52  is inserted to grasp the stirrup  50  to secure the trailing member  52  to the body  26 . 
     Turning to FIG. 10 still a further embodiment of the present invention os shown. According to this embodiment, the body  26 ′ is tubular to closely pass the shaft  20  of the hook  18  and is fashioned to include the head  14 , leg  42  with the finger  30  defining the notch  28 . The body  26 ′ may be, for example, a deformable material such as lead crimped about the hook  18  to attach the body  26 ′ thereto. Alternatively the body  26 ′ could be rigid and secured as by soldering, welding or the like. The head  14  has the eyelet  16 . As can be appreciated, the eyelet  16  could also be the eyelet  16  of a standard hook  18  having the body  26 ′ secured thereto. The trailing member  32  has the loop  34  for attaching the trailing member  32  to the body  26 ′ in the manner described above. Also included is the elastic sleeve  36  for completing the lure  10 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 11 and 12 still a further embodiment is shown. This embodiment is like that of FIGS. 3 and 4 except that the leg  42  is connected to the shaft  20  of a standard hook  18  including the eyelet  16  as by bonding, soldering or welding. The lure  10  also includes a hackle  50  disposed forwardly of the leg  42  proximate the eyelet  16 . The lure  10  is assembled in the manner described by positioning the sleeve  36  over the hook shaft  20  to confine the loop  34  engaged in the notch  28 . 
     While I have described certain embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that it is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.