Abstract:
A fishing lure generally including a weighted body portion surrounding the front half of the shank of a hook, a relatively flat spoon portion extending rearward from a lower surface of the body portion, an artificial worm holding barb on the rear end of the body and a feather holding rim just forward of the worm holding barb. The configuration of the body tends to keep the spoon below the hook as the bait is pulled through the water. The hooked portion and the point of the hook extend upward perpendicularly above the surface of the spoon. The weight distribution and general shape of the lure prevents spinning but encourages a more natural and fish attracting side to side motion of the lure while being pulled through the water.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of fishing lures and more particularly to artificial lures which mimic live bait motion while moving through the water. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are typically three directions a fishing lure will move in when being retrieved or when trolled from a boat. These are sway (the side to side movement), pitch (the up and down movement) and wobble which is the rolling action of the lure. Lures, spinners, and spoons are the typical categories. The effectiveness of the lure is determined by weight, color, actions of the lure and the speed of retrieval by the angler. 
         [0003]    Artificial lures often contain portions which resemble small fish, frogs, insects or worms. Such lures often include a spinning portion which reflects light in hopes that the flickering will also attract fish. The shape of such lures often leads to unnatural wobbling, spinning or jerking of the entire lure while moving through the water, which may tend to scare fish away. 
         [0004]    Attempts at designs which encourage a more natural movement of the lure have included tail members which impart a wiggle as a lure moves through the water. Some designs which are exemplary of such attempts include a tail which extends outward from the body of the lure, a tail with a curved end defining a J-shape, or a tail which includes a forward canted wing piece which fluctuates as the bait is pulled forward and causes the bait to flutter. Other lures include a rigid, canted spoon or wall fixed near a front face of a lure and jutting forward out from the face causing the lure to zig zag violently while moving through the water. Some examples include a plurality of articulating body parts linked together by eyelets or chain links. Still other examples comprise a spoon shaped body which either spins or darts about while being pulled through the water. 
         [0005]    A lure which closely mimics the movement of live bait in water is the desired but as of yet unattained goal of artificial lure designers. 
         [0006]    Moreover, substantially all of the conventional types of spoon baits of either open or weedless types tend to turn over or spin when used with an extension member such as a tail, artificial lure such as a worm, skirt of the like. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,738,612 by French teaches a casting spoon having a hook attached thereto for fastening a pork frog or pork strip for use in casting for fish. The spoon is designed open at the rear of the spoon adjacent the rearward extending shank of the hook for attachment of the pork. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,586,186 by Swanberg teaches a spoon type bait wherein the unique hook is formed with an integral eel-like portion. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present fishing lure is preferably made entirely of metal, but is also adapted to be constructed of other selected materials in whole or part such as plastic or fiber glass if desired. Except for the hook it is possible to mold the entire lure as an integral unit. The present invention is directed toward a spoon lure wherein the spoon is spaced apart from the hook portion of the lure by a neck protruding or extending upward from a substantially flat parabolic shaped weighed base or foot having a slightly curved bottom wherein the base connects to the front end of a spoon having a front end wedged within a slot or lateral groove formed in the end of the base. The neck supports a teardrop, wedge, or football shaped head formed integrally with the neck and base. A stem formed integrally with the head, neck and base, extends rearward from the head and includes a ring or rim spaced apart a selected distance from the head for attachment of the elastic collar of a skirt or other bait and surrounding the shaft of a barbed hook protruding from the distal end thereof extending upwardly over the spoon body. The shank of the hook is positioned centrally and longitudinally on top of the spoon body so that the bite portion of the hook projects upwardly at a right angle to the spoon body over the inner end of the tail piece. The hook is disposed at a selected angle from the surface of the spoon. The spoon body is constructed of a single shiny piece of metal of suitable gauge forming a dove tail shaped tail piece. The spoon body is of a concave-convex construction and substantially oval in shape terminating at one end in a tapering tail and with the head portion of the spoon interlocking with the groove within the base in a tongue and groove arrangement with the base formed in a complimentary concave-convex shape in accordance with the front end of the spoon. The weight of the head and the base with respect to the surface area of the spoon is important in order to provide the weight and balance necessary for control of the movement of the spoon to prevent twisting or spinning in the water. An eyelet extending from the front top end of the head serves to connect the line to the lure. 
         [0010]    More particularly, there is provided a fishing lure comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a head supported by a neck extending from a parabolic shaped weighted base to which a spoon or blade is affixed at a selected angle. A stem extends from the head and includes a collar and shaft when which a hook extends spaced apart a selected distance centered above the spoon body. The spoon body is affixed by disposing or wedging the front end portion into a lateral groove formed in the rear end of the base. An eye extends forward from the top portion of the head. The head portion is generally wedged shaped and extends upwardly from a wedge shaped neck. The stem extending from the rear of the head surrounds a portion of the hook shank and includes an optional collar spaced a selected distance from the rear of the head for attachment of a skirt, feathers or other members extending from the lure body extending from the head. The collar is located a selected distance rearward of the head portion and extends radially outward from the stem. The stem also includes a barbed portion at a rear end thereof. The barbed portion is located a selected distance rearward of the collar. The head portion is generally wedged shaped; however, it is contemplated the head can be conical, football shaped, or teardrop shaped as well. The shank extends from and centered with respect to the rear surface of the head. One or two keepers comprising a projection formed on the shaft and/or one or two short wires having a curved distal end may extend a short distance from the rear of the head on either side of the shaft for retaining tube bait and the like. 
         [0011]    The spoon of the lure extending rearward from the fan shaped base is held by and extends rearward therefrom. The elongated narrow spoon has a bottom surface, a top surface, a teardrop shaped peripheral edge tapering into a pointed rear end. 
         [0012]    The spoon portion comprises a standard “willow” blade having a thickness of about one sixty-fourth of an inch and has a width of about one third of the length of the spoon. The spoon is slightly cupped upward near the marginal edges thereof and the bottom surface is curved from the from front to the rear and side to side from about 30 to 45 degrees. The bowl of the spoon is about one sixty-fourth inch deep. The top surface of the spoon faces the shank and is approximately parallel to the shank. The top surface of the spoon is spaced apart from the shank. The free end of the spoon extends rearward beyond the bend of the hook. 
         [0013]    The design of the instant invention provides a means for the novel weight distribution to permit numerous casting techniques to be employed with the lure. For instance, one popular method of spin casting the spoon lure of the present invention is known as “Walking the Dog” comprising a left to right motion. The objective is to make sure that there&#39;s some “line-slack” immediately before each jerk, and immediately after each jerk providing a crisp, natural motion to the lure, unfettered by drag. More particularly, the rod is held low with the rod tip about 1 to 1.5 feet above the water after splashdown. The motion of the lure is activated with wrist action or by using a whole arm motion that pivots from the shoulder. Because of the slack in the line, the rod-tip must move considerably farther than the lure. The pulls are short, typical about 6 inches “at the lure”. At the end of each down-stroke the rod-tip nearly touches the water and is immediately returned to its original position. The opposing hand can be used to take up slack line as it becomes available. Thus, the delivery is a non-stop series of rhythmic strokes that jerk the lure by snapping slack line. The motion causes the lure to zigzag about several inches to alternating sides without pause. The rod-tip must move further than the lure to overcome the line-slack. The lure appears to never stops moving. The lure moves back-and-forth with minimal forward motion. 
         [0014]    The lure of the instant invention can also be jerked or popped with the rod so that the bait will actually turn over in a loop the loop. The bait can even be rolled over in a controlled manner. 
         [0015]    An especially novel feature is the ability to control the movement of the lure when it is sinking so that it wobbles side to side and/or around its center of gravity without the application of any forward motion from the rod and reel. The spoon or blade can be pivoted upon the center of gravity from side to side and rotate up to 180 degrees with respect to the line while still maintaining control of the lure. The lure is designed with the weighted base, neck and head to maintain the center of gravity under the head and base. 
         [0016]    It is an object of this invention to provide a fishing lure which mimics the movements and motion of live bait as the lure is pulled through the water. 
         [0017]    It is an object of this invention to provide a fishing lure which is weighted and balanced in such a way as to maintain a smooth lifelike movement through the water. 
         [0018]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a fishing lure having a design that is shiny and attracts fish while providing unique movement and action as the fishing lure is pulled through the water. 
         [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a spoon bait which creates a transverse swinging or oscillating movement about the hook point. 
         [0020]    It is another object of the present invention to utilize a weighted head in combination with a spoon anchored at and wedged into a groove formed in the rear edge of a front end of a weighted parabolic shaped plate to control oscillating movement of the spoon and prevent the spoon from turning over or spinning when the spoon bait is used with or without an extension member such as a tail, worm, skirt or other trailing bait member. 
         [0021]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a fish lure having a spoon body and having a hook member supported thereon. 
         [0022]    It is another object of the present invention for the head, neck, base, and stem is integrally formed of a single piece. 
         [0023]    It is another object of the present invention to form the head, neck, base and stem from lead in a selected size and shape and weight with respect to the selected size of the spoon to control the balance of the lure. 
         [0024]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a lure having a spoon body wherein the hook point and barb remains serves as the center about which a lure oscillates when the spoon lure is pulled through the water. 
         [0025]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a lure which will continue movement even when the angler stops reeling in the lure wherein the lure will exhibit movement as it sinks continuing to have life like movement until the lure hits the bottom or the lure is maneuvered with the rod and reel. 
         [0026]    It is an object of this invention to provide a fishing lure which includes a body shaped like the head of a fish, a frog, an insect, or other streamlined shape and a rearward facing spoon portion. 
         [0027]    It is an object of this invention to provide a fishing lure containing at least one hook and a body which includes structural elements such as a barbed element and/or an outward extending rim which provide a means to attach an artificial worm and/or a feather for attracting fish. 
         [0028]    It is an object of this invention to provide a fishing lure containing at least one hook, a body and a shallow spoon portion which is balanced and weighted so that the lure is oriented with the spoon portion at the bottom as the lure is pulled through the water. 
         [0029]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for attachment of a hook guard to help prevent entanglement in moss and weeds. 
         [0030]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views wherein: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a left side view of the fishing lure; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a right side view of the fishing lure; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the fishing lure; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the fishing lure; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the fishing lure with a feather attachment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a right side view of the fishing lure with a night crawler attachment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a wedge shaped head spoon lure; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is side view of the wedge shaped head spoon lure; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a top view of a cone shaped head spoon lure showing a cutaway view of the front end of the spoon disposed in the wedge shaped cavity formed in the rear end wall of the parabolic shaped base; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the present embodiment shown without the barb retaining member or wire guard; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  shows an embodiment of the present invention without the retaining rim coaxially encircling the stem; 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  shows an embodiment using a pair of wire keepers in place of the rim and or barb retaining member on the stem; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  shows an embodiment without the stem body, rim, or barb retaining member. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0045]    The present fishing lure is preferably made entirely of metal particularly steel or aluminum or copper or chrome or stainless steel usually in combination with lead, but is also adapted to be constructed of other selected materials in whole or part such as plastic or fiberglass if properly weighted to maintain the desired balance. The present invention is directed toward a spoon lure wherein the spoon is spaced apart from the hook portion of the lure by a neck protruding or extending upward from a substantially flat slightly curved parabolic shaped weighed base or foot connecting to the front end of a spoon having a front end wedged within a slot or lateral groove formed in the end of the base. The neck supports a tear drop, wedge, or football conical shaped head formed integrally with the neck and base. A stem formed integrally with the head, neck and base, extends rearward from the head and includes a collar for attachment of skirt or other bait and surrounds the shaft of a barbed hook protruding from the distal end thereof extending upwardly over the spoon body. The shank of the hook is positioned centrally and longitudinally on top of the spoon body so that the bite portion of the hook projects upwardly at a right angle to the spoon body over the inner end of the tail piece. The hook is disposed at a selected angle from the surface of the spoon. The spoon body is constructed of a single shiny piece of metal of suitable gauge forming a dove tail shaped tail piece. The spoon body is of a concave-convex construction and substantially oval in shape terminating at one end in a tapering tail and with the head portion of the spoon interlocking with the groove within the base in a tongue and groove arrangement with the base formed in a complimentary concave-convex shape in accordance with the front end of the spoon. The weight of the head with respect to the surface area of the spoon is a critical relationship in order to provide the weight and balance necessary for control of the movement of the spoon. An eyelet extending from the front top end of the head serves to connect the line to the lure. 
         [0046]    As best shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , a spoon type fishing lure  10  comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of a head  40  mounted around the top front end portion of a hook  36  having a body  12  extending from the head and surrounding a selected portion of the shank  14  of the hook. The head is an aerodynamic shape comprising a teardrop, wedge, cone, or football shaped head formed integrally with a neck and base. The head may be of a fanciful design such as that of a fish, insect or amphian as well. The neck supports a teardrop, wedge, or football shaped head formed integrally with the neck and base. The head is attached to the spoon  22  by a wedge shaped neck  19  protrudes or extends upward from a substantially flat parabolic shaped weighed base  20  or foot having a rounded front end  42  and a slightly curved or convex bottom  44  wherein the base  20  connects to the front end  46  of a spoon  22  having a front end  46  wedged within a slot or lateral groove  48  formed in the rear end wall  50  of the base. The stem body  12  is formed integrally with the head, neck and base, and extends rearwardly from the head and includes a ring or rim  18  spaced apart a selected distance from the head  40  for the optional attachment of the elastic collar  26  of a skirt or feathered attachment  27  or other bait or attachment member which surrounds the shaft  14  of a barbed hook protruding from the distal end thereof extending and curving upwardly over the spoon body. The hook  36  comprises a point and barb  35 , a bend  32 , a shank  14  and an eye  24  which extends from the front top portion of the head. The shank is the straight portion of the hook between the eye  24  and the bend  32 . The neck and base spaces the spoon body below the shank of the hook which is positioned centrally and longitudinally on top of the spoon body so that the pointed tip portion of the hook projects upwardly at a right angle to the spoon body. 
         [0047]    The body portion  12  is located at the front of the lure and resembles the head of a fish, frog, or insect. The body  12  includes a rear, cylindrical stem  12  coaxially surrounding the shank  14 . The ring or rim  18  which extends radially outward from the neck  19 . In one embodiment, a barbed element  16  projects outwardly from the stem. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rim  18  provides a ledge over which the elastomeric collar  26  of a feather attachment  27  is slipped. In this position, the elastomeric collar  26  tightly embraces the rim portion  18 . In  FIG. 6 , an attachment member such as an artificial elastomeric night crawler  28  is partially impaled over the point and barb  35 , the bend  32 , the shank  14  and is then impaled upon barb  16 . The remainder of the artificial night crawler  28  dangles behind the hook. The barb  16  is firmly grasped by the neck portion  29  of the night crawler  28 .  FIG. 12  shows an alternate embodiment wherein keepers  64 ,  66  comprise curved wire members extending rearwardly from the back of the head on either side of the shaft of the hook. 
         [0048]    A neck portion  19  extends downward from the body portion  12  and flares out in a rearward direction to form a horizontal spoon holding fan portion  20 . The shallow spoon  22  extending rearward from the fan or base portion  20 . A shallow spoon member  22  is held in and extends horizontally rearward from the fan portion  20 . In one preferred embodiment, the spoon portion  22  is approximately one and one half of the length of the shank  14  and therefore extends rearward past the hook  36 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the flattened side of spoon  22  has the overall outline of an elongated willow leaf with the widest portion being approximately one third of the overall length of the spoon. The thickness of the spoon is approximately one sixty-fourth of an inch. With reference to  FIG. 1 , the spoon  22  is slightly cupped upward near the marginal edges so that the bowl of the spoon is about 1/64 inch deep. 
         [0049]    The body  12  is preferably made from lead, a lead alloy or any similarly dense, corrosion resistant material which can be molded. The body is preferably molded to resemble the head of a fish, frog, or insect. The spoon is preferably made of stainless steel, aluminum, steel, chromed steel or other shiny metallic material. 
         [0050]    Other preferred embodiments include a hook whose shank is between approximately one third and two thirds of the overall length of the spoon  22 . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , one preferred embodiment of the fishing lure includes a fine, leaf spring like flexible wire guard  30  or double wire guard comprising a plastic or preferably metal extending from the stem  12  of the lure to the point  34  and barb  35  of the hook which tends to prevent weeds and moss from gathering on the hook. However the guard  30  is weak enough to allow a fish to swallow and bite the bait and become hooked on the lure. Attachment of extension members such as a living or artificial lure, for instance a rubber worm or skirt to or over and around the hook. 
         [0052]    While movement of the fishing lure is shown and described as being in a side to side manner, it is also understood that movement of the lure may be in an up-and-down manner. When a technique such as “walk the dog” is employed the weighted head together with manipulation of the rod imparts a strong up-and-down or side-to-side movements resulting in sliding or twisting of the lure body about is longitudinal axis. The twisting of the body imparts a wavelike motion to any extension members such as feathers, tails, worms or other trailing bait attached to the hook shank behind the lure body in front of or on the hook. The vigorous motion of the body or body with extension members functions to attract fish as the fishing lure is pulled or moves through the water. 
         [0053]    Moreover, the lure body&#39;s spoon behaves like a sled providing sliding moves in a side-to-side motion that is attractive to fish. 
         [0054]    While the body extension member of the present invention has been shown and described in connection with two specific lure configurations, it is understood that the body extension member may be used in connection with artificial fishing lures of virtually any configuration. In addition, it is understood that the end structure of the body extension member may be located at the end of any type of fishing lure body or any other member that extends form a fishing lure body. 
         [0055]    Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention. 
         [0056]    The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made upon departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplification presented herein above. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.