Abstract:
A fishing lure having a wire frame forming a receptacle which releasably receives and holds an elongated insert. The wire frame includes a first end and a second end. In one embodiment, the lure also includes an end cap having a cavity for releasably receiving the first end of the frame. A portion of the first end extends through the line cap. The lure also includes a hook end cap having a cavity for receiving the second end of the frame. The hood end cap includes an aperture. A portion of the second end of the wire frame extends through the aperture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fishing lure. In particular the present invention is a wire frame which carries a tubular insert element (such as a chemiluminescent or colored tube). 
     Fishing is among the most popular recreational sports. Anglers are of all ages and from virtually all walks of life. In the United States, it is estimated that between 40 and 60 million people go fishing every year. There is a never ending quest for more effective fishing lures. Lures of all shapes, colors, and sizes have been used in attempts to attract fish and increase fishing success. Fish can be attracted by the sight, sound, and smell of lures. 
     In the past, various attempts have been made to develop a lighted lure which would be useful in attracting fish during low light conditions. These conditions may occur during evening hours, during overcast days, and even on brightly lit days when water clarity is low. Examples of lighted fishing lures include the following patents: Bercz, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,903; Murphy U.S. Pat. No. Des. 381,734; Northcutt U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,868; Kulak U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,256; Malphrus U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,350; Cota, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,120; Douglas, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,904; Kaplan U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,851; Ladyjensky U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,051; Livingston U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,857; Troescher U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,266; Giglia U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,405; Steiger, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,629; Hunt U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,690; and Ladyjensky U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,968. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The fishing lure of the present invention may be used alone or in combination with other lures to form various lure styles including a crankbaits or jigs. More specifically, the fishing lure is a wire frame which can accommodate an elongated insert. The insert is releasably held in the wire frame. In preferred embodiments, the element is a chemiluminescent tube held in place by end caps attached on each end of the tube. 
     The fishing lure may be used alone or as part of a kit which includes a frame and a set of inserts. The inserts can include chemiluminescent tubes, as well as inserts which are not light emitting, but which have different colors and specific gravities. As a result, the same lure body can be modified to present different appearances, including those which are light emitting and those which operate at various depths. These variations in the lure inserts enable the lure to attract fish or trigger striking of the lure under a variety of different conditions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the fishing lure of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of one embodiment of an end cap of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of an end cap of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the inventive fishing lure. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the inventive fishing lure. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a fishing lure kit which includes a lure and a set of tubular inserts. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention frame fishing lure shown generally at  10 . Frame fishing lure  10  includes wire frame  12 , first end cap  14 , second end cap  16  and chemiluminescent tube  18 , front eyelet  20 , and rear eyelet  22 . 
     Chemiluminescent tube  18  is disposed within the wire frame  12 . The wire frame  12  is formed so that a first leg  23 A and a second leg  23 B run longitudinally along the length of the tube  18 . The legs  23 A and  23 B substantially conform with the shape of the tube  18 . The first end cap  14  is positioned over the wire frame  12  so as to extend over a portion of the tube  18  disposed in the wire frame  12 . The second end cap  16  is positioned over another portion of the tube  18  disposed in the wire frame  12 . Using the frame  12  in this fashion to support the tube  18  exposes a large area of the tube  18 , allowing the maximum amount of color and light to be presented to the fish. The tube  18  can easily be replaced from any number of commercial sources. 
     Chemiluminescent tubes are available from several sources and are available in different sizes and different colors. Typically, the chemiluminescent tube  18  is activated by bending the tube  18  until a snapping sound is heard, which breaks a seal separating two substances within the tube. The chemicals within the tube are then mixed by shaking the tube. Once activated, tube  18  is inserted within the wire frame  12 . One form of chemiluminescent tube which has been used with the present invention is Cyalume® light stick from Omniglo Corp. Cyalume® is a registered trademark of American Cynamiad Co. Cyalume® light sticks are available in 1.5 inch (0.25 ml fluid) sizes in a number of different colors (including red and yellow). They are also available in larger 7.5 mm×75 mm size, which is used with larger lures. 
     Another chemiluminescent tube which can be used with the present invention is the Fire Fly light stick from Bandi Co., Ltd. Seoul, Korea. 
     Light emitted from chemiluminescent tube  18  provides additional color or flash to the lure, and is particularly advantageous in low light conditions caused either by lack of water clarity, weather conditions, or the time of day. 
     Colored tubes of varying sizes, which are not chemiluminescent, can also be inserted into wire frame  12 . For example, under certain conditions a red, orange, chartreuse, silver, or copper colored tube can provide additional color to frame lure  10  which may attract fish or trigger strikes. Additionally, other types of tubular inserts may be used in place of chemiluminescent tube  18 . Materials which have a variety of specific gravities may be used to vary the depth at which the lure runs. For example, balsa wood or an oil filled tube can create an insert which causes the lure to float on top of the water. A lead insert can be used to cause the lure to sink. Although the preferred embodiment is of a tube having a circular cross section, a variety of cross sections (including square and hexagonal) can be used. The present invention provides the flexibility of presenting different appearances with the same lure, as desired by the angler. 
     The front eyelet  20  is fashioned from the wire frame  12  and extends through the first end cap  14 . Rear eyelet  22  is also fashioned from the wire frame  12 , and extends through the second end cap  16 . Additional lure components such as blade assembly  24  may be connected to the front eyelet  20  to produce a variety of lure styles which can vary according to the fisherman&#39;s wishes. Fishing line  25  is typically attached to the blade assembly  24  (or any other lure style) or to a snap swivel (not shown) connected to the front eyelet  20 . A person skilled in the art would realize that the fishing line  25  could be attached to the inventive frame lure  10  in any number of ways. For example, multiple “accessory” lures could be attached to the front eyelet  20 , and the fishing line  25  attached to one of the plurality of “accessory” lures. By combining a variety of lures with the inventive wire frame lure  10 , lure styles including spinners, jigs, or floaters can be created. Connecting the blade assembly lure  24  to the front eyelet  20 , helps to prevent the cap from sliding off the tube  18 . The rear eyelet  22  is preferably used to connect a hook  26  to the lure  10 . Alternatively, the rear eyelet  22  may be used to connect additional lure components, including crank baits and jigs to create various lure styles as described above. The rear eyelet  22  typically is connected to a split ring  26  which then is used to attach the hook  26  or additional lure components. Although the preferred embodiment uses wire to manufacture the frame  12 , a person skilled in the art would realize any stiff thin material can be used for the frame  12  (e.g. plastic). 
     FIG. 2 shows an illustration of how the tube  18  is inserted into the wire frame  12 . The wire frame  12  consists of a front end  30  and a rear end  31 . The tube  18  has a first end  32  and a second end  33 . The tube  18  is disposed longitudinally within the frame  12 . The first end  32  of the tube  18  is disposed proximate to the front end  30  and the second end  33  of the tube  18  is disposed proximate to the rear end  31 . The first end cap  14  is then slid over the front end  30  of the wire frame  12  so as to fit over a portion of the chemiluminescent tube  18 . The front eyelet  20  extends through an aperture  34 A in the first end cap  14 . The second end cap  16  is disposed over the rear end  31  of the wire frame  12  and a second portion of the chemiluminescent tube  18 . The rear eyelet  22  extends through an aperture  34 B in the second end cap  16 . The split washer  28  is then attached to the rear eyelet  22 . The first end cap  14  and the second end cap  16  are held in place by a friction fit between the end caps  14  and  16  and the tube  18 . The split washer  28  “locks” the second end cap  16  into place by preventing the rear eyelet  22  from being pulled back through the aperture  34 B in the second end cap  16 . Although it is not illustrated, a person skilled in the art would realize that the split ring  26  can be placed on the front eyelet  20  as well. 
     FIG. 3 is an inside end view of first end cap  14 . This end cap is representative of all end caps illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  5  and  6 . End caps  14  and  16  are typically manufactured by injection molding polycarbonate plastic, however, other materials such as aluminum, steel or lead may be used. First end cap  14  includes the aperture  34 A which allows passage of the front eyelet  20  of the wire frame  12  (see FIG.  2 ). Typically, two slots  35 A and  35 B are disposed on opposite sides of the aperture, serving as guides to the first leg  23 A and the second leg  23 B. Although slots  35 A and  35 B are shown in FIG. 3., a person skilled in the art would realize alternate embodiments of the inventive fishing lure  10  may exist which do not utilize slots  35 A and  35 B. A cavity  36  is formed in end cap  14  which allows for the wire frame  12  and the chemiluminescent tube  18  to be disposed therein. Notches  38 A and  38 B are disposed into opposing sides of the cavity  36 . These notches  38 A and  38 B are positioned so as to receive the wire frame  12  while still maintaining a tight friction fit between the end cap  14  and the tube  18  and typically are positioned radially from slots  35 A and  35 B. 
     The frame lure  10  may be provided with various accessories that are commercially available. For example, buck tail  40  may be added to the first end cap  14  as shown in FIG.  4 . Using interchangeable end caps  14  and  16  allows various effects to be achieved by the inventive lure  10 . For example, differently colored bucktail or differently colored end caps may be used. Additionally, bucktail may be positioned between the tube  18  and the end cap  14 . A person skilled in the art would realize that other common lure accessories may be added in this fashion to the fishing lure  10 . 
     An alternate embodiment of the inventive frame fishing lure  50  is shown in FIG.  5 . In this embodiment, the frame lure  50  utilizes a helical wire frame  52 . The end caps  14  and  16  and the eyelets  20  and  22  are identical to those utilized in the inventive fishing lure  10 , as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The helical wire frame  52  maintains the chemiluminescent tube  18  between the end caps  14  and  16 . When the fisherman wishes to remove the tube  18  from the fishing lure  50 , he or she removes one or both of the end caps  14  and  16  as shown in FIG.  6 . After the end caps  14  and  16  are removed, the chemiluminescent tube  18  is slid out of a hollow area  54  formed by the braided wire frame  52 . A first leg  56 A and a second leg  56 B form helixes around the tube  18 . This embodiment of the invention provides more support for the tube  18 , while covering a small amount more surface area of the tube  18  than the embodiment shown with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     Another embodiment of the inventive frame fishing lure  60  is shown in FIG.  7 . The lure  60  uses a braided sock frame  62 . The frame  62  is a flexible wire mesh. The tube  18  is disposed inside the mesh frame  62  and a front eyelet  63  and a rear eyelet  64  are fixably attached to opposite ends of the mesh frame  62 . Gaps  65  exist between wires  66  that form the mesh. When the front eyelet  63  and the rear eyelet  64  are attached to the hook, the wire mesh  62  is pulled along its longitudinal axis. The wires  66  are pulled taut, and the gaps  65  maintain a fixed area smaller than the cross sectional area of the tube  18 . 
     To remove the tube  18 , tension on the eyelets  63  and  64  is released, and the wires  66  which form the braided frame  62  become flexible, as shown in FIG.  8 . One of the gaps  65  existing between the wires  66  can be expanded by flexing the wires  66  surrounding the gap  65 . The tube  18  is inserted through the gap  65  forcing the gap  65  to expand to accommodate the cross-sectional area of the tube  18 . In the optimal embodiment of the lure  60 , the braided frame  62  is made slightly longer than the tube  18 . To position the tube  18  inside the mesh  62 , the selected gap  65  is disposed proximate to either the front eyelet  63  or the rear eyelet  64 . 
     FIG.9 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention in the form of a fishing lure kit  70 . The kit  70  includes a container  72  with foam liner  74  having cutout sections  76 ,  78 , and  80 . 
     Fishing lure  90 , which for example may be any one of the forms illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 is positioned within cutout  76 . Cutout  78  contains a number of different colored tubes  100 . The tubes may be, for example, chartreuse, copper, red, yellow, and silver, or may be a wide variety of other colors. The tubes may additionally be manufactured from materials having a variety of specific gravities. Cutout  80  provides a storage space for sealed packages  110  which contain chemiluminescent tubes. 
     The present invention provides a simple and effective way to vary the appearance and operating depth of a fishing lure as needed and dictated by different fishing conditions. Different colors of inserts can provide a different appearance which may more closely match the appearance of bait fish in the body of water being fished, or may provide a color which triggers a strike because of lighting and water clarity conditions. Variations in operating depths can also trigger strikes depending on variables such as water temperature and rising or falling water levels. The use of chemiluminescent tube inserts can provide for an increased visibility or flash to the lure in low light or poor water clarity conditions. Changes to the lure are made quickly and easily using the inserts without the need to retie a new lure. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.