Abstract:
A floating fishing lure includes a flexible elongated element with an outwardly extending protrusion for slapping against the water. The outwardly extending protrusion slaps against the water as the lure is moved on the top of the water, both on open water as well as on or over weeds, lily pads, and the like. The lure may be segmented or smooth, as desired. Different embodiments of the lure are presented, included different configurations of the protrusion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to fishing lures and, more particularly, to a floating fishing lure which makes a noise as it causes splashes on the water as it moves on the top of the water. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Prior art fishing lures which float or move on the top surface of water, including over grass, lily pads, and the like, generally move rather silently. Some may move sinuously, but any noise or slapping of the water is purely incidental. 
     The fishing lure of the present invention includes outwardly extending extensions which slap against the water and accordingly make a noise to attract fish. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described and claimed herein comprises a floating fishing lure made of a relatively flexible. elastomeric (plastic) material and which floats on the surface of water. Since the lure is flexible, it moves sinuously as it is dragged along the top of the water. An outwardly extending projection or protrusion causes the lure to slap against the water, thus making a noise and attracting fish to the lure. 
     Among the objects of the present invention are the following: 
     To provide a new and useful fishing lure; 
     To provide a new and useful floating fishing lure; 
     To provide a new and useful flexible fishing lure; 
     To provide a new and useful fishing lure which includes an outwardly extending projection to slap against the water as the lure moves; and 
     To provide a new and useful flexible floating fishing lure which includes a projection which slaps against the water as the lure moves on the water. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in its use environment. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a view in partial section along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view in partial section of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a view in patrial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 11 taken generally along line  12 — 12  of FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of floating fishing lure apparatus  10  embodying the present invention. The lure  10  is divided into two primary portions, a front portion  12  and a rear portion  14 , by an outwardly extending protrusion  16 . 
     The protrusion  16  includes a front face  18  which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body which includes the front portion  12  and the rear portion  14 . The protrusion  16  is also coaxial with the front and rear portions. The protrusion  16  also includes a rear convex portion which extends rearwardly from the front face  18  to the real portion  14 . Adjacent to the generally flat front face  18  is a front concave portion  22 . A plurality of ribs  24  extend from. the front face  18  to the body  12  and rearwardly to the front concave portion  22 . 
     The purpose of the rear convex portion is to provide stability for the front face  18  to insure that the front face  18  remains generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lure apparatus  10 . That is, the front face  18  will remain in its general perpendicular orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lure  10  as the lure is pulled across the top of water, lily pads, grass, etc. The ribs  24  provide the necessary stability, together with the mass of the convex portion  20 , to insure the perpendicular axis orientation of the protrusion  16 . 
     The purpose of the protrusion  16 , with its generally perpendicular front face  18  and the front convex portion  22 , is to essentially slap the water to make a noise as the lure apparatus  10  is moved on the top of the water. The lure apparatus  10  has a density of less than  1 , and is accordingly lighter than water. It accordingly will float. As it is drawn across th e top of the water, or grass, or lily pads, etc., the protrusion will cause a slapping sound on the water to attract fish. 
     The lure  10  is also very flexible and may move sinuously as it is pulled along. 
     A fish hook  26  is embedded in the front portion  12 . The fish hook  26  includes an eye  28  to which fishing line is connected for moving the lure apparatus  10  across the water. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of lure apparatus  30  embodying the present invention. The lure apparatus  30  is similar to the lure apparatus  10  of FIG. 1, in that it includes a front portion  32 , a rear portion  34 , and a protrusion  36  dividing the two portions. However, the lure apparatus  30  includes a plurality of segments, while the lure apparatus  10  of FIG. 1 has a generally smooth outer configuration. 
     The front portion  32  and the rear portion  34  are both segmented which allows the lure apparatus  30  to move sinuously on the top of the water as it is pulled along. 
     As with the lure apparatus  10 , the rear portion  34  is generally longer than the front portion  32 . However, it is obvious that the protrusion may be located anywhere longitudinally with respect to the front and rear portions. The terms “front” and “rear” are thus relative in length; they are s imply the portions divided by the protrusion. 
     The protrusion  36  includes a generally flat front face  38  and a generally convex portion  40  extending rearwardly from the front face  38  to the rear portion  34 . Again, the purpose of the protrusion  36 , with its front face  38  is to provide a slapping function against the water as the lure apparatus  30  is pulled along. The mass of the convex portion  40  provides stability to maintain the front face  38  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lure  30 . 
     FIG. 3 is a view in partial section taken generally along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2, particularly illustrating the protrusion  36 . The protrusion  36 , as indicated above, includes a front face  38  which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, including the front portion  32  as shown in FIG. 3 in partial section and the rear portion  34  (see FIG.  2 ). The protrusion  36  also includes a concave portion  42  extending rearwardly from the front face  38  and extending to the body  32 . A plurality of ribs  44 , illustrated as two, extend between the front face  38  and the body  32  and the concave portion  42  to provide the stability required to maintain the orientation of the front face  38  generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lure apparatus  30 . 
     The number of ribs may vary, in addition to the mass of the protrusion, as required to maintain the structural integrity of the front face with respect to the perpendicularity of the lure&#39;s axis as the lure is pulled along. 
     Rather than having the protrusion extending substantially three hundred sixty degrees about the body of the lure, the protrusion may be divided into multiple portions, such as illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6 . FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6  are views in partial section of different protrusion configurations, each of which extends outwardly from the body of a lure. 
     In FIG. 4, a pair of protrusions  52  and  56  extend outwardly from the body  50 . The protrusions  52  and  56  are diametrically opposed to each other and each includes a generally flat front face which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lure body. The front faces include a front face  54  and a front face  58 . A concave portion  55  extends rearwardly from the front face  54 , while a concave portion  59  extends rearwardly from the front face  58 . As with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusions  54  and  56  include convex portions which provide the mass required to maintain the front faces  54  and  58  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body  50 . 
     In FIG. 5, three protrusions  62 ,  66 , and  70  are illustrated as extending outwardly from the body  60 . The protrusions  62 ,  66 , and  70  include front faces  64 ,  68 , and  72 , respectively, each of which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body  60 . Again, there are concave and convex portions extending rearwardly from the front face, to provide the necessary mass for the protrusions, as discussed above. 
     FIG. 6, four protrusions  82 ,  86 ,  90 , and  94  extend outwardly from a body  80 . Each of the four protrusions includes a front face which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body  80 . The front faces include a front face  84 , a front face  88 , a front face  92 , and a front face  96 . It will be noted that the front faces in the embodiment of FIG. 6 are generally flat for their entire surface area, and do not include concave portions. However, as with the other embodiments discussed above, each of the four protrusions include sufficient mass, preferably having a convex outer configuration, behind them to maintain the front faces generally perpendicular to the axis of the body  80 . 
     FIG. 7 is a view in partial section showing a protrusion  100  extending outwardly from a body  102  portion. The protrusion  100  has a generally square configuration, with rounded corners. The protrusion  100  includes a front face  104  which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion  102 . 
     Extending from the body portion  102  to the front face  104  are four ribs  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112 . Rearwardly of the front face  102  and between the ribs are four concave portions  114 ,  16 ,  118 , and  120 . The concave portion  114  is between the ribs  106  and  108 . The concave portion  116  is between the ribs  108  and  110 ; the concave portion  118  is between the ribs  110  and  112 ; and the concave portion  120  is between the ribs  112  and  106 . A convex portion, not shown in FIG. 7, extends rearwardly from the front face  104 , and, of course, is behind the concave portions. 
     FIG. 8 is a view in partial section of a protrusion  130  which extends outwardly from a body portion  132 . The protrusion  130  has a generally oval shape or configuration. The protrusion  130  includes a front face  134  which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body  132 . The protrusion  130  includes four ribs  136 ,  138 ,  140 , and  142  which extend outwardly from the body portion  132  to the front face  134 , 
     Four concavities are defined between the ribs, the body  132 , and the front face  134 . The concavities include a concavity  144  between the ribs  136  and  138 , a concavity  146  between the ribs  138  and  140 , a concavity  148  between the ribs  140  and  142 , and a concavity  150  between the ribs  142  and  136 . The outer configuration of the protrusion  130  is, like the other protrusions discussed above, generally convex. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, comprising a protrusion  160 . The protrusion  160  is disposed between a front lure portion  162  and a rear lure portion  164 . The protrusion  160  includes a front face  166  and a rear convex portion or configuration  176 . 
     The view of protrusion  160  in FIG. 9 shows three ribs  168 ,  170 , and  172 . The ribs extend rearwardly from the front face  166  to the rear of concave portions or chambers  178  and  180 . The concavity or chamber  178  is defined by an inner rear concave wall  179  and the walls  168  and  170 , and the concavity or chamber  180  is defined by an inner rear concave wall  181  and the walls  170  and  172 . 
     An aperture or bore  182  extends through the rear concave wall of the chamber  178 , and an aperture or bore  184  extends through the rear wall of the chamber  180 . Both apertures or bores terminate on the outer convex surface  176 . The apertures  182  and  184  are shown as converging, but they may also be of uniform diameter, if desired, or they may even be diverging. However, the converging configuration provides a spurting or outward spray of fountain effect in the water flow through them as the lure is pulled along the surface of the water. As is well known and understood, the effect of such converging or inward tapering of the apertures or bores is to increase the speed of the flow of the water through the bores, thus providing the desired spray. This effect may be helpful in attracting fish. 
     Note also that the body portions  162  and  164  are shown as differing in diameter. The diameters of the body portions may be the same, or they may differ, as desired. Moreover, the body portions are also shown as tapering in FIGS. 1 and 2, but they may also have a uniform diameter, if desired. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the floating lure apparatus of the present invention, comprising a lure  200 . There are two primary differences between lure apparatus  200  and the lure embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. The lure apparatus includes a segmented front portion  202  and a bifurcated rear portion  204 . The rear portion  204  is bifurcated into a pair of outwardly extending tail portions  206  and  208 . 
     Between the front portion  202  and the rear portion  204  is an outwardly extending protrusion  210 . The protrusion  210  is substantially the same as the protrusions  16  and  36  of the embodiments of FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , discussed above. If desired, the protrusion  120  may be segmented, such as illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6 , etc. 
     The protrusion  210  includes a front face  212  which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the front portion  202  and the rear portion  204  prior to the bifurcated tail portions. Again, the purpose of the protrusion  210 , and its front face  212 , is to slap the water as the lure  200  is dragged across the top of the water to attract fish. The protrusion  210  also includes a rear convex portion  214  to provide the necessary mass or strength to maintain the front face  212  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lure apparatus  2000  as the lure is dragged on top of the water. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, specifically comprising an alternate embodiment of the lure apparatus  200  of FIG.  10 . FIG. 12 ia a side view of the lure  230  of FIG. 11 taken generally along line  12 — 12  of FIG.  11 . For the following discussion, reference will be made to both FIGS. 11 and 12. 
     Lure apparatus  230  includes a front portion  232 , a rear portion  234 , and an outwardly extending protrusion  240  between the front portion  232  and the rear portion  234 . The rear portion  234  is also bifiucated, and includes a pair of tail elements  236  and  238 . The tail elements  236  and  238  differ from the tail elements  206  and  208  of the lure apparatus  200  of FIG. 10 in that the tail elements  236  and  238  curl outwardly away from each other. 
     The protrusion  240  includes a front face  242  which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lure apparatus  230 . The protrusion  240  includes a convex rear surface portion  244  which covers the mass to provide the necessary strength to maintain the front face  242  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lure apparatus. This is, of course, substantially the same as discussed above for the other embodiments. 
     The lure apparatus  230  is illustrated as being generally smooth, rather than segmented. However, it is obvious that the lure apparatus  230  may be segmented rather than smooth, and likewise that the lure apparatus  200  may be smooth rather than segmented. 
     The lure apparatus  230  also differs from the lure apparatus  200  and the lure apparatus  10  of FIG. 1, and the lure apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3, in that it includes a pair of membranes  250  and  252 . 
     The front portion  232  includes a front end or tip  246 , and a pair of relatively thin membranes  250  and  252  extend outwardly and rearwardly from the front end or tip  246  to the front face  242  of the protrusion  240 . The membranes  250  and  252  are generally along the same plane as is the rear portion  234 , with its bifurcated tail elements  236  and  238 . 
     The purpose of the membranes  250  and  252  is to help maintain the planarity of the lure  230  as it is dragged across the top of the water. 
     The above described lures are all floating, flexible fishing lures. The lures will remain on the top of the water as they are dragged along by a fishing user. While each of the embodiments differ from one another, they all include an outwardly extending protrusion designed to slap the water as the lure is moved along the surface of the water. The body portions are preferable circular in configuration. 
     In all of the embodiments, the protrusions are disposed coaxially with the front and rear portions. This is so weather the protrusions are generally circular, as in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , or whether they are rectangular as in FIG. 7 or oval as in FIG. 8, or in separate segments, as in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6 . The front and rear portions are, of course, axially aligned. 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.