Abstract:
A expandable bait sleeve and method therefor capable of expanding in order to securely retain baits of various sizes and dimensioned to be coupled to various types of fishing lures and fishing hooks in order to improve a fisherman&#39;s chances of catching a fish by minimizing the chance that a fish will be able to “steal” the bait without being caught on the hook.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to fishing aids and, more specifically, to an expandable bait sleeve and method therefor capable of expanding in order to securely retain baits of various sizes and dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line and a fishing hook in order to improve a fisherman&#39;s chances of catching a fish by minimizing the chance that a fish will be able to “steal” the bait without being caught on the hook  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Fishing is not only a popular pastime but also a commercial industry, as well as a sport. All those that fish generally use a form of bait to lure a fish to some sort of hook. Many fishermen, especially those who do so recreationally, attach various kinds of baits to hooks which are in turn attached to a fishing line that is coupled to a fishing rod. Catching a fish with a fishing lure is essentially a two-step process: first one must attract the fish with a lure by using a good bait, and then one must actually snare the fish on a hook while the fish is trying to eat the bait. There are many companies who market different fishing lures to attract fish, leaving fishermen with the dilemma of how to attach a bait to a hook in such a way that the bait will stay on the hook during casting, while in the water, and while a fish is eating it. Some baits, both live and artificial, are fragile, thus contributing to the difficulty of securely attaching the bait to a hook.  
           [0003]    There have been various attempts to use holders of some kind to secure bait to a hook. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,280 issued to Hudson discloses a transparent member for encasing the hook and the bait and a sealing means for sealing the bait and hook in the transparent member. The Hudson patent presents several problems, however. First, the sealing member prevents fish from being able to nibble on any portion of the bait, since it is entirely encased in the transparent member. Additionally, the transparent member is fixed in size and therefore unable to retain bait by means of frictional engagement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,788 issued to Brockett discloses a catfish bait holder that utilizes a hollow cylinder and a cylindrical sponge to keep bait inside. The Brockett cylinder is designed for use with a viscous bait, not live or standard artificial baits. Like the Hudson patent, the Brockett cylinder is fixed in size and is therefore unable to expand to hold both larger baits as well as smaller baits.  
           [0004]    A need therefore existed for an expandable bait sleeve capable of expanding while at the same time securely retaining baits of various sizes so that the expandable bait sleeve can be coupled to a hook in order to improve a fisherman&#39;s chances of catching a fish by minimizing the chance that a fish will be able to separate the bait from the hook without being caught on the hook.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An object of the present invention is to provide an expandable bait sleeve capable of expanding in order to securely retain baits of various sizes so that the expandable bait sleeve can be coupled to a hook in order to increase the chances that a fish will be caught while trying to nibble on the bait secured in the bait sleeve.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an expandable bait sleeve is disclosed, comprising a sleeve having an interior surface and an exterior surface and a first end and a second end, the first end is open and dimensioned to receive a portion of a bait, wherein the sleeve is sufficiently expandable so as to enlarge to a larger diameter when a bait is inserted into the open first end of the sleeve while at the same time the sleeve is sufficiently rigid so that the bait is retained in the sleeve by frictional engagement with the interior surface of the sleeve.  
           [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for catching fish is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a sleeve having an interior surface and an exterior surface and a first end and a second end, the first end is open and dimensioned to receive a portion of a bait, wherein the sleeve is sufficiently expandable so as to enlarge to a larger diameter when a bait is inserted into the open first end of the sleeve while at the same time the sleeve is sufficiently rigid so that the bait is retained in the sleeve by frictional engagement with the interior surface of the sleeve, inserting a portion of bait into the open first end of the sleeve, providing a fishing line having a first end and a second end, the second end is dimensioned to pass through an aperture defined by the second end of the sleeve, coupling the first end of the fishing line to a fishing rod, providing a fishing hook having a line coupling end and a hook end, the hook end is dimensioned to protrude outside of the open first end of the sleeve, coupling the line coupling end of the fishing hook to the second end of the fishing line; and casting the sleeve.  
           [0008]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention a method for creating an improved soft artificial bait is disclosed comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a sleeve having an interior surface and an exterior surface and a first end and a second end, the sleeve comprises a mesh-like configuration defining a plurality of apertures, placing the sleeve in a mold for a soft artificial bait, and injecting plastisol into the mold to create a soft artificial bait with said sleeve as a skeleton.  
           [0009]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the expandable bait sleeve of FIG. 1, showing a bait inserted into the expandable bait sleeve.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the expandable bait sleeve of FIG. 2, taken along line  2   a - 2   a  and showing a knot in the fishing line which prevents the hook end of the fishing line from being drawn back through the second end of the expandable bait sleeve.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing a swivel harness, a leader and a treble hook.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3A is a side, cross-sectional view of the swivel harness of FIG. 3, taken along line  3 A- 3 A.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing a fishing hook molded to the second end of the expandable bait sleeve.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing an expandable bait sleeve with an open first end and an open second end and a fishing hook mounted in a center portion of the sleeve.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing a bait inserted into two expandable bait sleeves, each with an open first end and an open second end, so that the bait can be cut into at least two smaller segments.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing the bait sleeve molded into soft artificial bait.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing the sleeve incorporated into a teaser bait.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing the sleeve incorporated into a tandem spinner bait.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing the sleeve incorporated into a crank bait.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10A is a side, cross-sectional view of the expandable bait sleeve of FIG. 10.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing the sleeve incorporated into a bucktail spinner.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve of the present invention, showing the sleeve incorporated into a spinner.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve, hereinafter expandable bait sleeve  10 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  10  comprises a sleeve  12  having an interior surface and an exterior surface and a first end  14  and a second end  16 . The first end  14  is open and dimensioned to receive a portion of a bait  18  (shown in FIG. 2). The sleeve  12  is sufficiently expandable so as to enlarge to a larger diameter when a bait  18  is inserted into the open first end  14  of the sleeve  12  while at the same time the sleeve  12  is sufficiently rigid so that the bait  18  is retained in the sleeve  12  by frictional engagement with the interior surface of the sleeve  12 .  
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve  12  is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  10  in which the sleeve  12  is comprised of another material so long as that material imparts to the sleeve  12  flexibility and stretchability sufficient so that the sleeve  12  can expand when a bait  18  is inserted and still retain the bait  18  by means of frictional engagement.  
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve  12  comprises a mesh-like configuration defining a plurality of apertures  20  so that the bait  18  can be seen and smelt by a fish (not shown) while the bait  18  is retained in the sleeve  12 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  10  in which the sleeve  12  is solid without apertures  20 .  
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment, the expandable bait sleeve  10  further comprises a fishing line  22  having a first end coupled to a fishing rod (not shown) and a second end  24  dimensioned to pass through an aperture  23  defined by the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 . Preferably, the second end  24  of the fishing line  22  passes through the aperture  23  in the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  and is subsequently coupled to a fishing hook  26 . The fishing hook  26  has a line coupling end  28  and a hook end  30 . The second end  24  of the fishing line  22  is preferably coupled to the line coupling end  28  of the fishing hook  26 . In the preferred embodiment, a knot  29  (shown in FIG. 2A) is tied in the fishing line  22  to prevent the portion of the fishing line  22  which is coupled to the fishing hook  26  from being pulled back through the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  10  in which an alternative means for preventing the fishing hook  26  from being pulled through the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  is utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the hook end  30  of the fishing hook  26  protrudes outside of the first end  14  of the sleeve  12 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  10  in which the hook end  30  of the fishing hook  26  protrudes oat of a portion of the sleeve  12  between the first end  14  and the second end  16 .  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 3A, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  10 , hereinafter  100 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  100  (shown in FIG. 3) is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  10 , although the expandable bait sleeve  100  comprises a swivel harness  132 . For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  10  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  100 . The swivel harness  132  has a first end  134  and a second end  136 . The first end  134  of the swivel harness  132  is dimensioned to swivel and is coupled to an outer surface of the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  (shown in FIG. 3) and is dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line  22 . The second end  136  of the swivel harness  132  is coupled to an inner surface of the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  and is dimensioned to be coupled to a leader  138 . The expandable bait sleeve  100  further comprises a leader  138  having a first end  140  and a second end  142  (shown in FIG. 3). The first end  140  is coupled to the second end  136  of the swivel harness  132 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the expandable bait sleeve  100  further comprises a fishing hook  126  having a leader coupling end  128  and at least one hook end  130 . The leader coupling end  128  is coupled to the second end  142  of the leader  138  and the at least one hook end  130  is dimensioned to protrude outside of the sleeve  12 . In the preferred embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  100 , the fishing hook  126  is a treble hook, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  100  in which a fishing hook other than a treble hook is used. In the preferred embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  100 , the leader  138  is made of wire, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  100  in which the leader  138  is made of another material.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  10 , hereinafter  200 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  200  is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  10 , although the expandable bait sleeve  200  comprises a fishing hook  226  molded to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 . For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  10  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  200 . The expandable bait sleeve  200  comprises a fishing hook  226  molded into the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  so that a line coupling end  228  of the fishing hook  226  is coupled to an outer surface of the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  and a hook end  230  of the fishing hook  226  is dimensioned to protrude outside of an upper portion of the sleeve  12  proximate the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 .  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  10 , hereinafter  300 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  300  is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  10 , although the second end  16  of the expandable bait sleeve  300  is open. For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  10  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  300 . In the expandable bait sleeve  300 , the second end  16  of the sleeve  312  is open so that a bait  18  can be inserted through the open first end  14  of the sleeve  312  and pass through the sleeve  312  so that a portion of the bait  18  protrudes out of the open second end  16  of the sleeve  312 .  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 5, the sleeve  312  of the expandable bait sleeve  300  is preferably coupled to a fishing hook  326 . The fishing hook  326  is preferably coupled to a center portion of the sleeve  312  so that a hook end  330  protrudes out of the center portion of the sleeve  312  and a line coupling end  328  dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line (not shown) protrudes out of the center portion of the sleeve  312 .  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIG. 6, one use for the expandable bait sleeve  300  is to create smaller pieces of bait  18  from a single larger piece of bait  18 . A bait  18  can be inserted through two sleeves  312 , and then the bait  18  can be cut into at least two pieces so that each piece is surrounded by a sleeve  312 . These smaller pieces of bait  18  can then be attached to fishing hooks  326 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  10 , hereinafter  400 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  400  is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  10 , although the sleeve  12  is molded into a soft bait  418 . For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  10  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  400 . The sleeve  12  of the expandable bait sleeve  400  is comprised of a mesh-like configuration defining a plurality of apertures  20 , The sleeve  12  is placed in a mold used for creating soft artificial bait  418 . Then plastisol is injected into the mold so as to create a soft artificial bait with a sleeve as a skeleton. The sleeve  412  portion of the new combined sleeve  412 /soft artificial bait  418  can then be coupled to a fishing hook  26 . The fishing hook  26  can then be coupled to a fishing line  22  proximate a second end  16  of the sleeve  412 . Although, in the preferred embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  400 , plastisol is injected into the mold for soft artificial bait  418 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  400  in which a material other than plastisol is used so long as it imparts to the bait  418  the same qualities of flexibility and stretchability.  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  10 , hereinafter  500 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  500  is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  10 , although the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  is coupled to a head  550  having a skirt  570 . For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  10  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  500 . The expandable bait sleeve  500  comprises a head  550  coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 . The head  550  defines an aperture  552  in a center portion thereof dimensioned to allow a fishing line  22  to pass therethrough. The expandable bait sleeve  500  further comprises at least one, and preferably two, fishing hooks  26 , each having a line coupling end  28  dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line  22  and a hook end  30  dimensioned to protrude outside of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  500  further comprises a skirt  570  having a narrow portion  572  and a wide portion  574 . The narrow portion  572  is coupled to the head  550  and the wide portion  574  is dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  500  incorporates the sleeve  12  into what is known in the art as a teaser or a tuna teaser.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  500 , hereinafter  600 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  600  is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  500 , although the expandable bait sleeve  600  is coupled to a tandem spinner bait. For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  500  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  600 . The expandable bait sleeve  600  comprises a head  550  coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  600  comprises a fishing hook  26  having a coupling end  28  dimensioned to be coupled to the head  550  and a hook end  30  dimensioned to protrude outside of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  600  further comprises a skirt  570  having a narrow portion  572  and a wide portion  574 . The narrow portion  572  is coupled to the head  550  and the wide portion  574  is dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  600  further comprises a substantially L-shaped shaft  670  having a first arm  672  and a second arm  674 . The first arm  672  is coupled to the head  550 . A center portion  676  of the substantially L-shaped shaft  670  is dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line  22 . The expandable bait sleeve  600  further comprises at least one, and preferably two spinner blades  680  coupled to the second arm  674  of the substantially L-shaped shaft  670 . The expandable bait sleeve  600  further comprises at least one, and preferably two or more beads  690  coupled to the second arm  674  of the substantially L-shaped shaft  670 . The expandable bait sleeve  600  incorporates the sleeve  12  into what is known in the art as a tandem spinner bait or spinner bait.  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 10A, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  10 , hereinafter  700 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  700  is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  10 , although the sleeve  12  is coupled to a crank bait. For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  10  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  700 . The expandable bait sleeve  700  comprises a crank bait head  702  having a front portion and  704  and a rear portion  706 . The front portion  704  is dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line (not shown) and the rear portion  706  is coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  700  further comprises a first fishing hook  726  (shown in FIG. 10) having a first end  728  (shown in FIG. 10) coupled to the crank bait head  702  and a second end  730  (shown in FIG. 10) comprising at least one hook. The expandable bait sleeve  700  further comprises a wire  738  (shown in FIG. 10) having a first end  740  (shown in FIG. 10) coupled to the crank bait head and a second end  742  (shown in FIG. 10) The expandable bait sleeve  700  further comprises a second fishing hook  776  (shown in FIG. 10) having a wire coupling end  778  (shown in FIG. 10) dimensioned to be coupled to the second end  742  of the wire  738  and a hook end  779  (shown in FIG. 10) dimensioned to protrude outside of the first end  14  of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  700  incorporates the sleeve  12  into what is known in the art as a crank bait.  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIG. 11, an alternative embodiment of the expandable sleeve  10 , hereinafter  800 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  800  is essentially the same the expandable bait sleeve  600 , although the sleeve  12  is coupled to a bucktail spinner. The expandable bait sleeve  800  comprises a harness  832 . The expandable bait sleeve further comprises a first fishing hook  826  having a first end  828 , a second end  830  and a center portion  829  therebetween. The first end  828  of the first fishing hook  826  is molded to the harness  832  and the center portion  829  of the first fishing hook  826  is coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  The second end  830  of the first fishing hook  826  comprises at least one hook. The expandable bait sleeve  800  further comprises a skirt  870  having a narrow portion  872  and a wide portion  874 . Preferably, the skirt  870  is comprised of the hair of a deer, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the expandable bait sleeve  800  in which a material other than deer hair is used for the skirt  870 . The narrow portion  872  of the skirt  870  is coupled to the harness  832  and the wide portion  874  is dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the sleeve  12  and the first fishing hook  826 . The expandable bait sleeve  800  further comprises a wire  838  having a first end  840  and a second end  842 . The first end of the wire  838  is coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  800  further comprises a second fishing hook  846  having a wire coupling end  848  and a hook end  849 , The wire coupling end  848  is dimensioned to be coupled to the second end  842  of the wire  838  and the hook end  849  protrudes outside of the first end  14  of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  800  further comprises a head  850  having a front portion  852  and a rear portion  854 . The rear portion  854  is coupled to the harness  832 . The expandable bait sleeve  800  further comprises a shaft  870  having a first end  872  and a second end  874 . The second end  874  of the shaft  870  is coupled to the front portion  852  of the head  850  and the first end  872  of the shaft  870  is dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line  22 . The expandable bait sleeve  800  further comprises at least one spinner blade  880  coupled to the shaft  870 . The expandable bait sleeve  800  further comprises at least one bead  890  coupled to the shaft  870 . The expandable bait sleeve  800  incorporates the sleeve  12  into what is known in the art as a buck tail spinner.  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIG. 12, an alternative embodiment of the expandable bait sleeve  10 , hereinafter  900 , is shown. The expandable bait sleeve  900  is essentially the same as the expandable bait sleeve  800 , although the sleeve  12  is coupled to a spinner. For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the expandable bait sleeve  800  of the preferred embodiment will be used when describing the identical features of the expandable bait sleeve  900 . The expandable bait sleeve  900  comprises a skirt  870  having a narrow portion  872  coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve and a wide portion  874  dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  900  further comprises a fishing hook  926  having a coupling end  928  and a hook end  930 . The coupling end  928  of the fishing hook  926  is coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  and the hook end  930  is dimensioned to protrude outside of an upper portion of the sleeve  12  proximate the second end  16  of the sleeve  12 . The expandable bait sleeve  900  further comprises a shaft  970  having a first end  972  and a second end  974 . The second end  974  is coupled to the second end  16  of the sleeve  12  and the first end  972  is dimensioned to be coupled to a fishing line  22 . The expandable bait sleeve  900  further comprises at least one spinner blade  980  coupled to the shaft  970 . The expandable bait sleeve  900  further comprises at least one bead  990  coupled to the shaft  970 . The expandable bait sleeve  900  incorporates the sleeve  12  into what is known in the art as a spinner.  
         [0041]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.