Abstract:
A sound fishing lure with a speaker system. A power source provides power to an integrated circuit chip programmed to produce electronic signals that when transmitted to the speaker produce animal sounds. Fish hearing the sounds are attracted to the fishing lure. In a preferred embodiment, the chip is programmed to record and playback actual animal sounds. In another preferred embodiment, the recorded sound is that of a pigfish grunting.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Pigfish ( Orthopristis chrysoptera )  
       [0001]     Pigfish are popular baitfish that can grow to a length of 12 to 15 inches. Pigfish are common on the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. The range is north to Long Island and south to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. Pigfish are particularly abundant along the Carolina coast.  
         [0002]     Pigfish are members of the grunt family (Haenulidae) which are noted for the rasping or grunting sounds they make in their throat when captured on a hook or otherwise disturbed. The grunt resembles the sound made by a pig and is produced by means of a pair of movable muscles in the throat covered with small recurved teeth, known as pharyngeal teeth.  
         [0003]     Fishermen have very good results using pigfish as bait to catch saltwater Seatrout as well as other larger fish. Fishermen will testify that the grunting sound made by Pigfish seems to attract the catch very effectively. Applicant notes that on a recent fishing trip he observed a fisherman bait his hook with a live pigfish that was grunting. After only two minutes of being in the water, the fisherman caught a six pound saltwater Seatrout.  
         [0004]     Unfortunately, however, a pigfish does not live very long while baited. Once it dies, its ability to grunt is gone and it loses much of its unique effectiveness as bait.  
       Small Lightweight Sound Recording and Playback Device  
       [0005]      FIGS. 2-3  show a prior art portable small, lightweight sound recording and playback device  2 . Recording and playback devices similar to recording and playback device  2  are available from Voice-Express Corporation with offices in Westport, Conn. As shown in  FIG. 1 , four batteries  3  are mounted on printed circuit board (PCB)  1  and provide power to programmable playback/record integrated circuit chip  4 . Playback/Record/Off switch  7  is also mounted to PCB  1 . PCB  1  is mounted inside aluminum casing  8 . A top view of casing  8  is shown in  FIG. 2  and a side view is shown in  FIG. 3 . Aluminum casing  8  is approximately 1¾ inch in diameter and has a cutout section to allow access to switch  7 . Small holes  9  are in the top of casing  8  to allow sound to travel to microphone  5  and sound to travel from speaker  6 .  
         [0006]     Sound recording and playback device  2  is commonly placed in a child&#39;s toy such as child&#39;s toy  11 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . A child can record a message onto playback/record chip  4  by moving switch  7  to “record”. Digital data representative of the child&#39;s message is stored on chip  4 . When switch  7  is moved to “play” electrical signals representative of the child&#39;s message is transmitted from chip  4  to speaker  6  where the speaker converts the electrical signals to sound for the child to hear. Sound recording and playback device  2  is capable of recording a  20  second message. Chip  4  is programmed to repeat the message until switch  7  is moved to “off”.  
       Speakers  
       [0007]     Speakers are known in the prior art and are electro-acoustic transducers that convert electrical signals into sounds loud enough to be heard at a distance.  
       Underwater Speakers  
       [0008]     Waterproof underwater speakers are known. For example, synchronized swimmers will perform to music being played through underwater speakers mounted under the waterline on the side of a pool. Also, deep sea divers can communicate through underwater telephones that utilize underwater speakers to transmit sound.  
         [0009]     What is needed is a better fishing lure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention provides a sound fishing lure with a speaker system. A power source provides power to an integrated circuit chip programmed to produce electronic signals that when transmitted to the speaker produce animal sounds. Fish hearing the sounds are attracted to the fishing lure. In a preferred embodiment, the chip is programmed to record and playback actual animal sounds. In another preferred embodiment, the recorded sound is that of a pigfish grunting. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIGS. 1-4  show a prior art sound recording a playback device.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 5-6  show a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 7-9  show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 10-12  show a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 13  shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 14  shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 15  shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 16  shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 17  shows an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 18-19  show a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     First Preferred Embodiment  
       [0021]     A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5-6 . In  FIG. 5 , PCB  1  with record/playback integrated circuit chip  4  has been placed inside thin sealable waterproof plastic bag  10 . Plastic bag  10  has then been sealed tight along seal  12 . Prior to placing PCB  1  into plastic bag  10 , a user recorded a  10  second recording of the sound of a pigfish grunting onto chip  4 .  
         [0022]     In  FIG. 6 , plastic bag  10  ( FIG. 5 ) with PCB  1  has been placed inside casing  8  of sound lure  30 . Casing  8  has been modified to include eyelets  13  and eyelet  14 . Hooks  15  have been attached to eyelets  13  and line  16  has been attached to eyelet  14 . Switch  7  has been moved to the play position.  
       Utilization of the First Preferred Embodiment  
       [0023]     To use the first preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  7  to the play position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated until batteries  4  ( FIG. 1 ) lose their charge or until switch  7  is moved to the off position.  
         [0024]     To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  30  into the water. Plastic bag  10  is watertight to protect PCB  1  and its components from the water. Also, plastic bag  10  is thin enough so that the sound of the pigfish grunting emitted from speaker  6  can be heard through the plastic. The sound of the pigfish grunting will attract fish that will then be caught on hooks  15  after striking at sound lure  30 .  
       Second Preferred Embodiment  
       [0025]     A second preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 7-9 .  
         [0026]     In the second preferred embodiment, it is not necessary for the fisherman to record onto chip  4  the sound of a pigfish grunting. Rather, the manufacturer of the lure programs the chip to produce the animal sounds. This may be done by recording and reproducing the animal sounds or the chip could be programmed to simulate the animal sounds. The recorded pigfish sound could be a recording of an actual pigfish grunting or it could be a recording of a human being imitating a pigfish grunting.  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 7 , batteries  3 , speaker  6 , on/off switch  25  and record/playback chip  4  has been mounted onto PCB  20 . Preferably, the manufacturer of sound lure  22  has prerecorded onto record/playback chip  4  a 10 second recording of a pigfish grunting. Chip  4  is programmed to automatically repeat the playing of the pigfish grunting whenever on/off switch  25  is switched to the “on” position.  
         [0028]     In  FIGS. 8-9 , PCB  1  has been placed inside casing  18  of sound lure  22 . Casing  18  is preferably fabricated from a corrosion resistant hard plastic. Top portion  22   a  of casing  18  is threaded onto bottom portion  22   b  to form a watertight seal. Speaker cover portion  22   c  is sufficiently thin so that sound emitted from speaker  6  can be heard through speaker cover portion  22   c.    
         [0029]     Casing  18  includes eyelets  13  and eyelet  14 . Hooks  15  have been attached to eyelets  13  and line  16  has been attached to eyelet  14 . Switch  25  has been moved to the “on” position.  
       Utilization of the Second Preferred Embodiment  
       [0030]     To use the second preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  25  to the “on” position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated. To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  22  into the water. The sound of the pigfish grunting will attract fish that will then be caught on hooks  15  after striking at sound lure  22 .  
       Third Preferred Embodiment  
       [0031]     A second preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 10-12 .  
         [0032]     As with the second preferred embodiment, with the third preferred embodiment it is not necessary for the fisherman to record onto programmable chip  4  the sound of a pigfish grunting. Rather, this step has already been accomplished by the manufacturer.  FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of the third preferred embodiment. Speaker  50 , programmable chip  4  and battery  52  are placed inside bottom section  55  (see also  FIG. 11 ). Top section  54  is then threaded onto bottom section  55 . Compression spring  53  holds internal components  50 ,  4  and  52  in place. On/off switch  56  completes the connection between battery  52  and chip  4 .  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 11 , battery  52 , speaker  50  and chip  4  have been placed inside bottom section  55 . Preferably, the manufacturer of sound lure  60  has prerecorded onto record/playback chip  4  a 10 second recording of a pigfish grunting. Chip  4  is programmed to automatically animal the playing of the pigfish grunting whenever on/off switch  56  is switched to the “on” position.  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 12 , top section  54  has been threaded onto bottom section  55  to form a watertight seal. Top section  54  and bottom section  55  are preferably fabricated from a corrosion resistant hard plastic. Bottom section  55  is sufficiently thin so that sound emitted from speaker  50  can be heard through sound lure  60 .  
         [0035]     Sound lure  60  includes eyelets  61  and  62 . Hook  15  has been attached to eyelet  61  and line  16  has been attached to eyelet  62 . Switch  56  has been moved to the “on” position.  
       Utilization of the Third Preferred Embodiment  
       [0036]     To use the third preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  56  to the “on” position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated. To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  60  into the water. The sound of the pigfish grunting will attract fish that will then be caught on hook  15  after striking at sound lure  60 .  
       Fourth Preferred Embodiment  
       [0037]      FIG. 13  shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth preferred embodiment, sound lure  22  preferably has one eyelet  13 . Line  70  connects sound lure  22  to fishing lure  71 .  
         [0038]     To use the fourth preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  25  to the “on” position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated.  
         [0039]     To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  22  into the water. The sound of the pigfish grunting and the sight of lure  71  will attract fish that will then be caught on either hook  15 .  
       Fifth Preferred Embodiment  
       [0040]      FIG. 14  shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth preferred embodiment, sound lure  22  preferably has one eyelet  13 . Lure  71  is connected to sound lure  22  at eyelet  13 .  
         [0041]     As with the fourth preferred embodiment, to use the fifth preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  25  to the “on” position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated.  
         [0042]     To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  22  into the water. The sound of the pigfish grunting and the sight of lure  71  will attract fish that will then be caught on either hook  15 .  
       Sixth Preferred Embodiment  
       [0043]      FIG. 15  shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the sixth preferred embodiment, sound lure  22  preferably has one eyelet  13 . Hook  15  is connected to eyelet  13 . Baitfish  80  is hooked on hook  15 . Preferably, baitfish  80  is living. Also, preferably baitfish  80  is a pigfish.  
         [0044]     As with the fourth preferred embodiment, to use the sixth preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  25  to the “on” position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated.  
         [0045]     To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  22  with baitfish  80  into the water. The sound of the pigfish grunting from sound lure  22  and the sight of baitfish  80  will attract fish that will then be caught on either hook  15 . If the baitfish is a living pigfish, then it should make its own grunting noise to combine with the grunting noise from sound lure  22 . The combined grunting noises will serve to attract fish. Furthermore, the sight of an actual pigfish should make attacking fish even more eager to take the bait since the noise that is being emitted from sound lure  22  is a pigfish grunting noise.  
       Seventh Preferred Embodiment  
       [0046]      FIG. 16  shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh preferred embodiment, sound lure  91  is shaped and painted to look similar to a pigfish and serves as a waterproof encasing to internal components  50 ,  4 , and  521 . As described in reference to the third preferred embodiment, speaker  50  emits the sound of a pigfish grunting. This sound is transmitted through the side of sound lure  91  and attracts fish to the lure. On/off switch  56  is mounted to the side of sound lure  91 . Hooks  15  are connected to sound lure  91 .  
         [0047]     As with the fourth preferred embodiment, to use the seventh preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  56  to the “on” position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated.  
         [0048]     To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  91  into the water. The sound of the pigfish grunting and the sight of sound lure  91  will attract fish that will then be caught on either hook  15 .  
       Eighth Preferred Embodiment  
       [0049]      FIG. 17  shows an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The eighth preferred embodiment is very similar to the seventh preferred embodiment, except that the eighth preferred embodiment is in the general shape of fish and is not shaped to look exactly like a pigfish. The eighth preferred embodiment recognizes that the sound lure can still be effective if it is shaped like an ordinary fish.  
         [0050]     In the eighth preferred embodiment, internal components  50 ,  4 , and  52  are mounted inside sound lure  101 . As described in reference to the third preferred embodiment, speaker  50  emits the sound of a pigfish grunting. This sound is transmitted through the side of sound lure  101  and attracts fish to the lure. On/off switch  56  is mounted to the side of sound lure  91 . Hooks  15  are connected to sound lure  91 .  
         [0051]     As with the fourth preferred embodiment, to use the seventh preferred embodiment, a user merely moves switch  56  to the “on” position. The sound of a pigfish grunting will then be continuously repeated.  
         [0052]     To catch a fish, the user throws sound lure  101  into the water. The sound of the pigfish grunting and the sight of sound lure  101  will attract fish that will then be caught on either hook  15 .  
       Ninth Preferred Embodiment  
       [0053]     A ninth preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . The ninth preferred embodiment is similar to the earlier described embodiments with the exception that speaker  90  is an underwater speaker and is not covered completely by the casing of sound lure  92 . By utilizing an underwater speaker, the sound of the pigfish grunting is louder because it does not have to travel through the casing. The underwater speaker is exposed directly to the water. By utilizing the ninth preferred embodiment, the sound will travel further and potentially attract more fish. The ninth preferred embodiment is utilized in a manner similar to that described above in reference to the earlier preferred embodiments.  
       Other Preferred Embodiments  
       [0054]     Applicant believes that the sound of a pigfish grunting attracts larger fish because a pigfish is part of the normal diet of larger fish and the pigfish naturally makes the grunting sound when disturbed. Therefore, larger fish hearing the sound may conclude that a pigfish is in trouble and may be easy prey.  
         [0055]     In addition to the sound of a pigfish grunting, there may be sound recordings of other animals that likewise attract larger fish. For example, there are other members of the grunt family other than pigfish. For example, the porkfish ( Anisotremus virginicus ) is a member of the grunt family and also makes a grunting noise when disturbed. Therefore, a sound of a porkfish grunting could be used to attract a larger fish. Likewise, the Atlantic croaker ( Micropogonias undulatus ) is a popular baitfish for catching grouper. The Atlantic croaker makes a distinctive croaking noise by vibrating its internal air-filled swim bladder. The croaking sound is similar to a muffled booming noise. A sound lure that emits a sound of the Atlantic croaking making its noise would be useful for catching fish. Also, the sound of a seal barking could be a used to attract sharks. Sharks have excellent hearing capability and seals are part of their normal diet. Other recorded animal sounds that when played back would be useful in attracting fish include: the sound of a bullfrog, the sound of a cricket, or the sound of a mouse squeaking.  
         [0056]     Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.