Abstract:
A multi-action fishing lure includes a buoyant head section, a tail section, a joint, and a lip. The head section includes a front surface and an opposing rear surface. The tail section includes a lip that protrudes from a forward region of the tail section. The front surface includes a recessed region, and also includes a line connection device extending from the recessed region. A joint flexibly couples the head section to the tail section. The fishing lure can be retrieved to generate multiple different actions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/327,358, filed on Apr. 23, 2010, titled FISHING LURE, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to artificial fishing lures and, more particularly, to a multi-action fishing lure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Artificial fishing lures are commonly used to attract the interest of game fish. A wide variety of artificial fishing lures have been designed. Some common categories of lures include plugs, spinnerbaits, topwater baits, jigs, and jerk baits. Each of these baits is designed with a different type of action. For example, plugs (also known as crankbaits) often have the general shape of a bait fish, and are designed to swim under the water when retrieved. Spinnerbaits include a blade that spins during the retrieve. Topwater baits come in a variety of configurations and are designed to float on the surface of the water. Jigs typically include weighted heads that causes the baits to sink in the water, and are particularly suited for fishing at or near the bottom of a body of water. Jerk baits are designed to be retrieved with a series of tugs and pauses. While many different types of lures have been designed, the lures have limitations in the type of actions that can be achieved. Improvements are desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example multi-action fishing lure. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view illustrating an alternative joint for the lure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view illustrating another alternative joint for the lure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1 , shown at rest on the surface of the water. 
         FIG. 8  is a left side elevational view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1  while using a surface popping retrieve. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1  while using a sub-surface walking retrieve. 
         FIG. 10  is a left side view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1  while using a steady sub-surface retrieve. 
         FIG. 11  is a left side elevational view of the lure shown in  FIG. 1  while using a slow retrieve causing a surface disturbance. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims. 
       FIGS. 1-6  illustrate an example of fishing lure  100  according to the present disclosure.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view,  FIGS. 2-4  are left side views,  FIG. 5  is a front view, and  FIG. 6  is a top view. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , fishing lure  100  includes head section  10  and tail section  20  coupled together with a joint  28 . Head section  10  includes rear surface  12 , front surface  13 , and line connection device  16 . 
     Tail section  20  includes front surface  21 , rear end  22 , upper edge  32 , lower edge  33 , and hook connection devices  23  and  25 . Tail section  20  further includes a forward region  27  that includes and is adjacent to the front surface  21 . Tail section  20  also includes lip  50  that extends from the forward region  27  of the tail section  20 . 
     In the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , joint  28  includes eyelet members  30  and  31 . Some embodiments further include additional joint components, such as one or more split rings, a swivel, or another fastener. 
     Some embodiments further include hooks  40  and  41  connected to the hook connection devices  23  and  25 . The fishing lure  100  can include one or more hook connection devices  23  and  25 . In one example, the hook connection device  23  extends from the lower edge  33  of the tail section  20 , and the hook connection device  25  extends from the rear end  22  of the tail section  20 . Examples of hook connection members are eyelets. The connection between hook connection devices  23  and  25  and hooks may include additional coupling devices, such as split rings  24  and  26 . In some embodiments, head section  10 , joint  28 , and tail section  20  extend along a longitudinal axis  14 . 
     Head section  10  is forward of the tail section  20 . Head section  10  is coupled to tail section  20  by joint  28  to permit head section  10  and tail section  20  to pivot with respect to each other about joint  28 . 
     Head and tail sections  10  and  20  are typically made of a buoyant material, such as wood or plastic. An example of a suitable wood is balsa wood. An example of a plastic is a moldable polymer. It is preferred that the material have some buoyancy so that lure  100  floats when at rest on a water surface. 
     Head section  10  includes a concave front surface  13 , a rear surface  12 , an upper edge  18 , and a lower edge  19 . Concave front surface  13  is configured to catch the water when the lure is given a sharp jerk to provide a “popping” action. Accordingly, the front surface  13  forms a front popper surface. The front surface  13  includes a recessed region  8 , wherein the apex  9  of the concave surface is the most recessed point of the front surface  13 . A fishing line connection device  16 , such as an eyelet, is secured to concave front surface  13  in some embodiments to provide a location for securing a fishing line to lure  100 . Head section  10  is typically free of hook connection devices, and instead, hook connection devices are provided on tail section  20 . 
     In some embodiments, head section  10  further includes an eye portion  11 . The eye portion  11  is slightly recessed (or, alternatively, slightly protrudes) from the adjacent surfaces of head section  10  in some embodiments. The eye portion  11  can be painted or an adhesive material can be applied to the eye region to increase visibility of the eye, which can help to draw attention to lure  100 . In some embodiments the eye region is painted onto a surface of head section  10 . 
     In some embodiments, rear surface  12  extends between upper and lower edges  18  and  19  of the head section  10 , and slopes rearward from the lower edge  19  to the upper edge  18 . In some embodiments, at least a portion of the recessed rear surface forms a channel  17  that directs water toward the lip when the lure is being retrieved. 
     In some embodiments, the rear surface  12  is recessed and defines a fluid channel  17 . In some embodiments, the fluid channel is longitudinally aligned with the lip  50 , such that when the lure is retrieved through the water, some of the water is directed through the channel and toward the lip. In this way, the channel improves the action of the tail, by increasing the amount of water interacting with lip  50 . In addition, the channel permits the lower edge  19  of the head to be lower, which provides at least a partial barrier to deflect objects in the water (such as weeds, sticks, or other debris) from the path of the lip  50 . This reduces the chance that objects will get caught on the lip. The lip  50  includes a proximal end  52  and a distal end  53 . In some embodiments the distal end  53  of lip  50  extends lower than the lower edge  19  of the head section  10 . In other embodiments, the lower edge  19  is substantially aligned with the distal end  53  of the lip. 
     With at least some retrieves, lure  100  can be retrieved such that the head remains generally stationary without significant side-to-side motion. Joint  28 , however, permits tail section  20  to pivot relative to head section  10 , such as to have a side-to-side wobble independent of head section  10 . This side-to-side wobble can help to attract attention to lure  100 . 
     Joint  28  is provided between head section  10  and tail section  20  to permit the sections to pivot with respect to each other. In this example, joint  28  includes eyelet members  30  and  31 . Eyelet member  30  is anchored to head section at rear end  22 . Eyelet member  31  is anchored to tail section  20  through front surface  21 . Various alternative joint configurations are used in other embodiments. Several examples are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  depicts an example ball joint  28 ′ configuration. The ball joint  28 ′ configuration is an example of an offset joint, where the point where the joint  28 ′ connects to front surface  21  of tail portion is offset from (e.g., lower than) the point where the joint  28 ′ connects to rear surface  12 .  FIG. 4  depicts an example universal joint  28 ″ configuration. The universal joint  28 ″ configuration is an example of a linear joint, which permits pivoting movement of the tail section  20  in all directions relative to the head section  10 , including side to side, and up and down.  FIG. 4  also illustrates an example of an inserted lip  28 ″ that is formed as a separate piece from the tail section  20 . 
     Tail section  20  includes lip  50  extending downward and forward of a lower portion of front surface  21 . In some embodiments lip  50  includes a generally planar forward-facing surface  51  extending between proximal end  52  and distal end  53  of lip  50 . The surface  51  is arranged at a diving angle A 1  ( FIG. 2 ) relative to a longitudinal axis  14  of the tail section  20 . In some embodiments, the diving angle A 1  is in a range from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees from the longitudinal axis  14 . In another embodiment, the diving angle A 1  is about 45 degrees. During a steady retrieve, for example, lip  50  interacts with the water—causing lure  100  to be pulled downward, and causing tail section  20  to wobble back and forth. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , some embodiments of lure  100  includes tail section  20  having an integrally molded lip  50  extending therefrom. In some embodiments, the lip  50  and tail section  20  are formed as a single piece. In another possible embodiment, however, lip  50  is formed separate from tail section  20 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , some embodiments of tail section  20  include a groove  54  formed therein. A matching protrusion is formed in lip  50  that can be inserted into groove  54  and secured in position, such as with adhesive or other fastener. 
     Some embodiments have a tail section  20  with a body shape in which at least a portion of the tail section tapers in size toward the rear end, as shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the section of tail section  20  rearward of the hook connection device  23  has a lateral cross-sectional area that decreases toward the rear end, such that the lateral cross-sectional area of the tail section  20  is greater than the lateral cross-sectional area of the tail section  20  adjacent rear end  22 . 
     In some embodiments, lure  100  includes a joint that is near to the front end of lure  100 . In some embodiments, the distance between the most forward point of lure  100  and the center of the joint is in a range from about ⅕ to about ⅙ the total length of lure  100 . However, other embodiments include other configurations. In another example embodiment, a ratio of a length of the tail section to a length of the head section is in a range from about 1:1 to about 5:1. For example, some embodiments include shortened tail sections, such as to form a bait having a shorter overall length. 
       FIGS. 7-11  illustrate the operation of lure  100  using various types of retrieves. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates lure  100  when at rest on a surface of water  61 . When in this position, lure  100  is preferably buoyant, such that lure  100  floats partially above the surface of water  61  and partially below the surface of water  61 . In some embodiments, tail section  20  rests at an angle, such that rear end  22  of lure  100  is angled downward relative to the surface of water  61 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a surface popping action of lure  100 . The surface popping action is imparted on lure  100  by pulling lure  100  with fishing line  15  with a short and quick snapping action. The force pulls lure  100  forward suddenly, causing front surface  13  of head section  10  to scoop and throw some of water  61 . A “popping” sound is also generated in some embodiments that can further help to attract fish to lure  100 . 
     In some embodiments, during a surface popping action of lure  100 , tail section  20  will move with a side-to-side swimming action in which the lure rolls back and forth in the direction of arrow  80 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the operation of lure  100  during another exemplary retrieve, in which the lure moves in a zigzag type motion. This is alternatively referred to as a “walking” action. The walking action is imparted on lure  100  by applying short snapping forces to lure  100  with fishing line  15  in the direction of arrow  72 . A short pause between tugs allows lure  100  to briefly glide through the water, after which another snapping force is applied to lure  100 . Tail section  20  can then be caused to move side-to-side as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . For example, after a first force, tail section  20  will glide in a first angled position. The second force then causes tail section  20  to move to the second position (in the direction of arrows  81 ) and glide in the second direction. Continued snapping results in a zigzag type motion. When pulled, lip  50  causes lure  100  to dive. If the subsequent pulls on lure  100  are provided before lure  100  floats back up to the surface, a sub-surface retrieve can be obtained. Alternatively, lure  100  can be allowed to return to the surface after each pull. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the operation of lure  100  during a steady retrieve. In this example, a steady force is applied to lure  100  by line  15  in the direction of arrow  70 . Lip  50  interacts with water  61  to pull lure  100  downward, while also generating a side-to-side motion in the direction of arrow  80 . The motion of lip  50  is transferred through tail section, causing the entire tail-section to wiggle in the side-to-side direction of arrow  80 . The joint of lure  100  allows head section  10  to remain substantially stationary and forward-facing relative to tail section  20  during a steady retrieve. A medium to high retrieve speed will maintain lure  100  under the surface of the water. This motion mimics a live baitfish. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the operation of lure  100  during a slow and steady retrieve. In this example, a steady force is applied to lure  100  by line  15  in the direction of arrow  70 , but the speed of the retrieve is relatively slow. As a result, the interaction between the water and lip  50  does not generate a downward force that is sufficient to pull lure  100  completely significantly under the water. Instead, lure  100  remains at or just below the surface  60  of water  61 . Lip  50  creates a side-to-side motion as shown by arrow  80 . The side-to-side motion causes tail section  20  to move back and forth in the direction of arrow  82 . The movement of tail section  20  causes a disturbance to the surface of the water that ripples out from lure  100 . This surface disturbance is noticeable by fish and can help to bring attention to lure  100 . 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.