Patent Publication Number: US-2006005457-A1

Title: Fish scent dispensing fishing device

Description:
RELATED CASES  
      This case is related to “Fish Scent Dispenser” filed herewith.  
     FIELD  
      Embodiments of the invention pertain to fishing lure equipment, and more particularly to a scent-dispensing fishing device or scent-dispensing fishing lure.  
     BACKGROUND  
      “I shall stay him no longer than to wish him a rainy evening to read this following discourse; and that if he be an honest angler, the east wind may never blow when he goes a fishing.” Izaak Walton,  The Complete Angler,  Author&#39;s preface.  
      Recreational or sport fishing has been increasing in popularity. One of the most exciting and popular varieties of sport fishing involves so-called trolling type fishing, in which a number of lines and lures may be pulled behind and to the side of a fishing boat as the boat moves through the open ocean, river, or lake. The variety of lures available to sport fisherman is legendary. Some lures have been designed to attract fish by virtue of arresting and attractive color schemes. Other lures attract fish because, when the lures are drawn behind the boat, the lures undergo an oscillatory pitching or rolling motion. Still other lures are designed to dispense chum or scent meant to attract fish. The practice of chumming involves the dispensation of various fluids or small particulate matter having a particular odor attractive to the fish sought to be caught by the fishermen. If chum is spread in the water by a lure or near a lure, fish are more likely to be attracted and caught.  
      However, many fish scents commercially available are liquids, powders, or gels that are applied to the exterior of the fishing lure or device that quickly disperse or rub off and must be frequently reapplied. Further, the scents may degrade or otherwise spoil such that the fishing lures and devices must be frequently cleaned to remove any remnants of the scent to avoid repelling fish.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below in conjunction with the accompanying illustrations of an embodiment or embodiments of the invention. The illustrations, however, should not be taken to limit the invention, but are for explanation and understanding only.  
       FIG. 1 : illustration of a fishing lure of an embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 2 : illustration of a spinner of an embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 3 : illustration of a dodger of an embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 4 : illustration of a downrigger weight of an embodiment including scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 5 : illustration of a flasher of an embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 6 : illustration of a sliding weight holder of an embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 7 : illustration of a bait holder of an embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 8 : illustration of a diver of an embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 9 : illustration of a diver of another embodiment including a scent dispenser.  
       FIG. 10 : illustration of a fish scent dispenser lid portion including vents.  
       FIG. 11 : illustration of a scent tablet. 
    
    
      It is noted that the drawings of embodiments are merely schematic representations and are not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Embodiments of fishing lures and devices including fish scent dispensers will be described. Reference will now be made in detail to a description of these embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While the embodiments will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit them to drawings disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the accompanying claims.  
      Simply stated, an embodiment of the invention is a fishing lure or fishing device including a fish scent dispenser to dispense scent derived from a scent source contained therein. The fish scent dispenser may be formed by, among other elements, a lid portion including a plurality of vents that is coupled to or part of the fishing lure or fishing device. A scent source can be added to a cavity defined by the fishing lure or fishing device and the lid portion when the lid portion is in an open configuration. The scent source can then be secured when the lid portion is in a closed configuration. The scent contained in or created by the scent source is dispersed through vents in the lid portion when the fishing lure or fishing device including the scent dispenser is submerged.  
      Further, as used herein, and by way of illustration only, the fish scent source material utilized in an embodiment may be in the form of either solidified or deformable fish attractant material or a liquid applied to a porous material, like a sponge material or hydrophilic foam, that is adapted to absorbedly receive commercially available fish attractant liquid, gel, or paste to be repeatedly impregnated therein.  
      Further, the description will refer to fishing lures and fishing devices. As used herein, and as understood in the art, fishing lures contain a hook or hooks to catch fish. Fishing devices do not contain hooks, but are used in conjunction with fishing lures to, for example, add attraction or control the depth of the fishing lure.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a fishing lure  150  of an embodiment including a fish scent dispenser  100 . In an embodiment, the fishing lure  150  is a crankbait including, among other elements, a body  120 , a hook  130 , and a dive plate  140  as is well known in the art. A line  110  may attach the fishing lure  150  to the fisherman&#39;s rod and reel. It is to be understood that the crankbait fishing lure  150  may be of any configuration (e.g., color, color combination, size, shape, hook configuration, diving depth, and buoyancy) as is well known in the art.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a spinner  240  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . The spinner includes  240  a body  200 , blade  210 , beads  220 , and hook  230 . A line  110  may attach the spinner  240  to the fisherman&#39;s rod and reel. It is to be understood that the spinner fishing lure may be of any configuration (e.g., color, color combination, size, shape, hook configuration, and blade configuation) as is well known in the art.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a dodger  300  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . A dodger  300  is a fishing device that may be inserted in a fisherman&#39;s line  110  and line  310  adjacent to the fishing bait or lure containing the hook, and may include swivels to prevent the dodger  300  from twisting the lines  110  and  310 . The dodger  300  is designed to spin or otherwise oscillate to attract fish. For example, the dodger  300  may include fish attracting color or color combinations, reflective material (e.g., glitter or metal flakes), glow-in-the-dark material, fluorescent material, and combinations thereof. The dodger  300  may also, by spinning, provide vibrations in the water that attract or otherwise stimulate fish through their lateral line sensitivity.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a downrigger weight  400  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . The downrigger weight  400  may include a weight portion  410  and a fin portion  420 . A downrigger weight  400  may attach to a fishing line  110  to control depth of the fishing lure or device that is attached to fishing line  310  as illustrated with respect to dodger  300 . The fishing lines  110  and  310  may also attach to swivels.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flasher  520  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . Like the dodger  300 , the flasher  520  is a fishing device that may be inserted in a fisherman&#39;s line  110  and line  310  adjacent to the fishing bait or lure containing the hook, and may include swivels to prevent the flasher  520  from twisting the lines  110  and  310 . The flasher  520  is designed to spin or otherwise oscillate to attract fish. For example, the flasher  520  may include fish attracting color or color combinations, reflective material (e.g., glitter or metal flakes), glow-in-the-dark material, fluorescent material, and combinations thereof. The flasher  520  may also, by spinning, provide vibrations in the water that attract or otherwise stimulate fish through their lateral line sensitivity.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a sliding weight holder  620  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . The sliding weight holder  620 , also called a weight slide, contains a body  600  with, for example, a hollow cylinder through which line  110  runs. The inside diameter of the body  600  hollow cylinder is substantially larger than the outer diameter of the line  110  so that the sliding weight holder  620  indeed slides along the line  110 . The inside surface of the hollow cylinder is further non-abrasive so as to not damage line  110  as the sliding weight holder slides along the line  110 . The body  600  is further coupled to a weight  610 .  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a bait holder  740  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . The bait holder  740  includes a body  700 , a pin  710 , and a hook  720 . The body  700  is shaped to accept the, for example, head of a bait fish  730  and to secure the bait fish  730  in the body  700  with a pin  710 . It should be understood that the bait holder  740  may secure the bait fish  730  by any method known in the art. The bait holder  740  may be attached to fishing line  110 .  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a diver  830  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . The as with dodger  300  and flasher  520 , the diver  830  maybe inserted in a fisherman&#39;s line  110  and line  310  adjacent to the fishing bait or lure containing the hook. The combination of the lead weight  820  and the angle of the body  800  create a large dive plate as noted with reference to dive plate  140  of lure  150 . When, for example, a fish strikes a bait attached to line  310 , the added resistance pulls line  110  from a release clip  810  and substantially aligns the body  800  with line  110  and line  310 , reducing the diver&#39;s  830  function as a diver and resistance through the water. With such a device, a fisherman can locate a lure or bait attached to line  310  at an appropriate depth, but not have to fight the resistance created by the body  800  when the fisherman has hooked a fish.  
       FIG. 9  illustrates diver  920  of an embodiment including the fish scent dispenser  100 . As explained with reference to dodger  300 , flasher  520 , and diver  830 , diver  920  may be inserted in a fisherman&#39;s line  110  and line  310  adjacent to the fishing bait or lure containing the hook. The location of the line  110  on the body  900  adjusts the angle of dive fin  910  with respect to the water and resulting depth to which the diver  920  dives.  
      Though illustrated with reference to a variety of specific fishing devices and fishing lures, it is to be understood that the fish scent dispenser  100  can be included in any fishing device or fishing lure from which it would be useful to provide scent. Additional devices include floaters, weights (i.e., sinkers), weight slides, flashers, spinners, divers, side planers, live or natural bait rigs or bait holders, and trolling rudders. Additional fishing lures include crankbaits, an in-line spinners, spinner baits, topwater baits, spoons, jigs, or any other form of artificial fishing bait. It is to be further understood that the fishing lures and fishing devices of embodiments may have any configuration, color, size, or shape as is well known in the art.  
      Further, thought the fish scent dispenser  100  has been illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9  as having a particular location or orientation on the respective fishing lures or fishing devices, it is to be understood that the fish scent dispenser  100  can have any location or orientation on the fishing lure or fishing device. There may further be multiple fish scent dispensers  100  included in the fishing lure or fishing device.  
       FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of a fish scent dispenser  100 . The fish scent dispenser includes a lid portion  1000 , a plurality of vents  1010 , and a hinge  1020 . The vents  1010  expose a cavity defined by the lid portion  1000  and the portion of the fishing lure or fishing device adjacent to the lid portion  1000 , and any contents therein, to water when the fishing lure or fishing device including the fish scent dispenser  100  is submerged.  
      The lid portion  1000  of the fish scent dispenser  100  has a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the lid portion  1000  and the portion of the fishing lure or fishing device adjacent to the lid portion  1000  detachably engage to define a cavity therein. The lid portion  1000  and the portion of the fishing lure or fishing device adjacent to the lid portion  1000  may detachably engage in any manner known in the art that would enable the two portions to remain engaged when, for example, exposed to water currents common to fishing. The force required to disengage the lid portion  1000  from the fishing lure or fishing device (e.g., alter the fish scent dispenser from the closed configuration to the open configuration) may be, however, consistent with operating the fish scent dispenser with, for example, a finger nail versus requiring a tool. In an embodiment, the lid portion  1000  and the portion of the fishing lure or fishing device adjacent to the lid portion  1000  are detachably engaged with a snap closure. The snap closure may be an annular snap, a cantilever snap, or any other type of snap closure.  
      The hinge  1020  is illustrative of an element by which the lid portion  1000  and the fishing lure or fishing device remain attached while the fish scent dispenser  100  is the open configuration. It is to be understood that any mechanism by which the lid portion  1000  and the fishing lure or fishing device would be attached could be used. Further, the hinge  1020  may be omitted and the fish scent dispenser  100  would comprise the lid portion  1000  as a separate component until detachably engaged to the fishing lure or fishing device to form the fish scent dispenser  100  with the cavity defined thereby.  
      The vents  1010  facilitate water flowing across the scent source to disperse scent from the fishing lure or fishing device. In general, a fishing lure or device is unidirectional. In other words, a fishing lure or device is connected, generally at one end, to the fishing line that is in turn, coupled to the fishing rod, fishing reel, and fisherman holding the rod and reel such that the fishing lure has a natural orientation as it is retrieved or trolled through the water. In an embodiment, the vents  1010  include entrance openings and exit openings parallel to an axis of the fish scent dispenser  100 . The fish scent dispenser  100 , when included in a fishing lure or device, may have the axis of the vents substantially parallel to the lure&#39;s or device&#39;s natural orientation based on its direction of retrieve or troll. By this configuration, water more easily flows through the vents  1010  of the fish scent dispenser  100 , both reducing drag of the lure or device including the fish scent dispenser  100 , and exposing more water to the scent source secured in the fish scent dispenser  100  cavity.  
      It is to be understood, however, that the vents may be configured differently. For example, the vents  1010  may be a single opening in lieu of entrance and exit openings. The vents  1010  may also be alterable such that the amount of water flowing through the vents can be controlled. For example, individual vent openings may be partially or completely occluded to reduce the amount of water flowing through the vent opening or openings. The alterable vents would allow a fisherman to control the quantity of scent provided as well as tune the lifespan of the scent source.  
      The vents  1010  may further be designed with hydrodynamically functional configurations. For example, the vents  1010  may be designed to steer, swirl, disrupt, or otherwise control the flow of influent water to alter the efficiency with which the fish scent dispenser  100  delivers scent to the effluent water. The vents  1010  may further be designed for a particular range of troll or retrieve speeds or lure and device type. For example, trolling for salmon occurs at a different speed than bottom fishing for sturgeon, catfish, or halibut. Each situation may require a different vent  1010  configuration to effectively deliver an appropriate amount of scent.  
      The fish scent dispenser  100  may be manufactured in a variety of materials with a variety of processes. In an embodiment, the fish scent dispenser  100  is fabricated of a plastic material that is injection molded. For example, the fish scent dispenser  100  may be fabricated from injection molded polypropylene. Polypropylene has an approximately neutral buoyancy so as not to adversely affect the device or lure in which it is included. Further, polypropylene is well suited for hinge  1020 , particularly when hinge  1020  is configured as a living hinge. In another embodiment, the fish scent dispenser  100  is fabricated as part of the fishing lure or fishing device. Depending on the material of the fishing lure or fishing device, the lid portion  1000  maybe injection molded or otherwise formed from the same process that, for example, molds the fishing lure or fishing device. For example, the dodger  300  or the flasher  520  (as well as other fishing lures and devices) may be a molded plastic in which the lid portion  1000  may be integrally molded.  
      The lid portion  1000  material may further incorporate fish attracting color or color combinations, reflective material (e.g., glitter or metal flakes), glow-in-the-dark material, fluorescent material, and combinations thereof to match or offset the color of the fishing lure or fishing device in which the fish scent dispenser  100  is included. The color and/or other attracting material may be applied to the surface of the lid portion  1000  or it may be incorporated as an additive to the, for example, injection molded polypropylene or other plastic from which the lid portion  1000  is fabricated.  
      If not integrally molded as part of the fishing lure or fishing device, the lid portion  1000  may be attached to a fishing lure or fishing device with an ultrasonic weld, a heat weld, adhesive, epoxy, screw, bolt, nail, or a combination thereof. In particular, a lid portion  1000  fabricated with polypropylene as discussed above may be heat welded to a fishing lure or fishing device that has a similar plastic composition.  
      Though  FIG. 10  illustrates the lid portion  1000  of the fish scent dispenser  100  as protruding from the surface of the fishing lure or device in which the fish scent dispenser is included, it is to be understood that the cavity may be formed in, for example, the surface of the fishing lure or fishing device and the lid portion  1000  maybe substantially flush with the surface of the fishing lure or fishing device when the fish scent dispenser  100  is in a closed configuration. In particular, given the location of the fish scent dispenser in the fishing lure or fishing device, and the action (e.g., spinning, wobbling, and vibrating) thereof, it may or may not be necessary to have a protruding lid portion  1000  to, for example, increase the water that may flow through the vents  1010 .  
      The size of the fish scent dispenser  100  may also be altered depending on the size or intended use of the fishing lure or fishing device in which the fish scent dispenser  100  is included. For example, in a higher speed troll with a large flasher  520  or dodger  300 , a larger fish scent dispenser  100  may be used to provide more cavity space for a scent source or scent sources. Given the size of the flasher  520  or dodger  300 , the fishing device performance (e.g., spinning, oscillating, or similar motion) may not be sufficiently altered by including a single or multiple fish scent dispensers  100 . Alternatively, a smaller fish scent dispenser  100  may be more appropriate to include in a fishing lure  150 . For example, a smaller fish scent dispenser  100  is less likely to alter the performance of a, for example, crankbait for which the shape of the lure is highly important to determine its fish-attracting action as it is trolled or retrieved.  
      As noted, the cavity is accessible when the fish scent dispenser  100  is in the open configuration to apply, insert, or otherwise provide a scent source that is then contained within the fish scent dispenser  100  in a closed configuration. In an embodiment the scent source is a sponge material. The sponge material can be any type of material designed to absorb fish scent. In an alternate embodiment, the scent source is a hydrophilic foam. The fish scent, in the form of a liquid, gel, powder, or similar composition can be placed, squirted, squeezed, or otherwise provided to the sponge or hydrophilic foam material to disperse scent when the fish scent dispenser is submerged. In an embodiment, there are multiple sponges or pieces of hydrophilic foam.  
      The scent source may further be a paste or solid pellet of fish attracting material that is placed, squirted, squeezed or deposited within the cavity of the fish scent dispenser  100 . There are many types of these paste, moldable, or solid material concoctions currently on the market that may be placed in the cavity in such a manner. For example, the scent source may be BERKELY TROUT DIP, BERKELY SELECT GLITTER TROUT BAIT, BERKELY GLITTER TURBO DOUGH, CRAVE NITRO DOUGH, CRAVE NITRO PREMIUM, CRAVE NITRO GREASE, CRAVE GRAVY, TOP SECRET AMINOGEL, EXUDE ERUPT, or EXUDE MAGIC MORSELS.  
      In addition to solid materials that may be used in place of a sponge, a scent-releasing tablet may be used in the cavity, such as illustrated by a pill-shaped oblong tablet  1100  and a round tablet  1110  in  FIG. 11 . In an embodiment, tablets  1100  and  1110  are made of a water-soluble material. The water-soluble tablets  1100  and  1110  dissolve gradually to release scent particles behind the fishing lure or fishing device including the fish scent dispenser  100  as the fishing lure or fishing device moves through the water. The dissolution of the tablet can vary based on the properties of the tablet, for example, to provide for a slower release. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying the size of the tablet or by altering the composition of the base material of the tablet. The dissolution rate can further be altered by the pressure under which tablet is formed. It is also contemplated that additional tablets may be used to increase the dissolution time or to incorporate a fisherman&#39;s recipe of multiple scents  
      In further regards to  FIG. 11 , the tablets  1100  and  1110  may release various scents to attract fish. Specific scents may be more specially adapted for use with certain species of fish, for example. An illustrative, but non-exclusive list of possible scents includes: shrimp scent, sturgeon scent, sardine scent, salmon egg milk, anchovy, crawfish, anise, sand shrimp, corn scent, garlic, salmon with roe, earthworm scent, smelt scent, shad, herring, catfish cocktail, minnow scent, kokanee scent, kenai scent, halibut chum, and hatchery scent. As noted, placing multiple tablets of different scents in the same dispenser may combine scents.  
      In addition to various scents, the tablets  1100  and  1110  may include various features of appearance that aid in attracting fish. For example, the tablets may be made of a material that is designed to be florescent, glow-in-the-dark, neon, or ultra-violet active. The tablet may further effervesce to create bubbles. Other colors, features, or combinations thereof may also be used.  
      In addition to the previously indicated variations, numerous other modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present invention has been described above with particularity and detail in connection with an embodiment or embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, manner of operation, assembly, and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.  
      One skilled in the art will recognize the elegance of the disclosed embodiment in that it improves the ability with which fishermen can attract fish to their fishing lures.