Patent Publication Number: US-10321668-B1

Title: Fishing lure with interchangeable disks

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
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     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of fishing and angling, more specifically, an artificial lure for use in fishing. 
     One of the challenges of fishing is anticipating the type of lure that a game fish will be attracted to on any given day. Most fisherman use a trial and error method of determining the most appropriate lure by trying several lures to test which lure seems most attractive to the game fish. Unfortunately, changing lures often requires removing the prior lure from a fishing line and replacing the prior lure and a new potential lure. This tying and untying of lures is both an inconvenient and troublesome procedure that interferes with the enjoyment of fishing. 
     Clearly, a method to change lures without requiring the untying and retying lures would be of benefit to fisherman. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The above shortcomings of fishing lures is addressed in this disclosure. The fishing lure with changeable disks is adapted for use in fishing. Specifically, the fishing lure with changeable disks is designed to allow a fisherman to change the appearance of a lure without having to the physically untie and retie lures as part of the change process. This is done through the use of an interchangeable disk selected from a plurality of disks. Each interchangeable disk selected from the plurality of disks can be mounted within a lure housing, also known as a mimic. Each interchangeable disk selected from the plurality of disks is designed to give the mimic a different appearance to a game fish. The interchangeable disks selected from the plurality of disks can be substituted for any interchangeable disk remaining within the plurality of disks. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks in detail, it is to be understood that the fishing lure with interchangeable disks is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the fishing lure with interchangeable disks. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure across  5 - 5  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
     The fishing lure with changeable disks  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises a mimic  101 , a plurality of disks  102 , one or more hooks  103 . The invention  100  is adapted for use in fishing. Specifically, the invention  100  is designed to allow a fisherman to change the appearance of a fishing lure without having to the physically untie and retie fishing lures as part of the change process. This is done through the use of an individual interchangeable disk  121  selected from a plurality of disks  102 . Each individual interchangeable disk  121  selected from the plurality of disks  102  can be mounted within the mimic  101 . Each individual interchangeable disk  121  selected from the plurality of disks  102  is designed to give the mimic  101  a different appearance to a game fish. The individual interchangeable disk  121  selected from the plurality of disks  102  can be substituted for any individual interchangeable disk  121  remaining within the plurality of disks  102 . 
     The mimic  101  is the base structure upon which the invention  100  is built. The mimic  101  comprises a hollow housing  111 , a disk slot  112 , a first line hole  113 , a second line hole  114 , and a pivot bar  115 . Optionally, the mimic  101  can further comprise one or more control surfaces  116 . The hollow housing  111  is a shell with a hollow interior  117  that is generally formed in a shape that emulates a bait fish or other bait-like object (hereinafter baitfish). The hollow housing  111  is formed from a transparent material thereby allowing an individual interchangeable disk  121  to determine the color and pattern of the invention  100  during use. By exchanging the individual interchangeable disk  121  selected from the plurality of disks  102 , the appearance, including the pattern and color, of the invention  100  is changed which changes the allure of the invention  100  to game fish. The hollow interior  117  of the hollow housing  111  is accessed through the disk slot  112 . 
     As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the disk slot  112  is a rectangular aperture that is formed in the hollow housing  111  such that the hollow interior  117  can receive an individual interchangeable disk  121 . As shown most clearly in  FIG. 1 , the pivot bar  115  is a cylindrical structure that is formed in the hollow interior  117  by the disk slot  112 . The purpose of the pivot bar  115  is to help hold the individual interchangeable disk  121  in the hollow housing  111  during use. The operation of the pivot bar  115  is discussed elsewhere in this disclosure. The first line hole  113  and the second line holes  114  are holes formed within the hollow housing  111  that allow the hollow housing  111  to be attached to a fishing line  131 . Specifically, the fishing line  131  is threaded into the first line hole  113 , through the hollow interior  117  and out of the second line hole  114 . The end of the fishing line  131  that is threaded out of the second hole is tied to a fishing hook selected from the one or more hooks  103 . The use of one or more control surfaces  116  is optional. Each of the one or more control surfaces  116  is a rudder, flap, or aileron that is used to control the motion of the invention  100  as it moves through the water. The purpose of the one or more control surfaces  116  is to: 1) enhance the appearance of the invention  100  such that the invention  100  will more closely emulate the bait fish the hollow housing  111  is intended to emulate; and 2) to control the motion of the invention  100  when in water. For example, the control surface selected from the one or more control surfaces  116  that is shown in  FIG. 1  is designed to bring the invention  100  to the bottom of a body of water such that the invention  100  will attract the game fish that prefer such a location. 
     The location of the disk slot  112 , the first line hole  113 , and the second line hole  114  on the hollow housing  111  are dependent on the shape of the bait fish the hollow housing  111  is intended to emulate. The first line hole  113  and the second line hole  114  are positioned such that when the invention  100  is pulled by a fishing line  131  the motion of the invention  100  as it appears to the game fish will emulate the bait fish the hollow housing  111  is intended to emulate. If used, the shape and the location of the one or more control surfaces  116  on the hollow housing  111  are dependent on the shape and natural motions of the bait fish the mimic  101  is intended to emulate. 
     The plurality of disks  102  further comprises a collection of individual interchangeable disks  121 . Each individual interchangeable disk  121  further comprises a line slot  122  and a pivot catch  123 . Each individual interchangeable disk  121  is further defined with a top edge  124 . Each of the individual interchangeable disks  121  is shaped to fit within the hollow interior  117  of the hollow housing  111 . Each of the individual interchangeable disks  121  is decorated with a combination of colors and patterns. When an individual interchangeable disk  121  this decoration is intended to make the invention  100  appear to a game fish as a bait fish. 
     The line slot  122  is a groove that is formed in each individual interchangeable disk  121  in the top edge  124 . Each individual interchangeable disk  121  is inserted into the hollow interior  117  such that the line slot  122  faces out through the disk slot  112 . As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , to insert an individual interchangeable disk  121  into the hollow housing  111  the fishing line  131  is first pulled out of the hollow interior  117  such that the individual interchangeable disk  121  is inserted into the hollow interior  117  such that the fishing line  131  runs between the individual interchangeable disk  121  and the disk slot  112 . The fishing line  131  is then pulled taut such that the fishing line  131  runs through the line slot  122  during use. The theory of operation of the line slot  122  is a follows: when the invention  100  is drawn through the water, the drag of the water on and the invention  100  places a load on the fishing line  131 . This load places a tension on the fishing line  131  that pulls the fishing line  131  taut during use. This tension on the fishing line  131  is used to hold the individual interchangeable disk  121  contained within the hollow interior  117  during use. 
     As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the pivot catch  123  is an indentation that is formed in the top edge  124  of each individual interchangeable disk  121 . The pivot catch  123  is shaped, sized and positioned such that when any individual interchangeable disk  121  is inserted properly into the hollow interior  117 , the pivot catch  123  fits around the pivot bar  115  which further secures the individual interchangeable disk  121  within the hollow interior  117 . Methods to attach objects to bars are well known and documented in the mechanical arts. 
     To use the invention  100 , the invention  100  is attached to the fishing line  131  as described above. The invention  100  is then used as a normal fishing lure. 
     In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the mimic  101  is formed from a transparent molded plastic. Suitable plastics include, but are not limited to, poly(methyl methacrylic) and polycarbonate. Each individual interchangeable disk  121  is formed from a molded plastic. Suitable plastics include, but are not limited to, poly(methyl methacrylic), polycarbonate, or polyethylene. Each individual interchangeable disk  121  can be dyed during the molding process, or, can be subsequently processed to form the specific external patterns and shades of the individual interchangeable disk  121 . Methods to apply patterns and colors to plastic components are well known and documented in the manufacturing arts. Hooks are readily and commercially available. Methods to attach hooks to lures are well known and documented in the fishing arts if more than one hook  103  is used with the invention  100 . 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.