Patent Publication Number: US-2010126058-A1

Title: Fishing lure that simulates a dying fish

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fishing lure that simulates a dying fish. 
     Fishing lures are well known for use in catching fish. Fishing lures are attached to an end of a fishing line and designed to attract a fish to bite on a hook attached to the fishing lure. Fishing lures are designed to simulate or resemble a natural food source (e.g., a bait fish) for the fish both in appearance and in movement. The present invention provides improvements over the prior art fishing lures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is a fishing lure. The fishing lure includes a lure body, a weight and fins. The lure body is shaped like a fish, and includes a top side and a bottom side. The lure body is weighted such that it is biased towards a top side down orientation if the lure is suspended in water without being pulled through water. The at least one angled surface on the body that tend to propel the lure body towards a top side up orientation if the lure is pulled through water. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a fishing lure. The fishing lure includes a lure body, and a front lip. The lure body is shaped like a fish, and includes a top side and a bottom side. The front lip extends downwardly and forwardly relative to a front end of the lure body, and causes the lure body to wiggle if the lure is pulled through water. The front lip is rotatable relative to the lure body, the lip is weighted such that it retains the downwardly and forwardly extending orientation relative to the front end of the lure body irrespective of whether the lure body is in a top side up or top side down orientation. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a fishing lure. The fishing lure includes a lure body, and a rear hook. The lure body is shaped like a fish, and includes a top side and a bottom side. The rear hook is weighted such that it rotates relative to the lure body so that pointed end of the hook always extends in a generally vertically upward direction irrespective of whether the lure body is in a top side up or top side down orientation. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In one embodiment, the drawings can be understood as drawn to scale, although that is not required. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fishing lure in a top side down orientation, when the lure is suspended in water without being pulled through water in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fishing lure in a top side up orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fishing lure in the top side up orientation, wherein fins tend to propel the lure body towards the top side up orientation if the lure is pulled through water in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken through the line  4 - 4  axis of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a rotatable front lip of the fishing lure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fishing lure in a top side down orientation, when the lure is suspended in water without being pulled through water in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken through the line  7 - 7  axis of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a fishing lure  10  in a top side down orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The fishing lure  10  may generally include a lure body  12 , a weight  14  and at least one angled surface  16  on the body. The lure body  12  is shaped like a fish, and includes a top side  18  and a bottom side  20 . The weight  14  is positioned to bias the lure body  12  towards the top side down orientation if the lure  10  is suspended in water without being pulled through water. The at least one angled surface  16  on the body that tend to propel the lure body  12  towards a top side up orientation (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) if the lure  10  is pulled through water. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one angled surface on the body is provided by one or more fins. The fins  16  are, in this embodiment, disposed towards the rear of the lure body  12 . The fins  16  can be located in other regions, such as towards the middle of the lure body  12 . The fins  16  can optionally appear as an anatomically correct part of a fish&#39;s body, or optionally not (as in the illustrated embodiment). 
     In one embodiment, the fishing lure  10  may include a front lip  22 . In one embodiment, the front lip  22  may be rotatable relative to the lure body  12 . The front lip  22  causes the lure body  12  to wiggle if the lure  10  is pulled through water. The front lip  22  is weighted such that it retains a generally downwardly and forwardly extending orientation relative to a front end  24  of the lure body  12  irrespective of whether the lure body  12  is in the top side up or top side down orientation. 
     In one embodiment, the fishing lure  10  may include a rear hook  26  that is rotatable relative to the lure body  12  (or the lure body  12  can be considered to be rotatable relative to the rear hook  26  and relative to the front lip  22 ). The rear hook  26  can be weighted such that it rotates relative to the lure body  12  so that pointed end(s)  28  of the hook  26  always extends in a generally vertically upward direction (e.g., as shown by an arrow A in  FIG. 1 ) irrespective of whether the lure body  12  is in the top side up or top side down orientation. 
     In one embodiment, the lure body  12  of the fishing lure  10  is made from wood. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the lure body  12  of the fishing lure  10  is made from a plastic material. In one embodiment, the lure body  12  may include opposing, body portions  12 A and  12 B, where  12 A represents the left body portion and  12 B represents the right body portion (See  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     In one embodiment, the opposing, body portions  12 A and  12 B are joined to each other to define a chamber  44  and a slot  46  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) therebetween. In one embodiment, the chamber  44  is positioned in a central portion  48  of the lure body  12 . In one embodiment, the chamber  44  includes a first portion  90  and a second portion  92 . 
     The first portion  90  of the chamber  44  is constructed and arranged to receive a weight  40  therein. The weight  40  is connected to the lip  22  and the rear hook  26  using a wire or rod  52  as will be described in detail in the discussions below. The weight  40  is rotatable together with the lip  22  and the rear hook  26  (they are all rotatable relative to the lure body  12  or the lure body  12  can be considered to be the rotatable portion, as there is no difference from a relative rotation standpoint as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art). The weight  40  is positioned within the lure body  12  to balance the fore/aft weight of the fishing lure  10  so that the lure body  12  is generally disposed towards a level orientation (balanced) when in water. As described below, the weight  40  provides a counterbalance to a weight  80  carried by the lip  22  that retains the lip  22  in a downwardly and forwardly extending configuration. 
     In one embodiment, the weight  40  is cylindrical in shape with a central opening therethrough for attaching with the weight  40 . However, it is contemplated that different shapes, configurations, and/or constructions of the weight  40  can be provided. In one embodiment, the weight  40  is attached to the wire  52  along a surface portion of the weight  40 . In one embodiment, the weight  40  is attached to the wire  52  near a central portion  86  of the wire  52 . The weight  40  attached to the wire  52  is constructed and arranged to rotate about its axis, relative to the lure body  12  (or vice versa). In one embodiment, the wire  52  is constructed and arranged to rotate 180 degrees about its axis, relative to the longitudinal axis of the lure body  12 . This limited motion prevents continuous rotation of the lure body  12  relative to the lip  22 . Rather rotation between the topside up and topside down orientations takes place along an arc of 180 degrees. In one embodiment, the arc is as small as 150 degrees. In another embodiment, the arc is as large as 210 degrees. The fins or propeller  16  is arranged to bias the rotational movement of the lure body  12  in a direction opposite to the direction in which the weight  14  tends to rotate the lure body  12 . 
     The weight  14  need not be provided on the hook  30 , but can be anywhere located. The weight  14  can indeed be integrated into the lure body  12  by changing the density of the lure body  12  or adding an embedded weight to give it the asymmetric and/or top-heavy weight that causes it to rotate to the topside down configuration. 
     The second portion  92  of the chamber  44  is constructed and arranged to receive a bent portion  88  of the wire  52  therein. The bent portion  88  of the wire is located near the central portion  86  of the wire  52 . The bent portion  88  of the wire  52  is constructed and arranged to be engaged with an inner surface  98  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the second portion  92  of the chamber  44  to limit the rotational movement of the wire  52  and, thus, to limit the rotational movement of the lip  22  and the rear hook  26 . In one embodiment, the rotational movement of the wire  52  is limited to 180 degrees. In one embodiment, the bent portion  88  of the wire  52  has a trapezoidal shape. However, it is contemplated that different shapes, configurations, and/or constructions of the bent portion  88  can be provided. In one embodiment, the first portion  90  of the chamber  44  is constructed and arranged to be deeper than the second portion  92  of the chamber  44  to accommodate the weight  40  therewithin. For example, the chamber portion  92  may occupy portions of both lure halves  12 A and  12 B. On the other hand, the chamber portion  92  may only reside only in the one half  12 A (or  12 B), with the inner surface  98  being part of the interior of the opposite half  12 B (or  12 A). 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the slot  46  runs from the front end  24  to a rear end  50  of the lure body  12 . The slot  46  is constructed and arranged to receive the wire  52  therein. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the left body portion  12 A and the right body portion  12 B encloses the wire  52  therebetween as the left body portion  12 A and the right body portion  12 B are adhered to one another. 
     In one embodiment, the wire  52  is made from titanium material. In another embodiment, the wire  52  is made from a memory alloy material. As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , a rear end portion  56  of the wire  52  is shaped to form a loop  58  that is constructed and arranged to receive a ring  60 . The rear loop  58  may be connected to the rear hook  26  using the ring  60 . 
     A front end portion  62  of the wire  52  is constructed and arranged to pass through an opening  64  on the front lip  22 . After passing through the opening  64  on the front lip  22 , the front end portion  62  of the wire  52  is shaped to form a fishing line loop  66 . The fishing line loop  66  is constructed and arranged to facilitate attachment of the fishing lure  10  to a fishing line (not shown). The fishing lure  10  may be connected to the fishing line at the loop  66  by any attachment mechanism, such as tying the fishing line to the loop  66 . In one embodiment, the fishing line is secured directly to the fishing line loop  66 . In another embodiment, the fishing line is connected to the fishing line loop  66  by using a connector, such as a ring  68 . 
     The front end portion  62  of the wire  52  also includes an attachment portion  70  that extends beyond the fishing line loop  66 , where the attachment portion  70  is constructed and arranged to be embedded into the front lip  22  to attach the front lip  22  to the wire  52 . In one embodiment, the attachment portion  70  is constructed and arranged to pass through an opening  72  in the front lip  22  before being embedded into the front lip  22 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the fishing lure  10  may include bearings  54  (three are shown in the illustrated embodiment) that are constructed and arranged to rotatably support the wire  52  in place within the slot  46  of the lure body  12 . In one embodiment, the bearings  54  are located near the front end  24 , the rear end  50 , and in the central portion  48  of the lure body  12 . In one embodiment, the slot  46  of the lure body  12  (e.g., near the front end  24 , near the rear end  50 , and in the central portion  48  of the lure body  12 ) may include grooves that are constructed and arranged to receive the connector portions  54  therewithin. 
     The front lip  22  is shown in  FIG. 5 . In one embodiment, the front lip  22  is made from a plastic material. In one embodiment, the front lip  22  includes chamfered edges. In one embodiment, the width of the front lip  22  is 0.625 inches. In one embodiment, the front lip  22  includes a first portion  74  and a second portion  76 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the first portion  74  of the front lip  22  is directed in a generally vertical upwardly direction. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the second portion  76  of the front lip  22  is positioned at an angle with respect to the first portion  74  of the front lip  22 . In other words, the second portion  76  of the front lip  22  extends downwardly and forwardly relative to the front end  24  of the lure body  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1-4 . 
     As noted above, the front lip  22  includes two openings  64  and  72  that are constructed and arranged to allow the front end portion  62  of the wire  52  to pass therethrough and to attach the front lip  22  to the wire  52 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the two opening  64  and  72  are positioned in the first portion  74  of the front lip  22 . As noted above, the attachment portion  70  of the wire  52  is embedded into the second portion  76  of the front lip  22  to attach the front lip  22  to the wire  52 . In one embodiment, the second portion  76  of the front lip  22  may include a slot to receive the attachment portion  70  of the wire  52  therethrough. 
     In one embodiment, the front lip  22  includes a notch or groove  78  constructed and arranged to receive a weight  80  therein. In one embodiment, the weight  80  in the groove  78  of the front lip  22  is constructed and arranged to provide the weighted configuration for the lip  22  to retain the lip  22  in the downwardly and forwardly extending orientation of the lip  22 . In one embodiment, this weight  80  is counterbalanced by weight  40  so as to provide horizontal balance to the fishing lure  10 . In one embodiment, the weight  80  in the groove  78  of the front lip  22  is made from a lead material. In one embodiment, the weight  80  in the groove  78  of the front lip  22  is approximately 0.5 grams. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the rear hook  26  is a three pronged hook or a treble hook. In another embodiment, the rear hook  26  may include a single hook or a double hook. In one embodiment, the loop  58  may be connected to the hook  26  using the ring  60 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the fins  16  are located in a rear portion  82  of the lure body  12 . In one embodiment, the fins  16  are made from a plastic material. In one embodiment, the fins  16  are molded as a part of the lure body  12 . In another embodiment, the fins  16  can be attached to the lure body  12  by being slid into grooves (not shown) formed in the lure body  12  and adhering them in place (e.g., via an adhesive). 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the hook  30  is attached to the top side  18  of the right body portion  12 B of the lure body  12 . In other words, the loop  32  is asymetrically positioned relative to a central plane ABCD (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) through the lure body  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hook  30  is positioned in the central portion  48  of the lure body  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hook  30  is a three pronged hook or a treble hook. In another embodiment, the hook  30  may include a single hook or a double hook. In one embodiment, loop  32  (as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ) may be connected to the hook  30  using ring  34 . The loop  32  may be generally inserted into a groove (not shown) formed on the top side  18  of the left body portion  12  right body portion  12 B of the lure body  12 . In one embodiment, the size of the hook  30  is relatively larger than that of the size of the hook  26 . For example, in one embodiment, the hook  30  is a # 4 treble hook and the hook  26  is a # 6 treble hook. 
     In one embodiment, the weight  14  is positioned on the hook  30  attached to the top side  18  of the lure body  12 . In one embodiment, the weight  14  is asymmetrically positioned relative to the central plane ABCD (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) through the lure body  12 . 
     In one embodiment, eyes  84  are generally inserted into grooves (not shown) formed on outer surfaces of the left body portion  12 A and the right body portion  12 B of the lure body  12  of the fishing lure  10  and are adhered to the grooves using an adhesive. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the maximum length of the fishing lure  10  generally is 4.375 inches, while the maximum height of the fishing lure is 0.6875 inches. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the lure body  12  comprises vent holes  100  and  102  to allow water to enter into the chamber  44  within the lure body  12  so as to stabilize the fishing lure  10 . In one embodiment, the vent holes  100  and  102  located on the top side  18  and bottom side  20  of the fishing lure  12  respectively. In one embodiment, the left body portion  12 A and the right body portion  12 B encloses the vent holes  100  and  102  therebetween as the left body portion  12 A and the right body portion  12 B are adhered to one another. 
     The operation of the fishing lure  10  is described in detail with respect to  FIGS. 1-4 . The fishing lure  10 , thus formed, is generally connected to an end of the fishing line (not shown), which is connected to a fishing rod and a reel (not shown). The fishing lure  10  is then cast into areas of water where target species of fish may be found. The fishing lure  10  may be skillfully moved in the areas of water to attract target species of fish, and to encourage the target species of fish to bite the fishing lure  10 . 
     As the fishing lure  10  is pulled through water, the front lip  22  causes the fishing lure  10  to wiggle back and forth to simulate fish-like motion. This fish-like motion may catch the attention of the target species of fish. 
     When the fishing lure  10  comes to a standstill (i.e., when the fishing lure  10  is suspended in water without being pulled through water), the fishing lure  10  turns to the top side down orientation (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to simulate a dying fish (i.e., to make the fish appear like its dying or dead). As noted above, the weight  14  is positioned to bias the lure body  12  towards the top side down orientation, when the fishing lure  10  is suspended in water without being pulled through water. In other words, when the fishing lure  10  comes to a standstill, the weight  14  on the hook  30  that is positioned asymmetrically relative to the central plane ABCD through the lure body  10  makes the top portion of the lure body  12  of the fishing lure  10  heavy, thus, biasing the lure body  12  towards the top side down orientation. 
     As the fishing lure  10  is moved from the top side up orientation to the top side down orientation, the weight  40  in the lure body  12  rotates with the wire  52  such that the front lip  22  connected to the wire  52  retains its downwardly and forwardly orientation relative to the front end  24  of the lure body  12 , when the fishing lure  10  is moved to the top side down orientation. Similarly, as the fishing lure  10  is moved from the top side up orientation to the top side down orientation, the rear hook  26  connected to the wire  52  rotates with the wire  52  so that the pointed end(s)  28  of the hook  26  always extends in the generally vertically upward direction, when the fishing lure  10  is moved to the top side down orientation. 
     As noted above, in one embodiment, the rotational movement of the wire  52  is limited to 180 degrees. This is achieved by the inner surface  98  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the second portion  92  of the chamber  44  that acts as a stop to engage with bent portion  88  of the wire  52 , thus, limiting the rotational movement of the wire  52 . 
     When the fishing lure  10  is pulled through water again in a forward motion, the fins  16  on the fishing lure  10  will cause the fishing lure  10  to rotate so that the fishing lure  10  assumes the top side up orientation. This is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  where the fins  16  tend to propel the lure body  12  of the fishing lure  10  towards the top side up orientation, when the fishing lure  10  is pulled through water. 
     As the fishing lure  10  is moved from the top side down orientation to the top side up orientation, the weight  80  on the front lip  22  (and connected to the wire  52 ) retains the lip  22  in its downwardly and forwardly orientation relative to the front end  24  of the lure body  12 , when the fishing lure  10  is moved to the top side up orientation. Similarly, as the fishing lure  10  is moved from the top side down orientation to the top side up orientation, the rear hook  26  connected to the wire  52  rotates with the wire  52  so that the pointed end(s)  28  of the hook  26  always extends in the vertically upward direction, when the fishing lure  10  is moved to the top side up orientation. 
     As noted above, the weight  80  causes the front lip  22  to retain its downwardly and forwardly orientation relative to the front end  24  of the lure body  12  irrespective of whether the lure body  12  is in the top side down or top side up orientation. Also, the same relative rotational movement of the body  12  relative to the weight  80  attached to the wire  52  causes the rear hook  26  to assume an orientation in which the pointed end(s)  28  of the hook  26  always extends in the vertically upward direction irrespective of whether the lure body  12  is in the top side down or top side up orientation. This orientation of the rear hook  26  in which the pointed end(s)  28  of the hook  26  always extends in the vertically upward direction helps in targeting the vulnerable inside lower mouth of the target species of fish irrespective of whether the lure body  12  is in the top side down or top side up orientation. 
     As noted above, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , the vent holes  100  and  102  located on the fishing lure  12  allow water to enter into the chamber  44  within the lure body  12  so as to stabilize the fishing lure  10 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show another embodiment of the present invention in which a fishing lure  200  is shown. The operation of the fishing lure  200  is the same or similar to that of the fishing lure  10  described in the previous embodiment, and hence only some structural differences will be described in detail. 
     In one embodiment, a wire or rod  252  includes a bent portion  202  located in a first portion  290  of a chamber  244 . The bent portion  202  is constructed and arranged to receive and position a weight  240  in slightly lowered configuration in comparison with the weight  40  (See  FIG. 1 ) of the previous embodiment. In one embodiment, this lowered configuration of the weight  240  eliminates the need for the weight  14  attached to the hook  30  (See  FIG. 1 ) as described in the previous embodiment. The lowered configuration of the weight  240  is configured not only to balance the fore/aft weight of the fishing lure  200  so that a lure body  212  is generally disposed towards a level orientation (balanced) when in water, but also to bias the lure body  212  towards the top side down orientation if the lure  200  is suspended in water without being pulled through water. The weight  240  also provides a counterbalance to a weight  280  carried by a lip  222  that retains the lip  222  in a downwardly and forwardly extending configuration. 
     In contrast to the previous embodiment, the fishing lure  200  includes a nose section  204  and a body section  206 . The lip  222  is constructed and arranged to generally extend downwardly and forwardly relative to an end  208  of the nose section  204  of the fishing lure  200 . In other words, the nose section  204  and the lip  222  form a single unitary piece having an opening or slot  246  therethrough that is constructed and arranged to receive the wire  252  therein. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the lip  222  is positioned at 0.25 inches from a front end  224  of the nose section  204  of the fishing lure  200 . In one embodiment, the lip  222  along with the nose section  204  may be rotatable relative to the lure body  212 . In such embodiment, the wire  252  can be fixed (e.g., glued or otherwise secured) to the slot within the nose section  204 . The slot  246  may optionally be provided with rotatable bearing structures to facilitate the rotation of the wire  252  therein. The lip  222 , which is attached to the nose section  204 , causes the lure body  212  to wiggle if the lure  200  is pulled through water. Similar to the earlier embodiment, the lip  222  is weighted such that it retains a generally downwardly and forwardly extending orientation relative to the end  208  of the nose section  204  of the fishing lure  200  irrespective of whether the lure body  212  is in the top side up or top side down orientation. 
     It should thus be appreciated that the lure body can be weighted in a variety of different ways to bias the lure into the top-side down configuration. Indeed, in another embodiment, molded plastic or wood material forming the body shape of the fish itself can be top-heavy so as to bias the lure into the top-side down configuration. Any fins or other angled surfaces (at least one angled surface) on the lure body can be used propel the lure body towards a top side up orientation if the lure is pulled through water. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.