Patent Publication Number: US-2023135130-A1

Title: A lip device for fishing lures

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/NO2021/050083, filed on Mar. 26, 2021, which claims priority to, and the benefit of, Norwegian Patent Application No. 20200394, filed on Apr. 1, 2020. The entire contents of such applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an autonomously adjustable lip device for use in a lure for altering the lure configuration which provides different depths and pattern of travel of the lure. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an autonomously adjustable lip device for use in a lure for altering the lure configuration which provides different depths and pattern of travel of the lure as defined in the introductory parts of and claim  1 . 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A problem with the solutions of the prior art is that a lure is designed for fishing at a predefined water depth, and if the fisherman needs to alter the depth he needs to change lure, or alter the speed at which the lure is pulled through the water. Alternatively there is some lure manufacturers that provides for changing lip in a lure, such that the same lure may be configured for various depths by changing the lip to a different one having a different size, form, angle of attach a.o. A further lure manufacturer has come up with the solution of providing a lip configuration that can change the angle of attack by the fisherman between fishing sessions. None of the lures may change the lip configuration in situ. There is thus a need for improved lure lip design. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies and disadvantages in the prior art and solve at least the above mentioned problem. According to a first aspect there is provided an autonomously adjustable lip device for use in a lure for altering the lure configuration which provides different depths and pattern of travel of the lure, wherein the adjustable lip device is connected to the lure via lip connectors, the adjustable lip device comprising: a lip activator for changing the lip angel of attack, the lip activator being connected to the lip via a lip connecting device and the lip activator being sensitive to the lure speed through water, the lip activator having a passive state and an active state wherein the passive state corresponds to a first lip configuration, and the active state corresponds to a second lip configuration. 
     There is thus provided a lure that can change its configuration simply by altering the speed through water. The changed state of the lure lip enables the lure to be configured for more than one depth. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip activator changing from the passive state to the active state by increasing the lure speed through water above a lip activator threshold specified by the lip configuration. 
     The fisherman need only to increase the speed of the lure to change from a passive state to an active state, and thereby decrease the depth at which the lure travel through water. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip activator changing from the active state to the passive state by decreasing the lure speed through water below a lip activator threshold specified by the lip configuration. 
     The lip may thus be configured to change back to its original passive state and the lure is configured to travel at its original depth. 
     According to some embodiments the lip activator changes between the passive state and the active state dependent on the lure speed through water. 
     The lure then may have a more dynamic changing lip configuration, depending on the speed through water. 
     According to some embodiments the lip activator changes between the passive state and the active state dependent on the lure speed through water, and the lip activator comprise an activation delay device causing the lip activator action to be delayed in one or both of changing from the passive state to the active state, or from the active state to the passive state. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip activator is a resilient connector, such that the resilient connector causes the lip to bend in accordance with the lure speed through water. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip activator is a pressure sensitive snap disc connector which when activated stays in the active state for as long as pressure by is maintained in accordance with the lure speed through water and when pressure is lowered holds an active state for a period of time in accordance with the snap disc configuration, and then snaps back to the passive state. 
     According to some embodiments, when the snap disc snaps back to the passive state the snap action transfers into an alteration of the lure movement pattern. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip activator is a hydraulically attenuated damper which changes from passive state to active state and stays in active state when the lure speed through water reaches above a threshold value, and changes with delayed action back from active state to passive state when the lure speed through water first changes below the threshold value. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip activator changes from passive state to active state and stays in active state when the lure speed through water reaches above a threshold value, and changes back from active state to passive state and stays in passive state when the lure speed through water first changes below the threshold value and then increase above the threshold value. 
     According to some embodiments, the lure runs at a configurable depth when lip activator is in the passive state, and the lure runs at a configurable shallower depth when lip activator is in the active state. 
     The lure thus may be configured for a variety of alterable movement through water characteristics, and a solution to the above stated problems is solved. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip connecting device is arranged inside the lure, and is one of: 
     an action rod 
     a first pivot arm, and 
     a second pivot arm, 
     wherein the pivot arms rotate around a pivot point and the distal end of the first pivot arm is connected to the lip base, and the and the lip activator being connected to one of: 
     the front of the second pivot arm 
     the back of the second pivot arm 
     the front of the first pivot arm 
     the back of the first pivot arm 
     the pivot point. 
     According to some embodiments, the lip connecting device and the lip activator is arranged partly or completely on the outside of the lure. 
     According to some embodiments the lip activator is a spring device arranged in one or more of the lip connectors. 
     The present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given below. The detailed description and specific examples disclose preferred embodiments of the disclosure by way of illustration only. Those skilled in the art understand from guidance in the detailed description that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure. 
     Hence, it is to be understood that the herein disclosed disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described since such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a unit” or “the unit” may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words “comprising”, “including”, “containing” and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps. 
     Terminology 
     The term “lip” is to be interpreted as any type of lure maneuver device also encompassing what is normally called lure bib, foils, wing, or any device altering or defining the depth/movement pattern characteristics of a lure. 
     The term “spring” is to be interpreted as any type of elastic bodies that can be twisted, pulled, or stretched by some force. They can return to their original shape when the force is released. In other words it is also termed as a resilient member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG.  1 A  shows a side view of a prior art lure having a static lure lip configuration. 
         FIG.  2 A  shows a side view according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2 B  shows another side view of the embodiment of  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  3 A  shows a side view according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3 B  shows another side view of the embodiment of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  4 A  shows a side view according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4 B  shows another side view of the embodiment of  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  5 A  shows a side view according to two further embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5 B  shows another side view of the embodiments of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIG.  6 A  shows a bottom side view according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6 B  shows a side view according to two further embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6 C  shows another side view of the embodiments of  FIG.  6 B . 
         FIG.  6 D  shows a bottom side view according to a further embodiment of the present invention from  FIG.  6 B or  6 C . 
         FIG.  6 E  shows a side view of a first further embodiment having a lip configuration with an upper and a lower part rotating around a pivot point. 
         FIG.  6 F  shows a side view of a second further embodiment having a lip configuration with an upper and a lower part rotating around a pivot point. 
         FIG.  6 G  shows an isometric view of a second further embodiment having a lip configuration with an upper and a lower part rotating around a pivot point. 
         FIG.  6 H  shows an isometric view of a third further embodiment having a lip configuration with an upper and a lower part rotating around a pivot point. 
         FIG.  6 I  shows an isometric view of a third further embodiment having a lip configuration with an upper and a lower part rotating around a pivot point. 
         FIG.  6 J  shows an isometric view of a fourth further embodiment having a lip configuration with an upper and a lower part rotating around a pivot point. 
         FIG.  7 A  shows a graph that illustrates a first activation configurations relative speed through water of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7 B  shows a graph that illustrates a second activation configurations relative speed through water of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7 C  shows a graph that illustrates a third activation configurations relative speed through water of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7 D  shows a graph that illustrates a fourth activation configurations relative speed through water of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7 E  shows a graph that illustrates a fifth activation configurations relative speed through water of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person. 
       FIG.  1    shows a typical lure  1  of prior art, having a fixed lip/bib  2  for a predefined lure path/depth through water when attached to a fish line  39  and pulled through water. A lure will have hook attachment devices  12 ,  13 , and weight/floats  14 , and this is the same for the lures of present invention, but for simplicity these are not included in the simplified sketches of embodiments discussed. The fishing of lures according to prior art are predefined to follow the characteristics defined at production. Some lures has been provided to comprise the possibility to change li configuration between fishing sessions which to a small degree enables the fisherman to alter the configuration of his lure. 
     It is an objective of present invention to provide a wobbler/lure that provides the fisherman with more ways to use the bait, more flexibility and new patterns of movement. 
     A lure designed in accordance with present invention will be able to cover the work areas for both shallow diver and surface lure whenever the fisherman wants to alter the configuration, in situ, meaning the solution may be built into a shallow diver and by activation the lure is altered to a surface lure, or for example a deep diver is reconfigured in situ to a shallow diver, wherein an activation feature is built into a deep diver and is activated by the fisherman upon lure draw pattern, or by the lure for example hitting an obstacle such as a the bottom. 
     The first aspect of this disclosure shows an autonomously adjustable lip device  3  for use in a lure  10  for altering the lure configuration which provides different depths and pattern of travel of the lure, wherein the adjustable lip device  3  is connected to the lure  10  via lip connectors  22 , the adjustable lip device  3  comprising: a lip activator  6  for changing the lip angel of attack to an angle of, or between, a first passive angle  20  and a second active angle  20 ′, the lip activator  6  being connected to the lip via a lip connecting device  7 , 7 ′,  7 ″, 8  and the lip activator  6  being sensitive to the lure speed through water  21 , the lip activator  6  having a passive state  3 , 4  and an active state  3 ′, 4  wherein the passive state corresponds to a first lip configuration, and the active state corresponds to a second lip configuration. 
     One such is shown in  FIG.  2 B , where the lip activator may in its simplest form be an elastic strip bound to the lip via a connecting point  7 ″ at its first end, and to the lure eye/swivel  11  at the second end. When pulled through the water the angle of attach of the water will force the lip backwards, and at a certain point the lure will alter its depth characteristics. The higher the angle of attach  20 ,  20 ′ the lip has the shallower the lure path through water. 
       FIGS.  2 - 6    describes variations of the lip activator  6 . 
     Examples in the figures illustrates the lip activator in the form of: 
       FIG.  2 B : spring/elastic band in front of lip see operation pattern  FIG.  7 B   
       FIG.  3 A : spring/damper inside lure 
       FIG.  3 B : damper/switch 
       FIGS.  4 A /B: snap disc/delayed tension device see operation pattern  FIG.  7 C   
       FIG.  5 A : resilient spring 
       FIG.  5 B : click device on/off see operation pattern  FIG.  7 D   
       FIG.  6 B : lever device inside lure connected to lip, activator connected to front of upper part of lever device. 
       FIG.  6 B : lever device inside lure connected to lip, activator connected to backside of upper part of lever device. 
     The lip activator  6  may in an embodiment change from the passive state  3 ,  4  to the active state  3 ′,  4  by increasing the lure speed through water above a lip activator threshold  30  specified by the lip configuration. 
     Further, the lip activator  6  may in another embodiment change from the active state  3 ′,  4  to the passive state  3 ,  4  by decreasing the lure speed through water below a lip activator threshold  31  specified by the lip configuration. 
     The active state corresponds to a shallower depth path of the lure, while the passive state corresponds to a deeper depth path of the lure, whilst it is pulled through the water. 
     The lip activator  6  may also in a further embodiment change between the passive state  3 , 4  and the active state  3 ′, 4  dependent on the lure speed through water. 
     In one embodiment the lure lip is configured such that activation is done by the fisherman “jerking” the bait (beating with a rod tip) and the water pressure on the diving lip exceeds the force needed to change the angle of it. Deactivation may be by a simple return by reducing the increased water pressure. The resulting effect may be as exemplified in the graph in  FIG.  7 E , that the lure may be repeatedly “jerked” from a deeper path up to the surface, and when fisherman stops the repeating “jerks”, the lure returns tot the depth as defined by the lip that has returned to a passive state position. 
     The lip activator  6  may also in a further embodiment change between the passive state and the active state dependent on the lure speed through water, and the lip activator comprise an activation delay device  15  causing the lip activator action to be delayed  32  in one or both of changing from the passive state to the active state, or from the active state to the passive state. 
     In a further embodiment the lip activator  6  may also be a resilient connector, such that the resilient connector causes the lip to bend in accordance with the lure speed through water. 
     In a further embodiment the lip activator  6 , 15  may also be a pressure sensitive snap disc connector which when activated stays in the active state for as long as pressure by is maintained in accordance with the lure speed through water and when pressure is lowered holds an active state for a period of time in accordance with the snap disc configuration, and then snaps back to the passive state. 
     The snap disc may in one embodiment when it snaps back to the passive state the snap action transfers into an alteration of the lure movement pattern. This is meant to provide an unexpected movement of the lure. 
     Activation and deactivation of the lip activator  6 , 15  may also be arranged to provide a sound and/or vibration effects when the lip activator  6 , 15  changes state/angle. This may be designed to push water and/or air out of a chamber (not shown) provided in/on the lure. This may provide an effect for example such as the lure that hangs still in water suddenly shakes and/or outputs a sound and/or air bubbles, when the lip activator  6 , 15  change state. 
     In a further embodiment the lip activator  6  may be a hydraulically attenuated damper which changes from passive state to active state and stays in active state when the lure speed through water reaches above a threshold value, and changes with delayed action back from active state to passive state when the lure speed through water first changes below the threshold value. 
     In a further embodiment the lip activator  6  changes from passive state to active state and stays in active state when the lure speed through water reaches above a threshold value, and changes back from active state to passive state and stays in passive state when the lure speed through water first changes below the threshold value and then increase above the threshold value. 
     In a further embodiment the lure runs at a configurable depth when lip activator is in the passive state, and the lure runs at a configurable shallower depth when lip activator is in the active state. 
     In a further embodiment the lip connecting device  7 , 7 ′, 8  is arranged inside the lure, and is one of:
         an action rod  7     a first pivot arm  7 , and a second pivot arm  7 ′, wherein the pivot arms rotate around a pivot point  8  and the distal end of the first pivot arm  7  is connected to the lip base, and the and the lip activator  6  being connected to one of:   the front of the second pivot arm  7 ′   the back of the second pivot arm  7 ′   the front of the first pivot arm  7     the back of the first pivot arm  7     the pivot point  8         

     In a further embodiment the lip connecting device  7 , 7 ′, 8  and the lip activator  6  is arranged partly or completely on the outside of the lure. 
     In a further embodiment the lip activator  6  is a spring device arranged in one or more of the lip connectors  22 . 
     An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS.  6 B,  6 C and  6 D . The pivot arm may for example be a composed of a pivot device such as a pivot arm or a gear disc pivoting around a pivot point inside the lure. The pivot device may be arranged in a slot  23  provided for the pivot device and arranged to pivot around a pivot point  8  arranged inside the slot  23 . The pivot device is connected on a first side to the base side of the lip  3  via a lip connector  7 ′″ which will when the lip  3  rotates around its connection point  22  of the lip rotate the pivot device. The pivot device is connected on a second side to the lip activator  6  which will when the lip  3  rotates around its connection point  22  of the lip and rotate the pivot device also activate the lip activator  6 . The lip activator  6  is advantageously arranged inside the lure, or in the slot  23 . 
     The lip activator  6  may be one of, but not limited by: air/fluid damped cylinder, spring, resilient member/rubber string/strips/rope/band, jumping disc of plastic/metal/composite material, combined switching device for switching between active and passive state, and the lip activator  6  may be connected directly to the lip, the base of the lip or the front of the lip, and the connection may be direct in a connecting point, or via a connecting device. 
     The lip activator  6  may be arranged on or inside the lure, and when inside the connection device  7 ,  7 ′ typically have one portion outside the lure connecting to the lip  3 , an done portion inside the lure. In one embodiment as illustrated in  FIG.  6 A  the connection device  7  is arranged to pass through a conduit  9 ′ arranged from a forward positron of the underside of the lure to the lip activator  6  inside the lure. 
     In  FIGS.  6 E and  6 F  there is shown a further embodiment of present invention, wherein the lip  65 ′,  65 ″ is configured to comprise a larger lower portion  65 ′ and a smaller upper portion  65 ″, the two portions  65 ′,  65 ″ being rotational connected in a pivot point  8 ′ such that when the lure is pulled through the water with sufficient speed and the lip is pushed to an active state, the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip is moved forward and will make additional noise as it will “catch” more water or air or a mix of the two when pulled up towards a surface level. This noise is much like a conventional popper lure is designed to create when it is pulled along the water surface. The upper portion  65 ″ and the lower portion  65 ′ of the lure may be connected via a connecting portion  64  as seen in  FIG.  6 H . 
     The lip  65 ′,  65 ″ may be connected to a spring  6 ′, the spring  6 ′ being connected in one end to the backside of the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip and in the other end to a point, rearward relative the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip, on the lure, to provide a biased pulling force holding the lip in a passive position, and only when the speed of the lure through water will the lip  65 ′,  65 ″ move from a passive position to an active position as seen in  FIG.  6 F . 
     An additional holding force may be provided by providing a magnet  60  in the lure arranged to add to the holding forces acting on the lip  65 ′,  65 ″ in a passive state. The magnet  60  may be attached to the backside of the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip, or on the front portion of the lure whereupon the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip rests in the passive state. A cooperating magnetic metal element  60 ′ is arranged on the other of the front portion of the lure and the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip to enable the magnet provide a pulling force holding the lip  65 ′,  65 ″ in the passive state until the combined holding forces becomes less than the pushing force of the water towards the lower portion  65 ′ of the lip. In other word in order to pull the lip out of a passive state and to an active state it is necessary to pull the lure through water at a speed such that the water resistance forces F 2  on the lower portion  65 ′ of the lip is larger than the combined water resistance forces F 1  of the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip, and the holding force F 3  of the spring and the pulling force F 4  of the magnet (if present). In this configuration the lure will return to passive state when the water resistance forces F 1  of the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip, and the holding force F 3  of the spring  6 ′ is larger than the water resistance forces F 2  on the lower portion  65 ′ of the lip. 
     The lip  65 ′, 65 ″ may more easily reside in an in between state when moving back from active to passive state. When the fisher desires to change back from active to passive state it would be advantageous to lower the speed of the lure through water substantially in a short period. This in order for the spring  6 ′, which will have a pulling force corresponding to its stretched out state, will be able to pull the lip  65 ′,  65 ″ back into passive state against the water resistance forces. The spring  6 ′ exert less force on the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip when in the un-stretched state and the lip is in the passive state. 
       FIGS.  6 G to  6 J  show 3D prototype designs of various embodiments of present invention. 
       FIG.  6 G  is a side view of the lure where the lure is of a wobbler type.  FIG.  6 H  shows the same lure seen from the front when lip  65 ′, 65 ″ is in a passive state. 
       FIG.  6 I  shows the lure of  FIG.  6 G  where the lip is in an active state and where spring  6 ′ is in an outstretched mode. 
     In  FIG.  6 G , the upper and lower portion of the lip  65 ′,  65 ″ are arranged on a straight line, α+β=180°. In further version of this embodiment the combined angle may be different from 180°, for example the angle of the upper portion  65 ″ of the lip may have a larger angle α relative the longitudinal direction y of the lure body, and the combined angle α+β may larger than 180°. The latter combination may provide a more vertical position of the upper portion of the lip when in an active state. This may create more popping/disturbance of water/air when in an active state. Other angles may be provided. 
     As seen in  FIG.  6 H  it is provided a conduit  63  arranged in the connecting portion  64  of the lip  65 ′,  65 ″ to enable a connecting element  62  to be inserted and in a first end of the connecting element  62  is fixed to the lure body behind the lip  65 ′,  65 ″. The other end of the connecting element  62  may be provided with a line connection element  61 . This is merely an example of providing a connecting element for a fishing line to the lure. Other connecting mechanisms may be employed without deviating from the inventive concept. 
     In  FIG.  6 J  a further version of the present invention is adapted to fit onto a popper lure, wherein the upper portion  65 ″ of the lure is formed as a ring encircling the front portion of the popper lure. This example is included to illustrate that the present invention may be adapted to many types of lures that are traditionally designed for special purpose fishing, and with small adjustments the present invention may be adapted to any type of lure to achieve the described features of the invention. 
     In  FIG.  7 A  a lip activator  6  has a predefined HI and LO threshold wherein the lip is in a passive state until the lure accelerates to a speed through water greater than HI, and then changes to an active state, and the lip changes back to passive state only when the speed through water falls below LO. 
     In  FIG.  7 B  the activation is more directly related to the speed through water, and the state changes to an active state when the speed through water is above a LIMIT, and returns to or stays at passive states when the speed through water falls below LIMIT. 
     A third scenario in  FIG.  7 C  describes one example of delayed feature, where the state changes to an active state when the speed through water is above a LIMIT, and returns to passive states after a time delay after the speed through water falls below LIMIT. The delay may be on the rising flank of speed through water or delay may be provided on both rising and descending flank of speed through water. These delay mechanisms may also be provided where the lip activator  6  operates with HI and LO thresholds as discussed above. 
     A further scenario in  FIG.  7 D  describes one example where the state changes to an active state when the speed through water is above a LIMIT or HI, and returns to passive states after the speed through water first falls below LIMIT or LO and then increases above LIMIT or HI, much like a pen click-on-off feature. Delay mechanisms as discussed above may also be provided when operating on theses flanks of speed through water. 
     The scenario from  FIG.  7 E  is discussed above, and also this feature may be provided to operate according to the HI/LO limits and the delay options on the rising and/or descending flank of seed through water. 
     The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, lip activator  6  may be implemented by arranging a spring in the connection point  22  of the lip  3  or of the pivot point  8  of lever device, giving the lip a resilient behavior and a movement pattern between passive and active state. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.