Abstract:
A paddle and keel assembly for a hard bodied fishing lure utilizes a paddle having locking holes there through and a pull-point slot there through with a keel molded to one surface thereof and extending through the locking holes to secure the paddle to the keel and a wire-form within the pull-point slot such that all of the components are fixed in the x-y-z coordinates.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to fishing lures and more specifically to the attachment of a diving paddle and or pull-point to a hard body lure. More particularly the present invention relates to an interlocking paddle and keel design that improves the strength and precision alignment ability of a fishing lure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Many fishing lures use paddles, made from fiberglass epoxy laminate material or similar rigid material, that are glued into a slot in the fishing lure and then hand tuned to make the lure swim straight. Such hand tuning is often required due to misalignment of the paddle with the lure. Consequently, a need exists to improve the mounting of the paddles to the lures to reduce the misalignment and minimize that amount of hand tuning. Fishing lures known to the inventor generally use symmetric diving paddles to control the depth at which hard bodied lures, also known as crankbaits, run when retrieved using bait casting equipment. Such lures run in a nose down configuration such that the paddle or blade often encounters the obstruction such as tree limbs before the lure body or the hooks. Typically, the pull point to which the retrieving line is connected is attached along the centerline of the diving paddle. The location of the pull ring has been considered necessary to enable the lure to run true when retrieved. Consequently, manual manipulation of the pull ring without a full understanding of the physics leads to an unstable and erratically retrieved lure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A general object of the invention is to improve the strength and precision alignment ability of a paddle to a fishing lure. To accomplish this, we use a molded keel which is inserted precisely into the lure body to insure that the attached paddle is correctly positioned. 
         [0004]    Another general object of the invention is to prevent fishing lures from hanging up on underwater obstructions such as submerged tree limbs and rocks. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a crankbait is equipped with an eccentric paddle that will deflect causing the lure to rotate away from the obstruction. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another embodiment, a crankbait is equipped with an eccentric paddle of an opposite eccentricity to cause deflection. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a paddle pull-point wire form and molded keel; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a crankbait or other hard body lure showing a slot for receiving the paddle and keel assembly in place. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a crankbait or other hard body lure with the paddle and keel assembly in place. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a preferred paddle; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred paddle affixed to the keel and inserted into the body. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of one embodiment of the paddle on a crankbait encountering an obstruction; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  rotating to avoid snagging on the obstruction. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the paddle and keel . . . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a second embodiment of the paddle; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the paddle and keel; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the third embodiment; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the paddle in the third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    One or more of the above objects can be achieved, at least in part, by providing an assembly that is insert molded to precisely align the paddle top, pull-point and keel. Referring to  FIG. 1 , note that in this embodiment a paddle  11  is provided with a slot  12  through which a wire-form pull-point  13  can be inserted such that a closed eye E is formed by the paddle and pull-point. The paddle is punched with the slot  12  in an appropriate position and with a pair of locking holes  14  which may assume any configuration, i.e. round, square, oblong, slotted. The punched paddle  11  and pull-point  13  are inserted into a precision pocket in an injection mold. The mold is closed and injected with a plastic that flows through the locking holes  14  and slot  12 , then hardens to form a rigid keel  15  locking the pull-point  13  to the paddle  11  and the paddle  11  to the keel  15 . This process precisely aligns the paddle  11 , keel  15  and pull-point  13  in the X, Y and Z planes with the resultant assembly ready to be inserted into the lure body  17 . 
         [0023]    The pull-point  13  may also be precisely aligned through thermal staking of the pull-point  13  into the paddle  11 . In thermal staking a metal pull-point  13  is placed in a cored or drilled hole in paddle  11  which is slightly smaller than the insert. This hole provides a certain degree of interference and also serves to guide the pull-point wire-form into place. The heat from the thermal tip travels through the pull-point to the interface of the metal and plastic. Heat generated by the thermal tip causes the plastic in the paddle  11  to melt, and as the thermal tip advances, the pull-point is imbedded into the paddle. The molten plastic flows into the serrations, lobes, or undercuts of the pull-point, and when the heat terminates, the plastic re-solidifies and the pull-point  13  is securely encapsulated in place in paddle  11 . Of course the exact configuration of the wire form pull point may vary so long as it extends through the paddle and is imbedded in the 
         [0024]    The paddle  11  may be of any shape and any suitable material and the pull-point  13  and cooperative slot  12  may be placed on the centerline of the lure body  17  or on either side thereof as needed to enhance the action of the lure in the water. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a mouth slot  18  is formed in the molded lure body  17  to accept the cross section of the paddle assembly such that the keel  15  and paddle  11  mate precisely with the lure body  17 . The paddle assembly can be affixed to the lure body  17  by sonic welding or gluing as appropriate. It may be seen in FIG&#39;s  8  to  11 , that the paddle and keel may be a unitary molded unit with the pull point  13  embedded therein. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment we utilize an asymmetrical paddle  11  or lip on a hard body  17  or crankbait style fishing lure to deflect under water cover easier by placing an off-center pull-point  13  on the paddle  11 . Referring to the figures for a better understanding of the invention, note that the lures to which the present invention are connected are generally balanced and contain a weight within a lightweight balsa or plastic body  17 . Body  17  includes a nose  32  and a tail  33  along with hook hangers and hooks (not shown) suspended below the body  17 . A transverse mouth slot  18  is formed in body  17  slightly below nose  32 . The inclination of the slot  18  relative to the center horizontal plane of the body  17  varies depending on the depth at which the lure is expected to run when pulled through the water by a fishing line, not shown, connected to a pull point  13  mounted on a paddle  11  inserted into slot  18  and secured therein. 
         [0026]    Paddle  11  differs from known prior art paddles in that such paddles have been symmetric about their longitudinal axis or about the longitudinal axis of the lure to which they were attached. Consequently, the pull point of prior art lures has typically been along the center line of the paddle or the lure. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the paddle has a pair of asymmetrical lobes or sides. The paddle shape includes a base edge  21  which is inserted into slot  18  and a first lateral edge  22  defining an included angle of more than 90 degrees with base edge  21 . First lateral edge  22  thus extends from slot  18  outwardly and forwardly of body  17  below nose  32 . A second lateral edge  23  extends from the end of base edge  21  outwardly at a slightly greater angle than first lateral edge  22 , thus the first and second lateral edges converge toward base edge  21  but at different rates. A forward edge  24  extends from the forward-most extension of first lateral edge  22  toward the centerline of body  17  forming an obtuse angle with first lateral edge  22  at junction A. A leading edge  25  joins forward edge  24  and crosses the centerline of body  17  forming a slightly acute angle with forward edge  24  at junction F. A secondary leading edge  26  extends between leading edge  25  and the end of second lateral edge  23  forming an obtuse angle with leading edge  25  at junction C and a slightly acute angle with second lateral edge  23  at junction B. Accordingly first lateral edge  22  forward edge  24  and leading edge  25  define the boundaries of a major lobe  31  existing on one side of the centerline of body  17 . This major lobe  31  defines the forward most extension of paddle  10 . Leading edge  25 , secondary leading edge  26  and second lateral edge  22  define the outer boundary of the second lobe  32  of paddle  10  existing on the opposite side of the centerline of body  17 . Thus leading edge  25  extends transversely of the centerline from the forward most part of the paddle  10  and rearwardly to connect with secondary leading edge  26 . 
         [0027]    It should be understood that each edge described herein above may be linear or may be slightly curved and each angle defined by the intersection of the edges is to be considered an included angle but the physical connection of the edges may be rounded or pointed. Likewise, leading edge  25  and secondary leading edge  26  may form a single curved leading edge extending from forward edge  24  at junction F to second lateral edge  22  at junction B. 
         [0028]    Line-eye or pull point  13  is mounted within major lobe  31  off the centerline of body  17 . With the line-eye off the centerline and with major lobe  31  extending in front of the lure, if the lure encounters an obstacle it will be when the leading edge  25  and forward edge  24  are below the level of the body  17  such that they encounter the obstacle. As illustrated in FIG.&#39;s  6  and  7 , because the line eye is not on the centerline of the lure, if the obstruction is encountered between junction F and junction A, the lure will pivot about the contact point between the lip and the obstruction until the lure is vertical at which time tension on the line will move the lure past the obstruction. If the obstruction is encountered between junction F and junction B, the lure will simply slide around the obstruction and remain free. The various permutations are illustrated in the figures. With respect to Y shaped tree limbs note that it is more likely that the major lobe will encounter one branch of the Y before the minor lobe, thus any pivoting action of the lure well begin before both lobes are engaged. 
         [0029]    Note that the position of the line-eye  13  along the length of paddle  11  may be varied to impart different swim characteristics to the lure and the angle of slot  18  can be varied to also impart different swim characteristics, however, in most instances the lure will “swim” in a nose down configuration relative to a horizontal plane such that the edge of the paddle will be the first point to encounter an obstruction and the belly hooks  16  will be shielded from the obstruction by the paddle. As the paddle flips, pivots or slides by the obstruction the hooks  16  should also avoid the obstruction. 
         [0030]    In a third embodiment shown in FIG&#39;s  12  to  14 , the keel  15 ′ is adapted to mate with a paddle  11 ′ which is undulating or non-planar. In this embodiment the keel is formed with an undulating upper surface  41  which matches the undulation of the paddle  11 ′. As in the preceding embodiments, a punched paddle  11 ′ and pull-point  13 ′ are inserted into a precision pocket in an injection mold. The mold is closed and injected with a plastic that flows through the locking holes  14 ′ and slot  12 ′, then hardens to form a rigid keel  15 ′ locking the pull-point  13 ′ to the paddle  11 ′ and the paddle  11 ′ to the keel  15 ′, thus precisely aligns the paddle  11 ′, keel  15 ′ and pull-point  13 ″ in the X, Y and Z planes with the resultant assembly ready to be inserted into the lure body  17 . 
         [0031]    While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been put forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.