Abstract:
A device for attaching an elastic band to a lure having a narrowed end is provided. The device includes a body portion for supporting the elastic band. A cavity is defined in the body portion. An open end leads to the cavity for receiving the lure. The cavity has a first diameter at a first distance from the open end and a second diameter at a second distance from the open end. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter and the first distance is less than the second distance. The first diameter is approximately equal to a diameter of the lure and the second diameter is approximately equal to a diameter of the lure at the narrowed end.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a device used in fishing, and more particularly to devices for preparing fishing lures or bait. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Many types of lures or bait are used in fishing, ranging from live bait such as worms or other insects, to synthetic polymer products designed to attract fish. One popular lure is a polymer worm known as a stick worm, such as the one offered by Custom Baits of Page, Ariz., and offered under the name Senko. A stick worm has a flexible cylindrical body that mimics the shape of a worm. In order to maximize its appeal to fish, the lure is preferably attached to a fishing line at the center of the lure. 
         [0004]    In the past, a hook was inserted through the body of the lure. However, this method of securing the lure to the line has its disadvantages. First, the lure becomes permanently damaged when the hook pierces the body of the lure. Accordingly, the lure must be replaced as often as every use. Additionally, because the lure&#39;s body has been pierced, the lure loses strength and may fall off the hook and line during casting. 
         [0005]    One solution to this problem is to attach an o-ring to the body of the lure. The hook is then inserted though the o-ring, thereby avoiding piercing the body of the lure. While effective, the o-ring can be difficult to attach to the worm. Specifically, the o-ring must be rolled onto the lure, and due to the flexible nature of the lure, the lure may be stretched or ripped during this process. Stretching of the lure can lead to discoloration which is undesirable. Accordingly, there is room in the art for a bait speed loader that can quickly and efficiently attach an o-ring to a lure without damaging the lure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a device for attaching an elastic band to a lure having a narrowed end. The device includes a body portion for supporting the elastic band. A cavity is defined by the body portion. An open end leads to the cavity for receiving the lure. The cavity has a first diameter at a first distance from the open end and a second diameter at a second distance from the open end. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter and the first distance is less than the second distance. The first diameter is approximately equal to a diameter of the lure and the second diameter is approximately equal to a diameter of the lure at the narrowed end. 
         [0007]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of an exemplary first lure employed with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of an exemplary second lure employed with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of a loader according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the first lure and the loader of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the second lure and the loader of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the second lure after application of an o-ring employed with the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a second embodiment of a loader according to the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIG. 1A , an exemplary lure used with the present invention is indicated by reference number  10 . The lure  10  is intended to represent a worm, and accordingly includes a generally cylindrical body  12  with a blunt end  14  and a narrowed end  16 . The lure  10  also includes a smooth section  18  intended to represent an egg sac on a typical worm. The cylindrical body  12  has a first diameter indicated by reference number  20 . The lure  10  has a first length indicated by reference number  22  measured from the blunt end  14  to the narrowed end  16 . The lure  10  is preferably flexible and made from a polymer. The lure  10  may include various substances such as salts or colored material imbedded in the polymer in order to increase the appeal of the lure  10  to fish. 
         [0018]    A second exemplary lure  30  is shown in  FIG. 1B . The second lure  20  is substantially similar to the first lure  10  and includes a cylindrical body  32 , a blunt end  34 , a narrowed end  36 , and a smooth portion  38 . The cylindrical body  32  has a second diameter indicated by reference number  40  and a second length indicated by reference number  42  measured from the blunt end  34  to the narrowed end  36 . However, the second lure  30  has different dimensions than the first lure  10 . More specifically, the first length  22  is less than the second length  42 . In the particular example provided, the first length  22  is approximately four inches and the second length  42  is approximately five inches. 
         [0019]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a loader according to the principles of the present invention is shown and generally indicated by reference number  50 . As will be described in greater detail below, the loader  50  is used to quickly prepare the exemplary lures  10  and  30  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The loader  50  generally includes an elongated body  51 . The body  51  includes a main portion  52  and a closed end or portion  53  that both help define a cavity  54 . Accordingly, the body  51  has an exterior wall or outer surface  56  and an interior wall or inner surface  58 . The closed portion  53  includes an inner end surface  55  at the apex or end of the cavity  54 . The main portion  52  is preferably frusto-conical as will be described in greater detail below, though it should be appreciated that the main portion  52  may have various other shapes such as cylindrical. The body  51  also includes an open end or portion  60  that communicates with the cavity  54 . The main portion  52  and the closed portion  53  are symmetrical about a central axis indicated by reference number  63 . 
         [0020]    The loader  50  includes a first inner diameter indicated by reference number  66  that defines the diameter of the inner surface  54  at a joint location  68  where the main portion  52  meets the closed portion  53 . The joint location  68  is set at a first predefined distance  70  from the open end  60 . A second inner diameter indicated by reference number  72  defines the diameter of the inner surface  54  at a location within the closed portion  53  at a set second predefined distance  74  from the open end  60 . This second distance  74  may be such that the second diameter  72  is located at the inner end surface  55 . A third inner diameter indicated by reference number  75  defines the diameter of the inner surface  54  at the open end  60 . The third inner diameter  75  is greater than the first inner diameter  64  which is greater than the second inner diameter  66 . As will be described in greater detail below, the inner diameters  66 ,  72 ,  75  cooperate to locate and position the lures  10  and  30  within the cavity  54 . 
         [0021]    The outer surface  56  of the main portion  52  and the closed portion  53  is sloped or tapered with respect to the axis  63 . More specifically, the outer surface  56  of the main portion  52  is sloped at a first slope angle a with respect to the axis  63  and the outer surface of the closed portion  53  is sloped at a second slope angle β with respect to the axis  63 . The first slope angle α is less than the second slope angle β. In other words, the closed portion  53  has a steeper slope than the main portion  52 . In the particular example provided, the first slope angle α is approximately between 1 and 3 degrees and the second slope angle β is approximately between 21 to 27 degrees. Additionally, in the particular example provided, the main portion  52  and the closed portion  53  have a constant wall thickness between the inner surface  54  and the outer surface  56 . Accordingly, the sloping or tapering of the outer surface  56  at the main portion  52  and the closed portion  53  is carried over to the inner surface  54 . 
         [0022]    In the particular example provided, the loader  50  is made from a plastic compound and is a single unitary piece. This allows the loader  50  to float if dropped in water. However, it should be appreciated that the loader  50  may be made from various other materials or in joined discrete pieces without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]    An elastic band or o-ring  80  is intended to be carried on the main portion  52 . While in the particular example provided a single elastic band  80  is illustrated, it should be appreciated that any number of elastic bands  80  may be carried on the main portion  52  without departing from the scope of the present invention. The elastic band  80  has a static or rest diameter that is less than the diameters  20 ,  40  of the lures  10 ,  30 , thereby assuring that the elastic band  80  grips the lures  10 ,  30  when located thereon. Additionally, the static diameter of the elastic band  80  assures that when the elastic band  80  is located on the main portion  52 , the elastic band  80  will grip the main portion  52  and resist falling off the loader  50 . The sloped outer surface  56  at the closed portion  53  of the loader  50  assists loading of elastic bands  80  onto the loader  50  by allowing the elastic bands  80  to simply be rolled onto the loader  50  rather than being stretched prior to loading. The elastic band  80  is preferably circular in shape and made from an elastic material such as rubber, though it should be appreciated that various shapes and materials may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the operation of the loader  50  with the first lure  10  will now be described. First, the loader  50  is loaded with at least one elastic band  80  by positioning the elastic band over the closed portion  53  and rolling or sliding the elastic band  80  onto the main portion  52 . Next, the blunt end  14  of the lure  10  is inserted into the open end  60  of the loader  50  and into the cavity  54 . In this sense, the third diameter  75  of the loader  50  is greater than the diameter  20  of the lure  10  to allow the lure  10  to enter the cavity  54  without compressing the lure  10 . The lure  10  is inserted into the cavity  54  until stopped by the inner surface  58  of the loader  50 . This occurs at approximately the location of the first inner diameter  66  where the first inner diameter  66  approximately equals the outer diameter  20  of the lure  10 . Additionally, a pocket of air  82  forms within the cavity  54  between the lure  10  and the closed portion  53  that serves to help stop the lure  10 . The lure  10  is stopped such that approximately half the length  22  of the lure  10  is inside the loader  50  and half the length  22  of the lure  10  is outside the loader  50 . Next, an elastic band  80  is rolled or slid towards the open end  60  in the direction of the arrow indicated by reference letter “A” until such time as the elastic band  80  rolls or is slid off the loader  50  and onto the lure  10 . 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the operation of the loader  50  with the second lure  30  will now be described. First, the loader  50  is loaded with at least one elastic band  80  by positioning the elastic band over the closed portion  53  and rolling the elastic band  80  onto the main portion  52 . Next, the narrowed end  36  of the lure  30  is inserted into the open end  60  of the loader  50  and into the cavity  54 . In this sense, the third diameter  75  of the loader  50  is greater than the diameter  40  of the lure  30  to allow the lure  30  to enter the cavity  54  without compressing the lure  30 . The lure  30  is inserted into the cavity  54  until stopped by the inner surface  58  of the loader  50 . This occurs at approximately the location of the second inner diameter  72  where the inner surface  58  engages the narrowed end  36  of the lure  30 . Additionally, a pocket of air  82  forms within the cavity  54  between the lure  30  and the closed portion  53  that serves to help stop the lure  30 . Alternatively, the lure  30  may be stopped when the lure  30  contacts the inner end surface  55 . The lure  30  is stopped such that approximately half the length  42  of the lure  30  is inside the loader  50  and half the length  42  of the lure  30  is outside the loader  50 . Next, an elastic band  80  is rolled or slid towards the open end  60  in the direction of the arrow indicated by reference letter “A” until such time as the elastic band  80  rolls off the loader  50  and onto the lure  30 . 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , once either lure  10  or  30  has been loaded with an elastic band  80 , the lures  10 ,  30  are removed from the loader  50 . The loader  50  operates to position the elastic band  80  in the approximate center of the lures  10 ,  30  irrespective of what size lure  10 ,  30  has been used with the loader  50 . A hook  90  coupled to a fishing line  92  may then be attached to the elastic band  80 . This allows the lures  10 ,  30  to be baited without piercing or damaging the lures  10 ,  30 . 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , a second embodiment of the loader is generally indicated by reference number  100 . The loader  100  is substantially similar to the loader  50 , however, the loader  100  includes several additional features. First, the loader  100  includes a retention feature  102  located proximate to the closed portion  53 . The retention feature  102  operates to prevent the elastic bands  80  from sliding off the loader  100 . In the particular example provided, the retention feature  102  is an annular riser having a semi-circular cross-section to allow the elastic band  80  to roll over top the retention feature  102  when loading the loader  100  with elastic bands  80 . However, the retention feature  102  may take other forms, such as a discrete molded bump, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0028]    The loader  100  also includes an extension  104  that extends out from the closed portion  53 . The extension  104  includes a hole  106 . The hole  106  extends through the extension  104  from one side thereof to an opposite side thereof. The extension  104  and hole  106  cooperate to allow any number of devices to be coupled to the loader  100 . In the particular example provided, a lanyard string  108  having a belt clasp  110  extends through the hole  106 , however, it should be appreciated that any number of devices may be coupled to the extension  104  and the hole  106  without departing from the scope of the present invention. Additionally, the above described loaders  50 ,  100  may be included as a bait loading system having one or more of the exemplary lures  10 ,  30  and a plurality of elastic bands  80 . 
         [0029]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.