Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related generally to fishing equipment. More specifically, the present invention is related to devices and methods for recharging glow-in-the-dark fishing lures. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fishing lures have continuously evolved as new and better ways to catch fish have been developed. Shiny metallic parts have often been used to catch the attention of fish. More recently, lighted lures have been used; often having self contained batteries and light bulbs or LEDs. Such lures do not require sunlight to reflect, can be used in deep water, and can be used between dusk and dawn, when the sky is dark. Such features have added complexity to lures, with the self-contained power and light source requirements. 
     Glow-in-the-dark fishing lures have more recently become available, having luminescent materials and/or coatings which glow-in-the-dark after exposure to light. The recharging light source is often provided ad hoc, such as shining a flashlight on the lure while the lure is still on the fishing line since removing the lure and reattaching it would be quite bothersome. Shining the light on the lure may require the use of both, often wet, hands in a rocking boat, and may waste much of the light aimed in the general direction of the lure. 
     A method and apparatus for quickly recharging a glow-in-the-dark fishing lure is needed, and preferably without a need for the fisherman holding either the lure or the light source. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for recharging a glow-in-the-dark fishing lure. Embodiments of the invention can include a cavity within a cavity wall, an external opening into the cavity, and at least one light disposed to project light primarily into the cavity. The light source may be solid state, LED, strobe, incandescent, ultraviolet, and the like. In some embodiments, the cavity has a volume between about 10 and 100 cubic inches, or 5 and 200 cubic inches. The apparatus may also have a lure detector for detecting the admission and/or presence of the lure in the cavity, as well as a light controller operably coupled to the lure detector. The lure detector can be responsive to the presence and/or admission of the lure, such that the light is turned on responsive to the presence of the lure. The lure detector may be selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, light detectors, weight detectors, load cells, photocells, sound detectors, metal detectors, weight responsive lever arms, proximity switches, electrical contacts, and combinations thereof. Some embodiments also include a lid for at least substantially covering the cavity external opening. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the cavity has a bottom portion and a weep hole in communication with the cavity bottom portion. The cavity wall may be substantially internally reflective, with the light projecting from within the cavity. In some devices, the cavity wall is substantially transparent to light and the light projects into the cavity from outside of the cavity through the substantially transparent cavity wall. 
     Some embodiments of the cavity walls have a bottom portion and a top portion, where the bottom portion is pivotably coupled to the top portion and moves responsive to the presence of the lure resting on the bottom portion. The bottom portion may be operably coupled to a light switch to turn on the light responsive to the presence of the lure weight on the bottom portion. At least one electrical battery powering the light is present in some devices according to the present invention. 
     Some embodiments of the invention include a neck or throat portion leading from the external opening to the cavity portion. Some embodiments have a handle coupled to an external surface of the device. Some devices having an external handle have the handle configured similar to a coffee cup handle, which may be sized to receive at least the four fingers of an adult hand. One embodiment includes a flange for disposing the device through a hole in a surface and securing the flange to the surface. Such devices can be mounted through holes in boats decks or gunnels. 
     The present invention also provides methods for recharging a glow-in-the-dark fishing lure. One method includes inserting the glow-in-the-dark fishing lure into a cavity interior in a device, and illuminating the lure in the cavity by shining a light into the cavity. The method may include projecting the light into the device cavity interior from outside of the cavity interior, where the light is fixed to the device. In some methods, the light is fixed to the device and the illuminating includes projecting light into the device cavity interior from within the cavity interior. The light illuminating is responsive to activating a switch in some methods. The switch activating may be automatically activated in some methods by depositing the lure into the cavity. The cavity has a floor in some devices, and the depositing can include allowing the lure to land on the floor. The cavity has a wall substantially transparent to light in some devices, where the illuminating includes shining the light through the wall into the cavity. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings described below, the corresponding reference numerals and letters indicate corresponding parts of the various embodiments throughout the several views, and the various embodiments generally differ only in the manner described and/or shown, but otherwise include corresponding parts. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional, schematic view of a lure-charging device. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lure-charging device energized by a pair of power source through an alligator clip terminated wires. 
         FIG. 3  is a top, perspective view of the device of  FIG. 2 , showing the cavity side walls within. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another lure recharging device having a bottom, lure-retaining portion that is pivotally coupled to the upper portion to sense a weight change through movement of the bottom portion to trigger the light charging process. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective, exploded view of the cavity portion of another lure recharging device joined together by a pivot coupling portion and a travel sensing switch opposite the pivot. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the bottom-most portion of the device of  FIG. 5 , showing four lights mounted in the bottom portion. 
         FIG. 7  is a cut away view of yet another lure recharging device for permanently mounting in a boat, gunnel, or deck. This device includes internal batteries and an external power cord, as well as the upper flange for mounting to the gunnel and a top cover for covering the funnel region. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic of a circuit diagram for charging and discharging a photoflash tube. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a fishing lure recharger  30  including an outer wall  32 , an inner wall  34 , and inlet side funnel wall  38 , and a handle  36 . This embodiment of the invention is a portable cup-like unit, which can be rested in a standard size cup holder, in some variations. Lure recharging device  30  also includes a narrowed throat region  40  that leads to the inner wall that includes a downwardly-facing region that widens into a cavity region  41 , which, in turn, leads to a bottom region  42  having an upwardly facing region. The throat region  40  has a cross-sectional area, usually the area of a plane that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the throat. Cavity  41  has an internal wall surface area. The throat cross-sectional area is less than about 5 percent or 10 percent of the cavity wall surface area, in various embodiments of the invention. Bottom region  42  has a weep hole  45  extending downward through a drainage channel  44  to allow water to exit the unit. Outer wall  32  extends downward to a narrow region  46  which can be dimensioned to fit within a standard cup holder diameter. The interior of cavity  41  can have at least one light  56  inserted into cavity wall  34  for projecting light into the cavity. In some embodiments, lights may be positioned in the downwardly and upwardly facing regions so that they are able to project light towards each other. A rechargeable fishing lure  39  may be seen disposed within cavity  41  to be recharged by the inwardly projecting light or lights within cavity  41 . Such units may generally have an on/off or activating switch  48  and a lure detection unit  50 . Some units may have a lure passage detector  52  disposed above the region where the lure would be expected to reside. 
     Cavity bottom region  42  can include lure detector  50  in various configurations in various embodiments. In some embodiments, bottom portion  42  is pivotally mounted to the cavity upper portion at  54 , allowing some travel or gap formation at  57 , when lure  39  is disposed on cavity floor  42 . Thus, the presence of lure  39 , through its weight, can urge bottom portion  42  downward, allowing the gap at  57  to open, triggering a lure detector. In some embodiments, the pivot point  54  may be counter balanced, biasing gap  57  to a closed configuration. In other embodiments, bottom portion  42  is spring biased in a closed position, where the spring bias is partially overcome by the weight of a present lure, thereby closing a switch to indicate the presence of a lure within the cavity. In some other embodiments, lure detector  50  can include light sensors, sound sensors, or other proximity detection sensors for detecting the presence of a lure within the cavity. Lure detector  50  can utilize a light beam interruption principle in some devices, and motion detection in other devices. In some embodiments, lure passage detector  52  is included, to detect the entering of lure  39  through throat  40 . Such a passage detector can be used to turn on the lure recharging lights  56  into an illuminating state for a time period. Such a passage detector can include, in various embodiments, a light detector or a motion detector. 
     In some devices, internally contained batteries are included and are removably but securely attached to device  30 . In some embodiments of the invention, the batteries are disposed between outer shell  32  and inner shell  34 . In other embodiments, an external power source may be used, for example, clips for an external battery or a plug-in connector for a cigarette lighter-type adapter. 
     Lights  56  may take different forms in different embodiments of the invention. 12-volt incandescent lights may be used in certain embodiments. In other embodiments, LED&#39;s, for example visible light LED&#39;s and/or ultra violet LED&#39;s may be used to project light into cavity  41 . In some other embodiments, a camera-type high voltage strobe light may be used, coupled to photo flash-type circuitry. Such photoflash circuits and the associated so-called “strobe” tubes are well known. One such circuit is shown for purposes of illustration in  FIG. 8 . The charging and strobe discharge may be triggered by a manual switch, for example, switch  48 , or by lure detector  52 . Some devices include a controller having a power switch providing the power or the indication to turn on the device. The controller can also have a lure detector as an input as well as a power control output e.g. power to a relay, to turn on power to the lights. The controller may also include a timer to provide the light for a predetermined time period. The controller may control the photoflash circuitry in embodiments having such functionality. 
     In some devices, the lure is dropped into device  30 , and with the passage of the lure, the presence of the lure, and/or the manual activation of a switch, the internally disposed recharging light is activated for a time period. This time period may last as long as the lure is in the cavity, or last for a fixed time period from the initial activation. Devices having a photoflash light may charge, and then flash. 
     The circuitry for the various embodiments, given the teachings of the present invention, would be easily implemented by one skilled in the art. In one embodiment, lure detection unit  50  operates as a normally open switch (with no lure present) which is coupled in series between a power source and a light source, such that the light is activated when the lure is present. In another embodiment, lure detection unit  50  operates as a switch wired in series with a light source, a power source, and a controller circuit including a timer. A change in state indicating the new presence of the lure can start the timer which activates the light source for a preset time period. In yet another embodiment, the controller begins charging a photoflash circuit, which when charged, causes a strobe tube to flash. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another lure recharging device  80  having generally an external body  82 , a handle  84 , and a top  86 . A funnel or introducer region  96  leads down into a cavity  88 . Cavity  88  includes a generally transparent side wall  92  having a plurality of vertically extending and spaced apart ribs. These ribs can be formed of a translucent, plastic material in some embodiments. The transparent side wall for the cavity allows light to pass through the side wall. As used herein, the term “transparent” means that the material allows a sufficient amount of light to pass through the material to recharge the glow-in-the-dark lure, and includes a translucent wall as long as sufficient light can pass through the wall. In this embodiment, light is provided by a light bulb  90 , disposed within external wall  82  and outside of side wall  92 . In this embodiment, power was provided from a power source through a pair of wires  94  terminated by alligator clips. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates device  80  from the top, showing the funnel region  96 , cavity  88 , side walls  92 , and a bottom region  98 . In some devices, bottom region  98  includes a weep hole through the bottom and in communication with the outside of the device, to allow water to pass through the device rather than build up. In some embodiments, having open side walls, the water can run off the sides and out of the bottom of the device. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates yet another embodiment  100  of the invention, having an outer wall  102 , and a transparent inner wall  104  forming a cavity  120 . A plurality of lights  106  is disposed around inner wall  104 . The lights can be disposed within the cavity, protrude through the cavity inner wall, or in other embodiments, be disposed on the outside of the cavity wall isolated from the cavity and from the fishing lure and shine inward through the transparent wall. Embodiment  100  extends from a top region  112 , through a constriction or narrowing funnel region  110 , and into throat region  114 . 
     Throat region  114  extends further downward into a wide region  116  forming a major portion of cavity  120 . Another light  122  may be seen aiming its light downward into cavity portion  120 . A lure  123  may be seen resting on a bottom portion  124  of embodiment  100 . The generally round portion as shown in lure  123  represents generally the luminescent portion of the lure. Lures of all types may have the luminescent material, for example, artificial minnows and the like. Bottom portion  124  may be pivotally or hingedly mounted to upper portion  116  as indicated at  126 . This pivotal or hinged mounting disposition of bottom portion  124  can allow a gap to form at opposite region  128 . In some embodiments, the distance between the bottom portion  124  and portion  116  can vary at region  128  between essentially 0 and ¼ of an inch. Bottom portion  124  can be biased to remain in an upward, closed position. 
     In some embodiments, this biasing is accomplished using a counter weight  132 . In other embodiments, springs (e.g. tension springs, compression springs, resilient jawed clips) may be disposed about the circumference between bottom portion  124  and upper portion  116 , which may be overcome by the weight of a lure within. In the illustrated embodiment, lure  123  overcomes the counterweight  132  bias, forcing down bottom portion  124  and increasing the gap at  128  to trigger a switch  130 . In some embodiments, the lure detection weight operated switch is located near the counter weight, indicated by opposed electrical contact jaws  131  and  133 . When the lure is present, contact jaw  133  may arc leftward to close the contact with contact jaw  131 , as indicated on the drawing. In such embodiments, contact jaws  131  and  133  may normally be apart, with the jaws forced into contact by the weight of the lure overcoming a bias to remain apart. 
     Switch  130  will trigger the activation of lights  106  and  122  to shine within the cavity onto lure  123 . Lure  123  may be seen resting atop a weep hole  134 , which can conduct any water out a drain  136  and out of embodiment  100 . The outer wall  102  of embodiment  100  can be formed of various materials. In some embodiments, a light reflective coating or a silver-like reflective coating or surface can be used to aid in the containment of light within walls  102 , allowing the light to bounce off of the walls and on to lure  123 . A Mylar light reflective film may be used in some embodiments of the invention. The funnel region  110  can be joined to outer shell  102  using a seal at  108  to maintain the integrity of the region between the inner and outer walls. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of the invention, showing a device subassembly  150 , but not showing an outer container. Subassembly  150  includes a throat region  152 , an expanding or widening region  154 , and an upper portion flange  156 . A similar lower portion  170  having a flange  158  may be seen including another narrowing region  160  and weep hole  162 . Various biasing mechanisms may be used to bias the two portions together to close gaps  171  and  173 . Spring tension clips or other springs may urge the two portions together to close gaps  171  and  172 , in some embodiments. Other biasing mechanisms are well known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates embodiment  150  from the top, then showing lower portion  170  and lower flange  158 . A series of lights, for example, LEDs, may be seen at  172  connected by a pair of wires  174 . Wires  174  may be viewed as a single wire wiring the lights in series, or as a pair wires, wiring the lights in parallel. The lights can best reflect within the cavity illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The gap shown in  FIG. 5  at  171  and/or  173  can be used to trigger a lure detection switch when a lure forces the opening past a limit, to overcome any bias to close the gap. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment  200  of the invention, in a boat mountable version. Embodiment  200  includes an upper mounting flange  202  having mounting holed  204  and attached to an outer housing  206 . Outer housing  206  can be disposed within a hole formed in a gunnel or other surface of a boat deck, allowing upper flange  202  to rest on the deck and outer housing  206  to drop through the hole in the gunnel or deck. As previously discussed with respect to other embodiments, a funnel region  208  extends to a throat region  210  having a plurality of lights  212  positioned outside and around the throat. As with previous embodiments, the throat region  210  leads to the inner wall that includes a downwardly-facing region that widens into a cavity region which, in turn, leads to a bottom portion  214  having an upwardly facing region. Lights  213  may be positioned in the downwardly and upwardly facing regions so that they are able to project light towards each other. Both lights  213  and  212  may not be present in all embodiments, but could be in some devices. Bottom portion  214  is present for detecting the presence of a lure within through the mutual operation of a counterweight  216  and movement detection switch  218 , as previously described. 
     In embodiment  200 , a weep hole  217  may be seen extending to channel  220 . A battery compartment  222  may also be seen, for powering the device internally. Alternatively the device can be powered by the boat&#39;s battery. A cover  226  may also be seen, having a central aperture  228  therethrough. Cover  226  can be used to cover substantially most of the opening into funnel  208  yet be sufficiently large to allow placement of the appropriate lure into the lighting device. 
       FIG. 8  is a circuit diagram of a photoflash circuit. A photoflash circuit can be used in some embodiments to charge and discharge a flash tube to quickly recharge the lure. Switch S 1  can be used to charge the capacitor and S 2  used to discharge the capacitor across the flash tube. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1