Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/556,240, filed Mar. 25, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to fishing lures. More particularly, the invention is a snag-resistant fishing lure having a blade member uniquely attached to a weighted jig body to substantially minimize the risk of losing the lure to an underwater snag and to provide an intense vibrating action as movement through water displaces the blade from side to side. The present fishing lure may be configured to dive or to run toward the water surface on retrieval by varying the position on the blade member where the fishing line is attached. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Losing a fishing lure to a snag is a common risk faced by virtually all sport fishermen. Numerous jigs are designed to create a high degree of snag-resistance by molding fiber or wire “weed-guards” in front of the hook. Weed-guards effectively lessen the number of snags, but at the expense of lessening the chances of hooking a fish when the fish strikes because the wire weed guard interferes with the fish taking the hook. The fish must first bite through the weed guard, and the pressure against the fish&#39;s mouth may be felt by the fish and discourage the fish from taking the hook. 
   In addition to snag-resistance, it is desirable for a fishing jig to include a blade or other feature to create motion, and to reflect light, to give the jig a simulated natural swimming motion resembling a minnow or other food source for the sport fish being sought. While many jigs are designed to attract fish in novel ways, none achieve a controlled vibrating action or address the problem of snagging without the aid of weed-guards in front of the hook point. There is a need for a lure that includes features pertaining to snag avoidance without clumsy weed guards, and which also produces an underwater movement that is attractive to fish. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,723, issued on Nov. 2, 1999 to J. Taibi, illustrates a weed shielding spinner type fishing lure that incorporates a wire weed guard to prevent snagging of the lure. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,283, issued Apr. 7, 1997 to J. D. Perrick, discloses a fishing lure including a blade having edges that, beginning at the rear edge and going toward the front edge, first converge then diverge towards a blunt, rounded front point, with a hook dressed with feathers, winding thread or the like attached to a rounded rear edge of the blade. The blade includes a slight bend at the rear edge and a slight bend at the front edge, both bends contributing to causing a more life-like motion in the movements of the lure as it is retrieved. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,463,889, issued Mar. 8, 1949 to A. C. Lundemo, describes a fishing lure including an elongated spoon having a flat portion, an intermediate portion and a concave portion. A hook is attached to the concave portion and a staple passes through the intermediate portion for the purpose of connecting to a line. The shape of the elongated spoon causes the lure to move in a sporadic and random fashion, as opposed to a rhythmic pattern. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,984, issued Aug. 16, 1960 to W. Crawford, discloses a fishing lure including a concave spoon having a weighted plug attached to one end and a hook attached to the other end. The spoon also has two holes centrally and longitudinally aligned for the purpose of attaching the lure to a line. The shape of the spoon causes the lure to vibrate depending on the speed of retrieval, thereby attracting fish. 
   Other related patents pertaining to fishing lures include U.S. Pat. No. 1,910,742, issued May 23, 1933 to E. H. Binns (fishing lure including concave spoon and dressed hook attached); U.S. Pat. No. 2,051,978, issued Aug. 25, 1936 to A. C. Accetta (fishing lure including a concave spoon, hook, and fins); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,615, issued May 19, 1992 to A. Drachkovitch (spinning spoon fishing lure, including a blade mounted on a swivel and a flexible shaft having hooks attached). 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a snag-resistant fishing lure solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The snag-resistant fishing lure comprises a blade member uniquely attached to a weighted jig body to substantially minimize the risk of losing the lure to an underwater snag and to provide an intense vibrating action as movement through water displaces the blade from side to side. 
   The jig itself is a generally conventional jig, comprising a weighted body with a fishing hook extending rearward, and an eyelet extending forward. Such a conventional jig is often made by simply casting the weighted body onto the shank of a fishing hook, with the fishing hook eyelet or a separate eyelet piece extending from the front of the weighted body and the hook portion extending rearward. 
   A centrally aligned hole is positioned close to the front edge of the blade member. The jig eyelet is attached to the blade member through the hole with the hook facing upward. The size of the hole and the proximity of the jig&#39;s weighted head to the flat edge keep the hook facing upward, even upon contact with an underwater obstacle. Additionally, the blade is limited in its side-to-side movement by contact between the blade edge and either the jig body or the eyelet. The limited side-to-side movement of the blade creates a quick, controlled, oscillating blade action that imparts a natural swimming motion to the lure, emulating prey species movements. 
   The snag-resistant fishing lure&#39;s blade and weighted jig configuration prevents the hook from rolling downward toward potential snagging obstacles on the bottom. The jig hook is maintained in an upright position by the blade during retrieval. 
   In a conventional jig, the head of the jig tends to hit an underwater obstruction first, causing the hook to rotate and snag the obstruction. With the present invention, the hook pivots upward when the jig&#39;s head contacts a snag because of the unique coupling mechanism between the blade and the jig. It is not allowed to roll because of the blade&#39;s elongated front edge and the proximity of the jig body to the front edge of the blade. Such features greatly reduce the chances of snagging. 

   
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a snag-resistant fishing lure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a plan view of a first embodiment of a blade for the fishing lure of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a plan view of a second embodiment of a blade for the fishing lure of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2C  is a plan view of an alternative shape of a blade for the fishing lure of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2D  is a plan view of an alternative shape of a blade for the fishing lure of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of a blade for the fishing lure of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3B  is a side view of a blade for the fishing lure of the present invention, the blade being bent to alter the vibrating action of the blade. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side view of the fishing lure according to the present invention using the blade of  FIG. 2A . 
       FIG. 4B  is a side view of the fishing lure according to the present invention using the blade of  FIG. 2B . 
       FIG. 5A  is an end view of a fishing lure according to the present invention showing the range of side-to-side motion of the fishing lure&#39;s blade limited by the jig&#39;s eyelet. 
       FIG. 5B  is a: top view of a fishing lure according to the present invention showing the range of side-to-side motion of the fishing lure&#39;s blade limited by the jig body. 
       FIG. 6  is an environmental perspective view of a fishing lure according to the present invention showing the snag-resistant operation of the lure. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is a snag-resistant fishing lure, designated generally as  10  in the drawings. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the fishing lure  10  comprises a blade  11  and a jig  20 , the blade  11  being attached to the jig  20  in a special configuration whereby the risk of losing the lure to an underwater snag is substantially minimized, and a vibrating action is created as movement of the fishing lure  10  through water displaces the blade  11  from side to side relative to the jig  20 . 
   The jig  20  comprises a fishhook  30  and a jig body  22 , there being an eyelet  24  extending from the jig body  22 . The fishhook  30  has a shank  32 , and a hook end  34 , the hook end  34  terminating in a barbed point  36 . The jig body  22  is molded around the shank  32  of the fishhook  30 . The eyelet  24  preferably extends from a front upper area of the jig body  22 . The eyelet  24  comprises a wire loop. Considering the hook end  34  of the fishhook  30  to define a plane, the eyelet  24  is generally coplanar to the hook end  34 . The blade  11  is attached to the eyelet  24  protruding from the jig body  22 . A fishing line  40  is connected to the blade  11  by a snap fastener  42 . 
   In use, the fishing lure  10  is pulled through the water by the fishing line  40 . The blade  11  may either be swept rearward over the jig  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be pulled ahead of the jig  20 , depending on the configuration of the blade  11  as will be discussed more fully below. 
   The fishing lure  10  may be dressed, such as with a skirt  50 , to disguise the lure  10  as an insect, an underwater creature, or in any way desirable to the fisherman. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the blade  11  is shown as a generally polygonal flat blade member, constructed of a flat sheet metal, such as stainless steel, brass or the like. Other materials, such as plastic, are also suitable for the blade  11 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the blade  11  has an elongated hexagonal shape having a first end  12  and a second end  14 . The first end  12  has a flat or linear edge of a width approximate to the width of the jig body  22 , although the width may vary. The first end  12  is attached to the jig  20  by means of a mounting hole  16  centered along the first end  12 . The blade  11  is configured for attachment of a fishing line to the blade  11 . In the present embodiment, the blade  11  includes a pair of line attachment holes  18  that are punched through the blade  11  to receive a snap fastener  42  for attachment of a fishing line  40 . The line attachment holes  18  are located along the blade&#39;s longitudinal axis, and are spaced apart to accept the snap fastener  42 . 
   The location of the line attachment holes  18  along the blade&#39;s longitudinal axis has a significant effect on the behavior of the fishing lure  10 . With the line attachment holes  18  located proximate to the first end  12  and the mounting hole  16 , as shown in  FIG. 2A , the lure  10  will tend to dive on retrieval, as will be discussed below. Conversely, with the attachment holes  18  located proximate to the second end  14  away from the mounting hole  16 , as shown in  FIG. 2B , the lure  10  will tend to run toward the water surface on retrieval. Turning now to  FIGS. 2C and 2D , it can be appreciated that the blade  11  may have a variety of shapes. The first end  12  (the end attached closest to the jig body  22 ) may be concave, as seen in  FIG. 2C , or convex, as seen in  FIG. 2D . The blade  11  may have rounded edges, as seen in  FIG. 2C , rather than a polygonal shape, and may have fewer linear edges than the blade of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , as seen in  FIG. 2D . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , blade  11  is shown in exaggerated thickness for clarity. The profile of the blade  11  can be varied to affect the behavior of the snag-resistant fishing lure  10 .  FIG. 3A  shows the blade  11  to be flat, while  FIG. 3B  shows the blade  11  having a bend near the second end  14  of the blade  11 . Bending the blade  11  will decrease the effective surface area of the blade  11 , decreasing the amount of drag the blade  11  presents as the fishing lure  10  is pulled through the water. It can be appreciated that varying the degree of drag will affect both the tendency of the snag resistant fishing lure  10  to dive or run to the surface, and the tendency of the blade  11  to oscillate from side to side of the snag-resistant fishing lure  10 . Decreasing the surface area of the blade  11  has a stabilizing effect on the path of the lure  10 , while increasing the surface area of the blade  11  causes the lure  10  to follow a more erratic path. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the effect on the fishing lure&#39;s  10  behavior due to the positioning of the line attachment holes  18  can be clearly seen. In  FIG. 4A , the line attachment holes  18  are formed in the blade  11  near the first end  12  of the blade  11 , providing a short lever-arm distance from the blade&#39;s pivot point at the eyelet  24 . Because of the short lever-arm distance between the pull-point on the blade and the eyelet  24 , vs. the longer lever-arm distance between the center of drag of the blade  11  (about mid-length of the blade) and the eyelet  24 , the blade  11  has a tendency to be swept toward the rear of the jig  20  by water drag, as the lure  10  is pulled through the water. It can be recognized that, with the blade  11  swept back in this configuration, water is deflected upward by the blade  11  as the lure  10  moves forward, creating a tendency for the lure  10  to dive. 
   In  FIG. 4B , the line attachment holes  18  are formed in the blade  11  away from the first end  12  of the blade  11 , located at a point generally between mid-length of the blade and the second end  14  of the blade  11 . With the pull point in this location, the lever-arm distance from the blade&#39;s pivot point at the eyelet  24  to the pull point is equal to or greater than the lever-arm distance between the center of drag of the blade  11  and the eyelet  24 . Thus, the pulling force on the blade  11  overcomes the drag against the blade, resulting in the blade  11  being pulled ahead of the jig  20 . It can be recognized that, with the blade  11  pulled ahead of the jig  20  in this configuration, water is deflected downward by the blade  11  as the lure  10  moves forward, creating a tendency for the lure  10  to run toward the water&#39;s surface. 
   It can be appreciated that the action of the lure  10  can be further impacted by the selection of a dressing, such as the skirt  50 , which creates additional drag on the jig  20 . Thus, in the configuration of  FIG. 4A , described to be a “diving” configuration, the addition of a jig dressing that increases the drag of the jig  20  might change the behavior of the lure  10  to become a surface running lure, since with the added drag of the dressing there will be a greater tendency for the blade  11  to be pulled ahead of the jig  20 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the fishing lure  10  produces a vibrating action, simulating the movement of small baitfish, as its movement through water displaces the blade  11  from side to side. The blade  11 , hinged to the eyelet  24 , is free to swing from side to side, but is limited in the range of side-to-side movement. The range of motion of the swinging blade  11  is limited as the first end  12  of the blade  11  contacts the periphery of the eyelet  24 , or the jig body  22 , preventing its further sideways movement. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5A , it can be seen that, with the blade  11  oriented to avoid contact with the jig body  22 , the blade  11  is limited in sideways movement by the contact of the first edge  12  with the eyelet  24 , as at contact point C 1 . It can be recognized that the range of sideways movement is related to the proximity of the mounting hole  16  to the first end  12 . With the mounting hole  16  closer to the first end  12 , a greater range of sideways movement is allowed than with the mounting hole  16  set further back from the first end  12 . Additionally, the size of the eyelet  24  will affect the range of sideways movement. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5B , it can be seen that, with the blade  11  oriented so that the first end  12  contacts the jig body  22  as a result of the sideways movement of the blade  11 , the blade  11  is limited in sideways movement by the contact of the first edge  12  with the jig body  22 , as at contact point C 2 . It can be recognized that the range of sideways movement is related to the proximity of the first end  12  of the blade  11  to the jig body  22 . With the first end  12  of the blade  11  closer to the jig body  22 , a smaller range of sideways movement is allowed than with the first end  12  of the blade  11  mounted further away from the jig body  22 . It can be understood that the proximity of the first end  12  of the blade  11  to the jig body  22  can be varied by varying the size of the eyelet  24 , and by extending the eyelet from the jig body  22 . 
   The limited range of motion of the blade  11  gives the fishing lure  10  a unique, controlled vibrating action in the water on retrieval of the lure. As the lure  10  is pulled through the water, and the blade  11  oscillates from side to side, the oscillation of the blade  11  in turn causes sideward movement of the jig  20 , further imitating the movements of baitfish and small underwater creatures that are attractive to predatory fish. 
   The diameter of the hole  16  should be slightly larger than the diameter of the wire comprising the eyelet  24 . The amount of free space remaining in the hole  16  after inserting the jig eyelet  24  should preferably be kept at a minimum, allowing for freedom of movement of the blade  11  about the eyelet  24  but not so much as to allow the lure  10  to roll over and compromise the snag-resistant tendency of the fishing lure  10 , as described below. Increasing the size of the hole  16  increases the range of motion available to the blade  11 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 6 , the snag-resistant nature of the fishing lure  10  is shown. The snag-resistant fishing lure  10  is oriented, on retrieval in the water, with the barbed point  36  of the fishhook  30  upward, toward the water&#39;s surface. The blade  11  and the eyelet  24  are also oriented upward. Given the position of the blade  11 , the blade  11  acts somewhat as a natural deflector when the lure  10  encounters an obstruction  99  or potential snag. 
   Regardless of whether the blade  11  is configured for a diving action, with the blade  11  swept toward the rear of the jig  20 , or in a surface-running configuration, with the blade  11  pulled ahead of the jig  20 , the blade  11  will move ahead of the jig  20  if the jig body  22  strikes an obstruction  99 . Pulled ahead of the jig body  22 , the blade  11  will help to fend the lure  10  off of an obstruction  99 . Additionally, as the jig body  22  strikes an obstruction  99 , a continued pulling of the blade  11  by the fishing line  40  will tend to cause the hook end  34  of the fishhook  30  to tip upward, maintaining the barbed point  36  upward and away from the obstruction  99 . 
   It can be appreciated, in this regard, that a somewhat limited degree of side-to-side movement of the blade  11  relative to the jig  20  will help to keep the jig  20  maintained in its hook-upward position, preventing the barbed point  36  from turning downward on contact with the obstruction  99  and directing the barbed point  36  towards, rather than away from, engaging the obstruction  99 . Additionally, given the width of the first end of the blade  11 , and it&#39;s proximity to the jig body  22 , the blade  11  helps to prevent the jig  20  from turning the barbed point  36  downward. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 1