Patent Application
20220000087
A wide variety of fishing tackle exists on the market today. The type of fishing tackle used generally depends upon personal choices of the angler, the species of fish sought, lighting, water conditions, season, availability, fishing style, and other factors. Conventional fishing lures usually have hard or soft plastic bodies formed in the shape of worms, frogs, lizards, minnows, or other creatures or objects, in some instances, the plastic body of the lure is formed with one or more hooks combined therewith. The lure may also include, or be adapted to connect with, other lure components such as leaders, weights, weed guards, spinners, and blades. Alternatively, the plastic lure body can simply be produced by itself, without any other components, in the form of a bait to which the angler adds his/her own hook and/or other lure components.
Different styles of fishing usually require different types of artificial lures. Jigging is one style of fishing wherein a lure is released downward into the water toward the bottom, then moved through the water column in a substantially vertical path by reeling and releasing the line or by moving the tip of the pole upward and downward to create the desired action for attracting fish. One type of common jigging lure consists of a lead sinker with a hook molded into it and is usually covered by a soft body to attract fish. Jigging spoons are also another type of jigging lure. Yet another type of jigging lure is a hard plastic lure which resembles a crankbait, but attaches to the fishing line along the top of the lure instead of the front so as to help maintain a horizontal presentation while jigging. For successful jigging, the jigger needs to stay in contact with the lure and get it to the depth where the fish are located. Most fish caught by jigging are on or near the bottom. One problem with jigging is that it can take some lures a relatively long time to descend from the surface of the water to the bottom where the fish are located, especially hard plastic jigging lures. Another problem with jigging is that jigging lures tend to have less side-to-side or darting action compared with casting lures because jigging lures rely on the vertical rise and fall motion provided by the jigger.
Another style of fishing includes casting the lure outward and retrieving it so the lure moves back toward the caster in a generally horizontal path. Many jigging lures, including hard plastic jigging lures, cannot be used for casting because the attachment point of the fishing line for many jigging lures is on the top of the lure, so reeling the lure along a horizontal path causes the lure to be pulled through the water sideways with its top side leading the way back toward the caster, which is not a natural motion for the lure and is unlikely to attract fish. The same is true when a jigging lure is being pulled behind a boat when trolling.
Sometimes it may be desirable for an angler to switch from a jigging lure to a casting lure relatively quickly. For example, if an angler sees a fish jump at some distance away from the boat while jigging, then the angler may wish to quickly cast a lure in the direction of the fish. Most lures, especially hard plastic lures, are not able to be used for both jigging and casting for the reasons mentioned in the previous paragraph, which means the angler would need to remove the jigging lure and attach a casting lure in order to try to catch the fish spotted in the example given above. Switching lures wastes precious time and allows the fish to swim to an unknown location away from the boat.
There is therefore a need for an improved fishing lure which overcomes these and other problems in the art.
One aspect of the invention includes a fishing lure having a lure body with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be near a front of the lure body and the second portion may be near a top of the lure body and rearward of the first portion. The lure has a variable attachment point member extending from the first portion of the lure body to the second portion of the lure body. The variable attachment point member has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the variable attachment point member may be near a front of the variable attachment point member and the second portion of the variable attachment point member may be near a top of the variable attachment member, which may be rearward and upward of the first portion of the variable attachment member. In some embodiments only one portion of the variable attachment point member is attached to the lure body. In other embodiments both portions of the variable attachment point member are attached to the lure body. A slidable attachment member such as a split ring or swivel is adapted to be combined with the variable attachment point member and move between the first portion of the variable attachment point member and the second portion of the variable attachment member. In use, when line is being let out of the reel for jigging so there is little or no upward force on the lure (i.e., the line is mostly slack), the slidable attachment member similarly does not provide any significant upward force on the variable attachment point member. The lure descends quickly at a downward angle, typically with the first portion of the lure body leading the descent, through the water column to a desired depth. Then, upon application of some upward jigging force on the line such as by flicking the tip of the fishing rod, the slidable attachment member moves to the second portion of the variable attachment point member causing the lure to transition from a downwardly facing descending position to a horizontal presentation. The slidable attachment member moves toward the front portion of the variable attachment point member upon application of a significant and continued force on the lure, such as reeling the lure back to the boat or back to the surface of the water.
Another aspect of the invention includes a fishing lure having a lure body with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be near a front of the lure body and the second portion may be near a top of the lure body and rearward of the first portion. The lure has a rail extending from the first portion of the lure body to the second portion of the lure body. The rail has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the rail may be near a front of the rail and the second portion of the rail may be near a top of the rail, which may be rearward and upward of the first portion of the rail. In some embodiments only one portion of the rail is attached to the lure body. In other embodiments both portions of the rail are attached to the lure body. An attachment member such as a split ring or swivel is adapted to be combined with the rail and move between the first portion of the rail and the second portion of the rail. In this manner, the rail functions as a variable attachment point for the attachment member. In use, when line is being let out of the reel for jigging so there is little or no upward force on the lure (i.e., the line is mostly slack), the attachment member similarly does not provide any significant upward force on the rail. During descent, the attachment member may migrate to any portion of the rail, however, the attachment member usually moves toward the second portion of the rail since the lure typically descends with the first portion of the lure leading the descent (head first). The lure descends quickly at a downward angle through the water column to a desired depth. Then, upon application of some upward force on the line such as by flicking the tip of the fishing rod, the attachment member moves along the rail to the second portion of the rail thereby applying upward force on the second portion of the rail causing the lure to transition from a vertical descending position to a horizontal presentation. The attachment member typically remains at the second portion of the rail while the lure body rises and falls in the water column as a result of the angler's pigging motion. However, the attachment member may also slide along the rail during jigging. This means the upward force produced by the angler may act on the lure along different points of the rail, which makes the action of the lure unpredictable and attractive to fish. The attachment member moves toward the front portion of the rail upon application of a significant and continued force on the lure, such as reeling the lure back to the boat or back to the surface of the water.
Another aspect of the invention includes a fishing lure having lure body with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be near a front of the lure body and the second portion of the lure may be near a top of the lure body and rearward of the first portion. The lure has a rail extending from the first portion of the lure body to the second portion of the lure body. The rail has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the rail may be near a front of the rail and the second portion of the rail may be near a top of the rail, which may be rearward and upward of the first portion of the rail. In some embodiments only one portion of the rail is attached to the lure body. In other embodiments both portions of the rail are attached to the lure body. The rail includes a front detent near the first portion of the rail and a top detent near the second portion of the rail. An attachment member such as a split ring or swivel is adapted to be combined with the rail and move between the front detent and the top detent. Each detent comprises an area of the rail where the angle of the rail changes to help selectively secure the attachment member in the detent upon application of certain force or lack of force on the attachment member. In some embodiments, each detent is an area of the rail where the rail has a notch or curved or angled contour adapted to receive the attachment member. In this manner, the rail functions as a variable attachment point for the attachment member. In use, when line is being let out of the reel for jigging so there is little or no upward force on the lure (i.e., the line is mostly slack), the attachment member similarly does not provide any significant upward force on the rail. During descent, the attachment member may migrate to any portion of the rail, however, the attachment member usually moves toward the second portion of the rail since the lure typically descends with the first portion of the lure leading the descent (head first). The lure descends quickly through the water column at a downward angle to a desired depth. Then, upon application of some upward force on the line such as by flicking the tip of the fishing rod, the attachment member moves along the rail to the top detent of the rail thereby applying upward force on the second portion of the rail (top detent) causing the lure to transition from a vertical descending position to a horizontal presentation. The attachment member typically remains at the second portion of the rail (near the top detent) while the lure body rises and falls in the water column as a result of the angler's jigging motion. However, the attachment member may also slide along the rail during jigging. This means the upward force produced by the angler may act on the lure along different points of the rail, which makes the action of the lure unpredictable and attractive to fish. The attachment member moves toward the front portion of the rail upon application of a significant and continued force on the lure, such as reeling the lure back to the boat or back to the surface of the water.
In some embodiments the center of mass of the lure is located below the first portion of the lure body and behind the second portion of the lure body. In some embodiments the center of mass is located below the first portion of the rail and behind the second portion of the rail. In some embodiments the center of mass of the lure is located below the front detent and behind the top detent. In some embodiments a load or weight is combined with the lure body, for example, inside the lure body, to create the desired center of mass.
In some embodiments the lure may further include one or more hooks or other lure components combined with the lure body.
In some embodiments the lure may further include a lip, bib, or bill (collectively referred to herein as a “bib”) combined with the first portion of the lure body. The bib helps provide lateral wobble action for the lure when being jigged vertically or when being retrieved from a cast laterally through the water.
Another aspect of the invention includes a method of fishing using a fishing lure. The method includes taking a fishing lure having a lure body with a first portion and a second portion. The lure having a rail extending from the first portion of the lure body to the second portion of the lure body, the rail having a first portion a second portion. The lure further having an attachment member movably combined with the rail between the first portion of the rail and the second portion of the rail. Attaching a fishing line to the attachment member then lowering the lure into the water so there is little or no upward force on the lure (i.e., the line is mostly slack) and the attachment member similarly does not provide any significant upward force on the rail to allow the lure to descend quickly at a downward angle through the water column to a desired depth. During descent, the attachment member may migrate to any portion of the rail, however, the attachment member usually moves toward the second portion of the rail since the lure typically descends with the first portion of the lure leading the descent (head first). Then, applying some upward force on the line such as by flicking the tip of the fishing rod thereby causing the attachment member to move along the rail to the second portion of the rail and apply an upward force on the second portion of the rail causing the lure to transition to a horizontal presentation. The attachment member typically remains at the second portion of the rail while the lure body rises and falls in the water column as a result of the angler's jigging motion. However, the attachment member may also slide along the rail during jigging. This means the upward force produced by the angler may act on the lure along different points of the rail, which makes the action of the lure unpredictable and attractive to fish. The attachment member moves toward the front portion of the rail upon application of a significant continued force on the lure, such as reeling the lure back to the boat or back to the surface.
An attachment member 14 such as a ring, split ring, or swivel is adapted to be combined with the rail 12 and move between various points on the rail 12. In this manner the rail 12 functions as a variable attachment point for the attachment member 14/fishing line 16. In some embodiments the rail 12 is spaced from the lure body 10 as shown in
The attachment member 14 is also adapted to be combined with fishing line 16 so the attachment member 14 combines the fishing line 16 and the lure. It should be noted that in some embodiments the fishing line 16 may be attached directly to the rail 12 without any intermediate attachment member 14 as shown in
In some embodiments the rail 12 includes a front detent 12A and/or a top detent 12B as shown in
As explained below in more detail, in some embodiments the shape of the lure body 10 and center of mass CM help with the orientation or the lure in the water and movement of the attachment member 14 along the rail 12. As shown in
Upon reaching the desired depth, the angler applies some upward force to the rail 12 and/or attachment member 14 by reeling the line 16 or flicking the tip of the fishing rod. The application of upward force along the vertical axis is shown by arrow Bin
In some embodiments the attachment member 14 may slide along the rail 12 during jigging. This means the upward force produced by the angler may act on the lure along different points of the top portion of the rail 12, which makes the action of the lure unpredictable and attractive to fish.
The attachment member moves toward the front portion of the rail upon application of a significant and continued force on the lure, such as reeling the lure back to the boat or back to the surface.
As shown in
As shown in
In addition to jigging, the lure of the present invention may also be used when casting or trolling because the variable attachment point (rail 12 in some embodiments) allows the attachment member 14 to move forward along the rail 12 toward the front of the lure body 10 when force is applied along the longitudinal axis in the direction of arrow C.
Having thus described the invention in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the preferred embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. It should be noted that as used herein, relative positional terms such as “top” and “upward” refer to the lure body 10 in its horizontal presentation as shown in
