This invention relates to weighted assemblies from which fishing lures or other fishing gear may be assembled, and particularly assemblies which comprise a blade affixed to a trailing portion of a lure which is actuated by movement of the blade through water.
Fishing lures for jigging are well known in fishing art. Such lures are generally made by casting or otherwise enveloping a shank of a hook with a weighted (usually metal) body. Examples of such lures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,333 issued Jun. 12, 1984, to Robert W. Olson (Olson). Olson also discloses a generally convex blade to which a lure may be affixed to provide kite-like action of the blade as the lure is propelled through water. As shown in
A snag resistant fishing lure is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Number US 2005/0210731, published Sep. 29, 2005 on behalf of James Ronald Davis (Davis). Davis discloses a jig with an attached blade. The jig has a weight molded about the shank of a hook with an eyelet disposed to maintain the sharpened point of a hook held upright by the relative dispositions of the eyelet, weight and orientation of the point. The blade is taught to be affixed to the eyelet and be limited in oscillation by either collision of the blade with the eyelet or with the weight.
Lures made according to Olson or Davis generally provide an oscillatory motion, the frequency of which is determined by interaction between a blade and an associated weight. Due to the mass of the weight, frequency of oscillation of such blades are considerably lower than frequency of a blade which may freely oscillate without hindrance from a closely attached weight.
Many other forms of weighted hooks (jigs) are commonly found in commerce.
For purposes of this disclosure the following definitions apply:
ballast, n, a heavy material used to stabilize a lure in water
blade, n, a broad flattened part which is affixed to a portion of a fishing lure and which oscillates as the lure is propelled in water to provide a wake following therefrom
distal, adj, (see also proximal) indicates the segment of a device normally away from a line attachment of a lure
dorsal, adj, refers to a portion of a lure which relates to the dorsal portion of a swimming fish
fishhook, n, a device, usually made of rigid metal wire, comprising a curved section which has a sharpened point on one end for catching a fish and a shank which comprises a substantially straight portion on an opposite end. Generally, the shank is ultimately affixed to an eyelet or other attachment providing for connecting line and other accouterments the fishhook
fulcrum, n, a support upon which a lever turns, as used herein, a weight forms the fulcrum and the lever is an elongated tether which affixes the weight to the rest of the assembly made according to the instant invention disclosed herein
inferior, adj, situated lower down or closer to the center of the earth than a referenced site
jig, n, a fishhook which has a weight affixed about the associated shank of the fishhook
levity, n, a positive property of lightness to gravity which affects sinking characteristics (in water)
longitudinal axis, n, a medially disposed straight line through a lure part about which the lure part rotates
proximal, adj, indicates the segment of a device normally closely disposed relative to a line attachment of a lure
shank, n, a wire form which is a proximal portion of a fishhook the shank usually having a substantially straight portion which is associated with a curved portion of a fishhook or with a connecting link of multiple assembly fishing gear
superior, adj, situated higher up or away from the center of the earth relative to a referenced site
tether, n, an elongated length of material by which a weight is affixed to the rest of an assembly made according to the instant invention disclosed herein
wake, n, track of liquid disturbance or turbulence left directly behind a specified lure part as that part is displaced through water
ventral, adj, (opposite if dorsal) generally referring to the inferior side of a swimming fish
yaw, n, to deviate erratically side-to-side from a course determined by pulling of a fishing line
yaw divergence, n, distance lure diverges orthogonally from direction of pull by a fishing line
In brief summary, this novel invention is the basis for an assembly for fabricating a lure or other form of fishing gear. The assembly comprises a rigid frame to which a blade is loosely affixed to oscillate when the assembly is drawn through water by a fishing line affixed to the frame at a site on a proximal side of the blade. The frame is also affixed to a forward attachment site of a lure part distally disposed relative to the blade. The site whereat the fishing line is affixed defines a first horizontal plane and the forward attachment site of the lure part is associated with a longitudinal axis of the lure. The lure part is disposed in the wake of the blade and therefore directly affected by yaw divergence resulting from blade oscillation.
Further, a weight, which may be affixed to the rest of the assembly a plurality of ways, has a center of gravity which is distally disposed relative to the blade. The uppermost portion of the weight defines a third horizontal plane, the third horizontal plane being inferiorly disposed relative to the first horizontal plane and to the longitudinal axis of the lure. So disposed, the weight determines orientation of the assembly in water and effectively acts as a stabilizing fulcrum as the assembly is retrieved through the water while being relatively ineffective in determining frequency of oscillation of the blade, yaw divergence of the blade and each associated trailing portion. Examples of embodiments providing illustrations of modes of connecting the weight to the rest of the assembly are provided in detail hereafter.
As the weight provides a stabilizing ballast, when displaced away from the blade and associated wake, sideways action and yaw divergence of the blade and other trailing parts of an associated lure or other fishing gear which are affected by blade action are likewise displaced angularly sideways. Yaw and yaw divergence of the blade and associated lure or other fishing gear, so attached are relatively independent from inertia associated with the weight. The weight, being so separated from the blade and other associated lure or other fishing gear, simply acts as a stabilizing fulcrum. Thus, oscillating action of the blade and associated yaw and yaw divergence directly affects each trailing part which, being so disposed, is not severely depressed by the weight. For this reason, a following shank (and a fishhook and other associated lure bodies) is free to move side-to-side with a yaw divergence which is much greater at a given frequency of blade oscillation than similar shanks of lures made according to Olson, Davis or other jigs where the weight is directly affixed to a shank (e.g. of a fishhook) and disposed in a line therewith.
In the current invention, lure parts, disposed to follow the blade in its wake, may comprise a fishhook or a lure body affixed to a fishhook. As the fishhook and lure body are generally much lighter than the weight, sideways action of the blade is readily communicated to the fishhook and lure body.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the weight is not directly affixed to the blade. In such cases, a less robust and more easily breakable blade may be used without stresses of the weight bearing directly on the blade.
Further, a plurality of the assemblies may be joined serially to form a uniquely actuated, self weighted, elongated multi-blade spinner or trolling gear-like fishing apparatus.
In another embodiment of the invention, a buoyant member (a float) may be superiorly affixed to a frame of the assembly above an attached fishhook or lure body to affect total levity of the associated lure. In this embodiment, the buoyant member may be a float affixed superiorly to a frame of the lure assembly in the same manner that the associated weight is affixed, i.e. in a manner which does not significantly affect blade oscillation, but which acts against sinking forces of the weight to make the lure more buoyant in water.
Thus, it is a principle object to provide a lure assembly comprising a blade which oscillates when retrieved through water and lure parts affixed thereto, which follow in the wake of the blade and are displaced by blade oscillation and yaw divergence, and an inferiorly disposed weight, such that oscillating sideways action of the blade is freely communicated to the lure parts, the oscillating frequency and yaw divergence of which is relatively unaffected by the inertia of the weight.
It is an important object to provide a lure assembly with a fishhook as a lure part where the fishhook is disposed to follow the blade in the wake thereof, whereby side-to-side oscillatory action of the fishhook is directly a result of side-to-side vibratory actuation and yaw of the blade, the divergence of which is relatively unaffected by inertia of the weight.
It is another important object to provide a lure body, affixed to the fishhook, to form a covered hook lure having an action directly communicated from actuation and yaw of the blade and relatively unaffected by inertia of the weight.
It is yet another important object to provide an assembly comprising a rigid, hard-bait lure disposed between the blade and a fishhook whereby oscillation and resulting yaw divergence of the blade communicates vibratory motion to the rigid lure, the frequency of oscillation and yaw divergence being relatively independent from inertia of a weight affixed thereto.
It is still another important object to provide an elongated chain of serially linked assemblies to form an elongated multi-blade trolling gear array.
It is a primary object to provide a buoyant member superiorly affixed to a lure assembly made according to the instant invention thereby affecting total buoyancy of the associated lure.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to accompanying drawings.
Reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in
Reference is now made to
A weight assembly 60 comprising a weight 70 and an eyelet 72 is affixed to blade 20 via hole 34. Securely affixed to weight 70 is a fishhook 80 which, further, is affixed to a dressing or lure cover 90. As may better be seen in
Reference is now made to
Contiguous at bend 128 another section of frame 100′ is inferiorly disposed to provide a tethering segment 130. Segment 130 comprises an inferiorly distending segment 132 contiguously affixed to an attachment loop 134 which is contiguously affixed to a superiorly distending segment 136. Segment 136 is ended at a bend 138. From bend 138, wireform 100′ has a proximally distending segment 140 which continues to form a loop 150. Superiorly loop 150 ends at a bend 152 wherefrom a superiorly disposed segment 160 distends upward to a butt end 162.
As seen in
So affixed, blade 180 is forced to be disposed, relative to direction of being retrieved through water, by angular disposition of superiorly disposed segment 160, against which blade 180 communicates when so retrieved. Also, by natural consequence of assembly motion in water, blade 180 oscillates. As weight 170 is displaced away from the rest of fishing lure assembly by length of tethering segments 130 and 136, inertia of weight 170 is relatively ineffective in determining frequency of blade 180 side-to-side oscillation and related yaw divergence. For this reason, blade 180 oscillation and effective resulting side-to-side vibratory or yaw motion and divergence of associated frame 100′ (fishhook 100 and other lure components which may be added to attract fish) is much greater than would be the case if an attached weight were not so displaced away from fishhook 100 or other lure components.
Referring once more to
As disclosed supra, other lure components, such as a soft bait lure 210 (seen unattached in
Also, a hard bait, such as hard bait 230, may be affixed to a modified lure assembly 200′ as seen in
It is important to note that in all cases seen in
Reference is now made to
Fishhook frame 300 is loosely, but securely affixed to blade 180′ by a clip 310. Clips, such as clip 310, are commercially available. Clip 310 comprises a pair of legs 312 and 314 which are displaced through holes 240 and 242, respectively, to provide a loop 316 on a distal side 318. Eyelet 302 is affixed to loop 316 and thereby to blade 180′.
As seen in
Reference is now made to
A connecting elongated shaft 350 is disposed to communicate through hole 240. Generally, though not universally, a connecting ring 352 is affixed to a distal end 354 of shaft 350 (which may be best seen in
Such sideways oscillation results in rocking of all parts of assembly 200′, as indicated by arrow 380 in
As seen in
As fish may reside at varying depths in a fishing environs, it is prudent to be able to controllably vary depth of a fishing lure. Of course, lure depth may be varied by altering speed of displacement of a lure through water, selecting a different mass or orientation of weight 170 or by adjusting blade orientation by changing tilt of superiorly disposed segment 160 (See
Referring to
Note that segment 126′ is abruptly terminated at a segment end 406. As will be disclosed hereafter, segment 126′ may be extended to form a trailing fishhook 410, seen in
As seen in
Of course, a fishhook or a lure may be affixed to or be contiguous with frame 400 to form a usable fishing lure. Note, as an example, fishhook 410 directly affixed to frame 400 in FIG. 21. Note also a hard bait lure 230 affixed to frame 400 in
As should be well noted, stability of a lure 400 in water is critical for acceptable operation. While a weight (such a weight 470) as seen in
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.