AU2012101689A4 - Fishing lure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fishing lure including, a lure body including a head or front part and an attachment means for attaching to a tail part. The lure also includes one or more attachment point on the lure body to attach 5 the lure to a fishing line. In use, the fishing line can be attached to the lure by use of the one or more attachment point, one or more hooks or the like can be attached to the lure, and the tail part attached to the attachment means. As the lure is towed by the fishing line through the water vibrations are created in the water simulating a bait species and if bitten by a fish or 10 similar, the fish or similar can be caught on the hooks or the like.

Description

1 PATENTS ACT 1990 Section 29 Innovation Patent 5 Applicant: Benjamin Colin Jones 43 Marks Street Hermit Park Queensland 4812 10 Inventor: Benjamin Colin Jones 43 Marks Street Hermit Park Queensland 4812 15 Title of Invention: FISHING LURE 20 The applicant applies for the grant of a patent for the invention described in the accompanying complete patent specification: The following is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing the invention, known to us: 2 FISHING LURE The present invention relates to a fishing lure, and in particular to fishing lure with a realistic movement through the water. Lures are often used to catch fish as a preferred alternative to static food 5 baits, or to use of live bait. Fishing lures attempt to recreate the look and movement of a fish to tempt a larger fish to bite. The lures include hooks, usually trebles, arranged so as to catch into the mouth of the fish so that they can be caught and hopefully landed. Many lures are made of a hard material which is hard wearing and strong to io enable reuse. However, when fish bite on the hard material they expect to bite into a soft fish and may reject and release the lure before being caught on the hooks due to the shock and distrust of the lure. To try to address this problem "jelly" lures or "soft plastic" lures are used instead. These soft plastic lures are closer in feel to a real fish and so when bitten by a fish 15 feels more realistic. Further, soft plastic lures can move and wiggle through the water in a more realistic manner than a rigid lure. Unfortunately, plastic lures are by their nature a light, soft and weak material. Soft plastic lures are easily torn through by the line and hooks arranged about the body to try to catch a fish during a catch. Further, during 20 the vigorous struggle and fight that occurs when catching a fish the mouth parts and teeth can rip through the soft plastic material. A metal head portion can be used to add weight to the lure to facilitate casting, and to improve the swim of the lure in the water. The metal head also forms a strong attachment point that can be used to attach the line and hooks. 25 Some lures may use a piece of thin, hard material or blade, to which a weighted head or keel is attached. As the lure moves through the water vibration is created due to the thin, flat, blade portion. Unfortunately, existing blade style lures have significant problems. Being made of a hard 3 material they can be rejected by the predator fish as they do not feel like a real fish. Further, blade style lures are limited to a hard short tail, and so do not enable the variety that can be afforded by use of a soft plastic lure. Soft plastic lures can include a long or short tail and other appendages for use to 5 try to attract a particular predator species. As existing blade style lures are rigid they do not bend in the way that a living creature would wiggle it's body as it swims. The lack of flexibility of known lures limits the extent of realism that can be achieved by existing blade style lures. The inventor has through careful experimentation and thoughtful design io developed an improved lure that includes a weighted head and body section on which an interchangeable soft tail portion can be used. The invention enables a far greater variety of fish to be enticed due to use of any soft tail with a realistic side to side action. The invention is also more effective at targeting all types of predatory fish, due to being a far more 15 realistic presentation. The ability to vary the shape, length and design of the tail, in conjunction with the side to side wobble and vibrating action produced by the head section allows a greater variety of fish to be targeted in a wider range of environments and situations, under a greater range of conditions. Since the tail is made of a softer, less durable material, it is 20 advantageous that the tail can be quickly and easily replaced should it become damaged, such as during use. For clarity, any prior art referred to herein, does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge, in Australia or elsewhere. 25 It is an object of the present invention to provide a fishing lure that at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art. Accordingly, the present invention provides, in a first aspect, a fishing lure including: a lure body including a head or front part; 4 an attachment means on the lure body for attaching to a tail part; and one or more attachment point on the lure body to attach the lure to a fishing line, 5 wherein, in use, the fishing line can be attached to the lure by use of the one or more attachment point, one or more hooks or the like can be attached to the lure, and the tail part attached to the attachment means so that as the lure is towed by the fishing line through the water vibrations are created in the water simulating a bait species and if bitten by a fish or 10 similar, the fish or similar can be caught on the hooks or the like. The fishing lure may be used to try to catch any species of fish. The fishing lure may be used to try to catch animals other than fish, including crustacean, cephalopod, worm or similar. The fishing lure may be configured to simulate a bait fish species. The fishing lure may be 15 configured to simulate a non-fish bait species, for example, prawns or other crustaceans, cephalopod, worm or similar. The lure may be configured to have the look of any bait species that may attract a predator species to bite. Preferably, any one or more parts of the lure include decoration. The decoration preferably assists to simulate the look of a bait species. The 20 decoration may include spots, stripes, colour or other patterns or textures as is suitable to simulate a bait species. The lure may include decoration to simulate a particular bait species as found in particular waterway or body of water. The lure body may take any suitable shape or form. The lure body may be 25 made of any suitable material. The lure body may be made of a combination of suitable materials. Preferably, the lure body is made of a combination of materials of different weights and flexibilities. Preferably, the lure body is made of a combination of metal and plastic.

5 The head or front part may be simply the front part of the lure. In this form of the invention the head part will not be weighted and may be a blade with a neck or keel attached. The neck or keel in this case may be weighted. Preferably, the lure body simulates the head and most of the body of a bait 5 species. The lure body may simulate generally the head of a bait species. Preferably, the head or front part simulates the head of a bait species. The head part may take any suitable shape to simulate the head of bait species. Preferably, the head part simulates the head of a small fish. Preferably, the head part includes an eye on either side. Preferably, decoration is included io on the head part to assist to simulate the look of a bait species. The decoration may include colour, stripes, spots, texture or other forms of decoration. Preferably, the head or front part includes a neck part extending from the head. The front part of the lure may include a keel. Alternatively, the lure 15 body may include a neck part, separate from the head or front part. Preferably, the head or front part includes a neck part extending from the lower part of the head or front part. Preferably, the neck part is a substantially longitudinal shape. Preferably, the neck part runs under the blade part. The neck part may be a keel. Preferably, the neck part provides 20 strength and support for the blade part. Preferably, the neck part assists the lure to swim head first and in an upright orientation. Preferably, the neck part is formed integrally with the head or front part. Preferably, at least part of the tail part is supported by the neck part. Preferably, at least part of the neck part lies below the tail part in use to assist maintenance of the tail part 25 on the lure body. Preferably, the head or front part is made of a heavier material than the remainder of the lure body and or tail part of the lure. Preferably, the head part is weighted. Preferably, the neck part is weighted. Preferably, the weighting is due to the material of which the head part and or neck part is 6 made. Preferably, the head part is made of metal. Preferably, the neck part is made of metal. Preferably, the head part and neck part are made of the same metal material. Preferably, the head and neck parts are made of lead or solder. The head and or neck parts may be made of a suitably weighted 5 resin. Preferably, the lure body includes a blade part connected to the head or front part, the blade part being configured to be of less width than the head or front part, and the blade part being adapted to assist to cause vibrations as the lure moves through the water. 10 Preferably, the blade part and the head or front part, together, form a shape similar to the front part of a bait species. Preferably, the blade part, head part and neck part together form a shape similar to the front part of the bait species. Preferably, the blade part is embedded in the head part. The blade part may be embedded in the head part during manufacture. Preferably, the 15 blade part is made of a light flexible material. Preferably, the blade part is substantially planar. Preferably, the blade part is made of a plastics material. Preferably, the blade part is made of polycarbonate. Preferably, the blade part is a flat, flexible piece of material that assists vibrations to be created between the head part and tail part. Alternatively, the blade part 20 may be made of metal. The blade part may be made of brass, stainless steel or any suitable sheet metal. The blade material may be rigid in one form of the invention. The blade material may be flexible. Preferably, the attachment means is a projecting part of the blade part for attaching to the tail part. Preferably, the projecting part extends away from 25 the head or front part. Preferably, the projecting part extends a distance from the head or front part similar to the length of the head or front part. Preferably, the attachment means is a barb. Preferably, the attachment means is a barb on the blade part onto which the tail part can be attached by the barb being pushed into the tail part. Preferably, the barb has a 7 substantially pointed end that facilitates pushing the barb into the tail part and once in place the remainder of the barb acts against removal of the tail part from the barb. The triangular end may be broad, narrow or in between in width. Preferably, the barb includes a point to assist attachment to the tail 5 part. In one form of the invention the barb may include a point at one end for insertion and a barbed portion, separate from the pointed end. The barb may take any suitable configuration. The tail part may include a slit into which the projecting part or barb pushes. Or the barb may cut into the tail part to attach to the blade part. 10 Preferably, the tail part is made of a soft material and can be readily and rapidly replaced with another tail part including different tail parts as is desired by the fisher to vary the overall appearance of the lure. Preferably, the tail part is one of a choice of tail parts the fisher has available to enable a variety of bait species to be simulated. For example, tail parts may be 15 different sizes, shapes, thicknesses and have different looks. The tail part may include appendages or other long parts to simulate different bait species. The tail part may include a V-shaped tail, triangular tail or irregular shaped tail as is suitable. The tail part may include a slit or other cut to facilitate the fitting of the tail part to the attachment means. Preferably, the 20 tail part includes shaped lower part to sit on part of the lure body. Preferably, the lower part of the tail part is shaped to be supported by part of the head part or neck part. Preferably, the soft tail moves realistically from side to side as the lure moves through the water. Preferably, the soft tail mimics the movement of a bait species as the lure moves through the 25 water. Preferably, the lure body includes a hook support. Preferably, the hook support includes a bar attached to the lure body from which hooks can be suspended. Preferably, the hook support is a bar embedded in the lure body from which hooks can be suspended. Preferably, the bar is embedded 30 to run along the lower part of the lure body. Preferably, a first hook 8 attachment means is located about the front of the head part of the lure so that an attached hook can hang below the lure in use. Preferably, a second hook attachment means is located under the central portion of the lure so that an attached hook can hang below the lure in use. Preferably, split rings 5 are used to attach the hooks to the lure to enable ready replacement. Preferably, the one or more hook or the like is one or more treble hooks. Preferably, a pair of treble hooks is used, one attached to be suspended near the front of the lure and one attached to be suspended under the central portion of the lure for catching the fish or the like. 10 Preferably, the bar is included towards the lower part of the lure that assists to support and maintain the tail part attached to the lure body and or blade part. Preferably, the bar is a hook support and includes a bent part that supports and attaches to the tail part in use. Part of the bar may fit into the tail part in use. 15 Preferably, in use, as the lure moves through the water, the head part moves from side to side and the tail part wiggles from side to side to realistically simulate a bait species. Preferably, the or each attachment point for the fishing line is formed towards the front of the lure. Preferably, the or each attachment point is 20 formed on the blade part of the lure. Preferably, use of different attachment points can increase or decrease the vibration of the lure as it moves through water. The vibration will also be varied by use of different tail parts. Preferably, three attachment points are included and the front attachment point is for least vibration, the back attachment point is for most vibration 25 with an attachment point between the two for middling vibration as the lure moves through the water. Preferably, the or each attachment point is an aperture through which fishing line can be attached. Alternatively, swivels or other fishing tackle can be used to attach the fishing line to the lure.

9 Accordingly, the present invention provides, in a second aspect, a fishing lure including: a weighted head part; a substantially planar blade part connected to the weighted 5 head part, the blade part including a barb for attachment to a tail part, and a plurality of attachment points to attach the lure to a fishing line; wherein, in use, fishing line can be attached to the lure by use of the one or more attachment point, one or more hooks or the like attached to the lure io and the tail part attached by the barb to the blade part so that as the lure is towed by the fishing line through the water vibrations are created in the water simulating a bait species, and if the lure is bitten by a fish or similar, the fish or similar can be caught on the hooks or the like. The invention will now be described in connection with a non-limiting 15 preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a lure according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the lure of Figure 1; 20 Figure 3 is a side view of the lure of Figures 1 and 2 with the head and blade part detached from the tail part and the hooks removed; Figure 4 is a top view of the detached lure parts of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view from above of the assembled lure of Figures 1 to 4 illustrating the movement of the tail as the lure moves through water; 25 Figure 6 is a front view of the lure of Figure 6 illustrating the movement of the head during use; and 10 Figure 7 is a detailed view of the head of the lure of Figures 1 to 6 illustrating the three attachment points for fishing line. Referring to Figures 1 to 7, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, where lure 1 includes head 10, blade 12 and tail 14. Rod 16 can 5 be seen to run between first loop 18 and second loop 20 each for attachment of treble hooks 22 and 24 respectively. Head 10 includes eye 26 which as illustrated has a large pupil as is suitable to simulate bait fish. The colour, size, shape and position of the eye can be varied in accordance with the type of bait species to be simulated. io To further simulate the bait fish head 10 includes decoration in the form of dark spots 28 (only some of which are labelled) which is continued by dark spots 30 on blade 12 and similarly dark spots 32 on tail 14. The particular arrangement of spots may be varied or omitted as desired. The particular decoration of lure 1 can be varied in colour, texture, detail, 15 inclusion of stripes, spots, patterns and sparkling and reflective parts to simulate different bait species as desired. For example, a stripe of colour may be included on the top of head 10. Any of the decoration or parts of lure 1 may include sparkling or reflective materials to assist visibility of the lure to the predator species. Typically the bait species will be a type of fish 20 but could be any suitable attractant creature, real or imaginary, that may be used to entice a predator species to bite on the lure. Head 10 includes neck 34 which extends below blade 12 and below the join between blade 12 and tail 14, as is described in more detail below. Neck 34 could be described as a keel. Head 10 including neck 34 as illustrated is 25 made of solder and so provides weight to lure 1. Other materials could be used for head 10 and neck 34 including other metals including lead, for example. The weight is useful to make the lure easier to cast out and to ensure that lure 1 swims head first at all times and dorsal fin upwards. Further, and most importantly, the weight of head 10 including neck 34 11 counterbalances the vibration in blade 12 and movement in tail 14 causing head 10 to move with neck 34. Rod 16 is contained within head 10 and neck 34 and is moulded into the metal during manufacture. Rod 16 is illustrated as a rod with first loop 18 5 formed extending from head 10, and part of rod 16 extending from neck 34, terminating in second loop 20. Each of first loop 18 and second loop 20 are formed from rod 16 bent to form a loop although loop 18 as illustrated is moulded into the metal of head 10 during manufacture. Each of treble hooks 22 and 24 include split rings 36 and 38 respectively which have been io threaded onto loop 18 and 20. In this way treble hooks 22 and 24 are securely attached to lure 1. Hooks often need to be replaced over the life of a lure to replace bent, corroded or damaged hooks. Replacement of treble hooks 22 and 24 can be readily achieved in the usual manner through detachment and reattachment by use of split rings 36 and 38. 15 Rod 16 extends under head 10 and tail 14 and supports the part of tail 14 attached to blade 12 to give a more natural shape and action to lure 1 through the water. Rod 16 also catches into tail 14 and helps to prevent detachment during a struggle with a fish. Referring to Figure 3 in particular, bent portion 40 of rod 16 can be seen 20 folded back over the rest of rod 16. Bent portion 40 of rod 16 further supports tail 14 when attached to blade 12. Bent portion 40 ensures tail 14 is maintained in position on the rest of lure 1, and is lined up correctly. As tail 14 moves through the water head 10 and tail 14 move in opposite directions to elicit a realistic simulation of the bait fish in the water. Bent 25 portion 40 could be omitted in another form of the invention. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate lure 1 in a disassembled state and the detail of blade 12 can be seen in particular. Blade 12 is a thin flat piece of material to assist to cause vibrations as lure 1 moves through the water between head part 10 and tail part 14. The vibrations can be detected by target species at 12 great distances causing them to approach to try to eat the bait. As illustrated, blade 12 is made of a thin sheet of shaped polycarbonate material. Blade 12 can be seen to be significantly thinner than neck 34 and is 5 supported thereon; refer Figure 4. Blade 12 is imbedded into head 10 and neck 34 during manufacture so as to be firmly attached together. Blade 12 includes projection 42 including barbed portion 44 at the end. Blade 12, projection 42 and barbed portion 44 are all shaped from the same piece of polycarbonate material in the illustrated embodiment. Blade 12 could io alternatively be made of multiple materials and projection 32 and barbed portion 44 could be attached to blade 12 instead of being formed integrally therewith. Projection 42 extends from the rest of blade 12 away from head 10 and it is to this that tail 14 attaches. Barbed portion 44 is pushed into the soft material of tail 14 and is shaped to have sharp edges that can be 15 readily pushed into tail 14. The barbed shape acts to help to maintain tail 14 on projection 42 of blade 12. The shape of barbed portion 44 can be varied including to have a separate pointed end for piecing the tail and a barb below, further away from the point than in the illustrated embodiment. The shape and configuration of the barb can be varied to suit the attachment of 20 different types, shapes and sizes of tail. Inn use should tail 14 be bitten by a predatory fish, or catch on a snare for example, tail 14 will not simply slide off barbed portion 44, barbed portion 44 catches into the material of tail 14 to hold blade 12 and tail 14 together. Barb 44 could be made of wire in an alternative form of the invention. 25 Tail 14 is made of a soft plastics material which enables barbed portion 44 of projection 42 of blade 12 to be easily pushed into the material. Alternatively, tail 14 could be made of a slightly less soft material and have a slit pre-cut to enable fitting to blade 12. A key advantage of the invention is that any soft plastic tail can be used 30 with head 10 and blade 12 by attachment through use of barbed portion 44.

13 In this way long, short, thick, thin plain or fancy tails can all be used with the same head 10 and blade 12. If a fisher wants to try to simulate a variety of bait species, this can be readily achieved by changing the tail. Changing tail 14 of lure 1 is quick and easy so that a different look or form of the lure can 5 be tried. Referring to Figures 5 and 6 in particular, the motion of lure 1 through the water is illustrated. As can be seen in Figure 5 as head 10 and blade 12 move from side to side a natural wiggling motion is generated in tail 14. The weight in head 10 including neck 34 combined with the flat blade 12 io generates vibrations through the water, through tail 14. The side to side movement of head 10 can be seen in particular in Figure 6, indicated by an arced arrow. Referring to Figure 7 in particular attachment points 42, 44 and 46 for fishing line 48 can be seen. Fishing line 48 is attached at any one of 15 attachment points 42, 44 or 46 in the usual manner, such as clip or snap, to enable use by a fishing rod and reel (not shown). Fishing line 48 can also be attached using a loop knot. A choice can be made as to how much vibration to lure 1 will occur by choosing to which attachment point line 48 is attached. Attachment to attachment point 42 of line 48 provides least 20 vibration, to attachment point 46 the most vibration and to attachment point 44 a middling amount of vibration. More or less attachment points can be included as desired, including in slightly different positions as suits the particular design of lure 1. Use of different lengths of tail 14 will mean that use of different attachment points may be desired in order that lure 1 swims 25 naturally through the water. In use, lure 1 is attached by fishing line 48 to attachment point 42 as shown in the illustrated example and cast towards a suitable location and allowed to fall in the water slightly before being wound in towards the fisher. The speed and of winding and depth can be varied by the fisher but the lure will 30 continue to swim realistically through the water causing vibrations due to 14 the combination of weighted head 10, blade 12 and attached soft wiggling tail 14. The vibrations in the water travel great distances so as to alert predator fish to the simulated bait. The predator fish will hopefully swim towards lure 1 and chase and bite on, be caught on treble hooks 22 and or 5 24 as the line jags and is reeled in by the fisher. The natural and realistic movement in the water of lure 1 makes it less likely the predator fish will reject lure 1. In particular on biting lure 1 soft tail 14 is similar in texture to natural fish and so is less likely to be spat out by the predator fish which gives the fisher time to try to catch the fish on the hooks. io Lure 1 has the strong advantages of vibration to attract a fish and the wriggling, natural movement of the soft plastics tail to further entice a fish to bite on and be caught by treble hooks 22 or 24. Further that it enables the advantages of use of the weighted head 10 and blade 12 with exchangeable soft plastic tail 14. The fisher using lure 1 has greater options 15 and control to vary the look, vibration and nature of how lure 1 swims through water to assist to try to catch a predator fish as tail 14 can be rapidly, and easily exchanged. The inventor has developed a significantly improved fishing lure that can be adapted to suit different conditions through use of different tails and 20 attachment points, and has strong vibration qualities. Use of lure 1 is economic and easy and can be readily manufactured, particularly in contrast to some complex and inferior lures already on the market. It is anticipated that the lure will be very popular as a versatile and successful lure for a range of target species and conditions. 25 It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiment disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in its various aspects.

15 INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY Lures according to the invention can be manufactured and sold online, direct to customers, or wholesale to retail outlets. 5 16 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST: 1 Lure 44 Attachment point 10 Head 46 Attachment point 12 Blade 48 Fishing line 14 Tail 16 Rod 18 First loop 20 Second loop 22 Treble hooks (front) 24 Treble hooks (back) 26 Eye 28 Spots on head 30 Spots on blade 32 Spots on tail 34 Neck 36 Split ring 22 38 Split ring 24 40 Bent portion 42 Attachment point

Claims (5)

1. A fishing lure including: a lure body including a head or front part; an attachment means on the lure body for attaching to a tail 5 part; and one or more attachment point on the lure body to attach the lure to a fishing line, wherein, in use, the fishing line can be attached to the lure by use of the one or more attachment point, one or more hooks or the like can be io attached to the lure, and the tail part attached to the attachment means so that as the lure is towed by the fishing line through the water vibrations are created in the water simulating a bait species and if bitten by a fish or similar, the fish or similar can be caught on the hooks or the like.

2. The fishing lure according to claim 1, wherein the lure body includes 15 a blade part connected to the head or front part, the blade part being configured to be of less width than the head or front part, and the blade part being adapted to assist to cause vibrations in the lure as the lure moves through the water.

3. The fishing lure according to claim 2, wherein the attachment means 20 is a barb on the blade part onto which the tail part can be attached by the barb being pushed into the tail part.

4. The fishing lure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tail part is made of a soft material and can be readily and rapidly replaced with another tail part including different tail parts as is desired by the fisher to 25 vary the overall appearance of the lure.

5. A fishing lure including: 18 a weighted head part; a substantially planar blade part connected to the weighted head part, the blade part including a barb for attachment to a tail part, and a plurality of attachment points to attach the lure 5 to a fishing line; wherein, in use, fishing line can be attached to the lure by use of the one or more attachment point, one or more hooks or the like attached to the lure and the tail part attached by the barb to the blade part so that as the lure is towed by the fishing line through the water vibrations are created in the io water simulating a bait species, and if the lure is bitten by a fish or similar, the fish or similar can be caught on the hooks or the like. Dated this day 20 November 2012 Benjamin Colin Jones By his Patent Attorney 15 TJ IP Patents, Trade Marks & Designs