AU735858B3 - Fishing lure - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: FISHING LURE Name of Applicant: KNOL'S LURES PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: FISHING LURE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for luring and snaring fish. The invention will primarily be described with reference to its use in river, lake, dam and ocean fishing, but it should be remembered that the invention can have broader use in the capture of any other predatory aquatic species.

Background Art Fishing lures are known in the art and are generally shaped to resemble the features of a fish, with a bulbous or wider 'head' end and a narrower 'tail' end, for example US5168652 and US5119581. Such lures are fitted with both an attachment to a fishing line and with a fish hook or the like. The design shape of such lures is intended to deceive a predatory aquatic animal into believing that the lure is edible thereby snaring the larger fish with the hook.

Frequent problems occur with the use of such lures.

20 The regular design shape does not aid accurate casting of the line, or improve the motion of the lure through the water. Lures often become snagged in underwater debris, o reeds or seaweed and then remain entangled. The physical eoe.

shape of the lure alone is often insufficient to deceive 25 aquatic predators, who at different times are known to be coo• more attracted to the vibratory movement of a fish in water or to its colour.

Some fishing lures are known which attempt to improve the motion of a lure in water. US5446991 discloses floating lures of various shapes to vary the centre of buoyancy. The integral hooks as shown are prone to damage, bending or breakage, resulting in the possibility of the entire lure being rendered useless. Furthermore additional weights are required to cause such lures to dive.

US5119581 discloses a lure with an integral hook and a body having a cavity and into the forward portion of which buoyant plugs of various weight densities may be inserted to control the depth the lure can reach when cast in the water. However an additional forward weight is required in such a lure to prevent spinning rotation from occurring in use. Little attention has been given in the art to changes to the standard design of buoyant fishing lures to-overcome such difficulties with usage and performance.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a fishing lure including a body having a first end adapted for the external attachment of a fishing hook thereto and a second opposite end having a generally planar member protruding beyond the second end, the member arranged for fasteningly receiving a fishing line thereon, wherein the body has a 15 centre of buoyancy and a centre of mass closer to the first end than the second end, and is enlarged closer to the first end then the second end.

It has been observed that locating the centre of buoyancy toward the first (rear) end of the lure rather than the end where the fishing line attaches means that in the water, the unique location of the centre of buoyancy ensures that if the leading edge of the lure becomes snagged by underwater debris, the lure may rise reversibly upward in order to be freed from entanglement. This offset 25 of the centre of buoyancy also assists with the casting of the lure.

Preferably the enlargement of the body is in the form of a bulbous portion, and the body is elongate and shaped such that it generally smoothly contours and tapers from a narrow second end to a region of maximum width and depth located approximately one third of the length of the body from the first end, then generally tapers again from the region of maximum width and depth to the first end. This lure shape locates the centre of buoyancy closer to the first end than the second when the lure is located in water. When in air (eg. during a cast) the lure shape concentrates more weight toward the first end of the lure.

The aerodynamic shape of the lure also leads to SAU) improvements in the casting distance and casting accuracy 4 of the lure when 4 travelling in air prior to entry into the water. Midflight tumbling of the lure is reduced, avoiding the tangling of the line with any fishing hook(s) attached to the lure itself.

Preferably the first end is adapted for the attachment of a fishing hook thereto. By attaching the hook at the more buoyant end, it is less likely to become snagged.

Preferably a plurality of sites are provided on the body, each for externally supporting a respective fishing hook or the like, each hook attached by means of an individual split ring to the site in the shape of an eyelet which is integrally formed with the body.

Preferably eyelets are located on the body at the first end and at a point intermediate the first and second 15 ends. Preferably the central core of the body contains a buoyant substance and the body has a continuous outer skin.

Preferably the core is hollow and the substance is air or a light gas. Preferably the outer skin and the member are formed from a lightweight corrosion resistant material such 20 as plastic.

oo Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, 25 with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shbws a side elevation view of a fishing lure in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a fishing lure in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a fishing lure in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 shows a perspective exploded view of a fishing lure in accordance with.the invention.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention Referring to the drawings, a lure 8 comprises a body including a first end 12 adapted for the external attachment of a fishing hook, and a second opposite end 14 arranged for fasteningly receiving a fishing line 16 onto it. The body 10 is adapted (usually shaped) to have a centre of buoyancy closer to the first end 12 than the second end 14, indicated by a broadening of the shape of the lure body 10 toward the first end 12. However the orientation of the centre of buoyancy towards the first end can be achieved by other means, for example by using materials in the body of differing densities.

A thin plate in the shape of a circular arc bib 18 is attached to or incorporated within the second end 14 of the body 10. The bib 18 is adapted for fastening a fishing line 16 onto it and includes a hole 20 fitted with an omega clip 22 and a split ring 24 such that the omega clip 22 is 15 held loosely in position by the split ring 24. As the lure *a 8 passes through the water, the loose nature of this method of fastening the fishing line 16 allows the body of the lure 8 to oscillate with a rapid action, simulating the vibratory movement of a fish in water which attracts the attention of predators. The shape and position of the centre of buoyancy of the lure 8 also assists this oscillatory motion. When the term oscillate is used it means that the lure vibrates in a motion between two points in a planar direction. The bib 18 provides the lure 8 with a superior cutting motion through the water, determining the depth which the lure can reach and assisting its oscillating action. Other means of loose fittings at bib 18 can be used to achieve similar results.

For example, rather than attach the split ring 24 (and thus the line 16) to omega clip 22 at the bib 18, it can be attached to oscillate at the second (front) end 14 of the lure. As shown in Figure 4, eyelets 32 and 34 are respectively located at first end 12 and at the underside of the lure, intermediate the first and second ends. A similar eyelet can be positioned between the lure halves (at the formation shown in Figure 4) at the second end 14, 6 and the split ring 24 attached to that eyelet. Such an arrangement is typically employed for shallower travelling lures, whereas the bib/split ring attachment is typically used for deeper diving lures.

The lure body 10 itself is elongate in shape and includes a central core containing a buoyant substance such as air, other gases, polymeric foam or light plastic contained within a continuous outer skin 26. This outer skin 26 and the bib 18 are formed from a lightweight corrosion resistant material such as fibreglass, plastic and other synthetic materials or light metals such as aluminium. The outer skin 26 may feature colours, indicia or markings of prey fish to attract attention from predators.

S*°

15 The body 10 has a plurality of sites for supporting fishing hooks or the like (or for supporting the fishing line split ring at the second end as described above) Typically a fishing hook 28 is attached by means of a split ring 30 to each of eyelets 32 and 34 which are integrally 20 formed to the body 10 in the manner shown in Figure 4. One eyelet 32 is located at the first end 12, and another eyelet 34 can be located at a point intermediate the first end 12 and the second end 14 on the underbelly of the lure body 10. The use of externally mounted hooks 28 is advantageous to the life of the lure (in comparison to arrangements such as that disclosed in US5446991, where once such a hook becomes snagged and bent or broken, on debris in the water or in the mouth of a fish, for example, the entire lure is rendered useless). In the present invention the hooks 28 may be readily replaced if damaged, with no loss of the remainder of the lure itself.

Lure 8 is shaped with a narrow leading edge 14 tapering to a .wider and heavier rear end 12, so that as the lure 8 is cast, it flies through the air with the heavier rear end 12 going first like a dart, by reason of its aerodynamic shape and weight distribution. This allows-an 7 improvement in the distance the lure 8 is able to be cast and the accuracy of its placement. Additionally, this aerodynamic shape and weight distribution ensures that the incidence of mid-flight tumbling of the lure 8 is reduced, thereby avoiding tangling of the line 16 with the hooks 28.

When the lure 8 enters the water, it floats and submerges as soon as it attains forward motion (which results from being towed behind a boat, or being retrieved (reeled Because it floats it can be used as a surface lure. When fishing in weeds, it is possible to cast the lure and, by using a series of short jerking maneouvres on the fishing line submerge the lure a short distance to attract fish to a near surface region of the water. Generally when in water the attitude of the lure is such that the rear end is up at an angle of approximately 30 degrees when viewed from the side. The unique location *.of its centre of buoyancy toward the rear end 12 of the lure ensures that when travelling through the water in this typical downward-angled orientation, if the lure 8 is 20 snagged by underwater debris, reeds or seaweed and its Sdirectional motion slows, the inherent buoyancy of the larger end 12 of body 10 causes the lure 8 to float upwards and the flow of water across the upper surface of the lure results in the lure ascending in an upward and backward direction. This reversible upward rise to be freed from entanglement is termed an 'auto-reverse' action. The 'auto reverse' action ensures that debris is left behind and the lure is able once again to travel through the water in a forward motion, the lure 8 continues to perform its designated task. Also, by mounting the major hook at that end, the hook is less likely to be snagged, as it is held up, relatively to the front of the lure.

Previously it has not been appreciated that changes to the design of fishing lures in order to mimic the vibratory action of a fish while simultaneously improving the motion dynamics of the lure itself can allow more accurate casting 8 and better movement of a lure through air and water, giving improved performance and better fishing results.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

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Claims (2)

1. 2. A fishing lure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enlargement of the body is in the form of a bulbous portion, and the body is elongate and shaped such that it generally smoothly contours and tapers from a narrow 15 second end to a region of maximum width and depth located S"approximately one third of the length of the body from the first end, then generally tapers again from the region of maximum width and depth to the first end.
2. 3. A fishing lure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first end is adapted for the attachment of a fishing S:hook thereto and wherein a plurality of sites are provided on the body, each for externally supporting a S: respective fishing hook or the like, each site including an eyelet which is integrally formed with the body, and S 25 each hook being attached via an individual split ring to a respective eyelet. Dated this 9 th day of May 2001 KNOL'S LURES PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK