US 4,492,054 AGrant
Fish Lure
Issue Date:1985-01-08
•10 Claims
•4 Drawing Sheets
Abstract
A novel fish lure is provided herein. The lure is shaped in the form of a minnow having a main body of generally hydrodynamic shape including a head portion, with a nose projecting from the forward end thereof and a tail tip portion. The nose projecting from the head is provided with a plurality of holes (e.g., three or four) in the front portion thereof, through which a fish line is adapted to be threaded. The holes are situated along the symmetric longitudinal axis of the nose, from the top face thereof to the bottom face thereof. One hole imparts the most erratic action. A second hole imparts lessened erratic action, and the third hole imparts extremely vibrant but tight movement from the center. In all cases, the action of the plug is side-to-side at the same time as the plug oscillates on its longitudinal axis. The fish lure is one to which can be imparted erratic action in which the action is a simultaneous side-to-side and oscillation on its longitudinal axis. The lure may be patterned to represent a minnow more closely.
Metadata
Inventor
- Gerald K. Barnhart
Application Information
Application Number:US 4138813
Filing Date:1982-09-01
Priority Date:1981-07-30
Art Unit:325
Classifications
IPC:
A01K 8500
Field of Search:
4342.09;42.22;42.23;42.34;42.35;42.36;42.39;42.45;42.47;42.49
Patent Drawings (4 sheets)
Description
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the accompanying drawings,
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the fish lure of one embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section along the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal section along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a bottom elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a transverse section along the line VIII--VIII of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the fish lure of another embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section along the line X--X of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a central longitudinal section along the line XII--XII of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a bottom elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 9; and
FIG. 16 is a transverse section along the line XIII--XIII of FIG. 9.
Description of Preferred Embodiment
(i) Description of FIG. 1-8
As seen in the drawings, and particularly in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7, and fish lure 10 includes a main body portion 11 of hydrodynamic shape having a gently rounded upper back surface 12, an arcuately rounded belly surface 13 and side faces 14, 15 which diverge from the head portion 16 to a maximum thickness at 17 and then converge to a common tail tip 18.
The head portion 16 is provided with a projecting nose 19 having diverging side faces 20, 21 and erminating in a downwardly bevelled leading edge 22. The upper face 23 is flattened but extends as an extension of upper back surface 12, and the lower face 24 is also flat but is generally parallel to upper face 23 and is also provided with a central plane portion 25.
Depending from the belly surface 13 near the tail tip 18 thereof is a fin 26, provided with a longitudinally extending channel 27.
The essence of the invention is characterized by a plurality of fish line holes 28, 29 and 30. Holes 28 and 29 extend through the nose 19, while hole 30 extends through the main body 11 near the head portion 16.
Also considered to be a subsidiary characteristic of this invention is the rear line guide channel 27. The line guide channel is associated with a split ring (not shown) to allow a hook (not shown) to swing free, since the hook must not be fixed to the lure 10.
It is also desirable to have the body 11 made hollow, and to have it contain a mass of buoyancy material 31 (which may be lighter or heavier than the lure 10) to control buoyancy. The side faces 14, 15 are flattened to facilitate embossing or other patterning. Preferably, the embossing is by means of hot foil embossing to impart a herrinbgone pattern to the lower portion, and a fish scale pattern to the upper portion.
The lure 10 may be made out of any suitable material, e.g., a synthetic plastic, i.e., polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, etc.
(ii) Description of FIGS. 9-16
As seen in the drawings, and particularly in FIGS. 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15, the fish lure 110 includes a main body portion 111 of hydrodynamic shape having a gently rounded upper back surface 112, an arcuately rounded belly surface 113 and side faces 114, 115 which diverge from the head portion 116 to a maximum thickness at 117 and then converge to to a common tail tip 118.
The head portion 116 is provided with a projecting nose 119 having side faces 120, 121 which diverge from the main body portion 116 at 140, 141 and which terminate in a leading edge 122 which merges with side faces 120, 121 by rounded corners 142, 143. The upper face 123 is flattened by and extends as a butted extension of upper back surface 112. The lower face 124 is also flat but is generally parallel to upper face 123. The upper face 123 includes a forward downwardly bevelled portion 125, which meets leading edge 122.
Depending from the belly surface 113 near the tail tip 118 thereof is a fin 126, provided with a longitudinally extending curved channel 137 separated from the hollow interior 131 of the line 110 by an upper curved wall 144. The rear guide channel 137 may be associated with a split ring (not shown) to allow a hook (not shown) to swing free, since the hook must not be fixed to the lure 110.
The essence of the invention is characterized by a plurality of fish line holes 127, 128, 219 and 130, each of which extend through the nose 119.
The body 111 is made hollow to provide a buoyancy chamber 131. The side faces 114, 115 are flattened to facilitate securing of metal foil thereto for decorative purposes. Preferably, the securing of the foil is by means of hot foil securement.
Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
(i) Operation of Embodiment of FIGS. 1-8
In use, fish line is threaded through one or more of holes 28, 29 and 30, and then guided along guide channel 27. When threaded through hole 28, a most erratic action is imparted to the lure. When threaded through hole 29, a lessened erratic action is imparted. When threaded through hole 30, an extremely vibrant but tight movement from the center is provided. In all cases, however, the basic action of the plug is from side-to-side while at the same time providing oscillation of the plug along its longitudinal axis.
(ii) Operation of Embodiment of FIGS. 9-16
In use, fish line is threaded through one or more of holes 127, 128, 129 and 130, and then guided along guide channel 137. When threaded through hole 127, a most erratic action is imparted to the lure. When threaded through hole 128, a lessened erratic action is imparted. When threaded through hole 129, a still lessened erratic action is imparted. When threaded through hole 130, extremely vibrant but tight movement from the center is provided. In all cases, however, the basic action of the lure is from side-to-side while at the same time providing oscillation of the lure along its longitudinal axis.
Summary
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modification of the invention to adapt to various usages and conditions. Consequently, such changes and modifications are properly, equitably and "intended" to be within the full range of equivalence of the following claims.
Claims
I claim:
1. A fish lure in the general shape of a tail-less minnow comprising a main body of generally hydrodynamic shape including a head portion and a tail tip portions: said main body having, in side elevational view, a gently rounded upper back surface and an arcuately rounded belly surface and having, in top plan view, side faces which diverge from the head portion to a maximum body thickness and then converge to the tail tip portion; a projecting, flat, plate-like nose extending from the head in the form of a smooth extension of the gently rounded upper back surface and extending downwardly less than the height of the body from the upper surface to the lower surface, the nose, in longitudinal section, having a bow portion constituted by an upper surface which near the body runs parallel to the bottom surface thereof, but which, near the tip slopes downwardly to merge with the lower surface at a forward edge thereof, the nose having a shape, in top plan view, of sides which diverge from the body portion, the diverging sides running forwardly in parallel with one another and then curving towards each other to meet in a flat front edge at the bow of the nose, only the nose further being provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough disposed along the central longitudinal axis thereof for securing a fish line drawn through a selected hole or holes; a depending tail fin along the central longitudinal axis of the body, said tail fin being associated with a fish-line guiding channel extending along an arcuate path longitudinally disposed above a joint between said tail fin and said body and extending longitudinally exclusively through said body; whereby, in use, an erratic a side-to-side action is imparted to said fish lure simultaneously along with an oscillation of said lure along its longitudinal axis.
2. The fish lure of claim 1 including a hollow core.
3. The fish lure of claim 1 wherein said side faces are flattened from the top edge to the bottom edge.
4. The fish lure of claim 1 wherein said side faces are patterned by affixing decals thereto.
5. The fish lure of claim 1 wherein said side faces are patterned.
6. The fish lure of claim 1 including a hollow core provided with a predetermined amount of a buoyancy-controlling ballast material therein.
7. The fish lure of claim 4 wherein said fish-line guiding channel extends through said body but is separated from said hollow core by a longitudinally extending curved channel.
8. The fish lure of claim 1 wherein said side faces are smooth.
9. The fish lure of claim 8, wherein said smooth side faces have metallic foil secured thereto.
10. The fish lure of claim 6 wherein said fish-line-guiding channel extends through said body, but is separated from said hollow core by a longiudinally extending curved channel.