Abstract
A fishing lure includes a central body and an elastomer cover that covers fully or partially the central body. Eyes are molded in the elastomer cover and a stabilizer is mounted to a rear of the central body. A hair collar and hair are removably mounted between the stabilizer and the elastomer cover.
Claims
1. A fishing lure for trolling and providing a natural appearance of a fish when moving through water, the fishing lure comprising: a central body including a nose, a middle portion and a rear; a stabilizer mounted to the rear of the central body; and a hair collar and hair removably mounted between the stabilizer and the elastomer cover.
2. The fishing lure of claim 1, further comprising: an elastomer cover covering the nose of the central body, the elastomer cover including an eye molded thereon, the central body includes a lower portion and a top portion, the lower portion weighted relative to the top portion resulting in a keeled central body, the elastomer cover including a relatively thin bottom portion and a thicker upper portion, the elastomer cover covering the nose and middle portion of the central body in a mounted configuration.
3. The fishing lure of claim 2, wherein the eye is comprised of first and second eyes positioned on opposing sides of the elastomer cover, the first and second eyes positioned at sides of the central body when the elastomer cover is mounted to the central body.
4. The fishing lure of claim 2, wherein the elastomer cover is removably mountable to the central body.
5. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the hair collar and hair are removable from the central body, a second hair having a different appearance than the hair also removable from the central body.
6. The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein the hair is comprised of elastomer tentacles.
7. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer includes a slot that attaches to a hook, the hook configured to hold a bill of a bait fish.
8. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer includes a snap fit mechanism configured to releasably secure the stabilizer to the central body.
9. The fishing lure of claim 1, further comprising: an elastomer tail constructed from two different hardness materials, a first portion of the tail having a greater hardness than a second portion of the tail.
10. The fishing lure of claim 9, wherein the first portion is a front portion of the tail and the second portion is a rear portion of the tail, the elastomer tail includes a snap mechanism to releasably lock the tail onto the central body.
11. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the central body is constructed of a strong, high density material.
12. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer is releasably mountable to the central body.
13. A tail for a fishing lure for removable connection to a central body of the fishing lure, the tail comprising: a first portion having a first hardness, the first portion including a snap fit mechanism for removable connection to the central body; and a second portion having a second hardness, the first hardness being greater than the second hardness.
14. The tail of claim 10, wherein the first portion is comprised of a front portion and the second portion is comprised of a rear portion, the front and rear portions comprise a long polymeric body.
15. The tail of claim 10, wherein a molded hook cavity is formed in the first portion between the snap fit mechanism and the second portion.
16. The tail of claim 15, wherein an exit point is formed in the first portion extending between an external surface of the first portion and the molded hook cavity.
17. A fishing lure for trolling and providing a natural appearance of a fish when moving through water, the fishing lure comprising: a central body; and a stabilizer removably mountable to the central body, the stabilizer removably connectable to the central body with a snap fit mechanism, the stabilizer including a slot configured for attachment of a bait fish to the central body.
18. The fishing lure of claim 17, further comprising: an elastomer cover removably mountable to the central body, the central body including a nose, a middle portion, a rear portion, a lower portion and a top portion, the lower portion being weighted relative to the top portion such that the lower portion generally remains below the upper portion as the fishing lure moves through the water, the elastomer cover positioned over the nose and the middle portion in a mounted configuration, the elastomer cover including a first eye on a first side of the elastomer cover and a second eye on a second side of the elastomer cover.
19. The fishing lure of claim 18, wherein the elastomer cover includes a thin bottom portion and a thick upper portion, the elastomer cover having a circular cross-sectional shape when mounted to the central body.
20. The fishing lure of claim 17, further comprising: an elastomer tail having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having a first hardness and the second portion having a second hardness, the first hardness being greater than the second hardness.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the fishing lure, assembly and related method of the present application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the fishing lure, assembly and related method, there is shown in the drawings a preferred embodiment. It should be understood, however, that the application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded, side perspective view of the preferred fishing lure of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional, side perspective view of components of the fishing lure of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional, side perspective view of additional components of the fishing lure of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of a tail of the fishing lure of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tail of FIG. 4, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and
[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a stabilizer of the fishing lure of FIG. 1, taking along line X-X of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one”. The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” or “distally” and “outwardly” or “proximally” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the patient's body, or the geometric center of the preferred fishing lure and related parts thereof. The words, “anterior”, “posterior”, “superior,” “inferior”, “lateral,” “proximal,” “distal,” and related words and/or phrases designate preferred positions, directions and/or orientations relative to the fishing lure and its components to which reference is made and are not meant to be limiting. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
[0022] It should also be understood that the terms “about,” “approximately,” “generally,” “substantially” and like terms, used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component of the preferred invention, indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude minor variations therefrom that are functionally the same or similar, as would be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred assembly of a fishing lure, generally designated 1, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes an elastomer cover 5 that covers a central body 8 of the preferred fishing lure 1 in the mounted configuration. The fishing lure 1 is preferably configured for trolling and providing a natural appearance of a fish when the fishing lure 1 is moving through the water, preferably as the fishing lure 1 is pulled or drawn through the water. The central body 8 includes a nose 8a, a middle portion 8b and a rear 8c. The nose 8a has a generally rounded cone shape that is interrupted at a top portion, as is described in greater detail below for weighting the fishing lure 1. The elastomer cover 5 includes eyes 2 or first and second eyes 2 bonded directly to or co-molded with the elastomer cover 5 that are preferably positioned at opposite sides of the central body 8 in the mounted configuration. The elastomer cover 5 covers the nose 8a and the middle portion 8b of the central body 8 in the mounted configuration. The elastomer cover 5 is preferably constructed of a strong, resilient elastomeric material, such as silicone, that is able to take on the size and shape of the elastomer cover 5, withstand the normal operating conditions of the elastomer cover 5 and perform the preferred functions of the elastomer cover 5, as described herein. The elastomer cover 5 may be removed and replaced or is removably mountable to the central body 8 to modify the appearance and/or performance of the fishing lure 1. The elastomer cover 5 may have different colors, ornamental appearances or other features that may be attractive to a fish when moving through the water.
[0024] The preferred fishing lure 1 also includes removable hair 3, which can be made of nylon or made of elastomers and may be constructed having various lengths, densities of hair, colors and other variations based on user and designer preferences. These different lengths, densities of hair, colors and other variations may result in first, second, third and more removable hair 3 and an associated hair collar 6. The removable hair 3 is connected to the hair collar 6, which preferably snaps into the central body 8 to secure the hair 3 and the hair collar 6 to the central body 8 during use or in the mounted configuration (FIG. 2). The preferred fishing lure 1 also includes a stabilizer or ballyhoo stabilizer 7 that snaps into the central body 8 or snaps onto the rear 8c of the central body 8 during use to further secure the hair collar 6 and hair 3 to the central body 8 and facilitate connection of bait to the preferred fishing lure 1. The hair 3 and hair collar 6 are mounted between a stabilizer 7 and the elastomer cover 5 in the mounted configuration and are removable from the central body 8 such that the hair 3 and hair collar 6 may be removed and replaced to change the appearance of the fishing lure 1 for different fishing conditions. For example, a first hair 3 and hair collar 6 may be removed and replaced by a second hair 3 and hair collar 6 with a different color, size or shape or the hair 3 may have the appearance of elastomer tentacles.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the assembly of the preferred fishing lure 1 with the ballyhoo stabilizer 7 includes the elastomer cover 5 positioned over the central body 8. The hair collar 6 is connected to the central body 8 between the elastomer cover 5 and the stabilizer 7 with the hair 3 attached to the hair collar 6. The central body 8 is preferably constructed of a strong, high density material that is able to take on the general size and shape of the central body 8 and withstand the normal operating conditions of the central body 8. The strong, high density material may be comprised of lead, tin, bismuth, steel, ceramic, tungsten-nickel alloy or other relatively strong and stiff materials that are able to take on the general size and shape of the central body 8, perform the preferred functions of the central body 8 and withstand the relatively harsh operating conditions of the central body 8. The central body 8 includes a lower portion 8d and a top portion 8e with the lower portion 8d weighted so that the lower portion 8d is heavier than the top portion 8e, thereby causing the fishing lure 1 to track in the water with the eyes 2 generally positioned on opposing sides and generally preventing or limiting spinning of the fishing lure 1 as the fishing lure 1 tracks through the water. The weighting of the central body 8 with the heavier lower portion 8d and the lighter top portion 8e results in a keeled central body 8. The lower portion 8d generally remains below the upper portion 8e as the fishing lure 1 moves through the water during use. Likewise, the elastomer cover 5 has a relatively thin bottom portion 5a and a thicker upper portion 5b such that the fishing lure 1 has a generally bullet-shaped appearance or symmetrical appearance with the lower portion 8d of the central body 8 providing weight to limit spinning or rotation of the fishing lure 1 during use because of the bottom weighting of the lower portion 8d, thereby resulting in the keeled configuration of the central body 8 and the fishing lure 1. The elastomer cover 5 covers the nose 8a and the middle portion 8b of the central body 8 in the mounted configuration. The elastomer cover 5 preferably has a circular cross-sectional shape when mounted to the central body in the mounted configuration.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the preferred fishing lure 1 also includes an elastomer tail 9 connected directly to a rear neck of the central body 8. The elastomer tail 9 preferably comprises a relatively long polymeric body. The elastomer tail 9 is preferably constructed of an elastomeric material that is relatively flexible, may take on the general size and shape of the tail 9, withstand the normal operating conditions of the tail 9 and perform the preferred functions of the tail 9, as is described herein. The preferred tail 9 is constructed of silicone materials having two different hardnesses, including a first portion and a second portion, but is not so limited and may be constructed of different polymeric or elastomeric materials that are able to take on the size and shape of the tail 9, withstand the normal operating conditions of the tail 9 and perform the preferred functions of the tail 9, as described herein.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the tail 9 is preferably constructed of a first portion 9a having a greater hardness than a second portion 9b. The first portion 9a may be a front portion 9a and the second portion 9b may be a rear portion 9b but the tail 9 is not so limited and may be otherwise constructed with the different hardness materials being otherwise positioned or located, such as a first portion being located on an inner portion of the tail and the second portion being located at an outer portion of the tail 9, the first portion 9a being positioned at a front of the tail 9 and the second portion 9b being positioned at a rear of the tail 9 or other configurations and locating of the different portions 9a, 9b or having additional portions with different hardnesses. The preferred relatively hard front portion 9a is constructed for secure attachment directly to a rear neck of the central body 8. The softer rear portion 9b provides a realistic appearance as it flows through the water during trolling and the harder front portion 9a provides a relatively strong and secure snap-fit connection. The tail 9 is not limited to including the relatively hard front portion 9a and the relatively soft rear portion 9b, but this configuration is preferred for the fishing lure 1. The front and rear portions 9a, 9b are preferably co-molded or co-formed into the desired shape. The tail 9 also preferably includes a snap mechanism or snap fit mechanism 12, a molded hook cavity 13 and an exit point 14 for the hook. The molded hook cavity 13 is preferably formed in the front portion 9a between the snap fit mechanism 12 and the rear portion 9b. The molded hook cavity 13 and exit point 14 accommodate insertion of a hook (not shown) into and through the tail 9 without necessarily damaging the tail 9 by force fitting the central body 8 or hook through any portion of the tail 9 during assembly. The exit point 14 is preferably formed in the front portion 9a and extends between an external surface of the front portion 9a and the molded hook cavity 13. The tail 9, therefore, may be removably attached to the central body 8 multiple times without significantly impacting the function or operation of the tail 9. The tail 9 is preferably releasably lockable to the central body 8 by connecting the snap fit mechanism 12 to the rear 8c of the central body 8. The snap fit mechanism 12 of the elastomer tail 9 is preferably includes in the front portion 9a that has a first hardness that is greater than a second hardness of the rear portion 9b of the tail 9. The greater first hardness of the front portion 9a accommodates the removable connection and locking feature of the snap fit mechanism 12 to releasably connect to the central body 8 and the lesser second hardness of the rear portion 9b simulates the natural appearance of a fish or bait fish as the fishing lure 1 is pulled or drawn through the water during use.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 6, the stabilizer 7 includes a snap fit mechanism 15, a slot 16 for accommodating a hook that engages the bait fish bill and a body 17. The hook may extend through the slot 16 such that the bill of the bait fish may be engaged or connected to the hook to secure the bait fish to the fishing lure 1 to further attract fish to the fishing lure 1 while trolling. The snap fit mechanism 15 is configured to releasably secure or releasably mount the stabilizer 7 to the central body 8 by snap fitting the stabilizer 7 to 5 the rear 8c of the central body 8. The stabilizer 7 is not limited to including the snap fit mechanism 15 to secure the stabilizer 7 to the central body 8 and may include a clamping mechanism, a threaded attachment or other connection mechanism to removably secure the stabilizer 7 to the central body 8.
[0029] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the preferred embodiment of the fishing lure 1 described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the present description.
