Method of forming a flexible fishing lure having scent powder and fishing lure made therefrom

Abstract

A powder scented fishing lure has a substantially uniform dispersion of scent powder throughout the body of the lure. The scent powder is a screened scent powder having no particles greater than about 400 microns. The powder scented fishing lure has a prolonged release of the scent during use and has no substantial reduction in mechanical durability as a result of the addition of the scent powder. The powder scented fishing lure may be in any suitable shape, size and color and enables unique attractant properties over conventional plastic fishing lures.

Claims

1. A method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure comprising the steps of: a) providing a scent material; b) providing a moldable thermoplastic; c) providing a fishing lure mold; d) drying the scent material to produce a dried scent material having a percent moisture of no more than 2%; e) coarse grinding the dried scent material; f) fine grinding the dried scent material to produce scent powder; g) passing the scent powder through a 50 mesh screen or smaller to produce a filtered scent powder having substantially no particles with a size greater than 300 um; h) heating the moldable thermoplastic to a molding temperature; i) combining the filtered scent powder with the heated moldable thermoplastic to produce a scented molding plastic; j) introducing the scented molding plastic into the fishing lure mold; and k) allowing the scented molding plastic to cool and become a powder scented plastic fishing lure.

2. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the scent material is derived from a live animal.

3. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 2, wherein the scent material is derived from the group of animals consisting of: fish, crawfish, eels, worms, maggots, flies, squid, octopus, leeches, beef, and chicken.

4. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the scent material is derived from a live plant.

5. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the step of drying the scent material to produce a dried scent material comprises sun drying of the scent material.

6. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the powder scented plastic fishing lure consists essentially of said moldable thermoplastic and said scent power.

7. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the step of filling the fishing lure mold is performed within 10 minutes of the step of combing the filtered scent powder with the heated moldable thermoplastic.

8. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the step of filling the fishing lure mold is performed within 5 minutes of the step of combing the filtered scent powder with the heated moldable thermoplastic.

9. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the moldable thermoplastic is heated to a temperature of at least 300 F. during the step of heating the moldable thermoplastic to a molding temperature.

10. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein an amount of filtered scent powder combined with the heated moldable thermoplastic is between about 0.01 g and 0.25 g per gram of heat moldable thermoplastic.

11. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the fishing lure mold has a worm mold shape configured to produce a worm shaped powder scented plastic fishing lure.

12. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a fishing lure portion and locating said fishing lure portion into said mold; whereby the steps of introducing the scented molding plastic into the fishing lure mold and allowing the scented molding plastic to cool produces an over-molded fishing lure portion.

13. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding a secondary polymeric component to the moldable thermoplastic, whereby the secondary polymeric component reinforces the moldable thermoplastic.

14. The method of forming a powder scented plastic fishing lure of claim 13, wherein the secondary polymeric component is added at no more than about 30% by weight of the moldable thermoplastic.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method of forming an exemplary powder scented fishing lure.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method of forming an exemplary powder scented fishing lure.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary powder scented plastic fishing lure lure in the shape of straight tall worm.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary in the shape of curly tail worm.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view taken along line AA of FIG. 2 having the scent powder substantially dispersed throughout the body of the fishing lure.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view taken along line BB of FIG. 3 having a non-screened scent powder dispersed throughout the body of the fishing lure and larger particles that compromise the mechanical durability of the lure.

(7) FIG. 7 shows an exemplary powder scented plastic fishing lure in the shape of a fish.

(8) FIG. 8 shows an exemplary powder scented plastic fishing lure, a plug or crankbait, is an over-molded powder scented plastic fishing lure.

(9) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary spinner type fishing lure having a skirt comprising a powder scented plastic.

(10) FIG. 10 shows an exemplary jig type fishing lure having a skirt comprising a powder scented plastic.

(11) FIG. 11 shows an exemplary skirt strand having a change in cross dimension, i.e., diameter, width or thickness, along the length.

(12) FIG. 12 is a graph showing the force versus strain for two lures made with different plastic compositions.

(13) FIG. 13 shows a lure and a tensile sample cut-out location on the tail portion of the lure.

(14) Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

(15) As used herein, the terms comprises, comprising, includes, including, has, having or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of a or an are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

(16) Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.

(17) As shown in FIG. 1, the flow chart shows the flow of the steps described herein to produce a powder scented plastic fishing lure. A scent material is processed by drying, grinding and screening before it is substantially dispersed throughout a melted moldable thermoplastic. The combined material is then added to a mold and cooled to produce a powder scented plastic fishing lure.

(18) As shown in FIG. 2, the flow chart shows the flow of the steps described herein to produce a powder scented plastic fishing lure having a secondary polymeric component that reinforces the moldable thermoplastic. The moldable thermoplastic and secondary polymeric component are added prior to heating, however, they may be mixed during the heating step. A scent material is processed by drying, grinding and screening before it is substantially dispersed throughout a melted polymeric mixture. The combined material is then added to a mold and cooled to produce a powder scented plastic fishing lure.

(19) As shown in FIG. 3, an exemplary fishing lure 10 is in the shape of straight tail worm 22. The body 20 of the fishing lure comprises a concentration of the scent powder. The body is made up of a powder scented plastic 34, as described herein.

(20) As shown in FIG. 4, an exemplary fishing lure 10 is in the shape of curly tail worm 23. The body 20 of the fishing lure comprises a concentration of the scent powder.

(21) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view taken along line AA of FIG. 2 having the scent powder 30 substantially dispersed throughout plastic 32 within the body 20 of the fishing lure 10.

(22) FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view taken along line BB of FIG. 4 having a non-screened scent powder dispersed throughout the body 20 of the fishing lure and larger particles 40 embedded within the plastic 32. These large particles 40, 40 can develop air gaps 42 that can compromise the mechanical durability of the lure. The air gaps or voids can lead to splits 44 that extend to the outer perimeter of the lure and eventually result in a break.

(23) As shown in FIG. 7 shows an exemplary powder scented plastic fishing lure 10 is the shape of a fish 24. Again, a powder scented plastic fishing lure can be made in any suitable shape as described herein.

(24) As shown in FIG. 8, an exemplary powder scented plastic fishing lure 10, a plug or crankbait 80, is an over-molded powder scented plastic fishing lure 58. The body of the lure 20 has the power scented plastic over-molded thereon. As described herein, the weight percent or concentration of the scented powder may be higher in an over-molded application as the plastic is mechanically supported by the lure body. Any portion of the lure may be over-molded with powder scented plastic including the bill 62 or hooks 64.

(25) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary spinner type fishing lure 50 having a skirt 70 comprising a powder scented plastic 34 and a spinner 52. The skirt 70 is made of a plurality of skirt strands 72. A plurality of the skirt stands may comprise the powder scented plastic 34, as described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, all of the skirt strands are made out of the powder scented plastic. The head 54 and the spinner 54 of the fishing lure comprise over-molded powder scented plastic 58. The spinner 52 may be an ideal location to over-mold the powder scented plastic as it waves and moves through the water in a dynamic way with respect to the rest of the lure and may more effectively disperse the scent into the water. An over-molded spinner may have powder scented plastic on one side, or substantially covering the spinner wherein the powder scented plastic is on both sides.

(26) FIG. 10 shows an exemplary jig type fishing lure 60 having a skirt 70 comprising a powder scented plastic 34. The skirt 70 is made of a plurality of skirt strands 72. A plurality of the skirt stands may comprise the powder scented plastic 34, as described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, all of the skirt strands are made out of the powder scented plastic. Again, the head 54 of the fishing lure comprises to over-mold the powder scented plastic 58.

(27) FIG. 11 shows an exemplary skirt strand 72 having a change in cross-length dimension, such as diameter, width or thickness, along the length from a first end 74 to a second end 76. The cross-length dimension of the first end 75 is larger than the cross-length dimension of the second end 77. The first end may be attached to the lure and the second end may be an extended end that is free to move or wave as the lure is pulled through the water. As shown in FIG. 9, the first attached end is larger in cross-length dimension 74 than the cross-length dimension of the second end 77 and the skirt strand is tapered from the first attached end to the second extended end. This configuration may provide for a more durable attachment of the skirt strand to the lure and a more flexible extended end that more easily moves at the lure is moved through the water, to attract fish.

(28) As shown in FIG. 12 and as detailed in Table 2, below, the Version-2 lure was much stronger than the original lure. The original lure was made with Regular Liquid Plastic, available from M-F Manufacturing Co., Inc. Fort Worth, Tex. The Version-2 lure was made with a plastic composition of the Regular Liquid Plastic, at about 83% by weight and a secondary polymeric component added at about 17% by weight. The additive was Polypropylene Glycol, Pluriol P 1000 from BASF Inc., Florham Park, N.J. The plastics were blended prior to heating and the Version-2 plastic was heated to 300-350 F. for about four minutes before being poured into the mold. The Regular Liquid Plastic was heated to 300-350 F. for about three minutes before being poured into the mold.

(29) A sample, Dog-Bone tensile sample 102 was cut from the tail portion 26 of the curly tail worm 23, lure 10, as shown in FIG. 13. The tail portion of the lure is a flat slab of material having substantially uniform thickness of about 0.09 inch. The samples were tested according to ASTM D-412-15a, Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic ElastomersTension; the entirety of said method is hereby incorporated by reference. The samples were pulled at 1 mm/second and the force and strain were recorded. The max load of Version-2 was about 45% higher than the max load of the Original sample. This is very large improvement in the max load which will result in more durable lures that will not break or rip after repeated strikes from fish. In addition, the addition of scent powder may reduce the strength of the lure and addition of an additive that strengthens the plastic may be desirable.

(30) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Original Version 2 Max Load Max Load 2.97 4.746 2.916 4.186 3.283 4.558 Average 3.1 4.5

(31) It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.