Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Methods of fishing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-04
2003-04-15
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Methods of fishing
C043S042020, C043S042240, C043S042260, C043S042280, C043S042100, C043S042310, C043S042360
Reexamination Certificate
active
06546663
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to fishing lures, and more particularly to fishing lures of a type which simulate crustaceans.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other country.
Fishing lures are typically attached to a fishing line and one or more fish hooks are typically attached to the lure in such a way that a fish biting on the lure is caught on the fish hooks. Live crustaceans, such as prawns, shrimp and crayfish generally move forward through water by walking on the subterrain or by a slow swimming action using their pleopods or swimmerets. Under distress, or as an escape response, these creatures commonly react with a snapping or flicking action of the tail to propel themselves more quickly through the water. Repeated flicking actions generally results in rapid movement, sometimes in a somewhat erratic fashion, away from a perceived threat. The flicking action of the tail results from curling and uncurling of the tail and body of the crustacean, and the flicking action creates a pressure wave that may be recognized by predatory fish.
Lures have been developed which mimic, in a rudimentary fashion, the appearance or behavior of crustaceans. One device, pulled tail first through the water, uses the force of water on the tail to articulate the tail with respect to the body. However, the lure simulates the tail flicking motion only when the lure is pulled backwards through the water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers.
The present invention is aimed at providing a fishing lure which simulates a natural range of motions of a crustacean as observed by the target prey, or which at least provides a useful alternative to known lures.
Reference herein to “simulates” includes but is not limited to the fishing lure resembling or otherwise having similarity to a crustacean at the levels of sound, appearance, texture and/or feel. The effectiveness of the instant lure is predicated in part on the overall combination of visual appearance and action of mobility. Both appearance and motion take on a natural form.
With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a fishing lure of the type that simulates a crustacean including:
a forward portion adapted to simulate a forward portion of the crustacean;
a rearward portion adapted to simulate a rearward portion of the crustacean, the rearward portion being flexibly connected to the forward portion such that the forward portion and rearward portion may be moved with respect to each other between a flexed position and a rest position;
connection means on the rearward portion for connection of the fishing line to the rearward portion; and
guide means through which the fishing line may slidably pass, the guide means being associated with the forward portion whereby, in use, a tugging action on the fishing line causes the rearward portion to move with respect to the forward portion from the rest position towards the flexed position to simulate a tail flicking motion of the crustacean.
In a preferred embodiment, the forward portion corresponds to the head and the rearward portion corresponds to the tail. In one embodiment, the guide means is operably associated with the forward portion and juxtaposed to the connection means.
Preferably, biasing means is provided for biasing the forward and rearward portions to the rest position. The biasing means may be operably associated with the forward and rearward portions near to or remote from the flexible connection, or may be inherent in the flexible connection. For example, the flexible connection may be a hinge-like connection with the biasing means being in the form of a returning hinge mechanism acting between the forward portion and the rearward portion. Alternatively, the flexible portion may be in the form of an elastomeric bridging portion between the forward portion and the rearward portion and may be formed from an inherently resilient material, the biasing means being constituted by the elastic memory inherent in the elastomeric material forming the bridging portion. In a further alternative, the forward portion and the rearward portion are formed integrally from an inherently resilient material, and one or more sections of smaller cross-section may be provided to constitute the flexible connection. Where a resilient material is used, the relative movement between the forward and the rearward portions maybe about a non-fixed axis. However, it is preferred that the arrangement of the guide means and the connection means results in a hinge-like pivoting between the forward and rearward portions upon tugging of the fishing line.
The rearward portion may include a plurality of interconnected segments, each of which is flexibly connected to another in a similar manner to the flexible connection between the forward portion and the rearward portion, and at least one of the segments is operatively associated with the guide means and the connection means as hereinbefore described.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the lure is designed as a complete body solution with flexion resulting from two body elements with transmissional flexing systemically through the body segmentation.
Preferably, the guide means is in the form of a channel or passage in the forward portion. Preferably, the flexible connection is positioned remote from the path that the fishing line takes through the guide means, or the connection means is arranged so that the fishing line follows a non-linear path through the guide means in such manner that the application of a tugging force to the fishing line transmits a tugging type force to the rearward portion causing a flexing of the flexible connection. For example, the fishing line may have a clear span between the connection means and the guide means, whereby a shortening of the span caused by tugging on the fishing line in turn causes movement of the forward and rear portions with respect to one another at least part way to the flexed position.
The connection means may be provided by any suitable arrangement. For example, the connections may include an eyelet attached to or integrally molded with the rearward portion. Alternatively, the connection means may be constituted by the eye of a fishing hook fixedly or removably mounted relative to the rearward portion. In a preferred embodiment, the rearward portion includes a guide through which the fishing hook shaft extends such that the eye of the fishing hook projects through the underside of the rearward portion.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a fishing lure for mimmicking characteristics of a crustacean in water, including:
a head portion;
a tail portion having at least one fan portion at an end thereof; and
a flexible bridge portion connecting the head and tail portions whereby the head portion and tail portion are resiliently and rotationally movable relative to each other through flexion of the bridge portion;
whereby, in use in water, when the tail portion is caused to move rotationally toward the head portion, the at least one fan portion creates a pressure wave in the water, detectable by a fish and simulative of the pressure wave created by a tail flicking action of an actual crustacean.
preferably, the lure comprises a head portion and a flexible body portion permitting transmissional controlled flexing systematically through the body element.
The motion provides leverage on the water causing a movement response at an angle to the force applied by the tail fan.
The preload of the tail gives more advantageous angle for th
Fogarty Andrew
Fogarty Michael
Signitzer Paul
Jordan Charles T.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Zerr John W.
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