Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Illuminated – e.g. – luminous
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-02
2004-01-06
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Illuminated, e.g., luminous
C043S017500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06671995
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fishing lure for use in connection with attracting and catching fish, especially in muddy or turbid waters or when fishing at night. The fishing lure has particular utility in connection with a novel power switching mechanism which conserves electrical power and extends the operating life of the electrical power source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fishing lures, also known as artificial baits, are desirable for attracting and catching fish. They are widely appreciated for their ability to mimic baitfish, such as minnows, but they are also known to trigger feeding activity among the target fish population by presentation of phenomena not found in natural fish populations. The subject of the present application is a fishing lure that produces light from an internal illumination source. The spectral wavelength of the internal illumination source may be controlled in a variety of ways, and may be made to simulate the normal flash of light produced by baitfish while swimming. Alternately, the spectral wavelength may be made to emit light at a spectral wavelength or wavelengths not normally present in nature, thereby providing an uncommon stimulus to a feeding fish. In a manner analogous to the spectral wavelength of the light, the light stimulus may be presented in ways not normally present in nature. While providing these desirable attributes, the construction of the fishing lure in the present application also improves on existing art by providing an improved switching mechanism which conserves electrical power, thereby extending the operating life of the fishing lure.
The combination of fishing lure and illumination is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,802 to Caprio discloses a method of illuminating a fishing lure of conventional construction. However, the lure of the Caprio '802 patent does not include an internal illumination source, but instead provides an external illuminator connected to a fishing line at a leading end and a fishing lure or bait at a trailing end. The art taught by the Caprio '802 patent relies on light transmission from the external illuminator through the water and onto the trailing fishing lure or bait. This has the disadvantages of adding weight and length to the total mass of fishing tackle, increasing the possibility of snagging in weeds, submerged brush, or other submerged obstacles. As taught in Caprio, light from the external illuminator may subtend a narrow solid angle so that battery energy is only used to illuminate the lure; however, movement of the lure away from the axis of illumination during motion through the water defeats the purpose of the illuminator. Furthermore, the relatively long light transmission path from the external illuminator to the trailing bait has the further drawback of introducing an attenuation light path in murky or turbid waters, thereby reducing the light impinging on the bait. Finally, the arrangement taught by Caprio relies on line tension to activate operation of the external illuminator. This arrangement may place restrictions on the weight of the trailing bait (a heavier bait will introduce additional line tension), and a bait that is snagged or “hung” will continue to deliver light output until the line tension is relieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,803 to Helling discloses an illuminated fishing lure that contains a light within a hollow plastic body. The problem of power consumption when the lure is snagged is addressed by a mechanical arrangement which interrupts the electrical circuit to the light when a fish hook on a tail section is snagged. The Helling '803 patent teaches a fishing lure construction in which a forward hollow head section and a rear hollow main body and tail section are connected in sliding male-female or telescoping relation. A switch mechanism in the interior of the telescoping section is arranged so that a slight relative motion of the two body sections is sufficient to break open the switch contact elements. It is especially important to note that the Helling '803 patent does not include a mechanism to allow power control according to conditions of use. If the two body sections are compressed toward one another, the electrical power source is permanently connected. If the two body sections are moved sufficiently far apart to break open the switch contact elements, the electrical power source is permanently disconnected until the two body sections can be recompressed toward one another by the fisherman. Tension on the fish line connected to the head section moves the two sections apart to break the circuit. A mechanical stop limits the relative movement between the body sections, and an “O” ring is used to maintain the watertight integrity of the body. However, the Helling '803 patent does not entirely satisfy the conditions necessary for reliable operation. Those familiar with the mechanical arts will recognize that telescoping or sliding mechanisms are subject to wear, galling, corrosion, lack of lubrication, and other factors which can interfere with the repeatability and dependability of a sliding fit. Additionally, the condition of the “O” ring in the sliding assembly contributes varying amounts of friction to the sliding operation. Thus, those familiar with these issues would consider it likely that the wear characteristics of the sliding fit and “O” ring arrangement would be associated with variable amounts of tension being required to actuate the switch assembly during the operating life of the apparatus. It may be expected that increased friction from the above causes would require added line tension before the switch mechanism activates, thereby allowing the light be energized for longer periods of time than are intended. In extreme cases, increased friction from the above causes may prevent the switch from opening. Additionally, manufacturing tolerances can produce the opposite type of error in which the sliding fit and “O” ring are relatively loose. In such circumstances, a relatively heavy fishing lure with the Helling '803 mechanism may inadvertently actuate the switch as the lure is cast, prematurely disconnecting the light from the battery.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,144 to Morgan et al. discloses a fishing lure that also incorporates a switch operated by an interior sliding mechanical element in the form of a tapered rod. However, the Morgan '144 patent differs from the Caprio '802 and Helling '803 patents in that the operation of the switching element is due to gravity or to mechanical actuation by the fisherman. The purpose of the Morgan '144 patent is not battery conservation, but rather to produce intermittent operation of the light in order to provide one of a plurality of stimuli to fish in the vicinity of the lure. The purpose of the Morgan '144 patent is different in scope and desired effect than are the teachings of Caprio, Helling, and the present invention. In particular, the switching element is intended to produce intermittent light actuation, and may easily remain in an actuated condition if the bait is snagged. Power consumption of the electrical power source is not taught in Morgan.
A further example of prior art is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,331 to Ursrey et al., which discloses a fishing lure that contains a battery and externally mounted light emitting diodes. However, the Ursrey '331 patent does not incorporate a switching element for illumination control and battery conservation in the same sense as taught by the preceding citations. Rather, Ursrey teaches away from illumination control and battery conservation inasmuch as Ursrey '331 is clearly intended to produce illumination whenever the lure is in water, even though illumination produced by the lure may be made intentionally intermittent through operation of an astable multivibrator or similar apparatus in the electrical circuitry of the fishing lure. Those familiar with the electrical arts will recognize that an a
Hayes Bret
Jordan Charles T.
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