Lighted fishing lure

• US 7,107,717 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven J. Pelegrin
• Original Assignee: Steven J. Pelegrin
• Inventors: Pelegrin, Steven J
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W.
• Application Number:
  US11/201,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 43/425.3, 43/176, 43/175, 43/422.4, 43/423.1
• US Class Current: 43/17.6
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/00 Artificial bait for fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/01 with light emission, sound emission, scent dispersal or the like

Abstract

The invention is a soft-bodied fishing lure, and a method of making the same.

Claims

1. A soft-bodied fishing lure, comprising:

an electronics component having a printed circuit board, a battery, and a battery cage that is configured to maintain the battery in direct contact with the printed circuit board;

at least one light emitting diode attached to the circuit board;

a gate switch in electrical communication with the circuit board and configured to enable selective activation of the at least one light emitting diode;

a plastisol forming a pliable, unitary body that envelops the electronics component; and

a fish hook having a barb end located exterior the plastisol, and a shaft passing through the plastisol and attached to the electronics component.

2. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 1, wherein the plastisol comprises a mixture of dimethyl siloxane and trimethylated silica.

3. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting diode includes two light emitting diodes.

4. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 3, wherein the gate switch is configured to alternately flash the two light emitting diodes.

5. A method of making a soft-bodied fishing lure, the method comprising the steps of:

creating an electronics component by;

providing a printed circuit board, a battery, and a battery cage;

configuring the battery cage to retain the battery and maintain the battery in direct contact with the printed circuit board;

attaching at least one light emitting diode to the circuit board;

positioning a gate switch in electrical communication with the circuit board to enable selective activation of the at least one light emitting diode;

forming the plastisol into a shape of a fish bait, the step of forming further including the steps of;

providing a mold;

positioning a fish hook so that at least a portion of a shaft of the hook is inside the mold;

enveloping the electronics component within a pliable plastisol by pouring the plastisol into the mold so that the plastisol envelops the electronics component and the portion of the shaft of the hook; and

,

positioning a barb of the fish hook exterior the plastisol.

6. The method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of allowing the plastisol to cure into a pliable, soft body.

7. The method as in claim 5, the forming step further including the steps of:

pouring a portion of the plastisol into the mold until the mold is only partly full;

placing the electronics component within the mold;

allowing the portion of plastisol to at least partly cure; and

,

filling the mold with another portion of the plastisol.

8. The method as in claim 7, further comprising the steps of

treating the electronics component with an epoxy resin;

and

adhering the battery cage to the circuit board.