Lighted fishing lure

• US 20060096152A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven J. Pelegrin
• Original Assignee: Steven J. Pelegrin
• Inventors: Pelegrin, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,107,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 including

a printed circuit board;

a battery;

a battery cage configured to retain the battery and maintain the battery in electrical communication with the printed circuit board;

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

a membrane switch configured to enable selective activation of the at least one light emitting diode; and

,

a translucent plastisol enveloping the electronics component, wherein,

the plastisol forms a shape of a fish bait.

2. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 1, further comprising:

a fish hook having a barb end located exterior the plastisol, and a shaft passing through the plastisol;

wherein,

the electronics component is attached to the shaft.

3. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 2, wherein the electronics component is soldered to the shaft.

4. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 1, further comprising

a gate switch configured to rapidly flash the at least one light emitting diode.

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

6. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 1, wherein the electronics component includes two light emitting diodes.

7. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 6, further comprising

a gate switch configured to alternately flash the two light emitting diodes.

8. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 6, wherein the two light emitting diodes are different colors.

9. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 1, the electronics component further comprising a layer of epoxy coating the battery and battery cage.

10. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 9, wherein

the layer of epoxy adheres the battery cage to the circuit board.

11. The soft-bodied fishing lure as in claim 1, the electronics component further comprising a timer, wherein,

the timer deactivates the at least one light-emitting diode a preselected amount of time following activation.

12. A method of making a fishing lure, the method comprising the steps of:

creating an electronics component including the steps of;

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

configuring the battery cage to retain the battery and maintain the battery in electrical communication 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; and

,

enveloping the electronics component within a translucent plastisol; and

,

forming the plastisol into a shape of a fish bait.

13. The method as in claim 12, further comprising the steps of

creating a mold bearing the shape of the fish bait;

and,

pouring the plastisol into the mold.

14. The method as in claim 12, the forming step further including the steps of:

creating a mold in the shape of the fish bait;

pouring a portion of 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 plastisol.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising the steps of

treating the electronics component with an epoxy resin;

and

adhering the battery cage to the circuit board.

16. The method as in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

positioning a barb of a fish hook exterior the plastisol; and

,

passing a shaft of the fish hook through the plastisol; and

,

attaching the electronics component to the shaft.

17. The method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of positioning a fish hook so that at least a portion of a shaft of the hook is inside the mold;

and,

pouring the plastisol into the mold so that the plastisol envelops the portion of the shaft of the hook, and a barb of the fish hook is exterior the plastisol.

18. A soft-bodied fishing lure, comprising:

an electronics component including

a printed circuit board;

a battery;

a battery cage configured to retain the battery and maintain the battery in electrical communication with the printed circuit board;

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

a membrane switch configured to enable selective activation of the at least one light emitting diode;

a gate switch configured to rapidly flash the at least one light emitting diode;

a layer of epoxy coating the battery and battery cage and adhering the battery cage to the printed circuit board;

a timer configured to deactivate the at least one light-emitting diode a preselected amount of time following activation of the at least one light-emitting diode; and

,

a translucent plastisol completely enveloping the electronics component, the plastisol comprising a mixture of dimethyl siloxane and trimethylated silica;

a fish hook having a barb end located exterior the plastisol, and a shaft passing through the plastisol, and the electronics component is soldered to the shaft;

wherein,

the plastisol forms a shape of a fish bait.