SNAG-RESISTANT FISHING LURE AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING

• US 20100199542A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z-Man Fishing Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Z-Man Fishing Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, James Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 9,253,967 B2
• Time in patent office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/42.41
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/00 Artificial bait for fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/02 with means for concealing or protecting hooks, e.g. to prevent entanglement with weeds
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/14 with flat, or substantially flat, undulating bodies, e.g. spoons
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/18 in two or more pieces

Abstract

The snag-resistant fishing lure is designed to minimize the chances of the lure becoming ensnared. The lure has a jig and a blade attached to the blade in a configuration that limits the side-to-side movement of the blade, thereby preventing the jig from rolling to a hook-downward position prone to snagging. A centrally aligned hole is positioned close to the front edge of the blade member. An eyelet extending from the jig body is attached through an aperture in the blade. The blade is limited in its side-to-side movement by contact between the blade edge and either the jig body or the eyelet. The limited side-to-side movement of the blade creates a quick, controlled, oscillating blade action that imparts a natural swimming motion to the lure, emulating prey species movements.

Claims

1. A fishing lure comprising:

a body having a forward portion and a longitudinal axis;

a curved wire affixed to the forward portion of the body; and

a blade having a first edge located proximate the forward portion of the body and defining therethrough a mounting hole proximate the first edge, the positioning of a portion of the curved wire through the mounting hole attaching the blade to the body;

wherein, as the lure is pulled through the water, a majority of the blade is oriented above the body and the lure exhibits a vibrating action as the blade is moved from side to side, the movement of the blade being limited by the first edge striking one of the body or another portion of the curved wire opposite the portion of the curved wire positioned through the mounting hole.

2. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the blade is generally polygonal.

3. The fishing lure of claim 2, wherein the blade defines an end opposite the first edge, the blade being bent near the end thereof.

4. The fishing lure of claim 2, wherein the blade has the shape of an elongated hexagon.

5. The fishing lure of claim 4, wherein the blade has a second edge opposite the first edge, the first edge of the blade defining a first width and the second edge defining a second width smaller than the first width.

6. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the blade has an arcuate edge.

7. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the blade further defines therethrough a pair of line attachment holes spaced apart from the mounting hole, and wherein the lure further comprises a fastener for securing a fishing line to the blade.

8. The fishing lure of claim 1, further comprising a hook extending rearwardly from the body along the longitudinal axis.

9. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the vibrating action of the blade creates an underwater acoustic wave propagation.

10. A method of producing a snag-resistant fishing lure, the method comprising:

providing a body having a forward end and a longitudinal axis, the body further comprising an immovable curved wire projecting from the forward end and a hook extending rearwardly from the body along the longitudinal axis;

providing a blade for attachment to the body, the blade having a first edge proximate the body and defining therethrough a mounting hole proximate the first edge;

positioning a portion of the curved wire through the mounting hole to attach the blade to the body, such that, as the lure is retrieved, a majority of the blade is oriented above the body and the blade exhibits a side-to-side movement relative to the body, the movement being limited by the first edge striking one of the body or another portion of the curved wire opposite the portion of the curved wire positioned through the mounting hole.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the body is a weighted body.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising surrounding a portion of the hook within the body.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the blade with a polygonal shape.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the polygonal shape is a hexagonal shape.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the polygonal shape is an elongated hexagonal shape having the first edge as one side and a second edge opposite the first edge as another side, the first edge defining a first width and the second edge defining a second width smaller than the first width.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising bending the blade.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the blade with a pair of line attachment holes therethrough and positioning a fastener through the line attachment holes.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the curved wire defines a cross-sectional diameter and wherein the method further comprises providing a mounting hole in the blade slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the curved wire.

19. A method of fishing, the method comprising:

securing a fishing lure to a fishing line, the fishing lure comprising a body having a forward end and a longitudinal axis;

a curved wire affixed to the forward end of the body; and

a blade having a first edge located proximate the body and defining therethrough a mounting hole, the curved wire being positioned through the mounting hole, the blade further having a pair of line attachment holes to which the fishing line is secured; and

pulling the lure through the water, the pulling of the lure resulting in a majority of the blade being oriented above the body and the lure exhibiting a vibrating action as the blade is moved from side to side, the movement of the blade being limited by the first edge striking one of the body or another portion of the curved wire opposite the portion of the curved wire positioned through the mounting hole.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fishing line is secured by a fastener.