GB2158682A - Fishing lure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fishing lure assembly comprising a hook attached to a fishing line and a separate illumination means attached directly or indirectly to that line and having means for locating the illumination means upon the line; said illumination means 1 incorporating a non-filamentary light emitting means 4 actuated by a power source housed within a substantially water-tight housing having a translucent portion directed towards the hook, the power source being adapted to actuate the light emitting means intermittently; the relative positions of the hook, the illumination means and the weights for the line, where used, being independently adjustable of one another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing lure The present invention relates to a fishing lure, notably to one having a source of illumination directed onto the hook to attract fish.

When fishing at night or during days of poor illumination or in deep or murky waters, the lure used to attract fish to the hook is often virtually invisible or has only a limited effective range. This can be increased bythe use of a bait which has a strong odour or which releases material into the water to attract the fish. However, this requires the use of special bait which rapidly becomes ineffective as it releases its attractant material.

An alternative attractant is light. This has been widely used by boat fishermen who suspend oil or other lamps over the water. However, this is impractical for line fishing, where the hook is often many metres below the water surface and may lie many metres away from the boat. For rod fishing, e.g. from a beach, where the hook and line are cast away from the fisherman, this approach is totally unsuitable.

It has been proposed to incorporate a source of illumination onto the weight of a fishing line so that it casts light around the weight, which also carries the hooks. In such a proposal, the light is actuated by a switch mechanism in response to jerks on the line or the effect of water swirling past the weight or by a thermally actuated make and break filament in the light. The jerks cause a weight within the mechanism, e.g. the battery used to power the light bulb, to move axially and thus bear against a switch mechanism.

Such a lure illumination mechanism has not been adopted in practice, since it relies upon movement of the weight to trigger the flashing of the light, which is impractical for many types offishing, notably where the weight lies substantially static upon the sea bottom. Furthermore, the illumination means forms an integral part of the weight/hook assembly.

This limits the device to use in only those types of fishing where the hook and weight are closely associated, since if the weight and the hook were separated, the illumination would not fall upon the hook and would therefore be ineffective. Also, if the hook and weight were separated, problems due to tangling of the weight, the illumination device, the hooks and the line would arise and there would be problems in positioning the illumination relative to the hook. Furthermore, when such a device is cast, as opposed to being lowered over the side of a boat, the battery will accelerate and decelerate sharply during the initial casting and upon impact with the water, causing damage to the mechanism and to the light bulb.

I have now devised a form of fishing lure using light as the attractant which reduces these problems and which is capable of being used in a wise range of fishing techniques.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fishing lure assembly comprising a hook attached to a line; and a separate illumination means incorporating a non-filamentary light emitting means actuated by a power source housed within a substantially water-tight housing having a translucent portion adapted to be directed toward the hook, the power source being adapted to actuate the light emitting means intermittently; the relative positions of the hook, the illumination means and the weights for the line, where used, being capable of being selected by a user of the device.

Preferably, the illumination means is provided with meansthroughwhichthe line to the hook is journalled, e.g. an axial bore through the housing through which the line is passed, whereby the illumination means is mounted in axially moveable engagement with the line with the traslucent portion directed towards the hook.

The invention also provides an illustrated lure for use on a fishing line carrying a hook terminally thereon, which lure comprises a substantially watertight housing having one end thereof translucent and adapted to be directed at the hook; means for locating the lure upon the line comprising a member provided to the housing and adapted to receive and locate the said line; said housing incorporating non-filamentary illuminating means, means for actuating the illumination means and a power source.

In the lure of the invention it is preferred that the housing incorporate an electronic oscillator circuit which intermittently actuates the illumination means. However, other forms of actuation means can be used, e.g. a thermal make and break circuit.

Typically, the oscillator is a free-running oscillator operating to give 1 to 50, preferably 2 to 10, pulses per second so as to simulate the reflected light flashes from a spinning lure or a swimming fish.

The circuit is preferably powered by a conventional battery, notably a button type battery as used in a hearing aid orthe like. If desired, the housing can be formed with a removable cap or plug so that the battery can be removed for replacement or after fishing has been finished.

The illumination means is of the non-filamentary type, notably a light emitting diode. Typically, the illumination means will emit from 2 to 20 mille candella at 20 mille amps so that the lure will be visible over a range of 10 to 30 metres in clear water.

The illumination can be of any suitable wavelength.

However, I have surprisingly found that the colour of the light emitted attracts different types of fish. It is therefore possible to provide a series of lures with different colour light emissions so that the optimum one can be selected for the type of fish to be caught.

Preferably, the illumination means emits light in the red to green colour range.

The illuminating means, the battery and the circuit actuating the illumination means are put up in a substantially water-tight housing. Preferably, the working parts of the lure are potted up in a suitable resin, e.g. a polyepoxide, polyester or other sythetic resin, moulded around the components.

Typically, the housing is in the form of a generally cylindrical resin moulding, e.g. approximately 25 to 50 mms long and 15 to 30 mms in diameter.

However, the housing may have any other desired cross-section if desired.

The housing incorporates a section which is translucent, so that the light emitted from the illumination means can play onto the hook of the associated fishing line. This section can be provided by a pre-formed component, e.g. an end cap, which is incorporated into the moulded product. Alternatively, the resin used to put up the components can be a substantially clear resin so that the whole of the body of the lure is translucent. If desired, that portion encasing the illuminating means can be formed in an initial moulding operation using a substantially transparent resin, which can be coloured; and the remainder of the housing formed in a second stage from an opaque resin, notably a resin incorporating a filler.

The housing will usually become scored during use and an initially clear portion to the housing will become frosted and semi-opaque during use. The term translucent is therefore used herein to denote in general materials which permit the passage of light and includes substantially clear transparent materials as well as those through which an image can not be clearly seen.

The housing can be formed as a unitary body which is discarded once the battery reaches the end of its useful life. Alternatively, as indicated above, the housing can be formed with a removable closure member, e.g. a screw in or push fit end cap, to permit access to the interior of the housing for battery replacement.

The housing is also provided with means for locating the lure on the line to which the fishing hook is attached. This means can take the form of an eye or clip into which the line engages, preferably in a sliding fit so that the relative position of the lure and the hook can be varied. A particularly preferred locating means is a longitudinal bore through the housing in which the line is journalled. Thus, a bore can be formed axially through the housing and the line threaded through that bore. However, it is preferred that the bore be provided adjacent the edge of the housing, so as not to interfere with the electrical components within the housing. Typically, the bore will be from 0.2 mms to 1.0 mms diameter.

The bore can be provided with ribs orthe like to grip a line passaging therethrough so as to fixthe housing in a desired position on the line. Alternatively, the line can carry suitable stop members, e.g. split lead shot crimped thereon, to achieve the location of the lure on the line.

The illuminated lure can be mounted upon the line to the hook by passing the line through the locating means so as to position the lure with its translucent portion directed towards the hook and the desired distance therefrom. However, it is preferred that the lure and the hook be attached by separate lines to a connecting piece on the main body of the fishing line. In this way, if the hook becomes snagged and its line breaks, the lure remains attached to the main line and is not lost. Thus, the lure is attached to a swivel clip of conventional design located the end of the main body of the fishing line, e.g. by a co-operating clip; and the hook is separately attached by a second length of line of lower breaking strain passing through the bore in the housing to the swivel clip.

It is also preferred that the attachment to the main body of the line should activate the lure so that the lure is deactivated when disconnected, thus prolonging the working life of the battery. A particularly preferred form of connection is by means of two spaced apart conductive strips extending substantially axially and parallel from the housing and terminating in a pair of hooks or eyes which engages with the swivel clip. One of the strips connects with a pole of the battery, the other via the electrical circuit driving the illumination means to the other pole of the battery. When the swivel clip is attached to the strips, e.g. by clipping it to the eyes formed at the ends of the strips, the clip either brings the strips into contact to complete the electrical circuit or the metal of the clip itself completes the circuit.

In use, the lure is mounted on the fishing line or, more preferably, to the swivel clip as just described.

The lure can be set at any desired distance from the hook and can be used in combination with weights attached to the line adjacent the hook or some distance therefrom, as in a Paternoster type of tackle.

The tackle can be cast from a beach or from a boat as with a conventional tackle, since the lure is closely associated with the fishing line. Since the lure is self-contained and the illumination means is nonfilamentary, the lure will withstand the shock of casting and of striking the water. Apart from the presence of the lure, the tackle can be used in the normal manner. If desired, the lure can be given fins or other means which cause it to adopt particular orientations when in the water. However, it is preferred that the lure should affect the handling of the tackle in the least possible manner and it is therefore preferred that the lure be hydraulically streamlined, e.g. by having rounded ends, and that it have an overall density of from 1.0 to 1.8.

A particularly preferred form of the lure of the invention will now be described by way of illustration with respect to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section throughtthe lure and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the lure of Figure 1 in position on a fishing line.

The lure comprises a generally cylindrical body 1 formed by potting up the operating components of the lure in an epoxy or polyester resin. The body contains an oscillator circuit 2 driven by a battery 3 and driving a light emitting diode 4. Typically, circuit 2 comprises an integrated oscillator circuit and a capacitior powered by a 1.5 volt button battery and the diode 4 emits 4 mille candella at 20 mille amps.

That end portion of the body 1 around the diode 4 is translucent, e.g. by forming it from a substantially clear polyester resin, the remainder of the body 1 being formed from a pigmented and filled polyester resin so that it is coloured, e.g. red and is opaque.

Protruding generally co-axially from the other end of body 1 are two spaced apart conductive strips 5 and 6, one connected to the battery 3, the other to the circuit 2. The strips terminate in eye portions 7 and 8 respectively. The lure is inactive when not connected to the line, since there is no connection between the strips 5 and 6.

Substantially axially along one side of the body 1 is formed a bore 9, through which the fishing line to the hook is to be passed.

In use, the lure is connected by means of a swivel coupling 10 to the main body of the fishing line 20.

The lure can be connected to a swivel directly at the end of the line, or may be connect via a second swivel 11 and line 12 to the main swivel 10 on the end of line 20. This form of connection reduces the risk of tangling of the lure and the line to the hook during use. The connection of the eyes 7 and 8 to the metal loop of the swivel coupling 10 or 11 completes the circuit within the lure and the diode 4 is activated. The diode flashes in response to the oscillator circuit 2. However, where the clip 10 or 11 is a loose fit in the eyes 7 and 8, operation of the lure may also be interrupted by random movements of the lure in the water making or breaking the contact between the clip and the eyes.

A hook 21 is connected directly to line 20, or more preferably as shown via an intermedite weaker line 22 to swivel coupling 10. The line 22 passes through the bore 9 in the side of body 1 and this serves to position the lure adjacent the hook during use.

However, the lure can be positioned to suit the user's preference merely by sliding it up or down line 22.

The whole assembly to lure, hook and line 22 can be suspended from the side arm 24 of a Paternoster tackle, or weights 25 can be connected to line 20 in the conventional way for a long line tackle, optionally with two or more lure/hook assemblies attached at varying depths to the line. Since the lure is a solid state device with no moving parts, it will withstand the forces of casting better than devices proposed hitherto. Actuation of the device is automatic and does not require constant attention by the user. The lure can be made light and compact so that it has little effect of the operation and performance of a wide range of tackles.

The invention has been described above in terms of a lure which contains one light emitting diode and battery. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide more than one diode to increase the illumination and/or to use more than one battery to increase the operating life of the lure.

Claims (15)

1. Afishing lure assembly comprising a hook attached to a fishing line and a separate illumination means attached directly or indirectly to that line and having means for locating the illumination means upon the line; said illumination means incorporating a non-filamentary light emitting means actuated by a power source housed within a substantially watertight housing having a translucent portion directed towards the hook, the power source being adapted to actuate the light emitting means intermittently; the relative positions of the hook, the illumination means and the weights for the line, where used, being independently adjustable of one another.

2. An illuminatable lure for use on a fishing line carrying a hookterminally thereon, which lure comprises a substantially water-tight housing hav ing one end thereof translucent and adapted to be directed towards the hook; means for locating the lure upon the line carrying the hook comprising a member provided to the housing and adapted to receive and locate the said line; said housing incorporating non-filamentary light emitting means, means for actuating the light emitting means and a power source.

3. A lure or assembly as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the location means is provided by an axial bore adjacent the periphery of the housing, through which the line to the hook is passed so that the illumination means can be mounted in axially moveable engagement with the line.

4. A lure or assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing incorporates an electronic oscillator circuit which intermittently actuates the light emitting means.

5. A lure or assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the oscillator is a free-running oscillator adapted to give from 1 to 50 pulses per second.

6. A lure or assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the light emitting means is a light emitting diode.

7. A lure or assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the illumination means is adapted to emit from 2 to 20 mille candella at 20 mille amps so that the illumination will be visible over a range of 10 to 30 metres in clear water.

8. A lure or assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the illumination means emits light in the red to green colour range.

9. A lure or assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing and the hook are attached independently to a connecting means on the said fishing line.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the housing is attached to a swivel clip of conventional design located at the end of the said fishing line; and the hook is separately attached to the swivel clip by a second length of line of lower breaking strain passing through the locating means on the housing.

11. A lure or assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment of the housing to the fishing line is adapted to activate the light emitting means.

12. A lure or assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the housing is provided with two spaced apart conductive strips extending substantially axially and parallel to one another from the housing and terminating in means which are adapted to be connected to the fishing line, whereby connection of those means to the line causes completion of the electrical circuit incorporating the light emitting means.

13. A lure or assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of the strips is connected to a pole of a battery within the housing, the other strip is connected via the electrical circuit driving the light emitting means to the other pole of the battery.

14. A lure or assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is hydraulically streamlined and has an overall specific density of from 1.0 to 1.8.

15. A lure or assembly as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.