U.S. patent application number 11/014448 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-08 for flexible fishing lure tails and appendages.
Invention is credited to King, Bobby D..
Application Number | 20050193620 11/014448 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26871334 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050193620 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
King, Bobby D. |
September 8, 2005 |
Flexible fishing lure tails and appendages
Abstract
Flexible fishing lure tails and appendages having extending or
projecting shoulder surfaces to facilitate a simulated swimming
action by the drag and eddy principle of water flow. One or more
shoulders are provided in the surfaces of the flexible fishing lure
tails to facilitate the swimming action as the lure to which the
tail or appendage is attached is retrieved through a water body.
This swimming action due to the vibration of the tail and appendage
segment and the body of the fishing lure is unique and simulates
live lizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows and the like, a
primary characteristic that attracts fish. The tail and appendage
segments can be removably or permanently fixed to both hard and
soft body lures or molded in combination with a lure body of
selected length, size, color and plastic composition
characteristics to facilitate the desired swimming action and
vibration and thus the attraction to game fish of every
variety.
Inventors: |
King, Bobby D.; (Mesa,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John M. Harrison
2139 E. Bert Kouns
Shreveport
LA
71105
US
|
Family ID: |
26871334 |
Appl. No.: |
11/014448 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11014448 |
Dec 16, 2004 |
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10175561 |
Jun 18, 2002 |
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6857220 |
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60299468 |
Jun 21, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
43/42.26 ;
43/42.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 85/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
043/042.26 ;
043/042.24 |
International
Class: |
A01K 085/00 |
Claims
Having described my invention with the particularity set forth
above, what is claimed is:
1. A fishing lure comprising a lure body; a flexible tail portion
provided on said lure body, said flexible tail portion having
opposite tail portion surfaces; and a tail shoulder provided in
each of said opposite tail portion surfaces of said flexible tail
portion for imparting vibration to said flexible tail portion and
said lure body responsive to retrieval of said fishing lure through
a water body.
2. The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein said flexible tail portion
is forked.
3. The fishing lure of claim 1 comprising a caudal fin having
opposite caudal fin surfaces extending from said lure body and an
anal fin having opposite anal fin surfaces extending from said lure
body.
4. The fishing lure of claim 3 wherein said tail portion is forked
and said lure body, said tail portion, said caudal fin and said
anal fin are constructed of flexible, resilient plastic.
5. The fishing lure of claim 3 comprising a block tail shoulder
provided on each of said caudal fin surfaces and said anal fin
surfaces for imparting vibration to said caudal fin, said anal fin
and said lure body responsive to said retrieval of said fishing
lure through the water body.
6. The fishing lure of claim 5 wherein said flexible tail portion
is forked.
7. The fishing lure of claim 6 comprising a pair of streamer fins
extending from said lure body.
8. The fishing lure of claim 7 wherein said flexible tail portion
is forked and said lure body, said caudal fin, said anal fin, said
streamer fins and said flexible tail portion are constructed of
flexible, resilient plastic.
9. The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein said tail shoulder comprises
a block tail shoulder and said flexible tail portion comprises a
flexible block tail portion.
10. The fishing lure of claim 9 wherein said lure body and said
flexible block tail portion are constructed of flexible, resilient
plastic.
11. The fishing lure of claim 9 comprising a caudal fin having
opposite caudal fin surfaces extending from said lure body and an
anal fin having opposite anal fin surfaces extending from said lure
body.
12. The fishing lure of claim 11 comprising a block tail shoulder
provided on each of said caudal fin surfaces and said anal fin
surfaces for imparting vibration to said caudal fin, said anal fin
and said lure body responsive to said retrieval of said fishing
lure through the water body.
13. The fishing lure of claim 12 comprising a pair of streamer fins
extending from said lure body and wherein said lure body, said tail
portion, said caudal fin, said anal fin and said streamer fins are
constructed of flexible, resilient plastic.
14. The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein said flexible tail portion
comprises a multiple shoulder tail portion and said tail shoulder
comprises a plurality of multiple shoulder tail portion
shoulders.
15. The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein said flexible tail portion
comprises a slotted tail portion having a pair of slot extensions
extending from said flexible tail portion and a tail slot between
said pair of slot extensions.
16. The fishing lure of claim 1 wherein said flexible tail portion
comprises a grooved tail portion having a tail groove in each of
said opposite tail portion surfaces.
17. A fishing lure comprising a lure body; a dual tail portion
provided on said lure body, said dual tail portion having a pair of
flexible tail portions and said pair of flexible tail portions each
having opposite surfaces; and a tail shoulder provided in said
opposite surfaces of said pair of flexible tail portions,
respectively, for imparting vibration to said pair of flexible tail
portions and said lure body responsive to retrieval of said fishing
lure through a water body.
18. The fishing lure of claim 17 wherein at least one of said pair
of flexible tail portions is forked.
19. The fishing lure of claim 18 wherein said lure body and said
pair of flexible tail portions are constructed of flexible,
resilient plastic.
20. The fishing lure of claim 17 comprising a flexible caudal fin
extending from said lure body and a flexible anal fin extending
from said lure body.
21. The fishing lure of claim 20 comprising a block tail shoulder
provided on said flexible caudal fin and a block tail shoulder
provided on said flexible anal fin for imparting vibration to said
flexible caudal fin, said flexible anal fin and said lure body
responsive to said retrieval of said fishing lure through the water
body.
22. The fishing lure of claim 17 wherein at least one of said pair
of flexible tail portions comprises a block tail portion and said
tail shoulder in said block tail portion is a substantially linear
block tail shoulder.
23. The fishing lure of claim 22 wherein said lure body and said
pair of flexible tail portions are constructed of flexible,
resilient plastic.
24. The fishing lure of claim 17 wherein said dual tail portion
comprises a dual horizontal forked tail portion.
25. A fishing lure comprising a lure body; a dual block tail
portion provided on said lure body, said dual block tail portion
having a pair of block tail portions each having opposite surfaces;
and a block tail shoulder having a pair of block tail extensions
extending from said opposite surfaces of said pair of block tail
portions, respectively, said block tail shoulder disposed
perpendicular to an axis of lure retrieval through a water
body.
26. The fishing lure of claim 25 comprising a flexible caudal fin
extending from said lure body and a flexible anal fin extending
from said lure body.
27. The fishing lure of claim 26 comprising a block tail shoulder
provided on said flexible caudal fin and a block tail shoulder
provided on said flexible anal fin for imparting vibration to said
flexible caudal fin, said flexible anal fin and said lure body
responsive to said retrieval of said fishing lure through the water
body.
28. The fishing lure of claim 27 wherein said lure body and said
block tail portions are constructed of flexible, resilient
plastic.
29. The fishing lure of claim 25 wherein said block tail shoulder
comprises a block tail shoulder taper.
30. A fishing lure comprising a lure body; a forked tail neck
extending from said lure body; a forked tail portion extending from
said forked tail neck, said forked tail portion having opposite
surfaces and a forked tail shoulder provided in each of said
opposite surfaces of said forked tail portion for imparting
vibration to said forked tail portion and said lure body responsive
to retrieval of said fishing lure through a water body.
31. The fishing lure of claim 30 wherein said forked tail portion
comprises a pair of fork extensions and comprising a fork extension
curvature defined by said forked tail shoulder.
32. A fishing lure comprising a lure body; a block tail portion
provided on said lure body, said block tail portion having opposite
surfaces; and a linear block tail shoulder provided on each of said
opposite surfaces of said block tail portion for imparting
vibration to said block tail portion and said lure body responsive
to retrieval of said fishing lure through a water body.
33. The fishing lure of claim 32 wherein said block tail shoulder
comprises a block tail shoulder taper.
34. A crawfish lure comprising a crawfish lure body; a crawfish
lure tail extending from said crawfish lure body; a pair of forked
claws extending from said crawfish lure body, each of said pair of
forked claws having opposite surfaces; and a claw fork shoulder
provided in each of said opposite surfaces for imparting vibration
to said forked claws, said crawfish lure body and said crawfish
lure tail responsive to retrieval of said crawfish lure through a
water body.
35. A segmented worm lure comprising a plurality of adjacent,
connected worm segments; a forked tail portion provided at one end
of said plurality of adjacent worm segments, said forked tail
portion having opposite surfaces and a tail shoulder provided in
each of said opposite surfaces; and a pair of fork extensions
provided on said forked tail portion for imparting vibration to
said forked tail portion and said worm segments responsive to
retrieval of said segmented worm lure through a water body.
36. The segmented worm lure of claim 35 wherein said plurality of
adjacent worm segments comprises a plurality of adjacent body
beads.
37. A method for vibrating the tail and body of a fishing lure
having at least a flexible tail extending from the body, comprising
the step of providing a shoulder on the tail for vibrating the tail
and the body responsive to retrieval of the fishing lure through a
water body.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein the body is flexible.
39. The method of claim 37 comprising providing opposite tail
surfaces on the tail and wherein the shoulder extends from both of
the opposite tail surfaces.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein the body is flexible.
41. A method for inducing vibration in a flexible body portion of a
fishing lure having a flexible tail portion with opposite tail
surfaces extending from said body portion, comprising the step of
providing a shoulder on each of said opposite tail surfaces of said
flexible tail portion for vibrating said tail portion and said body
portion responsive to retrieval of said fishing lure through a
water body.
42. The method of claim 41 wherein said flexible body portion
comprises a flexible caudal fin and a flexible anal fin and further
comprising the step of inducing vibration in at least one of said
caudal fin and said anal fin by providing a shoulder in said at
least one of said caudal fin and said anal fin.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein said step of inducing vibration
in at least one of said caudal fin and said anal fin comprises the
step of inducing vibration in both of said caudal fin and said anal
fin by providing said shoulder in each of said caudal fin and said
anal fin.
44. A crawfish lure comprising a crawfish lure body; a crawfish
lure tail extending from said crawfish lure body; a pair of forked
claws extending from said crawfish lure body, each of said pair of
forked claws having opposite surfaces; and a claw fork shoulder
provided in each of said opposite surfaces for imparting vibration
to said forked claws, said crawfish lure body and said crawfish
lure tail responsive to retrieval of said crawfish lure through a
water body.
45. The crawfish lure of claim 44 wherein said claw fork shoulder
provided in each of said opposite surfaces of said forked claws
comprises a rounded protuberance.
46. The crawfish lure of claim 44 wherein said crawfish lure body,
said crawfish lure tail and said forked claws are constructed of
flexible plastic.
47. The crawfish lure of claim 46 wherein said claw fork shoulder
provided in each of said opposite surfaces of said forked claws
comprises a rounded protuberance.
48. The crawfish lure of claim 44 comprising a pair of appendages
extending from said crawfish lure body and wherein said forked
claws are provided on said appendages, respectively, for imparting
vibration to said appendages, said forked claws, said crawfish lure
body and said crawfish lure tail responsive to said retrieval of
said crawfish lure through a water body.
49. The crawfish lure of claim 48 wherein said appendages, said
crawfish lure body, said crawfish lure tail and said forked claws
are constructed of flexible plastic.
50. The crawfish lure of claim 49 wherein said claw fork shoulder
provided in each of said opposite surfaces of said forked claws
comprises a rounded protuberance.
51. A crawfish lure comprising a crawfish lure body; a crawfish
lure tail extending from said crawfish lure body; a pair of
appendages extending from said crawfish lure body in spaced-apart
relationship with respect to each other; a pair of end portions
extending from said appendages, respectively, each of said end
portions having opposite surfaces; and a protuberance provided on
each of said opposite surfaces of said end portions for imparting
vibration to said appendages, said end portions, said crawfish lure
body and said crawfish lure tail responsive to retrieval of said
crawfish lure through a water body.
52. The crawfish lure of claim 51 wherein at least said appendages
are constructed of flexible plastic.
53. The crawfish lure of claim 51 wherein said crawfish lure body,
said crawfish lure tail, said appendages and said end portions are
constructed of flexible plastic.
54. A method for inducing vibration in the body, tail and claws of
a crawfish lure having a pair of flexible claws extending from the
body, comprising the step of providing a pair of
oppositely-disposed protuberances on each of the claws for
vibrating the claws, the body, and the tail of the crawfish lure
responsive to retrieval of the crawfish lure through a water
body.
55. The method of claim 54 comprising the step of constructing the
body, tail and claws of the crawfish lure of flexible plastic.
56. The method of claim 54 comprising the step of extending a pair
of flexible appendages from the body of the crawfish lure and
providing the claws on the appendages, respectfully.
57. The method of claim 56 comprising the step of constructing the
body, tail, appendages and claws of the crawfish lure of flexible
plastic.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of prior filed copending
U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/299,468, filed Jun. 21,
2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to fishing lures and more
particularly, to soft plastic fishing lures and hard body fishing
lures having tail portions and appendages fitted with projecting or
extending shoulder segments that create a drag and eddy effect and
simulate a swimming action as the lure is retrieved through a water
body. This drag and eddy effect causes the tail and appendage
portion of the lure to move back and forth and vibrate, which
vibrates the body segment, responsive to a selected retrieval speed
to attract fish.
[0004] One of the most effective lures in taking game fish,
including game fish of the fresh water variety such as large mouth
and small mouth bass, crappie and the like, as well as salt water
varieties, including red fish, speckled trout and other fish, is
the plastic lure, which can be molded into substantially any
desired size, shape and consistency. Typical of these conventional
plastic lures is a tail portion that has a rounded or ribbon shape
and is connected to or integrally formed with the body portion at a
narrowed area to facilitate a simulated swimming action when the
lure is retrieved. These plastic lures are typically used with bare
and weighted hooks, jig heads, spinner bait harnesses and other
hook arrangements known to those skilled in the art to further
facilitate the swimming action and to allow the lure to be fished
at a variety of depths and retrieval speed in a water body. The
plastic lures can be molded into worm configurations having beads
or segments which can then be attached to a jig head, for example,
and fished on the bottom of a water body as the lead or metal
portion of the jig head causes the entire lure to sink, to
facilitate bouncing the lure off the bottom in a swimming or
crawling simulation. Typical of these lures are the lures detailed
in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 2,994,982, issued Aug. 8,
1961, to S. A. Murawski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,953, issued May 27,
1969, to J. J. Dailey; U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,749, issued Jun. 22,
1971, to Edward R. Dieckmann; U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,774, issued Jul.
31, 1973, to Sherman G. Bryant; U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,882, issued
Apr. 29, 1975, to Oscar J. Rask; U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,979, issued
May 20, 1975, to William 0. Williams, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,455,
issued Feb. 21, 1978, to William 0. Williams, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,581,841, dated Apr. 15, 1986, to Joseph C. Gish; U.S. Pat. No.
4,869,012, dated Sep. 26, 1989, to David L. Brenholt; U.S. Pat. No.
5,088,226, dated Feb. 18, 1992, to Norman L. Bazinet; U.S. Pat. No.
5,193,299, dated Mar. 16, 1993, to Robert P. Correll; U.S. Pat. No.
5,456,039, dated Oct. 10, 1995, to Henry F. Pisoni, et al; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,141,900, dated Nov. 7, 2000, to John A. Rudolph; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,006, dated Dec. 26, 2000, to Lyle M.
Peterson;
[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide new and
improved flexible fishing lure tails and appendages for various
types of fishing lures, which tail portions and appendages are
designed to vibrate and simulate a life-like swimming action and
generate a vibration and life-like swimming action in the body
portion when the lure is retrieved through a water body.
[0006] Another object of this invention is to provide new and
improved flexible tail portions and appendages for various types of
solid and flexible plastic fishing lures, which tail portions and
appendages may either be molded integrally with the body portions
of the lure or attached to the body portions, and are fitted with
shoulder segments or projections to facilitate vibration and a
life-like swimming action in both the tail and, by energy
transmission, in the body portions, when the lures are retrieved at
various speeds through a water body.
[0007] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and
improved, flexible plastic fishing lure tail and appendage system
which is characterized by shoulder projections near the terminal
resilient tail portion and appendage segment of the lures, to
create a drag and eddy condition when the tail or appendage is
attached or molded integrally with a fishing lure body of selected
size, shape and design and is retrieved through a water body, to
facilitate a life-like swimming motion of the entire fishing
lure.
[0008] Still another object of this invention is to provide
flexible plastic fishing lures, including flexible, resilient and
typically forked or blocked tail and appendage portions or
segments, that incorporate a raised projection or shoulder to
facilitate a tail vibration and an induced body vibration that is
proportional to the speed of lure retrieval, and a life-like
swimming action through the water based on the drag and eddy
principle, as the lure is retrieved through the water body.
[0009] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and
improved soft, flexible plastic fishing lure tail and appendage
design which may be of any desired thickness and typically forked
or blocked and incorporated in a plastic lure or a hard body lure
of substantially any design, shape and size to simulate a life-like
swimming action and facilitate a vibration of the tail and
appendage portion as well as the body portion, responsive to
retrieval of the lure through the water, the magnitude of which
vibration and energy transmission to the body depends upon the tail
and appendage design and the speed of retrieval of the lure.
[0010] A still further object of this invention is to provide new
and improved tail portions of selected thickness and size which can
be used on flexible and resilient plastic or hard body artificial
lures such as lizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows, tube baits,
jig trailers and the like, of any desired size, color, shape and
design, which tail portions include a projecting shoulder or edge
of selected size on each side of the tail that cause a drag and
eddy effect to create a vibration in the tail and body portions of
the lure, which vibration simulates a natural swimming action, the
intensity and energy of which vibration is transmitted to the lure
body and is controlled by the speed of retrieval of the lure
through a water body.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a method for
vibrating the tail and body of a fishing lure having at least a
flexible tail extending from the body, which method includes
providing a shoulder on the tail for vibrating the tail and the
body when the lure is retrieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] These and other objects of the invention are provided in new
and improved soft plastic or hard body fishing lures and lure tails
and appendages of any desired design, size, color and
configuration, and a method for inducing vibration in the lure
bodies, tails and appendages the bodies of which fishing lures
incorporate flexible and resilient tail portions of selected size
and thickness, fitted with projecting shoulders, projections or
enlargements of selected size that are typically forked or blocked
and which react to water pressure according to the drag and eddy
principle and undulate and "swim" through the water during
retrieval with a vibration that is imparted from the tail to the
body portion, the intensity of which vibration is directly
proportional to the speed of retrieval of the lure through the
water and the tail design.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will be better understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical forked tail lure of this
invention, having a forked tail portion;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of the forked tail lure illustrated in
FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating the swimming and vibrating
motion of the forked tail portion during lure retrieval;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of a block tail lure of this
invention, having a block tail portion;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the block
tail lure illustrated in FIG. 3, more particularly illustrating an
illustrative neck, neck extension and shoulder of the block tail
portion;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of the block
tail lure illustrated in FIG. 3, more particularly illustrating an
alternative neck extension and shoulder configuration for the block
tail portion;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of the block
tail lure illustrated in FIG. 3, more particularly illustrating yet
another illustrative configuration of the neck extension and
shoulder components of the block tail portion thereof;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a side view of the forked tail lure illustrated in
FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating yet another design for the
forked tail portion thereof;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 7, more particularly
illustrating thin fork tail neck, neck extension and fork extension
configurations for the forked tail portion;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, more particularly
illustrating an alternative thicker fork tail neck design for the
forked tail portion, wherein the forked tail neck is of
intermediate thickness;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 9, more particularly
illustrating the intermediate fork tail neck thickness;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 9, more particularly
illustrating a forked tail neck which is thicker in construction
than the forked tail neck illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly
illustrating an increased thickness of the forked tail neck;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly
illustrating an alternative configuration for the fork tail
shoulder, neck extension and fork extension elements of the forked
tail portion;
[0027] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11, illustrating still another
preferred embodiment of the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and
fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0028] FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly
illustrating yet another configuration for the fork tail shoulder,
neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly
illustrating an alternative configuration for the fork tail
shoulder, neck extension, and fork extension of the forked tail
portion;
[0030] FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly
illustrating a still further alternative configuration for the fork
tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail
portion;
[0031] FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly
illustrating yet another alternative configuration for the fork
tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail
portion;
[0032] FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating yet another
alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck
extension and fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0033] FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating still another
alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck
extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0034] FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrating yet another
alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck
extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0035] FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating another
alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck
extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0036] FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating still another
alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck
extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0037] FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating yet another
alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck
extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0038] FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of the
forked tail lure illustrated in FIG. 11 illustrating another
alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck
extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion;
[0039] FIG. 26 is a side view of a thin fin lure having extended
flexible, resilient, caudal and anal fins and fitted with a
flexible, resilient forked tail portion as illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 7-25;
[0040] FIG. 27 is a side view of a dual vertical forked tail lure
having a pair of flexible, resilient dual forked tail portions
having configurations as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7-25;
[0041] FIG. 28 is a side view of a dual block fin lure having
flexible and resilient dorsal block fin and caudal block fins
similar in design to the block tail portions illustrated in FIGS.
3-6 and also having a flexible, resilient forked tail portion as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7-25 and a pair of flexible and
resilient streamer fins extending from the forked tail portion
thereof;
[0042] FIG. 29 is a front perspective view of a dual horizontal
forked tail lure which is characterized by flexible and resilient
dorsal and caudal block fins similar in design to the block tail
portions as illustrated in FIGS. 3-6 and also having a pair of
flexible and resilient forked tail portions separated by a slot and
oriented substantially in the horizontal plane;
[0043] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a removable tail lure
having a soft or hard body portion and a typically flexible and
resilient forked tail portion or a block tail portion connected to
the body portion by means of a tail connector;
[0044] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a spinner bait lure having
a soft body portion impaled on a jig head hook, which jig head hook
is molded on a wire harness having spinners, in conventional
fashion and which soft body portion is fitted with a flexible and
resilient forked tail portion connected to the body portion by
means of a tail connector;
[0045] FIG. 32 is a side view of a jig head, the hook of which is
impaled in a flexible, resilient forked tail lure body, typically
having a forked tail portion of the design illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 7-25;
[0046] FIG. 33 is a side view of an alternative jig head fitted
with a flexible, resilient beaded worm body, typically terminating
in a flexible, resilient forked tail portion illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 7-25;
[0047] FIG. 34 is a top view of a hard body or flexible, resilient
crawfish lure having a pair of flexible, resilient forked claws,
which forked claws are typically designed in similar fashion to the
forked tail portions as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7-25;
[0048] FIG. 35 is a top view of a segmented worm lure which is
characterized by an elongated, flexible, resilient worm body fitted
with a tail connector and a flexible and resilient segmented worm
lure forked tail portion or appendage, typically having the same
design as the forked tail portion illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
7-25;
[0049] FIG. 36 is a side view of a multiple shoulder forked tail
lure having a body portion and multiple, flexible, resilient
shoulders on a flexible, resilient tail portion, such as the forked
tail portion of the forked tail lures illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
7-25 or the block tail portion of in the block tail lures
illustrated in FIGS. 3-6;
[0050] FIG. 37 is a slotted tail lure having a flexible, resilient,
slotted tail portion fitted with projecting slot extensions for
exhibiting a swimming action; and
[0051] FIG. 38 is a grooved tail lure having a body portion and a
flexible, resilient grooved tail portion having a tail groove on
both sides thereof through the grooved tail shoulder portion, thus
enhancing the swimming action.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in a
first embodiment of the invention a forked tail lure is generally
illustrated by reference numeral 1. The forked tail lure 1 is
typically characterized by a soft, resilient, flexible, typically
plastic forked tail lure body 5 shaped generally in the
configuration of a minnow or small bait fish of selected size and
color and having a simulated caudal fin 2, an anal fin 3 and a
pectoral fin 4 on the forked tail lure body 5. A hook 6 includes a
hook shank 6b which is embedded in the forked tail lure body 5 as
illustrated, with the hook point 6c projecting from the forked tail
lure body 5 forwardly of the caudal fin 2, as illustrated and a
hook eye 6a on the opposite, forward-protruding end of the hook
shank 6b for attachment to a fishing line (not illustrated). In a
typical retrieval, the line of a rod and reel combination (not
illustrated) is attached to the hook eye 6a and the forked tail
lure 1 then retrieved through a water body at a selected speed, in
conventional fashion.
[0053] A forked tail portion 7 is typically integrally molded with
the forked tail lure body 5 and extends from the forked tail lure
body 5 at a forked tail neck 9 of selected thickness and
proportions. A forked tail projection or shoulder 8 extends along
both sides of the forked tail portion 7 transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the forked tail lure I. On each side of the
forked tail portion 7, the forked tail shoulder 8 defines the
boundary between the rear curved margin of a neck extension or
appendage 9a of the tail neck 9 and the complementary front curved
margin of a concave tail fork 10. The forked tail shoulder 8
extends rearwardly along a pair of fork extension curvatures 11a to
define a pair of fork extensions 11, divided at the tail fork 10,
as further illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0054] Referring now to FIGS. 7-12 of the drawings, the forked tail
lure 1 is illustrated with forked tail necks 9 of varying
thickness, as more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 8, 10 and 12,
respectively, to facilitate a swimming action which is either more
or less pronounced as to the degree of movement and vibration of
the forked tail portion 7 for a selected speed of retrieval. For
example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 12 of the drawings, under
circumstances where the forked tail neck 9 is relatively thin in
cross-section (FIG. 8), side-to-side movement of the forked tail
portion 7 in a simulated swimming action will be faster and very
pronounced and will create more vibration in the forked tail
portion 7 and generated in the forked tail lure body 5, than it
would in a circumstance where the forked tail neck 9 is thicker, as
indicated in FIG. 12, for a given speed of retrieval of the forked
tail lure 1 through a water body. Additionally, the wider the fork
tail shoulder 8, the slower the "wiggle" or oscillation and the
wider the degree of oscillation or side-to-side movement of the
forked tail portion 7 during retrieval of the forked tail lure 1.
Moreover, the angle or slope of the neck extension or appendage 9a
with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fork tail neck 9 also
determines the speed and degree of oscillation of the forked tail
portion 7. The speed and degree of "wiggle" or oscillation of the
forked tail portion 7 illustrated in FIGS. 8, 10 and 12 resulting
from the drag and eddy effect of the water pressure against the
forked tail shoulder 8 and the degree of vibration in the forked
tail lure body 5 for a selected retrieval speed is therefore a
function of the flexibility and resiliency of the plastic material
of construction, the thickness of the forked tail neck 9, and the
extent of protrusion, size, shape and angle of the forked tail
shoulder 8 of the forked tail lure 1. Various alternative shapes of
the forked tail portion 7 are detailed in FIGS. 13-25 of the
drawings.
[0055] Referring now to FIGS. 3-6 of the drawings, a block tail
lure is generally illustrated by reference numeral 14 and includes
a block tail lure body 20, shaped generally in the configuration of
a minnow or bait fish and having a simulated caudal fin 2, anal fin
3 and pectoral fins 4. A block tail portion 15 is either molded
integrally with or attached to the block tail body 20 as heretofore
described with respect to the forked tail lure 1 illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2, and the block tail portion 15 is characterized by a
linear block tail shoulder 16 which extends transversely across the
width of the block tail portion 15 without curvature, unlike the
forked tail portion 7 illustrated in the forked tail lure 1. As
further illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the block tail shoulder 16
includes a block tail shoulder neck 17 of selected size and
thickness and a block tail extension 18 that connects the block
tail neck 17 to the block tail shoulder 16. The degree of curvature
and the length of the block tail extension 18 may vary, along with
the size and thickness of the block tail shoulder 16, to define a
desired degree of vibration of the block tail portion 15 and the
block tail body 20, for a selected speed of retrieval of the block
tail lure 14. As further illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, it has been
found that a block tail shoulder taper 19 in the rear extending
edges of the block tail shoulder 16 further enhances the swimming
action and the vibration of the block tail portion 15 and block
tail body 20. As in the case of the forked tail lure 1 illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hook 6 can be inserted in the block tail lure
body 20 for retrieval purposes, as heretofore described. Moreover,
the speed and degree of side-to-side "wiggle" or oscillation of the
block tail portion 15 and the vibration generated in the block tail
body 20 at a selected retrieval speed is a function of the width of
the block tail shoulder 16 and block tail neck 17, as well as the
resiliency of the block tail neck 17 and the angle of the block
tail shoulders 16 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
block tail neck 17.
[0056] Referring now to FIG. 26 of the drawings, in another
embodiment of the invention a flexible, resilient, typically
plastic thin fin lure 22 is illustrated, with a thin fin lure body
23 that generally simulates a bait fish or minnow and a caudal fin
2 and anal fin 3 that are large, thin, resilient and flexible in
order to undulate and "swim" as the thin fin lure 22 is retrieved
through a water body. The caudal fin 2 and anal fin 3 typically
extend from the thin fin lure body 23 rearwardly and are attached
to a forked tail portion 7 at the top and bottom thereof. The
forked tail portion 7 is typically characterized by a tail fork 10,
defined by a forked tail shoulder 8 and including a curved neck
extension or appendage 9a, along with fork extension curvatures 11a
that extend the forked tail shoulder 8, to define the forked tail
portion 7. Alternatively, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that a block tail portion 15 illustrated in FIGS. 3-6
may be substituted for the forked tail portion 7 to achieve an
alternative swimming action and vibration in all portions of the
thin fin lure 22.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 27 of the drawings, a dual vertical forked
tail lure 24 is illustrated having a typically flexible, resilient,
plastic dual forked tail lure body 25, connected to or integrally
formed with a dual forked tail portion 26. As in the case of the
lures illustrated heretofore, the dual forked tail portion 26
includes a pair of forked tail portions 7, connected to the dual
forked tail lure body 25 by a forked tail neck 9 of selected
thickness and length. The vertically-oriented forked tail portions
7 of the dual forked tail portion 26 are separated by a horizontal
tail portion slot 27, and each includes a forked tail shoulder 8,
defining the curved rear margin of a corresponding neck extension
9a and the curved front margin of a tail fork 10, and including a
fork extension curvature 11a, extending from the forked tail
shoulder 8 to define a pair of fork extensions 11 and the tail fork
10, as illustrated. Accordingly, as the dual vertical forked tail
lure 24 is retrieved through a water body at a selected speed, both
of the forked tail portions 7 of the dual forked tail portion 26
flutter, "swim", and vibrate as heretofore described with respect
to the forked tail portions 7 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-25,
and generate a corresponding "swimming" action in the dual forked
tail lure body 25, to simulate the swimming action of a bait fish.
In an alternative embodiment, the dual forked tail portion 26 in
the vertical dual forked tail lure 24 can be replaced by dual block
tail portions 15 (only one of which is included in the embodiments
illustrated in FIGS. 3-6). Further in the alternative, a forked
tail portion 7 can be combined with a block tail portion 15 in the
dual vertical forked tail lure 24, as desired.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 28 of the drawings, a dual block fin lure
30 is illustrated and is typically constructed of flexible,
resilient, typically plastic material of suitable composition. The
dual block fin lure 30 includes a dual block fin body 31, fitted
with a simulated dorsal block fin 32 and a caudal block fin 33,
each terminated at the ends thereof with a block tail shoulder 16,
typically defined as heretofore described and as illustrated in
FIGS. 3-6 of the drawings. Accordingly, each of the block tail
shoulders 16 provided in the dorsal block fin 32 and the caudal
block fin 33 includes a block tail neck extension 18, extending
from the relatively flat, thin surface area of the flexible and
resilient dorsal block fin 32 and the caudal block fin 33,
respectively, to the block tail shoulder 16, as further illustrated
in FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings, the dorsal block fin 32 and the
caudal block fin 33 being similar in design to the block tail
portion 15 in each of FIGS. 4-6. A pair of flexible, resilient
streamer fins 34 may be extended from a forked tail portion 7,
typically connected at a forked tail neck 9 to the dual block fin
lure body 31 of the dual block fin 30, as further illustrated in
FIG. 28. Furthermore, the forked tail portion 7 may typically
include a neck extension or appendage 9a that extends from the
forked neck 9 to the forked tail shoulder 8, and fork extensions 11
and fork extension curvatures 11a further define the curvature of
the forked tail shoulder 8. Accordingly, when the dual block fin
lure 30 is fitted with a hook 6 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and retrieved
through a water body, the dorsal block fin 32, caudal block fin 33
and the forked tail portion 7, as well as the neck extension 9a and
the dual block fin body 31, all undulate and "swim" from
side-to-side, to further simulate the swimming of a bait fish
through the water. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that alternatives in the dual block fin lure 30 are possible,
such as by way of example, replacing each or either of the block
tail shoulders 16 in the dorsal block fin 32 and the caudal block
fin 33, respectively, with a forked tail portion 7 and replacing
the single forked tail portion 7 with a block tail shoulder 16, or
any combination of these tail portion configurations.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 29 of the drawings, a dual horizontal
forked tail lure 37 is illustrated and is characterized by a
typically flexible, resilient, plastic, dual horizontal forked tail
lure body 38, shaped generally in the configuration of a minnow or
small bait fish and having a dual horizontal forked tail portion
40, with simulated pectoral fins 4, a dorsal block fin 32 and a
caudal block fin 33, the latter two fins of which are equipped with
block tail shoulders 16, respectively. As in the case of the dual
block fin lure 30 illustrated in FIG. 28, in the dual horizontal
forked tail lure 37, both the dual block fin 32 and caudal block
fin 33 are each characterized by a curved block tail neck extension
18 that extends from the expanse of the dorsal block fin 32 and the
caudal block fin 33, respectively, to the extension of the block
tail shoulder 16, as further illustrated in FIG. 29. The dual
horizontal forked tail portion 40 of the dual horizontal forked
tail lure 37 is resilient and flexible and connected to or formed
integrally with the dual horizontal forked tail lure body 38 at a
forked tail neck 9 of selected size and length and includes a pair
of horizontal forked tail portions 7, separated by a tail portion
slot 39 and each provided with a forked tail shoulder 8 that curves
rearwardly to define fork extensions 11 along corresponding fork
extension curvatures 11a. Accordingly, the dual horizontal forked
tail lure 37 may be retrieved through a water body by means of a
hook embedded therein, typically as illustrated in FIG. 1. The
dorsal block fin 32 and caudal block fin 33 then vibrate and "swim"
through a vertical plane, while the dual forked tail portions 7 of
the dual horizontal forked tail portion 40 vibrate and "swim"
through a horizontal plane, both planar vibrations effecting a
vibration and simulated swimming action of the dual horizontal
forked tail lure body 38. It is understood that the dual horizontal
forked tail portion 40 can be replaced on the lure body 38 with a
dual horizontal block tail portion (not illustrated), wherein a
pair of block tail portions 15 (FIG. 3) instead of the forked tail
portions 7, as illustrated, extend from the forked tail neck 9.
[0060] Referring now to FIG. 30 of the drawings, a removable tail
lure 42 is illustrated, having either a hard or soft plastic,
removable tail lure body 43 with optional simulated pectoral fins 4
and typically fitted with treble hooks 44. A flexible, resilient,
typically plastic forked tail portion 7 is attached to the
removable tail lure body 43 at a forked tail neck 9 by means of a
tail connector 46 such as wire, a pair of screw-eyes or other
connection known to those skilled in the art, to facilitate
"swimming" movement of the forked tail portion 7, as well as the
removable tail lure body 43, as the removable tail lure 42 is
retrieved through a water body. Alternative forked tail portions 7
can be attached to the removable tail lure body 43 by simply
removing and re-attaching the tail connector 46. It will be
appreciated that the selection of the tail portion element of the
lure can include the block tail portion 15 illustrated in the block
tail lure 14 shown in FIGS. 3-6 of the drawings, as well as other
tail configurations, including the forked tail portion 7
configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-25.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 31 of the drawings, a spinner bait lure 49
is illustrated which may be generally the same design as the
removable tail lure 42 without the treble hooks and thus, may
include a removable flexible, resilient, typically plastic forked
tail portion 7, which is attached to the spinner bait lure body 50,
fitted with a wire harness 51 attached to a jig head 57. The wire
harness 51 is typically conventional in design and has a harness
bend 52 for attachment to a fishing line and retrieval of the
spinner bait lure 49 through a water body, wherein the forked tail
portion 7 "swims" and vibrates, thus generating a corresponding
simulated swimming of the spinner bait lure body 50 and a pulsating
action of the skirt 60. Alternatively, a modified jig head 57a,
typically as illustrated in FIG. 33, may be fixed to the wire
harness 51 and a lure such as the forked tail lure 1, block tail
lure 14, thin fin lure 22, dual block fin lure 30 or the dual
horizontal forked tail lure 37, as well as any other selected lure
having a tail portion design of this invention, may be attached to
the jig head hook 59 of the jig head 57a, as desired, with similar
simulated swimming results.
[0062] Referring now to the jig head 57 illustrated in FIG. 32, the
jig head 57 is characterized by a jig head eye 58 for attachment to
a retrieving line (not illustrated) and a jig head hook 59 is
embedded in the typically lead or other metallic jig head 57 and
extends outwardly from the rear of the jig head 57, typically
oriented upwardly and forwardly, where it may optionally be engaged
by a weed guard 59a, also extending from the jig head 57. A jig
head skirt 60 is characteristically further attached to the jig
head 57 or to the jig head hook 59, where it joins the jig head 57
to conceal the jig head hook 59. A resilient, flexible, typically
plastic lure such as the forked tail lure 1, block tail lure 14,
thin fin lure 22, dual block fin lure 30, dual horizontal forked
tail lure 37 or other lure detailed herein may be impaled on the
jig head hook 59 as indicated in FIG. 32 and the combination of the
jig head 57 and the typically forked tail lure 1 illustrated in
FIG. 32 may be retrieved, with the flexible, resilient forked tail
portion 7 and the forked tail lure body 5 undulating and swimming
and the jig head skirt pulsating in a life-like manner in the water
body.
[0063] Referring now to FIG. 33 of the drawings, a flexible,
resilient, typically plastic beaded worm body 63 may be attached to
a modified jig head 57a generally in the same manner as the forked
tail lure 1 illustrated in FIG. 32, except that the tip of the jig
head hook 59 is reinserted in the beaded worm body 63 rearwardly of
the head thereof, to render the lure weedless. The beaded worm body
63 may be provided with a desired number of integral body beads 64
to define a beaded worm body 63 of selected length. The beaded worm
body 63 is typically terminated by a flexible, resilient forked
tail portion 7, which operates in the same manner as the forked
tail portion 7 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-25 as heretofore
described, to impart a life-like swimming action, accentuated by
the flexible beaded worm body 63, to the modified jig head 57.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 34 of the drawings, a crawfish lure is
generally represented by reference numeral 67 and typically
includes a flexible, resilient crawfish lure body 68 configured
generally in the shape of a crawfish and having a crawfish lure
tail 69 extending therefrom. A pair of flexible, resilient forked
claws 70 project as appendages from the crawfish lure body 68 and
are each terminated by a claw fork shoulder 73, defined by a pair
of claw forked neck extensions or appendages 75, each extending
from a curved claw fork neck 74 in each of the forked claws 70.
Claw fork extensions 72 extend from the claw fork shoulder 73 to
define a claw fork 71, and the entire forked claw 70 design may be
the same as the forked tail portions detailed in applicant's FIGS.
1, 2 and 7-25. Alternatively, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that each of the claw shoulders 73 may be
designed in the same manner as the block tail shoulder 16
illustrated in FIGS. 2-6. In use, the crawfish lure 67 is normally
attached to a hook (not illustrated) that is typically embedded in
the crawfish lure tail 69 or the crawfish lure body 68, such that
the crawfish lure 67 is retrieved rearwardly, thus allowing the
flexible, resilient forked claws 70, as well as the crawfish lure
body 68 and the crawfish lure tail 69, to vibrate and "swim" in the
same manner as the forked tail lure 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and
7-25.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 35 of the drawings, a flexible, resilient,
typically plastic segmented worm lure 77 is illustrated, having
multiple worm segments 78 of desired size and number extending from
a worm head 79 to a smaller tail connector 81. A flexible,
resilient, typically plastic segmented worm lure tail portion 80 is
connected to the tail connector 81 and typically includes a
segmented worm lure tail shoulder 85, designed in essentially the
same manner as the fork tail shoulder 8 of the fork tail portion 7
of the forked tail lure illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7-25. A worm
lure tail fork extension 83 extends from the segmented worm lure
tail shoulder 85 at each end of a worm tail fork 82, and a worm
lure tail extension 84 extends from the tail connector 81 to define
the enlarged segmented worm lure tail shoulder 85, as further
illustrated in FIG. 35. In use, the worm head 79 is typically
embedded on a hook such as a hook 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 or the
jig head hooks 57 and 57a, illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33,
respectively, to facilitate attachment of a retrieval line (not
illustrated) and as the segmented worm lure 77 is retrieved through
a water body at a selected speed, the segmented worm lure tail
portion 80 vibrates and "swims" in the same manner as the forked
tail portion 7 of the forked tail lure 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2
and 7-25, but with an accentuated vibration that transfers energy
to, and extends along the length of the worm body 77a, due to the
flexible tail connector 81, to attract fish. Alternatively, it will
be appreciated that the segmented worm lure tail portion 80 may be
replaced by a block tail portion 15 illustrated in FIGS. 3-6 to
achieve a similar composite "swimming" function.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 36 of the drawings, a multiple shoulder
forked tail lure 87 is illustrated, having a typically, flexible,
resilient multiple shoulder forked tail lure body 88, shaped
generally in the configuration of a minnow or small bait fish with
a simulated caudal fin 2 and anal fins 3, as well as pectoral fins
4, and further including a flexible, resilient, typically plastic
multiple shoulder tail portion 89, provided with multiple
transverse shoulder forked tail portion shoulders 91. Typically,
the forked tail portion shoulders 91 are aligned in substantially
parallel relationship with respect to each other across the forked
tail neck 9 of the multiple shoulder tail portion 89. A multiple
shoulder tail portion fork 90 is provided in the extreme rear end
of the multiple shoulder tail portion 89 and extends outwardly to
define a pair of multiple shoulder tail portion fork extensions 92,
as illustrated. The projecting multiple tail portions shoulders 91
serve to create a multiple drag and eddy effect in the multiple
shoulder tail portion 89 and cause the multiple shoulder tail
portion 89 to vibrate and "swim" and the multiple shoulder forked
tail lure body 88 to also "swim", when the lure is retrieved.
[0067] Referring now to FIG. 37 of the drawings, a slotted tail
lure 94 is provided and has a typically flexible, resilient,
plastic slotted tail lure body 95 with a simulated caudal fin 2,
anal fin 3 and pectoral fins 4. A flexible, resilient, plastic
slotted tail portion 96 is attached or shaped integrally with the
slotted tail lure body 95 at a slotted tail neck 99 of selected
thickness and length and includes a slotted tail shoulder 98,
defined by a slotted tail neck extension 100 that projects from the
slotted tail neck 99 rearwardly of the slotted tail lure body 95. A
tail slot 97 is provided adjacent to the slotted tail shoulder 98
and defines a pair of slot extensions 97a, to facilitate a unique
vibrating function of the slotted tail portion 96, which generates
a corresponding vibration in the slotted tail lure body 95, when
the slotted tail lure 94 is attached to a hook or ajig head such as
the hook 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 or the jig head hook 57 and 57a,
illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33, respectively, and the slotted tail
lure 94 is retrieved through a water body at a selected speed.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 38 of the drawings, in another embodiment
of the invention, a grooved tail lure 101 is detailed and includes
a flexible, resilient grooved tail lure body 102 which is
characteristically manufactured of a soft plastic material. A
typically soft plastic, grooved tail portion 103 is either formed
integrally with or attached to a grooved tail neck 108 that extends
from the grooved tail lure body 102, and a grooved tail neck
extension appendage or 109 of the grooved tail neck 108 is
characterized by a tail groove 104 that extends through a grooved
tail shoulder 105 on each side of the grooved tail portion 103. A
grooved tail fork 106 is provided in the grooved tail portion 103
and extends bidirectionally to define a pair of grooved tail fork
extensions 107, as further illustrated in FIG. 38. Accordingly,
attachment of the grooved tail 101 to a hook such as the hook 6
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the jig head hook 57 and 57a
illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33, respectively, facilitates
"swimming" of the grooved tail lure 101 and the grooved tail lure
body 102 through the water, and vibration of the grooved tail
portion 103 simulates the "swimming" action.
[0069] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
various tail portions, tail portion combinations and appendages
described above with respect to applicant's drawings can be used
with variations of either the forked tail portion 7, block tail
portion 15, dual forked tail portion 26 and various other
combinations described above, to facilitate the objective of
effecting a hard body or flexible fishing lure that is able to
"swim" through the water and vibrate at various retrieval speeds to
closely simulate a "swimming" lizard, worm, crawfish, grub, minnow,
tube bait and the like. Furthermore, these lures can be impaled on
hooks of various design and attached to jig heads such as the jig
head 57 and modified jig head 57a and fitted with a harness, as in
the case of the spinner bait lure 49. Various other hook
combinations and jig head combinations and the like known to those
skilled in the art can be used in connection with the flexible
fishing lure tails and appendages of this invention.
[0070] It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art
from a consideration of the drawings that the various tail and
appendage neck areas can be varied in size and length, along with
the size, shape and angle of the respective projecting shoulder
pairs to create a vibration of selected proportions in all portions
or segments of the lures, at any selected speed of retrieval of the
lures through the water body. As described above, this total lure
vibration is more pronounced in the thinner the tail or appendage
neck and the more pronounced the shoulder projections at a selected
retrieval speed. Furthermore, the respective body portions of the
lures of this invention to which the tail vibration is imparted,
can be constructed of hard plastic, wood, fiberglass and other
materials, as well as molded of soft, flexible, resilient plastic
materials of suitable composition, according to the knowledge of
those skilled in the art. Since the vibration and "swimming" action
of these respective tail and appendage assemblies depends upon the
drag and eddy principle, that is, the shoulder causing drag in the
water and the sloped rear shape or angle of the shoulder creating
an eddy behind the tail portion, the shape of the respective neck
and shoulder projections is also a factor in controlling the degree
of vibration of the tail assembly and thus, the body portions, for
any given speed of retrieval.
[0071] It has further been found that the forward projecting edges
of each of the shoulders described above must be round rather than
squared off, in order to create the desired lure "swimming" action.
The rear edges of the shoulders for example, at the respective
forked extensions may be square, but the forward edge elements of
the shoulders should always be rounded.
[0072] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described above, it will be recognized and understood that various
modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims
are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *