Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1274682
FISHING DEVICE WITH GRAVITY ACTIVATED DIVERTER
Backqround of the Invention
This invention relates to fishing devices utilizing a
gravity activated diverter for imparting irregular swimming
motions to the fishing device.
Various devices have heretofore been used in lure form
to attract fish. Lures for example as shown in U.S. Patent
No. 2,183,059 utilize a bent body portion to provide a
wiggling motion when drawn through the water. Other types
of structures such as shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,585,749,
3,626,628 and 4,483,091 employ internal reversing mechanisms
to cause steering from side to side to impart a zig zag
motion to the device in the water. All of these devices,
and others, are designed primarily to resemble a minnow
swimming in the water since minnows are a major food source
for the larger fish. It is well established that these
various actions which simulate the swimming pattern of a
minnow increase the possibility of attracting and catching
fish.
Summarv of the Invention
A primary objective of the present invention is to
provide improvements in the fishing art wherein a gravity
activated diverter valve structure is applied to lures,
lure guides and divers which causes them to swim in an
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irregular pattern to simulate the swimming pattern of a
minnow. At the same time, the present structure causes
or allows the fishing device to move in a wide area from
side to side.
A more p~rticular object is to provide a novel gravity
activated diverter valve mechanism in the form of a ball
which operates in a valve chamber in the front of a fishing
device and which under control of the pole line and wave
action causes the fishing device to swim in an irregular
pattern and also from side to side, and when applied to a
lure diver, such device also darts up and down.
A further object is to provide a shiftable weight in
combination with the present fishing device to vary the
depth of dive.
In accordance with the objectives of the invention, a
body member is provided with a first passageway extending
transversely thereof a short distance rearwardly of the
forward end and opening through the side surfaces of the
body member. A second passageway extends in from the forward
end of the body member and communicates with the second
passageway at a point intermediate the sides of the body
member. A combination check and flap valve is provided on
each side surface. The flap valve is hinged at a forward
point relative to the side opening and allows only outward
flow of water from the transverse passageway through the
sides. A ball is disposed in the transverse passageway and
is associated with the flap valves for controlling the
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outward flow of water through one or the other o~ the valve
assemblies depending upon the positioning of the ball
resulting from gravitational or side thrust forces acting on
the body member. The movement of the ball relative to the
valves causes unbalanced water pressure at one or the other
of the side surface openings to cause the body member to
change direction in an irregular movement. Pole line
connecting means are provided on the top forward portion of
the body member to control direction of movement and diving
capabilities. The device may be shaped like a minnow,
including forming the flap valves at the sides to resemble
gills. Also, the forward opening in the body member can be
enlarged and made to resemble an open mouth of a minnow.
Also within the concept of the invention is a shiftable
weight attached to the device for providing the fisherman
with a great number of dive choices.
The invention will be better understood and additional
objects and advantages will become apparent from the
following description taken in connection with the accompany-
ing drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fish lure embodying
principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken
on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top plan view showing diagrammatically a
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representative pattern of movement of the lure behind a boat;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a combination lure
guide and diver embodying principles of the present in-
vention;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 4,
this view being partly broken away to show internal
structure;
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic rear view of a boat and the
device of Figure 4 showing a form of action of the device of
Figure 4 when submerged;
Figure 7 is a side elevation of a fish lure similar
to the lure of Figure 1 but combined with addi~ional
dive control means; and
Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional
view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
The present invention can be applied to various types
of fishing devices such as fish lures, guides and divers.
Figures l, 2 and 3 show application of the invention to a
fish lure 10 resembling a minnow. The lure has the usual
fish hooks 12 depending from the bottom thereof. According
to the invention, a forward portion of the lure has a solid
molded portion 14 or other suitable structure in which a
cross or transverse passageway 16 can be formed. This
passageway opens through both sides of the lure and the
openings thereof are associated with flap valves 18 hingedly
supported at a front vertical pivot point 20. These valves
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serve as check valves, allowing water flow in one direction,
namely, from the passageway outwardly. In a preferred
arrangement, valves 18 are set in recesses 21 so as to be
protected from damage that could result by a fish striking
S the lure. A ball 22 is freely movable in the transverse
passageway 16 and is associated with valve seats 24 on each
side of a structure forming a seat for the ball and a
reasonably good seal for the flap valves 18. One
side of the seats is engageable by the ball and the other
side is engageable by its flap valve.
A second passageway 30 is provided which extends longi-
tudinally inwardly from the front of the lure and
communicates with the transverse passageway 16 intermediate
the ends of the latter. Upon forward movement of the lure,
water thus can flow in through passageway 30 and out the side
of the passageway 16 which is not under the influence of the
ball 22, as shown by the arrows A in Figure 2. The ball is
arranged to roll freely by gravity in the passageway 16 and
as will be discussed hereinafter, the movement of the ball
from side to side controls the forward direction of movement
of the lure.
A fin-like projection 32 is provided on the top of the
lure rearwardly of the front and has a plurality of
apertures 34 arranged for connection to a pole line 36.
The attachment of the pole line to selective ones of the
apertures will determine the amount of dive that the lure
will have in the water, the farther back the attachment of
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the pole line in the apertures the greater the dive. Rein-
forcing wire 38 is molded ln the projection 32 and body
portion to allow the projection 32 to withstand the pull of
a fish.
In the application of the invention to the embodiment
of Figure 1, the body member 10 is formed in the shape of
a minnow to provide an attraction for larger fish. In
addition, the flap valves 18 are in the pOsitiol1 or ~ish
gills and in fact can be shaped like a gill.
The front opening 30a of the longitudinal passageway 30
is widened to resemble an open mouth of a minnow. In
addition, the top projection 32 takes the appearance of a
fin.
When cast out in the water in the operation of the lure,
the various movements of the body member 10 will cause the
ball to move back and forth whereby the change in water
direction out the sides of the passageway will cause the
lure to swim in an irregular motion, namely, to dart to and
fro. That is, with the ball on one side, the water can flow
from the other side through the flap valve and since the
other flap valve closes off the opposite side from incoming
water, the flow of water through the passageway will apQly
unbalanced forces to the body member and cause it to change
direction. Any type of wave action or pull on the pole line
will cause the ball to move either by side forces or by
gravity, and such darting action occurs.
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Also, the lure can be thrown out to the side of a
boat wherein the drag from the pole line acting on the
projection 32 on top of the lure will cause it to tip whereby
the ball will roll to the low side and water which then flows
out the opposite side causes a change in direction. In this
side casting procedure and with any wave or pole action,
the lure will move irregularly back and forth while
making an over-all transverse movement. The top plan view of
Figure 3 shows a side casting pattern wherein the lure will
automatically move from the side to a point directly behind
the boat while making its irregular pattern.
The same concept of the invention is applicable to a
lure guide or diver 40, in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The
device 40 is illustrated as a combination lure guide and
diver but it is to be understood that the concept of the
invention can be applied to a guide alone.
The body member 40 similarly has a first or transverse
passagew~y 16', a second or longitudinal passageway 30'
opening at the front and the similar arrangement of flap
valves 18', front hinges 20' therefor, ball member 22',
and seat members 24'. The device has a top line connecting
projection 32' with a plurality of holes 34' for connection
to a pole line 36'. Although the shape of the body member in
plan is illustrated as being rectangular, it can be of any
selec~ed shape. In side elevation, the body member has a
rounded and thickened forward portion 42 which convexly
curves rearwardly into a thinned tail portion 44 having a
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lower concave surface 46 joining with the convexly shaped
portion 42. The top surface 48 of the body member 40 is
convexly shaped and parallels the bottom concave surface to
form the gently turned down tail portion 44. A central
upright vane 50 extends rearwardly from the line attaching
means 32'.
The pole line 36' is attached to the guide 40 as shown
in Figures 4 and 5, with a line 52 extending from a swivel
connection 54 on the pole line in turn connected to a leader
56 extending to a conventional lure. The darting or irregular
motion of the guide 40 is the same as that described in
connection with the lure embodiment of Figure 1, with the
connection between the guide and the lure being close enough
such that the lure will follow the pattern of movement
through the water that the guide takes.
The shape of the guide 40 also makes it a diver
with irregular up and down movements as well as the
irregular side movements. The buoyancy of the device
is such that it will barely float, and depending upon
the attached position of the line 36' therewith it can be
made to dive shallow or deep. The thickened rounded front
portion 42 and the downwardly bent shape of the tail 44
causes the tail to flip up and down at the slightest line
pull or wave action, and thus the up and down irregular
movement. When the line is connected to the forward holes
34' the device will swim shallow and the tail will flop up
and down to also cause an attraction. When the line is
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connected to rearward holes, there will be little or no
flopping up and down and the device will dive.
At the same time, the diverter valve assembly at the front
causes it to work in irregular side to side movement the same
as that shown in connection with the lure in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a view taken from the rear of a boat 3 showing a
side to side and up and down irregular movement which the
combination guide and diver 40 will accomplish.
With reference to Figures 7 and 8, an embodiment of the
invention is illustrated which adds descending and ascending
capabilities to the present device. This embodiment is
illustrated in combination with a lure 10' as in Figure 1
and similarly employs a transverse passageway 16", a
longitudinal passageway 30" extending in from the mouth
lS and communicating with the passageway 16", side flap
valves 18", a ball valve, not shown, in the passageway
associated with side seats, also not shown, and a line
connecting projection 32" having line connecting aper-
tures 34".
In this embodiment, a weight 60 is mounted on a
longitudinally extending bar 62 at the front and bottom
of the lure. This bar has suitable integral support on
the lure such as attachment between the open lower jaw of the
lure and an eye 64 for the hook 12. The weight 60 has a
longitudinal bore 66 for mounted support on the bar and
also has guided movement in a longitudinal recess 68
provided in the bottom surface of the body of the lure.
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The bar 62 and weight are concealed in the recess 68 for
protection. The weight has a snug fit on the bar and
also in the recess 68 in an arrangement such that while
it can be manually forced to selected positions, it
will stay where it is set throug'n casting operations
and the force of water thereagainst when in the water.
The weight has a depending cinger tab 70 for manual
adjustment thereof.
In addition to the lure having the darting action
described in connection with Figure 1, the descending
and ascending capabilities can be adjusted to many patterns
and more controllable than that described in connection
with Figure 1 by merely shifting the line connection in
the apertures 34" and shifting the weight 62 along the
bar. A greater number of apertures are provided than
those shown in Figure 1 to provide precise diving action,
namely, by changing the center of balance longitudinally
changes the attitude of the lure during its swimming
action.
Reference points B, C, D, and E are provided on the
drawing for the apertures 34" and the weight 60,
respectively, to illustrate the following lure actions.
If the fish line is attached to point B and the weight
shifted to point E, the lure will nose up and splash and
roll on the surface. If the weight is moved to point D with
the line still attached to point s, the lure will
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sporadically make a shallow dive and roll. If the line
is connected to point C, then the deep diving position
is in force and shifting the weight will change the
deep dive pattern. By selected line connection in
apertures 34" and selected weight positioning, many
swimming patterns are achievable.
The improved action produced by the present diverter
valve assembly simulates the irregular darting action of a
minnow and provides an attraction to larger fish. Also,
the minnow-like appearance of the lure of Figure 1 provides
an even greater attraction, namely, the shape of the body,
the open mouth 30a, the gill shaped flap valves 18, and the
fin-resembling line connecting portion 32.
It is to be understood that the forms of my invention
herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred
examples of the same and that various changes in the shape,
size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of
the subjoined claims.
Having thus described my invention, I claim:
