WO2000004769A2

WO2000004769A2 - Laser lure

Info

Publication number: WO2000004769A2
Application number: PCT/US1999/015851
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert V. Flores
Original assignee: Mcguigan, Philip, P.
Priority date: 1998-07-23
Filing date: 1999-07-13
Publication date: 2000-02-03
Also published as: AU4871399A; WO2000004769A3

Abstract

An animal lure (10, 10', 10'', 46) having a laser light source (14, 14', 14'', 42') and a target (22, 22', 22'', 20') which is illumed by the laser light source (14) is disclosed. The target can be a fishing lure (10), a net (46) for trappring fish or other game, or some other trap. In one form of the invention, there is provided a laser diode light source (14) and battery power source (12) mounted within a fishing lure (10). Fiberoptic elements (20) convey the laser light to attract fish.

Description

LASER LURE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to lures utilizing light, as an attractant as well as a repellant, and more particularly to the use of a lure illuminated by laser light, such as for a fishing lure.

Background of the Invention

This invention found its genesis in an application as a fishing lure. While it will be described herein largely in that environment, it will nonetheless be understood that the invention has broader application. There have been many fishing lures made to date which utilize color and sunlight reflection, for instance, to enhance the attactiveness of the lure to fish_. They may sparkle in the sunlight to achieve notice from the fish, such as from shiny surfaces, metal spinners and the like, as well as use color to create an image that will draw the fish's attention. Efforts have also been made to provide artificial lures with a light source of their own. That light source may be in the body of the lure. Some such efforts are shown in U.S. 4,763,433, U.S. 4,727,674, U.S. 4,885,864 and U.S. 4,663,880. Light emitting diodes are used in the foregoing patents as the light source for the lure.

The prior art lighted lures variously describe that the fish is attracted to the lure by the light, perhaps because it somehow simulates a natural prey in terms of luminescence, bright eyes (where the light illuminates the lures "eyes"), or movement. The lighted lure may also simply serve as a point of attraction in a dim or dark environment, such as in overcast sky or night fishing.

The light used by these prior art lures has been a non-coherent light, however, at least as far as the present inventor has been able to determine. That is, light bulbs or LED sources of a variety of wavelengths, visible as well as infrared, have been used, but none has been a laser light source. Summary of the Invention

The present invention has as a principal objective that of providing an attracting lure for an animal, such as a lure for fish, utilizing laser (coherent) light in the lure. It has been found through empirical observation by the inventor that fish, for instance, seem to be highly attracted to a lure using laser light made in accordance with the present invention. This attraction appears to be far more effective than that of a non-coherent light source, such as the prior art LED visible lights. It is also believed that the invention can additionally take form as a means for repelling an animal from a target, such as in a manner to draw one type of species to ^' the target using one wavelength while repelling another.

In perhaps its broadest sense, the present invention is an animal lure having a laser light source and a target which is illumed by the laser light source. The target could be an artificial fishing lure, a live-baited hook, a net for fish or other game, or a trap. In one form of the invention, there is provided a light-conveying conduit conveying light from the laser light source to the target. A fiberoptic element preferably comprises such a conduit.

As noted above, the invention has first found application as a fishing lure. The inventive fishing lure has a lure body. The laser light source, such as a diode- type laser, is carried by the lure body, preferably in a watertight internal cavity of the lure. A power source, such as a dry cell battery, is likewise preferably carried within the same cavity, and is electrically connected to the laser light source.

Alternatively, the laser light source and the power source are located remote from the lure body, for instance, carried in a boat. The laser light would therefore be conveyed to the lure through a fiberoptic line from the laser source. In one form of the lure, at least one fiberoptic element extends from the lure body which is illuminated by laser light source. For example, a bundle of fiberoptic strands extend from the rear of the lure. The laser light is conveyed to these strands, which become illumed thereby, at least at their ends. The fish hook is nestled within the stands. The inventive fishing lure has also been contemplated in a form where at least a portion of the lure body is transparent, such as at the "business" end of the lure. The laser light is reflected within the lure body transparent portion, and shines through the transparent part.

At this time, the most preferable color of the laser light is of a wavelength that is in the red portion of the visible spectrum. Other wavelengths are nonetheless considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

Further, the fishing lure can include an electrical circuit within the lure body having a switch to selectively activate the laser light source. Such a switch may be one which is activated through contact with water.

The fishing lure may also take the form of a laser light source which projects its beam through the water to illuminate bait, such as a lure or live bait, upon which the beam is focused.

The foregoing as well as other aspects, attributes and advantages of the present invention will be further understood upon consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic-type drawing of a fishing lure made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram for an electrically circuit of the lure of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a drawing similar to that of FIG. 1 of another such lure;

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the invention in the form of a net; and

FIG. 5 is yet another embodiment of the invention where the laser and its power source are located remote from the lure itself.

Description of Embodiments of the Invention In its application as a fishing lure, FIG. 1 reveals that the invention has a lure body 10 made of two parts: forward part 10a and rearward part 10b. These body parts may be screwed, snapped, glued or otherwise secured together. Since the lure will be immersed in water, it will be understood that watertight engagements are desired to keep water out of the interior of the lure. Within the lure are located a battery 12 and a laser light source 14. The laser light source has an output 16 which communicates with the bundled ends of 18 of a plurality of strands 22 of short fiberoptic elements 20. The laser light source 14 illuminates the strands, most noticeably at their ends in bright pinpoints of light. Attached to the lure rearward part 10b is a leader 22 to which is attached a swivel 24. A desired hook 26 is shown attached to the swivel. The hook 26 may be nestled within the strands 22 or extend slightly beyond the same. The forward part 10a of the lure has a loop 28 to which another swivel or catch 30 of a leader is attachable. Additional mylar ribbon having silvered and/or colored reflective parts can be added with the strands.

More specifically, one laser light source 14 that has been found effective is a GaAlAs laser diode module made by NVG, Inc. of Hazlehurst GA. The module 14 comes in a variety of wavelengths, but the 630 to 670 nanometer wavelength range is preferred. The module has a small size, with a diameter of about 6.4 mm and a length of about 16 mm. A plastic aspheric collimator is provided, and further includes an adjustable focus and a beam aperture of about 1mm by 3mm. One embodiment of the invention utilized a 6v dry cell as the power source 12. The output power of the laser module 14 has about 5 mW. Of course, other lasers may readily be adapted to the same end. The battery 12 is located in the forward part 10a of the lure body 10. The laser module 14 was potted along with the fiberoptic bundle 18 in the rearward part 10b. through the use of silicone caulk.

FIG. 2 shows a simple circuit for connecting the battery 12 and laser module 14 (represented by line 32 in FIG. 1). The power source 12 and laser diode 14 are shown connected with a switch 34 in circuit 32. The switch may simply be a manual switch (on-off) located on the body of the lure. In addition, a common circuit- interrupter element 36 can be incorporated in the circuit to cause the laser source to intermittently operate, i.e., flash.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the lure (prime numbers indicating similar but modified parts). In this embodiment, lure rearward part 10b' has a transparent part 10c. The laser module 14 output is caused to scatter, as by diverging lens 38, a parabolic reflector, tinsel or the like, to thereby be reflected within the rearward part 10b^'. This illuminates the transparent part 10c, to attract the fish.

The FIG. 3 embodiment also has a common water-activated switch 34' forming part of the electrical circuit. When the lure 10^' is cast into the water, the switch 34' closes.

FIG. 5 shows a variant on the foregoing lure embodiments, with the laser and power source located remote from the lure 10^". Here, the laser source 14', which need not be a diode laser, and the power source 12^', which need not be a dry cell battery, are located within a boat 42. A fiberoptic cable 44, which can be the fishing line itself, carries the output from the laser source 14^' to the lure 10". Within the lure 10", the fiberoptic cable 44 would interface with a bundled strand array 18, 22 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another form of the invention, this time as a laser illuminated net 46 for catching fish. In this form of the invention, fiberoptic elements 20' are woven or otherwise associated with the net cables 48. The laser and power source are located on the boat 42', in a manner similar to that described with relation to FIG. 5. The fiberoptic elements 20^' would be nicked or otherwise modified to allow the laser light to be seen throughout the expanse of the net 46. It is contemplated that such a net 46 could be made whereby one wavelength of the laser light may be used as an attractant for a particular kind of fish, while another wavelength may be chosen to repel another fish or mammal (e.g.. dolphin) from the net 46.

Thus, while the invention has been described with respect to some presently preferred embodiments, those with skill in this art will recognize various modifications in application, structure, elements, materials and the like, which will still fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

WhaJ s claimed is:

1. An animal lure comprising: a laser light source, a target which is illumed by said laser light source, and a light-conveying conduit conveying light from said laser light source to said target.

2. A fishing lure comprising: a lure body, a laser light source carried by said body, and a power source electrically connected to said laser light source, said power source being carried by said body.

3. A fishing lure comprising: a lure body, a laser light source, a light conveying conduit from said laser light source to said lure body, and a power source electrically connected to said laser light source.

4. The fishing lure of claim 3 wherein said laser light source, said conduit and said power source are all mounted within said lure body.

5. The fishing lure of claim 3 wherein said conduit is a fiberoptic element, and said power source and laser light source are located remote from said lure body.

6. The fishing lure of claim 2 further including at least one fiberoptic element extending from said lure body which is illuminated by said laser light source.

7. The fishing lure of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said lure body is transparent, and said laser light is reflected within said lure body transparent portion.

8. The fishing lure of claim 6 wherein said laser light is of a wavelength that is in the red portion of the visible spectrum.

9. The fishing lure of claim 2 further including an electrical circuit within said lure body having a switch to selectively activate said laser light source.

10. The fishing lure of claim 9 wherein said switch is activated through contact with water.

11. An animal trap comprising: a laser light source, and a target including an animal restraining device which is illumed by said laser light source.

12. The animal trap of claim 1 1 further including a light-conveying conduit conveying light from said laser light source to said net.

13. A fishing device comprising: a laser light source generating a beam, and a target which is illumed by said beam.

14. The fishing device of claim 13 wherein said target is a baited hook, and said laser light source projects said beam through water to illume said baited hook.

15. The fishing device of claim 13 wherein said target is a net, and further including a light-conveying element associated with said net, said light-conveying element communicating with said beam.

16. The fishing device of claim 15 further including a second laser light source having a wavelength chosen to repel a selected animal from said net.