Granted Patent B2

US 12,648,549 · App. 19/074,643 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventor: William Fox (New Richmond, OH)

A01K85/1867A01K85/024A01K85/16

Abstract

Claims (33)

1 . A fishing lure for knotless line attachment, comprising:

a nose portion and a tail portion configured to be assembled together along a longitudinal axis of the lure;

a funnel formed in the tail portion;

a groove extending within the tail portion from the funnel to a gap that is formed between the nose portion and the tail portion when the nose portion and the tail portion are assembled, the groove being configured to receive a fishing line extending from the funnel to the gap;

a coupling mechanism between the nose portion and the tail portion, the coupling mechanism including mating threaded structures on the nose portion and the tail portion and being adapted to secure the fishing line in the lure without requiring a knot by drawing the nose portion toward the tail portion;

a proximal opening in the nose portion sized and positioned to receive the fishing line and direct the fishing line toward the funnel in the tail portion;

one or more wings or fins projecting outwardly from a center section of the tail portion and positioned such that, when the fishing line exits the gap between the nose portion and the tail portion, at least a portion of the fishing line is configured to be wrapped around the center section of the tail portion adjacent the one or more wings or fins; and

a plurality of radial grippers on the nose portion positioned adjacent the gap and configured such that, when the nose portion is rotated and tightened against the tail portion by the coupling mechanism, the radial grippers engage and clamp at least a portion of the fishing line between the nose portion and the tail portion without requiring a knot in the fishing line.

2 . The fishing lure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a hook-receiving region at a distal portion of the tail portion configured to support a hook; and

a flexible weed guard mounted to the lure and extending past the hook-receiving region, the flexible weed guard being configured to deflect away from the hook-receiving region when contacted by vegetation or debris to reduce snagging while permitting a fish to engage a hook supported at the hook-receiving region.

3 . The fishing lure of claim 2 , wherein the flexible weed guard comprises a plurality of flexible members extending from a central mount on the lure toward the hook-receiving region and arranged to at least partially cover an opening of the hook-receiving region in a relaxed state of the fishing lure.

4 . The fishing lure of claim 2 , wherein the flexible weed guard is formed from a polymeric material and is configured such that, when a fish bites the lure, the flexible weed guard deforms to allow the fish to contact and be hooked by the hook supported at the hook-receiving region.

5 . The fishing lure according to claim 1 , wherein the center section of the tail portion defines a cylindrical body, and the one or more wings or fins extend radially outwardly from the cylindrical body to provide a surface against which the wrapped fishing line can bear when the coupling mechanism is tightened.

6 . The fishing lure according to claim 1 , wherein the radial grippers comprise a plurality of ridges or projections formed on a surface of the nose portion facing the tail portion, the ridges or projections being oriented radially around the longitudinal axis and configured to indent the fishing line when the nose portion is tightened against the tail portion.

7 . A method of attaching a fishing line to a fishing lure without tying a knot, the method comprising:

providing a fishing lure comprising:

a nose portion and a tail portion configured to be assembled together along a longitudinal axis of the lure;

a funnel formed in the tail portion;

a groove extending within the tail portion from the funnel to a gap that is formed between the nose portion and the tail portion when the nose portion and the tail portion are assembled, the groove being configured to receive a fishing line extending from the funnel to the gap;

a coupling mechanism between the nose portion and the tail portion, the coupling mechanism including mating threaded structures on the nose portion and the tail portion;

a proximal opening in the nose portion sized and positioned to receive the fishing line and direct the fishing line toward the funnel in the tail portion;

one or more wings or fins projecting outwardly from a center section of the tail portion; and

a plurality of radial grippers on the nose portion positioned adjacent the gap;

inserting a free end of the fishing line through the proximal opening in the nose portion;

advancing the fishing line from the proximal opening into the funnel formed in the tail portion;

directing the fishing line from the funnel into the groove that extends within the tail portion and into the gap between the nose portion and the tail portion;

wrapping at least a portion of the fishing line exiting the gap around the center section of the tail portion adjacent the one or more wings or fins; and

tightening the coupling mechanism by rotating the nose portion relative to the tail portion so that the nose portion is drawn toward the tail portion and the plurality of radial grippers engage and clamp the fishing line between the nose portion and the tail portion without tying a knot in the fishing line.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

providing the fishing lure with a hook-receiving region at a distal portion of the tail portion and a flexible weed guard mounted to the lure and extending past the hook-receiving region;

attaching a hook to the hook-receiving region; and

retrieving the fishing lure through water such that the flexible weed guard deflects away from vegetation or debris to reduce snagging while permitting a fish to engage the hook attached at the hook-receiving region.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (13)