Chatterbait Patent

[CamG]

Thought this was interesting.


Chatter patent granted 6/29/2010



Knock-off bait designs have become so commonplace in the sport, it takes only a few months or so for companies to bring their own version of a hot new bait to market. Just look at what happened with the Gary Yamamoto Senko, the Snag Proof frog, the Reaction Innovations Beaver and the ChatterBait, to name a few examples.
Z-Man Fishing Products, Inc. (inventor of the ChatterBait) took the issue to the government and this week was granted a patent for the ChatterBait. The company served notice to the industry by printing: "Z-Man Fishing Products, Inc. (Z-Man) of Ladson, S.C. announces that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,627,978 entitled "Snag-Resistant Fishing Lure." Z-Man holds an exclusive license to the advancements and technology embodied in this breakthrough lure design that created a new category of baits when first introduced. It’s the now-patented oscillating motion of the blade that gives the Chatterbait its unique vibration and action...making it irresistible to fish and indispensable for all well-stocked tackle boxes."

Z-Man president Jonathan Zucker also noted: "The issuance of this patent will help ensure that copycats cannot take advantage of our innovations in lure design. We believe that this patent will deter other lure manufacturers that have copied the ChatterBait from continuing to sell and market their knock-off products."