Z-Man Fishing Products, Inc. (Z-Man) of Ladson, SC 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 indispensible for all well stocked tackle boxes.
No lure in recent memory has had such a profound impact on freshwater fishing as The Original ChatterBait. After its introduction, this distinctive lure quickly produced numerous victories on tournament trails across the country. Multiple lures copying the ChatterBait surfaced quickly as word spread of the effectiveness of its unique design.
"The issuance of this patent will help ensure that copycats cannot take advantage of our innovations in lure design," said Jonathan Zucker, President of Z-Man. "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."
Z-Man currently markets the bladed baits protected by this patent under its ChatterBait product line that includes The Original ChatterBait, the ChatterFrog and the ChatterBait FlashBack series. In addition, Z-Man has recently unveiled its new ChatterBait Pro and Pro-2 series, which feature adjustable weedguards, prominent red eyes and upgraded premium hardware.
The patented design of the ChatterBait makes it the most versatile bait for a variety of freshwater and saltwater fishing applications. Incorporating the features of a jig, spinnerbait, and crankbait, the perfectly-balanced ChatterBait lures can be cranked, jigged, pitched, flipped, slow-rolled and trolled.
On the retrieve, the ChatterBait swims in an erratic motion that mimics wounded prey and emits a pronounced pulsing vibration that triggers strikes from nearly all gamefish. For Z-Man, the issuance of this patent is yet another step in the company's strategic plan to solidify its position as a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative freshwater and saltwater fishing lures. Additional patent applications further covering and protecting Z-Man's bladed lures have been filed and are expected to issue, insuring Z-Man of its solid intellectual property position.
Z-Man also manufactures its revolutionary 10X Tough ElaZtech soft plastic baits in its Ladsonbased facility along with a complete line of saltwater trolling lures. Lures carrying the Z-Man brand, including the entire patented ChatterBait line, will be receiving extensive national exposure in 2010 at the trade and consumer levels via an aggressive marketing campaign.
