GB2086701A - Apparatus for use in fishing - Google Patents

Abstract

An indicating device for detecting a bite or loss of a bite whilst fishing comprises a body part 30 which may be attached to a fishing rod by clips 31. Within the body part 30 are two fixed pulleys 32 and one movable pulley 33 around which the line passes in a sinuous path. The movable pulley 33 is mounted on an arm 34 biassed by a spring 37 to move in a direction opposite to that in which it moves due to the tension in the line. Movement of pulley 33 and arm 34 under variations in line tension causes relative movement between a magnet 40 and two reed switches 38, 39, each of which when actuated causes actuation of a respective lamp 44, 45 and/or tone of buzzer 46. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for use in fishing This invention relates to apparatus for use in fishing and in particular to apparatus for detecting and indicating to the fisherman that a bite has been achieved.

Whilst a fisherman retains his hold on his fishing rod he is in a position to detect the occurrence of a bite by virtue of the changes in tension in the line. However, it is customary for a fisherman to place his rod on a rest, in which case he is not able to detect the tension changes in the line. If a float is being used sudden movements of the float may indicate that a bite has occurred, but for certain types of fishing and for night fishing either no float is used in the former case or a float if used may not be visible in the latter case.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for detecting the occurrence of a bite and indicating the same to the fisherman if he has not hold of the rod and is not using or cannot see a float.

The invention provides a device adapted to be mounted on a fishing rod so as to deflect the line from a linear path adjacent said rod, said device comprising a body part and an arm engageable by said line and movable relative to said body part, switch means operable upon movement of said arm to open or close an electrical circuit and indicating means actuable on closing of said electrical circuit.

Preferably said switch means comprises at least one reed switch and said reed switch or switches may be located adjacent a magnet disposed within said body part.

Preferably two switch means are provided and a respective indicating means in circuit with each switch. In this case movement of said arm from a neutral position in a first direction may operate a first switch whereby a first indicating means is actuated, and movement of said arm from said neutral position in a second direction opposed to said first direction may operate a second switch whereby a second indicating means is actuated. Said indicating means may comprise a light emitting diode and/or an audible warning device.

Preferably said arm is resiliently biased in a direction opposed to that in which it is movable under tension in said line.

Embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment mounted on a fishing rod; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a second embodiment mounted on a fishing rod and Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a fishing rod 10 having a reel 11 and a line 1 2 extending from the reel 11 along the rod 10 and through a guide eye 1 3 at the free end of the rod 10.

Attached to the rod 10 is a bite indicating device 14, positioned so as to deflect the line 1 2 from a straight line path along the fishing rod 10. The device 14 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 2. At one end of the device 14 is a U-shaped saddle 1 5 in which the rod 10 is received, and at the other end of device 14 is an eye 1 6 through which the line 1 2 passes.The saddle 1 5 is attached to the body 1 7 of the device 14 whilst the eye 1 6 is provided on one end of a plunger 1 8 which is slidable in a cylindrical guide bush 1 9 attached to the body 1 7. At the end of the plunger 1 8 remote from the eye 1 6 is a housing 20 in which are mounted two spaced apart magnetic reed switches 21, 22. A spring 23 biases the plunger 1 8 in a direction away from the body 1 7 and the normal tension in the line 1 2 caused by drag in the water will cause the plunger 1 8 to move to an in-balance position as shown in Fig. 2.

In such position the reed switches 21, 22 line on opposed sides of a plane passing through two magnets 24 disposed on opposite sides of the housing 20 and secured relative to the body 1 7. The plunger 1 8 is threaded and an adjusting nut 25 is provided for adjusting the position of the plunger 1 8 when in its in-balance position dependent upon the normal tension in the line 1 2 on any particular occasion. Each magnet 24 comprises a pair of ferrox cube magnets bonded to each other with like poles face-to-face the sequence of poles being opposite in the two cases so as to provide a strongly focussed field across the common central plane of the two magnets 24.A battery 24 is housed in the body 1 7 and an on/off switch 26 is mounted on the body 1 7. Also mounted on the body 1 7 are two light emitting diodes 27, 28, the former being in series with switch 21 and the latter being in series with switch 22.

The device 1 4 operates as follows. The device 14 is mounted on the rod 10 with the line 1 2 passing through eye 16, as shown in Fig. 1. The nut 25 is adjusted so that the plunger 1 8 is correctly positioned with the forces on the plunger 1 8 due to the spring 23 and the tension in the line 1 2 in balance and the switches 21, 22 disposed on opposite sides of the common central plane of the magnets 24. The switch 26 is put to the on position.If the tension in the line 1 2 increases or decreases due to the occurrence of a bite the plunger 1 8 will move respectively inwardly or outwardly relative to the body 1 7 so that switch 21 or switch 22 will move into the strong magnetic filed existing between the magnets 24. In consequence the appropriate switch 21 or 22 will be closed thus energising the appropriate diode 27 or 28. Preferably the diodes 27 and 28 are of different colours so that the fisherman can readily detect the increase or decrease in tension in the line 1 2 and take appropriate action.

The connections between the switches 21, 22 and the leads to the switch 26 and diodes 27, 28 are of pigtail formation so as to allow for movement of the plunger 1 8 and to absorb inertia effects without breakage.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is shown a fishing rod 10 as in Fig. 1, but in this case a bite indicating device 30 is shown attached to and lying parallel with rod 1 0. The device 30 is attached to rod 10 by means of spring clips 31 which will accommodate a range of rod diameters. Other sizes of spring clips 31 may be provided to accommodate a wider range of rod diameters if necessary. The device 30 comprises two fixed pulleys 32 and a movable pulley 33 around which line 1 2 is caused to pass in a sinuous path. In this way the angle of wrap of the line 1 2 around pulley 33 is predetermined by the geometry of the device 30 and not by the distance apart of the guide eyes on the particular rod 10 being used, thus ensuring the correct sensitivity of the device 30 and uniformity in use with different rods.

The device 30 is more clearly shown in Fig.

4. Movable pulley 33 is mounted on slide rod 34 which has a screw thread at its free end.

The rod 34 is slidable in a machined guide 35 in the device 30 and a knurled adjusting nut 36 on rod 34 retains a spring 37 between itself and the device 30. Tension in the line 1 2 tends to pull pulley 33 and rod 34 in an upwards direction as seen in Fig. 4, against the force in spring 37. Adjustment of nut 36 will enable a balance between the tension in line 12 caused by drag on the line in the water and the force in spring 37 to be achieved with pulley 33 in a neutral position between two miniature reed switches 38, 39.

Pulley 33 is attached to a block 40 in which there is mounted a ferrox cube magnet. If the tension in line 1 2 increases or decreases by a significant amount, which is predetermined by the choice of spring rate for spring 37, the magnet in block 40 will move adjacent the respective one of reed switches 38, 39, thus closing an electrical circuit incorporating that switch.

The device 30 has a removable cover 41 giving access to a battery 42 which energises the electrical circuits of the device 30. An overriding on/off switch 43 is provided. If switch 43 is in the on position and one of reed switches 38 or 39 is closed due to movement of pulley 33 then a respective one of LED indicators 44, 45 may be energised depending upon a further switch 47 being in the 'down' position as shown in Fig. 4. If switch 47 is in the 'up' position as shown in Fig. 4 then a respective tone of two-tone buzzer 46 will be sounded. Switch 47 is put in the 'down' position for night-time fishing so that the indicator lights 44, 45 will operate, and in the 'up' position for daytime fishing so that buzzer 46 will operate.If desired a three position switch may be provided instead of the two position switch 47 shown, the third position providing that both the indicator lamps and the buzzer are operable simultane- f ously.

Preferably the indicator lamps 44, 45 are of different colours, for example a red lamp 45 ' indicating high tension and a green or blue lamp 44 indicating low tension. Similarly buzzer 46 may have a high note for high tension and a low note for low tension. The battery 42 may be, for example, a 9 volt battery. The buzzer 46 is mounted within device 30 adjacent a waterproof mesh through which the sound is emitted.

The device is seen as having particular application to night fishing, ledger fishing in which a float is not used, or specimen hunting. The device may be provided in differently sized models each having an appropriate spring rate and inertia characteristic so as to be suitable for use in lake, river or canal fishing or for deep sea fishing.

Conveniently, the device is manufactured from non-corrodable materials and incorporates non-corrodable contacts. In consequence, the device will remain reliable under adverse atmospheric conditions for a considerable period of time.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for use in fishing in the form of a device adapted to be mounted on a fishing rod so as to deflect the line from a linear path adjacent said rod, said device comprising a body part and an arm engageable by said line and movable relative to said body part, switch means operable upon movement of said arm to open or close an electrical circuit and indicating means actuable on closing of said electrical circuit.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises at least one reed switch located adjacent a magnet disposed within said body part.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said switch means comprises two reed switches in spaced disposition whereby movement of said arm from a neutral position in a first direction operates a first switch and movement from said neutral position in a second direction opposed to said first direction operates a second switch.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said indicating means comprises an audible warning device.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 when dependent upon claim 3 wherein said audible device comprises a two tone device, each tone being emitted on actuation of a respective one of said switches.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 comprising a respective indicating means in circuit with each switch.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said indicating means comprises a visual warning device.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said visual warning device comprises a light emitting diode.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said arm is resiliently biassed in a direction opposed to that in which it is movable under tension in said line.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 3 comprising adjustment means whereby said arm may be moved to said neutral position with said resilient biassing and said line tension in balance for differing line tensions.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising two fixed pulleys and a third pulley mounted on said arm, whereby said line is caused to pass around said pulleys in a sinuous path.

1 2. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 comprising at least one resilient clip whereby said body part may be detachably mounted on said fishing rod.

1 3. Apparatus for use in fishing substan tally as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs.

3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.