AU2004100352A4 - Fishing tension gauge - weight scale rod/reel adaptor - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT FISHING TENSION GAUGE- WEIGHT SCALE ROD/I REEL ADAPTOR The following statement is a complete description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: FISHING TENSION GAUGE- WEIGHT SCALE RODI REEL ADAPTOR Recreational fishing is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and is set to continue it's expansion into the billions of dollars annually. Unfortunately much of the line, tackle, lures, and lead from sinkers goes to the bottom of the oceans each year, and is fast becoming an environmental issue as well as a health hazard for marine life and sea birds, etc. This invention has been specially devised to give an angler a visual look at the line breakage-strain tension while in the act of fishing and landing a catch, giving an accurate reading of when the limit of that strain is reached and of the pulling force exerted on the line. This device also registers the 'fight factor' of the catch and when snagged, the user can exert just enough tension on the line according to it's breakage strain, in order to attempt to release it without exceeding the line's limit. Ease of reading is achieved through a unique graduated scale, which has soft initial reaction for resistances under 3kg, gradually increasing it's resistance more rapidly until a maximum line tension of 20kg is reached. The rod/ reel adaptor device also acts as a weighing scale once the catch is landed by simply inverting the fishing rod, and with the catch still hooked and suspended, an accurate reading of it's mass weight is possible to the nearest increment. This angling adaptor device is suitable for most standard and professional rod/ reel combinations and is designed to fit in between a rod and reel, thereby acting as an accessory.

A fishing tension gauge- weight scale rodl reel adaptor in accordance with this invention for measuring degree of tension pull on angling lines and which fits between standard rods and reels, comprising a tubular, hollow main casing which houses an internal compression resisted cylindrical sliding tension-measuring apparatus incorporating a rod-mountable neck, of which passes through a slot in the said main casing's upper wall, allowing it longitudinal motion inside the said casing, the threaded rear portion of which also provides an adjustable reel holding clamp by way of a threaded collar which opposes a fixed reel clamp at the front, the side of the main casing comprising an integrated tension gauge- Bo weight scale display with an indicator needle connected to the rod-mounted sliding apparatus in order to measure line tension pull in kilograms.

The slot opening in the main casing's upper wall has just sufficient clearance to allow the rod-mounting neck of the internal sliding apparatus to move longitudinally when under load and the remainder of the internal sliding apparatus contained within the tubular main casing itself is also tubular in shape with minimal clearance between it and the inside surface of the main casing to enable a smooth sliding motion and operation.

Means of resistance for the internal sliding apparatus is preferably opposing magnets of sufficient strength to resist forces from 0 to 20 kg, or a spring loaded system with a combination of compression springs of various strengths and dimensions, or a graduated compression spring which is manufactured to be wound tighter as it extends, any one of these resistance mechanisms being positioned inside the main casing between it's sealed rear end and the end of the internal sliding apparatus, thereby providing resistance force to the sliding apparatus, which in application, is mounted to a fishing rod with a reel attached to the underside of the main casing by the adjustable reel clamp, enabling the main casing to slide over the internal apparatus when under tension load.

The tension gauge- weight scale reading is preferably mounted to, or is integral with the main casing and to one side for ease of viewing by way of an indicator needle, which is fixed to the side of the rod-mounting neck of the internal sliding io apparatus, thereby indicating the exact resistance placed upon the fishing line via the reel which is attached to the main casing, causing it to slide forward under strain and register the actual load in line with the indicator needle, which remains static due to it's mounting to a fishing rod via the rod-mounting neck.

The adaptor device main casing and adjustable clamps can be manufactured from standard rod materials such as fiberglass or graphite, which is preferable, or even alloys and metals, the internal sliding apparatus preferably constructed from lightweight cast alloy, even thermo plastics or graphite, etc, and the resistance mechanism can most desirably be made from powerful opposing magnets or combination compression springs constructed using corrosion resistant metal coil. Various materials can be used in construction of the rod/ reel adaptor, but all materials used must be highly corrosion resistant.

This invention may be more thoroughly understood with references to the illustrations of embodiments of the invention to which:- Figure 1 is a transparent perspective of the tension gauge- weight scale rod/ reel adaptor device using an optional spring loaded system of load resistance, with all components and features numbered and indexed, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective of the adaptor device with corresponding numbering and component positioning, illustrating the parts more clearly, but utilizing the opposing magnet system of load resistance, while SS Figure 3 is a diametrical sectional elevation of the side of a rod/ reel adaptor displaying tension resistance mechanism and rod-mounted sliding apparatus inside the main casing, as well as adjustable reel clamps.

The fishing tension gauge- weight scale rod/ reel adaptor herein illustrated fits between most fishing rods and reels and is primarily cylindrical or tubular in shape with it's main casing 4, housing said internal sliding apparatus 8 and said graduated tension resistance mechanism 5 while incorporating a longitudinal slot 9 in said upper casing wall which allows clearance for the rod-mounting neck 7 to move freely along it's length. Minimal but sufficient clearance between the sliding apparatus 8 and main casing 4 provides low friction movement and sliding motion. The rod-mounting 6 is integrated with the said neck 7 and forms part of 3.

the said sliding apparatus 8 which is retained from over-extending by the fixed reel clamp 12 at front and tension resistance mechanism 5 at rear. The fixed reel clamp 12 and adjustable reel clamp 10 with it's threaded collar 11, allow for fitting of most hobby and commercial reels of many types, with an external thread to the rear outer wall of main casing 4 for the adjustment and clamping. An integrated tension gauge- weight scale display 13 with graduated markings in kilograms moves along with main casing 4 under fixed indicator needle 14 giving an accurate measure of tension resistance and also afterwards for mass weight reading and weighing.

Claims (4)

1. A fishing tension gauge- weight scale rod/ reel adaptor for measuring degree of tension pull on angling lines and which fits between standard rods and reels, comprising a tubular, hollow main casing which houses an internal compression resisted cylindrical sliding tension-measuring apparatus incorporating a rod- mountable neck, of which passes through a slot in the said main casing's upper wall, allowing it longitudinal motion inside the said casing, the threaded rear portion of which also provides an adjustable reel holding clamp by way of a threaded collar which opposes a fixed reel clamp at the front, the side of the main casing comprising an integrated tension gauge- weight scale display with an indicator needle connected to the rod-mounted sliding apparatus in order to measure degree of line tension pull in kilograms.

2. A fishing tension gauge- weight scale rod/ reel adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main casing contains an opposed magnetic or combination compression spring-loaded graduated mechanism for tension resistance, which fits between the sealed rear end and the internal sliding apparatus.

3. A fishing tension gauge- weight scale rod/ reel adaptor according to any claims 1 and 2 whereby the main casing is made of plastics, fiberglass, graphite or metal alloys, the internal sliding apparatus is made from metal alloys, plastics or graphite and the reel clamps are made of metal alloys, plastics or graphite, all being highly corrosion resistant.

4. A fishing tension gauge- weight scale rod/ reel adaptor according to any one of the claims 1-3 wherein the calibration of increments appearing on the tension gauge- weight scale display are set in a graduated system, with larger margin between lower weight increments initially, then decreasing in distance so proportionately as the load on the device increases. A fishing tension gauge- weight scale rod/ reel adaptor substantially as herein previously described with reference to figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings. Applicant: ROSS. G. MACKENZIE. 14th April 2QQ4.