AU650517B2 - Bite alarm for fishing line - Google Patents

Description

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Complete Specification Standard Patent Invention Title: 5665

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0 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of preforming it known to me.

-1- Bite Alarm Trisi er for Fishing Line This invention relates to a bite alarm trigger for a fishing line.

Bite Alarm triggers to provide an indication of when a fish bites a line are known. However, most devices are complicated to manufacture or to use and therefore have had limited success.

The object of this invention is to provide a bite alarm trigger which is simple to manufacture and to use. The invention provides a bite alarm trigger for a fishing line comprising a trigger for contacting the said fishing line and for moving from a first position to a second position when tension is applied to the fishing line.

0 In the first embodiment a trigger which includes a line support portion for engaging the line and which extends in a direction transverse to the line, so that when a bite takes phlPe the tension in the line causes the trigger to move from the first to the second position and then slip off the line support portion so that the line is free of the device.

In the first embodiment of the invention the line support portion merely comprises an integral portion of the trigger which can preferably be fonnrmed by suitably bending wire or the like. However, in alternative embodiments t: he support portion could be provided by a thin resilient spring member or the like to increase the likelihood of the line disengaging from the support portion when a fish takes the line and after the trigger abuts the end plate.

In the second embodiment a leaf spring supports the trigger which supports 0 the line engaging portion for contacting the fishing line which extends in a direction transverse to the line and for moving from a first position to a second position when the tension is applied to the fishing line and to allow by twisting movement the line to slip off the line support portion of the said trigger so as to allow the line to be free of the bite alarm and not to interfere with winding of the line onto a fish reel.

In the third embodiment of the invention the trigger has a curved end and a line contact end. It could be in the fonn of a leaf spring or in the form of a wire.

The trigger line support portion for engaging the line extends in a direction transverse to the line and after moving from the first position to the second position abuts the end plate and since the line engaging porting is to one side of the trigger when the trigger arrives at the second position it is twisted so that the line engaging portion moves into an inclined position so that the line can easily slip off the engaging portion of the trigger, so that the line is free of the device and does not interfere with winding of the line onto the fishing S reel.

0 In reference to the first, second and third embodiments.

The trigger engaging portion of the trigger is transverse to the fishing line.

With the use of a spinning reel (which is mostly used) which winds the line in a circle transverse to the extended fishing line, it is necessary to have the reel bail arm held in a position of arc opposite to which the trigger support portion extends from the bite alarm housing to hold the line against the housing of the alarm and onto the line engaging portion to the trigger.

0 This then makes it possible to disengage the line from the trigger by turning the reel to a position of arc on the same side as the line engaging portion of the trigger, so that the line is pulled away from the housing of the device and off the line engaging portion of the trigger and falls to its usual position leaving the line free to be wound onto the fishing reel.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example with a reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure. 1 is a cross sectional view of a bite alarm embodying the invention.

Figure. 2 is a view of the bite alarm of Fig. 1 along line II-III of Fig. 1.

Figure. 3 is a perspective view of a trigger used in the bite alann of Fig 1.

Figure. 3a is a front view of Fig. 1 with the trigger at the first position with a line attached.

Figure. 3b is a front view of Fig. 1 with the trigger at the second position with the line about to detach.

Figure. 5 is a plan view of the bite alarm of Fig. 1.

S. S so Figure. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure. 7 is a view along line VII VII of Fig. 6.

Figure. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure. 9 is a view of a trigger used in the embodiment of Fig. 8 Figure. 10 is a view showing the third movement of the trigger.

S* Figure. 11 is a plan view of the third embodiment of the bite alarm attached to a rod and reel with the reel bail ann on the side opposite to the line supporting portion of the trigger with line attached.

Figure. 12 is a plan view of the third embodiment of the bite alann attached to a rod and reel with the reel bail ann on the same side as the line supporting portion of the trigger showing line detached.

With reference to the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment On bite alarm 10, best shown in Fig. 1, a trigger 50 is mounted to the housing 1 and the trigger 50 is best shown in Fig. 3.

The trigger 50 includes an axle 52 which is received into bore 32, a generally vertical section 54, a transverse section 56 extending generally parallel to and in the same direction as the axle 52, a longitudinally extending portion 58 and a line support portion 60 which extends generally parallel to the axel 52 and portion 56, but on the opposite side of the longitudal portion 58 to the axle 52 and portion 56.

After attaching the alarm 10 to a fishing rod the liae 70 is draped over the spring on line engaging portion 60 which is integral with trigger 50 or otherwise connected to trigger 50 best shown fig. 3. Slack line is then taken up by the fishing reel (not shown) attached to the rod When tension is applied to the line 70 by the fish taking the line and when the trigger 50, best shown in fig. 3 has moved from the first position to the second position, best shown in fig. 3(b) 50" and has abutted the end plate 92 continued tension to the line 70, will cause the line to slip off the spring on line support 60 so that the line drops to a position beneath the rod where it is in its usual position for being wound onto the reel (no shown), thus the line 70 is completely disengaged from the bite alarm 10 and the bite 0e alarm does not impair normal operation of the line 70 when the rod and reel is operated by the fisherman.

Thus, once the alarm has been set off the line automatically removes itself from the bite alarm 10, so that the fishing road and reel can be operated conventionally without any restriction or impairment from the bite alarmn In the preferred embodiment of the invention the line support position merely comprises an integral portion of the trigger 50 which can preferably be formed by suitably bending wire or the like.

However, in alternative embodiments the support portion 60 could be provided by a thin resilient spring member or the like (shown in fig. 3) to increase the likelihood of the line to disengage from the support portion when a fish takes the line to and after the trigger abuts the end plate 92.

r t With reference to figures 6 7: Which show a second embodiment of the invention and which like reference numerals designate like parts to those described with reference to figures 1 A leaf spring 104 is arranged in the housing and supports trigger 50 which as is best seen in fig. 7 comprises a generally U-shaped member which is supported on the leaf spring 104 and with the leaf spring 104 being arranged within the U-shaped confines of the trigger 50, the trigger 50 also includes an end block 105 and a line support portion for supporting the line Since the line 70 is held on the line support portion 107 to one side of the trigger when the trigger moves from the first position and arrives at the second position and abuts the end block 105. The trigger is twisted so that the line engaging portion 107 moves into an inclined position so that the line 70 can easily slip off the engaging portion 107, so that the fishing rod and reel can be operated conventionally without any restriction or impairnent from the bite alarm.

Figures 8, 9 10 show a third embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment the trigger 50 has a curved end 152 and a contact end 154. The trigger could be in the form of a leaf spring as shown in figures 9 10 or in the form of a wire. The curved end 152 is sandwiched between a 0* battery 90 and top 160 of the device 10. The free end 154 is spaced from a second battery After attaching the alarm 10 to a fishing rod the line 70 is draped over line engaging portion 107 which is integral with trigger 50 or otherwise connected to the trigger 50, Slack line is then taken up by the fishing reel (not shown) attached to the rod As is best shown in fig. 10., when a oite takes place the trigger is pulled from the first position to the second position so the free end 154 is stopped by battery Since the line 70 is held on the line engaging portion 107 to one side of the trigger when the trigger arrives at the second position (shown by reference 154 1) due to movement in the direction of arrow D in figure 10 the trigger is twisted so that the line engaging portion 107 moves into an inclined position 1071 so that the line 70 can easily slip off the engaging portion 107.

In reference to the first, second and third embodiments with reference to fig. 11 The trigger engaging portion of the trigger 107 is transverse to the fishing line 6000 0 With the use of a spinning reel 202 (which is mostly used) which winds the line in a circle transverse to the extended fish line 70, it is necessary to have the reel bail ann 200 held in a position of arc 201, which is opposite to S0 which the trigger support portion 107 extends from the bite alarnn housing 14 to hold the line 70 against the housing 14 of the alarm and onto the line engaging portion 107 of the trigger.

With reference to Fig. 12 This then makes it possible to disengage the line 70 from the line engaging portion of the trigger 107 by turning the reel to a position of arc 201 1 on the same side as the line engaging portion of the trigger 107 so that the line 70 is 0 pulled away from the housing 14 of the device and off the line engaging portion of the trigger 107 and falls to its usual position and leaves the line ffree to be wound onto the fishing reel.

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Claims (9)

1. A bite alarm. for a fishing line comprising: *a trigger for contacting said fishing line and for moving fr-om a first position to a second position when tension is applied to the fishing line; *alan-n means which is actuated when the trigger moves to the seconid position to provide an indication of a bite; and *tensioning means for tensioning the trigger to alter the required amount of tension applied to the line before the tension in the line will cause the trigger to move to the second position; and wherein the trigger includes a line support portion for engaging the *line and which extends in a direction transverse to the line so that when a bite takes place the tension in the line causes the trigger to **move tteseodposition and then slip off the line support portion so that the line is free of the bite alarm.t

2. The bite alann of11 claim I wherein the trigger is biased toward the first position by biasing means, OVSO 040

3. The bite alarm of claim 2 wherein bias is provided by a spring or by resiliency of the material from which the trigger is made. so**

4. The bite alarm according to claim 2 wherein the biasing means coinprises a spring having a first ann and a second arm and a coil portion wound about said trigger, said first arm engaging an inteimediate portion of the trigger and the second ann being retained relative to the trigger so that the ***set trigger is biased toward the first position.

The bite alarmn according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the tensioning means comprises a cain member for engaging said second ann and for moving said second ann so that the tension in the spring is altered to thereby alter the force which biases the trigger to the first position to thereby alter the force which is required to move the trigger towards the second position.

6. The bite alarm according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the tensioning means comprises a screw threaded member which engages the trigger for moving the trigger towards and away from the second position to provide a desir armount of tension to the trigger to thereby alter the tension in the line winch is required to move the trigger to the second position.

7. The bite alarm according to claim 2 wherein the biasing means comprises a leaf spring which supports the trigger and said tensioning means comprises a screw threaded member which engages the leaf spring and which has a co-operating screw threaded member so that when the co- operating member is threaded on the screw threaded member the position of the leaf spring is altered to apply more tension to the trigger so that a greater tension is required in order for the trigger to move from the first position to the second position. e

8. The apparatus of Claim 1, incorporating a fishing reel with the trigger so positioned that when the bail ann of the reel is at a position opposite to **:the side of the housing from which the trigger projects, the bail ann keeps .Ss: the line onto the said trigger and when the bail arm is at a position on the same side of the housing from which the trigger projects, the line is pulled off the said trigger.

9. A bite alarm indicator substantially as hereinbefore described with S* reference to any one of the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this Thirteenth day of April 1994. S James F. Hutchinson ABSTRACT A bite indicator for a fishing line is disclosed which is intended to provide an alarm when a fish takes the line. The alarm indicator comprises a buzzer alarm (16) which is activated by a trigger (50) mounted in a housing The trigger (50) supports a line (70) and is biased into a first position by a spring When a fish takes the line (70) tension in the line (70) causes the trigger to move against the bias of the spring (65) into contact with a terminal (92) to complete a circuit of the alarm (16) so that the alarm is sounded. The tension of the spring (65) can be altered by a tensioning cam (80) which is rotatable to move an arm (69) of the spring (65) so that the tension applied by the spring (65) to maintain the trigger (50) in the first position can be altered to suit the type of line (70) which is used and the conditions in which the fishing l.od (20) is used. It is recommended that figure 1 accompanies the abstract. S S