FR2786662A1 - Audible warning for protecting fishing rod includes switch normally closed by weight of rod, releasing buzzer circuit if rod is moved - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is attached to the rod support stand and may be adjusted to suit the set position of the rod. The warning device comprises a metal lamella folded at 90 degrees (4) and fastened to the fishing rod (1) by one of its two sections. When the rod is correctly placed in the U-shaped support (3), the projecting section of the folded lamella (4) is applied to a tongue (15) on a switch (5) mounted inside a housing (6). The housing has an aperture in the top surface to receive the lamella. The switch closes the circuit through a cable (7). Any movement of the rod causes the opening of the switch (5). This information is processed in an electronic control box (10) and used to activate a buzzer (8) attached to the control box, with a volume control (14). A single battery in the buzzer box powers the device.

Description

- The - 2786662 The present invention relates to a warning device

  sound and visual combining electronics and mechanical parts, which detects the modification of the correct position of a fishing rod on its support. The support cited by way of example is of the standard type, used in all modern fisheries known as "landed". The back of the fishing rod rests on a spike surmounted by a piece in the shape of a "U", or a bucket receiving the heel of the rod, while the front of the rod rests on

  a spike surmounted by a split piece in the shape of a "V.

  This equipment is intended more particularly for all the new forms of angling which one can even sometimes qualify as extremes, so much the conditions in which they are

are rough ...

  These fisheries are most often done at night, whatever the season, and carp and catfish (mainly sought-after fish) reach several tens of kilograms for the former and several hundred for the latter. The enthusiasm of fishermen eager for strong emotions, for this new type of fishing, has considerably changed the equipment both in diversity and in the technologies used; composite materials and new alloys are now used directly from aeronautical research to build rods and reels. Many foreign countries such as England, Germany and even Japan have embarked on the development and marketing of new equipment such as electronic key detectors, echo sounders for lakes and rivers, etc. But this material costs more and more

more expensive.

  When we know that in general, each fisherman has a set of two to four rods with reels, it is easy to quantify the loss of one or more rods, disappeared without a trace, most of the time carried away in the middle of the lake or the river by the coveted fish, while the fisherman slept. Faced with these problems, alas frequent, both for French and foreign fishermen, and so that they can find their equipment in place after a few hours of sleep, it seemed urgent to develop a reliable sound and visual device, which allows them to know the slightest movement of one or more of their rods on the support (s). following the powerful pull of a fish or following a violent gust of wind which unbalances the whole installation. This device, according to the invention, answers this question because its user is warned

  instantly an anomaly concerning the position of his fishing rods.

  This system uses both mechanical and / or electronic elements for detecting the position of one or more rods, and a remote sound electronic element whose role is

to warn the user.

  It is characterized in that the detection of the change of position of the rod on its support, whatever its inclination and the height of the various supports used, is made

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  possible by the action of a part fixed on the rod, coming to press the tab of a microswitch

secured to the rod holder.

  It is also characterized in that the transmission of the information of a change in position of one or more rods is carried out electronically by means of a box secured to the rod support, connected by wire to a remote box containing the sound system and the single power supply battery. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention: Figure 1 shows the entire device with a sectional view of the part containing the microswitch. There are represented for a better understanding, the fishing rod and a support

in "U" seen in profile.

  - Figure 2 shows the main part of the device, called detection part, in which

  find the microswitch, top view and front view according to section AA.

  - Figure 3 shows the part that allows to fix the part, called detection, to the rod holder.

  - Figure 4 shows the part that allows to fix the control box to the part, called detection.

  - Figure 5 shows the control unit, seen from the front with its mounting lug.

  - Figure 6 shows the remote housing, seen from the front.

  - Figure 7 gives the block diagram of the electronic part.

  With reference to these drawings, the device therefore comprises a set of fixed or articulated mechanical elements, in order to respond to all the possible and rational inclinations of the fishing rods on their support, as well as two electronic boxes, one placed under the canes (10), and

  the other (8) that the user keeps with him in his tent.

  The mechanical part of the detection device consists of: - a metal strip (4), bent at 90, fixed on the rod (1) by means of a ligature or more simply glued, presses on the tongue (15) contact of a sealed microswitch (5) fixed in an aluminum part (6) pierced at its upper part with a rectangular orifice (17), and

arranged under the fishing rod.

  A shoulder (18) and a rounded lumen (13) at its ends, allow the attachment of this piece (6) to the support assembly (3) spike (2) of fishing rod, and its adjustment in height and

  tilt (>), through the part (16).

  Tightening is carried out using a hexagonal bolt (12) resting on

  the shoulder (18), and a wing nut.

  Two holes (19) allow the microswitch (5) to be fixed by pins inside the

  piece (6); it is open below to allow mounting of the microswitch (5).

  The part (I l) allows the attachment of the electronic control unit (10) to the tab (16) by

  through the bolt (12). It also comes to rest on the shoulder of the part (6).

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  The electronic part of the device consists of an electronic control unit (10)

  in aluminium. It is adjustable in inclination (a) around its fixing axis by thread, counter

  nut and washers. It is made up of two parts assembled by screws. The sealing of the cover and the holes of light-emitting diodes (20) is ensured by silicone seals. In order to meet the IP65 standard, the connectors which allow the connection of the detection microswitches and the remote box are mounted under the box. They are MINIDIN and JACK type. It is preferable to replace the JACK connector with a second MINIDIN plug, this type of connector having

  better reliability over time and superior sealing.

  The operation of the control box (10) uses a microcontroller (24). The latter is supplied with 4v thanks to the voltage regulator circuit (26). Its clock circuit is ensured by a quartz (22). The status of the switches (5) is displayed by means of light-emitting diodes (20) located on the front face of the housing (10). The buzzer control signal

  (31) is transmitted on the connecting cable (9) via a transistor assembly (23).

  The remote box (8) contains the 9v battery supplying the device. Found on the front - a potentiometer (14) for adjusting the sound level of the buzzer (31), a light-emitting diode

  (21) indicating a low battery level, a switch (25) for switching the system on / off.

  The internal electronics are of the analog type: it includes the oscillator circuit (27) of the buzzer (31) and its discrete components, the transistor interface (28) which detects the absence of signal from the housing (10), the fuse (29) which protects against reverse polarity during assembly of the battery, as well as the battery voltage drop detection circuit (30) which also provides

  voltage regulation at 5v of the oscillator circuit (27) and the transistor interface (28).

  The connection cable (9) of the two boxes is a 3-conductor cable. It includes

  a JACK 2.5mim male plug at each end.

  The connection cables (7) from the microswitches to the control box (10) are grouped together

on a MINIDIN male plug.

  When the rod (1) is correctly positioned, the electrical circuit passing through the microswitch (5) closes. Conversely, the incorrectly positioned rod opens the electrical circuit of the microswitch (5). This or these breakers (5) are connected to the control box (10) via

two conductor cables (7).

  The complete device can manage from one to four microswitches, so monitor the

  correct positioning of as many fishing rods.

  Given the very low consumption of the complete device (less than 1.5mA for three

  rods in position), it uses only one power supply battery for the two electronic boxes.

  This is particularly interesting for the user. Only the remote box (8) contains a 9v battery. The housing (10) is supplied by the cable (9) connecting the two devices. Failure

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  of connection of this cable, causes the continuous emission of "beeps" on the buzzer of the remote box

  (8) thus warning the user of an anomaly in the detection system.

  The realization of the prototype posed no particular problem. Field tests in poor weather conditions were entirely satisfactory. Its industrialization

  East. therefore, possible in the short term.

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Claims (4)

  1) Device which makes it possible to detect any modification of the position of one or more fishing rods on their support, characterized in that it comprises a set of mechanical and / or electronic detection elements secured to the support of the rods, and an electronic sound element   offset (8) whose role is to warn the user.   2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection of the change of position of the rod (1) on its support (3), whatever its inclination and the height of the different supports used, is made possible by the action of a part (4) fixed on the rod, coming to press on the   tab (15) of a microswitch (5) secured to the rod support.   3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the transmission of information of a change in position of one or more rods is carried out electronically by means of a housing (10) integral with the rod support, connected by wire (9) to a remote box (8) containing the sound device.   4) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two electronic boxes are   powered by a single battery located in the remote box (8).   ) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system   detection comprises: - for the mechanical part, an assembly consisting of a strip (4) bent at 90, fixed on the rod, which comes to support the contact tongue (15) of a sealed microswitch (5) enclosed in a metal or plastic support (6), pierced at its upper part with an orifice (17) with the dimensions of the strip. This part (6) is adjustable in height and in inclination (13) thanks to a light (13); she is   made integral with the rod support (2) - (3), by means of a part (16) folded in a helix.   - for the electronic part, a metal case (10) adjustable in inclination (a), contains the detection electronics and the light-emitting display diodes (20). It is made integral with the parts (6) and (16), by means of the tab (11). It is connected to the microswitches (5) by the cable (7) and it is connected by a cable (9) to three conductors, to the second remote housing (8), which contains the electronic control of the horn as well as the single system power stack.