GB1596260A

GB1596260A - Bite indicators

Info

Publication number: GB1596260A
Application number: GB5066976A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dellareed Ltd
Current assignee: Dellareed Ltd
Priority date: 1977-11-22
Filing date: 1977-11-22
Publication date: 1981-08-26

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BITE INDICATORS (71) We, DELLAREED LIMITED, a British Company, of 20, Eagle Hill, Ramsgate, Kent, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to bite indicators for use when fishing with a fishing rod.

According to the invention there is provided a bite indicator comprising an antenna or deflectable member mounted to a support means such that a fishing line can be located to one side thereof to divert such fishing line from its normal straight line direction, in use, a piezoelectric element or crystal mounted on the antenna or deflectable member and means connected to the piezoelectric element or crystal, such that upon movement of the fishing line which moves the antenna or deflectable member a signal is produced indicative thereof.

The piezoelectric element or crystal may be connected with a bridge rectifier so that movement of the antenna in either directionu, i.e. with tightening or slackening of the fishing line, will actuate the indicating means.

The output from the bridge rectifier may be connected to a squarer and delay circuit to give an output pulse of predetermined duration to actuate the indicating means.

The output from the squarer and delay circuit may be connected via a buffer amplifier to operate a visual indicating means such as a light emissive diode.

Said piezoelectric element or crystal and associated electrical components may be located in a first housing, which comprises said support means, and electric supply leads therefore are connected to one half of a plug and socket connector, the other half of which is located in a second housing arranged to contain a battery. The output from the buffer amplifier may be connected via a further buffer amplifier and the plug and socket connector to an oscillator and still further buffer amplifier to actuate an audible indicator all located in the second housing. The audible indicator may comprise a tone sounder.

A plurality of first housings may be connected via a plurality of plug and socket connectors to a single second housing.

The or each said first housing may be attached to, or formed integrally with, a plate form member, with the antenna or deflectable member being located adjacent a slot therein which opens into a V-shaped formation for locating a fishing rod therein, in use. A bracket member may be pivotally mounted to the plate form member and include clamping means for clamping to a bank stick or other support rod therefor.

The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a bite indicator; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the bite indicator of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the bite indicator of Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram for the bite indicator of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a bite indicator comprising a housing 10 located on a plate form member 11.

An antenna or deflectable member 12 is adhered to a member 13 within housing 10 to project from a slot in the housing 10 to one side of a slot 14 at the base of a Vshaped cut-out 15 in member 11. In use a fishing rod is located in cut-out 15 and a fishing line is located around antenna 12 to divert the line from its normal straight line position so that any movement of the line, when there is a bite, causes the antenna 12 to move. A strain gauge device in the form of a piezoelectric element 16 is attached to antenna 12.

A bracket 18 (Fig. 2) is mounted at the rear of member 11 by bolt 19 and knurled screw 20 so that the angle of bracket 18 can be adjusted. To support the whole arrangement a bank stick 17 or other support rod is located in the through aperture of bracket 18, clamped by screw 20, and pushed into the ground or bank. The member 11 is then positioned vertically and knurled screw 20 tightened to lock this position. With this arrangement the bank stick does not have to be located vertically.

Referring now to Fig. 3 the piezoelectric element or crystal 16 has a variable resistor VR connected thereto which is controlled by a knob 21 outside housing 10. The variable resistor VR can be adjusted, in use, to vary the sensitivity of the device. The bite indicator can be used for fishing in calm or still water when any movement of the line is required to actuate the device.

Alternatively the indicator can be used in running water or the sea when steady movement thereof will move the antenna 12 to a stable position. The ocurrence of a bite may tighten or slacken the line according to the direction of movement of the fish relative to the direction of movement of the water being fished. However, either such movement will cause a sudden and positive movement of antenna 12 to give a sensible output from device 16.

The device or element 16 is connected to a bridge rectifier BR so that either direction of movement of antenna 12 will give the same voltage output to a squarer and delay device Al. Device Al is provided to produce a predetermined duration square wave output irrespective of the length of the output pulse from bridge BR. The output from device Al is connected via a buffer amplifier A2 to illuminate a light emissive diode LED via a further buffer amplifier A3. The diode LED is mounted on housing 10. A further output buffer with isolating diode A4 is also connected to the output of buffer amplifier A2 to provide an external signal output.

Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown a circuit diagram for the block schematic of Fig. 3. External leads 26, 28 and 29 are connected from the components housed in housing 10 to the plug of a plug and socket connector. Such plug may be connected to the socket 30 as shown in Fig. 5 of our copending United Kingdom patent Application No. 11347/75 (Serial No. 1,503,596) so as to provide power for the circuit of Fig.

4 and to provide an audible indication of a bite. Two units as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be connected to one such supply and audible alarm device. Alternatively a device as described in Fig. 4 of our above mentioned application can be used in conjunction with the present Figs. 1, 2 and 4 device, both connected to such a supply and audible alarm device.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown) a battery could be housed in housing 10 to supply the circuit contained therein. Also the tension of the antenna 12 could be variable to cope with use in stronger currents.

Hence a bite indicator has been described which can be used when ledgering in running water or the sea which has not heretofor been possible.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A bite indicator comprising an antenna or deflectable member mounted to a support means such that a fishing line can be located to one side thereof to divert such fishing line from its normal straight line direction, in use, a piezoelectric element or crystal mounted on the antenna or deflectable member and means connected to the piezoelectric element or crystal, such that upon movement of the fishing line which moves the antenna or deflectable member a signal is produced indicative thereof.

2. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric element or crystal is connected with a bridge rectifier so that movement of the antenna in either direction will actuate the indicating means.

3. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the output of the bridge rectifier is connected to a squarer and delay circuit to give an output pulse of predetermined duration to actuate the indicating means.

4. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 3 wherein the output of the squarer and delay circuit is connected via a buffer amplifier to operate a visual indicating means such as a light emissive diode.

5. A bite indicator as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said piezoelectric element or crystal and associated electrical components are located in a first housing, which comprises said support means, and electric supply leads therefor are connected to one half of a plug and socket connector, the other half of which is located in a second housing arranged to contain a battery.

6. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 4 and 5 wherein the output from the buffer amplifier is connected via a further buffer amplifier and the plug and socket connector to an oscillator and still further buffer amplifier to actuate an audible indicator all located in the second housing.

7. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 6 wherein the audible indicator comprises a tone sounder.

8. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 7 wherein a plurality of first housings are connected via a plurality of plug and socket connectors to a single second housing.

9. A bite indicator as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 inclusive wherein the or each first housing is attached to, or formed integrally with, a plate form member, with the antenna or deflectable member being located adjacent a slot therein which opens into a V-shaped formation for locating a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

is located in the through aperture of bracket 18, clamped by screw 20, and pushed into the ground or bank. The member 11 is then positioned vertically and knurled screw 20 tightened to lock this position. With this arrangement the bank stick does not have to be located vertically.

Referring now to Fig. 3 the piezoelectric element or crystal 16 has a variable resistor VR connected thereto which is controlled by a knob 21 outside housing 10. The variable resistor VR can be adjusted, in use, to vary the sensitivity of the device. The bite indicator can be used for fishing in calm or still water when any movement of the line is required to actuate the device.

Alternatively the indicator can be used in running water or the sea when steady movement thereof will move the antenna 12 to a stable position. The ocurrence of a bite may tighten or slacken the line according to the direction of movement of the fish relative to the direction of movement of the water being fished. However, either such movement will cause a sudden and positive movement of antenna 12 to give a sensible output from device 16.

The device or element 16 is connected to a bridge rectifier BR so that either direction of movement of antenna 12 will give the same voltage output to a squarer and delay device Al. Device Al is provided to produce a predetermined duration square wave output irrespective of the length of the output pulse from bridge BR. The output from device Al is connected via a buffer amplifier A2 to illuminate a light emissive diode LED via a further buffer amplifier A3. The diode LED is mounted on housing 10. A further output buffer with isolating diode A4 is also connected to the output of buffer amplifier A2 to provide an external signal output.

Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown a circuit diagram for the block schematic of Fig. 3. External leads 26, 28 and 29 are connected from the components housed in housing 10 to the plug of a plug and socket connector. Such plug may be connected to the socket 30 as shown in Fig. 5 of our copending United Kingdom patent Application No. 11347/75 (Serial No. 1,503,596) so as to provide power for the circuit of Fig.

4 and to provide an audible indication of a bite. Two units as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be connected to one such supply and audible alarm device. Alternatively a device as described in Fig. 4 of our above mentioned application can be used in conjunction with the present Figs. 1, 2 and 4 device, both connected to such a supply and audible alarm device.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown) a battery could be housed in housing 10 to supply the circuit contained therein. Also the tension of the antenna 12 could be variable to cope with use in stronger currents.

Hence a bite indicator has been described which can be used when ledgering in running water or the sea which has not heretofor been possible.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A bite indicator comprising an antenna or deflectable member mounted to a support means such that a fishing line can be located to one side thereof to divert such fishing line from its normal straight line direction, in use, a piezoelectric element or crystal mounted on the antenna or deflectable member and means connected to the piezoelectric element or crystal, such that upon movement of the fishing line which moves the antenna or deflectable member a signal is produced indicative thereof.
2. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric element or crystal is connected with a bridge rectifier so that movement of the antenna in either direction will actuate the indicating means.
3. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the output of the bridge rectifier is connected to a squarer and delay circuit to give an output pulse of predetermined duration to actuate the indicating means.
4. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 3 wherein the output of the squarer and delay circuit is connected via a buffer amplifier to operate a visual indicating means such as a light emissive diode.
5. A bite indicator as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said piezoelectric element or crystal and associated electrical components are located in a first housing, which comprises said support means, and electric supply leads therefor are connected to one half of a plug and socket connector, the other half of which is located in a second housing arranged to contain a battery.
6. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 4 and 5 wherein the output from the buffer amplifier is connected via a further buffer amplifier and the plug and socket connector to an oscillator and still further buffer amplifier to actuate an audible indicator all located in the second housing.
7. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 6 wherein the audible indicator comprises a tone sounder.
8. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 7 wherein a plurality of first housings are connected via a plurality of plug and socket connectors to a single second housing.
9. A bite indicator as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 inclusive wherein the or each first housing is attached to, or formed integrally with, a plate form member, with the antenna or deflectable member being located adjacent a slot therein which opens into a V-shaped formation for locating a

fishing rod therein, in use.
10. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 9 wherein a bracket member is pivotally mounted to the plate form member and include clamping means for clamping to a bank stick or other support rod therefor.
11. A bite indicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.