GB2143412A

GB2143412A - Bite indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2143412A
Application number: GB08319561A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Michael Ayley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-20
Filing date: 1983-07-20
Publication date: 1985-02-13
Also published as: GB8319561D0

Abstract

A bite indicator for use by anglers comprises a first elongate member (1) attached at one end by flexible means (2) to one end of a second elongate member (3). At its other end the first elongate member (1) has hook means (5) for releasably engaging a fishing line. The other end of the second elongate member (3) is connected by connecting means (7) to a ground-engaging member (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bite indicator This invention relates to bite indicators for use by anglers.

Abiteindicatorwhich is commonly used byanglers when legerfishing is the swing tip. The swing tip comprises a substantially rigid elongate portion and a flexible connecting portion whereby the elongate portion is connected or connectable to the tip of a fishing rod, the elongate portion having rod rings thereon. The fishing line extends from the fishing reel firstthrough the rings ofthefishing rod and then through the rings ofthe elongate portion. In use, the line is cast out, the fishing rod is placed on rod rests, e.g., so asto be substantially parallel with the ground, and the line adjusted so thatthe elongate portion of the swing tip depends at an angle to the fishing rod.

Sensitive bite indication is given by movement of the elongate portion of the swing tip when a fish moves with the baited hook in its mouth. Similartothe swing tip is the spring tip wherein the elongate portion is connected to the rod tip buy a coil spring which normally maintainstheelongate portion aligned with the fishing rod. The spring tip is used in similar mannerto the swing tip exceptthat bites are indicated by deflection ofthe elongate portion out of alignment with the fishing rod.Although the swing tip and, to a lesser extent, the spring tip, because of their sensitivityto bites, are probably the most popular bite indicators in general use atthe present time, they suffer from the disadvantage that, being attached to the tip of the rod, they interfere with casting so that, particularly with the swing tip, both the length and the accuracy ofthe cast are considerably reduced.

Moreover, if one wishes to change ones style of fishing orto use a different form of bite indicatororto changeto a swing tip or spring tip after using some other form of bite indicator, it is necessary to remove the terminal tackle from the end of the fishing line so that the line can be unthreaded from or threaded through the rings ofthe swing tip or spring tip and the swing tip or spring tip either removed from or mounted on the tip ofthe rod.

The present invention has as its object two provide a bite indicatorfor use by anglers which has all ofthe advantages ofthe known swing tip or spring tip but which has none ofthe disadvantages thereof.

The present invention provides a bite indicatorfor use by anglers, the bite indicator comprising first and second elongate members, one end of the first elongate member being attached to one end ofthe second elongate member by flexible means, means at the other end of the first elongate memberfor releasably engaging a fishing line, and means atthe other end ofthe second elongate memberfor connecting the second elongate memberto an upper part of, in its position of use, an upwardly extending groundengaging member so thatthe second elongate member extends outwardly ofthe ground-engaging member.

The first and second elongate members may be substantially rigid rod ortube members and may be formed from metal, e.g., aluminium, plastics, glass reinforced plastics or other suitable material. The first elongate member may be of any suitable length but is preferably from 152mm (6 inches) to 610mm (24 inches), preferably305mm (12 inches) to 457mm (18 inches) in length.According to a preferred embodi mentthe first elongate member is of a standard length of, say, 305mm (12 inches) and one or more extension pieces are provided, e.g., the or each of which is say 152mm (6 inches) in length which is (are) connectable to the first elongate member e.g., as by suitable screw means, spigot and socket or other push-fit means or the like, whereby the first elongate member can be extended if desired. The second elongate member should be of a length sufficient to space the first elongate memberfrom the ground-engaging member so that the ground-engaging member does not interfere with the bite indicator. A suitable length for the second elongate member is from 102mm (4 inches) to 305mm (12 inches) with the preferred length being about 152mm (6 inches).

The said attachment means whereby said one end ofthefirst elongate member is attached to said one end of the second elongate member may be flexible means which provides a hinge connection between the first and second elongate members,.g.,a short length offlexible rubber, plastics or other suitable material, e.g., a short length of flexible rubber or plastics tubing. Such a flexible attachment means enables the bite indicator of the present invention to be used in a mannersimilarto a swing tip. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise resilient means such as a helical coil spring to enable the bite indicatorofthe present invention to be used in a mannersimilarto a conventional spring tip.

Said means at the other end ofthe first elongate memberforreleasablyengaging a fishing line preferably comprises hook means. Said hook means preferably extends laterally to one side of the first elongate member, e.g., at substantially right-angles thereto to enablethefishing line extending beyond the rod tip after a cast has been made to be readily engaged with the hook means.The hook means is preferably formed from a springy material such as thin spring steel wire or a springy plastics material such as an acetal resin of the kind sold underthe Registered Trade Mark "Delrin", the springy material ofthe hook means having sufficient rigidity to remain in engagement with the fishing line during normal fishing but being sufficiently elastic to deform and disengage from the line in response to a strike to a bite. When the bite indicator of the present invention is for use in the manner of a swing tip then said hook means is preferably such as to engage overthefishing line whereas when the bite indicator is intended for use in the manner of a spring tip then said hook means is preferably such as to engage under the fishing line.

The hook means may comprise a hook portion which is of arcuate or part-circular form, preferably exceed- ing a semi-circle, and having a suitable diameter, e.g., The drawings(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

a diameter of from 51 mm (2 inches) to 76mm (3 inches), preferably 64mm (2.5 inches). The hook means is preferably releasably connected to said other end ofthe first elongate member, e.g., as by suitable screw means, spigot and socket or other push- orfriction-fit means, orthe like. It is preferred thatthe hook means he reversible so that it can be used on eitherthe left-hand or right-hand side ofthe first elongate member orthat both a left-hand and a right-hand hook means is provided for optional use to enable the bite indicator to be used from either side.

Said connecting means for connecting said other end ofthesecond elongate memberto said groundengaging member is preferably a connection which will enable the second elongate memberto be adjusted as required relative to the ground-engaging member. Thus, said connection is preferably such that the angle at which the second elongate member extends outwardly of the ground-engaging member can be adjusted as desired and/or so that the second elongatemembercan be angularlyadjusted about its own axis relative to the ground-engaging member. It is also preferred that the said connection and/orthe ground-engaging member is such that the height of thesecond elongate member above the ground can be adjusted as desired when the bite indicator is in use.

To thisend the said connection may be adjustable lengthwiseoftheground-engaging memberorthe ground-engaging member may betelescopic or otherwise adjustable for length. The ground-engaging member may be adapted forforcing into the ground, e.g., may be pointed or provided with a spike atwhat, in its position of use, isthe lower end thereof or may comprise a tripod or other suitable form of stand for use on hard ground.The ground-engaging means may form part of the bite indicator ofthe present invention or may be a separate item such as a standard bank stick used for supporting keep nets and the like, in which latter case said connection would comprise a suitable screwthreadforengaging the standard screw-threaded ferrule on the bank stick.

The present invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevation of one embodiment of a bite indicator according to the present invention which is intended for use in the manner of a conventional swing tip, Figure 2 is a similarviewofanotherembodimentof a bite indicator according to the present invention which is intended for use in the manner of a conventional spring tip, Figure 3 is an illustration showing the bite indicator of Figure 1 in use, and Figure 4 is a planview ofthe embodiment of Figure 2 in use.

Referring to Figure 1 itwill be seen thatthe bite indicator illustrated therein comprises a first elongate member 1 one end ofwhich is attached by flexible means 2 to one end of a second elongate member 3.

The first elongate member 1 is formed in two parts and comprises a main partlaandanoptional extension 1 which can be attached to the main part la by means of a screw connection 4. At the other end of the elongate member 1 is hook means 5 for releasably engaging a fishing line in a mannerto be described.

The hook means 5 extends laterally ofthe first elongate member 1 so as to project outwards on one side orthe other ofthe elongate member 1, e.g" at substantially right angles thereto. The hook means 1 has a threaded stem portion 6 adapted to make screw-threaded engagement with a threaded socket in the end of the extension part 1 b orthe main part 1 a.

The hook means is formed from a springy resilient material such asspring steel wire springy rigid plastics material such as an acetal resin ofthe kind sold underthe RegisteredTrade Mark "Delrin". The springiness of the material from which the hook means 5 is formed is suchthatthe hook portion will remain in engagementwfth a fishing line under normal fishing conditions but will deform to release the line when striking to a bite or if the rod is raised sufficiently, e.g., in orderto retrieve the line for rebaiting and/or recasting.

The other end ofthe second elongate member3 is connected by connecting means 7 to, in its position of use shown in Figure 1, an upwardly extending ground-engaging member 8. The connecting means 7 preferably comprises a screw clamp or screw clamps or other suitable adjustment means adapted to support the second elongate member so that it extends outwardly of the ground-engaging member 8 as shown and which enables the second elongate member 3 to be angularly adjusted relative to the ground-engaging member 8 both as to the angle at which it extends relative to the ground-engaging member 8 as indicated by arrow 9 and about its own axis as indicated by the arrow 10.The ground engaging member8 in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a stake which can be forced into the ground so as to extend upwardlytherefrom although it will be understood that, if desired, the groundengaging member8 could comprise a tripod or other form of stand for use on hard ground. Preferably,the ground-engaging member 8 is telescopic or otherwise adjustable for length and/orthe connecting means 7 is adjustable along the length ofthe ground-engaging member 8 so that the second elongate member 3 can be adjusted for height above the ground.

The elongate members 1 and 3 may be rod ortube members of suitable length and diameter. In the illustrated embodimentthe main part laofthe elongate member 1 is 305mm (12 inches) in length whilstthe extension part 1 b is 152mm (6 inches) in length. The second elongate member3 is '152mm (6 inches) in length.

The bite indicator of Figure 1 is used as illustrated in Figure 3. The ground-engaging member 8 is forced into the ground as shown so asto extend upwardly therefrom whilstthefishing rod 1 after the line 12 has been cast out and has been engaged with the hook means 5, is placed on a pairofspaced rod rests 13 so that it is supported above the ground. As illustrated, the hook means 5 extends outwardly on the left-hand side ofthe elongate member 1 and the ground engaging member 8 and the rod rests 13 are posi- tioned so that the bite indicator is positionedjustto the right of the fishing rod 11 when looking towardsthetip ofthefishing rod. Once the fishing rod 11 has been placed on the rod rests 13thefishing line 12 is adjusted so that the elongate member 1 hangs downwardly from the second elongate member3 as indicated at 14.Abite is indicated bytheelongate member 1 lifting as indicated by th e a rrow 1 5 to a position such as that shown at 16. As will be seen, in this embodiment, the hook means 5 is so adjusted relative to the elongate member 1 that, in use, it engagesoverthefishing line 12.

The embodiment of Figure 2 issimilartothe embodiment of Figure 1 and accordingly like parts have been given like reference numerals. The only difference between the embodiment of Figure 1 and the embodiment of Figure 2 is thatthe elongate member 1 is attached to the second elongate member 3 by means of a coil spring 17 which normally supports the elongate member 1 in substantial axial alignmentwith the elongate member 3. Referring now to Figure 4 it will be seen that the bite indicator of Figure 2 is used in similar mannerto the bite indicator of Figure 1 except thatthe hook means 5 engages underthe fishing line 12 and the elongate member 1 normally extends in substantial axial alignment with the elongate member 3 as shown at 18.A bite is indicated by the elongate member 1 being deflected out of its position of substantial alignmentwiththe elongate member 3 as indicated by the arrow 19 to a position such as that indicated at 20.

Preferably, the bite indicator ofthe present invention comprises both right and left hand hook means 5 for optional use as required. Alternatively, the screwthread connection ofthe hook means Sto the elongate member 1 a may be replaced by a push-fit or friction-fit connection so that a single hook means is reversible and can be used either right-handed or left-handed. In addition the bite indicator preferably comprises a swing tip type indicator as shown in Figure 1, with if desired one or more extension parts 1 b, together with a spring tip type indicator as indicated in Figure 2.To this end, the connecting means 7 is preferably such that its clamping or other engagement with the second elongate member can readily be slackened or released to enable the spring tip type indicator of Figure 2 to be readily substituted for the swing tip type indicator of Figure 1, or vice versa, the right or left hand hook means 5 as required being usable with either bite indicator. The bite indicator of the present invention may also include further accessories, such as, for example, a lightsource which can be attached, e.g., as by means of a suitable screw connection, spring clip, or the like to the hook means 5 or the first elongate member 1 for use when night fishing. A suitable form of light source is that known as a Beta lightwhich operates without the use of batteries.

Another useful attachement comprises a sleeve or sleeves of different colours which can be slipped over said other end ofthe elongate member 1 beforethe hook means 5 is mounted thereon and which is (are) of a colour or colours to suit different light conditions.

It will readily be appreciated that the bite indicator of the present invention provides all of the advantages of a conventional swing tip or spring tip but has the additional advantage that it is separatefrom and not attached to the fishing rod in anyway and accordingly does not interfere with the use ofthe fishing rod, e.g., during casting.

Claims

1. Abite indicatorforuse by anglers, the bite indicator comprising first and second elongate members, one end of the first elongate member being attached to one end of the second elongate member by flexible means, means at the other end of the first elongate memberfor releasably engaging a fishing line, and means at the other end of the second elongate memberforconnecting the second elongate memberto an upper part of, in its position of use, and an upwardly extending ground-engaging member so thatthe second elongate member extends outwardly ofthe ground-engaging member.

2. A bite indicator according to claim 1, wherein the first and second elongate members are substantially rigid rod or tube members.

3. A bite indicator according to claim 2, wherein said first and second elongate members are formed from aluminium orothermetal, plastics material or glass reinforced plastics material.

4. A bite indicator according to claim 1,2 or3, wherein the first elongate member has a length of from 152mm (6 inches) to 610mm (24 inches).

5. A bite indicator according to claim 4, wherein the first elongate member has a length of from 305mm (12 inches) to 457mm (18 inches).

6. A bite indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one extension piece which is connectable to the first elongate member to increase the length thereof.

7. A bite indicator according to claim 6, wherein said at least one extension piece is connectable to the first elongate member by screw means or a spigot and socket or other push-fit means.

8. A bite indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second elongate member is of a length at least sufficient to space the first elongate member from the ground-engaging member so thatthe ground-engaging member does not interfere with the bite indicator.

9. A bite indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second elongate member has a length of from 1 02mm (4 inches) to 305mm (12 inches), preferably 1 52mm (6 inches).

10. A bite indicator according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein said flexible attachment means provides a hinge connection between the first and second elongate members.

11. A bite indicator according to claim 10, wherein said flexible attachment means comprises a short length of flexible material.

12. A bite indicator according to claim 11,wherein said flexible material comprises rubber or plastics tubing.

13. A bite indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said flexible attachment means comprises resilient means.

14. A bite indicator according to claim 13, wherein said resilient means comprises a helical coil spring.

15. A bite indicator according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein said means for releasably engaging a fishing line comprises hook means.

16. A bite indicator according to claim 15, wherein said hook means extends laterally to one side ofthe first elongate member.

17. A bite indicator according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said hook means is formed from a springy material having sufficient rigidityto remain in engage mentwiththefishing line during normal fishing but being sufficiently elastic to deform and disengage from the line in response to a strike to a bite.

18. A bite indicator according to claim 17, wherein the hook means is formed from thin spring steel wire or a springy plastics material such as a springy acetal resin.

19. A bite indicator according to any one of claim 15to 18, wherein the hook means comprises a hook portion of arcuate orpart-circularform.

20. A bite indicator according to claim 19, wherein the hook portion is of part-circularform exceeding a semi-circle and has a diameter offrom 51 mm (2 inches) to 76mum (3 inches), preferably 64mm (2.5 inches).

21. A bite indicator according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the hook means is releasably connected to said other end of the first elongate member.

22. A bite indicator according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein said connecting means for connecting the other end of the second elongate membertotheground-engaging member is such that the second elongate member can be adjusted relative to the ground engaging member.

23. A bite indicator according to claim 22, wherein said connecting means comprises clamping means.

24. A bite indicator according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the ground-engaging member comprises a pointed or spiked end portion adaptedforforcing into the ground or comprises a tripodorstandforstanding on the ground.

25. A bite indicator for use by anglers, substantial- ly as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 or Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.