GB2175782A

GB2175782A - Bite alarm for fishing with a line

Info

Publication number: GB2175782A
Application number: GB08613036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edward Swallow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-31
Filing date: 1986-05-29
Publication date: 1986-12-10
Also published as: GB8513716D0; GB2175782B; GB8613036D0

Abstract

A bite alarm for fishing with a line consists of a tubular rod member 10 which houses a plurality of switches 14 which are spaced apart along the member 10 and arranged in parallel in an electrical circuit which includes means 13, 17 for producing an audible and visual signal when one of the switches 14 is closed, and slideable on the outside of the member 10 is a slide member 19 provided with a magnet 20 for closing the switches 14 as the slide member 19 is moved along the member 10, and means 21 are provided on the slide member 19 which can be engaged by the fishing line so that the slide member 19 is caused to be moved along the member 10 by tensioning the line. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bite alarm for use in fishing with a line This invention relates to a bite alarm device for use in fishing with a rod and line. The alarm device produces an audible signal when a fish has given a bite.

According to the present invention there is provided a bite alarm for use in fishing with a line, comprising at least one elongate tubular member which in use is located in a vertical position, said tubular member having a plurality of switches spaced apart along the tubular member and arranged in parallel in an electrical circuit which includes means to producing a signal when one of the switches is closed, and slidably mounted on the outside of the tubular member a slide member provided with a magnet for closing the switches as the slide member is moved along the tubular member, and means provided on the slide member which can be engaged by the fishing line so that the slide member is caused to be moved along the tubular member by tensioning the line.

Preferably the switches each comprise a normally open reed switch. The means for producing a signal preferably comprises a speaker. The electrical circuit also includes a main on/off switch, a battery power source and an indicator lamp which may be a light emitting diode. All of the electrical circuit components, apart from the plurality of switches, may be housed in a box from which the elongate tubular member extends. The base of the box may be provided with means for connecting it to a spike device for supporting the alarm device from the ground.

A plurality of bite alarms may be provided on a common support.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bite alarm device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical components; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the bite alarm in use; Figure 4 shows a bite alarm of Fig. 1 provided with an adjustment device; Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of bite alarm mounted on a support on which a plurality of bite alarms can be mounted, and Figure 6 is a circuit diagram for a plurality of bite alarms.

The bite alarm shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a tube 10, which is preferably formed of stainless steel, extending from a housing 11 provided on its underside with a screwthreaded connector 12. Provided on the side of the housing 11 is a speaker 13 which is included in an electrical circuit which includes a plurality of normally open reed switches 14 which are wired in parallel and housed within the tube 10 in longitudinally spaced apart relationship. The electrical circuit includes a battery 15 as a source of electrical energy, an on/off switch 16 and a light emitting diode 17 in series with a resistor 18.

Slidably mounted on the tube 10 is a slider in the form of a bobbin 19. Provided on the bobbin 19 is a ring magnet 20 and a line trap 21. The bobbin 19 is formed of a plastics material and the line trap 21 is formed of stainless steel. Provided on the upper end of the tube 10 is a stop 25.

The bite alarm is set-up as shown in Fig. 3, with the fishing rod 22 held in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position on supports 23. The housing 11 is connected to a ground engaging spike by means of the connector 12 so that the tube 10 is vertically disposed beneath the rod 22. The fishing line 24 is engaged with the line trap 21 which is positioned at the bottom end of the tube 10 so that the magnet 20 is clear of the bottom switch 14 and all of the switches 14 are open. When a fish bites, the line 24 is tensioned thus moving the bobbin 19 up the tube 10. As the bobbin 19 rises it will move the magnet 20 with it and the switches 14 will be closed in sequence. Each switch 14 will automatically open when the magnet 20 has passed.When a switch 14 closes, the electrical current flows to the speaker 13 and an audible signal is produced, thus indicating to the fisherman that there is a bite on this line.

The light emitting diode 17 is also energised to give a visual signal when a switch 14 is closed. The bobbin 19 is prevented from moving off the end of the tube 10 by means of the stop 25.

The bobbin 19 may be provided with two or more axially spaced apart ring magnets so that more than one switch 14 can be closed at a point in time. Preferably there are five to ten switches 14. A timer can be provided in the circuit so that even when a switch 14 opens the signals will be generated for a given period of time so that even if the magnet 20 becomes located between two switches 14 a signal will be generated for a certain period of time.

Fig. 4 shows the bite alarm of Fig. 1 provided with an adjustable nut 25 which serves to hold the bobbin 1 9 in the bottom position due to the magnetic force between the magnet 20 and the nut 25. Thus a certain force is required to raise the bobbin 19 from the bottom position and this force is adjusted by adjusting the spacing between the magnet 20 and the nut 25.

A plurality of bite alarms can be mounted on a single support, as shown in Fig. 5, so that a plurality of fishing lines can be used.

The bite alarm shown in Fig. 5 comprises a member 26 which is slideable on a rod 27 forming part of a support 28. The member 26 is provided with a locking screw 29. The tube 10 of the bite alarm extends through the member 26 and an adjustable stop 30 is provided on the tube 10. At its bottom end the tube 10 is connected to a tubular member 31 preferably formed of white plastics material so as to be transparent or translucent. Located within the tubular member 31 is a light emitting diode 32 (Fig. 6) which gives a visual indication of a bite on a fishing line associated with this particular bite alarm. A cable 33 connects the bite alarm to a common electrical circuit which is shown in Fig. 6.

The electrical circuit of Fig. 6 includes a timer circuit 34 and a piezo electric sounder circuit 35, the circuits being connected to a battery 36 via an on/off switch 37. It will be appreciated that each bite alarm (three in this example) operates independently of the other bite alarms. The light emitting diodes 32 indicate which line has a bite and the respective diode 32 is energized for a period of time (say 10 seconds) determined by the timer 34.

The timer circuit 34 and the sounder circuit 35 are housed in a separate container which is connected to each bite alarm by the cables 33. The volume of the sounder circuit 35 is adjustable and light emitting diodes 38 housed in the separate container are provided for visual indication.

Claims

1. A bite alarm for use in fishing with a line, comprising at least one elongate tubular member which in use is located in a vertical position, said tubular member having a plurality of switches spaced apart along the tubular member and arranged in parallel in an electrical circuit which includes means to producing a signal when one of the switches is closed, and slidably mounted on the outside of the tubular member a slide member provided with a magnet for closing the switches as the slide member is moved along the tubular member, and means provided on the slide member which can be engaged by the fishing line so that the slide member is caused to be moved along the tubular member by tensioning the line.

2. A bite alarm as claimed in claim 1, in which each switch comprises a normally open reed switch.

3. A bite alarm as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which said means for producing a signal includes a speaker for producing an audible signal.

4. A bite alarm as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means for producing a signal includes a light emitting device.

5. A bite alarm as claimed in any preceding claim, in which adjustable means are provided for holding the slide member in its lowermost position.

6. A bite alarm as claimed in any preceding claim, in which all of the electrical circuit components, apart from the plurality of switches, are housed in a box from which the elongate tubular member extends.

7. A bite alarm as claimed in claim 6, in which the base of the box is provided with means for connecting it to a spike device for supporting the alarm device from the ground.

8. A bite alarm as claimed in claim 4, in which the elongate tubular member is provided at its lower end with a transparent or translucent tubular member in which a light emitting diode is housed.

9. A bite alarm as claimed in claim 4 provided with means for mounting it on a support rod on which a plurality of bite alarms can be mounted.

10. A bite alarm as claimed in claim 9, in which each bite alarm is connected to a common electrical circuit which includes a timer and means for producing audible and visual signals.

11. A bite alarm for use in fishing with a line, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.