GB2267805A - "Bite Indicator" - Google Patents

Abstract

A bite indicator having a housing (10) which may be supported on a bank stick (17) below a fishing rod (8), has a tensioning means preferably formed as a weights rod (11) which includes a sensable means formed as alternate banded surfaces which are infra red reflective and non reflective; the tensioning means is arranged to pass through the housing past an infra red sensor (D4, T4) in order to provide a signal indicator of any movement of the tensioning means and its speed. <IMAGE>

Description

BITE INDICATOR The invention relates to bite indicators for use when angling with a fishing rod and line.

When angling for fish it is required that an angler has the means of identifying instantaneously when the baited hook has been moved, that is taken by a fish. There are special devices which identify the movement of the fishing line by means of passing the line over wheels, around levers or through cones. Such mechanical devices when moved, respectively trigger electronic devices to initiate audio visual warning devices. It is usual that such systems to be most effective require that the fishing line is maintained under tension. Such tension is generally achieved by a weight being applied to an amount of spare line generally between the reel and first line guide ring of the fishing rod.

According to the present invention there is provided a bite indicator comprising a housing capable of being supported below a fishing rod, tensioning means including an elongate sensable means having alternatively infra red light reflective and non reflective surfaces. The tensioning means is preferably a rod adapted to slide freely in the vertical plane through the housing. Within the housing electronic circuits may be mounted upon a printed circuit board. Incorporated into the electronic circuits may be two infra red devices one an infra red emitter and the other an infra red receiver. The two infra red devices should preferably be adjacent to each other positioned upon a PCB in such a manner that the tensioning rod's longitudinal axis is perpendicularly aligned with the emitter/receiver faces of the infra red devices. A movement of the tensioning rod of the preferred embodiment will cause the alternate infra red absorbent/reflective bands to pass across the operating faces of the infra red devices thus switching on and off the circuits connected to audio-visual indicators. The electronic box may incorporate a simple bracket, clip or screw arrangement for the attachment to, and support by a standard bank stick.

The said tensioning rod incorporates a releasable clip for attachment to the fishing line and at the lower end of the rod, a container for the addition of weights to provide the facility of adjustment to the sensitivity of the system when in use so as to overcome the effects of wind or water drift on the fishing line.

The forgoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows in perspective a bite indicator according to the invention with a tensioning rod attached to the fishing line in typical use.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly cut away, of a bite indicator of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly cut away of the bite indicator of Fig. 1 & 2 illustrating the alignment of the tensioning rod with the infra red sensor devices.

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the bite indicator of Fig.s 1,2 & 3.

Referring firstly to Fig.s 1,2 & 3 there is illustrated a bite indicator comprising a housing 10 which is adapted to enable a tensioning rod 11 to freely slide through. The tensioning rod 11 is positioned such that its longitudinal axis passes perpendicularly across the operating faces of an infra red emitter D4 and an infra red receiver T4.

In this circuit suitable components for the infra red devices are D4-TIL32, T4-TIL78.

The housing 10 is adapted to provide a facility to enable the attachment and support of the invention to a standard bank stick 17 by, for example, clips, brackets or similar devices (not shown) below a fishing rod 8.

Within the housing 10 is incorporated a facility to house a battery power source 18. The battery 18 is connected via cables to the power input points of a printed circuit board 19 securely fixed within the housing 10.

The operation of the embodiment relies upon infra red signals from the infra red emitter D4 being reflected or not reflected from the surface of the tensioning rod 11 and detected or not detected by the infra red receiver T4. The signals may be achieved by the use of banding of the tensioning rod 11, by incorporating alternate bands of reflective and non reflective materials or surface coating and may be constructed of any materials which either absorb or reflect incidental infra red light.

The tensioning rod 10 is adapted to incorporate a line clip 14 for releasable attachment to the fishing line, and at the lower end of the tensioning rod 10 is a container 16 to which can be added various weights (not shown) for adjusting the sensitivity of the bite indicator to overcome the effects of wind or water drift on the fishing line 15.

Referring to Fig. 4 to avoid discharging the battery 18 too quickly a monostable multivibrator U1B pulses the infra red emitter D4 at approximately 250 Hz. When the tensioning rod is moved, so that a reflective band is across the faces of the infra red devices, the monostable multivibrator U1A detects the pulses at its trigger input when the infra red T4 saturates, due to receiving a reflected infra red signal from the reflective band of the tensioning rod 11.

In turn, transistor T3 conducts and LED D2 lights and the gated oscillator formed by U2D sounds the buzzer BZR. The RS bistable formed by U2B and U2A is then set and LED D1 flashes at about 1.5 Hz.

In this circuit suitable components are: UlA/U1B-4528B, T1-BC516, T2 & T3-BC547, U2A/U2B-4093B.

The sounder BZR and LED D2 are turned off when the tensioning rod 11 moves, such that a non reflective band is positioned over the infra red devices D4 and T4. LED D1 continues to flash until switch SW2 is pushed to reset the circuit to its initial state. The switch SW2 may be a "push to make" type.

A continuous movement of the tensioning rod 11 in either direction will trigger the infra red receiver T4 intermittently as the various reflective and absorbent surfaces of the tensioning rod 11 banding pass across the operating faces of the infra red devices D4 and T4.

Consequently, the bite indicator will provide both light and sound indications that the baited hook has been moved or is moving.

The resistors R11 and R10 set the frequency of the sounder oscillator between 600 and 2500 Hz. A single resistor may be substituted for a fixed frequency or one resistor R10 can be made variable to allow several fishing rods to be used simultaneously each with their respective bite indicators, each with a particular signal tone.

The frequency of these indications clearly indicates not only a bite but the speed of line movement thus indicating "twitches" and "runs" both common types of bite.

Additionally, if the tensioning rod 11 is initially set so that a central non reflective band is across the operating faces of the infra red devices D4 and T4, then the bite indicator will identify either a lifting or lowering of the tensioning rod 11. This will provide indication of a bite whichever the direction in which the baited hook is moved thus providing identification of both "runs" and "drop back" bites.

Claims (8)

1. A bite indicator comprising a housing capable of being supported below a fishing rod, tensioning means including an elongate sensable means having alternate banded surfaces which are infra red reflective and non reflective, the tensioning means being arranged to pass through the housing past an infra red sensor for providing an indicative signal of any movement of the tensioning rod and its speed thereof.

2. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tensioning means is formed as a weighted rod.

3. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the infra red sensor comprises a pulsed infra red emitter and an infra red sensitive receiver.

4. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 3 wherein the output from the infra red receiver is connected via a monostable multivibrator to activate a light emitting diode.

5. A bite indicator as claimed in claims 3 or 4 wherein the output from the infra red receiver is connected via a monostable multivibrator and a gated oscillator to activate an audible buzzer.

6. A bite indicator as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein tbe output from the infra red receiver is connected via a monostable multivibrator and an R/S bistable device to activate a pulsed light emitting diode.

7. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 5 wherein circuit means are interposed between the monostable multivibrator and the R/S bistable device, effective to switch off the pulsed light emitting diode to reset the bite indicator when output from the infra red receiver has stopped.

8. A bite indicator substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 1,2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.