GB2323006A - Bite indicator for fishing - Google Patents

Abstract

A bite indicator comprising means (1) for receiving or supporting a fishing rod; an arm (3), pivotally mounted so as to pivot about a pivot point when the rod moves in one or more directions, and; means (5) for detecting the speed and/or direction of pivoting to indicate a bite.

Description

BITE INDICATOR FOR FISHING This invention relates to a bite indicator for fishing. In particular, it relates to a bite indicator for the fishing technique known as quiver tip or 'the method' in which the bite of a fish is not indicated by a line being pulled out of a reel, as with most types of fishing, but instead in which the bite causes a quiver of the end of a very long, thin, flexible rod to which the line is attached. This causes slight movements of the end of the rod. Up to now, this type of fishing has necessitated careful watching of the end of the rod by the fisherman. Over long periods of time, this can become tiring for the fisherman, particularly as the fisherman partaking of this type of fishing often sets up another line at the same time and may not be able to continually watch one of the lines alone.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bite indicator for this type of fishing apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided bite indicator comprising means for receiving or supporting a fishing rod; an arm, pivotally mounted so as to pivot about a pivot point when the rod moves in one or more directions, and; means for detecting the speed and/or direction of pivoting to indicate a bite. C, The apparatus is such that transverse movements of the end of the rod cause movement of the support and thereby cause pivoting of the arm, thus causing rotation of a means such as a shaft, which is detected and used to indicate whether a bite has occurred.

Preferably, the apparatus is provided with speed discrimination means such that only rotary movements above a certain speed are indicated, since a bite normally involves a certain minimum speed of movement, thus avoiding false readings.

The arm may be of variable length to alter the sensitivity.

A resilient means may be provided for providing a resilient return force when the arm has been displaced sideways to cause the arm to tend to move back to a central position.

The means for supporting or receiving a fishing rod is preferably mounted for free rotational movement with respect to the arm such that its relative angle with respect to the arm can alter as the angle of the rod changes so as not to damage the rod or line.

The means for detecting the rotary movement of the shaft (and thereby speed/direction) may comprise a potentiometer-type device, in which the rotary shaft acts to vary the resistance or may be any other kind of transducer mechanism, such as a dielectric moving between two plates, infrared or other types of radiation passing through apertures in a wheel; a mechanical, electrical, optical or other shaft encoder; magnetic means moving through inductive loops, reed switches, Hall effect integrated circuits or other means.

The support on which the arm pivots may be a Ushaped bracket which may itself be connected to a further support member by means of adjustable pivot.

According to the present invention there is further provided a bite indicator comprising any one or more of the novel features hereindescribed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a bite indicator device; Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in situ with a fishing rod mounted upon it; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the fishing rod and bite detector when a fish has bitten; Figure 4 shows an electronic circuit; and Figure 5 shows a facia display.

Referring to Figure 1, a bite indicator comprises a generally U-shaped support 1 in which a fishing rod (not shown in the figure) is received.

Support 1 preferably has a recess 2 at its lower part in which the fishing line suspended from the rod is accommodated, so that the line is not compressed against the rod. The U-shaped support 1 is mounted to one end of an arm 3 in such a way that it is freely rotatable with respect to the arm, in the same way that a pedal on a bicycle for example is rotatable with regard to the pedal arm so that as a rod is moved with respect to the arm the support 1 can rotate with the rod so as not to snap the rod. Support 2 may be mounted by any conventional mechanism, such as a pin, to the end of the arm 3 so as to be freely rotatable. Arm 3 is preferably comprised of two or more portions 3a, 3b which are telescopically arranged with respect to each other so that its length can be varied. In one example, the total length of the arm is variable between about 4 inches and about 12 inches (about 10 to 30 centimetres), although this may be varied as desired. Other ways of varying the length may be used.

The other end of arm 3 is pivotally connected to a fixed support 4 so that side ways movement of U-shaped member 1 tends to cause the arm to pivot about a shaft 5.

Fixed support 4 is preferably mounted to a base (not shown) by an adjustable pivot or may be directly affixed to the ground.

The pivoted end of arm 3 is arranged such that its rotation causes rotation of a shaft 5, the rotation of which is detected by any suitable transducer mechanism.

This may be any type of transducer and various examples are described below: The shaft 5, or a member attached to it, may form part of a potentiometer, of which the resistance varies as the shaft turns. This is a simple and effective way of detecting movement of the shaft. Alternatively, rotation may be detected by means of a dielectric moving between two plates or by detecting the deflection or presence/absence of light beams, such as infrared beams from infrared LEDs for example, shone through holes in an apertured wheel or other means. Alternatively, a mechanical, electrical, optical or magnetic shafting coder may be used. Other methods may involve a magnet moving with respect to an inductive loop, reed switches, Hall effect integrated circuits, and many other means.

Ultimately, a signal is generated representative of the degree and speed of rotation (ie pivoting) of the arm with respect to rigid support 4.

The bite of a fish in quiver tip fishing represents a definite movement of the rod above a particular speed. It is thus highly desirable that movements of the rod at a slower speed are generally discounted since this may be accidental, caused by currents, winds, and so on. A speed threshold detector may then be incorporated which ignores detected rotations of less than a certain threshold speed and only acts upon rotations occurring at greater than this threshold speed.

If such a rotation occurs, then the apparatus is arranged to provide a signal, either audible, visual or both to a user to indicate that a fish has probably bitten. This may be illumination of a LEDs or various other types of displays and/or by an audible warning from a sounder, bells, etc.

Bearings 6 are provided in the shaft assembly at the pivot point of the arm to increase sensitivity so that any deflection of the tip of a rod, also causes corresponding rotation of the arm about its pivot. The sensitivity may be varied by altering the relative position of the arm with respect to the end of the rod and also by altering the length of the arm itself when the arm is one of variable length as shown. Clearly, the longer the arm, and the greater the sensitivity to lateral movements of U-shaped support 1.

The apparatus may also include a return spring or other resilient means 7. This is used to provide a resilient return force when the arm pivots from its central position in line with a rod. This is achieved by suspending the spring or other resilient member between the rotatable shaft and a point on the fixed support 4 such that as the shaft rotates the member tends to provide a resilient return force. Other means of providing this return force may be provided. The resilient member is also useful for situations such as drop-back.

The system may detect both forward and back bites and in one example a back bite may be distinguished by, for example, a different coloured LED illuminating or a different sound.

Support 4 has an adjustable pivot 7, of adjustable angle so that it may be mounted upon ground which does not lie horizontal but so that the arm still lies in a horizontal position.

Figure 2 shows a device in situ and shows a rod 8 supported on a first fixed support 9 and, also, nearer its tip, by a bite indicating device 10 of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 3, when a fish bites, the tip 11 of the rod tends to move at a fairly high speed to one side or the other. This causes an equivalent rotation of arm 3 from doted to solid positions shown and this can be detected by a movement of the corresponding shaft 5. In fact, the arm 3 may rotate through up 180 . Clearly, the U-shaped support 1 needs to be able to rotate with respect to the arm such that as the rod moves the member 1 also moves with it, thus avoiding the danger of snapping the rod.

Figure 4 shows an electronic circuit for detecting the rotation and speed of the shaft. In this case, a potentiometer type method is used in which rotation of the shaft varies the resistance across a potentiometer. A speed threshold detector 12 is used to set a threshold speed below which movements are ignored.

Movements which are not ignored are passed to an operational amplifier 13 of variable gain. This allows both positive and negative signals to pass, by virtue of diodes 14 and 15 and can thus detect rotational movements in both directions. The amplified detection signals are applied to illuminate an LED 16. Signals are also applied via frequency and volume setting circuitry to a sounder such as a piezoelectric buzzer 17. The frequency of the sounder may, in one embodiment, be variable between 2.5 to 3.5 kilohertz.

The circuit of Figure 4 is only one of many circuits that may be used in embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates an optional display which provides for adjustment of the speed, sensitivity, the pitch and volume of detected signals and also incorporates and LED and a sounder on the display 18.

Claims (12)

1. A bite indicator comprising means for receiving or supporting a fishing rod; an arm, pivotally mounted so as to pivot about a pivot point when the rod moves in one or more directions, and; means for detecting the speed and/or direction of pivoting to indicate a bite.

2. A bite indicator as claimed in Claim 1, including a shaft operatively connected to the arm to rotate as the arm pivots, and means for detecting movement of the shaft.

3. A bite indicator as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2, including speed discrimination means for only indicating a bite if a rotary movement above a threshold speed is detected.

4. A bite indicator as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the threshold speed is selectably variable.

5. A bite indicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arm is of variable length.

6. A bite indicator as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for providing a resilient return force upon pivoting of the arm.

7. A bite indicator as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the resilient return force providing means is a return spring.

8. A bite indicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for supporting or receiving the fishing rod is mounted for free rotational movement with respect to the arm.

9. A bite indicator as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the supporting or receiving means is generally U-shaped.

10. A bite indicator as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the arm pivots with respect to a support which is connected to a further support member by an adjustable pivot.

11. A bite indicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for detecting movement comprises a potentiometer-type device.

12. A bite indicator substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.