GB2344266A

GB2344266A - Line tensioning device

Info

Publication number: GB2344266A
Application number: GB9826578A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Romang
Original assignee: Delkim Products Ltd
Current assignee: Delkim Products Ltd
Priority date: 1998-12-04
Filing date: 1998-12-04
Publication date: 2000-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-04
Also published as: GB9826578D0; GB2344266B

Abstract

A line tensioning device is disclosed that comprises a pivotable arm 24, a line clip 32 for releasably securing the free end of the arm to a fishing line 14, and a weight 26 mounted movably along the arm, the distance of the weight from the pivot point of the arm serving to vary the tension in the fishing line 14. The weight 26 is freely slidable along the arm 24 and a stop 28 is provided on the arm 24 to limit the movement of the weight 26 along the arm 24 in the direction of the pivot point.

Description

Line Tensioning Device Field of the invention The present invention relates to a device for tensioning a fishing line and providing an indication of line movement.

Background of the invention When angling, using a method commonly known as legering, the rod is placed on a rod rest and it is usual to attach a weight to the line between the rod support and the fishing reel or between two rod rings to set the line tension and provide visual indication. Such a weight can be hung on the line or it can be mounted to slide up and down on a vertical needle as the fish takes the bait on the line.

A further known line tensioning device comprises an arm pivotably mounted on the rod support and attached to the line by means of line clip that is released automatically when the rod is lifted off the rod support. The arm can be sprung at the pivot point or it may resiliently flexible but most simply it carries a weight that can slide up and down the arm to set the line tension. In such line tensioning devices, the weight is designed to grip the arm frictionally so that once the desired line tension has been set the weight does not move along the arm unintentionally.

In all these known forms of line tensioning device, as well as setting the line tension, the device provides a visual indication when the fish moves the takes the bait. if the fish moves away from the fishing rod, the line tension increases and the weight rises whereas it the fish moves with the bait towards the fishing rod, the line tensioning device moves downward to take up the slack in the line.

The weight and the line tension is ideally adjustable and light enough so that the line should not be detectable by the fish but heavy enough to overcome the effects of wind, current and undertow. Hitherto, when setting the position of the weight along the swinging arm, it was necessary to achieve a compromise between these conflicting requirements.

Object of the invention The present invention seeks to provide a line tensioning device that applies a light line tension when line is being drawn from the reel of a fishing rod but applies an increased line tension to take up slack in the line during a drop back.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention, there is provided a line tensioning device that comprises a pivotable arm, a line clip for releasably securing the free end of the arm to a fishing line, and a weight mounted movably along the arm, the distance of the weight from the pivot point of the arm serving to vary the tension in the fishing line, wherein the weight is freely slidable along the arm and a stop is provided on the arm to limit the movement of the weight along the arm in the direction of the pivot point.

If desired, a second stop may be provided to set limit the position of the weight away from the pivot point.

In the invention, the weight is freely slidable along the arm instead of being frictionally connected to it, such as by a resilient grommet. As a result, when the arm is inclined upwards relative to the horizontal the weight sits near the pivot point and does not apply much tension to the line. However, during a drop back, once the arm pivots to a position in which it is inclined downwards, the weight slides along the arm under the action of gravity and automatically increases the line tension.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a line tensioning device of the invention in its normal position, Figure 2 shows the line tensioning device of Figure 1 when a drop back occurs, and Figure 3 shows an alternative design of line tensioning device suitable for use with a fishing rod resting in any upwardly inclined position.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments The Figures show a fishing rod 16 supported on an electronic bite indicator 12 which is itself mounted on a bank stick 10. The line 14 of the fishing rod passes over a sensing element of the bite indicator 12 and is taken up on a reel (not shown) located on the rod 16 to the right of the drawings.

A line tensioning device generally designated 20 has a rigid mounting bracket 22 that fits on the bank stick 10 below the mounting of the bite indicator 12. An arm 24, which is conveniently cranked in the manner illustrated, is pivoted at one end on the mounting bracket 22 and its other end carries a line clip 32 (not shown in detail) that grips the fishing line 14 but releases it automatically when the rod 16 is raised off its support on the bite indicator. A weight 26 is mounted for sliding movement along the arm 24 and its movement is limited by two grommets 28 and 30 that frictionally grip the arm 24.

Line tensioning devices using a weight that can be variable positioned on a pivoting arm are well known but conventionally the position of the weight is fixed and does not change with the attitude of the arm. By contrast, in the present invention, the weight 26 is freely slidable along the arm 24 under the action of gravity and its position along the arm 24 will vary with the attitude of the arm.

Hence, in Figure 1 when the arm 24 is inclined upwards, the weight 26 slides along the arm 24 towards its pivot axis until it is brought to a halt by the grommet 28. On the other hand, when the arm is inclined downwards, as shown in Figure 2, the weight 26 slides towards the line clip 32 until it is brought to a halt by the grommet 30.

By virtue of the ability of the weight 26 to slide along the arm 24 the tension applied by the device to the fishing line 14 varies automatically with the direction of line movement.

With the weight 26 in the position shown in Figure 1, the arm applies little downward force to the line. Indeed, the purpose of the cranked end of the arm 24 is to allow the weight 26 to move to a position where the downward force applied by the arm to the line 14 is zero or even negative.

In this position, if a fish should take the bait on the end of the line and move with it away from the rod, the line tension will not be easily noticed. The fish movement will itself increase the line tension therefore raising the arm and indicating the bite to the angler. This is in addition to the indication provided by the electronic bite indicator 12 that responds to line movement rather than line tension.

If the on the other hand the fish should move towards the rod 16, the line 14 will drop back gently because the movement of the fish will act to reduce line tension and arm 24 will rotate clockwise as viewed into the position shown in Figure 2. Once the arm 24 is inclined below the horizontal, the weight 26 will slide to its other limit position thereby increasing the line tension. The movement of the arm 24 will serve as a drop back indication and in addition the increased tension will ensure that the line remains in contact with sensing element of the bite indicator 12 so that the latter may also provide an audible and visual indication of line movement.

The grommets 28 and 30 are themselves slidable along the arm 24 thereby enabling the tensions applied normally and during drop back to be adjusted independently of one another.

It is not essential for the arm 24 to be cranked as it is always deemed desirable to apply a downwards for force to the line 14. Also, if the weight is provided longitudinal recess, its centre of gravity can move beyond the pivot point without the need for a cranked arm.

It is important for the part of the arm along which the weight 26 slides to be horizontal in the set position. When fishing with the rod pointing upwards it may be necessary to provide an extension to the mounting bracket of the swinging arm to ensure that the arm 24 can be kept horizontal with the attachment to the line becoming too close to or coming into contact with the rod. Such an alternative construction is shown in Figure 3 where the mounting bracket can be seen to have an extension 40. As a further possibility, an extension may be provided on the arm 24 rather than on the mounting bracket, the important point being to maintain the section of the arm 24 carrying the weight 26 substantially horizontal during use.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A line tensioning device comprising a pivotable arm, a line clip for releasably securing the free end of the arm to a fishing line, and a weight mounted movably along the arm, the distance of the weight from the pivot point of the arm serving to vary the tension in the fishing line, characterised in that the weight is freely slidable along the arm and a stop is provided on the arm to limit the movement of the weight along the arm in the direction of the pivot point.
2. A line tensioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second stop is provided to set limit the position of the weight away from the pivot point.
3. A line tensioning device constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.