GB2369761A - Bite indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The bite indicator, comprises:<BR> ```a weight portion (21), to be hung, pendulum-like, from a bight in the line (13) and having, projecting from itself, both a pair of stiff springy wires (22) each carrying a ball (23) at its free end and also a clip means (24). The pair of balls are urged into contact by the springiness of the wires and by an adjustable force urging the wires themselves together, so enabling the device to be hung on a line positioned in the cusp between the two balls (Fig 3B). The clip means has two jaw-like members (25) adjustably urged into contact one with the other, so enabling the device to be attached to and hung from a line (Fig 3A). Both the jaws of the clip and the wires are closed by turning tensioning nut (203) to close slot (27).

Description

Bite indicator This invention is concerned with a bite indicator, and relates in particular to a clip-like object to be loosely attached to a rod-borne fishing line so as to hang therefrom somewhere between the reel and the first ring, the movement of which clip-like object provides the fisherman with an indication that a fish has taken the bait.

When fishing it is common practice for a fisherman, having made his cast, to rest his rod on props or supports stuck into the ground so that it projects out over the water and is ready to be picked up when a fish strikes, taking the bait and making off. One reason for using such props is that the fisherman may be fishing with several rods, so that each rod not actually being held is so supported. Of course, if such a supported rod then produces a strike it is desirable for the fisherman to have some clear indication of thisparticularly when, as may often be the case, he is fishing at dusk or after dark, and so cannot easily see the relevant rod-and it is in these circumstances common to affix to each rod, or to the line from the rod, some sort of visible or audible alarm device that the fisherman can see and/or hear and that is activated on a fish taking the bait.

Alarm devices take many different forms, and can be attached and activated in as many different ways. The oldest is probably the simple float, attached to the line and bobbing up and down in water; excessive movement of this is usually an indication that a fish has taken the bait. In the dark, however, it is more convenient to have devices attached not, as the float, towards the hook end of the line but instead at the rod end, and even to the line as it passes from the reel up the rod to and through the first ring, and on to the tip. These devices can carry lights (so as to be more easily seen) as well as generating a sound when moved, and can be designed and supported to indicate not only when a fish strikes and then swims away but also when a fish, having taken the bait into its mouth, simply hangs around, possibly trying to displace the hook and spit out the bait.

One such device is that known as a"running clip".

It is a weight, incorporating a light source, supported by a pair of stiff but springy wires (or wire-like arms) at the free ends of which is a pair of balls (like large ball-bearings) urged into contact by the springiness of the wires. The weight can be hung from the line in a taut bight between the reel and the first ring, like a pendulum, with the line nestling within the cusp between the two balls, and when a fish takes the bait the bight is pulled flatter, making the weight visibly bob up and down, so indicating that something is happening. The degree of force urging the balls together can be adjusted, so the device can made appropriate for any common size and type of line, and as the line is pulled out (when the fish does move off) so the line slips along under the balls (the device tends to remain in much the same position in the bight).

Unfortunately, sometimes the fish's initial movements are so slight-it is simply sitting there, attempting to dislodge the bait/hook-that the up and down movement of the device is almost undetectable. In those circumstances there may, though, be some relatively significant back and forth movement-easily observable in itself albeit giving rise to no readily detectable up and down movement-and for that reason the fisherman may use instead a different sort of weighted indicator, namely that known as a"tight-line clip". Such a device has a clip-like end that actually grips the line, a bit like a clothes peg. In the case of such a device, then, when in use a fish has taken the bait into its mouth and makes a slight movement the device moves along up the rod with the line. As in the device using the spring-loaded balls, the line-gripping effect of the clip is adjustable (to suit the line type and size), and once the fish moves off, pulling the line out, when the device hits the first ring the line is pulled right through and out of the clip so that the device falls off, leaving the line free.

These two different indicator devices have been around for some years, and have, each in their own way, proven very successful. However, they are two-two different devices working in slightly different ways but for much the same reason-and it would be advantageous if they could, as it were, be"combined"into a single device able to be used for both purposes. And that is what the present invention provides-an indicator device that can serve either as an"up-and-down" indicator, hanging from a bight in the line, or as a "back-and-forth"indicator, clipped to the line to reveal its motion as it is pulled out from the reel.

Moreover, the device if the invention is indeed much like a combination of these two different devices, in that it has both the pair of wire-supported balls and the clothes-pin clip, so enabling the fisherman to choose which type of indication he wishes to employ.

In one aspect, therefore, this invention provides a bite indicator, for use in fishing with rod and line (the line being stored on a reel adjacent the rod's handle and extending up the rod through a series of supporting rings positioned therealong) to indicate when a fish seems to have taken the bait, which indicator comprises: a weight portion, to be hung, pendulum-like, from a bight in the line conveniently between reel and first ring, and having, projecting from itself, both a pair of stiff springy wires each carrying a ball at its free end and also a clip means; the pair of balls being urged into contact by the springiness of the wires and by an adjustable force urging the wires themselves together, so enabling the device to be hung on a line positioned in the cusp between the two balls, and the clip means being two jaw-like members adjustably urged into contact one with the other, so enabling the device to be attached to and hung from a line.

The invention provides a bite indicator, for use in fishing with rod and line. The concept of fishing with a rod is well-known and understood, and apart from repeating that the line is (usually) stored on a reel adjacent the rod's handle, and extends up the rod, through a series of supporting rings positioned therealong, to the rod's tip, and thence away to a baitor lure-carrying hook (commonly by way of a float, that in use sits on the surface of the water, and acts as the prime indicator of whether a fish has taken the bait), nothing further needs to be said about it.

The invention's bite indicator comprises a weight portion, to be hung, pendulum-like, from a bight in the line conveniently between reel and first ring. The weight portion is conveniently an elongate cylinder, made of some fairly heavy material (such as brass or a dense plastic), so that it hangs properly.

Projecting from the weight portion is both a pair of stiff springy wires each carrying a ball at its free end and also a clip means. These are essentially the same sort of ball mount and clip means already used in the two separate devices available in the Art; where, as is commonly the case, the weight portion is a cylinder both the ball mount/wires and the clip means project from one end face of that cylinder and in general alignment therewith. In the invention, though, they are used together. Moreover, in the invention they are very conveniently positioned together, projecting from the same face of the weight portion and co-aligned, with the clip means located within and between the balls'wires.

Incidentally, though the"wires"are indeed preferably made from a metal, they can be of a suitable plastic. The balls, too, can be metal or plastic, as thought appropriate. Similarly, the clip means can be of any applicable material, metal or plastic.

In the indicator device of the invention the pair of balls are urged into contact by the springiness of the wires and by an adjustable force urging the wires themselves together. Similarly, the clip means'two jaw-like members are adjustably urged into contact one with the other. This adjustable urging is most conveniently achieved by the same mechanical arrangement of a squeezable slot. Thus, advantageously there is provided a generally elongate cylindrical spigot of some resilient material (such as rubber or resilientlydeformable plastic) that has an axial slot cut into it from one end, to give it a"split"end. First, the thus-formed two sides of the spigot's split end become the two jaws of the clip means, and squeezing the two sides together across the slot reduces the size of the slot and so grips anything-such as a line-positioned between them. Second, if the ends of the wire pair not carrying the balls are mounted into the split end face of the spigot, one wire on one side and the other on the other, it follows that as the two sides are squeezed together so the two wires-and the balls they carryare also squeezed together.

The required"squeezing"can be arranged and achieved in a controllable fashion by tapering the slotted end of the spigot-making it wider at the end and narrower towards the middle-and then mounting it within an aperture into and through which it can be pulled against the tapering, so forcing the spigot's split ends together. This"pulling"is itself advantageously achieved by providing the other end of the spigot with a screw thread, making the aperture the hole through a short sleeve (into which the spigot can be placed with its two ends projecting), and then applying a correspondingly-threaded tensioning nut (or the like) to the projecting end so that it can be drawn in and through as the nut turns against the sleeve.

Such an arrangement is shown in the accompanying Drawings.

The indicator device of the invention can carry a light source, enabling it more easily to be seen in the dark. One convenient such source is a"beta"light-a small phosphorescent light panel powered by a very low level beta-radiation (electrons) source-mounted onto the weight portion (typically into a recess into the side of the sleeve carrying the spigot into which the ball-mounting wires are located).

An embodiment of the invention is now described, though by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic Drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a rod supported by rests on a river bank, the line carrying a bite indicator of the invention; Figure 2 shows an axial section through a bite indicator of the invention; and Figures 3A & B show the two ways of use of a bite indicator of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the use of a bite indicator (11) when fishing with rod (12) and line (13); the line is stored on a reel (14) adjacent the rod's handle (15) and extending up the rod through a series of supporting rings (as 16) positioned therealong.

The indicator, best seen in Figure 2, comprises a weight portion (generally 21), hung, pendulum-like, from a bight (17) in the line conveniently between the reel 14 and the first ring 16, and having, projecting from itself, both a pair of stiff springy wires (22) each carrying a ball (23) at its free end and also a clip means (24). The balls 23 are urged into contact by the springiness of the wires 22, so enabling the device 11 to be hung on a line 13 positioned in the cusp between the two balls 23 (see Figure 3B). The clip means 24 is two jaw-like members (25) adjustably urged into contact one with the other, so enabling the device 11 to be attached to and hung from a line 13 by being gripped therebetween, as shown in Figure 3A.

In Figure 1 the rod is seen supported by two props or rests (18), one at the handle end and one nearer the tip end, planted into the ground of a bank (19) of a river. The line 13 extends from the reel 14 along the rod 12, by way of the rings 16, and thence into the water by way of a float (101). At the very end of the line is the baited hook (102). The indicator 17 hangs in the bite 17 of the line; if, in use, a fish takes the bait, then the line is pulled out a little, the bight 17 flattens out, and the indicator is either lifted up a little, if it's being hung in the balls'cusp (as in Figure 3B), or it's moved fractionally up the rod (to the left as viewed), if it's being grasped by the clip (as in Figure 3A). If, as the line is pulled out, the indicator reaches the first ring 16, then it is knocked off the line, and falls to the ground, restrained by the safety chain (103).

In the indicator device of the invention the pair of balls 23 are urged into contact by the springiness of the wires 22 and by an adjustable force urging the wires themselves together. Similarly, the clip means'two jaw-like members 25 are adjustably urged into contact one with the other. This adjustable urging is achieved by the same mechanical arrangement of a squeezable slot.

Thus, the weight portion includes a generally elongate cylindrical spigot (26) of resilient material that has an axial slot (27) cut into it from one end, to give it a"split"end (28). First, the thus-formed two sides 25 of the spigot's split end 28 become the two jaws of the clip means, and squeezing the two sides together across the slot 27 reduces the size of the slot and so grips anything-such as a line 13-positioned between them.

Second, the ends of the wire pair 22 not carrying the balls 23 are mounted into the split end face 28 of the spigot, one wire on one side and the other on the other, so that as the two sides 25 are squeezed together so the two wires 22-and the balls they carry-are also squeezed together.

In the embodiment shown the required"squeezing"is arranged and achieved in a controllable fashion by tapering the slotted end 28 of the spigot-making it wider at the end and narrower towards the middle-and then mounting it within an aperture (29) into and through which it can be pulled against the tapering, so forcing the spigot's split ends together. This "pulling"is achieved by providing the other end of the spigot 26 with a screw thread (201), making the aperture 29 the hole through a short sleeve (202), into which the spigot can be placed with its two ends projecting, and then applying a correspondingly-threaded tensioning nut (203), or the like, to the projecting end so that the spigot 26 can be drawn in and through as the nut 203 turns against the sleeve 202.

In the embodiment shown the sleeve 202 has a recess (204) in which is carried a small beta light (205), by which the indicator may be more easily seen in the dark. The rod is also provided with a small indexing mark (206) against which the indicator can in use be aligned, so facilitating the appreciation of the indicator's and thus the line's, movement.

Claims (11)

1. Claims 1. A bite indicator, for use in fishing with rod and line (the line being stored on a reel adjacent the rod's handle and extending up the rod through a series of supporting rings positioned therealong) to indicate when a fish seems to have taken the bait, which indicator comprises: a weight portion, to be hung, pendulum-like, from a bight in the line conveniently between reel and first ring, and having, projecting from itself, both a pair of stiff springy wires each carrying a ball at its free end and also a clip means; the pair of balls being urged into contact by the springiness of the wires and by an adjustable force urging the wires themselves together, so enabling the device to be hung on a line positioned in the cusp between the two balls, and the clip means being two jaw-like members adjustably urged into contact one with the other, so enabling the device to be attached to and hung from a line.
2. 2. An indicator as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the weight portion is an elongate cylinder, made of some fairly heavy material.
3. 3. An indicator as claimed in Claim 2, wherein both the ball mount/wires and the clip means project from one end face of the cylinder and in general alignment therewith.
4. 4. An indicator as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the ball mount/wires are very conveniently positioned together, projecting from the same face of the weight portion and co-aligned, with the clip means located within and between the balls'wires.
5. 5. An indicator as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the adjustable urging of the pair of balls and of wires together, and of the clip means'two jaw-like members, is achieved by the same mechanical arrangement of a squeezable slot.
6. 6. An indicator as claimed in Claim 5, wherein there is provided a generally elongate cylindrical spigot of resilient material that has an axial slot cut into it from one end, to give it a"split"end, such that the thus-formed two sides of the spigot's split end form the two jaws of the clip means, and such that squeezing the two sides together across the slot reduces the size of the slot and so grips anything positioned between them, and the ends of the wire pair not carrying the balls are mounted into the split end face of the spigot, one wire on one side and the other on the other, such that as the two sides are squeezed together so the two wires-and the balls they carry-are also squeezed together.
7. 7. An indicator as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the required"squeezing"is arranged and achieved in a controllable fashion by tapering the slotted end of the spigot-making it wider at the end and narrower towards the middle-and then mounting it within an aperture into and through which it can be pulled against the tapering, so forcing the spigot's split ends together.
8. 8. An indicator as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the "pulling"is itself achieved by providing the other end of the spigot with a screw thread, making the aperture the hole through a short sleeve (into which the spigot can be placed with its two ends projecting), and then applying a correspondingly-threaded tensioning nut to the projecting end so that it can be drawn in and through as the nut turns against the sleeve.
9. 9. An indicator as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, which carries a light source.
10. 10. An indicator as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the light source is a"beta"light mounted onto the weight portion (typically into a recess into the side of the sleeve carrying the spigot into which the ball-mounting wires are located).
11. 11. A bite indicator as claimed in any of the preceding Claims and substantially as described hereinbefore.