GB2394635A

GB2394635A - Fish bite detector for tight line fishing

Info

Publication number: GB2394635A
Application number: GB0225046A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Sams
Original assignee: TOP FLIGHT PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: TOP FLIGHT PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-28
Filing date: 2002-10-28
Publication date: 2004-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-28
Also published as: GB2394635B; GB2394877B; GB2394877A; GB0225046D0

Abstract

A fish bite indicator 10 for tight line fishing comprising a plurality of sensors 20, 30, 40 each arranged to detect force applied to a rod, a controller 50 arranged to accept the output from a selected combination of the sensors and an alarm 90. The controller is arranged to trigger the alarm if a valid output indicating a force is received by the controller from each of the selected combination of sensors within a predetermined time period. The sensors can be any form of sensor such as a piezo-electric sensor or a vibration sensor. A fishing rod mount is also claimed comprising a plurality of rod locators arranged to accept a fishing rod. The mount is connected to a surface via a yoke which allows the mount to pivot about horizontal and vertical axis.

Description

Fish Bite Indicator Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fish bite indicators for use in tight line fishing.

Background to the Invention

Fishing in lakes, reservoir, ponds, rivers, and streams is popular for catching fresh water fish such as carp, tench, barbel, chub, pike, etc. Also, fishing in the sea is popular for such species as cod, bass, rays, conger eel, plaice, whiting, truss and many 10 other types of fish. Fishing at night allows avid fishermen time for their sport outside the normal work day hours. A normal sequence of events for fishing may comprise the steps of: acquiring tackle, locating and moving to a shore or stream bank in close proximity to where the desired fish are thought to be, casting out the bait, setting the fishing rod or rods (in many cases more than one fishing rod is used) onto the ground 15 or a stand with the line still cast into the water, and then waiting while closely watching for a movement in the fishing rod or line, or holding the line to feel the movement indicating a fish biting. If a bite occurring is sensed, the person fishing picks up the fishing rod, strikes and hopefully hooks the fish and reels the fish in.

20 The period of time waiting for a fish to bite on a bait may be short or can take many hours, so holding the lines or the fishing rods can become be very tedious, and in the case of the use of multiple fishing rods, impossible. Therefore, most people that fish desire devices and methods that provide easily read bite signals.

25 Watching a fishing rod constantly for long periods to detect a particular movement can be very tiring and stressful on the eyes. People fishing at night often sit down, doze, or walk around, not always being close to or constantly watching their fishing rods or lines or signal devices. During these times of inattention, a fish bite can go undetected especially in the dark or other low light conditions. For these and other 30 reasons, a simple bite indicator that records a change caused by a fish's biting, as well as showing the instance of the bite, has long been desired.

Bite indicators for use by anglers have been available for a considerable time. A float, for instance, is a bite indicator. There also exist flexible indicators that attach to the

rod tip such as a quiver tip and swing tip. Bite indicators also come in the form of bobbins for attachment to the line between the line-guides (rod rings) and bells or small lights for clipping on to the rod tip.

5 In the last thirty years or so electronics has played a major part in the way anglers fish in still water such as lakes, reservoirs, ponds, particularly by the specimen angler when fishing for large fish, especially carp.

However, there has not been the same advancement in the fishing of moving waters.

10 In the sea and some rivers, the effects of tide, current, wave action, wind, and other extraneous forces make the use of a bite indicator difficult and unpredictable.

There are basically two types of fishing that are conducive to the use of electronic bite detection. 15 À Slack line fishing - the line from reel to rod tip has some surplus line that can be drawn through the rod rings (line guides) by a fish taking the bait. There are a number of successful ways of detecting this line movement, including electronic bite indicators.

À Tight line fishing- the line from reel to weight or sinker is kept taught by 20 design or by the strength of the tide or current. There is no known successful electronic bite indicator for tight-line fishing available to date that can detect a fish taking the bait whilst ignoring all other movement caused by tide, current, wave action, wind and other extraneous sources.

25 In some rod mounted designs, if a fish moves the baited hook in toward the fishing rod, a slack line will be created. With a slack line, fish movement of the hook cannot cause the tip of the fishing rod to move and will not provide an indication of a bite or an indication that a bite ever occurred. In addition, slight vibrations of the rod tip can be felt by a light biting fish, and it may be scared from biting before the person fishing 30 can pick up the fishing rod and set the hook.

Many known indicator devices are attached to the fishing rod. These tend to be bulky and add weight and awkwardness to the fishing rod. With such devices, getting the

proper line pull tension is difficult and unreliable. Too much line pull tension and the devise will not detect a bite; too little line tension and the devise will not hold the line in windy conditions and will give a false alarm.

5 Also known from the prior art is a fishing rod holder that is tilted by the pull of the

fish. The tilt causes electrical contacts in a normally open switch to close and thus lights a signal lamp. This type of signal device does not indicate when slack line is created by the fish coming toward the fishing rod so that there is no pull on the fishing rod to trigger the alarm. Also a light-biting fish can feel the unnatural tripping tension 10 at the same time the alarm is set, thereby not giving the person fishing a chance to pick up the fishing rod and set the hook.

Statement of Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fish bite indicator 15 for tight line fishing comprising a plurality of sensors each arranged to detect force applied to a rod, a controller arranged to accept the output from a selected combination of the sensors and an alarm, wherein the controller is arranged to trigger the alarm if a valid output indicating a force is received by the controller from each of the selected combination of sensors within a predetermined time period.

The present invention seeks to provide a bite indicator for angling that is capable of detecting fish bites in tight-line fishing.

All fish bites cause movement to rod and line but not all movement is caused by fish 25 taking the bait. The present invention seeks to provide an indicator that is capable distinguishing a fish bite from all other movement.

In angling, it is quite normal to have more than one influence on the line at anyone time. For instance, when fishing from the beach at around high tide on a windy day, 30 the unwanted movements/vibrations to be discounted include: the flow of the current, waves crashing down on the line and gusts of wind blowing rod, line and rod support about. From this mixture of signals, the angler has to detect a fish taking the bait.

The present invention seeks to provide the differentiation function electronically.

Preferably, at least one of the sensors comprises a piezo-electric sensor. Preferably, at least one of the sensors comprises a vibration sensor. Preferably, at least one of the sensors comprises a force sensing resistor.

5 Preferably the fish bite indicator further comprises a rod mount arranged to accept the rod. The rod mount may be connected to a yoke for mounting the mount on a surface, the yoke including first and second pivots, the first pivot rotating about a substantially 10 horizontal axis and the second pivot rotating about a substantially vertical axis. The yoke may further comprise a comector for attachment to a tripod or rod stand for -mounting the mount on the surface. The mount may include plurality of rod locators for accepting the rod. The mount may include an antenna including at least one of the rod locators. At least one of the sensors is preferably in communication with the 15 antenna to detect force applied to the antenna. Preferably, the sensors and rod locators are arranged such that a mounted rod is substantially aligned with the sensors.

Preferably, the controller includes a filter arranged to indicate a valid output only if detected forces are of a magnitude and frequency of a predetermined value or greater.

Preferably, the controller includes a processor arranged to compare valid outputs and trigger the alarm only if a valid output is detected from each selected sensor within the predetermined time period. Preferably, the controller comprises a microprocessor such as a fuzzy logic controller.

The indicator can be used as a stand alone unit or connect via a radio or other remote link to a base-station capable of receiving input signals from a number of indicators.

A remote handset may be provided for setting various parameters of the indicator. On setting the indicator by the remote handset, it is preferable that the base-station is 30 automatically set to the same parameters, for example by radio transmission or via a connecting lead.

Preferably, the base-station will transmit bite indications via a remote link such as a radio link to a bleeper or other remote audible warning device.

All movement of rod and line can be considered to be vibration, pressure and energy; the difficulty is to differentiate between a fish taking the bait from ambient conditions.

In one of the three aspects of the present invention, a vibration detector passes 5 vibration signals to a frequency analyser to analyse the different frequencies being picked up before sending predetermined frequency or frequencies for processing by an indication detector. As in all angling, conditions can range from being dead calm to extremely rough. Therefore, the angler has to have control over the frequency analyser, using his observations and experience to adjust it according to conditions.

10 These adjustments would be stored in memory and used by the frequency analyser.

When used in tight line fishing, one embodiment of the present invention uses inputs from a piezo-electric (energy) sensing element, a vibration sensor, and force sensing resistor, selectable individually or in any combination. Each sensor can be adjusted 15 for sensitivity and base line voltage can be adjusted to ignore low end sensitivity. A microprocessor may be used to take average readings so that unwanted movement caused by waves, tide or current etc. can be excluded, the microprocessor will only create an output when conditions on all selected sensors are met.

20 In this embodiment, the fish bite indicator uses multiple input sensors and has controllable parameters for each sensor so that it can be adjusted to suit all types of fishing and weather conditions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

25 Examples of the present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure l is a schematic diagram of a tight-line fish bite indicator according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a housing and yoke incorporating the 30 bite indicator of Figure l; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 in the line A-A; and, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 in the line B-B.

Detailed Description

Figure l is a schematic diagram of a tight-line fish bite indicator according to one aspect of the present invention.

The tight line fish bite indicator lO includes a plurality of sensors 20, 30, 40. The 5 sensors 20, 30, 40 are coupled to a controller 50. Outputs from the sensors 20, 30, 40 can be used individually or in any combination by the controller 50. Each sensor 20, 30, 40 can be adjusted for sensitivity and base line voltage can be adjusted to ignore low end sensitivity, this allows the unit to run at a high level of sensitivity and be able to ignore unwanted low level movement.

Via the controller SO, the one, two or all three of the sensors 20, 30, 40 can be selected in combination to detect bites. When a vibration is detected by one of the sensors 20, 30, 40, the output signal of the sensor is passed to the controller 50. Upon receiving a signal, the controller determines if the signal satisfies predetermined sensitivity 15 criteria. If the signals passing the respective predetermined sensitivity criteria are received from all of the selected combination of sensors 20, 30, 40 then a bite is indicated to the user via an alarm 90.

The controller may be used to take average sensor readings so that unwanted 20 movement caused by waves, tide or current etc. can be excluded, the microprocessor will only create an output when conditions on all selected sensors are met.

Preferably, the sensors are: a piezo-electric sensor 20, a motion or vibration sensor 30 (such as a tilt switch or Dimorph sensor), and force sensing resistor 40.

In operation, the sensors 20, 30, 40 are mounted in or on a housing lOO arranged to accept a fishing rod. The sensors are positioned so as to detect vibration at various points along the fishing rod. By mounting the sensors 20, 30, 40 in or on the housing lOO, various rods can be easily interchanged and used with the system. Performance, 30 weight and other characteristics of the rods are not affected by having cumbersome sensor arrangements attached to the rod itself.

The vibration sensor 30 is mounted closest to the handle and reel end of the rod and detects vibration from all motions in and shocks to the rod. The vibration sensor 30 is

calibrated by the sensitivity control and then baseline is adjusted to ignore low-level noise. The output value of this sensor is used in conjunction with the other sensors.

The force sensing resistor 40 is mounted next closest to the handle and reel end of the 5 rod and detects downward pressure on the rod. Pressure level can be adjusted, as can the baseline to eliminate small rod movements such as the gradual pulling experienced from waves.

The piezo-electric sensor 20 is mounted furthest from the handle of the reel end of the 10 rod and generates a voltage from the movement in the rod. This voltage is amplified (the gain of the amplifier is adjustable) and fed back to the microprocessor where a baseline adjustment can be applied to eliminate unwanted low-end voltages. The advantage of using this element is that high voltages only come from rapid movement.

15 The controller 50 includes a vibration detector GO, a frequency analyser 70 and an indication detector 80 the vibration detector 60 receives signals from the sensors 20, 30, 40, and passes vibration signals to the frequency analyser 70 to analyse the different frequencies being picked up. One or more predetermined frequencies are extracted from the signals and are passed to the indication detector 80.

The vibration detector 60 acts as a filter that only passes signals representing vibrations of a predetermined or greater magnitude and frequency. The frequency analyser 70 averages the signals to a voltage and the indication detector 80 then processes the signals and indicates a bite, by activating the alarm 90, only if 25 appropriate signals come from all of the selected sensors within a predetermined time frame. In one embodiment, the controller 50 may be a microprocessor including a fuzzy logic chip. Each sensor output is fed to a comparator. The comparator compares the signal 30 from the sensor against a predetermined base line value. The microprocessor checks all selected sensor outputs simultaneously and if all selected sensor outputs are above the baseline value, it sends the outputs to a multiple input AND gate to ensure all selected sensors have active, valid, outputs at the same time. This triggers a timer which turns on the output to activate the alarm for a predetermined time, which also

turns on a oscillator (which is adjustable 300-3000hz), this produces a beep from the alarm 90. A second output may also be turned on using the same timing sequence for another alarm such as an LED 5 Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a housing and yoke incorporating the bite indicator of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 in the line A A and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 in the line B-B.

The housing 100 includes rod locators 110 and 120. Rod locator 130 is mounted on 10 an antenna 140 which in turn is mounted on the housing 100. Rod locators 120 and 1 10 are mounted on the housing 100.

The piezo-electric sensor 20 is mounted on the housing 100 and the forcesensing resistor 40 is mounted under a portion of the antenna 140. The vibration sensor 30 is 15 mounted on the housing 100 at the end of the antenna 140. When the rod (not shown) is mounted in the rod locators 110, 120, 130, vibration from the rod is detected by the sensors and processed in a manner discussed above. In particular it will be appreciated that when a fish bites a rod mounted in the mount 100, a downward motion of the rod will be caused which will be translated into a downward force on 20 the antenna 140 which in turn will be registered by the piezo-electric sensor 20 and the force sensing resistor 40. The downward force on the antenna 140 will also cause the antenna 140 to flex at the point of the vibration sensor 30 which will also register the vibration.

The yoke 150 includes a first rotational pivot 160 and a second rotational pivot 170.

Preferably, the axis of the first pivot 160 is perpendicular to the axis of the second pivot 170. The yoke includes a connector 180 for connection to a tripod, bankstick or the like.

Motion of the two pivots 160, 170, ensures the correct line-up of the fishing rod in relation to the antennae. Pivot 160 can be restricted after casting out the baited end terminal tackle and setting the fishing rod into the housing, to prevent the unit from rocking by the action of the rod caused by extraneous forces such as tide or current.

Whilst the sensors have been described and illustrated in a particular configuration and position on the yoke and housing, it will be appreciated that the positioning and ordering of the sensors could be changed without difficulty.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of bite indicators are connected to a remote base unit via a radio link or the like. The functions of each bite indicator can be monitored and set from the base unit or via a remote control hand set.

10 To be able to mute the sound output when the angler is setting up his rods either at the start of fishing or after casting after re-baiting would be more environmentally friendly especially at night. One way of achieving this is to switch the sensor off during setting up, the trouble in doing this is the angler could forget to switch it back on again, this could not only cause him to miss a fish but could also cause his rod to 15 be pulled into the water and possibly lost. To overcome this, a mute Volume circuit with auto off is used, which will allow the sensor volume to be muted for a predetermined number of seconds and then to reset back to the previously set volume level. In use, the switch to activate the mute circuit would be pressed once to mute the volume for the predetermined number of seconds, twice to double the number of 20 seconds, and three or more times to increase the number of by the number of times the switch is pressed.

The purpose of an audible indication is to alert the angler of a bite when it occurs but it is not desirable to have it sounding at full blast once this is done, to overcome this a 25 volume control circuit is used to set the volume level to be constant or to select the level of volume for a predetermined number of seconds and then change to a lower set volume level at which it remains for as long as the bite continues, re- setting back after a predetermined number of seconds of inactivity.

30 Items of fishing tackle are often stolen whilst the angler is asleep in his angler's tent or away from his tackle. In order to mitigate this, the indicator, when connected from its output socket to the input socket of the base unit by a lead, will set an alarm that will sound if the lead is disconnected or cut. Alternatively or in addition, a wireless proximity alarm sends a signal to the base station when the unit is outside that of the

user defined range. The controller 50 may send out a periodic code to the base-

station, if the base station does not receive the code in the specified time an alarm siren will activate. In addition, or separately, a tilt switch could be set to trigger the alarm if the base station or bite indicator (housing) was moved from a predetermined 5 plane/position.

Claims

1. A fish bite indicator for tight line fishing comprising a plurality of sensors each arranged to detect force applied to a rod, a controller arranged to accept the 5 output from a selected combination of the sensors and an alarm, wherein the controller is arranged to trigger the alarm if a valid output indicating a force is received by the controller from each of the selected combination of sensors within a predetermined time period.

10

2. A fish bite indicator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a piezo-electric sensor.

3. A fish bite indicator according to claim I or 2, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a vibration sensor.

4. A fish bite indicator according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a force sensing resistor.

5. A fish bite indicator according to any preceding claim, further comprising a 20 rod mount arranged to accept the rod.

6. A fish bite indicator according to claim 5, wherein the rod mount is connected to a yoke for mounting the mount on a surface, the yoke including first and second pivot axes, the first pivot rotating about a substantially horizontal axis and the second 25 pivot rotating about a substantially vertical axis.

7. A fish bite indicator according to claim 6, wherein the yoke further comprises a connector for attachment to a tripod or rod stand for mounting the mount on the surface.

8. A fish bite indicator according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the mount includes plurality of rod locators for accepting the rod.

9. A fish bite indicator according to claim 8, wherein the mount includes an

antenna including at least one of the rod locators.

9. A fish bite indicator according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the sensors is in communication with antenna to detect force applied to the antenna.

10. A fish bite indicator according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the sensors and rod locators are arranged such that a mounted rod is substantially aligned with the sensors.

11. A fish bite indicator according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller 10 includes a filter arranged to indicate a valid output only if detected forces are of a magnitude and frequency of a predetermined value or greater.

12. A fish bite detector according to claim] 1, wherein the controller includes a processor arranged to compare valid outputs and trigger the alarm only if a valid output is detected from each selected sensor within the predetermined time period.

15

13. A fish bite detector according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.

l 4. A fish bite detector according to claim 13, wherein the microprocessor comprises a fuzzy logic controller.

l 5. A fish bite indicator as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A fish bite detector according to claim 11, wherein the controller includes a processor arranged to compare valid outputs and trigger the alarm only if a valid 15 output is detected from each selected sensor within the predetermined time period.

20

14. A fish bite detector according to claim 13, wherein the microprocessor comprises a fuzzy logic controller.

15. A fishing rod mount comprising a plurality of rod locators arranged to accept a fishing rod, wherein the rod mount is connected to a yoke for mounting the mount on 25 a surface, the yoke including first and second pivots, the yoke including first and second pivot axes, the first pivot rotating about a substantially horizontal axis and the second pivot rotating about a substantially vertical axis.

16. A fishing rod mount according to claim 15, further comprising locking means 30 for preventing rotational movement of the second pivot.

17. A fish bite indicator as herein described and with reference to the . accompanying drawings.

À ce Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows.: 13.. _11111kJ 1. A fish bite indicator for tight line fishing comprising a rod mount for supporting a rod, the mount including a plurality of sensors 5 each arranged to detect force applied to a rod, a controller arranged to accept the output from a selected combination of the sensors and an alarm, wherein the controller is arranged to trigger the alarm if a valid output indicating a force is received by the controller from each of the selected combination of sensors within a predetermined time period.

2. A fish bite indicator according to claim l, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a piezo-electric sensor.

3. A fish bite indicator according to claim l or 2, wherein at least one of the 5 sensors comprises a vibration sensor.

20 5. A fish bite indicator according to claim l, wherein the rod mount is connected to a yoke for mounting the mount on a surface, the yoke including first and second pivot axes, the first pivot rotating about a substantially horizontal axis and the second pivot rotating about a substantially vertical axis.

25 6. A fish bite indicator according to claim S. wherein the yoke further comprises a connector for attachment to a tripod or rod stand for mounting the mount on the surface. 7. A fish bite indicator according to claim 4, S or 6, wherein the mount includes 30 plurality of rod locators for accepting the rod.

8. A fish bite indicator according to claim 7, wherein the housing includes an antenna and at least one of the rod locators is mounted on the antenna.

1 a', ' 'e' ''e' " À e e e e 9. A fish bite indicator according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the sensors is in communication with antenna to detect force applied to the antenna.

10. A fish bite indicator according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the sensors and rod 5 locators are arranged such that a mounted rod is substantially aligned with the sensors.

11. A fish bite indicator according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller includes a filter arranged to indicate a valid output only if detected forces are of a magnitude and frequency of a predetermined value or greater.