GB2399266A

GB2399266A - Recoil-able bite indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2399266A
Application number: GB0305923A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin David Locke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-14
Filing date: 2003-03-14
Publication date: 2004-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-14
Also published as: GB2399266B; GB0305923D0

Abstract

Apparatus 40 for attaching a visual bite indicator 42 to a support (Fig 1, 6) for a fishing rod (Fig 1, 8), which apparatus 40 comprises first attachment means 44 for attaching the apparatus 40 to the visual bite indicator 42, second attachment means 46 for attaching the apparatus 40 to the support (Fig 1, 6), a housing 48, connector means 50 which extends from the housing 48, a recoil device 52 in the housing 48 for automatically recoiling the connector means 50, and locking means 54 for preventing operation of the recoil device 52 during use of the apparatus 40 when the connector means 50 has to extend between the housing 48 and the visual bite indicator 42 on the fishing rod (Fig 1, 8). When the indicator is not in use, the recoil means recoils the connector means thus avoiding tangling.

Description

APPARATUS FOR

ATTACHING A VISUAL BITE INDICATOR TO

A SUPPORT FOR A FISHING ROD

This invention relates to apparatus for attaching a visual bite indicator to a support for a fishing rod.

There are many different types of known apparatus for attaching a visual bite indicator to a support for a fishing rod. The known types of apparatus comprise first attachment means for attaching the apparatus to the visual bite indicator, second attachment means for attaching the apparatus to the support, and connector means which extends between the first and the second attachment means. The connector means may be in the form of different types of chain, a length of fibre glass, or a length of cord. During use of the apparatus, the visual bite indicator is attached to a fishing line on the fishing rod. When an angler obtains a bite from a fish, the visual bite indicator is designed to fall from the fishing line and thus attract the attention of the angler to the bite from the fish.

The known apparatus is not compact and the connector means may become tangled with other fishing tackle during transportation to fishing locations.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for attaching a visual bite indicator to a support for a fishing rod, which apparatus comprises first attachment means for attaching the apparatus to the visual bite indicator, second attachment means for attaching the apparatus to the support, a housing, connector means which extends from the housing, a recoil device in the housing for automatically recoiling the connector means, and locking means for preventing operation of the recoil device during use of the apparatus when the connector means has to extend between the housing and the visual bite indicator on the fishing rod.

The apparatus of the present invention is advantageous in that, when it is not in use, the recoil means is able automatically to recoil the connector means. The connector means is thus not available for becoming tangled with itself or with other pieces of angling equipment. In addition, in the recoiled condition of the connector means, the apparatus is able to be produced to be compact and aesthetically pleasing.

Usually, the recoil device will be a spring operated recoil device.

Other types of recoil device may be employed if desired.

The apparatus may be one in which the locking means acts on the connector means to lock the connector means with respect to the housing.

Other types of locking means may be employed so that, for example, the locking means may act on part of the recoil device itself, for example on a spring forming part of the recoil device.

Preferably, the locking means is a screw operated locking means.

The connector means will usually be a length of flexible material. The flexible material is preferably a cord. Other types of flexible material may be employed. Any suitable and appropriate type of connector means that is able to be recoiled automatically by the recoil device may be employed.

The first attachment means may comprise a body and a threaded portion for screwing into the visual bite indicator. Generally, the first attachment means may be the same or similar to known first attachment means in known apparatus.

The second attachment means may be formed as a part of the housing. The second attachment means may be formed as an integral part of the housing, or as a separable part of the housing, for example by being screwed to the housing.

The second attachment means may comprise an aperture for receiving a part of the support. Any suitable and appropriate means may be employed for connecting the second attachment means to the support.

The support may be a stand, a bank stick or any other suitable and appropriate type of support.

The present invention also extends to the combination of the apparatus and the visual bite indicator.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows known apparatus attaching a visual bite indicator to a support for a fishing rod; Figure 2 shows four different types of known apparatus for attaching a visual bite indicator as shown in Figure 1 to a support as shown in Figure 1 for a fishing rod; Figure 3 shows apparatus of the present invention, partly in section, for attaching a visual bite indicator to a support for a fishing rod; and Figure 4 shows the apparatus of Figure 3, but not in section.

Referring to Figure 1, there are shown two pieces of apparatus 2, each for attaching a visual bite indicator 4 to a support 6 for a fishing rod 8.

The two fishing rods 8 are only partially shown and they can be of any suitable and appropriate construction. The support 6 comprises a pair of front legs 10 and a pair of rear legs 12. The legs 10, 12 have pointed ends 14 for facilitating pushing the legs 10, 12 into the ground. A main support member 16 supports a front upstanding support section 18 and a rear upstanding support portion 20.

As can be appreciated from Figure 1, the angle of inclination of the main support member 16 can be varied by adjusting the front legs 10 and/or the rear legs 12. Each fishing rod 8 fits into a cup holder 22 on the rear upstanding support section 20. Each fishing rod 8 has a reel 24 from which extends a fishing line 26.

The construction and operation of the support 6 and the fishing rods 8 are well known and further details will not be given. For simplicity of illustration, the support 6 has been shown having provision for two fishing rods 8. Three or more fishing rods 8 could be supported on appropriate front and rear upstanding support sections 18, 20. If desired, the front and i; s rear upstanding support sections 18, 20 could be designed just for one fishing rod 8, or one fishing rod 8 may be used on its own in front and rear upstanding support sections 18, 20 designed to receive a plurality of fishing rods 8.

As can be seen from Figure 1, each piece of apparatus 2 comprises first attachment means 28 for attaching the apparatus 2 to the visual bite indicator 4. The apparatus 2 also comprises second attachment means 30 for attaching the apparatus 2 to the support 6, and more especially to the front upstanding support section 18 of the support 6. Connector means 32 extends between the first and the second attachment means 28, 30.

Figure 2 shows four different types of the apparatus 2. As can be seen from Figure 2, the first attachment means 28 can be of different types, although they all have a screw threaded section 34 for screwing into the visual bite indicators 4. Similarly, the second attachment means 30 can be different although they will normally always have an aperture 36 for receiving a part of the support 6. The connector means 32 can be different types of chain as shown, or a length of fibre glass as shown in the nearest connector means 32 in Figure 2.

Figure 2 also shows how each of the visual bite indicators 44 has a pair of cranked arms 38 which form a "V" and which receive the fishing line 26. When a fish bites the bait, hook or other fishing tackle at the end of the fishing line 26, the fishing line 26 gets pulled and this causes the fishing line 26 to pull out from between the arms 38. The visual bite connector 4 then falls from the fishing line 26 and hangs on the connector means 32. The falling movement, or the fact that the visual bite indicator 4 has fallen, alerts the angler to the fact that a fish has taken a bite.

After fishing, it is necessary to pack up the fishing equipment shown in Figure 1. Important points to an angler are compactness of fishing equipment because everything often has to be carried to remote fishing locations, and aesthetic appeal. As can be appreciated from Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus 2 is not compact. The connector means 32 may become tangled with other fishing equipment. Debris may get trapped between the bits of the chains when chains are employed as the connector means. The apparatus 2 is also not aesthetically pleasing when it is not being used.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown apparatus 40 of the present invention for attaching a visual bite indicator 42 to a support 6 for a fishing rod 8. The apparatus 40 comprises first attachment means 44 for attaching the apparatus 40 to the visual bite indicator 42. The apparatus 40 also comprises second attachment means 46 for attaching the apparatus 40 to the support 6 which is shown in Figure 1.

The apparatus 40 further comprises a housing 48 and connector means 50. The connector means 50 extends from the housing 48 and it is connected to the housing 48 and therefore to the first attachment means 46.

A recoil device 52 is provided in the housing 48. The recoil device 52 is able automatically to recoil the connector means 50. A locking means 54 is provided for preventing operation of the recoil device 52 during use of the apparatus 40 when the connector means 50 has to extend between the housing 48 and the visual bite indicator 42 on the fishing rod 8. As will be appreciated from Figure 1, the distance that the connector means 32, 50 have to extend varies in dependence upon where the visual bite indicator 4, 42 is attached to the fishing line 26.

The recoil device 52 is a spring operated recoil device 52 having a coil spring 56 as shown in Figure 3. The locking means 54 is a locking tube which screws up to lock the connector means 54 with respect to the housing 48. The connector means 50 is a length of cord.

The first attachment means 44 comprises a body 58 and a threaded portion (not shown) for screwing into the visual bite indicator 42. The second attachment means 46 is formed as an integral part of the housing 48. The second attachment means 46 has an aperture 60 for receiving a part of the support 6.

When the apparatus 40 is no longer to be used, the locking means 54 is simply unscrewed and then the connector means 50 is automatically retracted into the housing 48. The apparatus 40 is then much more compact and aesthetically pleasing than the apparatus 2.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected, Thus, for example, the shape of the housing 48 may be varied. A different type of recoil device 54 to the one shown may be employed. Also, different types of first and second attachment means 44, 46 may be employed. The apparatus of the invention is preferably made from stainless steel but other materials may be used if desired.

Claims

1. Apparatus for attaching a visual bite indicator to a support for a fishing rod, which apparatus comprises first attachment means for attaching the apparatus to the visual bite indicator, second attachment means for attaching the apparatus to the support, a housing, connector means which extends from the housing, a recoil device in the housing for automatically recoiling the connector means, and locking means for preventing operation of the recoil device during use of the apparatus when the connector means has to extend between the housing and the visual bite indicator on the fishing rod.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the recoil device is a spring operated recoil device.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the locking means acts on the connector means to lock the connector means with respect to the housing.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the locking means is a screw locking means.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the connector means is a length of flexible material.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the flexible material is a cord.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first attachment means comprises a body and a threaded portion for screwing into the visual bite indicator.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second attachment means is formed as a part of the housing.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second attachment means comprises an aperture for receiving a part of the support.

10. Apparatus for attaching a visual bite indicator to a support for a fishing rod, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. The combination of the apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and the visual bite indicator.