GB2455129A

GB2455129A - Swinging arm for use by anglers

Info

Publication number: GB2455129A
Application number: GB0723403A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Romang
Original assignee: Delkim Products Ltd
Current assignee: Delkim Products Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-30
Filing date: 2007-11-30
Publication date: 2009-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-30
Also published as: GB2455129B; GB0723403D0

Abstract

A swinging arm 22, for use by anglers, comprises two generally U-shaped members 30, 32 each having a base and two elongate limbs. The limbs 30b, 30c, 32b, 32c of the respective members telescopically engage one another in a trombone-like manner to allow the distance between the bases 30a, 32a of the two members to be adjusted. The base 30a of a first of the members is adapted to be pivotably mounted on a rod rest 14 and the base 32a of the second of the members 32 is adapted for attachment to a bobbin 20. Friction elements 34 may be provided to offer resistance to the extension and contraction of the telescopic limbs 30b, 30c, 32b, 32c. The base of the first member 30 may be formed as one leaf on a separable hinge. The elongate limbs 30b, 30c, 32b, 32c may be formed from a fibre reinforced resin by the process of pultrusion.

Description

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SWINGING RM FOR USE BY ANGLERS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a swinging arm for use by anglers.

Background of the invention

It is common when angling to support a rod on a rest while waiting for fish to take the bait. A weight, also termed a bobbin, is suspended from the line of the fishing rod to tension the line. The bobbin also acts as a bite indicator because it moves up and down when a fish takes the bait. To enable it to serve this function in dark conditions, the bobbin may also include a light source.

To avoid it interfering with the movement of the line when the angler strikes to hook a fish, the bobbin is usually anchored to the ground or to the rod rest and attached to the line by means of a clip designed to release the line automatically when the rod is raised off the rod rest.

To anchor the bobbin, while allowing it to move freely up and down, it is known to use a swinging arm. As its name implies, this is an arm that is pivotably attached at one end to the rod rest for free pivotal movement in a vertical plane and its free end is designed to be connected to the bobbin. Various designs of swinging arm have been proposed in the prior art, amongst them swinging arms that can be extended. Swinging arms have also been proposed that allow the line tension to be adjusted by sliding a weight along their length, while their free end is attached to the line of the fishing rod by an automatically releasable line clip.

Object of the invention The present invention seeks to provide a swinging arm that is light to ease transportation and to minimise the contribution made by its weight to the line tension, yet is sufficiently robust to prevent the bobbin from swaying.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, a swinging arm comprises two generally U-shaped members each having a base and two elongate limbs, the limbs of the respective members telescopically engaging one another in a trombone-like manner to allow the distance between the bases of the two members to be adjusted, the base of a first of the members being adapted to be pivotably mounted on a rod rest and the base of the second of the members being adapted for attachment to a bobbin.

The provision of two telescoping limbs allows the length of the swinging arm to be adjusted while achieving a sturdy construction offering improved resistance to swaying.

Furthermore, the space between the two limbs can allow free passage for an electric cable connected to the bobbin, as is sometimes necessary to supply electrical power to a light in the bobbin.

While the limbs of the U-shaped members may be formed of aluminium or titanium, it is preferred for them to be formed of a fibre reinforced resin, more preferably carbon fibre. This provides the desired strength and rigidity while keeping the weight of the swinging arm to a minimum. Fibre reinforced tubes used in angling are usually conical to allow them to be removed from the mandrel about which the fibres are wound. This of course is not suitable for telescopically collapsible tubes. It is however possible to form parallel sided rods and tubes by a process known as pultrus ion.

It is desirable to be able to lock the length of the swinging arm by preventing the telescoping of the limbs.

This may be achieved in any known manner, such as by using a locking screw or a collet on the outer limb, it is however preferred to use a friction element, such as a rubber ring or sleeve, to grip the inner limb.

C

It is possible to form the base of the second member, arranged at the free end of the swinging arm, such that it may be clipped onto the bobbin with a snap fit. This enables the bobbin to be secured and released rapidly while avoiding it becoming detached accidentally.

For further ease of use, it is desirable to form the base of the first member as one leaf of a separable hinge, the other leaf of which may be mounted permanently on the rod rest. This allows the entire swinging arm to be secured to the rest and removed from it simply and quickly.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view showing a swinging arm of the invention when in use.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

The drawing shows a fishing rod 10 resting on an electronic bite indicator 12. The bite indicator 12 is mounted on a rod rest 14 which in this case is a T-bar having fittings 16 to receive two further bite indicators, so that the angler may use up to three rods at the same time. The T-bar is itself stably supported on the ground in some suitable manner, such as by means of one or more bank sticks driven into the ground, or it may form part of a so-called rod pod.

S The line 18 of the rod 10 is tensioned by means of a bobbin 20 described in more detail below. The bobbin 20 is carried by a free end of a swinging arm of the invention, which is generally designated 22. The opposite end of the swinging arm 22 is pivotably secured to the rod rest 14, such as by means of a bracket 28 sandwiched between the fitting 16 on the T-bar 14 and the electronic bite indicator 12.

The bobbin 20 has a main body which, in the illustrated embodiment, incorporates an LED device that serves as a light source. At its upper end, the bobbin 20 includes a line clip that grips the line 18 sufficiently to permit the bobbin to be suspended from the line. However, when the angler strikes, the clip releases the line so that the bobbin remains attached to the swinging arm 22, leaving the angler free to reel in the fish. On its underside, the bobbin is designed to receive different weights to allow the line tension to be set as desired.

An electrical cable 24 connects the LED in the bobbin to the electronic bite indicator. The cable 24 is preferably weighted so that it tends to lie neatly in the shape of a catenary and so that it bends and unfuris smoothly as the bobbin moves up and down.

The bobbin 20 applies tension to the line 18 because the swinging arm 22 allows it to move freely up and down.

The tension ensures that the line 18 makes contact with a sensing element in the electronic bite indicator 12. If bait at the end of the fishing line 18 is taken by a fish, the line 18 moves and causes the bite indicator to emit an audible and/or visible signal to alert the angler. At the same time, the change in line tension will cause the bobbin to move up and down. The bobbin can be permanently lit at night but, to save battery life, the LED may be illuminated by the bite indicator 12 only after line movement has been sensed.

The swinging arm 22 of the invention is formed of two U-shaped members 30, 32. The first U-shaped member 30 has a base 30a that is formed as one leaf of a separable hinge, the other leaf of the hinge being formed by the bracket 28 sandwiched between the fitting 16 on the rod rest 14 and the electronic bite indicator 12. The two leaves of the hinge are preferably shaped to click together or they may be connected by a removable hinge pin. Two tubular limbs 30b and 30c, formed as pultrusions of carbon fibre reinforced resin, extend from the base 30a.

The second U-shaped member 32 has a base 32a designed to receive the bobbin 20 and can be clipped around it with a snap fit. Two elongate limbs 32b and 32c likewise extend from the base 32a but in this case they are formed as solid rods of carbon fibre reinforced resin. The limbs 32b and 32c of the second member 32 are received telescopically in the limbs 30b and 30c of the first member 30 to form a rectangular frame that can be extended and contracted in the manner of a trombone. Rubber sleeves 34 fitted over the ends of the limbs 30b and 30c frictionally engage the limbs 30b and 30c so that resistance is met in moving the two U-shaped members relative to each other.

The described design of the swinging arm 22 offers the following advantages * The twin pultruded carbon fibre limbs make for a light and rigid construction with strong resistance to swaying.

* The space between the two telescopic limbs allows the cable leading to the bobbin to be located centrally.

* The telescopic collapsibility of the limbs and the rubber friction sleeves allow the length of the swinging arm to be adjusted quickly.

* The snap fit of the bobbin 20 in the base 32a allows quick attachment and removal of the bobbin.

* The separable hinge allows the swinging arm to be removed from, and attached to, the rod rest quickly and simply.

Claims

1. A swinging arm for use by anglers, comprising two generally U-shaped members each having a base and two elongate limbs, the limbs of the respective members telescopically engaging one another in a trombone-like manner to allow the distance between the bases of the two members to be adjusted, the base of a first of the members being adapted to be pivotably mounted on a rod rest and the base of the second of the members being adapted for attachment to a bobbin.

2. A swinging arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate limbs of the U-shaped members are formed of a fibre reinforced resin.

3. A swinging arm as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fibre reinforcement of the resin comprises carbon fibres.

4. A swinging arm as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the elongate limbs are formed by the process of pultrusion.

5. A swinging arm as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein friction elements are provided to offer resistance to the extension and contraction of the telescopic limbs.

6. A swinging arm as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base of the first member is formed as one leaf of a separable hinge, the other leaf of which is mountable permanently on the rod rest.

7. A swinging arm as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base of the second member is shaped such that it may be clipped onto the bobbin with a snap fit.

8. A swinging arm for use by anglers, constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.