GB2466506A

GB2466506A - Fishing bite indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2466506A
Application number: GB0823502A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Carroll
Original assignee: Sundridge Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Sundridge Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-24
Filing date: 2008-12-24
Publication date: 2010-06-30
Also published as: GB0823502D0

Abstract

A fish bite indicator including detector means for detecting the longitudinal displacement of a predetermined length of fishing line, at least one indicator means for indicating the first displacement of line and for additionally indicating at least a second displacement of a predetermined length of line. Each indication is differentiated from the preceding one. Indicator driver means are provided to activate the indicator means to separately indicate for a predetermined time period when the displacements of the first predetermined length of line and of the second predetermined length of line are detected. Subsequent displacement of line may also be indicated. Preferably, the device utilizes a pulley wheel which rotates when fishing line is pulled over it and photo-electric, magnetic or electro magnet sensors for providing indication of said movement. The indicating means may be visual or audible.

Description

SHING BITE INDICATOR

The present invention relates to an improved bite indicator for fishing.

Many existing electronic bite indicators give an audible and visual signal to the angler when the fish takes the bait on the hook and either swims away or towards the angler. In one well known electronic bite indicator the fishing line is laid across a grooved wheel housed in the indicator. The wheel contains one or more magnets around the perimeter of the wheel and as the line is moved by the fish, the magnet passes a reed switch or other sensing device which causes the indicator to give an audible and/or visual warning to the angler.

The sensitivity of known indicators can be adjusted so that the indicator can be pre-set to give a visual and/or audible warning each time the magnet passes the reed switch sensor or, alternatively, can be adjusted to give a warning every second time the magnet passes the reed switch. The disadvantage with this type of sensitivity adjustment is that the degree of sensitivity must be pre-set before starting to fish, and therefore the angler will have to try to decide the likely type of bite that the fish will give even if he is not sure about this in advance.

In GB 1503596 Dellareed there is disclosed a bite indicator in which a fishing line runs over a pulley wheel and when the wheel is moved a sensor detects such and provides a signal indicative of movement of the wheel. In one embodiment of sensor a first LED shines from one side through circulary disposed holes in the wheel to a light sensor to detect the line being moved (drawn from the fishing reel along the rod or moving in the opposite direction with a weighted line). The output from the photoelectric sensor is connected to a second LED to energise such, as a visual indicator, and preferably "latched" i.e. controlled to switch-off said second LED after a predetermined time after said wheel stops rotating.

The present invention is defined in claim 1 and various preferred and other embodiments are claimed in the sub-claims and described herein.

A power source for the electronic bite indicators will preferably be provided in the form of a battery and preferably a rechargeable one. An electronic control circuit or driver means will be provided similar to known ones except modified in a manner which will energise the LEDs or other indicators/alarms one after the other and preferably "latch" such "on" or for a predetermined period after the line has ceased to generate signals i.e. has ceased to move.

Preferably there is provided a bite indicator comprising a housing or carrier including a fishing rod support means arranged for locating, in use, a fishing rod relative to a grooved wheel or pulley wheel which is freely rotatably mounted to the housing/carrier adjacent the fishing rod support means such that the fishing line of a rod located in the fishing rod support means will pass at least partially around said pulley wheel, and detection means provided so as to detect movement of the pulley wheel and forming part of a photo-electric, magnetic or electro magnetic detector for providing signals indicative of any such movement of the wheel and predetermined lengths of fishing line moving thereover and therewith, and a driver means to energise at least the light sources, a first light source being energised after passage of a first predetermined length of line and a second light source energised after a subsequent passage of a second predetermined length of line (and so on).

The detector means in one embodiment may comprise, in known manner, a light source and a light sensitive detector, and a displaceable member (a grooved or pulley wheel itself or driving a further displaceable member) being mounted so as to be displaceable to pass between the light source and detector preferably at least once for each cycle of rotation of the pulley wheel (i.e. it operates the sensor detector once for each revolution). Alternatively and preferably and in known manner, the sensor comprises at least one magnet preferably on the rotary member such as the grooved wheel or pulley wheel and at least one reed switch or other magnetic responsive means each moveable relative to each other to generate a signal, as desired, of wheel rotation and the number/quantity of such to two or more visual indicators.

Preferably a plurality of LEDs or other visual indicators will be provided as visual indicators and controlled to be successively energised upon movement of said pulley wheel through a predetermined part revolution or complete revolution or revolutions. Preferably the control circuit for the LEDs will "latch" such on energisation i.e. the LEDs will each remain on for a predetermined period and preferably all will remain on for a predetermined period after the latest one is energised.

Preferably a plurality of audible alarms (and preferably distinguishable e.g. by different pitch/tone) will be provided each to operate at the same time as an LED although preferably such audible function may be optionally switched-off.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. I is a schematic front elevation of an electronic bite indicator; Fig.2 is a side elevation of the indicator of Fig. I; Fig.3 is a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of the bite indicator of Figs. I and 2; and Fig.4 is an elevation of a preferred embodiment of bite detector having three LED indicators.

A bite indicator is schematically illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and comprises a housing 10 located on a support plate. Housing 10 houses a grooved wheel or pulley wheel 13 as part of detector means for detecting longitudinal movement of line and mounted on a freely rotatably mounted shaft 12 in the housing 10. The pulley wheel 13 is located in alignment with a slot 14 at the base of a U-shaped recess 15 in the housing 10. In use, a fishing rod 16 is located in recess 15 and fishing line 17 extending running from a reel along the rod 16, is located to engage partially around the top of the pulley wheel 13 so that any longitudinal movement of line 17, when there is a bite, causes rotation of the wheel 13. A bracket 18 is mounted at the rear of the housing 10 by a bolt and nut so that the angle of bracket 18 can be adjusted. To support the whole arrangement a bank stick or other support rod in known manner is located in the through aperture of bracket 18, clamped by a screw 21 and pushed into the ground or bank. The housing member 11 is then positioned vertically and nut 20 tightened to lock this position. With this arrangement the bank stick does not have to be located vertically. Thus so far the indicator similar to the device of GB 1503596 but differs now in respect of the preferred form of movement sensor which here is magnetic.

The pulley wheel 13 in housing 10 may itself carry a magnet or, alternatively, as shown, an extension of the wheel shaft 12 carries a disc 22 within the housing which carries a magnet 23 and the magnet 23 on rotation of the wheel moves passed a reed switch 24 (or other magnetic sensor) as part of the detector means each revolution of the wheel to operate the switch 24 or other sensor to energise a visual warning system or visual indicator means controlled thereby for each revolution of the wheel.

An electric circuit control or driver means 26 is readily provided (and may be a modification in an obvious manner of that of Figs. 3 and 4 of GB 1503596). The driver means controls and energises the warning or indicator system in this embodiment which comprise at least two LED indicators 8, 9 which light-up separately, one after the other and give a visual warning in sequence on each revolution of the pulley wheel. For example, when the magnet passes the reed switch (or other sensor) for the first time, the first LED light 8 will come on and preferably will be "latched" to stay on (together with the first LED 8) for a first predetermined time, say 15-20 seconds, and when the magnet passes the reed switch 24 sensor for the second time if within said first predetermined time, the second LED light 9 will come on and is latched to stay on (together with the first LED 8) for a second predetermined time, for example a time between 15-30 seconds -similarly if more LEDs.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, a housing 27 is illustrated of different shape design having a recess 15A for receiving a fishing rod 16 with fishing line 17 alignable in slot 14A to drive a freely rotatable grooved wheel or pulley wheel (not shown) S. when longitudinally displaced in either direction. The pulley wheel itself carries a magnet and the magnet on rotation of the wheel moves passed a reed switch (not shown) or other magnetic sensor each revolution of the wheel to energise a driver means which will energise a visual warning system controlled thereby and comprising three LED indicators 28, 29 and 30 which are controlled to light-up in sequence when subsequent predetermined lengths of line have rotated the pulley wheel in one direction and/or another, and give a visual warning. For example, when the magnet passes the reed switch for the first time, the first LED light 28 will come on and stay on for a predetermined time e.g. 15-20 seconds. If and when the magnet passes the sensor for the second time within the predetermined time of the illumination of the first LED 28, it will remain illuminated for such predetermined time, and if the third LED 30 is illuminated as a consequence of a third length of line 17 displacing the pulley within the period second the LED remains illuminated, all three LEDs will remain illuminated for a further said predetermined time. Suitable latching means or circuits will be provided in the drive circuit (not shown as mentioned).

Instead or additional to visual indicators, which will preferably be light emitting or fluorescent means, audible and/or vibrating indicator means may be used and signals may be generated and sent to remote receiving signals such as wireless/radio, infra-red or ultra-sonic in known manner.

The system may use any number of LED indicators from a minimum of two (or an indicator having a minimum of two distinguishable conditions of energisation or activation). A suitable power source, such as a battery, is provided. The housing 27 has a threaded aperture (not shown) at the bottom to enable it to be screwed onto a bank rod or other support having a threaded top in known manner.

The benefit to the angler with the bite indicator of the present invention is that he S..

* can see an indication and possibly hear a representation of the amount of line that has been moved by the fish. If, for example, all three LED lights 28, 29, 30 are illuminated, the angler can see that the fish has moved the line sufficiently to rotate the wheel three times which would pass the magnet three times in front of the sensor. The angler will, therefore, also be able to tell if the bite is a "vigorous" bite or a more "tentative" bite when less line has been moved by the fish. The wheel 13 may move in either direction and thus if the line is weighted between the reel and bite indicator, the wheel will rotate if the fish slackens the line when biting'.

The LED or other lights as mentioned, will be controlled by the electric control circuit or driver means to be latched" i.e. to remain energised for a predetermined time. As mentioned, an audible alarm may also be associated with the control circuit and such may be controlled -vary in volume and/or tone or otherwise to indicate the number of revolutions executed.

The control or driver means may include a sensitivity adjustment facility such that a number of revolutions prior to indicators being energised may be selected.

For increased sensitivity, more than one magnet may be located on the pulley wheel such that signals will be generated when movement of the wheel for less than one revolution occurs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fish bite indicator including detector means for detecting the longitudinal displacements of a predetermined length of fishing line, at least one indicator means for indicating a first displacement of said predetermined length of line and for indicating at least a second displacement of said predetermined length of line with each said indication being differentiated from the preceding one, and indicator driver means operating such as to activate said indicator means to separately indicate for a predetermined time period when the displacements of first predetermined length of line and the at least second (and subsequenl predetermined length of line are detected.
2. A bite indicator including at least two visual indicator means for indicating the movement of line are provided.
3. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 2 in which at least a third visual indicator is provided to indicate a third subsequent length of line withdrawn.
4. A bite indicator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which several visual or light indicators are provided.
5. A bite indicator as claimed in any of claims I to 4 in which the driver means is such that each visual indicator remains visible/energised for a pre-determined time or times after activation.
6. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 5, in which each subsequent energisation of an indicator means if within the predetermined energised period of the preceding predetermined time, resets the predetermined time whereby all said indicator means remain energised for the predetermined time.
7. A bite indicator as claimed in any of claims I to 6, in which an audible/audio indicator and/or vibrating indicator is energisable by the drive means or control circuit.
8. A bite indicator including a wave signal generator transmission through the air (e.g. radio wave. infra-red or ultra-sound) to a remote receiving unit provided with indicator means.
9. A bite indicator comprising a housing or carrier including a fishing rod support means arranged for locating, in use, a fishing rod relative to a pulley wheel which is freely rotatably mounted to the housing/carrier adjacent the fishing rod support means such that the fishing line of a rod located in the fishing rod support means will pass at least partially around said pulley wheel, and detection means provided so as to detect movement of the pulley wheel and forming part of a photo-electric, magnetic or electro magnetic sensor for providing signals indicative of any such movement of the wheel and predetermined lengths of fishing line moving thereover and therewith, and a driver means to energise at least the light sources, a first after passage of a first predetermined length of line and a second after a subsequent passage of a second predetermined length of line.
10. A bite indicator as claimed in claim 7, including latching circuit means.
11. A fishing bite indicator substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or as modified by Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.