US3169339A

US3169339A - Deep water casting bobber

Info

Publication number: US3169339A
Application number: US293055A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jerome D Ekstrand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-05
Filing date: 1963-07-05
Publication date: 1965-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-16

Description

Feb. 16, 1965 J. n. EKSTRAND DEEP WATER; cxsms; BOBVBER:

2 Sheets-Sheet: 1

Filed July 5, 1963 INV EN TOR JERO ED. Ems-mm) BY m ATYQRNEY! Feb. 16, 1965 J. D. EKSTRAND 3,

DEEP WATER CASTING BOBBER Filed July 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. JERoMED. Em'mnuo W WM Arromvsmr United States Patent 3,169,339 DEEP WATER CASTING RUBBER Jerome i). Ekstrand, 3669 South 4409 West, Salt Lake Eity, Utah Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,055 8 Claims. (Cl. 43-4311) This invention relates generally to casting bobbers and particularly to bobbers used for casting in deep water.

Fishing by casting in deep Water presents problems both in casting and in reeling-in. This is due primarily to the required length of the line between the bobber and the sinker and hook necessary to suspend the hook at the desired depth below the bobber. When casting, the hook and line are difiicult to control because of this length of the line. When reeling-in, the bobber normally forms an obstacle which prevents reeling the line in beyond the point at which the bobber is attached to the line. The present invention is designed to alleviate these difficulties.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which the same numerals designate corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the casting bobber according to the present invention shown with the clutch engaged;

FEGURE 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, of one end of the bobber showing the details of construction;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, in section, of the central portion of the bobber shown with the clutch disengaged;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing the details of construction of the clutch mechanrsm;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a transverse section on the line 66 of FIGURE 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, the casting bobber according to the present invention comprises a buoyant elongated ovoid body, indicated generally at 10. The body It) is comprised of similar top and bottom sections each comprised of an outer conical body shell 11 and an inner conical body shell 12. The inner body shell 12 ts within and is spaced from the outer body shell 11 in order to provide a buoyant gas chamber 13 of annular cross section. The body shell portions are desirably molded from a rigid lightweight synthetic resinous plastic material.

The narrow end of each of the shell portions is provided with an opening for the passage of line. The outer shell 11 is desirably provided with an inwardly extending lip 14 extending around and spaced inwardly from its end opening. The small end of shell portion 12 is then seated in the cup thereby formed. An eyelet 15 is then desirably provided to furnish a guide and smooth passage for the line and to assist in maintaining the shell portions together.

Theopposite end of outer shell portion 11 is provided with an integral threaded collar 16 by which the top and bottom sections are secured to a center section 17. The body shell portions are of circular cross section and collar 16 is internally threaded. Center section 17 is similarly of circular cross section and is threaded ex ternally.

The inner body shell 12 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 13 by means of which the inner shell is held in place with respect to the outer shell and the buoyant chamber 13 is maintained. The shell portions are secured together by means of adhesive or heat seals 3,159,339 Patented Feb. 16, 1965 or otherwise in order to provide a substantially Water tight gas chamber between the inner and outer shell.

The center section 17 to which the top and bottom body sections are secured is generally in the form of an annular ring. Within this ring there is journalled for rotation a pair of spools or reels 19 and 29. Spool 1th is supported from a shaft 21 which is journalled for rotation in one side of the annular ring center section 17. Spool 20 is supported on a clutch member 22, one end of which is a shaft 23 journalled for rotation in the opposite side of the annular center section 17. The axis of rotation of spools 19 and 2t) defined by

shafts

21 and 23 is canted slightly from perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bobber so that the path of travel of line between the spools and eyelets is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

The hub 24 of spool 2% is hollow and clutch member 22 reciprocates longitudinally therein. The clutch member may be of any convenient non-circular shape so as not to be rotatable Within the hollow hub. The innermost end 25 of the clutch member 22 is non-circular in cross section and is adopted to engage a recess 26 of similar cross section in the hub of spool 1%.

A coil spring 27 surrounds the circular cross section shaft portion 23 of the clutch wit-bin the hollow hub 24 to normally apply resilient pressure against the clutch to urge it into engagement with the clutch recess as of spool 19. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 1, when the clutch is in engagement with spool 19, both spools will rotate together. However, the clutch may be disengaged by pulling on knob 28 against the resilient pressure of spring 27. When this is done, spool 20 can then be rotated independently of spool 1% by turning knob 28.

When knob 28 is released, the spring pressure urges the clutch back into engagement with the hub of spool 19. If the end of the clutch 25 is not in alignment with the recess 26 when the knob 28 is released, the knob is turned a partial turn until the members are in alignment and can snap into engagement.

A line passage 293tl is provided through both spools 19 and 20. Passage 29-30 extends radially inwardly into the hub of spool 19 then axially along the axis of rotation of both spools and thence radially outwardly through the hub of spool 20 on the opposite side. The line passage is partially defined by passage 31 formed in the clutch member 22.

In the operation of the deep water casting bobber, the bobber is first disassembled by unscrewing the buoyant top and bottom sections from the center section. The fishing line 32 is then introduced through the top eyelet 15 and the hollow center of the top body section and into passage 29 of spool 19. At this stage of the operation the clutch is in engagement with spool 19. The fishing line'is threaded through the passage 29 into the passage 30. The line portion extending out from passage 30 is threaded through the bottom body section and out through eyelet 15 at the end of that section. A sinker and hook are attached to the free end of the line.

The top and bottom body sections are threaded unto the center body section 17 in order to assemble the bobber. Enough line 32 is pulled through the bobber to permit fishing at the desired depth. For deep water fishing, this length of line is substantial. Depths of 10 feet to feet or more are not uncommon.

When the desired length of line is pulled through the assembled bobber, the Winding knob 28 is then pulled out to disengage the clutch from spool 19. The line is held with the finger at the top eyelet 15 to prevent rotation of spool 19 through frictional engagement and then spool 20 is rotated by means of knob 28 to wind all of the line below the bobber to the sinker and hook on spool 20. When this is done, knob 28 is released and rotated a partial turn until the clutch engages spool 1Q.

The assembled bobber, hook, line and sinker are then cast in the usual manner. Whenthe assembled bobber lands on the water, the weight of the hook and sinker, as they sink through the water, causes the line wound on spool 20 to become unwound. Because the clutch'is now in engagement with spool 19, both spools rotate to-- gether. Accordingly, as line is unwound from spool 29 by the weight of the hook and sinker, a corresponding length of line is wound unto spool 19 from the supply on the reel on the fishermans rod. Because of the greater diameter of spool 1Q, a greater length of line will be wound onto spool 19 than originally wound on spool 20.

Whenall of the line is unwound from spool 20 when the hook and sinker are at the desired fishing depth, the spools assume a state of equilibrium which is maintained until'a fish is hooked. When a fish is hooked, tension is exerted on the line to the bobber and from the bobber to the rod and reel. This tension on the line causes the stored line on spool 19 to unwind. Because the clutch is in engagement and both spools rotate together, as line is unwound from spool 19, line between the bobber and sinker is wound unto spool 20 When the bobber is reeled in to the end of the fishermans rod, all of the line will be unwound from spool 19 and all of the line between the bobber and the sinker and fish hook will be wound unto spool 20 bringing the fish which has been caught to a point just below the assembled body, from where he can be easily removed. When the .fish is removed from the hook, the bobber is again ready for casting.

If it is desired to reset the bobber for fishing at a different depth, this can be done by pulling the line from the bottom of the bobber to the maximum depth position. This will cause line'to be wound unto spool 19. Then the winding knob 28 is pulled out and held from rotating while the line is pulled at the top eyelet until the line is unwound from spool 19. When the line is adjusted to the desired depth, the winding knob 28 is rotated to wind the line below the bobber unto spool and the knob is then released to permit the clutch to engagespool 19.

One of the spools is provided with an annular rib or ridge 33 centered on the axis of rotation and the other spool is provided'with a mating channel or groove. This insures that the only relative motion of the spools is rotary. 7

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

- I claim:

1. A deep water casting bobber comprising (A) a buoyant bobber body,

(B) a pair of rotatable fishline winding members within said body, I

(1) said winding members being separate, but (2) engageable to permit rotation together,

(C) disengageable connecting means extending between said winding members to permit one of said winding members to be rotated independently,

(D) knob means secured to one of said winding members adapted when turned to rotate said one winding member independently,.an d' a f (E) a pair of line guides r I I (1) at opposite ends of the bobber body 1 (2) each adapted to guide different segments of the same continuous fishline toone of said winding members. l

2. A bobber according to claim 1 further characterized in that said bobber body is comprised of a central annular section and a pair of detachable buoyant body end sec tions attached thereto, a central longitudinal passage extending through each of said end sections, said winding members being journalled for rotation in said central annular section.

3. A bobber according to claim 1 further characterized in that a continuous fishline passage extends through both of said winding members, said passage extending into one side of one of said winding members and out from the opposite side of the other of said winding members.

4. A bobber according to claim 3 further characterized in that said passage extends generally radially into one side of one of said winding members, axially through that member and into the other of said winding members andradially out from said other winding member.

5. A bobber according to claim 1 further characterized in that said disengaging means comprises a clutch memoer movable longitudinally in one of said winding members and a recess in the other of said winding members of geometrical configuration to receive one end of said clutch member in operational engagement when said clutch .member isrnoved longitudinally in one direction and to be freed from operational engagement when the clutch member is moved longitudinally in the other direction.

6. A bobber according to claim 5 further characterized in that the other end of said clutch means extends longitudinally along the axis of rotation of one of said winding members and through the wall of said bobber body cen tral section and is provided with an external knob, whereby said clutch may be disengaged from the recess of the other of said winding members and rotated independently.

7. A bobber according to claim 1 further characterized in that said winding members rotate on a common axis and that axis is canted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bobber such that the path of travel of fishline from each line guide to its corresponding winding memher is substantially perpendicular.

8. A deep water casting bobber comprising (A) a buoyant bobber body having (1) a central annular section and (2) a pair of detachable buoyant body end sections (a) attached to said central section, and (b) having a central longitudinal passage extending through each end section, (3) a pair of line guides (11) at opposite ends of the bobber body (b) in communication with said central passages (c) each adapted to guide fishline to a winding member; and (B) a pair of fishline winding members (1) journalled within said central annular body section, (2) said winding members being separate, but (3) engageable to permit rotation together on a common axis of rotation, and including (4) a continuous fishline passage (a) extending through both of said winding members, (b) said passage extending (i) generally radially into one side of one of said winding members, (ii) generally axially from one winding member to the other, and (iii) then generally radially out from the opposite side of the other of said I winding members, and (5) a clutch mechanism including (a) a member movable longitudinally along the axis of one of said winding members,

and (b) a recess in the other of said winding members (i) adapted to receive one end of said clutch member,

(0) spring means normally urging said clutch member into engagement with said recess, ([1) the other end of said clutch member (i) extending through the wall of said central body section and (ii) being provided with an external knob, whereby said clutch may be disengaged when said clutch member is moved longitudinally against the pressure of said spring means and the one of said Winding members including said clutch member may be manually rotated independently of the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A DEEP WATER CASTING BODDER COMPRISING (A) A BUOYANT BODDER BODY, (B) A PAIR OF ROTATABLE FISHLINE WINDING MEMBERS WITHIN SAID BODY, (1) SAID WINDING MEMBERS BEING SEPARATE, BUT (2) ENGAGEABLE TO PERMIT ROTATION TOGETHER, (C) DISENGAGEABLE CONNECTING MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID WINDING MEMBERS TO PERMIT ONE OF SAID WINDING MEMBERS TO BE ROTATED INDEPENDENTLY, (D) KNOB MEANS SECURED TO ONE OF SAID ONE WINDING MEMBERS ADAPTED WHEN TURNED TO ROTATE SAID ONE WINDING MEMBER INDEPENDENTLY, AND (E) A PAIR OF LINE GUIDES (1) AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BOBBER BODY (2) EACH ADAPTED TO GUIDE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE SAME CONTINUOUS FISHLINE TO ONE OF SAID WINDING MEMBERS.