WO1994015458A1

WO1994015458A1 - Bite indicator

Info

Publication number: WO1994015458A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Reginald Peare; Mark Anthony Peare
Original assignee: William Reginald Peare; Mark Anthony Peare
Priority date: 1993-01-05
Filing date: 1994-01-04
Publication date: 1994-07-21
Also published as: GB9300069D0; AU5819994A

Abstract

A bite indicator set for connection to a fishing rod (14) to indicate when line tension varies. The set includes a box-like unit with sides (4), a base (2) and an outwardly sloping front panel (3) with a rod rest notch (6) which leads downwards to a fishing line accommodating slot (7) on either side of which a scale (8) is provided. An indicator member (10) is provided which comprises a shaft (11) with a line receiving eye (13) at one end and a hinge attachment (22 and 12) at the other end. In use the hinge attachment is clipped to the rod by a spring clip (12) and the line is passed through the eye (13). Line tension variation causes the indicator member to pivot up and down and thus move relative to the scale (8).

Description

BITE INDICATOR

The present invention relates to a set of parts for assembling with a fishing rod to form a bite indicator.

Bite indicators are known and are mostly used when fishing in still waters, such as, lakes and canals, but can also be used when fishing in rivers. In windy conditions, hitherto known indicators tend to be blown about and it is difficult to see when there is a bite. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this problem.

The invention consists in a bite indicator set for use in fishing, comprising a box-like unit having an open top and serving as a rest for a fishing rod, said unit having indicia on an inside surface thereof, and an indicator member pivotably attachable to the fishing rod and having an eye through which the fishing line may pass, said indicator member being attachable to the rod so that when the rod is resting on the unit the indicator member cooperates with the indicia.

In use, with the indicator member attached to the fishing rod, the fishing line is run through the eye of the indicator member which projects into the box unit to cooperate with the indicia. The indicator member is shielded from the wind by the box unit and slight movement if the indicator member owing to a fish nipping the bait on the end of the line is readily detectable by movement of the indicator member relative to the indicia.

So as to facilitate connection of the indicator member with the fishing rod the indicator member is preferably provided with a hinge attachment with resilient means for snap-engagement with the fishing rod. The hinge attachment and the eye are preferably located at opposite ends of the indicator member.

In order to permit easy installation of the bite indicator on a rod the eye is preferably split or otherwis e adapted so as to permit a line to be inserted into the eye without having to be threaded through it.

Preferably, the box-like unit is of a rectangular shape in plan and comprises a bottom panel, a front panel and two side panels, the back of the unit being open so that the rod may be supported at the top of the front panel and lengthwise between the side panels. The indicia may be disposed on the inside of the front panel for cooperation with the indicator member which is attachable to the rod and projects lengthwise thereof towards the indicia'. The front panel may be inclined outwardly or forwardly of the box-like unit so as to allow the indicia and the cooperating part of the indicator member to be more readily visible. The inclination of the front panel will also serve to amplify movement of the indicator member relative to the indicia.

A notch may be formed in the top edge of the front panel to define a rest position for the rod and be contiguous with a slot in the front panel below the notch for accommodating the fishing line running through the eye of the indicator member. The indicia, for example, in the form of screeΛprinting on an embossed panel surface, may be disposed along opposite sides of the slot.

Conveniently, the panels of the box-like unit are adapted to be readily disassembled so as to provide a compact flat package to facilitate carrying and storage of the bite indicator set. Cooperating lugs and slots may conveniently be provided for the interconnection of adjacent panels.

A suitable fitting may be disposed on the underside of the bottom panel to enable releasable attachment of the box-like unit to the upper end of a conventional tubular rod rest.

Another advantage of the bite indicator according to the invention is that it does not interfere with line casting. Furthermore a rod provided with the indicator member may be used independently of the box-like unit. With such an arrangement some degree of bite indication will be provided by the indicator member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bite indicator assembled with a fishing rod,

Figure 2 is a side view of the box unit of the bite indicator set,

Figure 3 is a view of the box member with the panels laid flat,

Figure 4 is a cross section of the rod engagable part of the bite indicator shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of the indicator member with part of the hinge attachment omitted, and

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line AA of the eye part of the indicator member. Referring to drawings, the bite indicator set comprises a box-like unit or target box 1 which is of rectangular shape in plan and has an open top and back. The box comprises a bottom panel 2, a front panel 3 and two side panels 4 upstanding from the bottom panel 2. The front panel 3 is inclined forwardly from the bottom panel 2, for example, at an angle of approximately 45°. The front and side panels 3, 4 are fastened together and to the bottom panel 3 by means of lugs 5 formed along the lower edges of the side panels 4 and being an interference fit in cooperating apertures 20 in the front and bottom panels 3, 2. The panels 2-4 may be injection moulded from thermoplastic material, the fixing lugs 5 being integrally moulded with the side panels 4. This method of assembly enables the box 1 to be readily disassembled to provide a compact package for carrying and storage purposes. A V-shaped notch 6 is formed in the top edge of the front panel 3 to define a rod rest and the bottom of the notch 6 is contiguous with a downwardly extending slot 7 through the front panel 3 for accommodating a fishing line. Disposed along opposite sides of the slot 7 on the inside of the front panel 3 are indicia 8 in the form of a scale of regularly spaced marks. This scale 8 may be applied by screen printing on an embossed section of the front panel.

Attached to the underneath of the bottom panel of the box 1 is a metal screw fitting 9 for enabling the box 1 to releasably attached to the upper end of a conventional adjustable rod rest (not shown) . By making the fitting 9 of metal different screw threads may be cut into it to suit standard rod rests available in different countries.

The indicator member 10 of the bite indicator set comprises a shaft 11, which may be made from either steel aluminium alloy, thermoplastic or any other suitable material. The indicator member has a hinge attachment 12 and 22 connected to one end of the shaft 11 and an eye 13 for receiving a fishing line fastened to the opposite end. The eye 13 may be a ring eye formed from open coils so as to enable the running of a fishing line therethrough or removal of the fishing line therefrom without breaking down the tackle. Figure 6 shows a cross section on the line AA of the eye 13 shown in Figure 5. The hinge attachment includes a first part 22 which is adapted to receive one end of the shaft 11 in a bore 24, and a second part 12 in the form of a spring clip which has arms 26 adapted to resiliently snap engage a fishing rod as shown in Figure 1. The second part 12 of the hinge attachment includes a slot 28 containing confronting protrusions 30 adapted to snap engage opposite ends of a through bore 32 in the first part 22 so as to permit rotation of the first part 22 relative to the second part 12.

In use, the target box 1 is attached to the top of a conventional rod rest which is placed in the ground with the front panel 3 of the target box 1 towards the water. The indicator member 10 is clipped to a fishing rod 14 by means of the spring clip 12 in front of a rod eye (not shown) about two thirds of the way along the length of the rod 14 from its butt end. The fishing line is inserted into the indicator eye 13, whereafter the line is cast and adjusted and the rod 14 is rested in the notch 6 lengthwise between the side panels 4. The rod 14 may be angled downwardly in the notch 6 so that the tip of the rod 14 is about five centimetres below the surface of the water, thereby eliminating any interference between the bait and the indicator member 10. The butt end of the rod may be supported by a further conventional rest. The rod is placed on its rests with the indicator member close to and pointing towards the indicia scale 8 on the inside of the front panel 3 and its position may be adjusted by the angler by winding or back winding until the indicator member 10 is at the most desirable position relative to the indicia scale 8. The slightest movement of the indicator member 10 against the indicia scale 8 is clearly visible and a fish nipping the bait causes the indicator member 10 to move either upwards with respect to the scale 8 or downwards in the case of a fish moving towards the angler. Because the indicator member 10 projects into the box 1, it is shielded from the effects of wind and thus provides a highly sensitive light bite indicator.

The bite indicator set may also be used to assist in finding the contours of the bottom of a stretch of water being fished, so as to locate a desired casting position. In this regard, when the fishing line is wound in, the indicator member 10 stays parallel to the rod 14 as the fishing weight moves over a level surface. When the weight rolls down into a dip or down the near side of a ridge the indicator member 10 will drop away from the rod 14 until the slack in the line is taken up by winding in.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bite indicator set for use in fishing comprising a box-like unit having an open top and serving as a rest for a fishing rod, said unit having indicia on an inside surface thereof, and an indicator member piviotably attachable to the fishing rod and having an eye through which the fishing line may pass, said indicator member being attachable to the rod so that when the rod is resting on the unit the indicator member cooperates with the indicia .

2. Bite indicator set as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicator member includes a hinge attachment with resilient means for engaging the fishing rod.

3. A bite indicator set as claimed in claim 2 wherein the hinge attachment and the eye are at opposite ends of the indicator member.

4. A bite indicator set as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the eye is split.

5. A bite indicator set as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the indicia is disposed on the inside of a front panel of the box-like unit.

6. A bite indicator set as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a front panel of the box-like unit is inclined outwardly of the box-like unit towards its upper end.

7. A bite indicator set as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the box like unit is readily disassemblable.

8. A bite indicator set as claimed in claim 7 wherein cooperating lugs and slots are provided for interconnecting adjacent panels of the box-like unit.

9. A bite indicator set as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an underside of a bottom panel of the box-like unit is provided with a fitting for releasable attachment to a rod rest.

10. A bite indicator set as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a fishing line accommodating slot in a front panel of the box-like unit and a notch in its upper top edge constituting a rod rest are contiguous.

11. A bite indicator set as claimed in claim 10 wherein the indicia are provided along the slot.

12. A bite indicator set substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.