WO2000078134A1

WO2000078134A1 - A bite detector

Info

Publication number: WO2000078134A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/002221
Authority: WO
Inventors: G. A. Delaney
Original assignee: Delaney G A
Priority date: 1999-06-18
Filing date: 2000-06-19
Publication date: 2000-12-28
Also published as: GB9914184D0

Abstract

A bite detector (10) is adapted to be releasably attached to a fishing rod preferably between a reel (12) and a first line eyelet. The detector (10) has an inlet (28) through which the line passes into the detector and an outlet (29) through which the line passes out of the detector. The detector (10) includes a piezo electric crystal (13) which detects movement of the fishing line and under the control of the control circuitry (16) causes activation of an audible or visual alarm device (14) to warn of a bite.

Description

A BITE DETECTOR

This invention relates to a bite detector for use in fishing.

Bite detectors for use in fishing are known and are used to detect

movement of a fishing line caused by a fish taking a bite on a hook.

However, conventional bite detectors are not capable of being rod

mounted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bite detector

which is capable of being mounted on a rod.

Thus and in accordance with the present invention, therefore, there

is provided a bite detector comprising detector means for detecting

movement of a fishing line caused by a bite and alarm means to cause an

alarm upon detection of said movement wherein said bite detector is

adapted for releasable attachment to a fishing rod.

With this arrangement it is possible to attach the bite detector directly

to the rod which allows fishing with a bite detector more simple and

versatile.

Preferably the adaptation of the detector comprises a bore through

which the rod can pass. Most preferably the bore is formed by a pair of

members_, each having a generally semi-circular recess therein, the two

member being releasably attached together whereby the respective recesses

lie adjacent each other and form the bore. Preferably the two members are

releasably attached together by a fixing device, for example a screw. Preferably the internal surface of each respective recess has a

generally castellated appearance whereby, when the detector is attached to

the rod by passing the rod through the bore, rotation of the rod in the bore

can be prevented.

Preferably the detector means is a piezo crystal in close proximity to,

or in contact with, the line whereby movement of the line can be detected

by the piezo crystal.

The alarm means may comprise a visual or audible alarm. In a

particularly preferred embodiment the alarm means comprises a piezo

buzzer.

The detection means and the alarm means may be linked by control

circuitry which detects signals produced by the detector means and causes

actuation of the alarm means upon detection of a signal indicating a bite.

Preferably the control circuitry comprises amplifying means to amplify

a signal from the detector means and switching means to cause switching

on or off of said alarm means dependent upon the signal received from the

detector means.

Preferably the detector includes an onboard power supply in the form

of cell or battery of cells. The power supply is used to power the control

circuitry and the alarm means.

Preferably a plurality of user controls are provided on an external

surface of the detector which controls are connected to the control circuitry, the user controls being respectively to turn the detector on and

off, to adjust the volume of an audible alarm (if present) and to adjust the

sensitivity of the detector.

Preferably the detector means is provided internally of the detector

and in these circumstances the detector is provided with an inlet and an

outlet, the line passing into the detector through the inlet, interacting with

the detection means and then passing out of the detector through the

outlet.

Preferably the detector is adapted to be mounted between a ree! of

a fishing rod and a first line eyelet.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only

and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of one form of detector

according to the present invention shown mounted on a rod;

and

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the detector of Figure 1 partly

in scrap to show the interior of the detector.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows one form of detector

according to the present invention releasably attached to a fishing rod

between a reel 1 2 and a first line eyelet (not shown) of the rod. The

fishing line passes from the reel 1 2 and through the detector 10 to the first

eyelet and tren to the hook in conventional fashion. Figure 2 shows the detector 10 of Figure 1 in greater detail.

The detector 10 comprises a body in which are provided a detection

device 1 3, an audible and/or visual alarm 1 4 connected to the detector

device 1 3 by control circuitry 1 6, and a power supply 17.

The body of the detector is formed from two interconnected lower

casing parts 1 8, 1 9 and two releasably interconnected upper casing parts

21 , 22 which are connected to the lower casing parts 1 8, 1 9. In fact in

Figure 2, one lower part 19 is omitted for the purpose of allowing illustration

of the interior of the detector.

The upper casing parts 21 , 22 comprise shaped members which have

a generally semi-circular recess 23 in an inner surface thereof. The surface

24 of the recess 23 is castellated for the purpose which will have become

apparent hereinafter.

Each of the lower casing parts 18, 1 9 have a front and rear recess

26, 27 which, in use when the casing parts 1 8, 1 9 are connected together

form an inlet 28 and an outlet 29 for the fishing line to pass into and out of

the detector 10. Adjacent to the inlet 28 is provided a line guide 31

through which the line passes. Associated with this line guide 31 is a

piezo electric crystal 13. An outlet line guide (not shown) is also provided

adjacent to the outlet 29.

Control circuitry 1 6 is also provided internally of the casing which

controls operation of the detector 10. The control circuitry 16 comprises a printed circuit board to which are connected a plurality of user operable

controls 32, 33, 34. The user operable controls 32. 33. 34 allow a user

to respectively turn the detectcr on and off, adjust the volume of the

detector and vary the sensitivity of the detector.

The control circuitry 16 comprises an amplifying circuit (not shown)

and a switching circuit (not shown) of conventional form, the amplifying

circuit being operable to amplify signals from the detection device 13 and

the switching circuit being operable to connect the alarm device 1 4 to the

power supply to operate the alarm device 14 when a signal is received from

the detection device indicating that a bite has been detected.

The power supply comprises a cell or battery of cells. The power

supply preferably supplies 1 2 volts DC.

In use, the detector 10 can be mounted on a rod 1 1 , between the reel

1 2 and first eyelet (not shown), as follows:-

The upper casing parts 21 , 22 are disconnected from each other by

loosening or removing screws 37 which hold these together. The rod 1 1

can then be inserted between the two casing parts 21 , 22 and can be

positioned within the recesses 23 therein. The two casing parts 21 , 22

can then be interconnected together again by either replacing or tightening

the screws 37 whereby the rod 1 1 can be retained within a bore formed by

the recesses 23 in the two casing parts 21 , 22. It will be appreciated that

because the interior surfaces of the recesses 23 in the upper casing parts 21 , 22 are castellated, when the rod 1 1 is held within the bore, it cannot

rotate relative to the detector 1 0.

The line 38 can be inserted into the detector 10 either by removing

one of the lower casing parts 1 8, 1 9 and feeding the line through the inlet

guide 31 , through the body and through the outlet guide (not shown) or can

be fed from the inlet 28 to the outlet 29 after the detector 10 is assembled.

With the detector attached to the rod, the detector can be turned on

using the on/off control 33 and, if necessary, the volume and sensitivity can

be adjusted by carrying out a sharp tug on the fishing rod line to mimic a

bite and to ascertain the response of the detector 10 to this action. The

volume and sensitivity controls 34 can be set to appropriate levels.

Once the unit is set up in this way, fishing can begin.

When a fish takes a bite of the bait and becomes attached to the

hook and struggles, movement of the line 38 relative to the detector occurs

which is detected by the piezo crystal 1 3. The crystal 1 3 sends a

detection signal to the control circuitry 1 6 which amplifies this signal to a

desired level. If the amplified signal is greater than a pre-determined limit,

determined by the setting of the sensitivity control 33, the switching circuit

will switch to connect the power supply 17 to the piezo electric buzzer 14

to provide an audible alarm at a level dictated by the setting of the volume

control 33. This audible alarm will indicate to the fisherman that a bite has

occurred. It is, of course, to be understood that the invention is not intended

to be restricted the details of the above embodiment which are described

by way of example only.

Thus for example, an LED 39 can be provided which is connected to

the control circuitry 16, but which is visible from the exterior of the detector

10. The LED 39 illuminates when the detector is switched on to show that

the detector 10 is on.

Claims

CLAI S

1 . A bite detector comprising detector means for detecting movement of a

fishing line caused by a bite and alarm means to cause an alarm upon

detection of said movement wherein said bite detector is adapted for

releasable attachment to a fishing rod.

2. A bite detector according to Claim 1 , wherein the adaptation of the detector

comprises a bore through which the rod can pass.

3. A bite detector according to claim 2, wherein the bore is formed by a pair

of members, each having a generally semi-circular recess therein, the two

members being releasably attached together whereby the respective

recesses lie adjacent each other and form the bore.

4. A bite detector according to Claim 3, wherein the two members are

releasably attached together by a fixing device.

5. A bite detector according to Claim 4, wherein the fixing device comprises

a screw.

6. A bite detector according to Claim 3, wherein the internal surface of each

respective recess has a generally castellated appearance whereby, when the

detector is attached to the rod by passing the rod through the bore, rotation

of the rod in the bore can be prevented.

7. A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the detector

means comprises a piezo crystal in close proximity to, or in contact, the line

whereby movement of the line can be detected by the piezo crystal.

8. A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, wherein the alarm means comprises a visual alarm.

9. A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the alarm

means comprises an audible alarm.

10. A bite detector according to Claim 9, wherein the alarm means comprises

a piezo buzzer.

1 1 . A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the

detector means and the alarm means are linked by control circuitry which

detects signals produced by the detector means and causes activation of

the alarm means upon detection of a signal indicating a bite.

12. A bite detector according to Claim 1 1 , wherein the control circuitry

comprises amplifying means to amplify a signal from the detector means

and switching means to cause switching on or off of said alarm means

dependent upon the signal received from the detector means.

1 3. A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the

detector includes an onboard power supply in the form of a cell or battery

of cells.

14. A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 1 to 1 3, wherein a plurality

of user controls are provided on an external surface of the detector which

controls are connected to the control circuitry, said user controls being

operable to respectively turn the detector on or off, to adjust the volume of

an audible alarm and to adjust the sensitivity of the detector.

1 5. A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the

detector means is provided internally of the detector.

6. A bite detector according to Claim 1 5, wherein the detector is provided with

an inlet and outlet, the line passing into the detector through an inlet,

interlocking with the detector means and then passing out of the detector

through the outlet.

7. A bite detector according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the

detector is adapted to be mounted between a reel of a fishing rod and a first

line eyelet.