WO2018193275A1

WO2018193275A1 - Angling aid

Info

Publication number: WO2018193275A1
Application number: PCT/HU2017/050043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zsombor TURBÓK
Original assignee: Arrabonamédia Kft.
Priority date: 2017-04-19
Filing date: 2017-10-16
Publication date: 2018-10-25
Also published as: HU1700074V0

Abstract

An angling aid for line-fishing, preferably for catching catfish, comprising a housing (1), an electronic sound generating unit (4) arranged in the housing (1), a control and display unit (5), a power supply (6) and a loudspeaker (2) connected to an output of the sound generating unit (4). The sound generating unit (4) comprises at least one of a memory unit (9) comprising at least one sound sample as digital signal suitable for luring a fish in the direction of the loudspeaker (2) and an audio generator (8) producing such a sound sample; the control and display unit (5) comprises a trigger unit (21) the output of which is connected to the control input of the memory unit (9) or the audio generator (8), and its input being connected to a manually operable trigger elements fixed in the housing (1); and the loudspeaker (2) is designed as a separate unit connected by a cable (3) to an output connector (13) of the housing (4).

Description

Angling aid

The invention relates to an angling aid for line-fishing, preferably for catching catfish, comprising a housing, an electronic sound generating unit arranged in the housing ensuring protection against at least splashing water, a control and display unit electrically connected to the sound generating unit, a power supply for supplying current consumers of the sound generating unit and the control and display unit, and a loudspeaker connected to an output of the sound generating unit.

Clonking is perhaps one of our most ancient fish-catching methods: according to the sources, the relevant knowledge had been brought to the Carpathian Basin by our conquering ances- tors. It helps catch specifically one fish species, the sheatfish (also called Wels catfish or river catfish); as for the other fish species, it is not relevant. Most theories say that the sound of the clonk resembles that of the feeding conspecifics, that is why it attracts the catfish and improves the angling results. The wooden clonk is a possible accessory of the clonking method. The angler sitting in the boat hits the water by the wooden clonk at a specific angle, then re- peats the beating in shorter or longer series, with shorter or longer interruptions. The types of wooden clonks used for clonking vary widely in function of the depth of the water surface to be fished, whether it is a stretch of standing or flowing water etc., the size and design of the heel form, the thickness of the wooden clonk, the angle it forms with the clonk heel etc., and different wooden clonks are required depending on water type, water depth and other factors. False baits producing diverse acoustic effects, light effects, motion have also been known for a longer time. Some of these lure expressly catfish by imitating the sound of the wooden clonk. US 5177891 A, US 2015264904 Al and US 2006140421 Al disclose false baits that generate sound electrically. The solution disclosed in US 5485697 A is a false bait producing sound and motion electrically. US 2012005940 Al describes a remote-controlled false bait generating sound electrically. US 2014230311 Al discloses a false bait generating sound electrically and telling funny stories. The solution in US 6192617 Bl generates light and motion electrically. US 5157857 A, US 5697182 A and US 2006010763 Al disclose false baits generating sound and light electrically. US 6807766 Bl presents a false bait generating sound, light and vibration electrically. The solution disclosed in CN 101720738 A is a false bait specifically for catching catfish, emitting ultrasound electrically. German utility model DE 202005009500 Ul presents an electric remote-control clonk expressly for catching catfish. SK 286876 B6 discloses an electric clonk expressly for catfish-catching.

It is a drawback of the prior art solutions that the number of sounds being made, the way they sound can only be altered within a narrow range, and that limits the effectiveness of the device. Another disadvantage is that they have no loudspeakers providing for a wide underwater spectrum nor lighting or a positioning unit, whereas these would make the use of the devices much safer for the users. The objective of the invention is to eliminate the deficiencies of prior art solutions, and to design a device that can be used any time of the day, under any weather conditions, and where the sounds, the sounding that can be emitted are easy to alter.

We have realised that by designing the angling aid so as to make the sounds, soundings that can be made with its help variable and adjustable within a broad range at the fisherman's dis- cretion, clonking will be more adaptable to the circumstances ever.

The targeted objective has been solved by an angling aid for line-fishing, preferably for catching catfish, comprising a housing, an electronic sound generating unit arranged in the housing ensuring protection against at least splashing water, a control and display unit electrically connected to the sound generating unit, a power supply for supplying current consumers of the sound generating unit and the control and display unit, and a loudspeaker connected to an output of the sound generating unit. The sound generating unit comprises at least one of a memory unit comprising at least one sound sample as digital signal suitable for luring a fish in the direction of the loudspeaker and an audio generator producing such a sound sample, the control and display unit, comprising a trigger unit,, the output of which is connected to the control input of the memory unit, or the audio generator,, and its input being connected to a manually operable triggering element, where the triggering element is fixed in the housing, and the loudspeaker is designed as separate unit connected by a cable to an output connector of the housing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the loudspeaker is arranged in a casing providing protection against at least splashing water, more preferably the loudspeaker is arranged in a waterproof casing.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention a timer unit is inserted between an output of the trigger unit and the control input of the memory unit or the audio generator.

Preferably the timer unit is designed as a monostable pulse generator determining the opera- tion time of the memory unit or the sound generator.

It is also preferred if the timer unit is designed as a bistable pulse generator determining the repetitive operation of the memory unit or the sound generator.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, in case of several different sound samples, the output of the trigger unit is connected to a stepping control input of the memory unit or the sound generator. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the loudspeaker is connected to the output of the audio generator through a volume control means.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the control and display unit comprises a visual display indicating operating mode.

According to a preferred embodiment the visual display is a light-emitting diode connected electrically to the power supply and mechanically fixed in the housing, visible from the outside.

According to another preferred embodiment the visual display is an alpha-numeric display, a control input of which is connected to an output of a microcontroller of the control and display unit.

It is also preferred if the angling aid comprises a control and display unit designed as a means suitable for influencing the pitch and/or tempo of the sound sample by the aid of push-buttons connected to its inputs.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the power supply is a rechargeable battery arranged in the housing, in electrical connection also with the charging connector fixed in the housing. Preferably the battery is in electrical connection with the charging connector fixed in the housing through an automatic charge controller.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention a photovoltaic unit connected to the automatic charge controller charging the battery used as power supply is arranged on the housing. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention a light source is incorporated in the casing of the loudspeaker, the light source is connected to the battery arranged in the housing through a cable also including the loudspeaker cable through a light switch of the control and display unit.

It is also preferred if the casing of the loudspeaker is provided with a handle. It is also preferable if the cable of the loudspeaker casing, including also the loudspeaker cable, is connected to the housing of the angling aid by a releasable connector.

The releasable connector is preferably an output connector providing for watertight connection, to which a connector plug of the loudspeaker providing for watertight connection is connected. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the angling aid also comprises a GPS-based location identification unit, the output of which is led to an input of the alphanumeric display through the control and display unit.

In the following, the invention will be presented more closely based on an exemplary embodiment. In the attached drawing, Figures 1 and 2 show a possible embodiment of the proposed angling aid in front and rear view, respectively, and

Figure 3 shows a possible electronic design of the proposed angling aid at block diagram level.

Figures 1 and 2 show the schematic representation of the angling aid according to the inven- tion that is to be considered solely a preferred example.

The angling aid being presented comprises two main parts: a housing 1 comprising the electronic units, operating means, display, power source, and a loudspeaker 2 designed as a separate unit, connected to the appropriate output of housing 1 by a cable 3. The housing 1 comprises, as is visible in the block diagram of Figure 3, a sound generating unit 4, a control and display unit 5 in electrical connection with it, and a power supply unit 6 providing for the power supply of the sound generating unit 4 and a control and display unit 5.

In the presented case, the loudspeaker 2 is arranged in a water-tight casing 7 that provides for the loudspeaker 2 being put potentially in or under water by a user. Where it is not essential for the loudspeaker 2 to be immersed in water in its entirety, it is sufficient for its casing 7 to be splash-proof.

In the presented example, the housing 1 is made of plastic, danamid, and its top is made of highly transparent plexiglass. Of course, nothing prevents that the housing 1 be made of metal, even stainless steel, providing for a higher degree of mechanical protection and higher aesthetic/design potential. The housing 1 with the units in it shall be placed in the surroundings of the user, most often the angler, and the user can produce the typical clonking sound promoting catfish-catching and set and check the relevant parameters of that sound (sound, pitch, metre, number of repetitions etc.) with its aid. The sound being set is emitted by the loudspeaker 2 placed on the surface of the water or under it. Contrary to the presented examplary embodiment, the loud- speaker 2 can also be connected to the housing 1 cableless. If it is connected by cable 3, the cable 3 is preferably also watertight and, according to the experience, of a length of around twenty meters.

The sound generating unit 4, i.e. the electronics responsible for generating the acoustic effect assisting the luring of fish, in particular catfish, towards the loudspeaker 2, constitutes an im- portant part of the aid according to the invention. The sound generating unit 4 may comprise for this purpose a sound generating stage 8 and/or a memory unit 9; in the present example it comprises both. By the way, the task can be solved more easily and maybe more effectively by applying the latter, because in such a case only one or several clonking sound samples recorded previously by audio-recording need to be stored in a preferably semiconductor mem- ory unit 9, whereas producing the appropriate sample by a simple audio generator 8 requires a more complex design and operation. The audio generator 8 and the memory unit 9 are equipped in the present case with a commercially available mini MP3 module of type FZ1281, the structure, operation and programming of the latter being described in detail in the relevant product descriptions. The memory unit 9 can also be implemented in the known way by a semiconductor memory card, in which case a card reader 10, connected electrically to the audio generator 8 in the known way besides or instead of the memory unit 9, is also integrated in the housing 1. The above-mentioned MP3 module of type FZ1281 already comprises such a card reader 10 itself.

The audio-generator 8 and/or the output of the memory unit 9 is connected, depending on the specification of the applied circuits ever through volume control means 11, in the present example a potentiometer, to a output stage 12 that is led to an output connector 13 mounted on the back panel of housing 1. Otherwise, volume control means 11 may also be arranged before the output connector 13. In a preferred embodiment, the output connector 13 and a connector plug 29 mounted at the end of cable 3 ensure water-tight connection. The already mentioned setting and control of the clonking sound parameters requires operating means and display means. In the example presented here, these are arranged on the front panel of the housing 1. In the simplest case, a display 14 is electrically connected to the power supply 6, it may be a light-emitting diode mechanically fixed in the housing 1 and visible from outside. In the embodiment shown here, the display 14 of the control and display unit 5, in the given case an alpha numeric LCD display with background lighting, including a controller of the type HD44780, capable of showing four rows of 20 characters each is arranged well-visibly on the front panel of the housing 1. The display 14 is connected to a display output of a microcontroller 20 applied in the control and display unit 5.

In the present embodiment, the operating means consist of push buttons 15-19 connected to control inputs of the microcontroller 20, suitable for setting the sound parameters and for controlling the microcontroller 20 so as to display the required information on the display 14. The control and display unit 5 comprises a trigger unit 21 that is also realised with microcontroller 20, the output of which is electrically connected to the control input of the audio generator 8 or the memory unit 9, and meant to ensure that the audio samples be played at the right moment according to the settings ever. The memory unit 9 or the sound generator 8 can be designed also with a stepping control input, in which case and with several different stored sound samples, the output of the trigger unit 21 is connected to the stepping control input of the memory unit 9 or the sound generator 8.

Where the duration of playing the sound samples should also be controlled, a timer unit 22 is inserted between the output of the trigger unit 21 and the control input of the audio generator 8 and/or the memory unit 9, that is meant to provide for playing the sound samples for a period corresponding to the settings ever. The timer unit 22 may be realised as a monostable pulse stage determining the operating time of the memory unit 9 or the audio generator 8, or as a bistable pulse stage determining the recurring operation of the memory unit 9 or the audio generator 8.

In the presented embodiment, the trigger unit 21 as well as the timer unit 22 are realised by a microcontroller 20 of type ATM EL ATMEGA328P applied in the control and display unit 5, and also drives the display 14 connected to it, controlled by push buttons 15 to 19 connected to its inputs as laid down in the relevant product descriptions.

By setting the microcontroller 20 appropriately, the backlight of the display 14 switches on for a few seconds after pushing any of push buttons 15 to 19. In the present example, display 14 shows playing time in Line 1, pitch in Line 2, current voltage and operating mode in Line 3 and GPS latitude and longitude coordinates - if the aid has that function - in Line 4. It is easy to understand that the aid is operational also without such display 14, or with one or several op- tical display components fulfilling indicator functions only.

The control and display unit 5 of the angling aid functions also as a means to influence the pitch and/or tempo of the sound sample being played, by influencing, under the control of push buttons 15 to 19, the sound generated by the audio generator 8 connected to its output, or by providing for the selection of different sound samples from among the sound samples stored in the memory unit 9.

Playing the clonking sound is controlled by the push buttons 15 to 19, it can even be automated. Push button 15 can be used to start playing the special clonking sound. The sound is played through the connected loudspeaker 2, on or under the water. Optionally, by using push button 15, several commands can be given depending on the microcontroller 20 applied in the control and display unit 5,. For example, by a short pressing the sound will be played once, while keeping the button pressed initializes an automatic mode. In automatic mode, the loudspeaker 2 plays the sound at the intervals specified under repetition timing. To switch off the automatic mode, the push button 15 is to be kept pressed down for some seconds. The intervals of playing the sound can be reduced and increased by the push buttons 16 and 17, respectively, within a time scale of e.g. 1 to 30 s. This function can be realised equally with a single classic rotating potentiometer.

The pitch of the sound being played can be reduced or increased by the push buttons 18 and 19, respectively, according to the experience of clonking. This function can also be realised by a single potentiometer dial.

Let's emphasise that the automatic playing and pitch-setting features are, of course, optional.

The angling aid can be switched on and off by a main switch 23 built in the housing 1.

In the presented embodiment, a light-emitting diode, LED, 24 indicating the state of charge is installed in the housing 1, that provides the user feedback on the state of charge ever of a built-in power supply 6.

Ease of use is enhanced by equipping the housing 1 with a special lighting that makes it comfortable to use the device even at night. A light source 25 of the lighting may be a filament lamp, or preferably a LED light source that can be connected through a further switch 26 to an output of proper voltage and wattage of the power supply 6. If lighting is designed also within the casing 7 of the loudspeaker 2, the light source 25 there is connected by a cable 3 comprising also the loudspeaker cables through the lighting switch 26 to a battery 30 arranged in the housing 1. Easier movement of the casing 7 of the loudspeaker 2 is facilitated by a handle 33 designed on the casing 7.

Comfort is further enhanced if a GPS-based global positioning system 27, connected to the appropriate input of microcontroller 20 is connected to the control and display unit 5, so display 14 can indicate in the given example in its Line 4 the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of the given position of the angling aid and the user. The display 14 can display several, any, languages; the number of displayable languages can be changed or expanded even subsequently.

A charging connector 28 and the output connector 13 are mounted on the back panel of the housing 1. The power supply 6 built into the housing 1 contains in the presented embodiment a rechargeable Ni-M H battery 30 of 12 V/2300 mAh capacity, to which a commercially available external charger can be connected through the charging connector 28 arranged on the back of the housing 1. Selecting the latter in the knowledge of the voltage and capacity can be considered a routine task for a person skilled in the art. The battery 30 is connected to a charge controller 31, also realised in the presented embodiment by a microcontroller of type ATM EL ATMEGA328P, and the output of which is connected to the LED 24 indicating charging and the state of charging and through the main switch 23 to the input of a voltage stabilizer 32. LED 24 lights up in red during charging irrespective of the switched off/on status of the angling aid. If the voltage of the battery 30 attains a voltage level of 13.8 V, the LED 24 changes to green to indicate that battery 30 is fully charged. In a well-known solution, the charge con- troller 31 may switch off the angling aid if the supply voltage drops to the value of the lowest working voltage level of the applied battery 30. For example, if the voltage of battery 30 drops below 11 V during use, the charge controller 31 switches off the angling aid since further use could and would damage the battery 30. The voltage stabiliser 32 is meant to provide for the optionally different supply voltages of the specific electric/electronic units in the usual way - this has been indicated in Figure 3 symbolically by arrows - and can be realised for example by voltage stabiliser integrated circuits of the series 78xx and/or 79xx.

In case of a battery 30 of the indicated capacity, the charging time of the angling aid is approximately five hours, and charging ends if battery voltage attains 13.8 V or charging time exceeds ten hours. As mentioned, in the present example the charging process and its termina- tion are indicated by the LED 24 mounted in the housing 1, but the same function may also be performed by the display 14.

Of course, it is equally possible to use instead of a Ni-M H battery a lithium one that is consid- ered more modern, in which case a corresponding dedicated separate charging stage, not shown in the drawing, is arranged also in the housing 1, and the above-mentioned charging connector 28 is meant for introducing the corresponding DC or alternating voltage. In that regard, one may use for charging the battery 30 not only a network adapter, but any appropriate energy source: this may be an external battery, a so-called power bank, or even the battery associated with the engine of the boat.

Irrespective of the type of the battery 30 being used, but in accordance with it, it is also possible to use an external photovoltaic unit 33 fixed on the housing 1, preferably on its top, with its electric output being connected either directly to the battery 30 or in case of Li-Fe or Li-Po battery to the input of the above-mentioned dedicated charging stage.

Main switch 23 is optionally a two-way switch, providing for separating from the battery 30 the current consumer on the one hand and the charge controller 31 on the other, extending thereby the charged status of the battery.

Casing 7 of the underwater loudspeaker 2 and also the housing 1 are fully waterproof and crushproof. They can even be coated by some antistatic material, thus made waterproof, to prevent short-circuiting. Preferably, it is also possible to add more memory and functions. During the use of the device, it is an advantage that no other device is needed (as e.g. in the case of the known clonking structure fixed to the fishing line), the device can fulfil all the essential functions by itself. The device is easy to program, so it can be set in advance for every water type and water depth. It is an important advantage that its use requires no professional skills, and that it can be used under any weather conditions thanks to its water- and crush-proof casing.

Housing 1 may be provided in the way known to persons skilled in the art by support, stabilising pods and fixing elements, clip-on clips that can secure it against falling off/down in a boat. The presented device has many advantages. One advantage of the invention is that the user can set or change the frequency, pitch and tempo easily. Several parameters of the sound to be played can be set and automatic sounding can also be programmed. Settings can be monitored on the display 14, and the device is also provided with lighting, so it can be used also at night. The invention is capable of continuous GPS location definition, and furthermore of pre- serving and saving GPS coordinates. Due to the function of displaying and saving GPS coordinates, one knows exactly where the angler is even on large water areas and, moreover, also where the fish are biting. Advantageously, it can be used from a boat, a ship or the coast. Using the proposed angling aid eliminates the limited room for manoeuvre, both hands of the angler are released, he does not need several kinds of devices, it can be set for any water type and water level, and the user's attention can focus on angling.

The fields of use of the invention are fishing/angling, catfish-catching. Beyond the above ex- amples, the invention may be realised also by other embodiments and by other manufacturing processes within the scope of the invention.

List of reference signs:

1: housing 20: microcontroller

2: loudspeaker 21: trigger unit

3: cable 22: timer unit

4: sound generating unit 23: main switch

5: control and display unit 24: LED

6: power supply 25: light source

7: casing 26: switch

8: audio generator 27: global positioning system

9: memory unit 28: charging connector

10: card reader 29: connector plug

11: volume control means 30: battery

12: output stage 31: charge controller

13: output connector 32: voltage stabilizer

14: display 33: photovoltaic unit

15-19: push buttons 34: handle

Claims

1. An angling aid for catching fish, preferably catfish, comprising a housing (1), an electronic sound generating unit (4) arranged in the housing (1) ensuring protection against at least splashing water, a control and display unit (5) electrically connected to the sound generating unit (4), a power supply (6) for supplying current consumers of the sound generating unit (4) and the control and display unit (5), and a loudspeaker (2) connected to an output of the sound generating unit (4), characterised in that the sound generating unit (4) comprises at least one of a memory unit (9) comprising at least one sound sample as digital signal suitable for luring a fish in the direction of the loudspeaker (2) and an audio generator (8) producing such a sound sample; the control and display unit (5) comprises a trigger unit (21) the output of which is connected to the control input of the memory unit (9) or the audio generator (8), and its input being connected to a manually operable triggering element, where the triggering element is fixed in the housing (1); and the loudspeaker (2) is designed as a separate unit connected by a cable (3) to an output connector (13) of the housing (4).

2. The angling aid according to claim 1, characterised in that the loudspeaker (2) is arranged in a casing (7) providing protection against at least splashing water.

3. The angling aid according to claim 2, characterised in that the loudspeaker (2) is arranged in a waterproof casing (7).

4. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-3, characterised in that a timer unit (22) is in- serted between an output of the trigger unit (21) and the control input of the memory unit (9) or the audio generator (8).

5. The angling aid according to claim 4, characterised in that the timer unit (22) is designed as a monostable pulse generator determining the operation time of the memory unit (9) or the sound generator (8).

6. The angling aid according to claim 4, characterised in that the timer unit (22) is designed as a bistable pulse generator determining the repetitive operation of the memory unit (9) or the sound generator (8).

7. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-6, characterised in that in case of several dif- ferent sound samples, the output of the trigger unit (21) is connected to a stepping control input of the memory unit (9) or the sound generator (8).

8. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-7, characterised in that the loudspeaker (2) is connected to the output of the audio generator (4) through a volume control means (11).

9. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-8, characterised in that the control and display unit (5) comprises a visual display (14) indicating operating mode.

10. The angling aid according to claim 9, characterised in that the visual display (14) is a light- emitting diode connected electrically to the power supply (6) and mechanically fixed in the housing (1), visible from the outside.

11. The angling aid according to claim 9, characterised in that the visual display (14) is an al- pha-numeric display, a control input of which is connected to an output of a microcontroller

(20) of the control and display unit (5).

12. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-11, characterised in that it comprises a control and display unit (5) designed as a means suitable for influencing the pitch and/or tempo of the sound sample by the aid of push-buttons (15-19) connected to its inputs.

13. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-12, characterised in that the power supply (6) is a rechargeable battery (30) arranged in the housing (1), in electrical connection also with the charging connector fixed in the housing (1).

14. The angling aid according to claim 13, characterised in that the battery (30) is in electrical connection with the charging connector (28) fixed in the housing (1) through an automatic charge controller (31).

15. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-14, characterised in that a photovoltaic unit (33) connected to the automatic charge controller (31) charging the battery (30) used as power supply (6) is arranged on the housing (1).

16. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-15, characterised in that a light source (25) is incorporated in the casing (7) of the loudspeaker (2), the light source (25) is connected to the battery (30) arranged in the housing (1) through a cable (3) also including the loudspeaker cable through a light switch of the control and display unit (5).

17. The angling aid according to claim 16, characterised in that the casing (7) of the loudspeaker (2) is provided with a handle (34).

18. The angling aid according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the cable (3) of the loudspeaker casing (7), including also the loudspeaker cable, is connected to the housing (1) of the angling aid by a releasable connector.

19. The angling aid according to claim 18, characterised in that the releasable connector is an output connector (13) providing for watertight connection, to which a connector plug (29) of the loudspeaker (2) providing for watertight connection is connected.

20. The angling aid according to any of claims 1-19, characterised in that it also comprises a GPS-based location identification unit (27), the output of which is led to an input of the alphanumeric display (14) through the control and display unit (5).