Patent ID: 6493981
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A slip bobber with a hook setting device comprising:a buoyant bobber body with a sleeve which extends through the bobber body, the sleeve being defined by a tubular outer wall and having upper and lower ends which protrude from upper and lower portions of the bobber body respectively, the lower end of the sleeve having an end wall extending transversely to the tubular outer wall toward a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and forming a restricted opening at the lower end of the sleeve, and the sleeve having first and second slots through the tubular outer wall, the first slot located near the upper end of the sleeve and the second slot located at a middle portion of the sleeve; the hook setting device comprising: a coil spring located inside the sleeve; a slide having a longitudinal passage to allow free passage of a fishing line and being slidably received within the sleeve, the slide also having an enlargement at an intermediate extent thereof which has a diameter larger than the rest of the slide; a locking means for holding said coil spring and said slide in a compressed position which comprises a slide locking lever, a lower portion of the slide locking lever being pivotally attached to the sleeve at a location below the second slot and having a protrusion which is engageable with an upper portion of the enlargement of the slide, and the slide locking lever having one of a roller and a sensitivity adjustment screw on an upper portion thereof; a release lever for holding the slide locking lever in a locked position, a middle portion of the release lever being pivotally attached to the sleeve at a location above the first slot, the release lever having a slot for stopping the downward slide of the fishing line when an enlargement on the fishing line comes to rest on top edges of the slot, the slot of the release lever extending from one end of the release lever toward the middle portion, the other end of the release lever having both a slide lock lever slot and the other of the roller and the sensitivity adjustment screw; wherein when the hook setting device is set, the coiled spring is compressed between the end wall of the lower end of the sleeve and the enlarged portion of the slide, the slide locking lever is pivoted such that the protrusion extends through the second slot of the sleeve and bears on the upper portion of the enlargement and the upper portion of the slide locking lever extends into the slide lock lever slot and the other of the roller and the sensitivity adjustment screw is engageable with the one of the roller and the sensitivity adjustment screw of the release lever, and when the fishing line is attached to the bobber, the line passes through both the slot of the release lever and the slide and the enlargement on the fishing line rests upon the top edges of the slot of the release lever; and wherein when the fishing line is pulled downwardly, the enlargement on the line acts upon the release lever and causes the other end of the release lever to move away from the slide locking lever and hence causes both the other of the roller and the sensitivity adjustment screw to disengage from the one of the roller and the sensitivity adjustment screw of the slide locking lever and the upper portion of the slide locking lever to leave the slide lock lever slot which thereby releases the slide locking lever, allowing the slide locking lever to pivot away from the sleeve and the protrusion to disengage from the enlargement on the slide which allows the spring to urge the slide upward and move the line upwardly therewith when the slide engages the enlargement on the fishing line and whereby the hook setting device is released.