FISHING TACKLE

Abstract: A fishing tackle for catching fish with a fishing line (Fig. 1(1)) constituting a light guide (Fig. 1b), at one end of which the light from a natural or artificial light source can be focused, and at the other end of which a bait (Fig. 1b (3)) with reflecting, luminiscent, transmittent or light-scattering properties is located. At certain embodiments the fishing tackle also comprises an opto-electronic energy transformer, an electric energy storage circuit, an optic beam splitter and a light detector.

Description: Fishing tackle Pishing tackle for catching fish has been subject of mankind's inventive imagination during all comprehensible time of history. The principle of luring the prey by bait and attaching to the bait an arresting member, for example a hook, is well-known. Baits with all imaginable kinds of shapes and colours have been described and become availab on a growing market for recreational fishing. One difficulty in connection with the use of bait is to call the attention of the prey to it. This is especially difficult in muddy waters with poor visibility. This is the case in a great proportion of lakes with clayey bottom where the species, which are of interest for the leisure time angler, often are found. The present invention has the object to solve this pro_blem by means of a fishing line, which comprises, or consists .of a light guide, by which the bait can be-lighted-up and thereby attract the attentiaon of the prey. The characterizing features of the invention become apparent from the attached claims and drawings, in which Pig. 1 shows the fishing tackle in its entirety, Pig. 2 shows embodiments of light connection to the light guide, Pig. 3 shows an embodiment of the bait comprising energy transformer and energy storage unit, and Pig. 4 shows an embodiment comprising an optical beam splitter and a light detector. As appears from Pig. 1, the fishing tackle comprises a fishing line 1, which connects a handle tool 2 to the bait 3. The fishing line 1 comprises, or consists of a light guide 5 consisting of two concentric portions, a core 6 and an enclosing casing 7- The core has good optical transmission properties,and its refractive index is higher than that of the casing. The material of the core may be plastic, for example polymethyl-methacr late or polystyrene, or glass, while the casing, besides these material classes, can be manufactured of silicone-rubber. The bait3?'comprises an .arresting member ** , for example a hook, for retaining the prey lured thereto. At a pre¬ ferred embodiment, a separate coupling member 8 is also provided, by which the bait 3 can be hooked on the fishing line and easily be removed and replaced by a bait of a different detail design. The coupling member 8, therefore, consists of two portions 9,10 whereof portion 9 is rigidly connected to the fishing line 1, and portion 10 is rigidly connected to the bait 3- The bait 3 is made of a material with reflecting, luminiscent, light-scattering or transmitting properties. In Fig. 2 the connection of light sources to the light guide 5 is shown. In Fig. 2a) a natural light source, the sun 13, is utilized, of which the substantially parallel pencil of rays is focused on one end of the light guide 5 by means of a reflector 11 with spheric, parabolic or similar reflecti surface. Fig. 2b) shows the connection of an artificial light source, " for example a light emitting diode, by means of a lens 12 according to known art. The light source is provided with electric drive means, for example a battery 15, and a mechanical or electronic control means 16, by which the light intensity can be varied. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment where light incident to the bait partially is incident to an opto-electronic energy transforme for example a photo-diode 20, whereby the optical energy is transformed to electric energy, and an energy storage circ uit 21 for storing the electric energy generated. At the embodiment shown, the energy storage circuit 21 is a so-calle voltage doubler comprising diodes 23 and capacitors 22. In this circuit a high output voltage is generated which upon closing of the micro-switch 24 can be caused to be released to the prey. It is hereby possible by the electric energy to stun, kill or retain the prey. The embodiment shown in Pig. 4 is intended for detecting events at the bait, for example the catch of a prey, by the detection of variations in the optic signal transmitted by the light guide in the direction from the bait. A beam splitter 30 is provided to render it possible to simultane¬ ously emit light in the way described above by a light-coll¬ ecting element 12 and a light source 14 and to detect light reflected in a light detector 31. This detector in its turn is coupled together with an indicator unit 32, which by optic or acoustic signals indicates variations in the reflected light intensity. The invention can be varied in many ways within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims: WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A fishing tackle for catching fish, comprising a fishing line, a hand tool and a bait with arresting member, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fishing line is provided with, or consists of at least one light guide with a core and a casing, of which core the optical refrective index is higher than that of the casing, that the light guide is an optic connection between the hand tool and the bait, which is capable to emit to the surroundi light originating from the light guide by reflection, light- -scattering, lu iniscence or transparency. 2. A fishing tackle as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d i n that it comprises at least one coupling means between the fishing line and the bait, consisting of at least two portions separable from each other, of which one portion is rigidly connected to the fishing line and the second portion is rigidly .connected to the bait. 3. A fishing tackle as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d i n that it comprises at least one light- -collecting element, for example a reflector or lens, capabl to focus light from a natural or artificial light source on that end of the light guide which is located at the hand tool. 4. A fishing tackle as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d i n that the bait has a shape or colour imitating a typical prey for the intended catch. 3ZξXfr OMPI 5. A fishing tackle as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t -_ e r i z e d I n that it comprises a light source with electric drive means and a mechanical or electric control means, by which the intensity of the light source can be varied. 6. A fishing tackle as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d i n that the bait comprises at least one energy transformer, for example a photo-diode, for trans¬ forming optic energy to electric energy, and at least one electric energy storage circuit comprising at least one capacitor. 7. A fishing tackle as defined in claim 6, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d i n that it comprises at least one release means, for example a micro-switch, ^ through which the electric energy stored in the energy storage circuit can be uti-lized for retaining, killing or stunning the catch. 8. A fishing tackle as defined in claim 3, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z e d i n that it comprises at least one beam splitter located between the light-collecting element and the light guide, and a light detector so located that light transmitted through the light guide in the direction from the bait can be detected.

Inventors: JOHANSSON HAOKAN, JOHANSSON, HAOKAN
Applicants: JOHANSSON HAOKAN, JOHANSSON, HAOKAN
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A01K85
IPC codes: A01K85, A01K91