Bite indicating apparatus

Abstract: Bite indicating apparatus having a fishing line movement sensor (10, 12) and an indicator signal generating circuit (24) connected to the sensor (10, 12) to provide an indicator signal upon detection of line movement by the sensor (10, 12). The indicator signal generating circuit (24) is provided with an output connector (28) having such a construction as to enable a further bite indicating device (38) to be electrically connected to the indicator signal generating circuit (24) in a releasable manner.

Description: The present invention relates to bite indicating apparatus having a fishing line movement sensor and an indicator signal generating circuit connected to the sensor to provide an indicator signal upon detection of line movement by the sensor, the indicator signal generating circuit being provided with an output connector to which a further bite indicating device is electrically connected in a releasable manner, in which the further device comprises an auxiliary bite-indicating arm which is pivotable at one end and which has line engagement means at its other end releasably connected to the line of a fishing rod when in use, that arm being provided with illumination means connected to the indicator signal generating circuit via the said connector. As a result, the illuminating means on the arm are not only capable of being powered by the same power source as that used for the apparatus, but also the timing of the illumination thereof is determined by the indicator signal generating circuit of the apparatus. This avoids the need for an additional such power source and additional such circuit for the illuminating means on the arm. GB-A-2,274,761 discloses a weight for providing visual indication of movement of a fishing line comprising a translucent main body, a connector for suspending the weight from the fishing line, and an electrically actuated light emitting device, such as an LED, mounted in the main body and connected to a switch controlled by a line movement detector. The switch is operated, and the weight illuminated, whenever any movement of the line is detected, thus allowing the direction of movement of the weight, and hence of the line, to be determined in the dark. The present invention is directed to bite indicating apparatus having the construction. set out in the opening paragraph of the present specification, in which a different signal is issued by the indicator signal generating circuit, and hence to the said illumination means, in dependence upon the direction of line movement. The said output connector may be in addition to a further output connector with which the apparatus may be provided, this further output connector being so constructed as to enable a readily releasable electrical connection to be made with a power source of the apparatus, for example a nine volt battery. The indicator signal generating circuit may issue a continuous signal when the line movement is in one direction, and a pulsed signal when it is in the opposite direction. Means for distinguishing between forward and rearward longitudinal movement of a line are disclosed in our co-pending application No. 9626824.8 filed on 24 th December 1996. An example of bite indicating apparatus embodying the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the electrical circuit of such apparatus; and Figure 2 show, on a larger scale, a circuit diagram of part of the circuit shown in Figure 1. The bite indicating apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a magnetic roller 10 which is readily engageable and disengageable with a line of a fishing rod, and rotates in one or other direction in the event of forward and backward longitudinal movement of the line respectively. The apparatus further comprises a control circuit 12 which includes two reed relay switches (not shown) in the manner described in our co-pending application No. 9626824.8 filed on 24th December 1996. A buzzer or speaker 14 is connected to the control circuit 12 to issue an audible signal in dependence upon movement of the roller 10, the power for such a signal being derived from a power source 16 connected to the control circuit 12 via an on/off/test switch 18 and a battery test circuit 20. An output from the battery test circuit 20 is connected to a counter or timer 22 which is also connected to provide a control signal to a drive circuit 24. The latter is connected to drive a light emitting diode 26 and also provide a drive signal to an output socket 28. It latches to the on condition for a predetermined duration, preferably 20 seconds, upon receipt of a pulse from control circuit when the latter is triggered by movement of the roller 10, and hence of the fishing line. A corresponding plug 30 which is readily engageable and disengageable with the socket 28 to effect an electrical connection therethrough, is connected via a lead 32, intermediate connector 34, and a line 36 to a light emitting diode 30 on the end of a pivotable arm (not shown) which swings up and/or down in dependence upon line movement. The drive circuit 24 is shown in greater detail in Figure 2, from which it can be seen that the circuit comprises a switching transistor TR1 which receives a signal from the combination of the control circuit 12 and the timer 32, a resistor R2 and a light emitting diode LED1 connected in that order in series with the transistor TR1 between a power line 40 and an earth line 42. In addition, a series circuit comprising a resistor R1 and the jack socket SK1 is connected in parallel with the resistor R2 and light emitting diode LED1 combination. This jack socket SK1 may be provided on the underside of a housing of the apparatus. As described in our co-pending application No. 9626824.8, a different signal from the drive circuit 24 is issued in dependence upon whether the line moves in a longitudinally forward or a longitudinally rearward direction. For the former it generates a continuous signal, for example for a period of 20 seconds, for the latter it generates a pulsed signal for the same duration. It will therefore be seen that when this apparatus is in use, a corresponding continuous or pulsed illumination of the light emitting diode 38 on the arm is obtained as well as at the light emitting diode 26, notwithstanding the difficulty that would otherwise be encountered in generating such an illumination signal on the arm were it not so coupled electrically with the drive circuit 24 of the apparatus. Numerous variations and modifications to the illustrated circuity will readily occur to the reader of ordinary skill in the art without taking the resulting construction outside the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims: Bite indicating apparatus having a fishing line movement sensor (10, 12) and an indicator signal generating circuit (24) connected to the sensor (10, 12) to provide an indicator signal upon detection of line movement by the sensor (10, 12), the indicator signal generating circuit (24) being provided with an output connector (28) to which a further bite indicating device (38) is electrically connected in a releasable manner, in which the further device (38) comprises an auxiliary bite-indicating arm which is pivotable at one end and which has line engagement means at its other end releasably. connected to the line of a fishing rod when in use, that arm being provided with illumination means connected to the indicator signal generating circuit (24) via the said connector (28), characterised in that a different signal is issued by the indicator signal generating circuit (24), and hence to the said illumination means (38), in dependence upon the direction of line movement. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the said output connector (28) is in addition to a further output connector with which the apparatus is provided, this further output connector being so constructed as to enable a readily releasable electrical connection to be made with a power source (16) of the apparatus. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the power source (16) is a nine volt battery. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the indicator signal generating circuit (24) issues a continuous signal when the line movement is in one direction, and a pulsed signal when it is in the opposite direction.

Inventors: AMATO REMO, FOX CLIFFORD ROYSTON, AMATO, REMO, FOX, CLIFFORD ROYSTON
Applicants: FOX DESIGN INT, FOX DESIGN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A01K97
IPC codes: A01K97