Abstract:
An ice fishing jig with a signal indicator. Signaling a fish bite is enhanced by submerging a guide within a hole bored in an ice surface. An indicator is disposed at least partially within the passage of the guide. Further, a body is movably attached to the guide to occlude and seal a guide aperture in the lower portion of the guide. The body is movably attached to the second end of the guide to submerge the body under the water. A fish line is attached to the body to move the body relative to the guide upon an amount of movement of the fish line. The movement of the body unseals the guide aperture to allow the water to flow into the guide to raise the indicator causing the indicator to protrude above the first end of the guide.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a device to signal movement. In particular, the invention relates to methods and other accommodations for signaling movement from a caught animal, particularly a fish.  
           [0002]    While ice fishing is a popular sport throughout the world, it may be an extremely cold and windy sport. As such, early detection and signal of a fish bite is extremely important. Anglers commonly fish a multitude of holes at the same time in order to better increase the chance of catching a fish. Accordingly, anglers position a fishing pole or jig at each ice hole and watch each for a fish bite. Commonly, the angler will retreat to a small housing to escape the cold and windy environment and will watch the poles from the housing.  
           [0003]    A problem with watching the ice holes from afar, however, is being able to accurately detect when a fish is biting. A need, therefore, exists to alert the angler of the fish bite. The solution, however, must be capable of alerting the angler in a windy environment without giving a false signal. Further, a need exists to alert the angler from a distance. Further, a need exists to easily and efficiently carry and support an ice-fishing signaling device.  
           [0004]    Ice fishing jigs currently available often utilize a flag to signal when a fish is hooked. In these jigs, a spring and clip mechanism holds a flag down where the clip connects to the fish line. Upon a bite, the line pulls the clip from the spring, which in turn releases the flag to signal the bite. These jigs however fail to meet the current need. As ice fishing is performed outdoors, heavy winds often trip the spring and clip mechanism to raise the flag. Accordingly, a false signal is given by the current jigs requiring the angler to not only inspect the fishing line but also to reset the flag. Because multiple fishing holes may be used, these false signals tripped by the wind require the angler to spend more time checking the fish lines. Additionally, a “nibble” on the fish line may provide enough force to trip the flag resulting in a false signal.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,300 issued to Abdo also discloses an ice fishing jig. In the &#39;300 patent, a shaft with a reel attached extends through a housing. A flag assembly located on the outside of the housing attaches to the shaft. Thus, when a fish bites, the shaft trips the flag assembly to raise the flag. This jig, though, does not solve the current need as wind may also trip the flag assembly to give a false signal. Accordingly, an angler is required to leave the housing and to reset the flag assembly. Further, the housing is bulky resulting in an inefficient and cumbersome way of carrying the jig.  
           [0006]    Another device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,573, issued to Wilczynski discloses an ultra-sensitive fish bite indicator. In the &#39;573 patent, a spring and wire attach to the distal end of a fishing rod on a mount. The mount in turns loops to connect to the fish line. When a fish bites on the fish line, the tension in the line pulls the mount towards the fishing rod, causing the wire to flex off the spring, to signal that a fish is biting. This bite indicator, also, contains deficiencies for the current need. Although the bite indicator gives a signal of a fish bite, the bite indicator is not adapted for ice fishing. For example, the flex of the wire toward the rod will not give sufficient notice to an angler located at a distance from the rod that a fish is biting. Further, heavy winds also cause the wire to flex up and down resulting in a false signal requiring the angler to leave the housing and to check the fish lines.  
           [0007]    U.S. Design Pat. No. 432,620, issued to Rozkowski, discloses a ice fishing jigging rig with ornamental features relating to stands that adhere to the ice. The design further discloses a spring assembly connected between the reel and fish line, which flexes upon a bite. This jig, too, contains deficiencies, as the jig is not designed to prevent the wind from giving a false signal. Additionally, the design discloses a bulky jig resulting in a cumbersome way of carrying the jig.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention relates to a signal device, in particular, an ice fishing jig to be used in conjunction with a hole cut into a frozen surface of a body of water to expose liquid water within the hole. In an embodiment, a guide which has a first end, a second end and a passage is sized to be received in the hole where the guide is submerged in the hole.  
           [0009]    An indicator is disposed at least partially within the passage of the guide. Further, a body is movably attached to the guide to occlude and seal a guide aperture in the lower portion of the guide.  
           [0010]    In an embodiment, the body is rotatably attached to the second end of the guide to submerge the body under the water. A bias is positioned to releaseably seal the body to the guide where the bias is configured to tension the body against the guide.  
           [0011]    A fish line is rotatably attached to the body to move the body relative to the guide upon an amount of movement of the fish line. The movement of the body unseals the guide aperture to allow the water to flow into the guide to raise the indicator causing the indicator to protrude above the first end of the guide.  
           [0012]    In an embodiment, the water directly engages the indicator. Accordingly, the indicator is floatable in the water. Further, in an embodiment, an arrangement prevents the indicator from freezing to the guide.  
           [0013]    In an embodiment, a support assembly is engaged with the guide to hold the guide in a partially submerged position in the hole wherein the support assembly has a handle end, a restraining end and a support rod distally positioned in-between. The support assembly is pivotally attached to the guide. Accordingly, the support rod is movable between a carry position and a support position where the restraining end engages the guide in the carry position.  
           [0014]    In an embodiment, the guide is sized to fit in the hole where the guide has a first open end, a second closed end having a plurality of guide apertures extending therethrough. In an embodiment, each guide aperture is equilaterally spaced on the second closed end which is positioned below the water while first open end is held above the water.  
           [0015]    The body is rotatably attached beneath the guide at the second closed end to occlude the plurality of guide apertures. In an embodiment, the body has at least one body aperture therethrough alignable with the plurality of guide apertures in the second closed end when the body is rotated to a predetermined position.  
           [0016]    A fish line is attached to the body to rotate the body relative to the guide, where the movement of the body aligns the plurality of guide apertures with the at least one body aperture, to allow water to flow into the guide to float the indicator causing the indicator to rise in the guide and protrude from the first open end of the guide.  
           [0017]    An advantage of the present invention is to provide an indicator to signal when a movement such as a fish bite occurs.  
           [0018]    Another advantage of the present invention is to signal a movement to an observer located at a distance.  
           [0019]    Another advantage of the present invention is to is to prevent environmental conditions from giving a false signal of a movement.  
           [0020]    Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an easy, economical and efficient way to transport and to support the indicator.  
           [0021]    Still further advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of an ice fishing jig embodying the principles of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of the ice fishing jig of FIG. 1 in a non-signaling condition.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the ice fishing jig of FIG. 1, rotated 90° from FIG. 2, and in a signaling condition.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 a  is a partial side sectional view of the ice fishing jig of FIG. 1 in a water removal position.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 b  is a partial side sectional view of FIG. 4 a  in a tension adjusting condition.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the ice fishing jig as in FIG. 2 or  3 . ;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a bottom end of the guide of FIG. 1.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the guide of FIG. 6.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the body of FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the body of FIG. 8.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the support assembly of FIG. 1.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the support assembly of FIG. 10, rotated 90°.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 12 is an end view of the support assembly of FIGS. 10 and 11.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1 shows in cross section a preferred embodiment of an ice fishing jig  20  to signal movement. In the preferred embodiment, the ice fishing jig  20  signals movement created by an animal, particularly a fish. In ice fishing, anglers bore a hole  22  (FIG. 5) through the ice surface  21  where water  23  fills the hole  22  up to a water line  24  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the present invention, the ice fishing jig  20  is partially inserted through this hole  22  and partially submerged below the water line  24 .  
         [0036]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an indicator  38  to alert the observer of the movement. In the preferred embodiment, the indicator  38  is made of a lightweight water insoluble material such as polystyrene. It should be noted, however, that other materials having a density less than water may also be used, such as hollow, sealed tubes of extruded plastic, lightweight metal, wood, molded plastic, or other materials. Additionally, the indicator  38  may be colored, preferably a noticeable color such as a fluorescent color, to better alert the observer. In the preferred embodiment, the indicator  38  comprises a round cylindrical shape in order to reduce wind resistance and for cost reduction and availability considerations. Preferably, the indicator  38  has an outer diameter less than 1.5 inches and a height of 9.5 inches. However, it should be noted that the indicator  38  may comprise other shapes, including triangular or flat.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  and  5 , a guide  25 , having a first end  27  and a second end  28  encloses the indicator  38  within a passage  29  formed by walls  32  in the guide  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the guide  25  is longer than the indicator  38  in order to completely enclose the indicator  38  within the passage  29 . Also, preferably the guide  25  is a round hollow cylinder, such as an extruded PVC tube, however, other shapes and materials may be used within the scope of the invention. Further, the guide  25  preferably has an outer diameter of approximately two inches and a height of 11 inches. Because the guide  25  is slideably disposed about indicator  38 , the indicator  38  is not fixed to the passage  29  leaving a space  31  between the indicator  38  and the walls  32 .  
         [0038]    As the ice fishing jig  20  is disposed outdoors, ice may form between the indicator  38  and the passage  29  if water is present in the passage  29 . To prevent ice from forming in the space  31 , an arrangement  36  is provided which prevents the indicator  38  from freezing to the guide  25  or at least minimizes any ice formation that may occur.  
         [0039]    In an embodiment, the arrangement  36  includes a plurality of standoffs  37  positioned between the indicator  38  and the guide  25  as shown in FIG. 5. The standoffs  37  are thin column members or pins which are connected to either the indicator  38  or the walls  32  of the guide  25  to position the indicator  38  away from the guide  25 . As the contact surface between the standoffs  37  and either the indicator  38  or guide walls  32  is small, the amount of ice which might possibly form would be insufficient to prohibit movement of the indicator  38  as discussed below. In another embodiment a coating, e.g., Teflon™, is applied to the walls  32  to prevent water from sticking to the walls  32 , and hence, preventing ice forming between the indicator  38  and the guide  25 . Also, the indicator  38  may be shaped relative to the walls  32  of the passage  29  to minimize the possible surface area contact between the two. For example, the indicator  38  may have a triangular cross-section and the passage  29  may have a circular cross-section. If the indicator  38  is smaller than the passage  29 , then the areas of contact would be limited to at most two corners of the indicator  38 .  
         [0040]    If the vertical comer edge is configured other than straight, the contact area would be further minimized.  
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 6, a lower end of the guide  25  has a plurality of guide apertures  26  extending through an otherwise closed end  58  of the guide  25  where the guide apertures  26  are spaced equilaterally from each other. These guide apertures  26  may be formed in a separate member such as a plug  33  sealed to the second end  28  of the guide  25 , or the second end  28  of the guide  25  may have a closed end with the guide apertures  26  formed therein. Excellent results are obtained when the guide  25  has three guide apertures  26  spaced at 120 degree intervals as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Other embodiments, however, can have a single guide aperture  26 , two guide apertures  26  or more than three guide apertures  26 . Each of the guide apertures  26  may be round, oval, arcuate or of other shapes. Each of the guide apertures  26  is preferably lined with an o-ring  34  which protrudes above a surrounding surface to seal against fluids as described below. In the preferred embodiment, the guide aperture  26  is positioned on the second end  28  as shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the guide aperture  26  may be positioned in a lower portion  30  of the guide  25 , including through the wall  32 . If a separate plug  33  is utilized for providing the guide apertures  26 , in a preferred arrangement, the plug  33  has an outer surface shaped complementarily to the walls  32  of the passage  29  to provide a liquid tight seal therebetween. Also, a shoulder  35  may be provided at an end of the plug  33  to provide a stop and to prevent the plug  33  from being inserted too far into the guide  25 .  
         [0042]    As shown in FIGS. 1,2 and  3 , a body  44  is movably, and preferably rotatably attached to the guide  25  to selectively occlude and seal the guide aperture  26 . The body  44  has at least one body aperture  45  therethrough as shown in FIG. 8. In the preferred embodiment, the body aperture  45  is elongated as shown in FIG. 9 or may be an arcuate, circular or rectangular aperture. In an alternative embodiment, the body  44  may have a plurality of body apertures  45 . In the preferred embodiment, the second end  28  is coupled to a sealing body end  46  of the body  44  where the body  44  is positioned under the guide  25  as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the body  44  and the guide  25  share a common axis. The body  44  may be, however, positioned on a lower portion  30  of the guide  25  in an alternative position, such as against the outer side wall of the guide  25 .  
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the body  44  is a reel. However, it should be noted that the body  44  can also include those means known in the art for holding fish line and can further include, but is not limited to, spools and cylinders. The body  44  includes a circumferential groove  55  to spool a fish line  48  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. A line guide  47  connects to the guide  25  to properly align the fish line  48  coming out of the circumferential groove  55 . In the preferred embodiment, the body  44  further includes a recess  54  as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The recess  54  is configured to a finger where the angler can insert a finger and rotate the body  44  to spool the fish line  48  as commonly known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the recess  54  is machined into the body  44 . In other embodiments, however, the recess  54  is separately mounted to the body  44  to provide a rotating or stationary knob affixed to the body  44  for the purpose of spooling the fish line  48 .  
         [0044]    The fish line  48  is fixedly attached to the body  44  which moves the body  44  when acted upon by a movement such as a fish bite. The body  44  is positioned against the guide  25  to rotate upon a movement of the fish line  48 , rotating the body aperture  45  to align with the guide apertures  26 . The body aperture  45  and guide apertures  26  alternately align as the body aperture  45  is rotating with the body  44  and relative to the guide  25 .  
         [0045]    In order to couple the guide  25  to the body  44 , a biasing member generally shown as  39  in FIGS. 1 and 4 b  presses the guide  25  to the body  44 . In an embodiment, the biasing member  39  includes a bolt  40  having a head  41  and a spring  42  captured thereon where the bolt  40  is disposed through the body  44  and the guide  25  and is engaged by a nut  43  with a nut o-ring and  {fraction (1/4)}″ washer 57 attached. The spring 42, in turn, is disposed between the head 41 and the second end 28 of the guide 25. Preferably, the bolt 40 comprises a    {fraction (1/4)}″- 20×2″ OAL galvanized hex head screw, the spring  42  comprise a 0.375″O.D.×035″ WD×1.00″ OAL spring while the nut  43  comprises a  {fraction (1/4)}- 20 nyloc nut. It should be noted, however, that the biasing member  39  can also include those means known in the art and can further include, but is not limited to, the bolt  40  alone, compression members and tensioning devices. The biasing member  39  is configured to seal the body  44  to the guide  25  by pressing the protruding o-ring  34  of the second end  28  of the guide  25  to the sealing body end  46  of the body  44 . Thus, when the body aperture  45  in the body  44  is aligned with the guide aperture  26  in the guide  25 , an open conduit will extend from an exterior side of the body into the passage  29 . When the body aperture  45  in the body  44  is out of alignment with the guide aperture  26 , the passage  29  will be sealed from the exterior. Further, the biasing member  39  regulates tension of the fish line  48 . In the preferred embodiment, the bolt  40  and nut  43  may be adjusted to tighten and to loosen the body  44 . As shown in FIG. 4 b , the bolt  40  can be pressed against the spring  42  to expose the nut  43 , which is normally held in a recess  44   a  in the body  44 . As the nut  43  is tightened on the bolt  40 , the biasing force provided by the spring  42  will be increased, thus holding the body  44  tighter against the guide  25 . In such a condition, greater force on the fish line  48  will be required to rotate the body  44 . As the nut  43  is loosened, the body  44  will rotate more freely. Therefore, the biasing member  39  can regulate the amount of tension with which the body  44  is sealed against the guide  25 . Accordingly, different amounts of force may be required to rotate the body  44 . Hence, the sensitivity of each embodiment can be adjusted for signaling fish of various sizes and weights.  
         [0046]    In order to efficiently and conveniently transport and support the present invention, a support assembly  49  attaches to the guide  25  as shown in FIG. 1. The support assembly  49  includes a handle end  50 , a restraining end  53 , pivot pins  52  and a support rod  51  as shown individually in FIGS. 10, 11 and  12 . The support assembly  49  is configured to transport the ice fishing jig  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the support rod  51  rotatably connects to the guide  25  via the pivot pins  52  engaging in holes in the wall  32  of the guide  25 . The support rod  51  is adapted to rotate ninety degrees from a carry position to a support position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the carry position, the handle end  50  is positioned above the guide  25  to allow the angler to grasp the handle end  50  and easily carry the ice fishing jig  20 . In this carry position, the restraining end  53 , which is configured as a generally U-shaped structure, partially surrounds the guide  25  to conform with the guide  25 .  
         [0047]    Also, the support assembly  49  is configured to support the ice fishing jig  20 . When the ice fishing jig  20  is to be placed over the hole  22 , the support rod  51  is rotated ninety degrees to the support position. The support assembly  49  engages the guide  25  to hold the guide  25  in a partially submerged position in the hole  22  as shown in FIG. 2. In the support position, the support rod  51  locks into place by engaging into a horizontal recess  56  machined into the guide  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the support rod  51  is provided on both sides of the guide  25  as shown in FIG. 5. In an alternative embodiment, the support rod  51  is provided on only one side of the guide  25 .  
         [0048]    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide  25  is sized to be placed in the hole  22  where substantially most of the guide  25  is submerged under the water line  24 . Accordingly, the second end  28  and the lower portion  30  are submerged under the water line  24 . As positioned, the first end  27  is positioned over the hole  22  above the ice surface  21 . In this position, the body  44  is also positioned below the water line  24 , so that all of the moving parts will remain in liquid water and no freezing will occur at these parts.  
         [0049]    Before the guide  25  is inserted into the water  23 , the body  44  is rotated relative to the guide  25  such that the guide apertures  26  and body apertures  45  are out of alignment. The indicator  38  is inserted into the passage  29 .  
         [0050]    When a fish engages the fish line  48  and pulls on it, the body  44  will rotate and will cause alignment to occur between the guide apertures  26  and the body apertures  45 , at least once during each rotation of the body  44  relative to the guide  25 .  
         [0051]    During the alignment, water flows through the body aperture  45  and the guide apertures  26  into the passage  29  within the guide  25 . As the guide  25  is partially displaced under the water line  24 , the water flows into the guide  25  to displace the indicator  38  from a first position to a second position at least partially outside the guide  25  as shown in FIG. 3. The second position protrudes the indicator  38  out of the first end  27  of the guide  25  to signal the observer. In the preferred embodiment, the indicator  38  is directly engaged by the water flowing into the guide  25 . Thus, the indicator  38  is floatable in water. In an alternative embodiment, the indicator  38  may not be directly engaged by the water while still being activated by the water. For example, there may be an intermediary element positioned between the water and the indicator  38  which is forced upwardly by the rising water in the passage  29 . In such an arrangement, the indicator  38  itself may not be floatable, but the intermediary element would be.  
         [0052]    After the fish has been brought in and the jig  20  is ready to be reset, the water  23  in the passage  29  is removed by pouring it out the top end and/or by moving the body  44  against the bias of the spring  42  to unseal the guide apertures  26  as shown in FIG. 4 a . In this condition, air could also be blown into the passage  29  to force out any remaining water  23 .  
         [0053]    Although the body  44  is illustrated as having a size and shape to cover the second end  28  of the guide  25 , the body  44  could be configured and shaped differently such that the guide apertures  26  become exposed upon rotation of the body  44 , even without body apertures  45  through the body  44 . For example, the body  44  may have external indents in its peripheral edge which expose the guide apertures  26  when the body  44  is rotated. Alternatively, the body  44  may have a rectangular or other shaped portion which engages the end of the guide  25  and which overlies the guide apertures  26  in one orientation and exposes the guide apertures  26  in another rotational orientation. Further, the mating surfaces between the body  44  and the guide  25  may be angled or shaped such that the guide apertures  26  are sealed in one orientation and exposed in another, or the body  44  may be mounted to the guide  25  such that it moves away and exposes the guide apertures  26  when the fish line  48  is pulled.  
         [0054]    Although the foregoing detailed description of the present invention has been described by reference to various embodiments, and the best mode contemplated for carrying out the prevention invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that modifications or variations in the structure and arrangement of these embodiments other than there specifically set forth herein may be achieved by those skilled in the art and that such modifications are to be considered as being within the overall scope of the present invention.