Abstract:
An electronic jigging reel for providing automatic reeling and jigging of a fishing line. The electronic jigging reel includes a motorized reel operationally coupled to a three position switch for permitting constant motorized reeling, pulsed motorized reeling for jigging the fishing line, and manual reeling. In an embodiment, display lights are provided for indicating the current status of the motorized reel. In an embodiment, a fish bite indicator system having audio and visual bite indicators is also included. In an embodiment, the motor is powered by a rechargeable battery system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to fishing reels and more particularly pertains to a new electronic jigging reel for providing automatic reeling and jigging of a fishing line. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of fishing reels is known in the prior art. More specifically, fishing reels heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U. S. Pat. No. 4,739,944; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,181; U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,878; U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,072; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 259,503; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,979. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new electronic jigging reel. The inventive device includes a motorized reel operationally coupled to a three position switch for permitting constant motorized reeling, pulsed motorized reeling for jigging the fishing line, and manual reeling. Display lights are provided for indicating the current status of the motorized reel. In an embodiment, a fish bite indicator system having audio and visual bite indicators is also included. The motor is powered by a rechargeable battery system. 
     In these respects, the electronic jigging reel according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing automatic reeling and jigging of a fishing line. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of fishing reels now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new electronic jigging reel construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing automatic reeling and jigging of a fishing line. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new electronic jigging reel apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the fishing reels mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new electronic jigging reel which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fishing reels, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a motorized reel operationally coupled to a three position switch for permitting constant motorized reeling, pulsed motorized reeling for jigging the fishing line, and manual reeling. Display lights are provided for indicating the current status of the motorized reel. In an embodiment, a fish bite indicator system having audio and visual bite indicators is also included. The motor is powered by a rechargeable battery system. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new electronic jigging reel apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the fishing reels mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new electronic jigging reel which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fishing reels, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new electronic jigging reel that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new electronic jigging reel that is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new electronic jigging reel which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such electronic jigging reel economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electronic jigging reel which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new electronic jigging reel for providing automatic reeling and jigging of a fishing line. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electronic jigging reel which includes a motorized reel operationally coupled to a three position switch for permitting constant motorized reeling, pulsed motorized reeling for jigging the fishing line, and manual reeling. Display lights are provided for indicating the current status of the motorized reel. In an embodiment, a fish bite indicator system having audio and visual bite indicators is also included. The motor is powered by a rechargeable battery system. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electronic jigging reel that provides a removable handle for manual reeling and a cap for covering the handle connector when the handle is not coupled to the reel. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a new electronic jigging reel according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the battery of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base unit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the bite indicating system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the vehicle battery charger of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the power tap charger of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the removable reel handle system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the electronic system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the drag gear of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new electronic jigging reel embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the electronic jigging reel  10  generally comprises a fishing pole  22 , a reel housing  24  including an interior space  26 , a reel  28 , a motor  30 , a power source  32 , main power switch  34 , operation switch  36 , and an oscillator  38 . 
     The reel housing  24  is coupled to the fishing pole  22 . The reel  28  is positioned substantially in the interior space  26 . The motor  30  is positioned in the interior space, the motor  30  is operationally coupled to the reel  28  for turning the reel  28  upon activation of the motor  30 . The power source is connected to the motor  30  for selectively providing power to the motor  30 . 
     The main power switch  34  extends from the reel housing  24  and is operationally coupled to the power source  32  for providing power to the motor  30  when the main power switch  34  is in a closed position. 
     The operation switch  36  is coupled to the housing near a handle  42  of the fishing pole  20  for facilitating manipulation of the operation switch  36  by a user. The operation switch  36  is wired to the motor  30  and the main power switch  34  for selectively activating the motor  30  when the main power switch  34  is in a closed position. The operation switch  36  includes an on position for activating the motor  30 , an off position for deactivating the motor  30 , and a jigging position. 
     The oscillator  38  and the one-shot multi-vibrator  44  is wired to the switch for periodically activating the motor  30  when the switch is in the jigging position whereby the reel  28  provides periodic incremental reeling of a fishing line  52  wrapped around the reel  28  when the switch is in the jigging position. 
     A first variable RC time constant  46  is electrically coupled to the oscillator  38  for selectively varying the number of times the motor  30  is activated over a pre-determined period of time when the operation switch  36  is in the jigging position and the main power switch  34  is in the closed position. 
     A second variable RC time constant  48  is electrically coupled to the one-shot multi-vibrator  44  for selectively varying the duration of each activation of the motor  30  when the operation switch  36  is in the jigging position and the main power switch  34  is in the closed position. Thus, the duration of activation of the motor  30  is controllable by the user. 
     The fishing pole  22  includes a pair of substantially aligned line guides  50  such that the fishing line  52  passes through the line guides  50 . The system  10  includes a bite indicator system  54  including a trigger arm  56  substantially aligned with the fishing pole  22  and positioned between the pair of line guides  50 . The trigger arm  56  is pivotally coupled to the fishing pole  22  such that a distal end  57  is selectively positionable in offset relationship to a longitudinal axis passing through the line guides  50 . An eye  58  is provided on the distal end  57  for receiving the fishing line  52  therethrough such that the fishing line  52  is urged into an offset position with respect to the longitudinal axis extending through the line guides  50  when the trigger arm  56  is in an armed position. The trigger arm  56  is movable into an activated position by a tensile force applied to the fishing line  52  and is operationally coupled to a bite indicator switch  59 . The bite indicator switch  59  is for providing a signal upon movement of the trigger arm  56  from the armed position to the activated position. 
     A bite indicating light emitting diode  60  is operationally coupled to the bite indicator switch  59  for providing a visual signal of movement of the trigger arm  56  between the armed and activated positions. In an embodiment, the diode  60  is colored yellow. 
     A piezo-electric buzzer  62  is electrically coupled to the bite indicator switch  59  for providing an audio signal upon movement of the trigger arm between the armed and activated positions. 
     A reel activation light emitting diode  64  is electrically coupled to the operation switch  36  such that the reel activation light emitting diode  64  provides a visual indication of activation of the motor  30  by the operation switch  36 . In an embodiment, the reel activation diode  64  is colored green. 
     A power indicator light emitting diode  66  is electrically coupled to the main power switch  34  such that the power indicator light emitting diode  66  provides a visual indication of the main power switch  34  is in the closed position. In an embodiment, the diode  66  is colored red. 
     In an embodiment, the power source  32  is a rechargeable battery  68  attachable to an end of the fishing pole  22  near the handle  42 . 
     The battery  68  includes a pair of base connection ports  69  for recharging the battery  68 . A base unit  70  is included and has a pair of base recharging ports  71 . The battery is selectively engageable to the base unit such that the base connection ports contact the base recharging ports. The base unit is electrically couplable to a power source for recharging the battery when the base connection ports contact the base recharging ports. 
     The battery  68  also includes a battery recharging port  73 . A vehicle battery charger  74  includes a pair of clips  75  designed for engaging a vehicle battery and a charging connection member  76  for selectively coupling to the battery charging port. Thus, the battery is designed for being recharged by the vehicle battery when the clips are engaged to the vehicle battery and the charging connection member is engaged to the battery recharging port. 
     For an alternate method of recharging the battery  68 , a vehicle power tap charger  77  includes a power tap connector  78  designed for engaging a vehicle power tap and a charging connection member  79 , having similar structure to charging connection member  76 , for selectively coupling to the battery charging port. Thus, the battery is designed for being recharged by the vehicle power tap when the power tap connector is engaged to the vehicle power tap when the charging connection member is engaged to the battery recharging port. 
     A removable handle system  31  is provided for permitting manual reeling of the fishing line  52 . The removable handle system includes a connection member  33  extending outwardly from the housing  22 . The connection member  33  is mechanically coupled to the reel  28  for reeling the fishing line  52 . A drag gear  35  is couplable to the connection member for adjusting the drag while reeling the fishing line  52 . A reel handle  37  is also couplable to the connection member for manually reeling the fishing line  52 . A fastening cap  39  is provided for engaging the connection member whereby the handle and the drag gear are engaged to the connection member such that turning of the handle reels the fishing line  52 . 
     An end cap  29  is selectively engageable to the connection member such that the connection member is covered by the end cap  29  when the drag gear and the handle are not engaged to the connection member. Thus permitting operation of the reel  28  using only the operation switch  36 . 
     A clock  27  is positioned substantially within the reel housing and the reel housing  24  includes a clock window  25  positioned proximate the clock for permitting viewing of a time displayed on a face of the clock. 
     A spool release button  43  is coupled to the reel housing for permitting free spinning of the reel  28  for casting of the fishing line  52 . 
     In an embodiment, the reel housing  24  includes an open upper face  51  facing outwardly from the fishing pole  22  for facilitating visual inspection of the reel  28  and for permitting contact of a thumb of a user with the fishing line  52  during use for facilitating casting of the fishing line. 
     A pulse adjustment control knob  15  is coupled to the reel housing  24 . The pulse adjustment control is coupled to the pulse duration control device for manually adjusting the pulse duration control device to permit longer or shorter periods of activation of the reel during jigging. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.