Patent Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to tip-down devices used in fishing and particularly adapted for use in ice fishing. In various exemplary embodiments, the tip down includes a pivoting rod holder wherein the fishing rod pivots between two positions and automatically moves away from intermediate positions, the two positions differing in the tip of the fishing rod being held upward or downward. In various exemplary embodiments, the disclosed tip-down includes a line clip, which is used to temporarily hold the fishing line in place (e.g., at a point between the reel and the first eye of the fishing rod). The disclosed tip-down the fishing rod to be set up in a way that allows a fish to take the bait and attempt to swim away without resistance from the fishing line or rod while still indicating a strike and allowing the user, who may be remote from the fishing rod, time to respond.

Full Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/309,675 filed Mar. 2, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to devices used to hold fishing poles. More particularly, it relates to a device used for ice fishing that holds a fishing pole, indicates a strike by tipping down, and releases the fishing line. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    As with other forms of fishing, an ice fisherman is alerted to a fish taking his bait by the fishing rod end tipping downward. This is caused by the fish pulling on the bait and the fishing line. Various devices have been devised to hold a fishing rod in place and signal a fish strike or bite. One type is generally referred to as a tip-up and provides a flag or similar signal that is caused to go up when a bite is felt on the line. A second type is generally referred to a tip-down. A tip-down allows the fishing rod to move from pointing somewhat upward to somewhat downward using the downward force of the fish strike to move the rod. 
       Outline of Basic and Other Advantageous Features 
       [0006]    It would be desirable to provide a fishing rod mounting or the like of a type disclosed in the present application that includes any one or more of these or other advantageous features:
       A tip-down that releases the line as soon as the pole is tipped down;   A tip-down that allows line to be released as the fish swims rather than pulling the bait away from the fish; and   A tip-down that is easily stored and transported.       
 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    An exemplary embodiment relates to a tip-down, comprising a pivoting support structure for holding a fishing pole and a fishing line clamp wherein the pivoting support structure is capable of pivoting between an up position and a down position and wherein a tip of a fishing pole in the pivoting support structure would be noticeably higher in the first position than the tip would be in the second position. 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages of various embodiments of systems and methods according to this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of various devices, structures, and/or methods according to this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to the present disclosure will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a tip-down according to the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a fishing pole in a tipped-up position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a fishing pole in an intermediate position between a tipped-up position and tipped-down position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a fishing pole in a tipped-down position; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a from view of an exemplary embodiment of a pivot plate for a tip-down according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary to the understanding of the invention or render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    With conventional tip-downs, the hook and line can move to the extent the pole is allowed to move. Once the rod is down, the fish cannot pull the bait further unless it is strong enough to overcome the resistance of the fishing reel to turning. However, this resistance is generally not strong enough to set the hook in the mouth of the fish so it is necessary for the fisherman to react quickly to a strike by taking the fishing rod and setting the hook. Because ice fishing of necessity is done in cold weather on the surface of a frozen water body, the fisherman may be in a warmer location (e.g., a portable but or a vehicle) rather than near the pole. In addition to removing the necessity to constantly hold the pole, such devices allow a single fisherman to fish with multiple poles in different holes. 
         [0020]    With a and conventional tip-down, after the pole has tipped down the bait cannot easily be pulled further and may be pulled away from the fish&#39;s mouth as it swims away. When a fish strikes the bait, initially the hook is often not deep into the fish&#39;s mouth. If the hook is not set into the fish&#39;s mouth, the fish may escape. To set the hook, a fisherman will give the pole a hard, fast yank. With conventional tip-downs, the line will limit where a fish may take the bait, but the force from a fish pulling the bait away from the pole is rarely enough to set the hook and the fish may release the bait and hook in response to the pull of the line on the bait. This combination of factors creates a small window of opportunity for the fisherman to react and set the hook, which time may be too short if the user is tending another pole or for any other reason not close enough to the pole and tip-down. Because of this, many fish strikes do not result in the fish being hooked and caught. 
         [0021]    In various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1 , tip-down  100  includes a base  101 , a support member  102 , and a pivoting support structure  110 . In various exemplary embodiments, the pivoting support structure  110  includes a plate  111  that is pivotally connected to the support member  102 . The plate  111  pivots between two different positions, referred to herein as an up position and a down position. In the up position, a fishing pole  120  placed in the tip-down  100  is pointed somewhat upward, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In the down position, a fishing pole  120  placed in the tip-down  100  is pointed somewhat downward, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In various exemplary embodiments, the pivot plate  111  is attached to the support member  102  such that it pivots around a point  112  (“pivot point”) other than its center of mass (“center point”). For example, the pivot point  112  may be located somewhat above or below the center point. In such exemplary embodiments, the force of gravity will pull the pivot plate  111  toward either the up position or the down position. No precise pivot point  112  is required and the choice of where to place the pivot point  112  will also be affected by the weight of the plate  111 , the weight of the pole  120 , and the location of the support pegs  114  and  115  and reel support peg  117 . 
         [0022]    In various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1 , three pegs extend from the pivot plate  111 : a front support peg  114 , a back support peg  115 , and a reel support peg  117 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the front and back support pegs  114  and  115  are placed further from the center of the pivot plate  111 . In various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the fishing pole is placed on and supported by the two support pegs  114  and  115  with the front support peg  114  closer to the tip of the pole and the back support peg  115  closer to the bottom or handle of the pole  120  (shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ). In various exemplary embodiments, the reel support peg  117  is placed roughly between the support pegs  114  and  115 , but below an imaginary line passing through the front and back support pegs  114  and  115 . In various exemplary embodiments, the reel support peg  117  may be centered between the support pegs  114  and  115  or be somewhat closer to one or the other support peg  114  or  115 . It should be appreciated that the designation of the support pegs  114  and  115  as front and hack is for the purpose of aiding in the description of the use of the device. A pole  120  (shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ) may placed as shown in the drawings or its direction may be reversed with the front support peg  114  functioning as the back support peg  115  and vice versa. A fishing pole  120  may be oriented in either direction as desired (e.g., so that the handle of the reel  121  (shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ) is away from the plate  111 ). Reversing the orientation of the tip-down  110  permits the tip-down  110  to be used with the pole  120  to either the right-hand or left-hand side. 
         [0023]    In various exemplary embodiments, one or both of the support pegs  114  and  115  include a groove  116  into which the fishing rod  120  is placed. The groove(s)  116  provide greater stability to the fishing rod  120  while in the tip-down  100 , which may be particularly important in harsh weather (e.g., wind or storms) or during a powerful fish strike. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a fishing pole  120  is placed on the tip-down  100  by resting the pole  120  on the support pegs  114  and  115  with the reel  121  preferably between the support pegs  114  and  115 . The reel is preferably located between the reel support peg  117  and the back support peg  115 , but may be placed to either side of the reel support peg  117 . In the preferred position, the reel rests against the back support peg  115  when in the up position and, the reel conies to rest against the reel support peg  117  when in the down position. In various exemplary embodiments, the reel may instead be placed between the reel support peg  117  and the front support peg  114  and the choice may depend in part on the length and weight of the pole  120  being used. 
         [0025]    In various exemplary embodiments, the plate  111  is pivotally coupled to the support leg such that the plate  111  will remain in the up position until a downward force is applied. The plate  111  will also remain in the down position until an upward force is applied. In various exemplary embodiments, the plate  111  is most stable in the extreme positions (i.e., toward the up and down positions) and tends to pivot away from an intermediary position. This may be accomplished by locating the pivot point  112  away from the pivot plate&#39;s center of gravity. 
         [0026]    In various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , a stop  104  projects from the support leg  102  just below the pivot plate  111 . The plate  111  is shaped such that it comes into contact with a stop  104  at the up position and down position, which prevents the pivot plate  111  from pivoting too far in either direction. 
         [0027]    In various exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the tip-down  100  also includes a line clamp  103 ,  FIG. 2  shows the line clamp  103  and reel as positioned while waiting for a fish strike. The tip-down  100  is in the up position and the reel is open, but line is not released because it is held in place by the lime clamp  103 . When a fish strikes, the pole is pulled downward and the pivot plate  111  rotates from the up toward the down position, as illustrated by  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows the tip-down  100  immediately following a fish strike. The pivot plate  111  has rotated to or very near to the down position. The line is shown still held by the line clamp  103 , but the force of the fish strike will pull the line free of the line clamp  103  at least by the time the pivot plate  111  is fully rotated to the down position, as shown in  FIG. 4 . In various exemplary embodiments, the line clamp  103  is oriented pointed significantly more downward than horizontal. With a conventional tip-down  100 , the reel would be closed and the fish would feel resistance from the bait. In various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed tip-down  100 , the fish will not feel any significant resistance from the bait because the reel is open and will be much less likely to lose the bait. At this point, the user can see that a fish strike has occurred and can react appropriately. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment of a pivot plate  111 . In various exemplary embodiments, the pivot plate  111  is generally symmetrical around vertical axis  118 , which passes through pivot point  112 , in various embodiments, the pivot plate  111  includes a cut-out or slot  113 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , slot  113  interacts with stop  104  to control the extent to which the pivot plate  111  can rotate. 
         [0030]    In various exemplary embodiments, the base  101  comprises one or more horizontal pieces. In various exemplary embodiments, the base, pieces rotate relative to the support leg so that they are parallel to the support leg. This makes it easier to store or transport the tip-down  100  (e.g., ice fishermen often transport equipment in buckets). In various exemplary embodiments, the tip-down  100  includes a mechanism to lock the base pieces in place relative to the support leg in the open (i.e., in use) and/or closed (i.e., for storage) position. In various exemplary embodiments, the tip-down  100  may include additional pieces attached to the support leg or base pieces to provide additional support and stability, which may be beneficial when a fish strikes or in windy conditions. 
         [0031]    In various exemplary embodiments, the tip-down  100  may be used left-handed or right-handed. In other words, the tip-down  100  may be rotated so that, from the perspective of the user, the rod may be placed to the right or to the left of the pivot plate  111 . Thus, either support peg may be the front or the back support peg, depending on how the pole is oriented. 
         [0032]    Although the tip-down has been described in connection with ice fishing, in various exemplary embodiments, the tip-down may be used for fishing at any time of year. For example, the tip-down may be used for shoreline fishing. The tip-down is used as described after casting. In such uses, the tip-down will function as described and allow a striking fish to draw out fishing line without significant resistance until the user intervenes. In various exemplary embodiments, the tip-down may be used with a variety of fishing rods from very short ones to rods at least as long as six feet. 
         [0033]    For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature. 
         [0034]    It should be noted that references to relative positions (e.g., “top” and “bottom”) in this description are merely used to identify various elements as are oriented in the figures. It should be recognized that the orientation of particular components may vary greatly depending on the application in which they are used. 
         [0035]    As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims. 
         [0036]    It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the tip-down, as shown in the various exemplary embodiments, is illustrative only. While the tip-down, according to this invention, has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the tip-down, according to this invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the description provided above is intended to embrace all known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0