Abstract:
This invention relates to automatic hook setting devices in general, and more specifically to a compression spring actuated fishing rod holder which will rapidly rise from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position when a trigger mechanism is tripped. The trigger mechanism is adjustable to vary the force necessary to activate it, and the trigger releasably secures a loop of fishing line so that the hook setting action is not immediate, but occurs only after a predetermined amount of force has been exerted on the line.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     While some automatic hook setting devices are intended for use on the bank of a river, stream, or pond, the majority of these devices are intended for ice fishing and are of the &#34;tip up&#34; or vertical variety. 
     There are very few hook setting devices in the prior art which employ a compression spring to impart the force required to set the hook. One example of such a device is U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,531. 
     The majority of the hook setting devices found in the prior art employ a tension spring released by a trigger mechanism when a downward force is exerted on a line attached to a rod, or reel, or a combination of both. Examples of such devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,077,148; 2,944,361; 2,944,360 and 2,564,840. 
     One characteristic which is shared by virtually every kind of hook setting device, is the immediate transmission of an upward force on the hook, once the trigger mechanism has been tripped. This is a disadvantage because the hook may be immediately pulled from the fishes mouth whereas with the delay mechanism of the instant invention the fish is permitted time to swallow the hook before the hooking force is engaged. 
     Some of the problems and drawbacks associated with the prior art devices have been: loss of spring tension after repeated usage; inability of the trigger element to be adjusted to vary the force necessary to trip the mechanism; flimsy construction which shortens the useful life of the device; the inability of the device to be utilized for both shore and ice fishing; transmission of the hooking force to the hook at the start of the spring travel at a point when the spring also has to overcome the force of inertia and the drag force of the line through the water resulting in a weaker and less effective hooking force; unrestrained spring travel causing fatigue in the spring coils; the lack of rod handle retaining means to prevent the fishing rod from being thrown from the holder due to centrifugal force; and the absence of enclosure means to protect the spring member from the natural elements and intrusion of harmful foreign objects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is the provision of an automatic hook setting device which is actuated by a compression spring and includes an adjustable activating force. 
     Another object is to provide an automatic hook setting device which is durable, sturdily constructed, and has structural components which prolong the useful life of the compression spring. 
     A further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic hook setting device which has a delayed reaction between the time the trigger mechanism is tripped and the time the hooking force is transmitted to the hook. 
     Still another object of this invention is the provision of an automatic hook setting device which utilizes the terminal portion of the spring travel to provide a positive hooking action. 
     A still further object of this invention is the provision of an automatic hook setting device which employs a spring guide and an enclosure for the spring to protect it from the outdoor elements and the intrusion of harmful foreign objects. 
     These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the instant invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the automatic hook setting device of the instant invention in the set position installed on a shoreline. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the automatic hook setting device in the set position. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the trigger mechanism in the set or cocked position. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the trigger mechanism immediately after the over-center tripping of the mechanism. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the automatic hook setting device in the tripped position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows an automatic hook setting device designated generally as 10 placed on an embankment to suspend a fishing rod 4 in a substantially horizontal position over a body of water. 
     The fishing rod 1 comprises a fishing line 2 connected at one end to a reel 3 mounted on the rod handle 4 and connected on the other end to a fish hook 5. 
     The automatic hook setting device 10 comprises a rod holder 20 pivotally connected to two tubular members (30,31) and an over-center trigger mechanism 40. The lower tubular member 30 is supported on a spike element 50 which comprises a rod 51 having a tapered or pointed portion at its lower end (not shown) and an upper end which extends into the interior of the lower tubular member 30 thru a suitable aperture. The spike element 50 is also provided with a flat triangular plate portion 52 which is attached along its vertical centerline in a downward pointing direction to the rod 51 below the tubular member 30 and above the lower pointed end of rod 51. The spike element 50 is rigidly secured to the lower tubular member 30 and is intended to secure member 30 in a substantially vertical position when the rod 50 and triangular plate portion 52 are inserted into soil or ice. The triangular portion 52 of the rod 51 gives the automatic hook setting device 10 lateral stability in the direction of the action and reaction forces which are created once the trigger mechanism 40 has been actuated. 
     The upper tubular member 31 is mounted telescopically for reciprocal movement with respect to lower tubular member 30, and is connected to the rod holder 20 by a pair of arm elements 21. The arms 21 are pivotally attached to the upper tubular member at 32 and to the rod holder at pivot point 22. 
     The trigger mechanism 40 is pivotally connected on one end to the rod holder 20 through an aperature in one of the arm elements 21 at pivot point 22 and to the lower tubular member 30 at pivot point 33. 
     The trigger mechanism 40 comprises a trigger bearing element 41 and a trip lever 42 which are pivotally connected at pivot point 55. The trigger bearing element 41 is pivotally connected at one end to the rod holder 20 through an aperature in one of the arm elements 21 at pivot point 22, and pivotally supports a trigger release lever 70 at its other end. The trigger release lever 70 is pivotally connected to the trigger bearing element 41 at pivot point 60, and comprises a trigger release lever surface 75, a bearing surface 72 and a line retaining projection 71. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the lower tubular member 30 contains a compression spring 80, which encircles the rod 51, and extends throughout the length of the telescopic tubular members 30 and 31. Compression spring 80 biases the upper tubular member away from the lower tubular member to a first position shown in FIG. 5 to a compressed second position corresponding to FIGS. 1-4. The upper tubular member 31 is provided with a threaded cap 37 which forms a bearing surface for the compression spring 80 and also prevents water and dirt from entering the upper tubular member 31 thereby protecting the spring 80. 
     The operation of the hook setting device is as follows. The rod holder 20 is pivoted about pivot point 90 to the set position shown in FIG. 3. This has the effect of overcoming the compression spring 80 which is subsequently held in place due to the over-center position of pivot point 55 in relation to pivot points 33 and 22. A fishing rod 1 is then inserted into the rod holder 20 and an optional retaining pin element 91 is moved into frictional engagement with the rod handle 4 to prevent the rod from being accidentally withdrawn or flung from the rod holder. A loop of slack line is looped over the line retaining projection 71. The hook setting device is now in its set position. 
     When a fish bites the baited hook 5, tension is placed on the line which is transmitted to the trigger 70. The tension exerted by the fish rotates the trigger 70 in the clockwise direction. As the trigger 70 is rotated, the bearing surface 72 loses contact with the trip lever 42, and pivot point 55 crosses the line 35 between pivot points 22 and 33. As soon as pivot point 55 passes the centerline 35 between points 22 and 33, the compression spring 80 is released and an upward force is transmitted to the upper tubular member 31. The upward movement of the upper tubular member thru the pivoted linkage assembly (21, 41, 42) causes the rod holder 20 to rapidly pivot from the horizontal position to the vertical position shown in FIG. 5. 
     The device will operate without the trigger release lever 70 if enough force is applied downwardly on the rod holder 20 to pivot it to the point at which the pivot point 55 crosses the line 35. However, such device operates in a more optimum fashion using line 2 and trigger release lever 70 as disclosed above. 
     Once the trigger 70 has been tripped, there is momentarily no tension on the line due to the loop of slack line created by disengagement of the line with the line retaining projection 71. The initial upward arc of the rod holder 20 is used to remove the slack portion from the line. Once the slack has been taken up, a sharp upward force is transmitted to the hook thru the line thereby embedding the hook in the fish&#39;s mouth. The rod holder 20 continues its arc until the securing/stop element 91 contacts the lower tubular member 30. 
     The tension required to trip the trigger mechanism may be adjusted by varying the position of the adjustment screw 92 on the trigger bearing element 41. By varying the position of the adjustment screw 92, the pivot point 55 can be moved closer or further from the centerline 35 between the pivots 33 and 22. The nearer pivot point 55 is to the centerline of points 33 and 22, the less force is required to trip the trigger mechanism. 
     Having thereby disclosed the subject matter of this invention, it should be obvious that many modifications, substitutions and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.