Abstract:
A fishing alarm and lighting apparatus with a portable housing containing an electrical circuit and power source is disclosed. The apparatus detects a fish strike and triggers an alarm which alerts a fisherman by either illuminating a signal light, emitting an audible signal, or both. The apparatus also includes a utility light mounted to the housing which is a separate from and capable of simultaneous use with the alarm signal light.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to fishing apparatus. Specifically, the present invention relates to a combination of an alarm that alerts fisherman when a fish strikes the hook and a utility light. 
     There are numerous electrical alarming devices for use with fishing apparatus known in the art. Such devices utilize batteries as a power source making them capable of use anywhere. Some of these devices are mounted directly on a fishing apparatus, such as a rod or pole, while others are mounted separate from the apparatus. 
     Various methods exist for detecting when a fish has struck the hook. A common detection method shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,794,719 and 4,214,394 involves placing the fishing line between two electrical contacts which completes an alarming circuit when the line is removed by a striking fish. Other devices attach the fishing line to a mechanical arm which moves into a triggering position when the line is tugged as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,185. Another detection method employed in U.S. Pat Nos. 5,797,211 and 4,590,701 senses the motion of the fishing pole triggering the alarm when the pole is bowed by a striking fish. In other devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat Nos. 5,894,691 and 5,867,931, the alarm is triggered by sensing the tension of the fishing line. 
     These detection methods can be employed when fishing with a pole or adapted for use with an ice fishing tip-up by utilizing the movement of the tip-up arm when a fish strikes. Rather than detecting the movement of the fishing line directly, line can be coupled to the tip-up arm to achieve the same results. Similarly, devices that sense the motion of the fishing pole can be adapted to sense the motion of the tip-up arm. 
     Various alarming devices have been designed for use exclusively with ice fishing tip-ups. A common detection method used with ice fishing tip-ups shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,788 involves illuminating light source when electrically conductive materials both on the device and the tip-up arm come in contact. Another method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,101 involves mounting the alarming device onto the tip-up arm and sensing when the tip-up arm moves into a vertical position. 
     When these detection mechanisms are triggered, the alarming devices alert the user by a visual signal, an audible signal, or both. the visual signals used in alarming devices consist of LEDs, small light sources, or even large flashlights. When alarming capabilities of these devices are not being used, the prior art devices provide an alternative use for the signaling light such as using it as a flashlight. One drawback is that the alarming function of the device is disabled when the signal light is used in this manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a fishing alarm and lighting apparatus. The device is battery operated and portable for use anywhere. It can be used for both pole fishing and ice fishing with tip-ups. The device has multiple methods of detecting a fish strike, one of which involves placing the fishing line between two electrical contacts which complete an electrical circuit when the line is removed thereby triggering the alarm. Another method, which is used when ice fishing with a tip-up, involves attaching a self-contained sensor to the tip-up arm which completes the electrical circuit when the tip-up is moved into a vertical position by a fish strike. The fish alarm is activated by a switch and can be set to alert the fisherman when a fish has taken the hook by both a signal light and an audible signal, or by the signal light only. The present invention also has a rotatable and pivotable utility light fixed to the housing separate from and capable of simultaneous use with the alarm signal light. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fishing alarm and lighting apparatus. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the fishing alarm and lighting apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the fishing alarm and lighting apparatus. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fishing alarm and lighting apparatus when used with a typical fishing tip-up device. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fishing alarm and lighting apparatus when used with a fishing line. 
     FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic of the alarm circuit. 
     FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic of the utility light circuit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG.1 is a perspective view of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention. Fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  is a combination of a fishing alarm and a utility light. 
     Fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  includes housing  12 , indicator light  14 , alarm speaker  16 , two-way switch  18 , and thee-way switch  20 . Jack  22  is set into the side of housing  12 . Utility light  24  is mounted to the bottom of housing  12  and consists of lens  26 , bulb  28 , arm  30 , swivel  32 , and hinge  34 . 
     Various detection methods can be used in conjunction with fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, further described in FIG. 4, a self-contained sensor is attached to the arm of an ice-fishing tip-up and connected to the apparatus through jack  22 . When the arm is moved into a vertical position by a striking fish, an alarming circuit, further described in FIG. 6, is completed triggering the alarming capabilities of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . In another exemplary embodiment, further described in FIG. 5, fishing line is placed between two electrical contacts. When a fish strikes, the line is pulled from the electrical contacts allowing the contacts to touch thereby completing the alarming circuit. 
     Fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  has two means of alarming fisherman when a fish strikes the hook, which consist of illuminating indicator light  14  and emitting an audible signal through speaker  16 . Three-way switch  20  controls the alarming function of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . The first position of three-way switch  20  enables only indicator light  14  to signal the detection of a fish strike. The second position of three-way switch  20  disables the alarming capability of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . The third position of three-way switch  20  enables both indicator light  14  and speaker  16  to signal the detection of a fish strike. 
     Utility light  24  is mounted to the bottom of housing  12  of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . Utility light  24  pivots and rotates thereby aiding a fisherman when baiting hooks, landing fish, and performing various other tasks. Two-way switch  18  controls the operation of utility light  24 . Switch  18  has two positions, the first of which enables utility light  24  and the second disables utility light  24 . 
     In addition to its use as a fishing alarm, fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  can be used in other applications where and alarm is required. Some of these alternatives include an alarm for fishing docks or an alarm for a camping perimeter. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . As previously described indicator light  14  is mounted at the top of housing  12 . Alarm speaker  16  is fixed to the front of housing  12 . Also fixed to housing  12  are two-way switch  18  and three-way switch  20 . Jack  22  is set into the side of housing  12 . Attached to the back of housing  12  is clip  35 . 
     FIG. 2 further illustrates the functional capability of utility light  24 . Swivel  32  extends from housing  12  and is connected to arm  30  at hinge  34 . Swivel  32  rotates 360 degrees allowing utility light  24  to be aimed in all directions parallel to the plane extending from the bottom side of housing  12 . Arm  30  rotates slightly more than 90 degrees about hinge  34  allowing utility light  24  to be aimed at an object directly below fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  or at an object slightly above the plane extending from the bottom side of housing  12 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . Indicator light  14  is shown mounted on housing  12 . In one preferred embodiment clip  35  is attached to the rear of housing  12  and is used for mounting the device. Clip  35  is designed for mounting on the rim of a five-gallon bucket or a bucket of similar construction. Clip  35  can also be used to mount fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  to various other objects. One skilled in the art would recognize that other fastening mechanisms can be used as an alternative to clip  35  to mount fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . 
     FIG. 3 also shows utility light  24  extending from the bottom of housing  12 . Swivel  32  is shown and connects to arm  30 . Wiring  36  extends from inside housing  12  through the arm connecting bulb  28  to a power source. Swivel  32  is equipped with a stop allowing it to rotate a maximum of 360 degrees which prevents wiring  36  from breaking. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  when used with a typical ice fishing tip-up  44 . Electrical lead  40  is coupled to connector  38  at one end and sensor  42  at the other end. Sensor  42  is then attached to tip-up arm  46  and connector  38  is inserted into jack  22 . In an alternative embodiment, electrical lead  40  is attached permanently to housing  12 . When a fish strikes the hook, tip-up arm  46  will move from horizontal position into a vertical position. Sensor  42  contains a metal ball which comes into contact with wires inside electrical lead  40  when in a vertical position. This completes the alarming circuit of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 , further described in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  when used with a fishing line and pole. Contact assembly  48  is fixed to housing  12  and consists of fastening lead  50 , contact arm  52 , spring  54 , wing nut  56 , contact post  58 , and contact pad  60 . One side of contact arm  52  is fastened to the housing by fastening lead  50 . Contact post  58  is fixed to housing  12  between fastening lead  50  and contact pad  60 . Spring  54  is placed on contact post  58 . Next, contact post  58  is placed though a hole in the center of contact arm  52  so that contact arm  52  is pressed against spring  40 . Wing nut  56  is threadibly engaged to contact post  58  thereby securing contact arm  52 . 
     Fishing line  62  is placed between contact arm  52  and contact pad  60  such that contact arm  52  and contact pad  60  are not touching. Exact placement of contact arm  52  relative to contact pad  60  and fishing line  62  is accomplished by turning wing nut  56 . Tightening wing nut  56  compresses spring  40  placing contact arm  52  closer to contact pad  60 . Wing nut  56  can be tightened further to hold fishing line  62  between contact arm  52  and contact pad  60 . When a fish strikes the hook, fishing line  62  is pulled from in between contact arm  52  and contact pad  60 , thereby placing contact arm  52  in contact with contact pad  60 . This completes the alarming circuit of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10  further described in FIG. 6 . 
     Both FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the use of preferred detection mechanisms to complete an electrical circuit when a fish strike is detected. One skilled in the art would recognize that other detection methods could be used as an alternative to the electrical contact in the present invention. For example, an apparatus that employs a mechanical arm which moves into a triggering position when the line is tugged could be used. Similarly, an apparatus that senses the motion of the fishing pole or senses the tension of the fishing line would be likely alternatives. 
     FIG. 6 is a electrical schematic of the fish alarm circuit  66 . Fish alarm circuit  66  consists of a battery  68 , detection switch  70 , indicator light switch  72 , speaker switch  74 , indicator light  14 , speaker  16 , and three-way switch  20 . 
     Detection switch  70  represents sensor  42 , contact assembly  48 , or any other mechanism that is used to detect a fish strike. Detection switch  70  closes when the detection apparatus completes the alarming circuit. This occurs in sensor  42  when the metal ball comes in contact with both wires in electrical lead  40  as described previously. Similarly, detection switch  70  closes when contact arm  52  touches contact pad  60 . 
     Three-way switch  20  controls the function of indicator light  14  and speaker  16 , which are represented by indicator light switch  72  and speaker switch  74  respectively. The first position of three-way switch  20  closes indicator light switch  72  enabling only indicator light  14  to signal the detection of a fish strike. The second position of three-way switch  20  does not close indicator light switch  72  or speaker switch  74  thereby completely disabling the alarming capability of fishing alarm and lighting apparatus  10 . The third position of three-way switch  20  closes both indicator light switch  72  and speaker switch  74  enabling both indicator light  14  and speaker  16  to signal the detection of a fish strike. 
     FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic of utility light circuit  76 , which consists of a battery  78 , two-way switch  18 , and bulb  28 . The first position of two-switch  18  completes utility light circuit  76  enabling utility light  24 . The second position of two-way switch  18  represents an open circuit disabling utility light  24 . 
     The present invention is a combination of a fishing alarm and a utility light. The apparatus can be used with a fishing pole as well as an ice fishing tip-up. The fish alarm is activated by a switch and can be set to alert fisherman when a fish strikes the hook by a signal light, an audible signal, or by the signal light only. The utility light rotates and pivots with respect to the housing thereby aiding a fisherman when baiting hooks, landing fish, and performing various other tasks. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.