Patent Description:
Longline fishing is a commercial fishing technique that uses a main line of, for instance, approximately <NUM> long (having an approximately <NUM> diameter and having a breaking strength of approximately <NUM>-<NUM> tonnes), with baited hooks attached at intervals along the main line by means of dropper lines. Longline fishing commonly target swordfish, tuna, halibut, sablefish and many other species.

It is well known that light attracts fish at night, in particular blue/green light as this is at the peak sensitivity of fish vision. It is also desirable that an artificial fishing light attractor be submersible to avoid significant amounts of light being reflected off the surface of the water, and therefore being wasted. <CIT>and <CIT> each describe fishing floats with integrated power sources and LEDs.

Single-use glow sticks are known to be used as submersible fishing light attractors, as they are a self-contained, short-term light-sources that comprise a translucent plastic tube containing isolated liquid substances that, when combined (e.g. by breaking the barrier isolating the substances from one another), make light through chemiluminescence. The light cannot be turned off once activated, can be used only once, and is often of relatively low intensity.

Patent application <CIT> discloses a fishing light attractor for attaching to a fishing line, the fishing light attractor comprising: a waterproof housing having a first part and a second part comprising a plug portion configured to be insertable within an opening in the first part to form the waterproof housing; an O-ring located in use between the plug portion of the second part and the opening in the first part; an LED provided within the housing; a power source within the housing for powering the LED; the housing having a translucent portion for allowing light from the LED to pass therethrough; and a line attachment mechanism located on the housing.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fishing light attractor for attaching to a fishing line, the fishing light attractor comprising: a waterproof housing having: a first part; and a second part comprising a solid plug portion configured to be insertable within an opening in the first part to form the waterproof housing wherein the compressive strength across the solid plug portion is at least <NUM>% more than the compressive strength of the first part across the opening, the solid plug portion comprising a body therein, the body arranged to prevent compression of the plug portion; an O-ring located in use between the solid plug portion of the second part and the opening in the first part; an LED provided within the housing; a power source within the housing for powering the LED; the housing having a translucent portion for allowing light from the LED to pass therethrough; and a line attachment mechanism located on the housing.

In this way, a powered light source (which may have an intensity higher than conventional glow sticks) is provided that may be attached to dropper lines in long line fishing. Furthermore, when the fishing light attractor is placed at depth, water pressure on the housing will compress the first part across the opening more than it will compress the plug portion within the opening. Thus, an increase in external water pressure actually acts to increase sealing against ingress of water. The compressive strength across the plug portion may be at least <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>% and/or <NUM>% more than the compressive strength of the first part across the opening.

The housing may be waterproof to a depth of at least <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM>.

The LED may be a conventional light emitting diode. The LED may be configured to emit light that is blue and/or green in colour. Alternatively, the LED may be configured to emit light of any other colour or combination of colours, including white. There may be only one, or a plurality of LEDs.

The translucent portion may comprise a transparent portion; alternatively the translucent portion may comprise a portion that is substantially non-transparent. The translucent portion may be tinted; that is, the translucent portion may permit light of only certain wavelengths from the LED to pass therethrough. The translucent portion may comprise polycarbonate material. Alternatively or additionally, the translucent portion may comprise plastics or similar material and/or may be injection moulded.

Other portions of the housing may be opaque or may also be translucent; for instance, the entire housing may be translucent. The opaque portion may comprise polycarbonate material. Alternatively or additionally, the opaque portion may comprise nylon or similar material and/or may be injection moulded.

The housing may be assembled and disassembled such that the contents of the fishing light attractor may be inspected, replaced and/or repaired. The second part may be configured to be a close fit within the opening in the first part. The fit may be a snug fit and/or friction fit.

The O-ring may help form a seal between the first part and the second part. The O-ring may comprise rubber, silicone and/or synthetic rubber. The O-ring may be located to fit around an external perimeter of the plug portion and/or to fit around an internal perimeter of the opening. The housing may comprise only one, two, three or more such O-rings.

The housing may further comprise a groove for receiving the O-ring therein.

In this way, movement of the O-ring along the axis of the plug portion and/or opening may be prevented. The groove may be an annular groove. The groove may be located to extend around an external perimeter of the plug portion and/or to extend around an internal perimeter of the opening. The housing may comprise only one, two, three or more such grooves, for instance one for each respective O-ring.

In this way, when the fishing light attractor is placed at depth, water pressure on the housing will compress the first part across the opening more than it will compress the plug portion within the opening, which may act to reduce a region around any O-rings through which they may extrude. Thus, an increase in external water pressure actually acts to increase sealing against ingress of water.

The solid plug portion may comprise a perimeter wall having a thickness greater than a thickness of a perimeter wall around the opening, and/or may comprise a material having an intrinsic compressive strength substantially more than the intrinsic compressive strength of the material from which the first part is composed. The material from which the housing is made may form a wall having a thickness of between <NUM> and <NUM>, in particular between <NUM> and <NUM>, more particularly approximately <NUM>.

The fishing light attractor may further comprise a printed circuit board to which the LED is electrically coupled.

For instance, the LED may be soldered onto the printed circuit board (PCB).

The printed circuit board may be located in use within the first part, and the LED may be located in use within the second part.

An electrical contact may extend from the printed circuit board to the LED through the body, such that coupling of the LED to the printed circuit board couples the printed circuit board to the body.

The power source may comprise at least one battery, for instance only one, two, three, four or more batteries. The or each battery may comprise a positive and a negative terminal at a first end thereof. In this way, the or each battery may be connected directly to the printed circuit board.

Alternatively, the or each battery may comprise a positive terminal at a first end thereof and a negative terminal at a second end thereof, opposite the first end. In cases where the power source comprises an odd number of such batteries, an electrical contact must be provided at an end of (one of) the battery/batteries opposite the printed circuit board, and an electrical conductor must be provided between that electrical contact and the printed circuit board.

In cases where the power source comprises an even number of such batteries, the batteries may be connected together in series such that no electrical conductor is required to extend adjacent to the length of the battery.

The fishing light attractor may further comprise an electrical contact disposed within the first part at an end opposite the opening, the electrical contact configured to electrically connect a positive terminal of a first battery with a negative terminal of a second battery in series, wherein the first and second batteries form the power source.

The fishing light attractor may further comprise a longitudinal divider extending between the opening and the end of the first part opposite the opening, the divider configured to hold the electrical contact in place.

In this way, easy assembly of the attractor may be enabled. In addition, the divider may also form a dividing wall between adjacent batteries, optionally forming a guide for insertion of batteries therein. Furthermore, presence of the divider within the first part may substantially prevent compression of the walls of the first part; i.e. the divider may be a reinforcing member.

In alternative embodiments, the printed circuit board may be disposed within the first part at an end opposite the opening, and the electrical contact may be disposed on the plug portion.

The batteries may be for instance AA, AAA, C or D batteries, or any other suitable form of batteries.

The fishing line attractor may be further configured to activate the LED upon submersion in water.

The fishing line attractor may further comprise a pair of water contact pins in electrical communication with the printed circuit board and arranged to project out of the housing such that water present between the projecting ends of the pins completes an electrical circuit causing the LED to illuminate.

The water contact pins may project out of the housing by less than <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or <NUM>. The water contact pins may extending through the housing, the first part, the second part, the plug portion and/or the body by virtue of an interference fit to prevent water ingress. For instance, at least 5N of force may be required to located the pins within respective holes in the housing (or portions of the holes), in particular at least 20N, more particularly at least 30N, 50N or 70N; alternatively and/or additionally, the pins may be glued or otherwise sealed within the respective holes (e.g. by rubber tubing or with O-rings).

The water contact pins may be located in electrical contact with the printed circuit board via springs.

In this way, manufacturing tolerances can be reduced, and soldering can be avoided. This is advantageous as soldering of the water contact pins to the printed circuit board could cause an undesirable amount of heat to pass along the pins, which may thermally damage the housing.

The line attachment mechanism comprises at least two line connectors.

In this way, the fishing light attractor may be attached in-line with the fishing line to which it is attached.

Alternatively, the line attachment mechanism may comprise only one line connector. The or each line connector may be suitable for connection to a fishing line having a diameter of between <NUM> and <NUM>, in particular between <NUM> and <NUM>, more particularly approximately <NUM>.

The or each connector may comprise a clip, loop, band, clamp or any other form of connector. The or each connector may be substantially elastic and/or resilient such that it may grip the line to which it is connected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of fishing comprising the steps of: providing the fishing light attractor according to the first aspect; providing a fishing line; attaching the fishing light attractor to a fishing line; and submerging the fishing light attractor on the fishing line.

It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term "connected", used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device A connected to a device B" should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Connected" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. For instance, wireless connectivity is contemplated.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

<FIG> is an exploded view of a fishing light attractor comprising a main body <NUM> into which may be inserted two batteries <NUM> (for instance AAA batteries), and which may be sealed by a cap <NUM>. The cap <NUM> may comprise a plug. At an upper end of the main body <NUM> is provided a peg <NUM> onto which a keeper <NUM> may be rotatably received. The peg <NUM> and keeper <NUM> may be mutually threaded, or may be substantially blind. For instance, the peg <NUM> may comprise an enlarged head to prevent accidental removal of the keeper <NUM> therefrom. The peg <NUM> comprises a vertical groove <NUM> suitable for receiving a fishing line longitudinally therein. The keeper <NUM> comprises a vertically-oriented slot <NUM> configured such that, when aligned with the vertical groove <NUM>, a fishing line may be inserted or removed from the groove <NUM> in a substantially radial (rather than longitudinal) direction.

Two coiled springs <NUM>, which are electrically coupled together, may be inserted into the main body <NUM>. For instance, as shown, the two coiled springs <NUM> may be formed from a single piece of wire. The coiled springs <NUM> may be positioned inside the main body at the upper end thereof. The coiled springs <NUM> are held in place by a longitudinal insert <NUM> that is configured to be inserted and held by a friction fit between two opposing walls of the main body <NUM>. Each of the batteries <NUM> may be inserted into the main body <NUM> on one respective side of the longitudinal insert <NUM>, to engage with the springs. In this way, the negative terminal of one of the batteries may be directly coupled via the coiled springs <NUM> to the positive terminal of the other one of the batteries.

The cap <NUM> includes two coaxial grooves <NUM> on an outer surface thereof configured to receive respective O-rings <NUM> therein. The cap <NUM> may then be inserted into the opening at the lower end to the main body <NUM>, with the O-rings <NUM> sealing the join to form a water-tight volume within the main body <NUM>.

A ring <NUM> may be slotted over the cap <NUM> and onto the body <NUM>. It may be secured in place with a friction fit, and/or preferably may click into place as it passes over a ridge on the body <NUM>. The ring <NUM> is provided with a projecting hoop <NUM> within which may be received a fishing line.

The cap <NUM> has a substantially translucent end to allow light from an LED <NUM> to pass therethrough. The LED <NUM> is powered by the batteries <NUM>, via a printed circuit board <NUM> to which the LED <NUM> is connected, and against which the batteries <NUM> are in electrical contact. The enlarged head of the LED <NUM> holds a spacer <NUM> against the printed circuit board <NUM>, as the wire connectors of the LED <NUM> pass through an interior of the spacer <NUM> and are connected (e.g. by soldering) to the printed circuit board <NUM>. The spacer <NUM> may comprise a body.

The spacer <NUM> is inserted within the cap <NUM> immediately underneath the O-rings <NUM> such that the spacer <NUM> prevents compression of the cap <NUM> inwards radially, which would otherwise cause the seal of the cap <NUM> within the main body <NUM> to fail.

Also electrically incorporated with the printed circuit board <NUM> is a switch. In the arrangement shown, the switch is a water-activated switch; that is, two electrical probes <NUM> extend from the printed circuit board through holes in the cap <NUM> to an exterior of the fishing light attractor. Presence of water (in particular salt water) between the two projecting ends of the probes <NUM> completes a circuit that triggers activation of the LED <NUM>. The probes <NUM> are in electrical communication with the printed circuit boards via respective coil springs <NUM>. Each probe is also arranged to pass through a respective hole within the spacer <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A fishing light attractor for attaching to a fishing line, the fishing light attractor comprising:
a waterproof housing having:
a first part (<NUM>); and
a second part (<NUM>) comprising a solid plug portion configured to be insertable within an opening in the first part to form the waterproof housing wherein the compressive strength across the solid plug portion is at least <NUM>% more than the compressive strength of the first part across the opening, the solid plug portion comprising a body therein, the body arranged to prevent compression of the plug portion;
an O-ring (<NUM>) located in use between the solid plug portion of the second part and the opening in the first part;
an LED (<NUM>) provided within the housing;
a power source within the housing for powering the LED (<NUM>);
the housing having a translucent portion for allowing light from the LED (<NUM>) to pass therethrough; and
a line attachment mechanism located on the housing.