Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This application relates to a fishing apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known in the fishing art, it is frequently the
case that extended periods of time are expended in fishing while
simply waiting for a fish to approach the lure or bait. This is
undesirable particularly in unfavourable weather conditions. On the
other hand, it is desirable that the lure or bait be kept in motion at
all times, and the fishing rod therefor normally requires the
continuous presence of the fisherman for best results.
Similarly, a problem arises in situations where a fisherman
desires to tend a number of fishing rods at the same time, as, for
example, when ice-fishing through a number of separated holes in the
ice.
It is therefore desirable to have a device which will
provide the necessary motion to the lure or bait without requiring the
presence of the fisherman; and which device will provide an indication
to the fisherman when a fish has struck. It is particularly
important, because of outdoor use frequently in adverse weather
conditons, that the device be simple in construction yet durable.
The present invention is directed to such a device~
PRIOR ART
There are in the prior art a number of devices directed to
subject matters similar to the present case. Thus Canadian Patents
No. 507,889, issued December 7, 1954, to King, and No. 661,661, issued
April 3, 1963, to Schnars provide devices wherein wind power is
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utilized to impart a rocking or oscillating movement to a fishing rod.
Canadian Patent No. 928,498, issued June 9, 1973, to Rode provides a
device wherein the motion of water on a paddle wheel imparts a rocking
motion to a fishing rod. In all cases these prior art devices differ
substantially from the present invention. An obvious problem with
each of these earlier devices lies in a lack of reliability of the .
wind and water motion; and in control of the device in view of the
changing force of these two factors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present device provides increased reliability over these
earlier devices and at the same time provides a simple and durable
construction.
The invention provides a fishing device comprising a support
member, a fishing rod member pivotally supported intermediate its en&s
by said support member for rotation about a horizontal axis, a motor,
a crankshaft member driven by said motor, a connecting rod pivotally
attached at one end to said crankshaft and adapted to be pivotally and
detachably connected at its other end to one end of said fishing rod
member, whereby, when said motor is activated, said fishing rod member
is rotated in a rocking mot:ion about a horizontal axis by said
connecting rod and is detached from said connecting rod when a
predetermined force is applied to the opposite end of said fishing rod
member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a device according to
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the invention; and
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
With reference to the drawings, the support stand 2 has
affixed to it toward one end 4 the vertical support member 6.
The support member 6 preferably consists of a generally
U-shaped bracket having oppositely disposed notches 8 in its sides.
The bracket could as well be constructed of wood, metal or any
suitable material. The preferred material is galvanized metal.
The notches 8 provide a support for the pivot pin 10 which
extends from the sides of fishing rod member 12. The rod member 12 is
thus supported for rocking motion in the notch 8. Additional pivot
pins similar to pin 10 may be provided at different points along rod
member 12, as at 14. The axis about which the rocking motion takes `-
place can then be varied along the rod member 12.
The rod member 12 preferably carries an eyelet 16 at the
outer end thereof for guiding and retaining a fishing line. In the
preferred case also the members 18 and 20 are provided fixed to the
rod member 12 for storage of fishing line 21.
The device makes provision for an extension 22 to rod member
12. In the preferred case the extension 22 is retained in a groove 27
on the top of rod member 12 by O-ring 24. The O-ring is seated in a
groove 26 in rod member 12.
Extension 22 is provided with an eyelet 28 at its outer end.
The extension 22 serves a twofold function. First, it is useful in
those cases where a longer rod member is required or desirable.
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Second, it serves as a convenient means for varying the stroke of the
rocking motion of the rod member. Thus the stroke Length can
conveniently be adjusted by the provision of a number of extensions of
different length.
Toward its other end 30 the support stand 2 carries the
motor and linkage for imparting a rocking motion to the rod member 12.
In the preferred embodiment the motor 32 drives a shaft
which carries the disc 34 which operates as a crankshaft. The disc 34
is joined to the rod member 12 by means of a connecting rod 36. The
connecting rod is pivotally connected to the disc at a point offset
from its centre. The length of stroke of the rocking motion of rod
member 12 is related to the diameter of the disc 34 and for any given
disc diameter is related to the distance from the disc centre to the
point of connection of the connecting rod 36. Thus the stroke length
can be set or varied within a range by adjustment of these factors.
For example, different diameter discs can be provided and/or each disc
can be provided with a number of points at differing distances from
the centre for connection to the connecting rod 36.
The connecting rod 36 is preferably simply a bent rod and
the connecting points on disc 34 comprise openings 37 through the disc
of a diameter at least slightly larger than the diameter of connecting
rod 36. The end 37 of the connecting rod 36 is simply inserted
through an opening 37 and retained therein by any convenient means,
such as a nut or a cotter pin.
The connecting rod 36 is in turn at its other end pivotally
connected to the rod member 12 at or near the inner end thereof.
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This pivotal connection can conveniently be made by means of a bracket
38 to which the end of the rod 36 is pivotally connected as shown at
39.
Thus when the motor is activated the cranking action causes
the rod member 12 to rock about the pivot pin 10 on a horizontal axis.
The rate at which the rocking motion takes place can be
conveniently controlled by means of a control on motor speed. In some
cases it may be sufficient to utilize a single speed, and the motor
can then simply be controlled by an on/off switch as shown at 41. In
the preferred case, however, the motor is a variable speed one and is
controlled by means of a control switch which permits the fisherman to
choose the desired frequency to be imparted to the rocking motion.
In the preferred embodiment the bracket 38 is magnetically
attached to the rod member 12. Thus a permanent magnet 40 is imbedded
in and/or affixed to rod member 12 and bracket 38 is at least partly
constructed of a magnetically attractable metal. Alternatively, the
magnet may be located in the bracket 38; and the magnetically
attractable metal, on the rod member 12. Alternatively each of
bracket 38 and rod member 12 may contain magnets, but this is
generally not required.
In operation, when a fish strikes the lure or bait with
sufficient force to overcome the magnetic attraction the connecting
rod 36 becomes disengaged from the rod member 12 and the rocking
motion of rod member 12 ceases. The fisherman when he is within sight
of the device can thus readily ascertain that it requires tending.
Any similar mechanism for converting the rotary motion of
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the motor shaft to the rocking motion of the rod member 12, and
providing for disattachment of the motor from the rod member, would be
suitable.
The motor may be of any suitable type but is preferably
battery powered.
As thus described, it is possible using the device of the
invention to maintain the motion of the lure or bait in the absence of
the fisherman. Furthermore, the fisherman can determine at a glance
whether his line or lines requires attention. The device thus offers
advantages to the fisherman whether a single line or a series of lines
is being utilized.
The present invention has the additional features of
simplicity of construction and durability.
While the invention has been described in detail in respect
of the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not
intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary
it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
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