Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02712402 2016-12-22
FISHING DEVICE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a fishing device. More
specifically, the
present invention relates to an ice fishing device for use with an ice fishing
rod.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003) A fishing pole holder may be used to support fishing poles in
a raised
position during use. Thus, the need for the fisherman to handle the pole at
all times may be
eliminated. In ice fishing, conventional fishing pole holders include a spike
for pounding into
the ice to provide a pole support. Other conventional fishing pole holders may
be attached to an
item, such as a bucket, for pole support. Conventional fishing pole holders do
not assist the
fisher in keeping the hole in the ice from freezing or assist in keeping snow
from drifting into the
hole. Additionally, conventional fishing pole holders may freeze in cold
conditions.
(0004J Fishing pole holders may also include an indicating device,
which is
triggered by movement of the fishing line to signal the presence of a fish.
One conventional
indication may be a tipping up of the fishing pole. A conventional tip-up
device for a fishing
pole may include a spool of line. The spool of line is fed through a tip-up
indicating device such
that when a fish pulls on the line the indicating device is triggered. When
reeling in the line of a
conventional tip-up device the line is pulled in hand-over-hand, which is a
disadvantage to the
fisher. Additionally, conventional tip-up devices place restrictions on the
type of line that may
be used.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a base
having a hole
to allow a fishing line to go through the base. The apparatus also includes an
indicator device
coupled to the base. The apparatus further includes a trigger mechanism
configured to cause the
- 1 -
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
indicator device to activate when the trigger mechanism is tripped. The
apparatus also includes a
line device coupled to the fishing line and configured to trip the trigger
mechanism.
[0006] According to another embodiment, a method of using a fishing
device
having a base, trigger mechanism, an indicator device, and a line device
includes setting the base
over a hole. The method also includes feeding a fishing line through the line
device. The
method further includes attaching the line device to the trigger mechanism.
The method also
includes setting the trigger mechanism to hold down the indicator device.
[0007] According to a further embodiment, a line device includes a
loop. The
line device also includes a hook end connected to the loop, the hook end
having a first and
second slot.
[0008] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical
advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description
that follows may be
better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described
hereinafter which form
the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that
the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a
basis for
modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of
the present
disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such
equivalent constructions
do not depart from the technology of the disclosure as set forth in the
appended claims. The
novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both
as to its organization
and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be
better understood
from the following description when considered in connection with the
accompanying figures. It
is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided
for the purpose of
illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the
limits of the present
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is
now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
90135546.1 - 2 -
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
[0010] FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a fishing
device
according to one example embodiment.
[0011] FIGURE 2 is a top view illustrating a fishing device
according to one
example embodiment.
[0012] FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a base
of a fishing
device according to one example embodiment.
[0013] FIGURE 4 is a front view illustrating a base of a fishing
device according
to one example embodiment.
[0014] FIGURE 5 is a plan view illustrating a trigger according to
one example
embodiment.
[0015] FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating a trigger
mechanism
according to one example embodiment.
[0016] FIGURE 7 is a plan view illustrating a line device according
to one
example embodiment.
[0017] FIGURE 8 is a plan view illustrating a hook portion of a
line device
according to one example embodiment.
[0018] FIGURE 9 is a plan view illustrating a second arm portion of
a rod
holding device according to one example embodiment.
[0019] FIGURE 10 is a side view illustrating a second arm potion of
a rod
holding device according to one example embodiment.
[0020] FIGURE 11 is a plan view illustrating a first arm portion of
a rod holding
device according to one example embodiment.
[0021] FIGURE 12 is a perspective view illustrating a fishing
device in a stored
configuration according to one example embodiment.
90135546.1 - 3 -
_ .
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
[0022] FIGURE 13 is a side view illustrating the fishing device
according to one
example embodiment.
[0023] FIGURES 14-27 are drawings illustrating a fishing device
according to
other example embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present disclosure relates to a fishing device for use
with a fishing rod
and reel combo having fishing line and terminal tackle. The fishing device may
include a base, a
trigger mechanism, a line device, and an indicator device. The indicator
device may be, for
example, a flag. During use, the fishing line may be fed through the line
device. At an end of
the fishing line, a jig, hook, or other terminal tackle may be used. The line
device may be
attached to the trigger mechanism. The line device may be configured to
activate the trigger
mechanism when a fish pulls on the fishing line, such as by biting on the
terminal tackle. The
trigger mechanism may cause an indicator device to activate to notify a fisher
that a fish is on the
line.
[0025] A base for the fishing device may fit over an ice fishing
hole such that the
base may be supported by ice around a circumference of the hole. According to
one
embodiment, the base may be constructed from a material, such as plastic, that
reduces the
likelihood of the base freezing to the ice. In another embodiment, the base
may be constructed
from a dark material to retain solar heat to reduce the likelihood of the base
freezing in cold
weather. In additional embodiments, the base may include a wind deflector
and/or solar
warming devices. The base may include a hole and/or slot for the fishing line
to enter the water.
The base may also include a rod holder for holding a rod or a rod and reel
combo. The base may
further include a storage port for the rod holder.
[0026] Referring to FIGURE 1, a fishing device 100 is illustrated
by a perspective
view according to one embodiment. The fishing device 100 may include a base
110, a trigger
mechanism 115, an indicator device 120, and a line device 125. Fishing line
(not shown) from a
rod and reel combination 126 may be fed through the line device 125. The line
device 125 may
be coupled to the trigger mechanism 115. The trigger mechanism 115 may be in
slideable
engagement with the base 110 and hold down the indicator device 120. When a
fish bites or
90135546.1 - 4 -
.
_
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
pulls on the fishing line the line device 125 is pulled along with the fishing
line. The line device
125 then pulls or activates the trigger mechanism 115 to laterally release the
trigger mechanism
115 from the base 110. When the trigger mechanism 115 is released from the
base 110 the
trigger mechanism 115 releases the indicator device 120. According to one
embodiment, the
indicator device 120 pops up to indicate to a fisher a fish may be present on
the fishing line.
[0027] FIGURE 2 is a top view illustrating a base of a fishing
device according to
one embodiment. According to one embodiment, the base 110 may be circular. The
base 110
may be, however, any suitable shape. The base 110 may be constructed of an
inexpensive, rigid
material such as, for example, polypropylene. According to one embodiment, the
material of the
base 110 may be a dark color to retain solar heat. Retained solar heat reduces
the likelihood of
the base 110 freezing or sticking to ice. Additionally, the base 110 may be
constructed with
solar panels 210. The solar panels 210 focus additional sunlight below the
base to reduce the
likelihood of the base 110 freezing or sticking to the ice. The solar panels
210 may be, for
example, a clear plastic material or another suitable material. The base 110
may be between 8
inches and 16 inches in outside diameter. According to one embodiment, the
base 110 may be
approximately 12.53 inches in outside diameter.
[0028] The base 110 may include a hole 215 and/or a slot 220. The
hole 215
allows a fishing line and terminal tackle (not shown) to enter the water
through the base 110.
The hole 215 may be between 1 and 3 inches in diameter. According to one
embodiment, the
hole 215 is 2 inches in diameter. The slot 220 may facilitate larger terminal
tackle by allowing
the fishing line to be slid through the slot 220 while the terminal tackle
remains below the base
110. According to one embodiment, the base 110 may include a wind deflector
225. The wind
deflector 225 may reduce likelihood of the base 110 freezing and/or deflect
blowing snow from
gathering around or in the hole 215.
[0029] The base 110 may include a trigger receiver 230 configured
to receive the
trigger mechanism 115. Reference will now be made to FIGURES 3 and 4. FIGURE 3
is an
enlarged perspective view illustrating the base 110, the trigger mechanism
115, and the line
device 125 according to one embodiment. FIGURE 4 is a front view illustrating
the base 110
according to one embodiment. The trigger receiver 230 may include a receiver
base 305, a
receiver loop 310, and a receiver hook 315.
90135546.1 - 5
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
=
[0030] The trigger mechanism 115 may include a trigger 320.
Referring to
FIGURE 5, a front view is shown illustrating a trigger according to one
embodiment. The
trigger 320 includes a trigger loop 505 and a straight portion 510. The
trigger loop 505 may be
configured to engage with the receiver loop 310 to retain the trigger 320 to
the base 110. The
straight portion 510 may slide under the receiver hook 315 to retain the
straight portion 510
under the receiver hook 315. The trigger 320 may be between 1 inch and 5
inches long.
According to one embodiment, the trigger 320 is approximately 2.32 inches.
FIGURE 6 is a
perspective view illustrating the trigger mechanism 115 according to one
embodiment.
[0031] Referring back to FIGURES 1 and 5, the line device
125 may be slid onto
the straight portion 510 of the trigger 320 prior to sliding the straight
portion 510 under the
receiver hook 315. When a fish pulls on the fishing line, the line device 125
may be pulled, and
the line device 128 may pull the straight portion 510 of the trigger 320 out
from under the
receiver hook 315. According to one embodiment, the indicator device 120 may
be held down
by the trigger 320. Thus, when the straight portion 510 of the trigger 320 is
pulled out from
under the receiver hook 315 the indicator device 120 pops up to indicate a
fish is on the line.
[0032] The indicator device 120 may include a pole 130, a
flag 135, and a spring
140. The flag 135 may be attached to one end of the pole 130. The pole 130
passes through or
attaches to the spring 140 at the other end of the pole 130. The spring 140
and the pole 130 may
be attached to the base 110, while the flag end of the pole 130 may be
unattached. Thus, when
the straight portion 510 of the trigger 320 is pulled out from under the
receiver hook 315 the
spring causes the pole 130 to stand straight up along with the flag 115.
[0033] Referring now to FIGURE 7, a plan view is shown
illustrating a line
device according to one embodiment. The line device 125 includes a line loop
605 and a hook
portion 610. The line loop 605 may be hooked around the straight portion 510
of the trigger 320
shown in FIGURE 5. Referring to FIGURE 8, a plan view is shown illustrating a
hook portion
of a line device according to one embodiment. The hook portion 610 of the line
device 125 may
include a first slot 705 and second slot 710. The fishing line may be fed
through the first slot
705 or the second slot 710 to retain the fishing line within the line device
125. The second slot
710 may be approximately twice the size of the first slot 705 to accommodate
larger fishing
lines. For example, the first slot 705 may be between 0.02 inches and 0.06
inches, and the
90135546.1 - 6 -
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
second slot 710 may be between 0.04 inches and 0.12 inches. The line device
125 may be
between 1 inch and 3 inches long. According to one embodiment, the line device
125 may be
approximately 1.68 inches in length.
[0034] Referring back to FIGURE 1, the fishing device 100 may
include a rod
holding device 150 attached to the base 110. The rod holding device 150 may be
constructed
from a suitable material such as, for example, polypropylene. The rod holding
device 150 may
include a first arm portion 155 and a second arm potion 160. The first and
second arm portions
155, 160 may have a pivotal relationship to one another. Additionally, the
first arm potion 155
may be coupled to the base 110 in a pivotal relationship. According to one
embodiment, the
second arm portion 160 may include a longitudinal slot 165. The longitudinal
slot 165 allows
the length of the rod holding device 150 to be adjusted to fit different rod
setups and/or designs.
[0035] Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10, a second arm portion of a
fishing
device is shown according to one embodiment. The second arm portion 160 may be
between 6
inches and 18 inches in length. According to one embodiment, the second arm
portion 160 may
be approximately 11.84 inches in length. The second arm portion 160 may
include a rod holder
905 for holding a rod and reel combination such as the rod and reel
combination 126 of FIGURE
1.
[0036] Referring now to FIGURE 11, a first arm portion of a fishing
device is
shown according to one embodiment. The first arm portion 155 may be between 6
inches and 18
inches in length. According to one embodiment, the first arm portion 155 may
be approximately
11.88 inches in length.
[0037] Referring now to FIGURE 12, a perspective view is shown
illustrating a
fishing device in a stored configuration according to one embodiment. The rod
holding device
150 may be folded and stored within the base 110. In particular, the base 110
may include a
holder retaining device where a center pivot joint between the first and
second arms 155, 160
may be retained. FIGURE 13 is a side view illustrating the fishing device 100
according to one
embodiment.
[0038] Through way of example, a use of a fishing device is
described with
reference to FIGURES 1-13. A fisherman may place a terminal tackle on an end
of a fishing line
90135546.1 - 7
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
coupled to the rod and reel combination 126. The fisherman hooks one of the
first slot 705 or the
second slot 710 of the hook portion 610 of the line device 125 onto the
fishing line. The
fisherman slides the fishing line through the slot 220 and into the hole 215,
with the terminal
tackle below the base 110. The fisherman feeds the line loop 605 around the
straight portion 510
of the trigger 320. The fisherman presses the indicator device 120 down and
slides the straight
portion 510 of the trigger 320 over the indicator device 120 and under the
receiver hook 315.
Thus, the indicator device 120 is held down by the trigger 320. When a fish
bites the terminal
tackle, the line device 125 is pulled by the fishing line. The line device 125
pulls the straight
portion 510 of the trigger 320 out from under the receiver hook 315, releasing
the indicator
device 120. The spring 140 causes the indicator device 120 to pop-up and the
flag 135 stands up,
indicating to the fisherman that a fish is on the line.
[0039] FIGURES 14-27 are drawings illustrating a fishing
device according to
other example embodiments. FIGURE 14 is a perspective view illustrating a
fishing device
according to the second example embodiment. A fishing device 1400 includes a
base 1410, an
indicator device 1420, a pole 1430, a flag 1435, a spring 1440, a trigger
mechanism 1415, a first
arm 1455, and a second arm 1460. FIGURE 15 is a perspective view illustrating
the base 1410
of the fishing device 1400. It is noted that in this example embodiment, the
base 1410 does not
include any solar panels. FIGURE 16 is a perspective view illustrating the
second arm 1460 of
the fishing device 1400. FIGURE 17 is a perspective view illustrating the
first arm 1455 of the
fishing device 1400. FIGURE 18 is a perspective view illustrating the pole
1430 of the fishing
device 1400. FIGURE 19 is a perspective view illustrating the flag 1435 of the
fishing device
1400. FIGURE 20 is a perspective view illustrating the spring 1440 of the
fishing device 1400.
FIGURE 21 is a perspective view illustrating a plug 1470 for the fishing
device 1400. FIGURE
22 is a perspective view illustrating a trigger mechanism 1415 of the fishing
device 1400.
FIGURE 23 is a perspective view illustrating a bobberstop 1475 for the fishing
device 1400.
FIGURE 24 is a top perspective view illustrating a fishing device 2400
according to a third
example embodiment. FIGURE 25 is a side perspective view illustrating the
fishing device 2400
according to a third example embodiment. FIGURE 26 is a bottom perspective
view illustrating
the fishing device 2400 according to a third example embodiment. FIGURE 27 is
a top
perspective view illustrating the fishing device 2400 according to a third
example embodiment.
90135546.1 - 8
v,..
CA 02712402 2010-08-06
[0040] Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been
described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and
alterations can be made
herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as
defined by the appended
claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be
limited to the
particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of
matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in
the art will readily
appreciate from the present invention, disclosure, machines, manufacture,
compositions of
matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed
that perform
substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as
the corresponding
embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present
disclosure. Accordingly,
the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes,
machines,
manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
90135546.1 - 9 -
