AUTOMATIC FISHING APPARATUS

EQUIPEMENT DE PECHE AUTOMATIQUE

English Abstract

An apparatus for fishing includes a fishing rod and a separate base
unit onto which the rod can be mounted and readily removed. The rod is
generally
conventional and includes a reel mounted on a rod body for winding in the
fishing
line with a spool and a hand cranked rotor for winding the line around the
spool. The
base unit includes a cylindrical holding sleeve for mounting the rod body and
a
battery driven electric motor for driving the spool independently of the rotor
by a
drive shaft extending parallel to the sleeve. An adjustable pressure switch
for
activating the motor is connected between the holder and the base unit so that
pulling force on the line pivots the holder around a pivot mount.

French Abstract

Appareil de pêche comprenant une canne à pêche et une unité de base séparée sur laquelle la canne peut être fixée et facilement enlevée. La canne est généralement conventionnelle et comprend un moulinet fixé sur un corps de canne afin de bobiner la ligne de pêche à laide dune bobine et dun rotor manuel, afin denrouler la ligne autour de la bobine. Lunité de base comprend un manchon de boîtier cylindrique permettant dinstaller le corps de canne et un moteur électrique à batterie afin de diriger la bobine indépendamment du rotor à laide dun arbre dentraînement qui sallonge de façon parallèle au manchon. Un manostat réglable permettant dactiver le moteur est raccordé entre le support et lunité de base pour que, lorsquune force est exercée sur la ligne, cela fasse pivoter le support autour de laxe de pivot.

Claims

11
CLAIMS:
1. An apparatus for fishing comprising:
a fishing rod comprising:
an elongate rod body;
a fishing line guided along the rod body;
a reel mounted on the rod body for winding in the fishing line
comprising a spool on which the fishing line is wound, a rotor for winding the
line
around the spool and for guiding the line as it is wound onto the spool and a
manually operable handle for driving rotation of the rotor;
and a base unit for mounting on a support adjacent a body of water in
which the fish to be caught are located, the base unit comprising:
a rod holder for mounting the rod body on the base unit with the
fishing line exposed for entry into the body of water;
an electric motor for driving the reel;
a battery for providing electric power to the electric motor;
a switch for activating the supply of electric power to the electric
motor, the switch being arranged such that it is operated to supply power on
application of a pulling force to the fishing line by a fish in the body of
water;
the rod holder and the rod body being arranged such that the rod body
can be removed from the rod holder for manual operation of the reel by manual
operation of the handle;

12
wherein the rod holder includes a generally cylindrical receptacle for
receiving a stub end of the rod body inserted therein by longitudinal movement
of the
rod body;
and wherein the rod holder includes a drive shaft of the electric motor
generally parallel to the generally cylindrical receptacle such that sliding
movement
of the rod end into the generally cylindrical receptacle causes engagement of
a
coupling onto the drive shaft.
2. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the switch is on the
base unit.
3. The apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the switch is
located between the rod holder and the base unit so as to be responsive to
pulling
forces on the rod body.
4. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein
the switch is free from the rod body so that the rod body can be simply
removed
from the rod holder while leaving the switch on the base unit,
5. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein
the battery is on the base unit.
6. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein
the base unit includes a base member for resting on a support and wherein the
rod
holder for the rod body is pivotally mounted in the base member such that a
pulling
force on the line causes said pivotal movement and the switch is responsive to
the
pivotal movement.

13
7. The apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the base member
includes a receptacle for the rod holder within which the rod holder is
mounted for
pivotal movement.
8. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein
the drive shaft includes a portion extending outwardly from a front face of
the rod
holder.
9. The apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein
the electric motor is arranged for driving rotation of the spool independently
of the
rotor so that rotation of the spool by the motor causes no movement of the
handle
and the rotor.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the spool includes
a shaft extension of the spool parallel to the rod body for engaging the drive
shaft of
the electric motor.
11. The apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein there is provided
a clutch between the spool and the shaft extension to allow the spool to slip
if
required while the electric motor is providing a driving action through the
shaft
extension.
12. An apparatus for fishing comprising:
a fishing rod comprising:
an elongate rod body;
a fishing line guided along the rod body;

14
a reel mounted on the rod body for winding in the fishing line
comprising a spool on which the fishing line is wound, a rotor for winding the
line
around the spool and for guiding the line as it is wound onto the spool and a
manually operable handle for driving rotation of the rotor;
and a base unit for mounting on a support adjacent a body of water in
which the fish to be caught are located, the base unit comprising:
a rod holder for mounting the rod body on the base unit with the
fishing line exposed for entry into the body of water;
an electric motor for driving the reel;
a battery for providing electric power to the electric motor;
a switch for activating the supply of electric power to the electric
motor, the switch being arranged such that it is operated to supply power on
application of a pulling force to the fishing line by a fish in the body of
water,
the rod holder and the rod body being arranged such that the rod body
can be removed from the rod holder for manual operation of the reel by manual
operation of the handle;
wherein the electric motor is arranged for driving rotation of the spool
independently of the rotor so that rotation of the spool by the motor causes
no
movement of the handle and the rotor.
13. The
apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the spool includes
a shaft extension of the spool parallel to the rod body for engaging the drive
shaft of
the electric motor.

15
14. The
apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein there is provided
a clutch between the spool and the shaft extension to allow the spool to slip
if
required while the electric motor is providing a driving action through the
shaft
extension.

Description

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1
AUTOMATIC FISHING APPARATUS
This invention relates to an automatic fishing apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
US Patent 4,349,977 (Brodribb) issued September 21 1982 discloses a
commercial fishing apparatus for automatically reeling in a hooked fish which
uses
an arrangement in which a motor drive shaft is connected through a clutch to
the
reel and is operated on detection of a strike. The apparatus includes the reel
and
rod and forms an integrals structure which prevents the fisherman from
operating the
rod and reel in conventional manual manner.
US Patent 6,449,895 (Zabihi) issued September 17 2002 discloses a
fishing apparatus for automatically reeling in a hooked fish which uses a
motor in the
butt of the fishing rod which is operated on detection of a strike. This
mounting of
the motor in the rod and the sensor in the lure makes the fishing rod itself
complex
and difficult to handle as a conventional fishing rod.
US Patent 4,517,760 (Randle) issued March 21 1985 discloses a
mount which can receive a conventional fishing rod and reel and includes a
trigger
engagable onto the line so that tension in the line operates the trigger to
activate a
drive system to the reel. The drive system apparently engages frictionally
onto the
exterior of the reel while the rod and reel are held in a wire support with
the risk that
the drive will be inefficient. The use of a trigger engaged onto the line will
prevent
the user from rapidly removing the rod and reel from the holder for
conventional use.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a fishing rod and
holder therefor where the holder acts to detect a strike and to automatically
reel in
the fish, while the rod can be quickly and simply removed from the holder for
the
user to continue reeling in the conventional manual operation.
According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for fishing
comprising:
a fishing rod comprising:
an elongate rod body;
a fishing line guided along the rod body;
a reel mounted on the rod body for winding in the fishing line
comprising a spool on which the fishing line is wound, a rotor for winding the
line
around the spool and for guiding the line as it is wound onto the spool and a
manually operable handle for driving rotation of the rotor;
and a base unit for mounting on a support adjacent a body of water in
which the fish to be caught are located, the base unit comprising:
a rod holder for mounting the rod body on the base unit with the
fishing line exposed for entry into the body of water;
an electric motor for driving the reel;
a battery for providing electric power to the electric motor;

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= a switch for activating the supply of electric power to the electric
motor, the switch being arranged such that it is operated to supply power on
application of a pulling force to the fishing line by a fish in the body of
water;
the rod. holder and the rod body being arranged such that the rod body
can be removed from the rod holder for manual operation of the reel by manual
operation of the handle;
wherein the rod holder includes a generally cylindrical receptacle for
receiving a stub end of the rod body inserted therein by longitudinal movement
of the
rod body;
and wherein the rod holder includes a drive shaft of the electric motor
generally parallel to the generally cylindrical receptacle such that sliding
movement
of the rod end into the generally cylindrical receptacle causes engagement of
a
coupling onto the drive shaft.
Preferably the switch is on the base unit.
Preferably the switch is located between the rod holder and the base
unit so as to be responsive to pulling forces on the rod body.
Preferably the switch is free from the rod body so that the rod body can
be simply removed from the rod holder while leaving the switch on the base
unit.
Preferably the battery is on the base unit.
Preferably the base unit includes a base member for resting on a
support and wherein the holder for the rod body is pivotally mounted in the
base

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member such that a pulling force on the line causes said pivotal movement and
the
switch is responsive to the pivotal movement.
Preferably the base member includes a receptacle for the holder within
which the holder is mounted for pivotal movement.
Preferably the rod holder is mounted on the base unit so as to support
the rod body at an angle upwardly and outwardly over the body of water.
Preferably the drive shaft includes a portion extending outwardly from
a front face of the rod holder.
Preferably the electric motor is arranged for driving rotation of the
spool independently of the rotor so that rotation of the spool by the motor
causes no
movement of the handle and the rotor.
Preferably the spool includes a shaft extension of the spool parallel to
the rod body for engaging the a drive shaft of the electric motor.
Preferably there is provided clutch between the spool and the shaft
extension to allow the spool to slip if required while the motor is providing
a driving
action through the shaft extension.
Preferably there is provided an on/off switch on the housing for the
motor.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an
apparatus for fishing comprising:
a fishing rod comprising:
an elongate rod body;

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a fishing line guided along the rod body;
a reel mounted on the rod body for winding in the fishing line
comprising a spool on which the fishing line is wound, a rotor for winding the
line
around the spool and for guiding the line as it is wound onto the spool and a
5 manually operable handle for driving rotation of the rotor;
and a base unit for mounting on a support adjacent a body of water in
which the fish to be caught are located, the base unit comprising:
a rod holder for mounting the rod body on the base unit with the
fishing line exposed for entry into the body of water;
an electric motor for driving the reel;
a battery for providing electric power to the electric motor;
a switch for activating the supply of electric power to the electric
motor, the switch being arranged such that it is operated to supply power on
application of a pulling force to the fishing line by a fish in the body of
water;
the rod holder and the rod body being arranged such that the rod body
can be removed from the rod holder for manual operation of the reel by manual
operation of the handle;
wherein the electric motor is arranged for driving rotation of the spool
independently of the rotor so that rotation of the spool by the motor causes
no
movement of the handle and the rotor.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a fishing apparatus
according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view on an enlarged scale of
the reel of the rod of Figure 1.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The apparatus for fishing includes a fishing rod 10 having an elongate
rod body 11 with a lower butt end 12 and an upper end 13 and guides 15 for a
fishing line 14 guided along the rod body.
A reel 16 is mounted on the rod body adjacent the butt end for winding
in the fishing line 14. This includes a spool 17 on which the fishing line is
wound, a
rotor 18 for winding the line around the spool and for guiding the line as it
is wound
onto the spool, and a manually operable handle 19 for driving rotation of the
rotor.
Such reels are of course conventional.
In this construction the reel is supplemented by an additional electric
motor 20 for driving rotation of the spool 17 independently of the rotor 18.
A base unit 21 is provided for mounting on a support S adjacent a body
of water in which the fish to be caught are located. The base unit 21 can
include a

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tripod mount (not shown) standing from the ground or can be a base plate with
clamps (not shown) for attachment to other components such as a deck or boat
rail.
The shape of the base unit can vary as required.
The base unit 21 includes a holder 22 including a cylindrical receptacle
22A for mounting the cylindrical butt end 12 rod body on the base unit by the
longitudinal movement along arrow A to allow the butt end to be inserted into
the
holder and simply removed therefrom for independent use. When inserted, the
rod
body 11 and the fishing line 14 are presented upwardly and forwardly over the
body
of water and exposed for entry into the body of water. The rod holder 22 is
mounted
on the base so as to support the rod body at an angle over the body of water
in a
conventional fishing orientation. The rod holder 22 remains stationary without
any
jigging action so that the line is supported and extends into the water in
stationary
position. The holder 22 is mounted in the base unit 21 22B which allows
pivotal
movement of the rod holder 22 about a transverse mounting pin 22C connected
between the holder 22 and the base unit 21. This allows downwardly and
rearward
movement of the holder 22 in the direction of arrow B in response to the
downward
pulling force on the line from a fish caught on the line.
A battery 24 for providing electric power to the electric motor is
mounted in suitable location on the base unit. An on off switch 24A is
provided on
the base unit and provides power to a pressure switch 25 which is provided
between
the holder 22 and the base unit 21 so that movement of the holder in the
direction of
the arrow B acts to operate the switch 25 activating the supply of electric
power to

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the electric motor. The switch 25 is arranged such that it is operated to
supply
power on application of a pulling force to the fishing line by a fish in the
body of
water. Thus automatically the pulling action by the fish activates the motor
to
directly drive the spool to reel in the line. The switch can be a contact
switch which
is activated by the pivotal action of the holder 22 about the base unit 21. In
particular the switch can comprise a pin connection switch with an adjustable
tension
spring 25A so that the amount of force necessary to actual the switch can be
adjusted.
The motor 20 drives a gear box 20A which in turn drives an output
shaft 20B carried on the gear box and extending outwardly from a front face
22D of
the holder 22. The axis of the shaft 20B is parallel to the axis of the
cylindrical
receptacle 22A so that longitudinal movement of the butt into the cylindrical
receptacle acts to engage a coupling 17A of the drive shaft 17C to the spool
17
which drives rotation of the spool through a clutch 17B.
The holder 22 and the rod body 11 are arranged such that the rod
body 11 can be removed from the holder simply by the user grasping and pulling
the
rod in the event that a fish is detected by the user. The motor drive to the
spool is
simply disconnected by pulling the rod which disconnects the coupling 17A from
the
drive shaft 20B. In this situation power to the spool is disconnected and the
user
can continue to operate the fishing rod in conventional manner by operation of
the
reel by manual operation of the handle.
The spinning reel, is shown in more detail in Figure 2 and includes the

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reel unit in which the handle 19 is rotatably attached to drive the rotor 18
around the
spool 17 in conventional manner. During manual operation the spool does not
rotate
but moves axially so that the rotation of the arm 18A of the rotor around the
spool 17
acts to wind the line onto the spool. The rotor is rotatably attached on the
front of the
reel unit. The spool 17 onto whose outer circumference fishing line is wound
and is
disposed on the front of the rotor 18, where it moves in a back and forth
reciprocating manner.
The reel unit includes a reel body 2A, and a rod-mounting leg 2B that
extends diagonally up/forward from the reel body 2A and is attached to the rod
handle 12. The reel body 2A has an interior space containing the shaft 17C and
the
clutch 17B. A rotor driving mechanism and an oscillating mechanism (not shown)
operated by the handle 19 are provided within the space. The rotor driving
mechanism is rotated in cooperation with the rotation of the handle 1. The
oscillating mechanism winds fishing line uniformly onto the spool by pumping
the
spool back and forth.
The switch 25 is thus provided on the base unit and is free from the
line and from the rod itself so that the rod can be pulled away immediately
without
any complexity of separating the switch from the rod structure. In particular
the
switch is located between the rod holder and the base unit so as to be
responsive to
pulling forces on the rod body.
The base unit 21 includes a base member 21A for resting on a support
and the holder 22 for the rod body is pivotally mounted in the base unit 21
such that

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a pulling force on the line causes said pivotal movement and the switch is
responsive to the pivotal movement. The base unit 21 includes a receptacle 22B
for
the holder 22 within which the holder 22 is mounted for pivotal movement on
the pin
22C.
5 The receptacle 22B is carried on the base unit 21 in fixed position
but
can be unlatched by an over-center latch 21B for opening pivotal movement
about a
transverse pivot mount 21C. This movement acts to expose the battery and
wiring
within the base unit 21 for replacement and repair. The motor is carried on
the
holder 22 so that it pivots with the holder 22 and receptacle 22A.

Representative Drawing