Fish alarm

Claim 2

A fishing accessory for holding a fishing rod and signalling a fish bite, comprising: an outer tubular body having an open normally upper end, an inner tubular socket within said body and having an open normally upper end projecting through said open body end, the outer diameter of said socket being less than the inner diameter of said body, whereby said socket fits loosely in the body, pivot pins pivotally connecting said body and socket on a transverse pivot axis adjacent said open body end and located between the ends of said socket, whereby said socket is rotatable on said pivot axis relative to said body, spring means acting between said body and socket for yieldably urging said socket in one direction about said pivot axis to a normal position relative to said body, support means for supporting said body in a generally upright fishing position with said socket uppermost and opening upwardly to receive the handle of a fishing rod in a manner such that a tug on the fishIng line of said rod tends to rotate said socket on said pivot axis from said normal socket position against the bias of said spring means, and signalling means for signalling rotation of said socket from said normal position.

Claim 3

A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: the open upper end of said socket is bevelled to facilitate insertion of the fishing rod handle into said socket.

Claim 4

A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: said spring means comprises an adjustment screw threaded in the wall of said body on a transverse axis intersecting the inner normally lower end of said socket, and a spring engaging between the inner end of said screw and the inner end of said socket; and said screw is adjustable to adjust the thrust of said spring against said socket.

Claim 5

A fishing accessory according to claim 3 wherein: said socket includes a transverse member at said inner socket end having a cavity opening laterally toward and receiving the inner end of said adjustment screw, and said spring is positioned within said cavity between the inner end of said screw and the bottom of said cavity.

Claim 6

A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: said signalling means comprises an electrical signalling circuit including an electrically actuated alarm on said body and electrical switch means actuated by rotation of said socket from normal position for energizing said alarm.

Claim 7

A fishing accessory according to claim 5 wherein: said switch means comprise electrical contacts on said body and the inner end of said socket which engage upon rotation of said socket from normal position.

Claim 8

A fishing accessory according to claim 6 wherein: said body includes a removable end cap closing the normally lower end of said body, said signalling means includes a battery holder within said body between said end cap and the inner end of said socket, and said end cap is removable to place a battery in and remove the battery from said holder.

Claim 9

A fishing accessory according to claim 7 wherein: said battery holder is attached to said end cap and is removable from said body with said end cap.

Claim 10

A fishing accessory according to claim 8 wherein: said alarm is carried by said end cap.

Claim 11

A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: said body support means comprises a ground stake to be driven into the ground, and releasable attachment means securing said stake to said body, whereby said stake may be removed from said body to facilitate driving the stake into the ground.

Claim 12

A fishing accessory according to claim 10 wherein: the normally upper end of said stake extends along and seats against one side of said body and the normally lower end of said stake extends beyond the lower end of said body, and said attachment means comprises a releasable fastener joining said upper stake end to said body and a lug on said stake engaging over an axially projecting lip on the lower end of said body.

Claim 13

A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: the open upper end of said socket is bevelled to facilitate insertion of the fishing rod handle into said socket, said spring means comprises an adjustment screw threaded in the wall of said body on a transverse axis intersecting the inner normally lower end of said socket, and a spring engaging between the inner end of said screw and the inner end of said socket; said screw is adjustable to adjust the thrust of said spring against said socket, said socket includes a transverse member at said inner socket end having a cavity opening laterally toward and receiving the inner end of said adjustment screw, said spring is positioned within said cavity between the inner end of said screw and the bottom of said cavity, said signalling means comprises an electrical signalling circuit including an electrically actuated alarm on said body and electrical switch means actuated by rotation of said socket from noRmal position for energizing said alarm, said switch means comprise electrical contacts on said body and the inner end of said socket which engage upon rotation of said socket from normal position, said body includes a removable end cap closing the normally lower end of said body, said signalling means includes a battery holder within said body between said end cap and the inner end of said socket, said end cap is removable to place a battery in and remove the battery from said holder, said battery holder is attached to said end cap and is removable from said body with said end cap, said alarm is carried by said end cap, said body support means comprises a ground stake to be driven into the ground, and releasable attachment means securing said stake to said body, whereby said stake may be removed from said body to facilitate driving the stake into the ground, the normally upper end of said stake extends along and seats against one side of said body and the normally lower end of said stake extends beyond the lower end of said body, and said attachment means comprises a releasable fastener joining said upper stake end to said body and a lug on said stake engaging over an axially projecting lip on the lower end of said end cap.