US3660923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fishing device, especially for ice fishing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-10-20
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A tip-up type fishing device, primarily for ice fishing, includes a platform-like body member provided with adjustable legs for supporting it generally horizontally. A spool wound with fishing line is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the platform. A signaling device, in the form of an elongate spring member, normally projects upwardly from the platform, and is adapted to be set by being flexed into a bowed configuration with its free end bearing against a cocking member projecting from the upper surface of the platform. In use, a desired length of fishing line is unwound from the spool, and then a portion thereof is trained around the cocking member. The signaling spring is then flexedly bowed into position against the cocking member, and the looped portion of the line is removed from behind the cocking member and placed against the spring immediately adjacent its engagement with the cocking member. The remainder of the line passes down through the usual hole in the ice. A slight tug on the line by a fish pulls the looped portion away from the spring and cocking member, and the line moves freely from the spool. The initial tug on the line simultaneously frees the spring signaling device to be noticed by the fisherman. The legs and the spring are movable into generally parallel positions with the platform for carrying and storing.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald R Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K97/00; A01K97/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
A fishing device comprising a main body member, means for supporting said body member above a surface, a spool-like member having fishing line wound thereon, said spool-like member being mounted on said main body member such that line can be pulled freely downwardly therefrom without any rotation of said spoollike member when said body member is supported above the surface by said supporting means, an elongate spring member mounted at one of its ends on said body member and resiliently biased to stand outwardly therefrom in its unflexed condition, a cocking member in the form of a projecting member located on said body member and spaced from said spool-like member and the mounted end of said elongate spring member such that line from said spoollike member can be trained around said cocking member and then ultimately downwardly, but cannot be unwound from said spool-like member by pulling toward or around said cocking member, and such that said elongate spring member can be flexedly bowed to have its free end bear against said cocking member so as to be retained in said flexed bowed condition so long as said free end is not caused to slip from said cocking member, whereby in use said body member can be supported upon an over-water surface above an opening therein, a selected length of line unwound from said spool-like member and trained therefrom around said cocking member and then downwardly through the hole, said spring member then flexedly bowed to have its free end bear against said cocking member, said line removed from behind said cocking member and rested upon said spring member and said cocking member at their point of contact, and the remainder of said line permitted to pass downwardly through the opening in said over-water surface, whereby a downward pull on the end of the line will pull said line completely between and past the point of contact between said spring mEmber and said cocking member and then freely from said spool-like member, simultaneously releasing said spring member from its flexedly bowed condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
A fishing device comprising a main body member, means for supporting said body member above a surface, a spool-like member having fishing line wound thereon, said spool-like member being mounted on said main body member such that line can be pulled freely downwardly therefrom without any rotation of said spoollike member when said body member is supported above the surface by said supporting means, an elongate spring member mounted at one of its ends on said body member and resiliently biased to stand outwardly therefrom in its unflexed condition, a cocking member in the form of a projecting member located on said body member and spaced from said spool-like member and the mounted end of said elongate spring member such that line from said spoollike member can be trained around said cocking member and then ultimately downwardly, but cannot be unwound from said spool-like member by pulling toward or around said cocking member, and such that said elongate spring member can be flexedly bowed to have its free end bear against said cocking member so as to be retained in said flexed bowed condition so long as said free end is not caused to slip from said cocking member, whereby in use said body member can be supported upon an over-water surface above an opening therein, a selected length of line unwound from said spool-like member and trained therefrom around said cocking member and then downwardly through the hole, said spring member then flexedly bowed to have its free end bear against said cocking member, said line removed from behind said cocking member and rested upon said spring member and said cocking member at their point of contact, and the remainder of said line permitted to pass downwardly through the opening in said over-water surface, whereby a downward pull on the end of the line will pull said line completely between and past the point of contact between said spring mEmber and said cocking member and then freely from said spool-like member, simultaneously releasing said spring member from its flexedly bowed condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein line trained from said spool-like member tautly about said cocking member and then downwardly therefrom engages only a portion of the periphery of said cocking member, and said mounted end of said spring member and said cocking member are so located relative to each other that a straight path extending between the two would meet the periphery of the cocking member at a point thereon not engaged by said line, and wherein line trained from the spool-like member about the cocking member would pass between the mounted end of said spring member and said cocking member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body member comprises a platform-like member, and said means for supporting said body member comprise legs for supporting the platform-like member generally horizontally.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said legs are adjustable between their supporting positions in which they extend generally downwardly from the platform-like member, and stowed positions in which they extend generally parallel to said platform-like member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said legs are of easily bendable metal and are rigidly attached at their ends to said platform-like member, and are adjustable by bending adjacent their attached ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said spool-like member is mounted on the lower surface of said platform-like member, and said spring member and said cocking member are mounted so as to project upwardly above the upper surface thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said cocking member is a screw mounted in the upper surface of said platform-like member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cocking member is of generally cylindrical form and projects upwardly from the upper surface of said platform-like member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body member comprises a generally rectangular platform, and said mounted end of said spring member and said cocking member are mounted closely adjacent one edge thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means for detachably securing said spring member along the upper surface of said platform when not in use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cocking member is formed with at least one concavity located to releasably receive the free end of said elongate spring member in the flexedly bowed position thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fishing device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cocking member is formed with a plurality of said concavities, each of different depths, spaced about its perimeter, and wherein said cocking member is rotatable so as to bring any selected concavity into position to releasable receive the free end of said elongate spring member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |