US3702513A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bite detectors for use with fishing lines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-17
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Granted: 1972-11-14
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Expires: 1990-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A bite detector device comprising a casing having a slot in an exposed face attached to a fishing rod and housing a pair of nipper elements which are spring-urged towards each other within the slot and arranged to releasably grip part of a fishing line disposed in the slot. The nipper elements are held apart as long as the line is held therebetween. When the line, under a predetermined tension, is jerked free of the nipper elements, the latter come together to initiate an alarm. Preferably the nipper elements are conductive and complete an indicator circuit when they contact each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J Watts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:42
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K97/00; A01K97/12; A01K97/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A bite detector device for use with a fishing rod, comprising: a portable casing adapted to house a source of electrical energy; a head made of electrically non-conductive material attached to one end of the casing and having an exposed face provided with a transverse slot adapted to receive part of a fishing line; clamp means on said casing for releasably securing the device to a fishing rod; a pair of relatively movable electrically conductive nipper elements supported within said head and insulated thereby, said nipper elements being abuttable within said slot; resilient biasing means within said head urging said nipper elements towards each other to make electrical contact with each other in said slot, in the absence of a line between them and to clamp a part of the fishing line between said nipper elements when said part of the line is in said slot and positioned between them; guide means associated with said nipper elements for guiding said part of the fishing line between said nipper elements to spread them against the bias of said resilient means when said part of the fishing line is received in the transverse slot; electrical warning indicator means; and an electrical energizing circuit including said source of electrical energy, said warning indicator means and said nipper elements being completed to energize said warning indicator means upon relative movement of said nipper elements into contact with each other as a result of removal of said part of the fishing line from between said nipper elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A bite detector device for use with a fishing rod, comprising: a portable casing adapted to house a source of electrical energy; a head made of electrically non-conductive material attached to one end of the casing and having an exposed face provided with a transverse slot adapted to receive part of a fishing line; clamp means on said casing for releasably securing the device to a fishing rod; a pair of relatively movable electrically conductive nipper elements supported within said head and insulated thereby, said nipper elements being abuttable within said slot; resilient biasing means within said head urging said nipper elements towards each other to make electrical contact with each other in said slot, in the absence of a line between them and to clamp a part of the fishing line between said nipper elements when said part of the line is in said slot and positioned between them; guide means associated with said nipper elements for guiding said part of the fishing line between said nipper elements to spread them against the bias of said resilient means when said part of the fishing line is received in the transverse slot; electrical warning indicator means; and an electrical energizing circuit including said source of electrical energy, said warning indicator means and said nipper elements being completed to energize said warning indicator means upon relative movement of said nipper elements into contact with each other as a result of removal of said part of the fishing line from between said nipper elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Device as claimed in claim 1, in which the warning indicator means comprise an electrically operated audible warning device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
Device as claimed in claim 1, including means for adjusting the pressure with which the nipper elements are resiliently urged towards each other and, therefore, the force with which a part of a line located between the nipper elements is clamped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
In combination, a fishing rod having a fixed spool reel carrying line, and a bite detector device according to claim 1 mounted on the rod, the bite detector device being clamped to the fishing rod with the slotted face of the device directed towards the free end of said rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A bite detector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nipper elements have flat contact surfaces which, in the absence of a said part of a fishing line between said elements, meet in face-to-face contact, said flat contact surfaces being bounded by beveled edge surfaces forming said guide means to assist the insertion of a said part of a fishing line between the elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bite detector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical energizing circuit includes a manually operable master switch mounted on the casing and connected in series in said circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A bite detector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said nipper elements is fixed in said head and the other is movable relative thereto in a directIon transverse to said slot, said resilient biasing means acting on the movable nipper element, and an adjustable stop bearing against the end of said spring remote from the movable nipper element and effective to adjust the force with which the nipper elements are urged towards each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
A bite detector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said nipper elements if fixed in said head and the other nipper element comprises a plunger coaxial with the fixed nipper element and movable in the direction of its axis in a bore in said head perpendicular to said slot, said resilient biasing means comprising a biasing spring located in said bore and an adjustable stop located at the outer end of said bore, and bearing against the end of said spring remote from the movable nipper element, said adjustable stop being effective to adjust the force with which the movable nipper element is urged towards the fixed nipper element.
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) | 1975-11-14 | 1976-05-15 | 1976-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-14 | 1980-05-15 | 1980-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-14 | 1984-05-15 | 1984-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |