Self-propelled fishing float with line release mechanism

Claim 2

In a fishing float: a hull; at least one outwardly opening casing means carried by said hull, said casing means being adapted to receive a sinker and hook attached to a fishing line; means within said casing means operable when released to propel said sinker and hook outwardly into a body of water on which said hull is floating; fastening means for releasably retaining said sinker and hook within said casing means, against the force of said propelling means; a timer device carried by said hull; and releasing means engageable with said fastening means, and operable by said timer to release said fastening means at a predetermined time, whereupon said sinker and hook are expelled from said casing means into said body of water.

Claim 3

In a fishing float as recited in claim 1, wherein said casing means includes a cylindrical casing having a bottom wall, and arranged in said hull to open outwardly, and wherein said propelling means includes: a piston slidably received within said cylindrical casing; and a spring disposed between said piston and said bottom wall of said casing, said spring being compressed by insertion of said hook and sinker into said cylindrical casing.

Claim 4

In a fishing float as recited in claim 2, wherein said piston is tumbler shaped and opens outwardly, whereby said hook is receivable therein.

Claim 5

In a fishing float as recited in claim 2, wherein said fastening means includes: a first lever, disposed outside said hull, one end of said first lever being positioned over the open end of said cylindrical casing, and the other end thereof being secured to a drive shaft mounted to extend into said hull, whereby said first lever can pivot between a first position wherein said one end thereof is adjacent said open end of said casing to hold said sinker and hook therein, and a second release position spaced from said open end; and a second lever mounted on said drive shaft within said hull, and engageable with said releasing means when said first lever is in said first position thereof.

Claim 6

In a fishing float as recited in claim 4, wherein said releasing means includes: a trigger lever pivotally mounted centrally thereof to bracket means within said hull, one end of said trigger lever being engageable with said second lever of said fastening means, and the other end of said trigger lever having cam follower means thereon; resilient means arranged to urge said one end of said trigger lever toward engagement with said second lever of said fastening means; and cam means carried by said timer device, and arranged to engage said cam follower means on said trigger lever during operation of said timer, whereby said trigger lever is pivoted by interaction of said cam means and said cam follower means to disengage from and release said second lever of said fastening means.

Claim 7

In a fishing float as recited in claim 1, including additionally: luminous indicator means carried by said hull.

Claim 8

In a fishing float as recited in claim 6, wherein said luminous indicator means includes: a hollow, cylindrical main body secureable at one end to said hull, and open at its other end, the open end of said main body being internally threaded; a dry cell received within said hollow main body; a transparent dome threadably received within said hollow main body, and carrying a socket equipped with a lamp; a metal strap within said main body, one end of said strap being engaged with the negative end of said cell, and the other end thereof having a contact ring thereon that rests on the insulated top end of said cell about the positive terminal thereof; and a spring arranged between said contact ring and said lamp socket.