Downrigger for fishing

Claim 2

A downrigger adapted to operate a cable for selectively raising and lowering a sinker means and for selectively feeding and taking up said cable independently of substantial movement of said sinker means, comprising: a. first and second reversibly rotatable wheel means constructed and arranged for engaging opposite end portions of a continuous cable for suspending said sinker means translatably on a loop portion of said cable formed intermediate its ends, b. means for rotating said wheel means individually and jointly, rotation of said wheel means individually and jointly in first opposed directions causing said cable to be fed from one and the other of said wheel means to extend said intermediate portion of said cable between said end portions for lowering said sinker means on said loop portion, and rotation of said wheel means individually and jointly in second opposed reverse directions causing said cable to be taken up on one and the other of said wheel means for raising said sinker means on said loop portion, c. rotation of said first and second wheel means jointly in a selected direction causing said cable to be fed from one wheel means and to be taken up by the other wheel means for said cable to translate relative to said sinker to thereby maintain the distance of said sinker from said wheel means substantially constant.

Claim 3

The downrigger of claim 1 wherein: a. said wheel means are coaxial.

Claim 4

The downrigger of claim 1 including: a. means for selectively coupling and uncoupling one wheel means relative to the other for said joint and individual rotation of said wheel means, respectively.

Claim 5

The downrigger of claim 1 wherein: a. said sinker has pulley means journaled for rotation thereon, said cable loop portion running on said pulley means for translating said cable relative to said sinker and for supporting said sinker. pg,18

Claim 6

The downrigger of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said wheel means includes manually engageable handle means on each of said wheel means for selectively rotating said wheel means individually and jointly.

Claim 7

A downrigger adapted to operate a cable for selectively raising and lowering a sinker means and for selectively feeding and taking up said cable independently of substantial movement of said sinker means, comprising: a. first and second reversibly rotatable wheel means arranged for rotation about the same axis, each of said wheel means having means for engaging opposite end portions of a continuous cable such that an intermediate portion of said cable may form a loop portion between said first and second wheel means for suspending said sinker means in a manner that permits said cable to translate relative to said sinker means, b. means for rotating said wheel means jointly and individually, and means for selectively coupling and uncoupling said first and second wheel means for enabling joint and individual rotation, respectively, of said wheel means, c. rotation of said wheel means jointly in the same direction causing said cable to be fed from one of said wheel means and to be taken up correspondingly by the other of said wheel means while said cable including said loop portion translates relative to said sinker means for enabling said sinker means to remain at a substantially constant distance from said wheel means, d. rotation of said wheel means individually in first opposite directions simultaneously and sequentially causing said cable to be taken up by said wheel means to thereby raise said sinker means on said loop portion, and reversing said directions of rotation causing said cable to be fed from said wheel means to thereby lower said sinker means on said loop portion.

Claim 8

A downrigger adapted to operate a cable for selectively raising and lowering a sinker means and for selectively feeding and taking up said cable independently of substantial movement of said sinker means, comprising: a. first and second reversibly rotatable wheel means arranged for rotation about the same axis, each of said wheel means having means for engaging opposite end portions of a continuous cable such that an intermediate portion of said cable may form a loop portion between said first and second wheel means for suspending said sinker means in a manner that permits said cable to translate relative to said sinker means, b. means for rotating said wheel means jointly and individually, and means for selectively coupling and uncoupling said first and second wheel means for enabling joint and individual rotation, respectively, of said wheel means, c. rotation of said wheel means jointly in the same direction causing said cable to be fed from one of said wheel means and to be taken up correspondingly by the other of said wheel means while said cable including said loop portion translates relative to said sinker means for enabling said sinker means to remain at a substantially constant distance from said wheel means, d. rotation of said wheel means individually in first opposite directions simultaneously and sequentially causing said cable to be taken up by said wheel means to thereby raise said sinker means on said loop portion, and reversing said directions of rotation causing said cable to be fed from said wheel means to thereby lower said sinker means on said loop portion.

Claim 9

The downrigger in claim 6 wherein: a. said axis of rotation of said wheel means is substantially horizontal and said reversibly rotatable wheel means rotate in substantially vertical planes, b. said wheel means being arranged for said cable to extend from one of said wheel means tangentially of its periphery above said rotational axis and to extend from the other of said wheel means tangentially of its periphery below said axis.

Claim 10

The downrigger in claim 7 including: a. a pair of sheave means and support means for supporting said sheave means for rotation at a place spaced from said wheel means, said sheave means being arranged for said cable extending from each of said wheel means to run over respective ones of said sheave means and to form in said intermediate cable portion a loop lying in a first vertical plane that is approximately parallel with the plane of said wheel means for suspending said sinker means.

Claim 11

The downrigger in claim 8 including: a. additional sheave means mounted for rotation on said support means for said cable to run on and to cooperate with said first pair of sheave means for establishing said loop in a second vertical plane which is approximately perpendicular to said first plane.

Claim 12

A downrigger for operating a cable to raise and lower a sinker selectively and to feed and take up cable selectively independently of substantial movement of said sinker, comprising: a. a shaft, b. means for supporting said shaft for rotation, c. first wheel means fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, d. second wheel means mounted for selective rotation on said shaft, e. said wheel means being constructed and arranged for engaging with opposite end portions, respectively, of said cable such that an intermediate portion of said cable may form a loop between said first and second wheel means for supporting said sinker means translatably relative to said cable, f. handle means on each of said wheel means for rotating said wheel means, and g. means for selectively engaging and disengaging said second wheel means with said shaft, whereby when said means is engaged said wheel means are rotatable jointly to translate said cable relative to said sinker means and transfer said cable from one wheel means to another to thereby maintain the distance between said sinker means and wheel means substantially constant and when said second wheel means is disengaged both of said wheel means are rotatable in first opposite directions to extend said intermediate portion of said cable and in reversed opposite directions to take up said cable.

Claim 13

A downrigger for operating a cable to raise and lower a sinker selectively and to feed and take up cable selectively independently of substantial movement of said sinker, comprising: a. a shaft, b. means for supporting said shaft for rotation, c. first wheel means fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, d. second wheel means mounted for selective rotation on said shaft, e. said wheel means being constructed and arranged for engaging with opposite end portions, respectively, of said cable such that an intermediate portion of said cable may form a loop between said first and second wheel means for supporting said sinker means translatably relative to said cable, f. handle means on each of said wheel means for rotating said wheel means, and g. means for selectively engaging and disengaging said second wheel means with said shaft, whereby when said means is engaged said wheel means are rotatable jointly to translate said cable relative to said sinker means and transfer said cable from one wheel means to another to thereby maintain the distance between said sinker means and wheel means substantially constant and when said second wheel means is disengaged both of said wheel means are rotatable in first opposite directions to extend said intermediate portion of said cable and in reversed opposite directions to take up said cable.

Claim 14

The downrigger in claim 10 including: a. first and second sheave means, b. means for supporting said sheave means for rotation remotely from said wheel means, the rotational axes of said sheave means, respectively, being substantially parallel to the axis of said wheel means, c. said sheave means being arranged for cable leading from each wheel means to run on them, respectively, with said sinker supporting loop being formed between them.

Claim 15

The downrigger in claim 11 wherein said first sheave means is substantially in the vertical plane of said first wheel means and the second sheave means is substantially in the vertical plane of said second wheel means.

Claim 16

The downrigger in claim 12 wherein the point of tangency of said cable on one of said sheave means leading to said loop is farther from said wheel means than the point of tangency of said cable on the other of said sheave means leading to said loop, whereby intermediate portions of said cable forming said loop will be spaced from each other.

Claim 17

The downrigger in claim 11 including: a. additional sheave means located near and cooperating with said first and second sheave means for changing the direction of said cable means to maintain said cable portions leading to said loop in a plane that is substantially transverse to the plane of said wheel means.

Claim 18

The downrigger in claim 12 including means for selectively locking one and the other and both of said wheel means against rotation and for selectively releasing the same for rotation.

Claim 19

A downrigger for fishing, comprising: a. support means, b. a shaft journaled for rotation on said support means, the axis of said shaft being nominally horizontally disposed, c. first wheel means fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith on one side of said support means, d. second wheel means mounted for rotation on said shaft on the other side of said support means, e. said wheel means being rotatable in nominally vertical planes about said shaft axis and being constructed and arranged for winding and unwinding a cable, f. means for selectively engaging and disengaging said second wheel means and said shaft for selective joint and individual rotation of said wheel means, respectively, g. a cable having opposite end portions attached to said wheel means and having a continuous intermediate portion between said end portions, h. said cable extending tangentially from generally opposite sides of the peripheries of said wheel means, respectively, i. first and second sheave means supported for rotation in spaced relation from and in substantial alignment with said first and second wheel means, respectively, said cable running over said sheave means from each wheel means for forming a loop in said cable, j. pulley means for supporting a sinker, said pulley means being supportable in said cable loop, and k. handle means on said wheel means, respectively, for rotating said wheel means manually, whereby when said second wheel means is disengaged from said shaft means one and another of said wheel means may be rotated in first opposite directions to feed said cable from said wheel means for lowering said sinker and may be rotated in second opposite directions to take up said cable on said wheel means and when said wheel means are engaged and rotated in the same direction said cable will transfer from one wheel means to the other translatably relative to said sinker means.

Claim 20

A downrigger for fishing, comprising: a. support means, b. a shaft journaled for rotation on said support means, the axis of said shaft being nominally horizontally disposed, c. first wheel means fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith on one side of said support means, d. second wheel means mounted for rotation on said shaft on the other side of said support means, e. said wheel means being rotatable in nominally vertical planes about said shaft axis and being constructed and arranged for winding and unwinding a cable, f. means for selectively engaging and disengaging said second wheel means and said shaft for selective joint and individual rotation of said wheel means, respectively, g. a cable having opposite end portions attached to said wheel means and having a continuous intermediate portion between said end portions, h. said cable extending tangentially from generally opposite sides of the peripheries of said wheel means, respectively, i. first and second sheave means supported for rotation in spaced relation from and in substantial alignment with said first and second wheel means, respectively, said cable running over said sheave means from each wheel means for forming a loop in said cable, j. pulley means for supporting a sinker, said pulley means being supportable in said cable loop, and k. handle means on said wheel means, respectively, for rotating said wheel means manually, whereby when said second wheel means is disengaged from said shaft means one and another of said wheel means may be rotated in first opposite directions to feed said cable from said wheel means for lowering said sinker and may be rotated in second opposite directions to take up said cable on said wheel means and when said wheel means are engaged and rotated in the same direction said cable will transfer from one wheel means to the other translatably relative to said sinker means.

Claim 21

A downrigger comprising: a. first and second spaced apart coaxial wheel means, b. a bearing support between said wheel means, c. a shaft journaled in said bearing support, said first wheel means being fastened to said shaft and said second wheel means being rotatable thereon, d. means for selectively engaging and disengaging said second wheel means relative to said shaft to enable joint and individual rotation of said wheel means, respectively, e. a continuous cable having its opposite ends fastened to said wheel means, respectively, for being wound onto and fed from said wheel means, said cable being disposed on said wheel means such that joint rotation thereof in either direction will transfer cable from one wheel means to the other and individual simultaneous and sequential rotation thereof in first opposite directions will feed said cable and such rotation in reverse directions will take up said cable, f. first and second sheave means supported remotely from said wheel means for rotation in planes respectively parallel to said wheel means, respectively, said cable from each wheel means running on said sheave means for directing said cable vertically and for forming a loop in said cable, g. pulley means and a sinker supported thereon, said pulley means being supported in said cable loop for said cable to translate relative to said sinker upon said joint rotation of said wheel means and for said cable to raise and lower said sinker, selectively, upon said individual rotation of said wheel means, and h. handle means on said wheel means for turning said wheel means.

Claim 22

A downrigger comprising: a. first and second spaced apart coaxial wheel means, b. a bearing support between said wheel means, c. a shaft journaled in said bearing support, said first wheel means being fastened to said shaft and said second wheel means being rotatable thereon, d. means for selectively engaging and disengaging said second wheel means relative to said shaft to enable joint and individual rotation of said wheel means, respectively, e. a continuous cable having its opposite ends fastened to said wheel means, respectively, for being wound onto and fed from said wheel means, said cable being disposed on said wheel means such that joint rotation thereof in either direction will transfer cable from one wheel means to the other and individual simultaneous and sequential rotation thereof in first opposite directions will feed said cable and such rotation in reverse directions will take up said cable, f. first and second sheave means supported remotely from said wheel means for rotation in planes respectively parallel to said wheel means, respectively, said cable from each wheel means running on said sheave means for directing said cable vertically and for forming a loop in said cable, g. pulley means and a sinker supported thereon, said pulley means being supported in said cable loop for said cable to translate relative to said sinker upon said joint rotation of said wheel means and for said cable to raise and lower said sinker, selectively, upon said individual rotation of said wheel means, and h. handle means on said wheel means for turning said wheel means.

Claim 23

The downrigger of claim 17 including means for locking said first and second wheel means against rotation.