Depth control device for use while fishing

Claim 2

A trolling depth control device for use in troll fishing comprising, a body portion, first vertical fin means extending out of said body portion and forming fixed vertical water action surfaces to stabilize the device, said vertical fin means having formed thereon attaching means for connecting said device to trolling lines, second horizontal fin means extending out of said body portion and forming fixed horizontal hydrofoil surfaces, a depth control fin, means rotatably mounting said depth control fin on said body portion so that said depth control fin forms a movable control surface adjacent to said horizontal hydrofoil surfaces which is movable through a common plane relative to said horizontal fin means, said depth control fin being rotatably movable to selectively inclined positions relative to said hydrofoil surface to change the angle to attack of the device during trolling, and thermal control means connected between said depth control fin and said body portion to adjustably move said depth control fin automatically as a function of the thermal variations of the water, whereby said device may be used to tow a fishing line to selected depths of water.

Claim 3

A depth control device according to claim 1 and further characterized by said thermal control means comprising: a pivotally disposed lever arm, a gas-filled bellows, one end connected to said body and the other end engaging one of said arm, a coil spring, one end connected to said body and the other end engaging the other end of said arm, said lever arm being operatively connected to said depth control fin.

Claim 4

A depth control device according to claim 1 and further characterized wherein said attaching means being located above and below the longitudinal axis of said body, said device invertible for responding to inverted operating conditions.

Claim 5

A depth control device according to claim 1 and further characterized by said attaching means comprising: a bridle having a rear and forward portion, the rear portion of said bridle being pivotally attached to the body at a point behind the control fin, the forward portion of said bridle prepared for attachment to a trolling line, said forward portion being at a point in front of said body, said bridle having a right and left connecting member between said forward attaching portion and rear attaching portion, said connecting members contacting and aligning said control fin parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body when the device is being drawn to the surface of the body of water, and a second attaching means for connecting a leader of the fish capturing means and located near the rear of said body.

Claim 6

A depth control device according to claim 1 and further characterized by said attaching means comprising: a slotted opening in said vertical stabilizing means, the longitudinal centerline of said slot forming an acute angle to the rear with the longitudinal axis of said body, said opening having an outer longitudinal surface having at least two rounded grooves extending upwardly for attaching a trolling line, and a second attaching means for connecting a leader of the fish capturing means and located near the rear of said body, wherein an attached trolling line disengages from said groove and slips to the forward portion of said slot when the device is being drawn to the surface of the body of water or when a fish restrains the attached fish capturing means.

Claim 7

A depth control device for use with a fish capturing means being drawn through a body of water and adapted to seek a water level having a selected temperature comprising, a. a flat elongated vertical fin carried by said device, said fin having a tapered front portion and an opening through said fin adjacent to and to the rear of said front portion, b. a temperature and sensing means including a bimetal coil disposed in said opening in said vertical fin and having an outer end attached to said vertical fin, c. a flat horizontal fin carried by said device and joining with said vertical fin to a rear of said opening therein to form a rigid body, d. a depth control means including a shaft rotatably carried by and transversely positioned to a longitudinal axis of said device and having a middle portion operatively connected to an inner end of said coil, and a triangular-shaped control fin operatively connected to end portions of said shaft and positioned to have an obtuse angle apex positioned to a front of said shaft to align with a horizontal axis of said device when said coil senses a water temperature equal to said selected temperature, and e. a prow formed in part by said tapered front portion of said vertical fin and including a right and left vertical offset positioned to cover a portion of said apex of said control fin as said control fin rotates in response to changing water temperatures, whereby said bimetal coil senses an ambient temperature of said water and selectively regulates an attitude of said control fin.

Claim 8

A depth control device for use with a fish capturing means being drawn through a body of water and adapted to seek a water level having a selected temperature comprising, a. a flat elongated vertical fin carried by said device, said fin having a tapered front portion and an opening through said fin adjacent to and to the rear of said front portion, b. a temperature and sensing means including a bimetal coil disposed in said opening in said vertical fin and having an outer end attached to said vertical fin, c. a flat horizontal fin carried by said device and joining with said vertical fin to a rear of said opening therein to form a rigid body, d. a depth control means including a shaft rotatably carried by and transversely positioned to a longitudinal axis of said device and having a middle portion operatively connected to an inner end of said coil, and a triangular-shaped control fin operatively connected to end portions of said shaft and positioned to have an obtuse angle apex positioned to a front of said shaft to align with a horizontal axis of said device when said coil senses a water temperature equal to said selected temperature, and e. a prow formed in part by said tapered front portion of said vertical fin and including a right and left vertical offset positioned to cover a portion of said apex of said control fin as said control fin rotates in response to changing water temperatures, whereby said bimetal coil senses an ambient temperature of said water and selectively regulates an attitude of said control fin.

Claim 9

A depth control device as defined in claim 6 and further including, attaching holes for connecting a leader thereto and being located along a top edge of said vertical fin in alignment with a vertical plane intersecting the center of gravity of said device, and said horizontal fin and said shaft positioned in alignment with the horizontal axis of said device and above the center of gravity of said device.

Claim 10

Means to position a fish capturing device with water having a selected temperature comprising, a three-way swivel joint having a first, second and third attaching loop, said first loop adapted to be attached to a fish capturing device by a first leader positioned between said device and said first loop, said second loop attached to a depth control device by a second leader positioned between said depth control device and said second loop, and said third loop adapted to be attached to an end of a fishing line, said depth control device further including, a yaw and roll stabilizing means to cause said depth control device to travel in a streamlined path through said water including a flat elongated vertical fin carried by said device and having a tapered front portion and attaching means for said second leader located above the center of gravity of said device and proximately aligned with a vertical plane intersecting said center of gravity, a pitch and roll stabilizing means to cause said depth control device to travel in a streamlined path through said water including a flat horizontal fin carried by said device and positioned to align with a horizontal axis of said device and joining with said vertical fin to form a rigid body, a circular passage on a radius carried by said vertical fin below the longitudinal axis of said device and to the front of said center of gravity with the axis of said radius disposed above said passage, and a weight means disposed in said passage to lower said center of gravity below the longitudinal axis of said device, a temperature and sensing means including a bimetal coil having an outer end attached to said device, and a depth control means including a transversely positioned shaft rotatively carried by said body to align with a horizontal axis of said device, said shaft having a middle portion operatively connected to an inner end of said bimetal coil, and a triangular-shaped control surface having fin portions carried by respective ends of said shaft and positioned to form a prow with said tapered front portion of said vertical fin, wherein said control device, by regulation of said depth control means by said temperature and sensing means, positions said fish capturing device by causing selective vertical movement of said three-way swivel.

Claim 11

Means to position a fish capturing device with water having a selected temperature comprising, a three-way swivel joint having a first, second and third attaching loop, said first loop adapted to be attached to a fish capturing device by a first leader positioned between said device and said first loop, said second loop attached to a depth control device by a second leader positioned between said depth control device and said second loop, and said third loop adapted to be attached to an end of a fishing line, said depth control device further including, a yaw and roll stabilizing means to cause said depth control device to travel in a streamlined path through said water including a flat elongated vertical fin carried by said device and having a tapered front portion and attaching means for said second leader located above the center of gravity of said device and proximately aligned with a vertical plane intersecting said center of gravity, a pitch and roll stabilizing means to cause said depth control device to travel in a streamlined path through said water including a flat horizontal fin carried by said device and positioned to align with a horizontal axis of said device and joining with said vertical fin to form a rigid body, a circular passage on a radius carried by said vertical fin below the longitudinal axis of said device and to the front of said center of gravity with the axis of said radius disposed above said passage, and a weight means disposed in said passage to lower said center of gravity below the longitudinal axis of said device, a temperature and sensing means including a bimetal coil having an outer end attached to said device, and a depth control means including a transversely positioned shaft rotatively carried by said body to align with a horizontal axis of said device, said shaft having a middle portion operatively connected to an inner end of said bimetal coil, and a triangular-shaped control surface having fin portions carried by respective ends of said shaft and positioned to form a prow with said tapered front portion of said vertical fin, wherein said control device, by regulation of said depth control means by said temperature and sensing means, positions said fish capturing device by causing selective vertical movement of said three-way swivel.

Claim 12

Means to position a fish capturing device as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by, said prow including a right and left vertical flange carried by said vertical fin and positioned to protect fin portions.

Claim 13

A depth control device for use while fishing comprising, a rigid body, b. a temperature sensing and actuating means in said body including a bimetal coil having an outer end connected to said body and generating a proportional directional force upon sensing a positive differential between a sensed ambient water temperature and a selected water temperature and a proportional counter directional force upon sensing a negative differential between the sensed ambient water temperature and the selected temperature, c. a first attaching means for connecting a fishing line to said body, d. a vertical and horizontal stabilizing means attached to said body for minimizing yaw, pitch and roll deviations about a path of movement, e. a depth control means mounted on said body for movement relative thereto and more particularly comprising a rotary hydrodynamic horizontal control fin, f. means operatively connecting said sensing and actuating means including an inner end of said coil operatively connected to said fin and aligning said fin with the longitudinal axis of said body upon sensing an ambient water temperature equaling the selected water temperature and selectively rotating said fin by the forces generated to a diving or surfacing attitude, and further characterized by, said vertical stabilizing means comprising a fin having an upper and lower portion aligned with and disposed respectively above and below the longitudinal axis of said body, said fin having an elliptical opening to the front of said fin, said opening prepared for the disposition of the spiral coil and confining the outward expansion of said coil, said opening having a slot at the rear of said opening, said slot prepared for the disposition of the outer end of said coil, said coil disposed in said opening and said outer end disposed in said slot, said opening adjoining a second slot to the front of said opening, said second slot prepared for the movable disposition of a connecting member of said control fin, said outer edges of said fin being substantially horizontal but tapering to form a prow at the front of said device, said fin containing said first attaching means and more particularly comprising at least two fishing line attaching holes behind said prow, said holes being in the upper portion of said vertical fin, said fin prepared for joining with said horizontal stabilizing means, said operative connecting means comprising a shaft having a middle portion and outer end portion, said inner end of said coil connected to the middle portion of said shaft and said shaft rotatively driven thereby, said shaft having its outer portions prepared for connection to the control fin, said body having a right and left vertical shaft support, said supports located on each side of said vertical fin, said supports having a transverse hole prepared for the disposition of said shaft, said shaft being disposed with a loose fit in said holes, said supports having a slotted arched opening in the forward part of said supports respectively, said slots prepared for the movable disposition of the control fin connecting member and aligned with such similar slot in said vertical fin, said support having an outer elliptical shape tapering in front and rear, said surface having a horizontal slot at the rear prepared for the insertion and joining of said horizontal stabilizing means, said front portions joining with said vertical fin to form the prow of said body, said control fin comprising a right and left portion, each portion having a horizontal transverse hole through said portion, the outer portions of said shaft being disposed with a rigid fit in said holes respectively, said hole being located such that the effective horizontal surface area in front of said hole approximates the effective horizontal surface area to the rear of said hole, said fin portion being formed in the shape of a right triangle with the hypotenuse thereof forming the outer edge and one leg thereof parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, the front section of said right and left control fin portions being joined by the connecting member, said member disposed in the respective slots in the vertical fin and right and left shaft support, and said horizontal stabilizing means comprising a horizontal fin being located adjacent to the rear edge of the control fin, said horizontal fin having gradually tapering outer edges such that its width narrows to approximate the width of the control fin at their adjacency, said fin joining with said vertical fin and shaft supports to form the body, wherein the control device dives to a water depth having the selected water temperature and is maintained in water having an ambient water temperature equaling the selected temperature when said device is attached to a fishing line connected to a fish capturing means and said device and capturing means are drawn through a body of water.

Claim 14

A depth control device for use while fishing comprising, a rigid body, b. a temperature sensing and actuating means in said body including a bimetal coil having an outer end connected to said body and generating a proportional directional force upon sensing a positive differential between a sensed ambient water temperature and a selected water temperature and a proportional counter directional force upon sensing a negative differential between the sensed ambient water temperature and the selected temperature, c. a first attaching means for connecting a fishing line to said body, d. a vertical and horizontal stabilizing means attached to said body for minimizing yaw, pitch and roll deviations about a path of movement, e. a depth control means mounted on said body for movement relative thereto and more particularly comprising a rotary hydrodynamic horizontal control fin, f. means operatively connecting said sensing and actuating means including an inner end of said coil operatively connected to said fin and aligning said fin with the longitudinal axis of said body upon sensing an ambient water temperature equaling the selected water temperature and selectively rotating said fin by the forces generated to a diving or surfacing attitude, and further characterized by, said vertical stabilizing means comprising a fin having an upper and lower portion aligned with and disposed respectively above and below the longitudinal axis of said body, said fin having an elliptical opening to the front of said fin, said opening prepared for the disposition of the spiral coil and confining the outward expansion of said coil, said opening having a slot at the rear of said opening, said slot prepared for the disposition of the outer end of said coil, said coil disposed in said opening and said outer end disposed in said slot, said opening adjoining a second slot to the front of said opening, said second slot prepared for the movable disposition of a connecting member of said control fin, said outer edges of said fin being substantially horizontal but tapering to form a prow at the front of said device, said fin containing said first attaching means and more particularly comprising at least two fishing line attaching holes behind said prow, said holes being in the upper portion of said vertical fin, said fin prepared for joining with said horizontal stabilizing means, said operative connecting means comprising a shaft having a middle portion and outer end portion, said inner end of said coil connected to the middle portion of said shaft and said shaft rotatively driven thereby, said shaft having its outer portions prepared for connection to the control fin, said body having a right and left vertical shaft support, said supports located on each side of said vertical fin, said supports having a transverse hole prepared for the disposition of said shaft, said shaft being disposed with a loose fit in said holes, said supports having a slotted arched opening in the forward part of said supports respectively, said slots prepared for the movable disposition of the control fin connecting member and aligned with such similar slot in said vertical fin, said support having an outer elliptical shape tapering in front and rear, said surface having a horizontal slot at the rear prepared for the insertion and joining of said horizontal stabilizing means, said front portions joining with said vertical fin to form the prow of said body, said control fin comprising a right and left portion, each portion having a horizontal transverse hole through said portion, the outer portions of said shaft being disposed with a rigid fit in said holes respectively, said hole being located such that the effective horizontal surface area in front of said hole approximates the effective horizontal surface area to the rear of said hole, said fin portion being formed in the shape of a right triangle with the hypotenuse thereof forming the outer edge and one leg thereof parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, the front section of said right and left control fin portions being joined by the connecting member, said member disposed in the respective slots in the vertical fin and right and left shaft support, and said horizontal stabilizing means comprising a horizontal fin being located adjacent to the rear edge of the control fin, said horizontal fin having gradually tapering outer edges such that its width narrows to approximate the width of the control fin at their adjacency, said fin joining with said vertical fin and shaft supports to form the body, wherein the control device dives to a water depth having the selected water temperature and is maintained in water having an ambient water temperature equaling the selected temperature when said device is attached to a fishing line connected to a fish capturing means and said device and capturing means are drawn through a body of water.

Claim 15

A depth control device assembly according to claim 10 and further characterized by said prow being pyramidally shaped and having a right and left vertical offset at the rear of said prow formed by the outer vertical surface of shaft supports and the base of said prow, said offset arched to provide for the rotation of the respective leading apex of the control fin portions within said offset.