US4235036A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fishing line signal device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-02-01
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Granted: 1980-11-25
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Expires: 1999-02-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for signaling if a fish bites a fishing line. The apparatus includes a housing containing a contact bar and an arm. The contact bar and arm are connected to a battery powered electrical circuit that sounds an alarm and energizes a lamp if they contact each other. The arm is biased into contact with the contact bar in the normal state. A cord is secured between the end of the arm and the fishing rod. The fishing rod is positioned by a rod holder so that it maintains enough tension in the cord to draw the arm out of contact with the contact bar. Should a fish bite, the end of the rod will dip, releasing enough tension for the arm to contact the contact bar to cause a signal which may be both visual and audible.
Inventors
- 👤 Titus C. Dawson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:51
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K97/00; A01K97/12; A01K97/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for signaling the bite of a fish on a fishing line, comprising; a housing; a contact means mounted to the housing; an arm mounted to the housing adjacent to said contact means, the arm being biased toward the contact means so that it is in electrical contact with the contact means while in its natural state; electrical signal means mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the arm and contact means for providing a signal when the arm is in electrical contact means; and a cord secured between the end of the arm and a holding means for maintaining the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from the contact means, the holding means being responsive to a jerk on the fishing line to release tension on the cord to allow the arm to contact the contact means to provide a signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for signaling the bite of a fish on a fishing line, comprising; a housing; a contact means mounted to the housing; an arm mounted to the housing adjacent to said contact means, the arm being biased toward the contact means so that it is in electrical contact with the contact means while in its natural state; electrical signal means mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the arm and contact means for providing a signal when the arm is in electrical contact means; and a cord secured between the end of the arm and a holding means for maintaining the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from the contact means, the holding means being responsive to a jerk on the fishing line to release tension on the cord to allow the arm to contact the contact means to provide a signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
143 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the contact means comprises upper and lower members, with the arm disposed between said upper and lower members and in contact with one of said upper and lower members while in its natural state, the upper and lower member both being electrically connected to the electrical signal means, so that contact of the arm with the upper member or with the lower member provides a signal, said cord being secured between the end of the arm and said holding means for maintaining the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from said one of said upper and lower members, said holding means being responsive to a jerk on the fishing line to release tension on the cord to allow the arm to contact said one of said upper and lower members to provide a signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the holding means comprises a fishing rod.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for signaling the bite of a fish on a fishing line of a fishing rod, comprising: a housing having a slot in one end; a contact means mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot; an arm mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot over the contact means, the arm being a metal strip that is resilient and mounted so that it contacts the contact means when it is in its natural state; electrical signal means mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the contact means and arm for providing a signal when the arm is in electrical contact with the contact means; and a cord secured between the fishing rod and the end of the arm, the fishing rod being positioned so as to maintain the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from the contact means, so that movement of the rod due to the bite of a fish releases tension on the cord to allow the arm to contact the contact means to provide a signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for signaling the bite of a fish on a fishing line of a fishing rod, comprising: a housing having a slot in one end; a contact means mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot; an arm mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot over the contact means, the arm being a metal strip that is resilient and mounted so that it contacts the contact means when it is in its natural state; electrical signal means mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the contact means and arm for providing a signal when the arm is in electrical contact with the contact means; and a cord secured between the fishing rod and the end of the arm, the fishing rod being positioned so as to maintain the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from the contact means, so that movement of the rod due to the bite of a fish releases tension on the cord to allow the arm to contact the contact means to provide a signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the contact means comprises upper and lower members, with the arm disposed between said upper and lower members and in contact with one of said upper and lower members while in its natural state, the upper and lower members both being electrically connected to the electrical signal means, so that contact of the arm with the upper member or with the lower member provides a signal, said cord being secured between the fishing rod and the end of the arm, the fishing rod being positioned so as to maintain the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from said one of said upper and lower members, so that movement of the rod due to the bite of a fish releases tension on the cord to allow the arm to contact said one of said upper and lower members to provide a signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for signaling the bite of a fish on a fishing line of a fishing rod, comprising: a housing having a slot in one end; a contact bar mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot, the contact bar having first and second lateral members extending at a right angle from it, the first and second lateral members being in electrical contact with the contact bar and being spaced apart from each other; an arm mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot and between the first and second lateral member, the arm being a metal strip that is resilient and mounted so that it contacts one of said lateral member of the contact bar when it is in its natural state; electrical signal means comprising a lamp and a vibrating buzzer mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the contact bar and arm for providing a signal when the arm is in electrical contact with the first or second lateral members of the contact bar; and a cord adapted to be secured between the fishing rod and the end of the arm, the fishing rod being mounted in a rod holder and positioned so as to maintain the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from said one lateral member of the contact bar, so that movement of the rod due to the bite of a fish releases tension in the cord to allow the arm to spring back into contact with said one lateral member of the contact bar to provide a signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for signaling the bite of a fish on a fishing line of a fishing rod, comprising: a housing having a slot in one end; a contact bar mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot, the contact bar having first and second lateral members extending at a right angle from it, the first and second lateral members being in electrical contact with the contact bar and being spaced apart from each other; an arm mounted in the housing and extending outward through the slot and between the first and second lateral member, the arm being a metal strip that is resilient and mounted so that it contacts one of said lateral member of the contact bar when it is in its natural state; electrical signal means comprising a lamp and a vibrating buzzer mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the contact bar and arm for providing a signal when the arm is in electrical contact with the first or second lateral members of the contact bar; and a cord adapted to be secured between the fishing rod and the end of the arm, the fishing rod being mounted in a rod holder and positioned so as to maintain the cord sufficiently taut to draw the arm away from said one lateral member of the contact bar, so that movement of the rod due to the bite of a fish releases tension in the cord to allow the arm to spring back into contact with said one lateral member of the contact bar to provide a signal.
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) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-05-26 | 1984-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-25 | 1988-05-26 | 1988-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-25 | 1992-05-26 | 1992-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |