GB2292057A - Anglers' aid - Google Patents

Abstract

An anglers' aid comprises a light source 5 adapted to illuminate the vicinity of a fishing rod in darkness; a bite indicator 20 adapted to detect movement of a fishing rod or line commensurate with receiving a bite on the line by a fish and to generate a signal indicative thereof; and control means 4 to respond to said signal to activate a switch to switch on said light source. <IMAGE>

Description

ANGLERS' AID Field of the Invention This invention relates to an anglers' aid, primarily for night fishing.

Background to the Invention Fishing for some types of fish, eg specimen carp, is best done at night. The angler sets up his or her equipment during daylight, usually just before dusk.

Most anglers use a rod rack, which allows two rods to be supported in parallel, commonly with each rod resting on an electronic bite alarm which emits an audible beep when a fish moves off with the bait, telling the angler that he has a bite. Some electronic bite alarms have an auxiliary socket to which a remote speaker can be attached, allowing the angler to place the speaker in a tent a few feet away and wake him should a fish disturb the bait.

This is particularly useful since specimen carp hunting can involve long periods of waiting and, therefore, most anglers prefer to retire to their tents for the night.

When the angler is woken by the alarm from the remote speaker, he or she has to reach the rod as quickly as possible which is, not an easy task in darkness. While holding the rod with one hand, he has to find a torch or lantern to be held with the other hand to illuminate the area so he can see to land the fish.

When the alarm goes off, the angler has to decide whether to switch on a light source and then go for the rod, by which time the fish may be lost, or go for the rod first and look for the light source after.

The present invention seeks to alleviate this problem by providing a further aid for the angler.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided an anglers' aid which comprises a light source adapted to illuminate the vicinity of a fishing rod in darkness; a bite indicator adapted to detect movement of a fishing rod or line commensurate with receiving a bite on the line by a fish and to generate a signal indicative thereof; and control means to respond to said signal to activate a switch to switch on said light source.

In a preferred version, said light source is adapted to be releasably attached to a rod rack, tent pole or the like.

In a further preferred version, the light source has an articulated stand or mount to enable it to be angle-poised.

Preferably, said control means includes a reset switch to reset said anglers' aid once it has been activated.

Preferably, said reset switch is operable remote from the light source.

Preferably, said anglers' aid can be used in combination with an audio alarm such as an electronic bite alarm.

Preferably, said anglers' aid is operable in conjunction with one or more further anglers' aids, each being activated by communal control means.

Preferably, said anglers' aid is operable in conjunction with one or more further anglers' aids, each being individually resetable.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the anglers' aid; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the anglers' aid connected to the remote speaker socket of an electronic bite alarm; Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the anglers' aid connected to a remote switch; Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the anglers' aid connected to a signal source with a remote reset switch; Figure 5 shows a block diagram of two anglers' aids connected to a signal source; Figure 6 shows an example layout of the anglers' aid in position in the vicinity of an angler's rods and tent; Figure 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the master control unit; Figure 8 shows a preferred embodiment of an auxiliary control unit.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, the bite signal(s) from one or more electronic bite indicators 20 for detecting the movement of a fishing rod or line when the line receives a bite from a fish enter the anglers' aid 1 via one or more signal input sockets 2. A signal output socket 3 is also provided. Control circuitry 4 processes the signal which triggers a light source 5 to be switched on. As can be seen from Figure 1, control circuitry 4 receives inputs from all parts of the anglers' aid 1 and processes these inputs to determine when and whether the light source 5 and/or sounder 8 should be activated.

Light sources associated with convential bite alarms are usually directly activated by the signal from the bite alarm (i.e resulting from a fish taking bait) and some only remain activated while the fish is actually applying pressure to the line, which may be a duration of only a few seconds. The anglers' aid 1 of the present invention is able to provide continuous illumination either in response to a fish taking the bait or independently from such a signal i.e to provide illumination for the angler's use.

The bite indicator 20 may be a dedicated device or may be any one of a number of proprietary such devices currently available and may operate on a wide range of bases including electromagnetic or optoelectronic sensors detecting line twitching.

The light source 5 and control circuitry 4 can be reset by means of either a local reset switch 6, or via a remote switch (16 in Figure 6) whose signal enters via an external reset socket 7.

An sounder 8, such as an audio speaker or buzzer, can be set up to sound when the light source 5 is triggered. The sounder 8 can be enabled and disabled by means of a switch 9.

Power is provided by a battery power supply 10. External power can be provided via socket 11 and an auxiliary power output socket 12 is also provided. Power to the control circuitry 4 is switched on using on/off switch 13.

Figure 2 shows an anglers' aid 1 connected to the auxiliary speaker socket of an electronic bite alarm 21. When the electronic bite alarm 21 is activated by a fish taking the bait, the anglers' aid 1 is also activated and automatically provides illumination of the fishing area to enable the angler to properly locate and use his fishing equipment at night.

Figure 3 shows an anglers' aid 1 connected to a remote on/off switch 15. The switch 15 is powered from the anglers' aid 1 and provides the trigger signal to activate the anglers' aid.

Figure 4 shows an anglers' aid 1 connected to a remote reset switch 16. This reset switch 16 enables the anglers' aid 1 to be reset remotely from the tent, in the case of, for example, a false alarm.

Figure 5 shows two anglers' aids 1 connected together, and then to a signal source (either electronic bite alarm 21 or remote switch 15). This arrangement allows illumination of two areas, for example the fishing area and the angler's tent.

A suitable arrangement is shown in Figure 6 where anglers' aid 1 is a master control unit and an anglers' aids 1A are auxiliary units. A number of proprietary devices, such as electronic bite alarms 21, are connected to the master control unit 1 via input sockets 2 (shown in Figure 7).

Auxiliary units 1A are connected to the master control unit 1 via sockets 3 (see Figure 7) and each auxiliary unit 1A can be independently enabled and disabled using switches 3A. When enabled, auxiliary units 1A receive input signals from bite indicators 21 via the master control unit 1.

Each anglers' aid 1, 1A has a manual over-ride switch 14, which permits continuous illumination in the absence of an input signal from bite indicators 21. Selective enabling/disabling of auxiliary units 1A and use of the switches 14 thus allows any desired combination of illumination to be chosen, for example the angler may need to illuminate the area in order to place bait on a hook.

Each anglers' aid 1, 1A can be reset either using local reset switches 6 (see Figures 7 and 8) or via remote reset switches 16, shown in Figure 6. Each anglers' aid 1 has its own power on/off switch 13, use of which can turn the anglers' aid concerned off completely when not required.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, light source 5 is positionally adjustable in at least the four directions indicated by the arrows. This positional adjustment is of importance to enable the anglers' aid to illuminate the surrounding area and the ability of light source 5 to be angle-poised allows the angler to set up the equipment to direct the illumination where most desired.

The anglers' aid can be fixed to, for example, a rod rack, bank stick, umbrella pole or tent pole. It is suitably detachable so that its position may be easily adjusted, and, as described above, suitably has a mount which is articulated, also for ease of directional adjustment of the light.

The anglers' aid shown in Figure 8 has a clamp arrangement 17 to clamp the aforementioned sticks or poles and suitably also has a screw connector 18 for screwing to the end of a bank stick if desired. The master control unit shown in Figure 7 can be similarly adapted.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. An anglers' aid which comprises a light source adapted to illuminate the vicinity of a fishing rod in darkness; a bite indicator adapted to detect movement of a fishing rod or line commensurate with receiving a bite on the line by a fish and to generate a signal indicative thereof; and control means to respond to said signal to activate a switch to switch on said light source.

2. An anglers' aid according to Claim 1 in which said light source is adapted to be releasably attached to a rod rack, tent pole or the like.

3. An anglers' aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the light source has an articulated stand or mount to enable it to be angle poised.

4. An anglers' aid according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said control means includes a reset switch to reset said anglers' aid once it has been activated.

5. An anglers' aid according to any of the above claims in which said reset switch is operable remote from the light source.

6. An anglers' aid according to any of the above claims in which said anglers' aid can be used in combination with an audio alarm such as an electronic bite alarm.

7. An anglers' aid according to any of the above claims in which said anglers' aid is operable in conjunction with one or more further anglers' aids, each of said further anglers' aids having at least one input and/or output which, in use, connect the anglers' aids to one another.

8. An anglers' aid according to any of Claims 1-5 in which said anglers' aid is operable in conjunction with one or more further anglers' aids, each being individually resetable.

9. An anglers' aid substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.