U.S. patent application number 10/896574 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-06 for trolling assembly with hydrodynamic planer board, strike indicator, night lighting, and novel fishing line release.
Invention is credited to Link, Kevin J..
Application Number | 20050000146 10/896574 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32927415 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050000146 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Link, Kevin J. |
January 6, 2005 |
Trolling assembly with hydrodynamic planer board, strike indicator,
night lighting, and novel fishing line release
Abstract
A trolling planer board made of lightweight translucent material
has a continuous light source for night fishing and a day or night
easily perceptible strike indicator. The light, indicator, and
their power supply are housed in a water-tight compartment away
from the elements and fishing lines. The strike indicator may
comprise a blinking light, a strobe light, a sound, or any other
alerting means. Fishing line releases comprise only three moldable
pieces, made of weather impervious material and can be used to
maintain a hold on the fishing line or to release it, as desired.
The planer, made of weather impervious material and having no
exposed accessory parts that are sensitive to the elements, can be
used in fresh or salt water. The planer's hydrodynamic design
eliminates the need for planning board rods and heavy test lines
and the weight of the power supply eliminates any need for
additional weights.
Inventors: |
Link, Kevin J.; (Lackawanna,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATRICIA M. COSTANZO
PATENT COPYRIGHT TRADEMARK LAW
2960 BOWEN ROAD
ELMA
NY
14059
US
|
Family ID: |
32927415 |
Appl. No.: |
10/896574 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10896574 |
Jul 22, 2004 |
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10431827 |
May 8, 2003 |
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6789350 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
43/43.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 91/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
043/043.13 |
International
Class: |
A01K 091/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A trolling assembly comprising: i) a buoyant planer board having
at least one compartment and that the at least one compartment is
water-tight; ii) at least one fishing line release extending from
said planer board for the purpose of holding a fishing line; iii) a
strike indicator; iv) a power source housed in said water-tight
compartment providing power to the strike indicator, and v) an
activation means operatively connected to said fishing line and to
said power source for the purpose of activating said strike
indicator when a fish strikes, wherein said fishing line release is
made expressly for said trolling assembly.
2. The trolling assembly, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
wherein said at least one fishing line release, comprises: i) a
first clamping jaw having a distal and proximal end and a first and
second surface; ii) a second clamping jaw having a distal and
proximal end and a first and second surface, and iii) a moveable
clamping collar to fit about said first and second clamping jaws;
wherein said first clamping jaw and said second clamping jaw are
coupled at their respective distal ends to effectively bias their
proximal ends apart from each other so as to provide a space into
which a fishing line is threaded, and where said collar fits about
the two parts to counter-bias the proximal ends toward each other
to reversibly hold the fishing line.
3. The trolling assembly, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
wherein said at least one fishing line release is made of a
non-metal material.
4. The trolling assembly, as recited in claim 3, further comprising
wherein said non-metal material is plastic.
5. The trolling assembly, as recited in claim 3, further comprising
wherein said non-metal material is fiberglass.
6. The trolling assembly, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
wherein said at least one fishing line release is manufactured by a
molding process.
7. The trolling assembly, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
wherein said at least one fishing line release is made of wood.
8. A fishing line release, comprising: i) a first clamping jaw
having a distal and proximal end and a first and second surface;
ii) a second clamping jaw having a distal and proximal end and a
first and second surface, and iii) a moveable clamping collar to
fit about said first and second clamping jaws; wherein said first
clamping jaw and said second clamping jaw are coupled at their
respective distal ends to effectively bias their proximal ends
apart from each other so as to provide a space into which a fishing
line is threaded, and where said collar fits about the two parts to
counter-bias the proximal ends toward each other to reversibly hold
the fishing line.
9. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 8, further
comprising wherein said release is made of a non-metal
material.
10. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 9, further
comprising wherein said non-metal material is plastic.
11. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 9, further
comprising wherein said non-metal material is fiberglass.
12. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 8, further
comprising wherein said release is manufactured by a molding
process.
13. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 8, further
comprising wherein said release is made of wood.
14. A method of making a fishing line release, comprising the steps
of: i) providing for a first clamping jaw having a distal and
proximal end and a first and second surface; ii) providing for a
second clamping jaw having a distal and proximal end and a first
and second surface, and iii) providing for a moveable clamping
collar to fit about said first and second clamping jaws, and iv)
fitting said moveable clamping collar about said first and second
clamping jaws; wherein said first clamping jaw and said second
clamping jaw are coupled at their respective distal ends to
effectively bias their proximal ends apart from each other so as to
provide a space into which a fishing line is threaded, and where
said collar fits about the two parts to counter-bias the proximal
ends toward each other to reversibly hold the fishing line.
15. The method, as recited in claim 14, further comprising making
said release of a non-metal material.
16. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 15, further
comprising wherein said non-metal material is plastic.
17. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 15, further
comprising wherein said non-metal material is fiberglass.
18. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 14, further
comprising wherein said release is manufactured by a molding
process.
19. The fishing line release, as recited in claim 14, further
comprising wherein said release is made of wood.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Divisional Application claims the benefit of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/431,827 filed May 8, 2003.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates generally to the sport of
fishing and, particularly, to troll fishing using planer
boards.
[0005] The background information discussed below is presented to
better illustrate the novelty of the present invention. This
background information is not admitted prior art.
[0006] To be successful at fishing, a fisherman must understand
what motivates a fish to "bite." In other words, a fisherman must
know what stimuli will induce a fish into attacking its prey.
Carnivorous fish stalk their prey as it moves through the water.
That is, carnivorous fish strike at moving targets. So, to capture
a carnivorous fish, a fisherman should provide for the bait to move
through the water. This frequently is accomplished by fishing from
a moving boat. The boat, along with its noisy engine, however,
often "spooks" the fish. In fact, many fish species found in
shallow waters routinely move away from a boat's path of travel. To
overcome this problem, fishermen often use planer boards.
[0007] There are two types of planer boards that are used for
trolling. One is used only for deep water fishing. The other is
used for fishing in shallow water or where fish are feeding near
the surface and is the type of planer under consideration here.
This type of board is often referred to as a "sideplaner" as it
floats on the water's surface generally parallel to and at a
predetermined distance from the side of a boat and is frequently
used in salmon and trout trolling. Sideplaners are conventionally
long plastic or wooden surface-running boards. Fishermen like to
use the sideplaners as they make the presentation of the bait to
the fish much more versatile than when a fishing line is simply run
out behind a boat.
[0008] Sideplaners can be attached directly to the fishing boat
using a non-fishing line. In this case the fishing line or lines
are attached to the non-fishing line at predetermined positions
between the boat and the planer. This type of sideplaner is usually
used when there is more than one fisherperson on the boat or when
one person wants to fish with multiple lines.
[0009] Multiple sideplaners can be attached to a boat. By adjusting
the lengths of the non-fishing line that is tethering one or
several planers to the boat, a number of planers can run along one
or both sides of a boat.
[0010] A smaller version sideplaner is attached directly to the
fishing line. This planer has a strike release that releases the
planer from the fishing line when a fish strikes.
[0011] The proper distance for a planer to be from the side of boat
depends on several factors, which include how clear the water is,
the shallowness of the water, and how other boats are in the
vicinity. Most often, tolling line lengths are of about 70 feet,
but lengths of 200 feet are not uncommon.
[0012] During daylight, a fisherperson has no difficulty keeping
track of a planer's position because the planer floats on the
water's surface. When fishing at night, however, seeing the planer,
and knowing when a fish has struck, is problematic. It is, thus,
clearly apparent that there is a need for a planer with a strike
indicator that will alert the fisher people to the fact that a fish
is striking.
[0013] There have been a few attempts at making planers more
visible. Some planers have parts painted with a reflective paint,
but this only makes the planer more visible during day light hours,
at the time when there is little problem keeping the planer in
sight. There have been only a few attempts at providing a planer
with a light indicator, but all have serious drawbacks.
[0014] One attempt offers a planer with a lighting system that is
based on a rather complex electronic circuit. The circuit comprises
a fishing line release mechanism, a cam that is activated by the
fishing line release mechanism, a spring that is activated by the
cam, and a contact that is activated by the spring. A light is
positioned on a first surface of the planer that also holds the
fishing line release mechanism, while the cam and the spring are on
a second surface, which is perpendicular to the first surface. On
the second surface there is another electrical contact which is
positioned to overhang off of the second surface over the third
surface that is opposite to the first surface. This means that the
electricity needed to power the light has to travel from the
battery located on the first surface, across the second surface to
the closed contact point, then back across the second surface to
the light on the first surface. In addition to a light indicator,
this planer also offers a flag strike indicator. The flag is
activated to spring up from its closed position at the same time
that the light is activated. One of the major problems of this
apparatus is that its battery, light, wiring, fishing line release,
cam, two springs (one in the light circuit and one that acts to
uplift the flag), and the contact are attached to the outside of
the planer. This means that all of these pieces and the wiring are
subject to corrosion, especially if the planer is used in salt
water. Even if the water body is fresh water, corrosion rates are
accelerated when the part to be corroded is in water. Another
concern to fisher people is that all of these component parts are
projecting out from three of the surfaces of the planer presenting
multiple possibilities for the fishing line to become tangled with
the projecting parts. The complexity of this system indicates a
high manufacturing cost and fairly easy breakage of the many
delicate parts. Undoubtedly, what is sorely needed is a planar
that, while providing for a light and a strike indicator, has no
electrical wiring or connections that are exposed to the elements,
especially to water. What is equally sorely needed is a planer with
a minimum amount of parts projecting from the surface to minimize
the threat of a fishing line becoming tangled with the projecting
parts.
[0015] A sideplaner with a light powered from the power system of
the boat has been suggested. This envisioned system, however, would
suffer from the same problems discussed above. To supply power to
the light on the planer from the boat would require electrical
wiring that would either have to replace the line that holds the
planer to the boat, i.e., wiring that could both provide
electricity and hold the planer to the boat, or wiring that would
accompany the non-fishing line. The wiring would be exposed to the
elements and to the damage presented by them, as well as by the
strain the wires can be expected to encounter while a fisherman is
bringing in his fish, and also would pose a tangle hazard to the
fishing line. Additionally, with these planers the light is powered
only when a fish is striking. In other words, if the planer were to
be used for night fishing, there is no way to track the position of
the planer, except during the time a fish strikes. It is apparent
that there is a long-felt need for a planer that can be kept
lighted while fishing and yet, additionally, provides for strike
indication during the day and at night.
[0016] Accordingly, it would be a significant improvement in the
art to provide a side planer that provided all the advantages
currently provided by a planer and would also comprise a steady
light to indicate the position of the planer in addition to a
strike indicator to signal fisher people when a fish took the bait,
wherein the electrical system of the planer would be safely stored
inside the planer's water-tight shell so as not to be exposed to
chemical or physical weathering processes and so as not to entangle
fishing line. Such a planer should be light-weight, to maintain its
position above the surface of the water, and should have as few
metal parts as possible on the outside of the planer to avoid the
effects of corrosion and any interruption of the power supply. The
ideal planer would be made of as few parts as possible to reduce
the cost of manufacturing and the hazards of breakage.
SUMMARY
[0017] The present invention satisfies the urgent need in the art
for a trolling assembly comprising a lighted planer board with
strike indicator that offers the highest level of bait presentation
while troll fishing in shallow water. The trolling assembly of the
present invention comprises a planer board comprising an enclosed,
hollow casing having at least one interior compartment. A first
compartment is a watertight compartment fashioned to house the
power supply, lighting system, strike indicator, and related
electrical connections to keep all of the power-related elements
sheltered from the risks of damage by the elements and,
additionally, to keep the electrical components away from the
fishing line, thus eliminating potential tangling hazards. At least
one of the lights that is housed in the water-tight compartment may
be set to emit continuous light when night fishing. The strike
indicator, also housed in the water-tight compartment, is designed
to alert fisher people when a fish has accepted the bait,
regardless of when one is fishing, day or night.
[0018] The novel planer board casing has an hydrodynamic tapered
leading edge and an hydrodynamic curved edge between the inboard
surface of the planer and the longitudinal lower surface. This
curved edge directs the water flow beneath the board which reduces
resistance between board and water and, thus, eliminates the need
for heavy fishing equipment such as planning board rods and heavy
test lines. Additionally, the trolling assembly, described herein,
is lightweight, of few parts, and has no metal parts or other
easily weathered parts exposed to the elements. The planar casing,
made of light weight material is buoyant, but, if desired,
additional buoyancy is achieved by placing a buoyant object in a
second compartment in the hollow space of the board casing.
[0019] The trolling assembly is towed by the fishing line and is
held in a towing mode by one of the line releases. If it is desired
to keep the trolling assembly securely attached to the boat while
playing a fish, the fishing line may be fixedly secured to the
fishing line release, or if it is desired to have the trolling
assembly completely detach from the fishing line while a fish is
being played, the fishing line may be secured to the release in a
manner that will permit the planer to be released. The fishing line
releases used by the planer each comprise only three parts that can
be economically produced by many methods, including injection
molding, and have no metal parts.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the trolling assembly of the
present invention comprises:
[0021] i) a buoyant planer board having a water-tight
compartment;
[0022] ii) at least one fishing line release extending from the
planer board for the purpose of holding a fishing line;
[0023] iii) an easily perceptible strike indicator integral with
the planer board;
[0024] iv) a power source housed in the water-tight compartment
providing power to said strike indicator, and
[0025] v) an activation means operatively connected to the fishing
line and the power source for the purpose of activating the strike
indicator when a fish strikes.
[0026] The activation means comprises a plunger having a first end
and a second end with the first end of the plunger projecting out
from the water-tight compartment proximate to the fishing line
release and operatively connected to a fishing line, and with the
second end of the plunger projecting into the water-tight
compartment of the planer;
[0027] iv) a first electrical contact;
[0028] v) a second electrical contact;
[0029] vi) a biasing means operatively connected to the plunger to
maintain the first and second electrical contacts apart, wherein
when a fish strikes the fishing line release releases the fishing
line exerting a pulling pressure on the plunger to work against the
biasing means causing the first and second electrical contacts to
connect and activating the strike indicator.
[0030] The trolling assembly may further comprising a second
fishing line release extending from the planer board for positively
retaining the trolling assembly to a fishing boat by its connection
to the fishing line.
[0031] In one preferred embodiment, the body of the planer board
comprises a hollow casing in which there is located at least one
compartment that is a water-tight compartment. The continuous light
source, the strike indicator, and the related power supply are
housed in this water-tight compartment. Thus, in this embodiment,
the planer board is made from a translucent material so that the
light emanating from inside the water-tight compartment can be seen
easily from some distance away. The continuous light source, useful
when night fishing, may comprise one or several light sources
connected in parallel, for providing continuously bright light.
[0032] Various embodiments of the trolling assembly may have strike
indicators comprising a blinking light, a audio device, a strobe
light, or any other means to indicate that a fish has struck.
[0033] Additionally, the planer board of the trolling assembly
comprises:
[0034] i) an inboard surface, and
[0035] ii) a longitudinal lower surface where the edge that is
formed by the conjunction of the inboard surface and the
longitudinal lower surface is shaped to a hydrodynamic curved edge
to direct the water flow to beneath the board.
[0036] Another embodiment of the planar board of the trolling
assembly further comprises a second compartment located in the
hollow space of the planar board casing which contains a buoyant
object capable of increasing the buoyancy of the planar board where
such an object may be a light-weight, sturdy to the elements, foam
block.
[0037] Still yet another embodiment comprises a fin on the inboard
surface of the planar board for directing the movement of the
board. The fin may be integrally molded with the planer board or it
may be fixedly attached to the planer board.
[0038] The fishing line releases of the trolling assembly
comprise:
[0039] i) a first clamping jaw having a distal and proximal end and
a first and second surface;
[0040] ii) a second clamping jaw having a distal and proximal end
and a first and second surface, and
[0041] iii) a moveable clamping collar to fit about the first and
second clamping jaws; wherein the first clamping jaw and the second
clamping jaw are coupled at their respective distal ends to
effectively bias their proximal ends apart from each other so as to
provide a space into which a fishing line is threaded, and where
the collar fits about the two parts to counter-bias the proximal
ends toward each other to reversibly hold the fishing line. The
fishing line release is preferably made of a non-metal material and
may be manufactured by a molding process.
[0042] Still other benefits and advantages of this invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and
understanding the following detailed specification and related
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] In order that these and other objects, features, and
advantages of the present invention may be more fully comprehended,
the invention will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and
in which:
[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inboard side of a
trolling assembly made in accordance with this invention.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outboard side of the
trolling assembly as shown in FIG. 1.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along 3-3 of
FIG. 2
[0047] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of either of the two releases
shown in FIG. 1.
[0048] FIG. 4b is a plan view of the release.
[0049] FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view of the release taken along
c-c'.
[0050] FIG. 4d is a plan view of the releases looking down c'.
[0051] FIG. 4e is a plan view of the release shown in FIG. 4b
looking down the "d" direction.
[0052] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view (viewed from tapered end of
planer) of the batteries and lights inside enclosure 22 as
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0053] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view (viewed from the front side
of the planer) of batteries and lights inside enclosure 22 as
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0054] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
connections between the switch, lights, and batteries as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 (viewed from front side of planer).
[0055] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a fishing line attached
to the planer before a fish strikes.
[0056] FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a fishing line attached
to the planer after a fish strikes and the fishing line has been
released from release 74.
[0057] Definitions
[0058] "Side-planer" a planer that is drawn through the water at
the side of a moving boat.
[0059] "Front side of planer" refers herein to the side of the
planer from which plunger 80 protrudes, also referred to as the
"inboard side".
[0060] "Rear side of planer" refers herein to the side of the
planer that is opposite the front side of planer, also referred to
as the "outboard side".
[0061] "Distal end" in reference to the clamping jaws 41 and 43,
distal end, as used herein, refers to those ends that are opposite
to the ends of the clamping jaws in which the fishing line is
held.
[0062] "Proximal end" in reference to the clamping jaws 41 and 43,
as used herein, refers to those ends of the clamping jaws into
which the fishing line is inserted.
[0063] A List of the Reference Numbers and Related Parts of the
Invention
[0064] 10 Trolling assembly
[0065] 12 Hollow case, or casing, of planer board of trolling
assembly 10
[0066] 13 Backend surface
[0067] 14 Back or outboard surface of planer board casing 12
[0068] 15 Longitudinal upper surface
[0069] 16 Front or inboard surface of planer board casing 12
[0070] 17 Longitudinal lower surface
[0071] 18 Tapered end of planer board
[0072] 20 Light switch
[0073] 22 Water-tight cover for battery and lights compartment
[0074] 24 Handle for lifting water-tight cover 22.
[0075] 25 Compartment that may be used for additional buoyant
material
[0076] 26 Means to attach cover 22 to outboard surface 14 of case
12
[0077] 27 Separating wall between water-tight compartment 30 and
compartment 25
[0078] 30 Water-tight compartment for batteries and lights
[0079] 32 Batteries
[0080] 34 Water-tight seals
[0081] 36 Sealing rim
[0082] 38 Spring
[0083] 40 Release (not attached to planer)
[0084] 41 First clamping jaw of release 40
[0085] 42 Attachment member of release 40 with spring action tab
closure
[0086] 43 Second clamping jaw of release 40
[0087] 44 Moveable clamping collar of release 40
[0088] 45 First groove; located on top tab-like half 41 of release
40 for holding fishing line
[0089] 47 Second groove; located on top tab-like half 41 of release
40 for holding fishing line
[0090] 48 Space between first clamping jaw 41 of release 40 and
second clamping jaw 43 of release 40 through which a fishing line
is threaded
[0091] 49 Button stop
[0092] 50 Lightweight buoyancy insert
[0093] 52 First contact
[0094] 54 Second contact
[0095] 55 Third groove; located on bottom tab-like half 47 of
release 40 for holding fishing line
[0096] 57 Fourth groove; located on bottom tab-like half 47 of
release 40 for holding fishing line
[0097] 60 Board to which lights are attached
[0098] 62 Blinking light
[0099] 64 Non-blinking lights
[0100] 68 Curved edge of planer board
[0101] 70 First line release
[0102] 72 Linking member for linking first line release 70 to
planer
[0103] 74 Second line release
[0104] 76 Linking member for linking second line release to planer
74
[0105] 78 Fin for guiding fishing line
[0106] 80 Plunger
[0107] 82 Fitting for plunger 80
[0108] 84 Crochet-like hook of plunger to hold fishing line
[0109] It should be understood that the drawings are not
necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not
necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which
render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not
limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein, but
encompasses many embodiments as are discussed throughout the
specification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0110] Referring now particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 presents
a perspective view of trolling assembly 10, which is to be
understood to be an exemplary embodiment of this invention, and
demonstrates how the above mentioned disadvantages have been
overcome. It should be noted that the disclosed invention is
disposed to embodiments in various sizes, shapes, and forms.
Therefore, the embodiments described herein are provided with the
understanding that the present disclosure is intended as
illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention to the
embodiments described herein.
[0111] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of trolling assembly 10 for
towing by a fishing line from the port side of a fishing boat (not
shown). It should be understood that another embodiment for towing
by a fishing line from the starboard side of a boat is the mirror
image of the embodiment shown. Planar board casing 12 of trolling
assembly 10, has spaced, generally parallel, inboard and outboard
surfaces 16 and 14, respectively. Inboard surface 16 and outboard
surface 14 are connected by longitudinal capping surface 15,
longitudinal capping surface 17, and back end surface 13. Inboard
surface 16 tapers to leading forward edge, or end, 18 until it
joins (meets) outboard surface 14. Planer casing 12 is generally
hollow and will be discussed in more detail below. Tapered leading
edge 18 of casing 12 will always be facing inboard, tapering from
the outboard body wall 16 toward edge 18. This provides a positive
attack angle carrying the trolling assembly away from the lateral
side of the boat as the assembly is pulled by the boat through the
water.
[0112] Also shown in FIG. 1 is first fishing line release 70 linked
to planer board inboard surface 16 by linking member 72 about
mid-height of inboard surface 16 and proximate to tapered leading
edge 18. Second fishing line release 74, located at mid-height back
end surface 13, is linked to the planer board by linking member 76.
Further discussion of the structure and use of fishing line
releases 70 and 74 is given below in conjunction with FIGS. 4a-4e.
Briefly, a fishing line is connected to fishing line release 70
which may be used to hold the trolling assembly to the boat while a
fish is played or to release the trolling assembly from the boat as
a fish is played, as desired. After attaching the fishing line to
fishing line release 74, it is then threaded through plunger 80,
which can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 located proximate to fishing
release 70. The function of plunger 80 to activate the strike
indicator when a fish strikes will be explained in detail below.
From plunger 80 the fishing line is then attached to release 74
which will release the line when a fish strikes.
[0113] Light switch 20 is shown positioned on longitudinal cap
surface 15 to provide for at least one light (which light is housed
in water-tight compartment 30) to be illuminated while fishing in
the dark so that the location trolling assembly 10 can be easily
seen.
[0114] Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is fin 78 integrally formed with
planer casing 12 during the molding process. It is to be
understood, however, that fin 78 can be affixed to casing 12 in any
other manner that will accomplish a fixation. In the embodiment
shown, fin 78 projects perpendicularly from inboard surface 16 to
enhance the stability of planer board 10, but may be formed at any
other angle to surface 16 to achieve a desired effect.
[0115] FIG. 2, a perspective view of the planer board's outboard
side 14, shows water-tight cover 22 covering water-tight
compartment 30 (shown in FIG. 3). Handle 24 provides for sure
grasping of water-tight cover 22 when it is to be positioned over
the water-tight compartment or when removing the cover. Water-tight
cover 22 is fixed firmly over the water-tight compartment using
water-tight seal 34 and four fasteners 26.
[0116] FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of planer assembly 10 taken
along 3-3 of FIG. 2, shows the two compartments located in the
hollow space of casing 12, compartment 25 and water-tight
compartment 30 separated by separating wall 27. Compartment 25 may
be used to hold a lightweight buoyancy insert, such as foam block
50. In the embodiment shown, casing 12 is formed by injection
molding and, thus, being hollow, is naturally buoyant. However, the
addition of a buoyancy insert, such as foam block 50, ensures that
trolling assembly 10 is maintained in a vertical position while in
the water. The weight provided by batteries 32 (see FIG. 5) housed
in water-tight compartment 30 provide for trolling assembly 10 to
be maintained in a stable, vertical position. Because of the weight
provided by batteries 32 no extra weights are normally
required.
[0117] As seen in FIGS. 1-3 and in FIGS. 8 and 9, first fishing
line release 70 is attached to inboard surface 16 of planar board
casing 12 by linking member 72 and is structurally identical to
second fishing line release 74, which is attached to back end
surface 13 of planar board casing 12 by linking member 76. Novel
fishing line release 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 4a-4e. FIG. 4a is a
perspective view of release 40 as it appears ready to use.
[0118] Fishing line release 40 comprises three separate and unique
parts: first clamping jaw 41, second clamping jaw 43, and moveable
clamping collar 44. Except for each clamping jaw having a
complementary mating part of snap-like fitting 42 on the distal end
of their inside surface, the inner surfaces of first clamping jaw
41 and second clamping jaw 42 would be mirror images of each other.
To assemble the three parts of release 40; first complementary part
of snap tab 42, on the distal end of the inner surface of first
clamping jaw 41 (the inner surface is that side of first clamping
jaw 41 that is opposite to the side fitted with button stop 49), is
fitted to the second complementary part of snap tab 42 that is
located on the inner surface of second clamping jaw 42. The molded
shape of the two clamping jaws ensures that when the jaws are
snapped together at their distal ends, as just described, their
proximal ends are biased to maintain a separation distance referred
to as space 48 through which a fishing line is threaded. Space 48
is best seen is FIGS. 4c and 4d. To ensure that the release is
firmly clamped about the fishing line, moveable clamping collar 43
is placed about the clamping jaws starting from the distal end and
moved toward the proximal end until it reaches the button stop.
[0119] So that the fishing line release does not prematurely
release the fishing line, the fishing line can be more securely
attached to the fishing release in the following manner. After the
fishing line is threaded through space 48, the line may be wrapped
about the proximal end of the release and inserted into grooves 45
and 47 located on the first clamping jaw and then into grooves 55
and 57 located on the second clamping jaws (see grooves illustrated
in FIGS. 4b, 4c, and 4e).
[0120] The arrangement of the electrical elements in water-tight
chamber 30 are shown in cross-section in FIG. 5. The power source,
in the embodiment shown, is from a pair of batteries 32. The on and
off status of light 64 is controlled by light switch 20. Plunger 80
is positioned to be partly inside the water-tight compartment and
partly outside of the compartment so that crochet-like hook 84 that
is located on the end of plunger 80 extends out from water-tight
compartment 30 to project out from the inboard side of the planer
proximate to fishing line release 70. Crochet-like hook 84 provides
the means to connect a fishing line to the plunger. Spring 38 and
second contact 54 are fixed to the end of plunger 80 that is secure
inside water-tight compartment 30. Spring 38 biases second contact
54 away from first contact 52 fixed to sealing rim 36. Inside
sealing rim 36 is water-tight seal 34, in the embodiment shown,
seal 34 is an o-ring.
[0121] When a fish strikes the fishing line is released from line
release 74 but remains attached to crochet-like hook 84 of plunger
80 and to line release 70 so that the pull of the fish on the line
pulls plunger 80 further out of the water-tight compartment causing
second contact 54 to come into contact with first contact 52
providing for the circuit to close (see idealized wiring scheme
shown in FIG. 7) which allows current to power blinking light 62.
In the embodiment shown, blinking light 62 is the strike indicator,
indicating that a fish has taken the bait. The blinking light can
be seen in daylight or dark. It should be understood that the
strike indicator could take many forms, such as a pulsating strobe
light or an audio effect.
[0122] FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of the electrical elements in
cross-section. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, it can be
seen that night illumination is provided by four lights 64 that, as
is illustrated in FIG. 7, are connected in parallel to reduce the
risk of all the lights going out at the same time.
[0123] FIGS. 8 and 9 show, schematically, how the strike indicator
of trolling assembly 10 is used to indicate when a fish is
striking. In FIG. 8 illustrates how to rig a fishing line to the
board of this invention to tow trolling assembly 10. This is done
by having the line from the boat clamped first to release 70.
Looping the clamped fishing line through the four grooves on the
release (as described above) after it is threaded through the space
between the clamping jaws will keep the line from slipping. The
line is then attached to the crochet-like hook of plunger 80 and
then clamped to release 74.
[0124] FIG. 9 illustrates how the trolling assembly reacts when a
fish strikes. When a fish pulls on the fishing line, line release
74 will release the fishing line so the planer board reorients. The
fishing line remains attached to plunger 80 and, if desired, to
release 70. After the fishing line is released from release 74, the
pull on the line pulls plunger 80 opposite to how it is biased by
the spring that is attached to the end of the plunger that is
located inside the water-tight compartment. The taut fishing line
pulls the plunger further out from the water-tight compartment
through the inboard side of planer board forcing contacts 52 and 54
together creating the closed circuit that activates the blinking
light strike indicator. If the fishing line is kept attached to
release 70, the trolling assembly can easily be pulled in with the
catch.
[0125] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used
specific and defined nomenclature to provide a thorough
understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in
order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions
of the specific embodiment of the lighted trolling planer board
with strike indicator are presented for purposes of illustration
and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the
art will recognize that many changes may be made to the features,
embodiments, and methods of making the embodiments of the invention
described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the
described methods, embodiments, features or combinations of
features but include all the variation, methods, modifications, and
combinations of features within the scope of the appended claims
such as the number and kind of lights used for night fishing, the
shape and size of the planer board, the materials from which the
board is made, the number of compartment in the hollow space of the
board, more or less hollow space in the board casing, and the
particular means used to indicate a strike, to name just a few
examples. The invention is limited only by the claims.
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