Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Signal devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-07-03
Rowan, Kurt (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Signal devices
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253483
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the field of fish-strike alarm devices that are used in cooperation with conventional fishing rods and that produce an audio alarm in response to a fish striking the fishhook at the end of the fishing line.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Described in the prior art are numerous alarm devices for use with a fishing rod and which respond to the pull of a fish on the fishing line. Such an alarm permits a fishing rod to remain somewhat unattended while the fisherman waits for a strike and allows the fisherman an opportunity to devote attention to other matters during this time.
An audio signal is one of the most prevalent formats for such an alarm. For instance, the fish-strike alarm device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,373 generates an audio alarm to alert the fisherman as soon as a first strike occurs. However, the audio alarm that is generated is simply that produced by a buzzer, and therefore a person hearing the alarm cannot distinguish its sound from that of other similar alarms located in the vicinity. Such uncertainty may cause the fisherman to prematurely pull in the fishing line, thus hindering or even destroying a pending strike opportunity. Furthermore, because of the confusion produced by such uncertainty, the user may respond too slowly to a strike, ignore a legitimate alarm thinking it is that of another's fishing rod or turn the device off entirely.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One objective of this invention is the development of an audio alarm device for use with a fishing rod having a sensor to detect a fish-strike and an alarm generator that produces a distinct audio signal so that no uncertainty is created by its sounding, thus providing the user with absolute certainty that the alarm is legitimate.
Another objective of the invention is to construct the sensor used for the alarm in such a way that when a strike occurs, the probability of its detection is great.
A further objective of the invention is to provide a means for varying the sensitivity of the sensor in accordance with the kind of fish being expected, the sensitivity being lessened for more active fish and being made greater for less active fish, thereby providing a relatively consistent alarm sensitivity regardless of the kind of fish striking the line.
A further objective of the invention is to provide an electrical design for the device such that the alarm circuitry operates in a power-down mode in the absence of an alarm condition and is quickly made to operate in a power-up condition in the event of a strike, thereby maintaining battery life.
In order to achieve these objectives, the alarm device of the present invention is provided with a means for producing an audio alarm that is unique and distinct and that can be altered on-site so as to cause it to be distinguishable from any and all similar alarms being generated in the vicinity. By speaking into a microphone located on an alarm circuit housing mounted on the handle of the fishing rod, the user is able to record on-site a voice message that is unique. This message is stored in a memory within the alarm circuit and is played back through a speaker that is located within the alarm circuit housing.
In addition, the sensor for detecting a fish strike is designed so as to activate the alarm by closing a normally open electrical connection between the two wires of a two-conductor cable, with the contact portion of one of the two wires having an increased area so as to increase the likelihood of a proper electrical connection.
Furthermore, the spacing between the two contact points of the two-conductor cable is made to be adjustable so as to enable the responsivity of the sensor to a fish strike to be varied in accordance with the expected nature of the fish strike.
Also, the processing circuit that governs the operation of the alarm is chosen to have a power-down/power-up feature so that in the absence of strike condition the unit operates in a reduced power mode.
Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description.
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Flagg Rodger H.
Rowan Kurt
LandOfFree
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