Patent Application
20110107652
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,686,005, filed Nov. 12, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates generally to ice fishing apparatus, and more particularly to a apparatus with an L-shaped stand presenting a laterally projecting arm on which a reel is supported and from which a flexible strip extends to carry a wind flap and line guide so that the lure on the fishing line passing through the guide experiences automatic wind-driven up and down jigging action in the water.
It is known in the art of fishing to employ an apparatus for ice fishing known as a tip-up. Such an apparatus is placed over or beside the hole bored in the covering layer of ice on a frozen over body of water and supports a reel of fishing line. The hook and bait equipped end of the fishing line is lowered into the water through the hole in the ice. A fisherman can thus attempt to catch fish at this particular opening in the ice without having to remain right next to that specific holes, for example leaving him free to instead simultaneously fish at another such hole in close proximity will often employ a mechanism that is actuated by pulling of the fishing line when struck by a bite and erects a normally biased-down flag, actuates another type of visual signal or audible alarm or in some way provides the fisherman with an indication of the strike, so that the fisherman can return to the opening in the ice to retrieve his catch. Some of the prior art tip ups employ a vane or wind catching device to oscillate a member from which the fishing line depends into the hole in the ice to effect an automatic wind-driven jigging action repeatedly and alternately lifting and lowering the baited hook in the water.
However, there remains room for further development in this field, and the present invention is accordingly presented herein with a number of unique features not previously proposed.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an ice fishing apparatus comprising:
a support stand comprising:
a flexible strip having a fixed end coupled to the second stand element and extending past a distal end of the second stand element opposite the first stand element;
a wind flap coupled to the flexible strip at a position therealong between the distal end of the second stand element and a free end of the flexible strip opposite the fixed end thereof;
a reel support arrangement coupled to the support stand to support a reel of fishing line thereon; and
a line guide coupled to the flexible strip proximate the free end thereof for passage of the fishing line therethrough.
Preferably the second stand element is releasable from the position projecting laterally from the first stand element.
Preferably the second stand element is selectively detachable from the first stand element at the connection point;
Preferably a flexible link connects the first and second stand elements to prevent complete separation thereof when the second stand elements are detached at the connection point.
Preferably the second stand element is movable into a position extending along the first stand element for storage.
Preferably the connection point is defined by a branched connector receiving ends of the first and second stand elements in hollow branches of the connector disposed at rights angles to one another.
Preferably at least one of the stand elements comprises a respective length of tubing.
Preferably each length of tubing comprises metal tubing. Alternatively, wood or plastic members may be used.
Preferably each length of tubing is rectangular in cross-section, for example square. Alternatively round tubing may be used.
The reel support arrangement may comprise a rod holder coupled to the stand proximate the second stand element and arranged to receive a handle end of a fishing rod in order to support the fishing rod and a fishing line reel installed thereon on the stand element so that the fishing rod extends from the rod holder along an axis thereof toward the distal end of the second stand element.
Preferably a pivotal connection supports the rod holder on the stand to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to the second stand element between a lowered rod position and a raised rod position in which the axis of the rod holder angles upwardly moving along the axis toward the distal end of the second stand element more than in the lowered rod position, and the ice fishing apparatus further comprises a biasing device on the stand arranged to bias the rod holder into the raised rod position relative to the stand and a catch device movable between an engaged position retaining the rod holder in the lowered rod position against the bias of the biasing device and a disengaged position releasing the rod holder to trigger movement thereof the rod holder into the raised rod position under the bias of the biasing device.
Preferably the biasing device comprises an elastic member to connect to the stand at a position on one side of the pivotal connection opposite the distal end of the second stand element and connect to the rod holder on an opposite side of the pivotal connection to pull a rod-receiving end of the rod holder upwardly about the horizontal axis.
Preferably the elastic member comprises a bungee cord.
When in combination with the fishing rod, the elastic member may extend about a feature of the fishing rod at a portion thereof projecting from the rod receiving end of the rod holder to pull the rod receiving end of the rod holder upwardly about the horizontal axis toward where the two ends of the elastic member connect to the second stand element. In this instance, preferably the elastic member extends about a finger grip of the fishing rod.
The first and second stand elements may be connected by a T-junction with the elastic member having two ends secured to the stand on the one side of the pivotal connection by hooking into an open end of a branch of the T-junction opposite another branch thereof supporting the second stand element.
Preferably the catch device is movably supported on one of the support stand and the rod holder and movable relative thereto, the catch device engaging a catch element on an opposite one of the support stand and the rod holder in the engaged position to retain the rod holder in the lowered rod position.
Preferably the catch element comprises a lateral projection on the opposite one of the stand and the rod holder and the catch device on the one of the stand and the rod holder bends over or under the lateral projection respectively in the engaged position.
When in combination with the fishing rod, fishing line from the fishing line reel of the fishing rod is preferably wrapped around the catch device in travel of the fishing line from the fishing line reel to the line guide on the flexible strip.
The wind flap may comprise a plate having a series of slits therein through which the flexible strip passes. In one alternative, the flexible strip and the wind flap may be of a single unitary integral construction.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
At least one of the two tubular elements 14, 16 of the stand 12 is removable from the respective branch 18a, 18b of the T-fitting 18 so that the stand is collapsible into a more compact storage configuration, for example by laying or leaning the two tubular elements beside one another in parallel or nearly parallel orientations. To prevent loss or misplacement of one of the tubular elements that may occur under complete separation of the two, a flexible chain 20 has its opposite ends bolted or otherwise fixed to opposing ones of the two tubular stand elements 14, 16. The bolts 22 securing the chain 20 to the tubes 14, 16 are situated near the ends of the tubes connected by the T-fitting, but spaced far enough from these ends so as not to interfere with full insertion of the ends of the tubes into the T-fitting sufficiently far to securely connect the tubes in fixed perpendicular positions relative to one another. The chain may be replaced with another flexible element, such as a cable, or the tubes may be pivotally interconnected for movement between a parallel storage configuration and a diverging use configuration.
A flat flexible narrow strip or band of metal 26 has a portion of its length fixed atop the horizontal tubular frame element 16 to extend along the axial direction thereof. The rest of the strip 26 projects outwardly past the distal end 16a of the horizontal tube 16 opposite the vertical tube 14. Near a free end 26a of the strip 26 opposite the strip's connection to the horizontal tube 16, a flat sheet or plate 28 is fixed to the band 26 to form a wind flap. In the illustrated embodiments, this wind flap 28 is rectangular and has a longer of its two dimensions oriented perpendicular to the lengthwise dimension of the strip 26. At a short distance from the wind flap 28 further along the strip 26 toward the free end 26a thereof, a paperclip 30 is fixed to the strip 26 to project outward past a side and/or end edge thereof. At a position near the distal end 16a of the horizontal tube 16, the portion of the strip 26 mounted substantially flush thereatop is equipped with an eyelet 31 forming a fishing line guide, for example as may provided by an eyebolt threadingly fastened to the horizontal tube 16 through the strip 26.
Between the end 26b of the strip disposed atop the horizontal tube 16 and the T-fitting 18, a reel 32 of ice fishing line is secured atop the horizontal tube 16 and rotatable in a conventional manner to wind the ice fishing line 34 thereon and allow deployment of the line therefrom. In the illustrated embodiments, the reel's frame or housing on which the spool is rotatably mounted is fixed to the horizontal tube 16 by zip ties 36 wrapped therearound, but it will be appreciated that other mounting arrangements may be employed. Line 34 from the reel 32 is passed along the axial direction of the horizontal tube 16 beneath it through the eyelet 31 and onward past the distal end 16a of the horizontal tube 16 along the strip 26. At the free end 26a of the strip, the fishing line 34 is engaged by paper clip in its passage therethrough. The remainder of the length of line deployed from the reel 32 hangs downward from this clipped engagement of the line at the free end of the strip to depend downward into the water W below the ice layer L of the frozen lake, river or sea through the hole formed in the ice. In a conventional manner, the fishing line 24 is equipped with a hook and suitable bait at its free end.
With the strip 26 supported only at the portion thereof secured on the horizontal tube 16 of the stand 12, the weight of the rest of the strip 26, the wind flap 28, the mounting of the clip 30 on the strip, and the length of line hanging from the clip with the hook and bait or lure pulls the unsupported free end of the strip downward, giving the strip the illustrated shape curving downwardly toward the ice layer L from the distal end 16a of the stand's horizontal tube 16. Wind moving air across the frozen surface of the body of water will exert pressure against a face of the wind flap 28, causing the strip 26 to deflect out of the position it would normally reside in under the absence of any such external forces. As the wind subsides, the strip will thus tend to move back toward this normal position. Accordingly, as wind velocity changes with shifts in speed and direction, the pressure exerted on the wind flap will change, and these ongoing changes in wind conditions will accordingly cause ongoing back and forth movement of the wind flap. With the wind flap secured on the strip 26 and accordingly having its motion constrained thereby, this back and forth movement has upward and downward components of motion. Therefore, the wind will cause the end portion of the strip on which the wind flap and clip are mounted to move alternately up and down on a repeating basis, which in turn moves the bait and hook on the end of the fishing line up and down within the body of water W below the ice layer L thereatop. The ice fishing apparatus thus has an automatic jigging functionality continuously lifting and lowering the line in the water.
With reference to
The rod holder 50 of the second embodiment apparatus 10′ is a hollow cylinder or tube open at one or both ends. A hinge 52 has one leaf thereof fixed to the top of the horizontal tube 16′ at a position therealong adjacent the connection thereof to the vertical tube 14′. The second leaf of the hinge 52 is fixed to the bottom of the rod holder 50 adjacent one end 50a thereof. The knuckle and pin assembly of the hinge is oriented horizontally in a direction perpendicularly transverse to the axial direction of the horizontal tube 16′. The rod holder 50 has its axis lying in the same vertical plane as the axis of the horizontal tube 16′ and is pivotal about the hinge axis from a position lying parallel to the horizontal tube 16′ on top thereof back toward the end of the stand opposite that from which the strip projects. The end 50b of the rod holder 50 opposite the hinge 52 is left open to receive the handle of a fishing rod 54. The hinged end of the rod holder may be closed so that the end of the fishing rod handle abuts against this closed end to define the fully inserted position of the fishing rod, or the projecting features of the fishing rod such as a finger grip 56 or reel support 58 may alternatively define this position of the rod by abutting against the end face of the rod holder at the open end 50b if such abutment places the handle end of the rod inside the rod holder, and not projecting out the hinge-end thereof.
The fishing rod 54 projects from the open end 50b of the rod holder 50 and situates the rod's distal end 54a opposite the handle past the distal end 16a′ of the stand 12′. A bungee cord 60 equipped with hooks 62 at its two ends has these ends hooked to the horizontal tube 16′ at an end thereof situated just past the vertical tube 14′ on the side thereof opposite the horizontal tube's distal end 16a′ where the strip 26 is mounted. The hooks 62 curve through the open end of the horizontal tube 16 and then upward through a common hole or two separate holes in the top wall of the tube 16 to secure the elastic bungee cord 60 to the horizontal tube. It will be appreciated that if the rod-holding embodiment used the T-fitting junction of the first embodiment, the hooks could similarly be employed at the open end of the third branch of the T-fitting shown unused in
Still referring to
The catch member 66 further cooperates with the fishing line 34′ of the fishing reel 64 to also form part of a trigger mechanism that will automatically release the catch member 66 from the catch pin 70 when a fish strikes the bait and pulls on the line, causing the rod holder 50 and the rod 54 carried therein to pivot upward and rearward to the raised position under the bias of the bungee cord 60 (front/forward and rear/rearward being used herein to refer to the strip-equipped end and the end opposite the flexible strip, respectively). This action raises the distal end 54a of the fishing rod 54 from which the line extends downward toward the hole H in the ice, and with the line 34′ having been freed from the clip 30′ at the end of the flexible strip 26′ by the bite and pull of the fish, the sudden upward jerking of the rod by the biasing action of the bungee cord tugs on the line and causes the hook to be set in the fish's mouth.
To accomplish this auto-set action, the fisherman installs his fishing rod 54 in the rod holder 50 by placing the handle end of the rod therein, wraps the bungee cord around the front of the reel support 58 or the finger grip 56 of the rod 54 and engages the hooked ends 62 of the bungee cord to the stand at the effective end of the horizontal portion 16′ thereof. As shown in
Prior to a strike, the fishing apparatus cooperates with the rod 54 to operate in the same manner as the first embodiment, with wind fluctuations driving an up and down jigging motion of the baited end of the line in the water by way of the wind flap on the flexible strip. When a fish strikes, not only does a change in the curvature of the strip or reduction or elimination of the wind-actuated up and down motion of the end thereof provide a visual signal indicative of the catch, but the sudden pivot of the fishing rod 54 and holder 50 to provide the automatic setting of the hook and the resulting new raised positions of the rod and holder provide a further visual indicator of the strike.
Another alternative would be to form the flap integrally with the flexible strip as a one-piece single unitary integral member of metal or plastic. However, the attachment of the flap to a separate strip using a slot, or preferably more than one slot, has the advantage of allowing adjustment of the position of the flap along the strip, for example to suit different wind conditions. In high wind conditions, the flap can be moved further up the strip to take on a less-vertical orientation catching less wind, to give the strip a more controlled limited range of movement than would otherwise be experienced during gusting or high-velocity wind conditions. In low wind conditions, the flap is moved closer to the free end of the strip pointing downward toward the hole in the ice, giving the flap a more vertical position for greater action of the wind against it.
Although the catch member of the
It will be appreciated that materials, shapes and structures may be altered from those explicitly detailed herein above without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the upright and laterally projecting parts of the support stand need not necessarily be tubular, linearly extending or rectangular or square in cross-section. However, hollow tubes minimize weight, flat sided cross-sections provide suitable mounting surfaces for components atop the laterally projecting and rectangular tubing is a readily available material requiring no specialized manufacturing. The laterally projecting portion of the stand extending from the upright portion engaged in the ice need not necessarily be disposed at the very top end of the upright portion. Alternative releasable clipping arrangements suitable for gripping for the fishing line with sufficient strength to move with the wind-driven movement of the band yet releasable by the pulling of a hooked fish may be employed in place of a paperclip near the end of the flexible strip. One example construction employs ½-inch square tubing 10-inches long for the horizontal member and 30-inches long for the vertical member, a ¾-inch T-fitting with branches of circular cross-section and a 1-inch wide by 20-inch long strip or band.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2686005 | Nov 2009 | CA | national |
