Patent Grant
10159237
The embodiments herein relate generally to fishing tools and accessories.
Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, a downrigger cable on a fishing boat was subjected to negative oscillation. This caused vibration in the fishing line that discouraged fish from biting in bait or a lure. Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve this problem.
A line dampener is configured to reduce vibration in a fishing line. The line dampener includes a housing that has a top portion that smoothly descends to a front portion, a rear portion, a port portion and a starboard portion. A bottom portion smoothly ascends to a front portion, a rear portion, a port portion and a starboard portion. A tunnel perforates the housing. A fishing line passes through the tunnel. The housing reduces the vibration in the fishing line.
The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.
By way of example, and referring to
A first distance 28 exists between port portion 20 and tunnel 26 in a first plane shown in
A second distance 32 exists between starboard portion 22 and tunnel 26 in a second plane shown in
A third distance 34 exists between bottom portion 24 and tunnel 26 in the third plane shown in
A fourth distance 36 exists between top portion 14 and tunnel 26 in the fourth plane shown in
The second distance 32 equals the first distance 28 and the third distance 34 for all values of the channel distance 30. The fourth distance 36 is at least twice the second distance 32, the first distance 28, and the third distance 34. The first plane and the second plane are orthogonal to the third plane and the fourth plane.
Line 38 can be inserted through tunnel 26. Tunnel 26 further comprises tunnel front opening 40 and tunnel rear opening 42 that deviate slightly from the shapes described above.
In operation, line 38 is pulled through the water, and displays line vibration 44. If line vibration 44 travels beneath water W then line vibration 44 upsets fish. Line dampener 10 operates to prevent that from occurring. If not designed properly, the dampener would actually create more vibration or have some other effect that is deleterious to catching fish. That problem is solved with the dimensioning specified above.
As used in this application, the term “a” or “an” means “at least one” or “one or more.”
As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.
As used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein.
All references throughout this application, for example patent documents including issued or granted patents or equivalents, patent application publications, and non-patent literature documents or other source material, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, as though individually incorporated by reference, to the extent each reference is at least partially not inconsistent with the disclosure in the present application (for example, a reference that is partially inconsistent is incorporated by reference except for the partially inconsistent portion of the reference).
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specified function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6. In particular, any use of “step of” in the claims is not intended to invoke the provision of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.
This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/199,913 filed on Jul. 31, 2015, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62199913 | Jul 2015 | US |
