Tension measured fishing line bite detector alarm

CA 02464054 2005-08-23

TENSION MEASURED FISHING LINE BITE DETECTOR ALARM

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This is a regular patent application serial number 2,464,054 independent of application serial number 2,463,123 which bases priority on PCT/US02/25852 filed August 14, 2002, publication number WO 03/017758 Al.

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention.

This invention relates mainly to fish bite detectors and indicators, that are used with fishing rods and the fishing line of their reels.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

Many anglers are discouraged by the prospect of having to constantly have their hands on their fishing rods, relying on physically touching the fishing line, or having to constantly watch the rod and the fishing line, in order to be able to anticipate that a fish is going to strike or has struck. Moreover, having the ability to effectively monitor when using many fishing rods in order to catch many fish in a short amount of time, or to be able to set down the fishing rod to do things, or to improve the odds of catching fish at night is desirable. This invention comprises a battery powered means

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 removably mountable on any fishing rod, producing a luminated and or audible alarm signal for alerting anglers that a fish is either nibbling on the bait or has been hooked, that they might take the proper action necessary in order not to loose the fish. Over the years there have been many fish bite indicators developed to be used in combination with a fishing rod and the line of it's reel in an attempt to solve the problems and fulfill the desires described above. However, they suffer from imperfections such as being bulky, heavy, or fragile, and are made from numerous parts making attaching to and removing from the fishing rod a discouraging task, some have been designed so that the fishing line at all times must pass through some component while retrieving the fish without any tension relief to that component, or designed so that the fishing line falls out of a component every time a fish strikes and has to be reinserted, or designed so that the components have to be turned off or back on, or readjusted every time a fish is caught. Others are electrically designed requiring expensive wiring, with certain electronic designs requiring expensive components, all cases mentioned above either being so elaborate that they are too costly for the average angler, or just ineffective.

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Applicants are aware of the below listed bite detector alarms used in combination of a fishing rod and the line of it's reel:

Kuczynski, U.S. Pat No. 2,574,333, Patented Nov. 1951.

Weber, U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,055, Patented April 1956.

Collins, U.S. Pat No. 2,755,590, Patented July 1956.

Kravitch, U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,682, Patented February 1960.

Morrison, U.S. Pat. No 3,037,317, Patented June 1962.

Finefield, U.S. Pat No. 3,188,767, Patented June 1965.

Kricksfield, U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,135, Patented January 1966.

<td> Riley,</td><td> U.S.</td><td> Pat.</td><td> No 3,599,</td><td> 368,</td><td> Patented August 1971.</td>

<td> Watts,</td><td> U.S.</td><td> Pat.</td><td> No. 3,702</td><td> ,513,</td><td> Patented November 1972.</td>

<td colspan="2"> Grosthwait,</td><td> U.S.</td><td> Pat. No.</td><td> 3,798</td><td> ,630, Patented March 1974</td>

<td> Periman,</td><td> U.S.</td><td> Pat.</td><td> No.</td><td> 3,835,462,</td><td> Patented</td><td> September 1974</td>

<td> Trosper,</td><td> U.S.</td><td> Pat.</td><td> No.</td><td> 3,878,635,</td><td> Patented</td><td> April 1975.</td>

<td> Fillmen,</td><td> U.S.</td><td> Pat.</td><td> No.</td><td> 3,913,255,</td><td> Patented</td><td> October 1975.</td>

Montgomery, U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,910, Patented June 1976.

Hope, U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,578, Patented May 1986.

Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,631, Patented August 1983.

Westwood III U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,284, Patented May 1986.

Peck, U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,678, Patented April 1991.

Brinton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,181, Patented June 1992.

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Meissner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,228, Patented July 1993. Foster, U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,180, Patented November 1993. Zepeda, Sr, U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,726, Patented March 1995. Vickery et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,624, Patented June 1998. Zepeda, Sr, U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,691, Patented April 1999.

Summary of the Invention

Our invention comprises an innovated, compact, and light weight battery powered bite detector alarm, that quickly and efficiently connects to and disconnects from a rod and the line from its reel, and moreover effectively capable of providing resistance against false alarm signals due to water conditions, the movement of a live bait fish on a fishing line, or when the fishing line is being cast from a reel, and making it necessary to install the fishing line to the bite detector alarm only once during the course of the day or night fishing activity. The structure and mechanism design of our bite detector alarm, utilizes simple and effective technology improving on the imperfections mentioned above, experienced by these types of devices in the past.

Various advantages and features of novelty which characterize our invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof.

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However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings which forms a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in operation on a fishing rod.

Fig 2 is an isometric view of the present invention.

Fig 3 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 3A is an isolated orthographic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 4 is an orthographic assembly view of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 5 is a cross sectional view of preferred embodiments of the present invention along lines 5-5 of Fig 4.

Fig 6 is an orthographic bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 6A is an orthographic top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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Fig 7 is an orthographic back view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 8 is an orthographic view of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 9 is an isometric view of the present invention.

Fig 10 is a cross sectional view of preferred embodiments of the present invention along lines 10-10 of Fig 9.

Fig 11 is an orthographic assembly view of preferred and additional embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 12 is an isolated orthographic view of an additional embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 13 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 14 is a schematic diagram of the preferred and additional embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 15 is a cross sectional view of preferred and additional embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 16 is a cross sectional view of preferred and additional embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 17 is an orthographic assembly view of preferred and additional embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 17A is an orthographic assembly view of preferred and

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 additional embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 17B is an isolated orthographic view of an additional embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 17C is an isolated orthographic view of an additional embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 18 is a schematic diagram of the preferred and additional embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 18A is a schematic diagram of the preferred and additional embodiments of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS tensioned measured fishing line bite detector alarm.

housing lid.

vertical side.

&amp; 26A horizontal lips.

battery holder.

27A plurality of parallel vertical sides.

27B 90 degree lip.

finger grip protrusion.

battery.

hinge.

battery connector.

pole clip.

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 fishing rod.

molded gap.

reel.

housing body.

reel bail.

fishing line.

cylindrical housing bottom.

open ended interior section.

42A snap action socket exterior section.

42B open ended exterior section.

round printed circuit board.

stationary board pin holes.

centered hole.

stationary board pins.

PC board mountable battery holder.

plurality of rubber grommets.

lamp socket.

filamented incandescent screw based lamp.

molded lamp hole.

electro magnetic buzzer.

molded buzzer hole.

64, 64A, 64B multi position switch.

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65, 65A, 64B, molded switch hole.

modified leaf on off switch.

switch housing.

switch support pins.

upper common contact terminal pin.

common leaf contact arm terminal pin.

switch lever.

Tee section.

L section.

tension spring clip.

common leaf contact arm.

upper common contact point.

molded top with integral contouring left and right sides .

switch lever stop pin.

actuator arm.

slotted stem section.

100 top slot.

100A bottom slot.

100B line hole.

102 pivot ball section.

103 pivot pin.

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104 mid arm section.

106 slotted bottom section.

110 variable sized slit.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 9, and 10 show a bite detector alarm 20 of the current invention.

Referring Fig. 3, an actuator arm 96 is shown that is a solid cylindrical injection molded piece comprising, a slotted stem section 98, having a top slot 100 molded horizontally across the center of stem section 98 approximately 90 degrees in relation to a bottom slot 100A, a variable sized slit 110, and a line hole 100B, all molded within a slotted bottom section 106. As shown in Fig. 10, section 98 extends downward into approximate top center of a spherical pivot ball section 102, a mid arm section 104 extends downward from approximate bottom center of section 102 and transitions to section 106 (see Fig. 3). As shown in Fig. 3A, slot 100A comprises rounded sides, upwardly tapering until touching together and transitioning to slit 110, and slit 110 upwardly tapering and transitioning to hole 100B. In the preferred embodiment, a lathe turned actuator arm made of pomalux®, provided by Tropical Plastics of Clearwater Fl, was used to illustrate a

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 working injection molded arm 96. However, the actuator arm can be injection molded using pomalux® and other types of acetyl copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, or any other material that can be injection molded.

Referring to Fig. 4, a PC board mountable lamp socket 56 is shown receiving a filamented incandescent screw based lamp 57, and a PC board mountable electro magnetic buzzer 60. In the preferred embodiment, the lamp socket part, ES 544 with the E-5 based lamp, 9.6v 0.5A 04.7x15mm, and the electro magnetic buzzer part FTMB-12, Spl: 85db/10cm, rated voltage 12 vdc, rated current: 40mA, were provided by Shogyo International Corp of Plainview NY.

Referring to Figs. 4, 6 and 6A, a PC board mountable modified leaf on-off switch 66 is shown, containing an upper common contact terminal pin 74 and a common leaf contact arm terminal pin 76, both molded in a switch housing 68, terminal pins 74 and 76 soldering to socket 56, buzzer 60 and a battery connector 31, on a bottom side of a round printed circuit board 50. Approximate left and right sides of housing 68 comprise a plurality of molded circular switch support pins 72, extending down and connecting on the bottom side of board 50 at a plurality of points. A switch lever 78 has an L

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 section 80 molded horizontally outward, then vertically downward lateral a side of lever 78, a tee section 79 horizontally molded lateral a top end of lever 78, lever 78 being molded to and extending from a front side of housing 68. Lever 78 integrally connects into slot 100 in arm 96. An upper common contact point 88 and a common leaf contact arm 86, both run parallel with lever 78. A tension spring clip 84 attaches to L section 80 and contact arm 86. A molded top is also provided having integral contouring left and right sides 92, including a switch lever stop pin 94. In the preferred embodiment, the leaf on-off switch, part # 16P58, rating 30 vdc 1A, mechanical life 300,000 cycles, provided by mouser electronics of Mansfield TX, was used as a reguired element in the alarm 20 prototype, after it was modified by removing the lower common contact point, shortening lever 78 and adding tee section 79 to the top of lever 78, downwardly extending stop pin 94 level with the bottom edge of L section 80, rerouting terminal pins 74 and 76 from the back to the bottom of housing 68, and adding switch support pins 72 to housing 68.

FIG. 4 and 5 show a battery 29 secured within a battery holder 27, and connector 31 connected to battery 29.

FIG. 4, 10, 11 and 15 show round printed circuit board 50

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 having socket 56 receiving lamp 57, buzzer 60, switch 66, and connector 31 soldered thereto. Board 50 has a centered hole

52. Switch 66 is soldered onto board 50 so that lever 78 is positioned centrally over hole 52, placing tee section 79 on approximate edge of hole 52. A face of socket 56, a sound hole of buzzer 60, and connector 31 are all positioned on approximate edge of board 50 at a plurality of points.

Included is a plurality of stationary board pin holes 51 within Board 50 at a plurality of points. In the preferred embodiment, a circuit board prototype made from perforated board, cut with a hole saw, the centered hole made with a drill bit, was hand wired to illustrate a working printed circuit board. Another prototype was made to illustrate production requirements for manufacturing printed circuit boards for our tension measured fishing line bite detector alarms by also cutting with a hole saw, a printed circuit board made from copper, the centered hole also made with a drill bit. The board was then cleaned, the circuit design layout transferred to the board then traced with resist ink. The board was then etched and the holes for all components drilled, the components then soldered to the board at a plurality of points.

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FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 9, and 10 show an opaque injection molded cylindrical plastic housing, comprising an operatable housing lid 22, lid 22 including a vertical side 25 having a molded horizontal lip 26 lateral an interior surface of vertical side

25. A finger grip protrusion 28 is molded onto an exterior side of lid 22, at an approximate 180 degree position referencing rear side of alarm 20. Battery holder 27 is molded onto an interior side of lid 22, holder 27 comprises a plurality of parallel vertical sides 27A, each including a 90 degree lip 27B inwardly molded on a bottom edge of each vertical side 27A for the entire length. A housing body 36 includes a cylindrical vertical side, having a horizontal lip 26A, molded lateral the exterior circumference of the cylindrical vertical side, and a hinge 30 molded onto the exterior side of lid 22 and onto lip 26A lateral the exterior circumference of the cylindrical vertical side. Housing body 36 also includes a molded lamp hole 58 and a molded buzzer hole 62 formed therein. Body 36 is molded to a cylindrical housing bottom 40, having a plurality of stationary board pins 53, molded onto an interior side of housing bottom 40 at a plurality of points.

FIG. 10 shows an open ended interior section 42 that is

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 cylindrical, molded in approximate center on the interior side of bottom 40. A snap action socket exterior section 42A is cylindrically-shaped and has an interior section that is a spherical open ended socket contouring to section 102 of arm 96, section 42A molded in the approximate center onto bottom

40. A pole clip 32 that is a tubular piece including a molded gap 34 in the center on a top side of clip 32 along the entire length, a bottom side of clip 32 connecting to the center of the top exterior side of lid 22. In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical plastic housing, part # 251300, provided by LA CONS of Yorba Linda Ca. was used. Holder 27, sections 42 and 42A, clip 32 and pins 53 were functionally designed and integrally attached to the cylindrical plastic housing, to illustrate a working injection molded alarm 20 prototype.

Hole 58, and hole 62 were drilled into the prototype. All injection molded elements of alarm 20, with the exception of arm 96 consist of polypropylene. However, these elements can consist of any other material that can be injected molded, such as polyethylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, or any other plastic materials.

As shown in FIG. 2, 8, and 9 a plurality of rubber grommets 55 install around a circumference of a molded lamp

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 hole 58 and a molded buzzer hole 62.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, actuator arm 96 is a first means for initiating completion of the electrical circuit, for holding a fishing line 38, by slot 100 (see Fig. 3) integrally connecting to lever 78 of switch 66 as shown in FIGS. 4, 6A, and 10, and arm (see Fig. 10). Arm 96 forwardly actuates when line 38 within arm 96 is being tensioned as shown in FIG. 2, thus arm 96 operates as the primary element of switch 66. Arm 96 holds line 38, by line 38 installing from the bottom of, and into arm 96. Section 102 supplies forward and back rotational movement allowing smooth actuation of arm 96, by snapping into section 42A contouring to section 102. A small portion of section 104 protruding from bottom center of section 102 functions within section 42A, the remaining portion adds length to arm 96. Section 106 containing slot 100A, slit 110, and hole 100B also adds length to arm 96.

Added length provides for more efficient actuation movement in relation to the laws of leverage, longer length, least resistance for actuating, and gives an angler more to hold and

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 see when installing line 38 into arm 96. Slot 100A installs line 38 within arm 96, slit 110 having various positions for enabling adeguate resistance of forward and backward line movement to allow actuation of arm 96, by receiving line 38 until restriction of line 38 movement within silt 110 occurs allowing forward actuation of arm 96 when line 38 is tensioned, the position within slit 110 in which adequate resistance of forward and backward line movement occurs, depends on the thickness of line 38 held within arm 96. Slot 100A and slit 110 prevent line 38 from falling out of arm 96, by allowing line 38 to rest in a large opening in slit 110, and on top of the touching sides of slot 100A, thus also functioning to facilitate use of alarm 20, by making it necessary to install line 38 only once, during the course of day or night fishing activity. Hole 100B supplies tension relief to arm 96 while line 38 is held within arm 96, by allowing line 38 to be pulled through slit 110 and into hole 100B, as increased tensioning to line 38 occurs thus relieving arm 96 of tension from line 38. The large opening in slit 110 and hole 100B allows line 38 freedom of forward movement to any desired location when line 38 is cast, by supplying zero resistance of forward and backward line movement within

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 slit 110 and hole 100B.

Socket 56 receiving lamp 57, and buzzer 60 are a second means for luminating and sounding visible and audible alarm signals respectively, by displaying light and producing sound, alerting the angler to the presence of a fish that is either nibbling on a bait or that has been hooked.

Switch 66 comprises of housing 68 for integrally holding terminal pins 74 and 76, support pins 72, switch lever 78, contact point 88, contact arm 86, and top 92 including stop pin 94. Pins 74 and 76 are soldered to lamp 57, buzzer 60, and connector 31 allowing switch 66 to function as a whole, for closing and opening the electrical circuit of alarm 20. Support pins 72 connect on bottom side of board 50, giving housing 68 more stability, than just soldered terminal pins 74 and 76 would by themselves. Switch 66 is a third means for completing the electrical circuit delivering electrical energy for activating lamp 57 and buzzer 60, by lever 78 connecting to spring clip 84 that is connected to contact arm 86, and by lever 78 integrally connecting to top slot 100 in arm 96, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6A, and 10, allowing contact arm 86 to make contact with contact point 88 when arm 96 is completely actuated, resulting from line 38 within arm 96 being fully

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 tensioned. Tension spring clip 84 eliminates false alarm signals from lamp 57 and buzzer 60, by supplying resistance against actuation of arm 96 when line 38 within arm 96 is semi-tensioned due to water conditions, or movement of a live bait fish on a hook, or when line 38 within arm 96 is being cast from a reel 35. Switch lever 78 and tension spring clip 84, enables a self-adjusting unactuated alarm ceasing position, by allowing arm 96 to automatically return to the self-adjusting unactuated alarm ceasing position, when line 38 within arm 96 is untensioned or pulled into hole 100B, causing contact arm 86 to separate from contact point 88, as shown in FIG. 6, thus ceasing the alarm signals. Tee section 79 and L section 80 prevent side to side movement of actuator arm 96, by tightly fitting on each side of stem section 98. Switch 66 supplies clearance space to allow actuation movement of actuator arm 96, by supplying space between a bottom side of tension spring clip 84, and board 50 as shown in FIG. 10 also by supplying space around top 92 with integral contouring left and right sides, allowing proper actuation movement of lever 78 integrally connected to arm 96. L section 80 and stop pin 94 create a primary stopping point for actuator arm 96, by section 80 making contact with stop pin 94, thus stopping

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 lever 78 from moving too far forward when arm 96 is fully actuated, and preventing damage to elements of switch 66 caused by over tensioning of line 38 within arm 96, or should someone attempt to pull arm 96 excessively backward from the self-adjusting unactuated alarm ceasing position. Top 92 prevents outside sources from interfering with the functioning of switch 66, occurring with frequent opening of the cylindrical plastic housing, by covering elements of switch 66. Battery 29 is a fourth means for supplying electrical energy to lamp socket 56 receiving lamp 57, buzzer 60, and switch 66. Battery connector 31 is a fifth means for connecting to battery 29 allowing battery 29 to supply electrical energy to lamp socket 56 receiving lamp 57, buzzer 60, and switch 66.

Round printed circuit board 50 is a sixth means for holding and connecting thereto, lamp socket 56 receiving lamp 57, bu zzer 60, switch 66, and battery connector 31. Hole 52 supplies actuating space to actuator arm 96, by allowing stem section 98 adequate forward and back movement within hole 52, Hole 52 creates a secondary stopping point for actuator arm 96, by causing stem section 98 to stop when making contact with the edge of hole 52 should the primary stopping point of

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 switch 66 fail, thus further preventing damage to elements within switch 66 caused by over tensioning of line 38 within arm 96, or should someone attempt to pull arm 96 excessively backward from the unactuated alarm ceasing position. Hole 52 allows integral installation of actuator arm 96 to switch 66, by supplying slotted stem section 98 access for integrally connecting to switch lever 78.

An opaque injection molded cylindrical plastic housing is a seventh means for opening and closing alarm 20, for enclosing lamp socket 56 receiving lamp 57, switch 66, battery 29, battery connector 31, and circuit board 50, for keeping components of alarm 20 safe from weather elements , for preventing outside sources from interfering with the functioning of alarm 20, by lid 22 closing onto body 36 with lips 26 and 26A creating a water tight seal. Battery holder 27 secures battery 29 inside the opaque injection molded cylindrical plastic housing, by allowing battery 29 to be snapped securely into place, eliminating the possibility of battery 29 moving around within alarm 20. Lamp hole 58 and buzzer hole 62 allow lamp 57 and buzzer 60 to be installed and seen and heard externally from alarm 20, by enabling a screw base of lamp 57 to be installed through lamp hole 58 and into

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 lamp socket 56, from an exterior side of housing body 36, leaving the luminating portion of lamp 57 externally exposed from housing body 36, and by aligning the sound hole in buzzer 60 with buzzer hole 62 in housing body 36, allowing the audible alarm signal to pass outwardly through buzzer hole 62. Board pins 53 secure printed circuit board 50 inside housing body 36, by aligning with, and being received by the plurality of stationary board pin holes 51 within board 50 at the plurality of points. Board pins 53, and interior section 42 evenly balance and fortify the edge and center of board 50 when board 50 is installed onto board pins 53 and interior section 42, by portions of the board pins being the same height as open ended interior section 42, and board pins 53 positioned inward from the outer circumference of the interior side of housing bottom 40 at the plurality of points. Exterior section 42A allows arm 96 to rotate freely with uniform frictional drag by the interior of exterior section 42A that is the spherical open ended socket contouring to section 102.

Pole clip 32 is an eighth means for connecting the cylindrical plastic housing to a fishing rod 33, by snapping a section of rod 33 through gap 34 and into clip 32, with clip 32 securely contouring to rod 33.

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The plurality of stationary board pin holes 51 within board 50 at the plurality of points is a ninth means for receiving the plurality of stationary board pins 53 for securing circuit board 50 inside the cylindrical plastic housing, by pin holes 51 aligning with, and slipping over board pins 53.

The plurality of rubber grommets 55 is a means for making lamp hole 58 water tight after lamp 57 is installed into lamp socket 56, and for eliminating the loss of the alarm signal from buzzer 60 heard externally from alarm 20, by installing around the circumference of lamp hole 58 creating a water tight seal after lamp 57 is installed into lamp socket 56, by installing around the circumference of buzzer hole 62 and tightly butting against a face of buzzer 60 creating a tight fit around the sound hole of buzzer 60 when board 50 is installed inside the cylindrical plastic housing, allowing the alarm signal from buzzer 60 to be directly projected outwardly rather than dissipating within the cylindrical plastic housing.

FIGS. 11,17,17A show a multi position switch 64,64A,64B and a PC mountable battery holder 54 soldered onto board 50.

FIGS. 12,17B,17C, show switch 64,64A,64B, aligning with a molded switch hole 65,65A,65B, within housing body 36, when

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 board 50 is installed on the interior side of bottom 40.

FIGS. 14,18,18A, show a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit for switch 64,64A,64B.

FIG. 15 shows section 102 contained in an open ended exterior section 42B, exterior section 42B having an interior that is non-spherical. Exterior section 42B is molded onto bottom 40.

FIG. 16 shows a pivot pin 103 inserting through arm 96 and through each side of exterior section 42B having an interior that is non-spherical. Exterior section 42B is molded onto bottom 40.

Multi position switch 64,64A,64B, is for enabling electrical energy separately to lamp socket 56, receiving lamp 57 or separately to buzzer 60, and for enabling electrical energy to lamp 57 and to buzzer 60 at the same time, and for enabling the constantly on position for lamp 57 while alarm 20 is in the unactuated alarm ceasing mode, and for preventing the flow of electrical energy at the same time to lamp 57, and to buzzer 60, and to switch 66, by setting switch 64A to the desired position assigned to complete each function.

Open ended exterior section 42B is a means for containing pivot ball section 102, that is free floating, by pivot ball

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 section 102 not touching the interior of open ended exterior section 42B, with the functioning of alarm 20 depending on an integral connection of section 98 to lever 78, allowing arm 96 to rotate when line 38 within arm 96 is tensioned.

Battery holder 54 is a means for securing battery 29 onto board 50 inside the cylindrical plastic housing, by allowing battery 29 to be snapped securely into place, eliminating the possibility of battery 29 moving around within the cylindrical plastic housing.

Switch hole 65,65A,65B, is a means for allowing access to a switch lever on switch 64,64A,64B, by allowing the switch lever to protrude externally from housing body 36.

Pivot pin 103 is a means for allowing arm 96 stable forward and back actuation movement by installing through a hole in one side of exterior section 42B, then through a hole in arm 96, then through a hole in the other side of exterior section 42B, allowing arm 96 to securely rest on pivot pin 103 thus eliminating all side to side movement in the actuator arm, allowing smooth forward and back actuation movement as directed when the fishing line within arm 96 is tensioned then untensioned.

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Alarm 20 is assembled by opening lid 22, installing grommets 55 into holes 58 and 62, then lowering the assembled board 50 into the cylindrical plastic housing while aligning socket 56 with hole 58, the sound hole of buzzer 60 with hole 62, centered hole 52 over interior section 42 that aligns with exterior section 42A, also aligning pin holes 51 within board 50 with, and slipping over pins 53, then pushing board 50 onto the bases of pins 53 and interior section 42. Pins 53 are then melted onto board 50 with a soldering gun, integrally connecting board 50 to the interior of bottom 40. Arm 96 is then installed by first inserting stem section 98 upwardly inward, from the bottom of exterior section 42A, while aligning top slot 100 to integrally receive lever 78, continuing to upwardly install arm 96, until section 102 snaps securely into section 42A, and slot 100 integrally connects to lever 78. Battery 29 is installed into holder 27, and battery connector 31 is attached. Lid 22 is then closed onto body 36, and lamp 57 is screwed into socket 56 through hole 58. Alarm 20 is connected in front of reel 35 to rod 33 with clip 32.

Line 38 is threaded through slot 100A to slit 110, a reel bail 37 on reel 35 is opened, line 38 is cast and bail 37 is closed, line 38 is then adjusted leaving enough slack between

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 the rear of alarm 20 and the front of reel 35 to allow for forward arm 96 movement as shown in FIG. 1. Line 38 is inserted further into slit 110 until the desired resistance of forward and backward line movement within section 106 is achieved. Applied tension to line 38 forces arm 96 integrally connected to lever 78 to actuate. Tension spring clip 84 connected to lever 78 and contact arm 86, enables contact arm 86 to be pulled closer to contact point 88 as arm 96 actuates, until arm 86 touches point 88 thus completing the electrical circuit activating lamp 57 and buzzer 60. When a fish is hooked and tries to free itself, increased tensioning to line 38 occurs pulling line 38 through slit 110 and into hole 100B, releasing the tension placed on arm 96, tension spring clip 84 then allows arm 96 to return to the self-adjusting unactuated alarm ceasing position, also causing contact arm 86 to break contact with contact point 88, thus ceasing the alarm signals. The fish is then reeled in and taken off the hook, and the whole procedure is repeated.

From the description above, a number of advantages of our tension measured fishing line bite detector alarm become evident. The appearance of our bite detector alarm is pleasing to the eye, making it desirable to use. The

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 compactness of our assembled bite detector alarm makes storage very easy, eliminating the need to install and uninstall the actuator arm, or any other element each time the unit is used. The integral design of our bite detector alarm secures and fortifies all components, thus eliminating the need to worry about losing parts or pieces, that could occur resulting from the need to constantly tighten, readjust, and reassemble elements as some fish bite indicators require, as well as keeping all components safe from weather elements, and any other outside interference to their required functions. The design relationship between the snap action socket exterior section, and the pivot ball section, provide smooth and even actuation of the actuator arm when the fishing line within the actuator arm is tensioned. The integral design relationship between the upper common contact point, the common leaf contact arm, the tension spring clip, the switch lever, and the slotted stem section, further assures the successful completion of the electrical circuit, as these five elements integrally work together as a whole, to complete the electrical circuit, as opposed to a number of elements all working independently of each other, at the same time and in sequence, towards the completion of the electrical circuit.

CA 02464054 2005-08-23

The design relationship between the tension spring clip, the switch lever, and the slotted stem section, allows the actuator arm to return to the unactuated alarm ceasing position, thus automatically ceasing the alarms, without the assistance from any independently working elements. The design relationship also automatically gives protection against false alarm signal readings when the fishing line is semi-tensioned from waves, currents, the movement of a live bait fish on the hook, or when the fishing line is being cast from the reel, by providing resistance against the actuation of the actuator arm. The design of the bottom slot and the line hole in the actuator arm, enables the fishing line to be installed, held, and cast with complete freedom of forward movement to the desired location without falling out of the actuator arm, thus eliminating the need of having to reinsert the fishing line back into the actuator arm every time after a fish is caught. The design of the variable sized slit in the actuator arm gives the fishing line, resistance of forward and backward line movement to allow actuation movement of the actuator arm, for completing the electrical circuit activating the alarm signals, when the fishing line is tensioned. Because the lamp has a screw base, it can be changed when it burns out, thus

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 prolonging the life of our bite detector alarm. Our bite detector alarm can be installed on the top, bottom, left or right side of the rod, used by left or right handers, used during the day or at night, and used by the visually and hearing impaired. The simplicity of the elements along with the injection molding method for the housing assembly, allows the manufacturing and assembly of our bite detector alarm to be truly cost effective, therefore reasonable to buy. Thus the reader will see that the bite detector alarm of the invention provides an esthetically pleasing, simple, compact, and integral device that is lightweight and highly reliable as well as economical, that can be used by persons of almost any age that have an interest in fishing.

While our above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example: (1) The hinge that integrally connects the housing lid to the housing body could be eliminated, and replaced with a threaded lid screwed onto a threaded body; the current snap lid system could be replaced with a lid latching system similar to the child resistant lid systems used on

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 aspirin or medicine containers currently manufactured; (2) The lamp hole could be made larger or smaller to accommodate a larger or smaller lamp; (3) The housing lid, housing body, and housing body bottom, could be integrally injected molded in the shape of a mammal, fish, bird, insect, amphibian, reptile, triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, or any other outward injection molded shape that would accommodate or contour to any one or all of the required elements, while allowing them to properly function; (4) The housing lid, body, bottom, and snap action socket section, could be eliminated all together, by insetting the printed circuit board, lamp socket, buzzer, battery connector, and off-on switch, into a moldable, pourable, or sprayable hardening material, contouring to the required components while allowing them to properly function, with the actuation of the actuator arm, depending on its integral connection to the leaf on-off switch, with the pole clip connecting directly to the circuit board; (5) The lid, body, and bottom previously referenced, could also be constructed as separate parts that would accommodate or contour to any one or all of the required elements, and could be fastened together by welding, brazing, riveting, gluing, nailing, jointing, or with string, wire,

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 clips, clamps, screws, nuts bolts &amp; washers, hinges, or any other fastening means that would accommodate the construction of any listed alternative shape chosen; (6) In addition to being injection molded, the pole clip, hinge, finger grip protrusion, stationary board pins, the open ended interior and the snap action socket exterior sections could also be constructed separately, and fastened onto the housing lid and housing body using the same fastening methods as previously described; (7) The interior of the pole clip could be made larger or smaller, or different sized sleeves could be made to be inserted into its interior, to accommodate larger or smaller rods, and its esthetic appearance could be altered to reflect any alternative shape chosen; adjustable clamps, strong magnets, tie downs, or Velcro® could also be used as pole clips, or using any other connecting means that would accommodate any listed alternative shape chosen; (8) The stationary board pin bases and pin portions can be made larger or smaller, taller or shorter, and in any shape necessary to accommodated the printed circuit board used for any listed alternative shape chosen, or any other connecting means could be made and used that would secure the printed circuit board to the interior of the housing body, while fortifying and

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 balancing its edge; more stationary board pins could be added for additional board support; (9) The exterior of the snap action socket exterior section could be esthetically altered to reflect any listed alternative shape chosen; (10) All previously mentioned elements of the cylindrical plastic housing can be molded from any injection moldable or poured materials, or constructed as separate parts using plastic, hard pressed cardboard, wood, metal, or glass;

(11) The housing can be molded with an indentation at the light position; such indentation could be vapor vacuum plated or treated by another coating method, and used as a reflector for the light; (12) The printed circuit board could be manufactured to fit any molded or constructed shapes chosen;

(13) The electro magnetic buzzer could be substituted with a piezo buzzer, transducer, siren, bells, or sound chip technology; (14) The filamented incandescent lamp could be substituted with a light emitting diode or a neon type lamp; the battery could be substituted with a variety of different sized batteries and a variety of voltage ranges, or with solar panel technology; (15) Heavier tension spring clips within the modified leaf on off switch could be manufactured to provide greater resistance against actuation of the actuator arm when

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 manufacturing bite detector alarms that need to function more effectively in stronger weather elements and when catching larger fish; (16) Resistance against actuation of the actuator arm could also be achieved by attaching one end of a tension spring to the inside of the housing body lid and sliding the other end over the top of the slotted stem section of the installed actuator arm and anchoring to the switch lever of the modified leaf on-off switch or, by installing over a section of the actuator arm and over the snap action socket exterior section, a contouring grommet or, a fastening system could be moldcasted or attached partly to the actuator arm, and partly to the cylindrical plastic housing with the ends of rubber bands, springs, or any other tensioned materials attaching to each part; (17) As an equivalent to the tee section, The tee section of the modified leaf on off switch could be eliminated and the slot in the slotted stem section of the actuator arm could be permanently attached to the switch lever of the modified leaf on-off switch eliminating side to side actuator arm movement; (18) The modified leaf onoff switch could be substituted with a reed switch, micro switch, snap action switch, or any spring loaded switch; (19) Any sounding or luminating means, any source that provides

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 electrical energy that can fulfill the true essence of our invention within 'its' scope, spirit, and discovery can be used; (20) The slot in the slotted stem section of the actuator arm could be made larger or smaller to accommodate a larger or smaller switch lever or, the mid arm section line holes could be added or deleted altogether, allowing the angler to cast before inserting the fishing line into the actuator arm, and to pop the fishing line out of the actuator arm, ceasing the alarm signals when fish is on, a cap could be attached over the installed slotted stem section, prohibiting the actuator arm from being uninstalled, the slotted bottom section cold be molded 90 degrees from the mid arm section forming an L with the last portion that holds the slit, the fishing line hole, and the bottom slot downwardly molded; (21) The bottom slot and the line hole in the actuator arm could be eliminated and the fishing line installed from the bottom of the actuator arm, directly through the variable sized slit molded to zero clearance, creating a strong resistance of forward and back line movement within the actuator arm, and causing the fishing line to disengage from the actuator arm when the fishing line is tensioned, thus eliminating any minor line resistance experienced at the line hole position when the

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 line is reeled in, for any size fishing line installed within the actuator arm; with the bottom slot and the line hole eliminated, the variable sized slit could also be molded off vertical in a right side up, or upside down position on one of the edges of the actuator arm, allowing the fishing line to be installed directly through the variable sized slit from the bottom of the actuator arm, or from a location further up from the bottom of the actuator arm, also allowing a strong resistance of forward and back line movement within the actuator arm, also causing the fishing line to disengage from the actuator arm when the fishing line is tensioned, also eliminating any minor line resistance experienced at the line hole position when the line is reeled in; the length of the actuator arm could be shortened, and all of the above would apply; (22) If the additional embodiment utilizing an open ended exterior section having an interior that is nonspherical were used, the shape of the pivot ball section could be changed or eliminated all together, and as an equivalent to the pivot ball, a pivot pin could be inserted through the actuator arm and the walls of the open ended exterior section allowing the actuator arm to swing forward and back pivoting on the pivot pin; also as an equivalent to the pivot ball, the

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 pivot pin could be molded as an integral part of the actuator arm, with each of its ends snapping securely into holes molded within each side of the open ended exterior section, allowing both the actuator arm and the pivot pin to swing forward and backward when the fishing line within the actuator arm is tensioned and untensioned; (23) The snap action socket exterior section, the pivot ball section of the actuator arm, and the modified leaf on-off switch could be eliminated with the actuator arm being moldcasted as part of the housing body and the moldcasted material having memory allowing the actuator arm to go back to the unactuated position when untensioned, and the modified leaf on-off switch replaced with a mercury switch mounted to or moldcasted within the actuator arm or, a motion sensor switch mounted to the actuator arm using sensors with varying sensitivity for degrees of resistance against actuation of the actuator arm, thus completing the electrical circuit when actuation of the actuator arm is detected; (24) The actuator arm could be dipped in a material, or grommets inserted into the variable sized slit, placing them around each of its interior sides and around each exterior side of the slotted bottom section for the total length of the variable sized slit, achieving more

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 resistance of forward and backward line movement within the actuator arm; (25) The actuator arm and the interior of the open ended interior and snap action socket exterior sections could be processed using an electro vaporization vacuum plating technique, turning the actuator arm into a contact arm that is integrally connected to a self centering spring soldered onto the circuit board, that makes contact with a contact point also soldered onto the circuit board, when the arm is forwardly actuated thus completing the electrical circuit activating the alarm signals; (26) The alarm signals could also be activated by, the interruption of the flow of light from a light emitting diode to a photo cell or a photo transistor, thus inducing an electronic sequence that arrives back at the same end and activates them, also through the use of inductive device type switches or electrical devices using inductance through IC or transistor switch usage, in conjunction with any resistive device used in or in place of a switch, together with a transistor, IC chip, or the combination of the two; (27) The printed circuit board could be constructed utilizing foil type circuitry, or hand wired; (28) Additionally, the bite detector alarm's mechanism or any modifications to it previously described, could be

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 miniaturized to be incorporated into a rod handle, or as an integral part of a fishing reel; (29) The bite detector alarm may be employed as a counter; (30) An open or closed door indicator; (31) A position indicator; (32) Used for children's toys; (33) As a mechanism used in military armament and other sports related firearms; and (34) The actuator arm by itself could be used as a fish bite indicator by molding it with a highly visible translucent glow in the dark material, inserting a portion of the fishing line in front of the reel, into the variable sized slit in the slotted bottom section with the actuator arm hanging downward underneath the inserted fishing line, the weight of the arm would sag the fishing line and any fish bites would be indicated and visually seen by the upward movement of the actuator arm as the fish line is tensioned.

Therefore, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, one of ordinary skill in the art can make the foregoing modifications, and many other changes and modifications to the bite detector alarm of the present invention, to adapt it to specific usages and conditions. As such, these changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalents of

CA 02464054 2005-08-23 the following claims.