Bait Drive Unit and Bait Fish having a Bait Drive Unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a bait drive unit (1), in particular to be installed in a bait fish (100, 110), and to a bait fish (100, 110) having a bait drive unit (1). The object of the invention is to provide a bait drive unit (1) which, situated in a bait fish (100, 110), imitates even more effectively the movements of a “sick” bait fish (100, 110) and thus promises an even higher yield when fishing. A further object of the invention is to provide a bait fish (100, 110) having such a bait drive unit (1). The object is achieved, inter alia, by a bait drive unit (1), in particular to be installed in a bait fish (100, 110), having an energy store (2), an electromotive drive device (3) and a shaft actuatable via the electromotive drive device (3), in that the shaft (4) is curved in such a way that, when projecting into a plane, the curvature of the shaft (4) does not undergo any change in the sign.

Claims

1. A bait drive unit (1), in particular for installation in a bait fish, comprising: an energy storage device (2); an electromotive drive device; a shaft (4) actuatable via the electromotive drive device (3), characterized in that the shaft (4) is curved in such a manner that when projecting into a plane, a curvature of the shaft (4) does not undergo a change of direction; and a shell (6) forming a channel circumscribing at least the shaft in such a way that a shape of the channel and a shape of the shaft correspond to each other; wherein the shaft being of a harder material than the shell such that the shape of the channel follows the shaft during rotation.

2. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in claim 1 characterized in that the bait drive unit (1) has a control device (5).

3. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in claim 2, characterized in that the control device (5) has a memory element and/or a data transmission unit and/or a data reception unit.

4. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in claim 3, characterized in that the data transmission unit and/or the data reception unit is/are configured for wireless data communication.

5. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the bait drive unit (1) has a mechanical switching element and/or a contactless switching element.

6. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in claim 1 characterized in that the energy storage device (2) is a battery pack chargeable by a charging unit, which is chargeable in a contactless manner.

7. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in claim 1, characterized in that the bait drive unit (1) has at least one light source configured as a light emitting diode or LED.

8. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 1, characterized in that at least the energy storage device (2) and the electromotive drive device (3) are disposed in the watertight shell (6).

9. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 2, characterized in that at least the energy storage device (2) and the electromotive drive device (3) are disposed in the watertight shell (6).

10. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 3, characterized in that at least the energy storage device (2) and the electromotive drive device (3) are disposed in the watertight shell (6).

11. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 4, characterized in that at least the energy storage device (2) and the electromotive drive device (3) are disposed in the watertight shell (6).

12. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 5, characterized in that at least the energy storage device (2) and the electromotive drive device (3) are disposed in the watertight shell (6).

13. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 6, characterized in that at least the energy storage device (2) and the electromotive drive device (3) are disposed in the watertight shell (6).

14. The bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 7, characterized in that at least the energy storage device (2) and the electromotive drive device (3) are disposed in the watertight shell (6).

15. A bait fish (100) comprising a bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 1, characterized in that the electromotive drive device (3) is mounted in a rotatably fixed manner in the body (101) of the bait fish (100) and in that the body (101) of the bait fish (100), at least in a region in which the actuatable shaft (4) is guided by the electromotive drive device (3) in the bait fish (100), is made from an elastic material, wherein the elastic material has a greater bending elasticity than the shaft (4), and the actuatable shaft (4) is guided in the bait fish (100) in such a manner that a movement of the shaft (4) guided in the bait fish (100) is transferred to the elastic material.

10. The bait fish (110) comprising a bait drive unit (1) as recited in one of the preceding claims 1, characterized in that the electromotive drive device (3) is mounted in a rotatably fixed manner in the body (111) of the bait fish (110) and in that the body (111) of the bait fish (110), at least in the region in which the actuatable shaft (4) is guided by the electromotive drive device (3) in the bait fish (110), is made from an elastic material, wherein the elastic material has a greater bending elasticity than the shaft (4), and the actuatable shaft (4) is guided in the bait fish (110) in such a manner that a movement of the shaft (4) guided in the bait fish (110) is transferred to the elastic material, and the shaft (4) in the region of the curvature has a molding (7) and the elastic body has a recess (108) for the molding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of a bait drive unit having an energy storage device, an electromotive drive device and a curved shaft actuatable via the electromotive drive device;

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section of a bait drive unit having an energy storage device, an electromotive drive device, a curved shaft actuatable via the electromotive drive device and a control device;

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section of a bait drive unit having an energy storage device, an electromotive drive device, a curved shaft actuatable via the electromotive drive device, a control device and a shell, which encloses the previously mentioned components in a waterproof manner;

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section of a bait fish having a bait drive unit, the bait drive unit having an actuated curved shaft;

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section of the bait fish having a bait drive unit from FIG. 4, the actuated curved shaft being rotated by approximately 90°;

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross section of the bait fish having a bait drive unit from FIG. 5, the actuated curved shaft being further rotated by approximately 90°;

[0070] FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross section of the bait fish having a bait drive unit from FIG. 6, the actuated curved shaft being further rotated by approximately 90°; and

[0071] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross section of the bait fish having a bait drive unit, which has a molding and the elastic body of the bait fish having a recess for the molding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a bait drive unit (1), in particular for installation in a bait fish, having an energy storage device (2), an electromotive drive device (3) and a shaft (4) actuatable via the electromotive drive device (3). The energy storage device (2) may be a battery or a rechargeable battery pack. The electromotive drive device (3) supplied with power by the energy storage device (2) may be a motor, for example a direct current motor, for continuously rotating the shaft (4) in one direction or be a motor actuatable in the direction of rotation for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft (4) first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The shaft (4) rotates—as shown (see rotation arrow)—with the aid of the drive of the electromotive drive device radially about the axis of rotation (9) (for a continuous rotation in one direction) or rotates back and forth (in case of a motor actuatable in the direction of rotation for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft). The axis of rotation (9) is illustrated as a straight line in drive direction from the drive device (3). The orientation of the shaft (4) in this instance conforms with the orientation of the axis of rotation (9) in the region in which the shaft (4) is attached to the drive device (3). As shown, the shaft is curved in such a manner that, when projecting into a plane (for example shown by the sectional views of FIGS. 1 through 7), the curvature of the shaft (4) does not undergo a change direction. In the shown example, the curvature of the shaft (4) is constant. This configuration simplifies to retroactively introduce the bait drive unit (1) into a bait fish, because the bait drive unit can be inserted into the bait fish leading by the end facing away from the drive unit (2). The introduction can then be carried out by a push and rotary motion.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows the bait drive unit (1) from FIG. 1, the bait drive unit (1) having a control device (5), which can generate a time-adjustable delay, interruption, tempo change or accidental on/off switching of the electromotive drive device (3) and, thus, of the shaft rotation. The insertion of the bait drive unit (1) having the control device (5) into a bait fish results in that an irregular wriggling of the body of the bait fish is achieved, which in turn has a particularly large deception effect on the predatory fish as they perceive an injured bait fish.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows the bait drive unit (1) from FIG. 2, the energy storage device (2), the electromotive drive device (3), the control device (5) as well as the shaft (4) being disposed in a shell (6) which is watertight or resistant to water. The shell (6) at least in the region of the curvature of the shaft (4) is made from an elastic material. This shown embodiment makes it possible that the bait drive unit (1) can be installed in a dead fish without causing short circuits or corrosion.

[0075] If the shell is fixedly connected to the shaft over the entire length of the shaft, it is provided that the electromotive drive device (3) is a motor actuatable in the direction of rotation for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft (4) first in one direction (for example +120°) and then in the opposite direction (for example −120°). In this case, the rotation is to be configured in such a manner that the elastic limit of the shell is not exceeded and the shell does not tear off. For reversing the direction of rotation, it is provided that the motor actuatable in the direction of rotation for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft first rotates by a predefined degree in one direction (for example, up to optionally +180°, preferably up to +90°, particularly preferably between +30° and +45°) and then rotates by the same degree in the opposite direction (for example up to optionally −180°, preferably up to −90°, particularly preferably between −30° and −45°).

[0076] Likewise, the shaft (4) can be movably disposed in the shell (6). Since the shell (6) in the region of the shaft (4) is elastic and the shaft (4) can rotate in the shell (6), the electromotive drive device (3) can be a motor, for example a direct current motor, which enables a continuous rotation of the shaft (4) in one direction. In the last embodiment, the shaft (4) is rotatable in the shell (6). This means that the shell (6) is not wound up when the shaft (4) rotates.

[0077] FIGS. 4 through 7 show a section of a bait fish (100), having a bait drive unit (1), in different rotational positions of the shaft (4). The body (101) of the dead or artificial bait fish (100) at least in the region in which the shaft (4) actuatable by the electromotive drive device (3) is guided in the bait fish (100), is made of an elastic material. The elastic material has a greater bending elasticity than the shaft (4). As shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, the actuatable shaft (4) is guided in the bait fish (100) in such a manner that a movement of the shaft (4) guided in the bait fish (100) is transferred to the body (101) of the bait fish (100). In FIG. 4, the end of the shaft (4) facing away from the drive device (3) points upwards.

[0078] In FIG. 5, the end of the shaft (4) facing away from the motorized drive device (3) points backwards out of the plane of the drawing. Accordingly, the shaft has been rotated by approximately 90°.

[0079] In FIG. 6, the end of the shaft (4) facing away from the motorized drive device (3) points downwards. Accordingly, the shaft vis-à-vis the illustration in FIG. 5 has been rotated by approximately a further 90°.

[0080] In FIG. 7, the end of the shaft (4) facing away from the motorized drive device (3) points forward out of the plane of the drawing. Accordingly, the shaft vis-à-vis the illustration in FIG. 6 has been rotated by approximately a further 90°.

[0081] The electromotive drive device (3) is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner in the body (101) of the bait fish (100). The rotationally fixed bearing of the drive device (3) in the bait fish and a simultaneous rotatability of the shaft (4) result in that the shaft (4) rotates in the bait fish. The torque occurring in this instance is supported at the part of the bait fish (100) in which the electromotive drive device (3) is mounted. Since this part of the bait fish (100) has, in particular owing to the electromotive drive device (3), a substantially larger moment of inertia than the part of the bait fish (100) in which the shaft (4) is guided, it appears, viewed from the outside onto the bait fish (100), as if substantially only the part moves in which the shaft (4) is guided. This course of motion corresponds comparatively realistically to the movement pattern of a wriggling fish.

[0082] FIG. 8 shows a section of a bait fish (110) having a bait drive unit (1) including a shaft (4), which in the region of the curvature has a molding (7). The body (111) of the dead or artificial bait fish (110), at least in the region in which the shaft (4) actuatable by the electromotive drive device (3) is guided in the bait fish (110), is made of an elastic material. The elastic material has a greater bending elasticity than the shaft (4).

[0083] Moreover, the elastic body has a recess (108) running radially about the axis of rotation, in which the molding (7) of the shaft (4) of the bait drive unit (1) can rotate in a contactless manner.

[0084] The electromotive drive device (3) is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner in the body (111) of the bait fish (110). The rotationally fixed bearing of the drive device (3) in the bait fish and a simultaneous rotatability of the shaft (4) results in that the shaft (4) rotates in the bait fish. The torque occurring in this instance is supported at the part of the bait fish (110) in which the electromotive drive device (3) is mounted. Since this part of the bait fish (110) has, in particular owing to the electromotive drive device (3), a substantially larger moment of inertia than the part of the bait fish (110) in which the shaft (4) is guided, it appears, viewed from the outside onto the bait fish (110), as if substantially only the part moves in which the shaft (4) is guided. This course of motion corresponds comparatively realistically to the movement pattern of a wriggling fish.