Abstract
A fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator includes a trunk, a limb and first means for engaging a segment of the fishing line. The trunk may include a weighted first end and a buoyant second end such that when in use, the weighted first end is below the surface of the water and the buoyant second end is above the surface of the water substantially above the first end. The limb has a first end affixed to the trunk proximate to the second end of the trunk and extending radially outwardly therefrom. The first means for engaging a segment of the fishing line is positioned proximate to a second free end of the limb. When a fish strikes the hook at the end of the line and continues swimming, the limb rotates in the direction in which the fish is swimming providing a visual indicator to the angler.
Claims
1. A fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator for attachment to a fishing line, said bobber comprising: a. a trunk having a weighted first end and a buoyant second end such that when in use, the weighted first end is below the surface of the water and the buoyant second end is above the surface of the water substantially above the first end; b. a limb having a first end affixed to said trunk proximate to the second end of the trunk and extending radially outwardly therefrom; c. first means for engaging a segment of the fishing line proximate to a second free end of the limb; and d. second means for engaging a second segment of fishing line, said second means for engaging positioned proximate to the first end of the limb and extending across a longitudinal centerline of the trunk to create a pivot point, wherein said first line segment engaging means engages a segment of the fishing line that is closer to a hook at a terminal end of the fishing line, and said second line segment engaging means engages a segment of the fishing line that is closer to a rod from which the fishing line emanates.
2. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein the trunk is hollow and includes a plurality of openings in an outer surface thereof between said first weighted end and said second buoyant end.
3. The fishing bobber according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of openings are a plurality of vertical slots.
4. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein the trunk is a cylinder having a first sealed cap at the first weighted end and a second sealed cap at the second buoyant end.
5. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 further comprising a sealed air pocket at the second buoyant end of the trunk for providing buoyancy to the bobber.
6. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein the trunk if formed from a plastic material and the plastic material at the first weighted end has a density greater than the density of the first end of the trunk.
7. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein the limb extends radially outwardly from the trunk in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the trunk.
8. (canceled)
9. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein the limb extends radially outwardly from the trunk at a downward angle toward the first weighted end of the trunk.
10. (canceled)
11. The fishing bobber according to claim 9 wherein said first fishing line segment engaging means and said second fishing line segment engaging means each comprise a line eye to which the respective segments of fishing line are secured.
12. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein the limb extends radially outwardly from the trunk at an upward angle away from the first weighted end of the trunk.
13. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein said first fishing line segment engaging means comprises a line eye to which the segment of fishing line is secured.
14. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 further comprising a sleeve that is removably attached to an outer surface of said limb proximate to the second end thereof, said sleeve configured to fix the line to the bobber.
15. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 wherein said first fishing line segment engaging means comprises an opening in said limb through which the line passes and said second fishing line segment engaging means comprises a line eye through which the line passes.
16. The fishing bobber according to claim 15 further comprising a sleeve that is removably attached to an outer surface of said limb proximate to the second end thereof, said sleeve configured to fix the line to the bobber.
17. The fishing bobber according to claim 1 further comprising a weighted magnet located at the weighted first end of the trunk, said magnet providing both weigh and means for removably attaching additional weights.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator according to one presently preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator according to a first alternative embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator according to a second alternative embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 5A is a top view of the fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator shown in FIG. 1 prior to a fish strike.
[0026] FIG. 5B is a top view of the fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5A after a fish has struck the hook and moved to the left.
[0027] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator shown in FIG. 6A shown here in a partially assembled configuration.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator according to a further alternative preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fishing bobber with directional buoyancy indicator according to a further alternative preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the embodiments described herein, reference is now made to the drawings and descriptions in the following written specification. No limitation to the scope of the subject matter is intended by the references. This disclosure also includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles of the described embodiments as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this document pertains.
[0032] As best shown in FIG. 1, one presently preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a fishing bobber 10 with directional buoyancy indicator. The bobber 10 includes a trunk 12, a portion of which floats above the surface of the water, and a limb 14 extending radially outwardly from the trunk 12 at or near a top section 12a of the trunk 12 above the surface of the water. The trunk 12 may by cylindrically shaped. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom section 12c of the trunk 12 is weighted in order to ensure that the central axis of the trunk 12 is perpendicular to the surface of the water. The top section 12a of the trunk 12 may include an air pocket 16 to keep the upper portion of the bobber floating above the surface of the water. The bottom section 12c of the trunk 12 can be weighted by forming it from a plastic or other material having a density greater than the density of the materials in the middle section 12b and upper section 12a of the trunk 12. The middle section 12b of the bobber trunk 12 may also include one or more openings 18 therein to allow water to pass through the bobber 10 thereby adding weight to the bottom section 12c of the trunk, and thus adding stability to the bobber 10.
[0033] A first line eye 20 may be located at or near the top surface of the trunk 12 and a second line eye 22 may be located at or near the free end of the limb 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the bobber 10 is secured to the line L, by passing the through the first line eye 20, then through the second line eye 22 before it is connected to a hook H at the free end of the line L. The line L is secured to the bobber 10 at each of the line eyes 20, 22 and the depth of the hook H is determined by the fisherman by the length of line between the hook H and the second line eye 22. When a fish engages the hook H, the line L will be pulled tight and the free end of the limb 14 will rotate in the direction that the fish is taking the hook H.
[0034] The limb 14 of the bobber 10 shown in FIG. 2 extends radially outwardly from the trunk 12 and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunk 12 and substantially parallel to the surface S of the water. Preferably, the free end of the limb 14 is about 1.5 inches above the surface S when in use.
[0035] According to a first alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the limb 14 is angled downwardly toward the surface S of the water such that the free end of the limb 14 is closer to the surface S than the end that is affixed to the top of the trunk 12. In this embodiment, the free end of the limb 14 is also about 1.5 inches above the surface S when in use, while the end affixed to the trunk 12 is about 2.5 inches above the surface S.
[0036] A second alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, is useful for ice fishing where a hole is cut in the frozen surface I of a body of water leaving a small opening water surface S. Because the opening is small and the thickness of the ice may vary, the limb 14 is angled upwardly away from the surface S of the water such that the free end of the limb 14 is further from the surface S than the end that is affixed to the top of the trunk 12. In this embodiment, the free end of the limb 14 is also about 3 inches above the surface S when in use, while the end affixed to the trunk 12 is about 1.5 inches above the surface S. Also, when this embodiment is deployed, the line L need only pass through and be secured to the line eye 22 at the free end of the limb 14.
[0037] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B depict the bobber 10 in operation. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the is not a fish on the hook H, the limb 14 will essentially point in a neutral direction. However, as depicted in FIG. 5B, when a fish strikes the hook H and pulls it in a horizontal direction, the limb 14 will rotate in that direction indicating to the angler that there is a fish on the hook and what general direction that fish is swimming.
[0038] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show a bobber 110 according to a further preferred embodiment. The bobber 110 according to this embodiment is like the embodiments shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 5B wherein like reference numerals indicate like components. As in the prior embodiments, the bobber 110 includes a trunk 112, a portion of which floats above the surface of the water, and a limb 114 extending radially outwardly from the trunk 112 at or near a top section 112a of the trunk 112 above the surface of the water. The trunk 112 may include a diamond-shaped float 112b that is designed to float at the surface of the water when in use. The bottom section 112c of the trunk 112 may include a magnet embedded at or near the bottom thereof. Weight(s) can be added to the bobber 110 by adding additional magnets or metal discs 115 to the bottom of the trunk 112c. The magnet at the base of the trunk 112c releasably holds the magnet/weight 115 in place, thereby adding weight if desired. Additional magnets/weights 115 can be stacked on the first magnet/weight 115 to add additional weight if desired. The diamond shaped float section 112b of the trunk 112 may include an air pocket (not shown) to keep the upper portion of the bobber 110 floating above the surface of the water.
[0039] A first line eye 120 may be located at or near the top surface of the trunk 112 and an opening 122 extending through the limb 114 near the free end thereof is also provided. As shown in FIG. 6B, the bobber 110 is secured to the line L, by passing the line L through the first line eye 120, then through the opening 122 before it is connected to a hook (not shown) at the free end of the line L. Between the line eye 120 and the opening 122, the line L passes through a sleeve 124. As shown in FIG. 6A, once the length of line below the bobber 110 is selected by the fisherman, the sleeve 124 is then slid onto the end of the limb 114 thereby securing the line to the bobber 110.
[0040] FIG. 7 shows a bobber 210 according to a further preferred embodiment. The bobber 210 according to this embodiment is like the embodiments shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 6B wherein like reference numerals indicate like components. As in the prior embodiments, the bobber 210 includes a trunk 212, a portion of which floats above the surface of the water, and a limb 214 extending radially outwardly from the trunk 212 at or near a top section 212a of the trunk 212 above the surface of the water. The trunk 212 is generally a tapered cylinder that has a relatively large diameter at the top end 212a, and a smaller diameter at the bottom end 212c. The bottom end 212c of the trunk 212 may include a magnet 213 embedded at or near the bottom thereof. Weight(s) can be added to the bobber 210 by adding additional magnets or metal discs (not shown) to the bottom of the trunk 212c. The magnet at the base of the trunk 212c releasably holds the magnet/weight in place, thereby adding weight if desired.
[0041] FIG. 8 shows a bobber 310 according to a further preferred embodiment. The bobber 310 according to this embodiment is like the embodiments shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 7 wherein like reference numerals indicate like components. As in the prior embodiments, the bobber 310 includes a trunk 312, a portion of which floats above the surface of the water, and a limb 314 extending radially outwardly from the trunk 312 at or near a top section 312a of the trunk 312 above the surface of the water. The trunk 312 may include a half diamond-shaped float 312b that is designed to float at the surface of the water when in use. The lower section of the float resembles that of the diamond shaped float shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, but the upper portion is absent leaving a substantially flat top surface.
[0042] This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiment disclosed, is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become evident to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.
