US 11,864,531 B1
Fish bite indicator
James M. Kowalski, Nanticoke, PA (US); and David D. McClanahan, Harleysville, PA (US)
Assigned to ACTIVE OUTDOORS LLC, Glen Lyon, PA (US)
Filed by ACTIVE OUTDOORS LLC, Glen Lyon, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/134,797.
Application 17/134,797 is a continuation of application No. 16/809,776, filed on Mar. 5, 2020, granted, now 10,874,094.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01K 97/12 (2006.01); A01K 87/02 (2006.01); G08B 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 97/125 (2013.01) [A01K 87/02 (2013.01); G08B 7/06 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fish bite indicator comprising:
a) a housing;
b) a pivot arm that extends out from the housing and is configured to pivot with respect to the housing when a fish pulls a fishing line;
c) a Y-shaped line retainer coupled to said pivot arm and configured to retain a fishing line therein, said line retainer comprising a line wedge to retain the fishing line;
wherein the line wedge is folded and retained in the line retainer to form a line wedge crease that is configured to retain the fishing line therein;
wherein the line wedge is soft elastomeric material having a shore OO value of 100 or less;
wherein a position of the fishing line in the line wedge crease is adjustable, wherein a deeper position of the fishing line into the line wedge crease requires more force to release said fishing line from the line wedge; and
wherein the line retainer is configured to swivel about the pivot arm to allow for disengaging the fishing line from the line wedge when an angler manipulates a fishing rod with said fishing line attached thereto;
d) an indicator;
e) a battery;
f) a pair of electrical contacts configured inside of the housing and coupled to said pivot arm and coupled to said battery; and
g) a circuit contact configured to contact the electrical contacts when the pivot arm rotates to an indicator angle to complete an electrical circuit between the electrical contacts and the battery;
wherein the indicator is configured to turn on when the pivot arm rotates to said indicator angle to complete said electrical circuit;
h) a drag knob coupled to the pivot arm comprising a torsional spring;
wherein said torsional spring is configured to wind about the pivot arm when the drag knob is turned to adjust the tension of the fishing line required to rotate the pivot arm to said indicator angle; and
i) a clamp configured to couple the fish bite indicator to said fishing rod or a secondary fixed item;
wherein the pivot arm is configured to rotate with respect to the housing when the fishing line is pulled to release the fishing line from the line wedge.