Downrigger apparatus with sound emitting device

• US 20060016117A1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric E. Aanenson
• Original Assignee: Eric E. Aanenson
• Inventors: Aanenson, Eric E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/27.400
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 91/08 Trolling devices

Abstract

A downrigger apparatus to hold a fishing line at a selected fishing depth in game fish inhabited water, and a sound emitting device attached to the downrigger cable of the downrigger apparatus. The downrigger apparatus includes a reel and a downrigger cable spooled on the reel. The free end of the downrigger cable extends to a depth beyond the selected fishing depth. A downrigger weight is attached at the free end of the cable. A sound emitting device is attached to the downrigger cable and emits sounds attractive to the fish. Sound waves travel through the water a range extending beyond the visual range of the fish. Fish, although out of visual range of the lure, detect the sound and travel toward the source. The fish eventually comes in to visual range of the lure being trolled behind the fishing boat. The fish is attracted to and takes the lure. The sound emitting device can generate intermittent sounds. There can be a period of silence, for example a 25 second silence interval, followed by a sound emitting period, for example five seconds. The sound emitting device is effective to attract fish at those depths where darkness greatly impedes the visual range of the fish. The sound emitting device can be powered by a rechargeable battery pack.

Claims

1. A downrigger apparatus to hold a fishing line at a selected fishing depth in water inhabited by sport fish, comprising:

a downrigger reel that can be connected to a boat;

a length of downrigger cable spooled on the reel with a free end that can be extended into the water to a depth that is a function of the selected fishing depth;

a fishing line release clip attached to the downrigger cable at a location on the cable that is approximately at the selected fishing depth when the downrigger cable is spooled into the water;

a sound emitting device attached to the downrigger cable at a location on the cable so as to be submerged in the water when the free end is extended into the water said depth that is a function of the selected fishing depth;

said sound emitting device including;

a waterproof housing;

a battery pack installed in the housing;

a sound generator installed in the housing that can generate a sound that is attractive to game fish;

a timing circuit installed in the housing connected to the sound generator, the timing circuit configured so that the sound generator will intermittently generate a sound with intervals of silence between periods of sound; and

an on/off switch circuit in the housing connected between the battery pack and the sound generator to selectively turn the power from the battery pack on and off.

2. The downrigger apparatus of claim 1 including:

an epoxy resin filling the interior space of the housing and encapsulating the items therein.

3. The downrigger apparatus of claim 1 including:

a trolling weight attached to the end of the downrigger cable.

4. The downrigger apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the on/off switch circuit includes a magnetically actuated reed switch operable through the use of a magnet held exteriorly to the housing.

5. The downrigger apparatus of claim 4 including:

an epoxy resin filling the interior space of the housing and encapsulating the items therein.

6. The downrigger apparatus of claim 1 including:

a downrigger boom having one end connected to the downrigger reel;

said downrigger cable being trained over the end of the downrigger boom opposite the reel.

7. The downrigger apparatus of claim 1 including:

a lamp installed in the housing and connected to the timer circuit so that it is energized when the timer circuit is active.

8. The downrigger apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the timer circuit is configured to sequentially energize the sound generator for about a five second interval followed by about a 25 second interval of silence.

9. The downrigger apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the on/off switch circuit includes a magnetically actuated reed switch operable through the use of a magnet held exteriorly to the housing.

10. The downrigger apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

said battery pack includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries and has first and second terminals.

11. The outrigger apparatus of claim 10 including:

a tube installed centrally in the housing and extending substantially from end-to-end therein, said tube having open ends at outer ends of the housing, said tube accommodating a section of the downrigger cable when the housing is installed on the downrigger cable.

12. The outrigger apparatus of claim 11 including:

a battery recharging circuit for recharging the batteries of the battery pack when the sound generating device is removed from the outrigger cable;

said battery recharging circuit including said tube, said tube being formed of an electrically conductive metal and being divided into first and second tube sections separated by an electrically insulating gap, each tube section having a accessible end open at an outer end of the housing;

a first battery pack lead connected to the first tube section and connected to the first terminal of the battery pack;

a second battery pack lead connected to the second tube section and connected to the second terminal of the battery pack;

a battery charger having a first battery charger lead and a second battery charger lead;

said first battery charger lead connectable to the accessible end of the first tube section, and said second battery charger lead connectable to the accessible end of the second battery charger lead whereby the battery pack can be recharged with the first and second battery leads connected to the first and second tube sections.

13. The downrigger apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

said first and second battery charger leads have banana plug terminals to fit into the accessible ends of the first and second tube sections.

14. The downrigger apparatus of claim 13 including:

an epoxy resin filling the interior space of the housing and encapsulating the items therein.

15. The downrigger apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the on/off switch circuit includes a magnetically actuated reed switch operable through the use of a magnet held exteriorly to the housing;

said battery pack including a plurality of rechargeable batteries and having first and second terminals.

16. The downrigger apparatus of claim 15 including:

a tube installed centrally in the housing and extending substantially from end-to-end therein, said tube having open ends at outer ends of the housing, said tube accommodating a section of the downrigger cable when the housing is installed on the downrigger cable.

17. The downrigger apparatus of claim 16 including:

a battery recharging circuit for recharging the batteries of the battery pack when the sound generating device is removed from the outrigger cable;

said battery recharging circuit including said tube, said tube being formed of an electrically conductive metal and being divided into first and second tube sections separated by an-electrically insulating gap, each tube section having a accessible end open at an outer end of the housing;

a first battery pack lead connected to the first tube section and connected to the first terminal of the battery pack;

a second battery pack lead connected to the second tube section and connected to the second terminal of the battery pack;

a battery charger having a first battery charger lead and a second battery charger lead;

said first battery charger lead connectable to the accessible end of the first tube section, and said second battery charger lead connectable to the accessible end of the second battery charger lead whereby the battery pack can be recharged with the first and second battery leads connected to the first and second tube sections.

18. The downrigger apparatus of claim 17 including:

an epoxy resin filling the interior space of the housing and encapsulating the items therein.

19. The downrigger apparatus of claim 18 including:

a trolling weight connected to the free end of the downrigger cable.

20. The downrigger apparatus of claim 19 including:

a downrigger boom having one end connected to the downrigger reel;

said downrigger cable being trained over the end of the downrigger boom opposite the reel.

21. A sound emitting device for attachment to a downrigger cable of a downrigger apparatus of the type for holding a fishing line at approximately a selected fishing depth in water inhabited by game fish, comprising:

a housing;

a battery pack installed in the housing;

a sound generator installed in the-housing that can generate a sound that is attractive to game fish;

a timing circuit installed in the housing connected to the sound generator, the timing circuit configured so that the sound generator will intermittently generate a sound with intervals of silence between periods of sound;

an on/off switch circuit in the housing connected between the battery pack and the sound generator to selectively turn the power from the battery pack on and off; and

an epoxy resin filling the interior space of the housing and encapsulating the items therein.

22. The sound emitting device of claim 21 wherein:

the on/off switch circuit includes a magnetically actuated reed switch operable through the use of a magnet held exteriorly to the housing.

23. The sound emitting device of claim 21 including:

a lamp installed in the housing and connected to the timer circuit so that it is energized when the timer circuit is active.

24. The sound emitting device of claim 21 wherein:

the timer circuit is configured to sequentially energize the sound generator for about a five second interval followed by about a 25 second interval of silence.

25. The sound emitting device of claim 21 wherein:

said battery pack includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries and has first and second terminals.

26. The sound emitting device of claim 25 including:

a tube installed centrally in the housing and extending substantially from end-to-end therein, said tube having open ends at outer ends of the housing, said tube accommodating a section of the downrigger cable when the housing is installed on the downrigger cable.

27. The sound emitting device of claim 26 including:

a battery recharging circuit for recharging the batteries of the battery pack when the sound generating device is removed from the outrigger cable;

said battery recharging circuit including said tube, said tube being formed of an electrically conductive metal and being divided into first and second tube sections separated by an electrically insulating gap, each tube section having a accessible end open at an outer end of the housing;

a first battery pack lead connected to the first tube section and connected to the first terminal of the battery pack;

a second battery pack lead connected to the second tube section and connected to the second terminal of the battery pack;

a battery charger having a first battery charger lead and a second battery charger lead;

said first battery charger lead connectable to the accessible end of the first tube section, and said second battery charger lead connectable to the accessible end of the second battery charger lead whereby the battery pack can be recharged with the first and second battery leads connected to the first and second tube sections.

28. The sound emitting apparatus of claim 27 wherein:

said first and second battery charger leads have banana plug terminals to fit into the accessible ends of the first and second tube sections.

29. The sound emitting device of claim 28 wherein:

the on/off switch circuit includes a magnetically actuated reed switch operable through the use of a magnet held exteriorly to the housing.