FISHING POLE ACCESSORY

• US 20090158635A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tackobox LLC
• Original Assignee: Tackobox LLC
• Inventors: HOPE, EDWARD
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/4.500
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/125 using electronic components

Abstract

A fish detection accessory to be installed on the end of a fishing pole or which alternately can be incorporated into a fishing pole during manufacture of the pole. The unit employs a miniature dual axis accelerometer integrated circuit that can detect angular rotation of the unit relative to the earth'"'"'s surface, allowing the unit to detect a fish bite based on vibration method, i.e. rotation of the pole per unit time, or on a rotation method, i.e. rotation of the pole independent of time. Bite detection sensitivity levels and alarm methods can be selected by the user using the power switch and two setting switches. The unit can also be used as a mini flashlight.

Claims

1. A fishing pole accessory that can be added to a fishing pole either before or after manufacture of the fishing pole comprising:

a miniature dual axis accelerometer integrated circuit for sensing tilt of the accessory,

said accelerometer integrated circuit functionally connected to a microcontroller that uses the input from the accelerometer integrated circuit to compute tilt of the accessory independent of time and compute tilt of the accessory per unit time, and

alarm means functionally connected to said microcontroller so that the microcontroller activates an alarm via the alarm means when a preset tilt or a preset tilt per unit time of the accessory is sensed by the accelerometer.

2. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 1 further comprising:

a battery functionally connected to and providing power for the accelerometer integrated circuit, the microcontroller and the alarm means.

3. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 2 further comprising:

three pressure sensitive switches provided on the accessory and functionally attached to the microprocessor so that the switches provide input to the microprocessor, and

said battery functionally connected to each of the pressure sensitive switches in order to provided power thereto.

4. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 3 wherein a first of the three pressure sensitive switches further comprises:

a first pressure sensitive power switch for turning power on an off to the accessory and for setting the operating method for the microprocessor to operate either in a vibration method where the microprocessor computes the rotation of the pole per unit time or in a rotation method where the microprocessor computes the rotation of the pole independent of time.

5. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 4 wherein a second of three pressure sensitive switches further comprises:

a second pressure sensitive alarm mode setting switch for setting the microprocessor to operate in audio alarm mode, in visual alarm mode, or in combined audio and visual alarm mode.

6. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 5 wherein a third of three pressure sensitive switches further comprises:

a third pressure sensitive sensitivity level setting switch for setting the sensitivity level of vibration or rotation needed by the microprocessor in order to trigger an alarm of the accessory'"'"'s alarm means.

7. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 6 further comprising:

a clear lens provided over the third LED so that the light it produces can be seen through the lens.

8. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 7 further comprising:

a case for housing the electronic portion of the accessory, three buttons provided on the case and overlying the three pressure sensitive switches so that the pressure sensitive switches are activated when the overlying buttons are pressed, and

said clear lens secured to said case.

9. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 4 further comprising:

a first LED and a second LED surrounding the power switch as background light to indicate power up status of the accessory.

10. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 1 wherein the alarm means further comprises:

a speaker for providing an auditory alarm and a third LED for providing a visual alarm.

11. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 1 further comprising:

ports provided on the accessory that are functionally connected to the microprocessor by which programs can be downloaded to the microprocessor.

12. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for securing the accessory to a fishing pole

13. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 12 wherein the means for securing the accessory to a fishing pole further comprising:

a pair of ears defining a slot therebetween to removably receive a fishing pole, and

a sleeve for removably slipping over the ears to secure the fishing pole within the slot defined by the pair of ears.

14. A fishing pole accessory that can be added to a fishing pole either before or after manufacture of the fishing pole comprising:

a miniature dual axis accelerometer integrated circuit for sensing tilt of the accessory, said accelerometer integrated circuit connected to a microcontroller that uses the input from the accelerometer integrated circuit to compute tilt of the accessory independent of time and compute tilt of the accessory per unit time, a battery functionally connected to the accessory and providing power for the accessory and its components, ports provided on the accessory that are functionally connected to the microprocessor by which programs can be downloaded to the microprocessor,

a speaker functionally attached to the microcontroller so that the microcontroller controls the tones produced by the speaker in response to inputs from the accelerometer integrated circuit and the accessory'"'"'s three pressure sensitive switches,

said three pressure sensitive switches being a power switch, an alarm mode switch and a sensitivity switch, each of said pressure sensitive switches functionally connected to the microcontroller,

a first LED and a second LED surrounding the power switch as a background light to indicate power status of the accessory, and

a third LED located at a front end of the accessory to provide a visual alarm and to serve as a mini-flashlight.

15. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 14 further comprising:

a case for housing the electronic portion of the accessory, three buttons provided on the case and overlying the three pressure sensitive switches,

a first of the three buttons overlying the power switch, a second of the three buttons overlying the alarm mode setting switch, and a third of the three buttons overlying the sensitivity level setting switch, the case being constructed of a material so that the background light produced by the first and second LEDs can be seen through the case, and

a clear lens provided at the front end of the case so that the third LED can be seen through the lens.

16. A fishing pole accessory according to claim 15 further comprising:

means for securing the case to a fishing pole comprising a pair of ears defining a slot therebetween to removably receive a fishing pole, and

a sleeve for removably slipping over the ears to secure the fishing pole within the slot defined by the pair of ears.

17. A method for providing an alarm that a fish is biting comprising:

activating a power switch on the accessory to turn power on to a fishing pole accessory that is secured to a fishing pole,

adjusting the settings for the accessory including setting the operating method for the accessory to operate either in a vibration method where a microprocessor contained within the accessory computes the rotation of the pole per unit time or in a rotation method where the microprocessor computes the rotation of the pole independent of time, setting the alarm mode for the accessory to operate in audio alarm mode, in visual alarm mode, or in combined audio and visual alarm mode, and setting the sensitivity level of vibration or rotation needed by the accessory in order to trigger an alarm on the accessory,

receiving a bite on the fishing pole resulting in movement of the fishing pole which is sensed by a dual axis accelerometer provided in the accessory and analyzed by the microprocessor and compared with the previously adjusted settings of the accessory, and

activating an alarm that is visual, auditory or visual and auditory when the movement of the fishing pole exceeds a previously adjusted setting of the accessory.