Buoyant transducer assembly for assisting an angler

• US 5,887,376 A
• Filed: 01/09/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Navico Incorporated (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lowrance Electronics Incorporated (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Currier, Jon David, Jopling, Kenton Sterling
• Primary Examiner(s): HAIL, JOSEPH J
• Application Number:
  US08/781,182
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 43/16, 43/4, 43/19, 43/17, 43/19.2, 43/15, 43/17.1, 367/107, 367/93, 367/96, 367/97, 367/99, 367/108, 367/173, 367/910
• US Class Current: 43/17
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/00 Accessories for angling fish stringers A01K65/00; landing-nets or landing-spoons for fishing A01K77/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/91 Portable sonar devices

Abstract

A buoyant transducer assembly which may be attached to a fishing pole for providing signals indicative of objects, such as fish, within the water. The buoyant transducer assembly includes a sonar transducer supported by a float. The float has a central hub defining a downward opened recess for receiving the transducer and diametrically opposing buoyant cells for supporting the float upon the water. The float is positioned upon the water such that a predetermined portion of the float which has a surface area significantly larger than the surface area of the transducer contacts the water, thereby stabilizing the transducer and maintaining the transducer in a predetermined position relative to the body of water.

Claims

1. A fishing device for assisting an angler by detecting objects within a body of water, said device comprising:

an elongate fishing pole having opposed proximal and distal ends;

a flexible fishing line extending along said pole from said proximal end to a first distal location, said fishing line continuing beneath said first distal location so as to extend beneath the surface of the water to an end portion for supporting a fishing hook;

a flexible cable adapted to be manipulated independent of said fishing line and having a first end in communication with an output device for providing indicia relating to objects detected within the water, said cable extending from the output device and along said fishing pole to a second distal location which is spaced apart by a predetermined distance from said first distal location, said cable continuing beneath said second distal location so that a second end of said cable is at least adjacent the water surface;

a float positioned on said second end of said cable whereby said fishing hook may be manipulated independently from said float; and

a sonar transducer, supported by said float and operably connected to said cable, for providing signals indicative of objects within the water, said float having a predetermined surface area and a predetermined weight which stabilizes said transducer such that said transducer consistently provides signals indicative of objects within the water.

2. A fishing device according to claim 1 wherein the output device is a visual display.

3. A fishing device according to claim 1 wherein said fishing pole comprises a plurality of incrementally-sized segments which are nested to form a telescoping fishing pole having a first, retracted position for storing and transporting the fishing device and a second, extended position for fishing.

4. A fishing device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one fastener for fastening said cable to said fishing pole.

5. A fishing device according to claim 1 wherein said float comprises a hub defining a downwardly opened recess and at least one buoyant cell disposed outwardly from said hub, and wherein said transducer has an emitting surface and is disposed within said downwardly opened recess defined by said hub such that said emitting surface is submerged within the water so as to transmit sonar signals through the water and to receive echo signals reflected from objects within or beneath the water.

6. A fishing device according to claim 5 wherein said at least one buoyant cell defines an aperture which forms a handle for transporting said float and for reducing the weight thereof.

7. A fishing device according to claim 5 wherein said hub and said at least one buoyant cell define at least one recess configured to receive a portion of said flexible cable wrapped about said float.

8. A fishing device according to claim 1 wherein said float is substantially disc-shaped and is substantially defined by a central hub for supporting said transducer and at least one buoyant cell extending radially outward of said central hub.