Adjustable Line Float

This invention relates generally to fishing equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to fishing line floats.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable line float which may be used with a casting rod or the like, and where after a long cast is made a certain depth water can be reached by a hook.

Other objects are to provide an adjustable line float which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is an elevational assembly view in partial section of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, disassembled view in partial section of the components thereof, with the reel, cover, and trigger rotated 90.degree. for clarity in illustration; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spool shown alone.

References now made to the drawing in detail, wherein the reference numeral 10 represents an adjustable line float according to the present invention. The same is shown to include a spool 11 which is contained within a float housing 12 and which includes a float housing cover 13 which is of generally semi-cylindrical shape.

The adjustable line float housing 12 includes a floatation chamber 14 shown in FIG. 2, sealed by cover 13 and is provided near its bottom with an open chamber 30 having a centrally disposed post 15. In this embodiment the post 15 includes a slot 16 which, after the spool 11 is mounted by its central hub 31 on post 15, will accept suitable fastening means such as a spring clip 17 which snappingly engages in bore 32 of the post 15. The spool 11 also includes secondary line length adjustment means, such as two slots 18 and 19 which extend from a peripheral edge thereof. The slots extending radially in a direction toward a center of the spool and serve as a restraining means for a preselected length of the line 33 wound on spool 11 with the free end of line 33 being fed through aperture 34 in the side of open chamber 30, toward the lower end of the float as viewed in the drawings for purposes set forth hereinafter.

The present invention also includes a shaft 35 depending from the housing 12 and carrying a trigger 20 and fastening means such as a trigger supporting pin 21, as well as an axially moveable locking and release collar 22. The shaft 35 includes an angularly disposed slot 29 opening through the end shaft 35 in a direction opposite to an angular notch 26 in trigger 20.

It is to be noted that the present adjustable line float is to be used with a casting rod or the like, carrying a line 36 fixed at its free end to an apertured flange 37 at the top of housing 12. Wherever a long cast is necessary and a certain depth of water is to be attained, the float 10 is cast out and secondary line 33 is fed out, as set forth hereinafter.

In the present invention, the spool 11 holds the secondary fishing line 33. The upper part of the float housing 12 comprises a float chamber 14 while the bottom is recessed to form open chamber 30 for accepting the spool 11. The cover 13 sealingly closes chamber 14 to form a sealed hollow floatation means capable of suspending the float 10 on the surface of the water. The cover 13 can be attached to housing 12 by suitable means such as by adhesive, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing or other known means. The spool holds the secondary fishing line 33 which can be adjusted to a desired depth length by means of the two adjusting slots 18 and 19 where a loop is made in the fishing line 33. The trigger 20 is held in place within a slot 23 by means of suitable fastening means, such as the retaining threaded pin 21 fitted through threaded opening 24.

The free end of secondary fishing line 33 wound on the spool 11 is equipped with a ring 38. Before a cast is made, the line 33 is retrieved through aperture 34 to the spool 11 by rotating spool 11 by means of the finger tipped hole 25 provided in the face of spool 11. The collar 22 is then moved upwardly to retracted position and trigger 20 moved laterally to expose trigger notch 26 and a transverse slot 29 in shaft 35. The ring 38 is now placed in the trigger notch 26 and the cooperating transverse slot 29 in shaft 35. The locking and release collar 22 is then dropped over the trigger 20 to close slot 29 and notch 26 to lock ring 38 in position. It is understood that ring 38 is fastened to a weighted sinker 39, a lead 40 and a hook 41 of a preselected variety. The float is thus ready for a cast. When the float hits the water, the locking and release collar moves upward, releasing the trigger, and the ring thus drops out of the trigger notch, so that the line is thus free to run out from the spool under the weight of the sinker 40 and positions the hook 41 to the depth to which line 33 is set. Thus, adjustable secondary line 33 connected to float 10 will bob on the surface until a fish bites the bait on hook 41 dragging the float 10 below the surface indicating that line 36 should be activated to bring in the catch.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by appended claims.