Fish Trap

Abstract

An ice fishing trap comprising in its operational state a crossbeam dimensioned for extending across a hole in ice covering a body of water, and a hingedly coupled vertical mast. The vertical mast has a rotatable reel dimensioned to carry a length of fishing line and a hook. A trigger mechanism is provided, wherein a rotation of the reel causes an arcuate movement of a trigger hook. One aspect of the invention provides at least two stabilizer limbs hingedly coupled to the crossbeam, so as to form a general Z shaped support base when operational. In another aspect the fishing trap provides a trigger bolt coupled to an indicator spring, wherein the trigger bolt is utilized to couple the indicator spring to the trigger hook. The trigger bolt is slidingly supported by bolt guide, thus providing improved resistance to false indications due wind vibration and the like. Preferably, the trigger bolt is coupled to the indicator spring by a ring shaped coupler.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to ice fishing traps, and more particularly to an ice fishing trap having an improved stability and more resistant to false indicationsBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Ice fishing traps, also know as fishing tip-ups are well known in the art. They are used for fishing through a hole in ice layer covering a body of water such as a river or a lake. The common trap comprises a vertical mast and at least one horizontal crossbeam. The horizontal beam is laid across the hole in the ice, and acts as a base to support the trap. The lower portion of the vertical mast is equipped with a reel having a length of fishing line terminating with a fish hook. A trigger mechanism is provided, which is commonly activated by the reel in response to a fish taking the bait on the hook, becoming hooked, and attempting to escape. The trigger is configured to release a flag, or to activate an indicator, so as to provide a visual and / or aural indic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]It is further an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a fish providing reliable indication of trapped fish while avoiding false indications. To that end, there is provided a fish trap comprising an elongated crossbeam having two opposing ends, and an elongated mast hingedly coupled at hinge point to the crossbeam such that in operational disposition the crossbeam is supported horizontally and the mast having an upper portion extending above the crossbeam and a lower portion extending below said crossbeam. The mast having a spool rotatably coupled thereto at its lower portion, the spool having a tab extending therefrom. The spool is dimensioned to receive a length of fishing line and a hook. A trigger rod extends upwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion of the mast. The trigger rod is mounted such that it is free to rotate in an arc about its longitudinal axis. The trigger rod has an elbow at its lower end, and a trigger hook at its upper end, wherein the reel tab and the elbow are situated such that when said trigger rod is an armed state, and the reel rotates, such as for example due to a fish taking the bait and attempting to escape while hooked, the tab will engage and impart motion to the elbow. A resilient tip-up signaling indicator having a proximal and distal end, the proximal end coupled to the mast near its top when the trap is in operational disposition. A trigger bolt has a retainer coupled to the signaling indicator, a hook receiver dimensioned to receive at least a portion of said trigger hook, and a stabilizer end. The trigger bolt is used to couple the signaling indicator to the trigger hook when the trap is armed. A bolt guide dimensioned to receive the stabilizer end of the trigger bolt is further provided, to better stabilize trigger mechanism against vibration and / or motion of the signaling indicator. The trigger hook is situated to engage hook receiver in the trigger bolt and to retain the signaling indicator while the trap is in an armed state.

Problems solved by technology

While common, this arrangement suffers from the disadvantage of over sensitivity, as several factors may cause a false indication.

The most common of those factors is wind induced motion and / or vibration, which operates to release the spring, causing a false indication of a caught fish.

These arrangements suffer from the disadvantages of obstructing view within the hole, and poor stability, as well as interfering with access to the ice hole, needed to break newly formed ice.

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