US 4,000,653 AGranted

Trolling apparatus

AssigneeJames E. Reith

InventorsWilliam M. Booth, James E. Rieth

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A trolling reel for raising and lowering a weighted control line to which a fishing line is detachably secured includes an electrically operated drive motor coupled to the reel for positioning the control line at a desired depth and securely holding the line when the motor is not actuated. The trolling apparatus is directly or remotely controlled and includes means indicating the length of control line extended. In one embodiment, control means are provided for fully raising the line by momentarily actuating a switch. In another embodiment, the control line is fabricated from a two-conducter electrical cable with a thermistor coupled to an end of the line which is extended at an angle from the lowered line by a spool to position the thermistor in proximity to the fishing lure. A remote temperature reading instrument is coupled to the control line through a slip ring assembly positioned on the reel and reel frame.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A trolling apparatus adapted for mounting to a boat to pay out and retrieve a line in the water comprising:

a reel frame;
a line reel and a reel shaft coupled between said reel frame and said line reel for rotatably mounting said line reel to said reel frame, said line reel having a peripheral channel for holding a line therein;
line guide means coupled at one end to said reel frame and extending therefrom;
a line anchored at one end to said reel and guidably supported by said guide means as it is extended and retracted to and from said reel;
drive means coupled to said line reel for extending and retracting said line from said line reel;
a line comprising an electrical cable having a pair of conductors wherein one end of said line has temperature sensing means coupled thereto and the end of said line anchored to said reel is coupled to a slip ring assembly positioned on said reel frame to provide fixed electrical contacts communicating with said temperature sensing means wherein said slip ring assembly includes a disc of insulating material having a pair of spaced annular electrical contacts on one face thereof, said disc positioned on one end of said rotatable reel shaft and having said annular contacts coupled to said conductors of said electrical cable;
a pair of fixed contact arms each positioned to continuously contact one of said annular contacts as said reel shaft rotates;
and
temperature indicating means coupled to said fixed contacts to provide a reading of the temperature of the sensing means.

6 more elements

A combined trolling reel and water temperature reading apparatus to be mounted on a boat for suspending a fishing line therefrom at a desired water depth or temperature, said apparatus comprising:

a trolling reel mounted on a shaft for holding and paying out or retrieving a control line to which a fishing line is releasably attached;
a reel frame rotatably holding said reel shaft;
drive means coupled to said reel shaft for rotating said reel in first or second directions;
indicating means coupled to said reel to indicate the length of control line payed out;
a control line fabricated from a two-conductor electrical cable and anchored at one end to said reel;
temperature sensing means coupled to the electrical conductors extending to the other end of said control line;
a slip ring assembly including a pair of movable contacts comprising a pair of spaced rings of conductive material positioned on an insulated disc attached to one end of said reel shaft, means coupling said electrical conductors of said control line at said one end to said movable contacts, said slip ring assembly further including a pair of fixed contacts positioned to contact said movable contacts;
temperature indicating means adapted to operate with said temperature sensing means;
and
means coupling said temperature indicating means to said temperature sensing means.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/623,732Filed 20 Oct 1975 · continuation in part
Priority: 24 Jul 1972
Granted: 4 Jan 1977
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

B65H 75/425
Attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools, machines or vehicles: attached to, or forming part of a vehicle, e.g. truck, trailer, vessel
A01K 91/08
Apparatus on lines not otherwise provided for, e.g. automatic hookers: trolling devices
B65H 75/4484
Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material: electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding…
B65H 75/4486
Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material: electric motors