# US 7,406,796 B1 · Diver and planer fishing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,406,796 B1 - Document ID: US7406796B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/062,071 - Filed: 2005-02-18 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-18 - Inventors: Alexander W. Koch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7406796B1 ## CPC - A01K 91/08: Trolling devices - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A fishing device that can act in one mode as either a diver or side diver, and in a second mode as a side sub-surface planer. The device includes a top plate, a curved bottom plate joined at their leading and trailing edges. Side plates are attached to the right and left sides of the top and bottom plates to thereby form a watertight compartment. A keel member is mounted on the curved bottom plate in a manner adapted to allow the keel member to be adjusted and held at any position between substantial abutment with the bottom edge of the right side plate and substantial abutment with the bottom edge of the left side plate. A keel weight is attached to the keel member. To cause the device to act in its second mode, a planer mode arm is removably attached to one of the side plates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fishing device comprising: a top plate, a curved bottom plate, said top and bottom plates having leading and trailing ends and right and left sides, said top and bottom plates being joined at their leading and trailing ends; right and left side plates attached to the right and left sides of said top and bottom plates to thereby form a watertight compartment adapted to provide flotation ability to said device when said device is not being trolled, said right and left side plates having leading and trailing ends and top and bottom edges; a keel member mounted on said curved bottom plate in a manner adapted to allow said keel member to be adjusted and held at any position throughout an arc of substantially 180 degrees between substantial abutment with the bottom edge of said right side plate and substantial abutment with the bottom edge of said left side plate; a keel weight attached to said keel member; and a support member for attaching said fishing device to a fishing line and means for attaching said fishing device to a fishing lure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fishing device of claim 1 wherein said curved bottom plate has a curved portion adjacent its leading end and a substantially flat portion extending from said curved portion to said trailing end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fishing device of claim 2 wherein said keel member has an upper edge attached to a pivot rod, said pivot rod being releasably locked within a pivot rod holder attached to the bottom of said curved bottom plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fishing device of claim 3 wherein said pivot rod holder is attached to the bottom of said curved bottom plate at a location adjacent the juncture of said flat portion and said curved portion thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fishing device of claim 1 wherein the planes of said top plate and the substantially flat portion of said bottom plate are at an angle of about 8 degrees to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fishing device of claim 1 wherein said side plates are substantially rectangular in shape and substantially the same size. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fishing device of claim 1 wherein said support member for attaching said fishing device to a fishing line is attached to said top plate at a location adapted to provide an angle between the plane of said top plate and the direction of travel of about 20 degrees when said device is moving through the water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fishing device of claim 1 including a planer mode arm releasably attached to either said right side plate or said left side plate adjacent its leading end, said planer mode arm including an attachment plate for releasably attaching said planer mode arm to said side plate, a strut extending upwardly from said attachment plate, and a planer ski attached to the upper end of said strut. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fishing device of claim 8 wherein said planer ski is inclined at an upwardly facing angle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fishing device of claim 9 wherein said upwardly facing angle is about 20 degrees. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The fishing device of claim 8 wherein said attachment plate includes slots adapted to receive the top and bottom edges of said side plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fishing device of claim 11 wherein said attachment plate includes a stop member adapted to abut the leading ends of said side plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fishing device of claim 1 including a fixed strut having a leading edge that is angled upwardly, said fixed strut extending forwardly from said keel member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fishing device of claim 13 wherein said keel member has an upper edge, and said fixed strut extends forwardly from said keel member adjacent said upper edge.