Self orienting underwater camera

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/557,718, filed Apr. 25, 2000, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/813,363, filed Mar. 7, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,879), which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/013,125, filed Mar. 11, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to fishing and, more particularly, to an apparatus for viewing fish during fishing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In recent years, fishermen have taken advantage of technological advances to improve their performance. These advances include, for example, satellite services that provide up-to-the-minute ocean currents and water temperatures to better locate fish. Utilizing this information, modified radar systems are utilized to detect exact locations on the water and modified sonar is utilized to detect the exact location of fish in the water. Fishing poles are made out of space age materials for strength and sensitivity and computer designed lures imitate the exact motions of the prey they are modeled after.

In spite of these advances, fishermen still lack specific real time information regarding the fishing environment and the actions of any fish that are present. More specifically, there is no provision for detecting the presence and/or desirability of fish, the attractiveness of bait or lure to the fish, whether the rig is configured properly, whether the fish are striking the bait or merely taking investigatory nibbles, the proper time of applying a hooking yank, whether the fish is hooked and how aggressively the fish should be reeled in.

Heretofore, prior art solutions have been utilized to locate fish. However, these prior art devices do not enable a fisherman to obtain accurate information about the foregoing real time variables.

What is, therefore, need and not disclosed in the prior art is a submersible camera that can orient properly in a stream of water to view the bait receiving end of a fishing line to detect the presence and desirability of fish, the attractiveness of bait or lure to the fish, whether the rig is configured properly, whether the fish is striking the bait or lure or merely taking investigatory nibbles, the proper time to apply a hooking yank, whether the fish is hooked and how aggressively the fish should be reeled in.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an underwater fishing camera that includes a watertight housing having a transparent part and a video tube received in the watertight housing. The video tube has a light receiving part positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing. A cable is coupled to the watertight housing and the watertight housing and the cable are configured whereupon, when the watertight housing is suspended by the cable in a body of water moving relative to the watertight housing, the watertight housing is responsive to force(s) applied thereto by the water due to said relative movement such that the transparent part of the watertight housing faces in a downstream direction in the body of water moving relative to the watertight housing.

Desirably, the force(s) can be applied to one or more sides of the watertight housing. At least one fin can be attached to the watertight housing for orienting the housing generally parallel to a direction of the water moving relative to the watertight housing. The fin can be attached to the watertight housing adjacent the transparent part thereof. The water desirably moves relative to the watertight housing at a trolling speed.

The invention is also an underwater fishing camera that includes a watertight housing having a transparent part and a video tube received in the watertight housing. The video tube has a light receiving part positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing. A cable coupled to the watertight housing and the watertight housing and the cable are configured such that, when the watertight housing is suspended by the cable in a stream of water, the stream of water moving relative to the watertight housing applies one or more forces to the watertight housing that cause the watertight housing to orient in the stream of water with the transparent part of the watertight housing facing in a downstream direction in the stream of water.

Desirably, the one or more force(s) can be applied to one or more sides of the watertight housing. At least one fin can be attached to the watertight housing for orienting the housing generally parallel to a direction of the stream of water moving relative to the watertight housing. The fin can be attached to the watertight housing adjacent the transparent part thereof. Desirably, the stream of water moves relative to the watertight housing at a trolling speed.

Lastly, the invention is an underwater surveillance camera that includes a watertight housing having a transparent part and a video tube received in the watertight housing. The video tube has a light receiving input positioned to view through the transparent part of the watertight housing and a cable is coupled to the watertight housing. The watertight housing and the cable are configured such that, when the watertight housing is suspended by the cable in a body of water, the watertight housing is responsive to one or more forces applied thereto by movement of the water relative to the watertight housing such that the light receiving input of the video tube faces in a direction downstream in the water moving relative to the watertight housing.

The one or more force(s) can be applied to one or more sides of the watertight housing. At least one fin can be attached to the watertight housing for orienting the housing generally parallel to a direction the water moving relative to the watertight housing. The fin can be attached to the watertight housing adjacent the transparent part thereof. The water can move relative to the watertight housing at a trolling speed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a submersible camera;

FIGS. 2a-2c are side sectional views of the submersible camera of FIG. 1 attached to a video cable and an adjustment cable for adjusting the angle of the submersible camera;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the submersible camera of FIG. 1 attached to a fishing line and suspended in a body of water behind a moving boat; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the submersible camera of FIG. 1 attached to a fishing line and suspended in a body of moving water behind a stationary boat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A submersible camera 2 is connected to a video monitor 4 via a video cable 6. A video recorder 8 is optionally attached to the video monitor 4 for recording visual images displayed thereon. A microphone (not shown) is optionally attached to video recorder 8 to record narration of a human operator.

The submersible camera 2 includes a torpedo-shaped housing 9 having a support eyelet 10 attached adjacent one end thereof for attaching the housing 9 to the video cable 6. A fin 12 is attached to the end of the housing 9 opposite the support eyelet 10. The fin 12 extends radially outward from the housing 9. Attached to an edge of the fin 12 positioned away from the housing 9 is a swivel eyelet 14.

The side of the fin 12 adjacent the end of the housing 9 includes a slot 15 adapted to receive a light source 16 therein. The light source 16 is a submersible lightbulb or a lightbulb contained in a transparent housing (not shown).

A video tube or camera 18 is positioned inside the housing 9 with the longitudinal axis of the video tube 18 parallel with the longitudinal axis of the housing 9. Housing 9 is adapted to be watertight so that fluid, and in particular water, does not enter the housing 9 and come into contact with the video tube 18. The video tube 18 contains processing electronics (not shown) to convert video images received thereby to electronic signals. The electronic signals from the video tube 18 are transmitted to the video monitor 4 via the video cable 6. The video cable 6 is also utilized to provide power to the video tube 18 from a power supply 19 positioned remote from the housing 9. Alternatively, a power supply 19′ is positioned in the housing 9 to provide power to the video tube 18. The power supply 19 or 19′ can also provide power to the light source 16 and other gauges or devices carried by housing 9.

The end of the video tube 18 adjacent the fin 12 has a lens assembly 20 positioned thereon. The lens assembly 20 may include a fixed or replaceable lens for focusing the light received thereby onto a receiving array and/or an adjustable iris for controlling the amount of light received by the receiving array. The lens, adjustable iris and receiving array are omitted from FIG. 1 for simplicity. The end of the housing adjacent the lens assembly 20 is transparent so that light can pass therethrough from outside the housing 9 for receipt by the lens assembly 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2a-2c, an adjustment cable 22 is attached between a position on the video cable 6 between the support eyelet 10 and the video monitor 4 and the swivel eyelet 14. The length of the adjustment cable 22 and the attachment of the adjustment cable 22 to the video cable 6 may be fixed. Alternatively, the adjustment cable 22 can be extended between the swivel eyelet 14 and an adjustment position above the surface of the water via a cable eyelet 24 attached to the video cable 6 between the support eyelet 10 and the video monitor 4. In this embodiment, the angle of the camera 2 to view the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the adjustment cable 22 between the cable eyelet 24 and the swivel eyelet 14.

With reference to FIG. 3, the submersible camera 2 is suspended in a body of water via the video cable 6 attached to a downrigger 28 which is attached to a boat B. Also suspended in the water is a fishing line 30 having a lure or bait 31 received at a bait receiving end thereof. Attached between swivel eyelet 14 and the fishing line 30 is a release clip 34. The release clip 34 releasably secures the submersible camera 2 to the fishing line 30 so that the submersible camera 2 can observe the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30 when the camera 2 and the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30 are submerged. The release clip 34 enables the submersible camera 2 and fishing line 30 to be separated. More specifically, the release clip 34 separates the fishing line 30 from the submersible camera 2 in response to the application of a hooking yank to the fishing line 30. In this manner, once a fish is hooked to the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30, the submersible camera 2 can be disengaged from the fishing line 30 to avoid potential damage to the submersible camera 2 or entanglement with the video cable 6 by the fish F trying to free itself from the fishing line 30.

By observing the video monitor 4, the fisherman can determine the appropriate moment to apply a hooking yank. Moreover, by observing the bait 31, the fisherman can assess the desirability of the lure or live bait 31 to the fish F. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 9 of the submersible camera 2 may include additional fins 12′ which enable the angle of the camera 2 to be controlled. These extra fins 12′ may be fixed in position on the housing 9 or may be adjustable on the housing 9 to enable the angle of the housing 9 to be adjusted to suit a desired fishing environment, trolling speed or water current speed.

With reference to FIG. 4, boat B is held stationary on the surface of the water via anchor A. The submersible camera 2 is suspended in the body of water via the video cable 6 attached to the downrigger 28. A sinker S attached to support eyelet 10 is utilized to help maintain the position of the submersible camera 2 in the body of water. The fishing line 30 is also suspended in the body of water. The fishing line 30 has a lure or bait 31 attached to a bait receiving end thereof and is connected to a fishing pole 32 at an end opposite the bait receiving end In this embodiment, the adjustment cable 22 is connected between the swivel eyelet 14 and a position on the boat B via cable eyelet 24. The release clip 34 is releasably attached between the submersible camera 2 and the fishing line 30. A release line 40 is attached between the release clip 34 and a position above the surface of the water and, preferably, on the boat B. Applying tension of a sufficient extent to the release line 40 causes the release clip 34 to release the fishing line 30 from the submersible camera 2. In the absence of tension of sufficient extent on the release line 40, the submersible camera 2 and the fishing line 30 remain connected via the release clip 34. In this manner, when a fish F is hooked on the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30, the struggle of the fish F against the fishing line 30 can be observed and/or recorded as desired.

In use, the fishing line 30 is releasably connected to the submersible camera 2. The camera 2 and the fishing line 30 are submerged so that the submerged camera 2 orients under the influence of water current C to view the bait receiving end of fishing line 30 and, more specifically, the lure or bait 31 attached to the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30. The submersible camera 2 transmits visual pictures of the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30 to the video monitor 4 for observation by a fisherman. At an appropriate time, a hooking yank is applied to the fishing line 30 to hook a fish thereon and the fishing line 30 is released from the submersible camera 2. The fishing line 30 is released from the submersible camera 2 by the application of the hooking yank to the fishing line 30 or by a fish F striking the lure or live bait 31 received on the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30. Alternatively, the fishing line 30 is released from the submersible camera 2 by applying tension to a release line 40 connected to the release clip 34 attached between the submersible camera 2 and the fishing line 30. Visual images displayed on the video monitor 4 can be recorded by a video recorder 8. Moreover, the angle of the submersible camera 2 relative to the bait receiving end of the fishing line 30 can be adjusted via the adjustment cable 22.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the present invention provides a visual indication of the presence and desirability of fish F, the attractiveness of the lure or bait 31 to the fish F, whether the fish F is striking the lure or bait 31 or merely taking investigatory nibbles, the proper time to apply the hooking yank, whether the fish F is hooked, and how aggressively the fish F should be reeled in.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications, combinations and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. For example, the housing 9 can be permanently attached to the fishing line 30. Moreover, the present invention can be utilized to fish from freestanding structures such as a pier or bridge. Moreover, if an undesirable fish F approaches the lure or bait 31, the fisherman can move the lure or bait 31 in an undesirable manner to scare the undesirable fish F away. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.