Fishing equipment

Claim 2

A release mechanism for releasing a fishing line comprising a central shaft, force loaded means axially positionable along said shaft, and a release pin engageable with said force loaded means and retaining a fishing line in said engageable position, said force loaded means placing a force on said release pin determined by said force loading, said release pin releasing said fishing line from said engagement when said fishing line exerts sufficient release force upon said pin to overcome said force loading.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said force loaded means is adjustable for varying the force exerted by said force loaded means against said release pin.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes an acoustic member mounted thereon, said force loaded tensioning means being adapted to forcibly strike said acoustic member upon disengagement of said release pin for providing an audible indication of said disengagement of said release pin from said force loaded means.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said acoustic member is megaphone shaped.

Claim 6

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said acoustic member fixedly supports one end of said release pin.

Claim 7

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said release pin is rounded and includes a depression for engaging said fishing line therein.

Claim 8

An outrigger release mechanism employed to hold a fishing line with a predetermined tension on an outrigger pole extending from a fishing vessel, said release mechanism comprising a central shaft, a force loading member axially positioned on said shaft, loading means for placing a variable force against said force loading member, said force loading member including a positioning face, an acoustic member mounted on said shaft, a pivotally mounted release pin having one fixed pivoted end and a second free end, said release pin having two positions including a first position accommodating said fishing line and having its free end engageable with said positioning face against the force of said loading means, and a second position releasing said fishing line and the force of said loading means against said force loading member, said loading means having sufficient force to move said force loading member along said shaft to said acoustic member, said acoustic member producing an audible warning noise upon being struck by said released force loading member, thereby indicating release of said fishing line.

Claim 9

An outrigger release mechanism employed to hold a fishing line with a predetermined tension on an outrigger pole extending from a fishing vessel, said release mechanism comprising a central shaft, a force loading member axially positioned on said shaft, loading means for placing a variable force against said force loading member, said force loading member including a positioning face, an acoustic member mounted on said shaft, a pivotally mounted release pin having one fixed pivoted end and a second free end, said release pin having two positions including a first position accommodating said fishing line and having its free end engageable with said positioning face against the force of said loading means, and a second position releasing said fishing line and the force of said loading means against said force loading member, said loading means having sufficient force to move said force loading member along said shaft to said acoustic member, said acoustic member producing an audible warning noise upon being struck by said released force loading member, thereby indicating release of said fishing line.

Claim 10

The release mechanism of claim 7 wherein said force loading member includes a threaded shaft, a head affixed thereto, and a disc threaded thereon, said head and disc each including a forward facing portion comprising said positioning faces, said force being applied against said disc, said disc being linearly adjustable on said threaded shaft and engageable with said release pin for placing a fixed force on said release pin, and wherein said head is also engageable with said release pin, and said disc is lineally adjustable for varying the force applied along said shaft by said loading means against said release pin.

Claim 11

The release mechanism of claim 8 wherein each said positioning face includes a plurality of radial depressions for accommodating the free end of said release pin.

Claim 12

The release mechanism of claim 7 wherein said loading means is a coil spring.

Claim 13

The release mechanism of claim 7 wherein said positioning face includes a first smooth facing segment, and said acoustic member includes a second smooth facing segment, said facing segments forcibly engaging each other to provide said audible warning noise.

Claim 14

The release mechanism oF claim 7 wherein said shaft further includes a protective cup surrounding at least a portion of said loading means.

Claim 15

The release mechanism of claim 7 wherein said release pin is rounded in form and includes a central depression for fixing said fishing line in position.