Patents by Inventor Wayne A. Ratcliffe

Wayne A. Ratcliffe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5299107
    Abstract: An electrically powered illuminating fish luring means for use in conjunction with a fishing line, is disclosed. The fish luring means comprises a water resistant protective housing having a generally hollow interior. There is a battery or batteries, a light emitting diode, and a movement actuated switch means in the form of a mercury switch, preferably a mercury tilt switch, securely retained within the protective housing. The mercury tilt switch is electrically connected in series with the batteries and the light emitting diode, for turning on and off the light emitting diode. The mercury tilt switch has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a mercury bead adapted to contact the first and second terminals so as to thereby connect the first and second terminals in electrically conductive relation with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Lure Lite Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael P. Ratcliffe, Ralph D. Ratcliffe, Timothy R. Ratcliffe, Wayne A. Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 5274943
    Abstract: An electrically powered indicating device for use in conjunction with a fishing rod is disclosed. The device indicates when the end of the fishing rod remote to the handle is pulled downwardly and distinguishes between a fish nibbling at the hook on the fishing line and a fish caught on the hook of the fishing line. The device comprises a protective housing, an electrical power source, such as a battery, an electrically powered indicating means such as a light emitting diode or buzzer, and a non-positive contact switch means such as a mercury tilt switch, all electrically connected in series with one another. When the device becomes tilted past a certain orientation, the non-positive switch means becomes closed, thus turning on the indicating means. When the non-positive contact switch means is closed and the device is moved abruptly or vigorously, the non-positive contact switch means becomes opened and closed intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Lure Lite Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael P. Ratcliffe, Ralph D. Ratcliffe, Timothy R. Ratcliffe, Wayne A. Ratcliffe