Planer board accessory

Abstract

An in-line planer board assembly incorporates hydrofoil designs at various key locations in order to maximize fluid movement efficiencies. Optionally, the planer board assembly further includes a spring-loaded fishing line release, also exemplified in a universal embodiment for use with other planer boards. Another option is a snap-in forward line release bracket useful when an angler wishes to fish from the opposite side of the boat, or for creating a smaller storage space requirement while storing the planer boards away between angling trips.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A release assembly for a planer board comprising:
 an outer housing having an upper jaw and a lower jaw spaced below the upper jaw, the upper jaw including an upper opening therethrough aligned with a lower opening through the lower jaw;   an inner release pin biased to a position in the upper opening and the lower opening; and   a release lever slidably mounted relative to the outer housing such that movement of the release lever toward the upper jaw moves the inner release pin out of the upper opening.   
     
     
         2 . The release assembly of  claim 1  wherein the release lever is configured such that movement of the release lever toward the upper jaw moves the inner release pin out of a space defined between the upper jaw and the lower jaw. 
     
     
         3 . The release assembly of  claim 1  further including a shaft slidably received in the outer housing and biased toward the upper jaw. 
     
     
         4 . The release assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner release pin is formed integrally with the release lever. 
     
     
         5 . The release assembly of  claim 4  further including a stainless-steel cylindrical sleeve inserted over the inner release pin. 
     
     
         6 . The release assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer housing includes a pair of apertures therethrough for securing the release assembly to a planer board. 
     
     
         7 . The release assembly of  claim 6  further including a pair of screws configured to be inserted through the pair of apertures for securing the release assembly to a planer board. 
     
     
         8 . The release assembly of  claim 6  wherein the outer housing includes an upper flange and a lower flange, and wherein one of the pair of apertures is formed in the upper flange and the other of the pair of apertures is formed in the lower flange. 
     
     
         9 . The release assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer housing includes an upper flange and a lower flange, wherein the upper jaw and the lower jaw project rearwardly of the upper flange and the lower flange. 
     
     
         10 . The release assembly of  claim 1  further including a spring biasing the inner release pin toward the upper jaw and wherein the lower jaw is between the spring and the upper jaw. 
     
     
         11 . A release assembly for a planer board comprising:
 an outer housing having an upper jaw and a lower jaw spaced below the upper jaw, the upper jaw including an upper opening therethrough aligned with a lower opening through the lower jaw, a gap defined between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, wherein the outer housing includes an upper flange and a lower flange, wherein the upper jaw and the lower jaw project rearwardly of the upper flange and the lower flange;   an inner release pin biased upward to a position in the upper opening and the lower opening; and   a release lever slidably mounted relative to the outer housing such that movement of the release lever toward the upper jaw moves the inner release pin out of the gap between the upper jaw and the lower jaw.   
     
     
         12 . The release assembly of  claim 11  wherein the release lever is configured such that movement of the release lever toward the upper jaw moves the inner release pin out of the gap defined between the upper jaw and the lower jaw. 
     
     
         13 . The release assembly of  claim 12  further including a spring biasing the inner release pin toward the upper jaw and wherein the lower jaw is between the spring and the upper jaw. 
     
     
         14 . The release assembly of  claim 11  further including a shaft slidably received in the outer housing and biased toward the upper jaw. 
     
     
         15 . The release assembly of  claim 11  wherein the inner release pin is formed integrally with the release lever. 
     
     
         16 . The release assembly of  claim 15  further including a stainless-steel cylindrical sleeve inserted over the inner release pin. 
     
     
         17 . The release assembly of  claim 11  wherein the outer housing includes a pair of apertures therethrough for securing the release assembly to a planer board. 
     
     
         18 . The release assembly of  claim 17  further including a pair of screws configured to be inserted through the pair of apertures for securing the release assembly to a planer board.