GB2032741A - Fish striking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fish striking device for connection to a fishing line so as to be located between the hook and the rod, adjacent the hook, is provided with a pair of spring-loaded arms (3, 4) which can be set in a precharged condition whereby on release the line between the device and the hook is jerked to provide a striking force to the hook. The arms may be held in the precharged condition by means of bead (9) retained by portion (11) of eyelet (5). A downward pull on line (7) pulls the bead downwards enabling it to pass through the portion (10) of the eyelet thus releasing the arms. An upward striking force is consequently applied to the line. The arms may be held in the precharged condition by a retaining means which includes a water-soluble pellet which prevents release of the arms until the pellet is at least partially dissolved. Thus, the pellet provides a safety mechanism to prevent release of the arms on impact with water. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in fishing tackle This invention relates to fishing tackle.

When fishing with rod or line in order to catch fish it is essential to strike the fish while it is eating the bait or lure. Generally, the fisherman must hold the rod or line so that he feels the bite at which time he strikes by pulling upwardly on the rod or line so as to implant his hook securely in the mouth of the fish.

Regularly the fish is lost due to the fisherman's reactions being too slow, the fisherman having left his rod or line temporarily or due to inadequate striking. The latter is particularly prevalent when fishing in deep water or in a current where along line is used which may have taken up a bowed attitude in the water so that either the bite is not felt or the strike merely straightens the line without giving a sharp upward tug to the hook. Furthermore, when drawing a line over the bottom of the sea or a river false bites may be felt due to the line weights fouling obstacles.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate all of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a fish striking device for connection to a fishing line and having first and second prechargeable spring-loaded members between which at least part of a secondary portion of a fishing line bearing a fishing hook is to extend, the arrangement being such that in use a tug on the secondary portion of the fishing line causes the precharged members to move relative to one another under their spring loading to provide a striking force to the hook through the secondary line.

A latch mechanism may be provided, including a water-soluble pellet for preventing release of the precharged members until the pellet is at least partially dissolved.

The secondary portion of the fishing line may in some embodiments of the invention be provided by an end portion of the line instead of being separate.

Preferably, the members are interconnected by a coil spring; the spring may be pre-compressed by a fisherman.

The members may be held in precharged condition by a latch mechanism. For example, this may be formed by a two-part eyelet on the second member and a lock member movable with the first member, the lock member passing through a first part of the eyelet and being retained by the second part. The eyelet may be keyhole-shaped and the lock member hingedly connected to the first member.

The actuating member may comprise a keyholeshaped eyelet on one leg of the coil spring and through which the secondary portion of the line freely passes, a second eyelet on the other leg of the spring to which one end of the secondary portion of the line is secured, a bead secured a predetermined distance from the other leg of the spring and adapted to pass freely through the circular portion of the keyhole shaped eyelet and to be retained by the remaining portion, the assembly being such that when the spring is compressed by moving the legs together the bead passes through the circular portion and when moved sideways retains the spring in its compressed position, a tug on the free end of the secondary portion of the line; which is adapted for connection to a fisherman's hook, causes the bead to move to the circular portion through which it may pass to release the spring and impart a striking force to the hook.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a device according to the invention in its precharged position; Fig. 2 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the device after striking and prior to being recharged; Fig 4 is a front view of a striking device of another embodiment of the invention; Fig 5 is a side view of part of the device shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of part of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings a fish striking device comprises a coil spring 1 adapted for connection to a fishing line 2 having two legs 3 and 4 which when squeezed towards one another as shown in Fig.

1 place the spring 1 in compression. A keyhole shaped eyelet 5 is formed at the end of the leg 3 and a second eyelet 6 is formed at the end of the leg 4. A second line 7 is connected at one end to the eyelet 6 and has a fishing hook 8 tied to its free end. A spherical bead 9 is secured to the line 7 and is adapted to pass freely through the circular portion 10 (Fig. 2) of the eyelet 5 but to be retained by the portion 11. The bead 9, eyelet 5 and the second line 7 together form an actuating means.

In operation, the legs 3 and 4 of the device are pressed together by the fisherman until the bead 9 passes through the eyelet 5. The bead is then raised into the portion 11 of the eyelet and the legs released so that they are retained in the position shown in Fig.

1 bythebead.

When a fish bites on the bait or lure attached to the hook 8 a tug is exerted on the second line 7 in the direction of the arrow A. This tug causes the bead to move down the eyelet and through the portion 10 thereby releasing the legs of the spring. The legs move rapidly outward to the position shown in Fig. 3 causing a sharp striking force to be applied to the line 7 in the direction of the arrow B (Fig. 3) so as to impale the hook in the fish's mouth.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4,5 and 6, the fish striking device comprises a recoil member in the form of a coil spring 1 adapted for connection to a fishing line 2 and having two legs 3 and 4 which when squeezed towards one another, as shown in Fig. 1, place the spring in compression. The opera tion of such a device is as described with reference to Figs. 1,2 and 3.

A keyhole shaped eyelet 5 is formed at the end of The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

the leg 3 and is shown in detail in Fig. 5. The eyelet has an offsets formed adjacent the parallel portion 7 of ffle eyeleL lZe leg 4 has a pornon 8 bent at right angles and on which is iournalledi a link9 having a circular head 10 adapted to pass through the circular portion 11 of the eyeletS butto be retained by the parallel portion 7. The head 10 is adapted for connec tion to a fishing hook 12 through a line 13.A latch member 14 is formed on the link 9 and comprises a pellet retaining member 15 extending from the link and adapted to cm operate with acircular water sol uble pellet 16 which when the device is in its charged position can be pushed through the eyelet 5 raising the head 10 up the incline formed by the offset 6 until the pellet passes overtop dead centre in the slot and rests on the bottom of the slot and the retaining member 15. The pellet is locked in place by the spring forcing the link down the incline and the pellet prevents the device from being actuated.

In operation, the legs 3 and 4 of the device of Figs.

4,5 and 6 are pressed together by the fisherman until the head 10 passes through the eyelet 5. The head is then raised into the portion 7 of the eyelet and the legs released so that they are retained in the position shown in Fig. 4 by the link 9. The water soluble pellet 16 is then pushed into position and the line cast On entry into the water the pellet 16 dissolves leaving the link 9 free to be pulled downwards by a bite from a fish thereby operating the device in the manner described with reference to Figs. 1,2 and 3.

In a further embodiment, the arrangement shown in Figs. 4,5 and 6 can be used without the pellet 16 and retaining member 15, which simply form a safety mechanism to prevent release of the legs on impact with the water.

Modification may be made to the above embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, many of the parts of the device may be formed from moulded plastics material and any shape or size of pellet may be utilised.

Further, other forms of spring and actuating means may be used.

Claims (11)

1. A fish striking device for connection to a fishing line and having first and second prechargeable spring-loaded members between which at least part of a secondary portion of a fishing line bearing a fishing hook is to extend, the arrangement being such that in use a tug on the secondary portion of the fishing line causes the precharged members to move relative to one another under their spring loading to provide a striking force to the hook through the secondary line.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second members are interconnected by a coil spring.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the members are held in precharged condition by a latch mechanism.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the latch mechanism is formed by a two-part eyelet on the second member and a lock member movable with the first member, the lock member passing through a first part of the eyelet and being retained by the second part.

5. A device according to claim 4, whegein the eyelet is k-oIeha and the lock member is hingedíy connected to the first member.

6. Adeviceaccordingtociaimi or2,whereinthe members are held in precharged condition by a lode mechanism including a water soíuble pallet for pe venting the release of the recharged members until the pellet is at least partially dissolved

7. A fish striking device for connection to a fishing line, substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto and as shown in Figs 1,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8 A fish striking device for connection to a fishing line, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 4,5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Afishing line having a fish striking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Afishing line according to daim 9, wherein the line is one-piece and the secondary portion is formed by an end part of the line.

11. Afishing line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.